Robert Graves The Greek Myths 1955, revised 1960

Robert Graves was born in 1895 at Wimbledon, son o !lred "er#eval Graves, the $rish
writer, and !malia von Ranke% &e went rom s#hool to the 'irst World War, where he be#ame
a #a(tain in the Royal Wel#h ')siliers% &is (rin#i(al #allin* is (oetry, and his +ele#ted "oems
have been ()blished in the "en*)in "oets% !(art rom a year as "roessor o ,n*lish
-iterat)re at .airo /niversity in 1906 he has sin#e earned his livin* by writin*, mostly
histori#al novels whi#h in#l)de1 $, .la)di)s2 .la)di)s the God2 +er*eant -amb o the 3inth2
.o)nt 4elisari)s2 Wie to Mr Milton 5all ()blished as "en*)ins62 "ro#eed, +er*eant -amb2
The Golden 'lee#e2 They &an*ed My +aintly 4illy2 and The $sles o /nwisdom% &e wrote
his a)tobio*ra(hy, Goodbye to !ll That 5a "en*)in Modem .lassi#6, in 1909% &is two most
dis#)ssed non7i#tion books are The White Goddess, whi#h (resents a new view o the (oeti#
im()lse, and The 3a8arene Gos(el Restored 5with 9osh)a "odro6, a re7e:amination o
(rimitive .hristianity% &e has translated !()lei)s, -)#an, and +vetoni)s or the "en*)in
.lassi#s% &e was ele#ted "roessor o "oetry at ;:ord in 1960%
.ontents
'oreword
$ntrod)#tion
1% The "elas*ian .reation Myth
0% The &omeri# !nd ;r(hi# .reation Myths
<% The ;lym(ian .reation Myth
=% Two "hiloso(hi#al .reation Myths
5% The 'ive !*es ; Man
6% The .astration ; /ran)s
>% The ?ethronement ; .ron)s
8% The 4irth ; !thene
9% @e)s !nd Metis
10% The 'ates
11% The 4irth ; !(hrodite
10% &era !nd &er .hildren
1<% @e)s !nd &era
1=% 4irths ; &ermes, !(ollo, !rtemis, !nd ?ionys)s
15% The 4irth ; ,ros
16% "oseidonAs 3at)re !nd ?eeds
1>% &ermesAs 3at)re !nd ?eeds
18% !(hroditeAs 3at)re !nd ?eeds
19% !resAs 3at)re !nd ?eeds
00% &estiaAs 3at)re !nd ?eeds
01% !(olloAs 3at)re !nd ?eeds
00% !rtemisAs 3at)re !nd ?eeds
0<% &e(haest)sAs 3at)re !nd ?eeds
0=% ?emeterAs 3at)re !nd ?eeds
05% !theneAs 3at)re !nd ?eeds
06% "anAs 3at)re !nd ?eeds
0>% ?ionys)sAs 3at)re !nd ?eeds
08% ;r(he)s
09% Ganymedes
<0% @a*re)s
<1% The Gods ; The /nderworld
<0% Ty#he !nd 3emesis
<<% The .hildren ; The +ea
<=% The .hildren ; ,#hidne
<5% The GiantsA Revolt
<6% Ty(hon
<>% The !loids
<8% ?e)#alionAs 'lood
<9% !tlas !nd "romethe)s
=0% ,os
=1% ;rion
=0% &eli)s
=<% The +ons ; &ellen
==% $on
=5% !l#yone !nd .ey:
=6% Tere)s
=>% ,re#hthe)s !nd ,)mol()s
=8% 4oreas
=9% !lo(e
50% !s#le(i)s
51% The ;ra#les
50% The !l(habet
5<% The ?a#tyls
5=% The Tel#hines
55% The ,m()sae
56% $o
5>% "horone)s
58% ,)ro(e !nd .adm)s
59% .adm)s !nd &armonia
60% 4el)s !nd The ?anaids
61% -amia
60% -eda
6<% $:ion
6=% ,ndymion
65% "y*malion !nd Galatea
66% !ea#)s
6>% +isy(h)s
68% +almone)s !nd Tyro
69% !l#estis
>0% !thamas
>1% The Mares o Gla)#)s
>0% Melam()s
><% "erse)s
>=% The Rival Twins
>5% 4ellero(hon
>6% !ntio(e
>>% 3iobe
>8% .aenis !nd .aene)s
>9% ,ri*one
80% The .alydonian 4oar
81% Telamon !nd "ele)s
80% !ristae)s
8<% Midas
8=% .leobis !nd 4iton
85% 3ar#iss)s
86% "hyllis !nd .arya
8>% !rion
88% Minos !nd &is 4rothers
89% The -oves ; Minos
90% The .hildren ; "asi(haB
91% +#ylla !nd 3is)s
90% ?aedal)s !nd Talos
9<% .atre)s !nd !lthaemenes
9=% The +ons ; "andion
95% The 4irth ; These)s
96% The -abo)rs ; These)s
9>% These)s !nd Medea
98% These)s $n .rete
99% The 'ederali8ation ; !tti#a
100% These)s !nd The !ma8ons
101% "haedra !nd &i((olyt)s
100% -a(iths !nd .enta)rs
10<% These)s $n Tartar)s
10=% The ?eath ; These)s
105% ;edi()s
106% The +even !*ainst Thebes
10>% The ,(i*oni
108% Tantal)s
109% "elo(s !nd ;enoma)s
110% The .hildren ; "elo(s
111% !tre)s !nd Thyestes
110% !*amemnon !nd .lytaemnestra
11<% The Cen*ean#e ; ;restes
11=% The Trial ; ;restes
115% The "a#ii#ation ; The ,rinnyes
116% $(hi*eneia !mon* The Ta)rians
11>% The Rei*n ; ;restes
118% The 4irth ; &era#les
119% The Do)th ; &era#les
100% The ?a)*hters ; Thes(i)s
101% ,r*in)s
100% The Madness ; &era#les
10<% The 'irst -abo)r1 The 3emean -ion
10=% The +e#ond -abo)r1 The -ernaean &ydra
105% The Third -abo)r1 The .eryneian &ind
106% The 'o)rth -abo)r1 The ,ryminthian 4oar
10>% The 'ith -abo)r1 The +tables ; !)*eias
108% The +i:th -abo)r1 The +tym(halian 4irds
109% The +eventh -abo)r1 The .retan 4)ll
1<0% The ,i*hth -abo)r1 The Mares ; ?iomedes
1<1% The 3inth -abo)r1 &i((olyteAs Girdle
1<0% The Tenth -abo)r1 The .attle ; Geryon
1<<% The ,leventh -abo)r1 The !((les ; The &es(erides
1<=% The Twelth -abo)r1 The .a(t)re ; .erber)s
1<5% The M)rder ; $(hit)s
1<6% ;m(hale
1<>% &esione
1<8% The .onE)est ; ,lis
1<9% The .a(t)re ; "yl)s
1=0% The +ons ; &i((o#oFn
1=1% !)*e
1=0% ?eianeira
1=<% &era#les $n Tra#his
1==% $ole
1=5% The !(otheosis ; &era#les
1=6% The .hildren ; &era#les
1=>% -in)s
1=8% The !r*ona)ts !ssemble
1=9% The -emnian Women !nd Gin* .y8i#)s
150% &ylas, !my#)s, !nd "hine)s
151% 'rom The +ym(le*ades To .ol#his
150% The +ei8)re ; The 'lee#e
15<% The M)rder ; !(syrt)s
15=% The !r*o Ret)rns To Gree#e
155% The ?eath ; "elias
156% Medea !t ,(hyra
15>% Medea $n ,:ile
158% The 'o)ndation ; Troy
159% "aris !nd &elen
160% The 'irst Gatherin* !t !)lis
161% The +e#ond Gatherin* !t !)lis
160% 3ine Dears ; War
16<% The Wrath ; !#hilles
16=% The ?eath ; !#hilles
165% The Madness ; !Ha:
166% The ;ra#les ; Troy
16>% The Wooden &orse
168% The +a#k ; Troy
169% The Ret)rns
1>0% ;dysse)sAs Wanderin*s
1>1% ;dysse)sAs &ome#omin*
';R,W;R?
+$3., revisin* The Greek Myths in 1958, $ have had se#ond tho)*hts abo)t the dr)nken *od
?ionys)s, abo)t the .enta)rs with their #ontradi#tory re()tation or wisdom and
misdemeano)r, and abo)t the nat)re o divine ambrosia and ne#tar% These s)bHe#ts are #losely
related, be#a)se the .enta)rs worshi((ed ?ionys)s, whose wild a)t)mnal east was #alled
Ithe !mbrosiaA% $ no lon*er believe that when his Maenads ran ra*in* aro)nd the #o)ntryside,
tearin* animals or #hildren in (ie#es and boasted aterwards o travellin* to $ndia and ba#k,
they had into:i#ated themselves solely on wine or ivy ale% The eviden#e, s)mmari8ed in my
What 'ood the .enta)rs !te 519586, s)**ests that +atyrs 5*oat7totem tribesmen6, .enta)rs
5horse7totem tribesmen6, and their Maenad womenolk, )sed these brews to wash down
mo)th)ls o a ar stron*er dr)*1 namely a raw m)shroom, amanita m)s#aria, whi#h ind)#es
hall)#inations, senseless riotin*, (ro(heti# si*ht, eroti# ener*y, and remarkable m)s#)lar
stren*th% +ome ho)rs o this e#stasy are ollowed by #om(lete inertia2 a (henomenon that
wo)ld a##o)nt or the story o how -y#)r*)s, armed only with an o:7*oad, ro)ted ?ionys)sAs
dr)nken army o Maenads and +atyrs ater its vi#torio)s ret)rn rom $ndia%
;n an ,tr)s#an mirror the amanita m)s#aria is en*raved at $:ionAs eet2 he was a Thessalian
hero who easted on ambrosia amon* the *ods% +everal myths are #onsistent with my theory
that his des#endants, the .enta)rs, ate this m)shroom2 and, a##ordin* to some historians, it
was later em(loyed by the 3orse berserks to *ive them re#kless (ower in battle% $ now
believe that IambrosiaA and Ine#tarA were into:i#ant m)shrooms1 #ertainly the amanita
m)s#aria2 b)t (erha(s others, too, es(e#ially a small, slender d)n*7m)shroom named
(anaeol)s (a(iliona#e)s, whi#h ind)#es harmless and most enHoyable hall)#inations% !
m)shroom not )nlike it a((ears on an !tti# vase between the hooves o 3ess)s the .enta)r%
The I*odsA or whom, in the myths, ambrosia and ne#tar were reserved, will have been sa#red
E)eens and kin*s o the (re7.lassi#al era% Gin* Tantal)sAs #rime was that he broke the taboo
by invitin* #ommoners to share his ambrosia%
+a#red E)eenshi(s and kin*shi(s la(sed in Gree#e2 ambrosia then be#ame, it seems, the
se#ret element o the ,le)sinian, ;r(hi# and other Mysteries asso#iated with ?ionys)s% !t all
events, the (arti#i(ants swore to kee( silen#e abo)t what they ate or drank, saw )nor*ettable
visions, and were (romised immortality% The IambrosiaA awarded to winners o the ;lym(i#
ootra#e when vi#tory no lon*er #onerred the sa#red kin*shi( on them was #learly a
s)bstit)te1 a mi:t)re o oods the initial letters o whi#h, as $ show in What 'ood the .enta)rs
!te, s(elled o)t the Greek word Im)shroomA% Re#i(es E)oted by .lassi#al a)thors or ne#tar,
and or #e#yon, the mint7lavo)red drink taken by ?emeter at ,le)sis, likewise s(ell o)t
Im)shroomA%
$ have mysel eaten the hall)#ino*eni# m)shroom, (silo#ybe, a divine ambrosia in
immemorial )se amon* the Masate# $ndians o ;a:a#a "rovin#e, Me:i#o2 heard the (riestess
invoke Tlalo#, the M)shroom7*od, and seen trans#endental visions% Th)s $ wholeheartedly
a*ree with R% Gordon Wasson, the !meri#an dis#overer o this an#ient rite, that ,)ro(ean
ideas o heaven and hell may well have derived rom similar mysteries% Tlalo# was
en*endered by li*htnin*2 so was ?ionys)s2 and in Greek olklore, as in Masate#, so are all
m)shroomsJ(roverbially #alled Iood o the *odsA in both lan*)a*es% Tlalo# wore a ser(ent7
#rown2 so did ?ionys)s% Tlalo# had an )nderwater retreat2 so had ?ionys)s% The MaenadsA
sava*e #)stom o tearin* o their vi#timsA heads may reer alle*ori#ally to tearin* o the
sa#red m)shroomAs headJsin#e in Me:i#o its stalk is never eaten% We read that "erse)s, a
sa#red Gin* o !r*os, #onverted to ?ionys)s worshi(, named My#enae ater a toadstool
whi#h he o)nd *rowin* on the site, and whi#h *ave orth a stream o water% Tlalo#As emblem
was a toad2 so was that o !r*os2 and rom the mo)th o Tlalo#As toad in the Te(entitla res#o
iss)es a stream o water% Det at what e(o#h were the ,)ro(ean and .entral !meri#an #)lt)res
in #onta#tK
These theories #all or )rther resear#h, and $ have thereore not in#or(orated my indin*s in
the te:t o the (resent edition% !ny e:(ert hel( in solvin* the (roblem wo)ld be *reatly
a((re#iated%
R%G%
?eyL, MaHor#a,
+(ain, 1960%
$3TR;?/.T$;3
T&, mediaeval emissaries o the .atholi# .h)r#h bro)*ht to Great 4ritain, in addition to the
whole #or()s o sa#red history, a .ontinental )niversity system based on the Greek and -atin
.lassi#s% +)#h native le*ends as those o Gin* !rth)r, G)y o Warwi#k, Robin &ood, the
4l)e &a* o -ei#ester, and Gin* -ear were #onsidered s)itable eno)*h or the masses, yet by
early T)dor times the #ler*y and the ed)#ated #lasses were reerrin* ar more reE)ently to
the myths in ;vid, Cir*il, and the *rammar s#hool s)mmaries o the TroHan War% Tho)*h
oi#ial ,n*lish literat)re o the si:teenth to the nineteenth #ent)ries #annot, thereore, be
(ro(erly )nderstood e:#e(t in the li*ht o Greek mytholo*y, the .lassi#s have lately lost so
m)#h *ro)nd in s#hools and )niversities that an ed)#ated (erson is now no lon*er e:(e#ted to
know 5or instan#e6 who ?e)#alion, "elo(s, ?aedal)s, ;enone, -ao#oFn, or !nti*one may
have been% .)rrent knowled*e o these myths is mostly derived rom s)#h airy7story
versions as Gin*sleyAs &eroes and &awthorneAs Tan*lewood Tales2 and at irst si*ht this does
not seem to matter m)#h, be#a)se or the last two tho)sand years it has been the ashion to
dismiss the myths as bi8arre and #himeri#al an#ies, a #harmin* le*a#y rom the #hildhood o
the Greek intelli*en#e, whi#h the .h)r#h nat)rally de(re#iates in order to em(hasi8e the
*reater s(irit)al im(ortan#e o the 4ible% De t it is dii#)lt to overestimate their val)e in the
st)dy o early ,)ro(ean history, reli*ion, and so#iolo*y%
I.himeri#alA is an adHe#tival orm o the no)n #himaera, meanin* Ishe7*oatA% 'o)r tho)sand
years a*o the .himaera #an have seemed no more bi8arre than any reli*io)s, heraldi#, or
#ommer#ial emblem does today% +he was a ormal #om(osite beast with 5as &omer re#ords6 a
lionAs head, a *oatAs body, and a ser(entAs tail% ! .himaera has been o)nd #arved on the
walls o a &ittite tem(le at .ar#hemish and, like s)#h other #om(osite beasts as the +(hin:
and the /ni#orn, will ori*inally have been a #alendar symbol1 ea#h #om(onent re(resented a
season o the M)een o &eavenAs sa#red yearJas, a##ordin* to ?iodor)s +i#)l)s, the three
strin*s o her tortoise7shell lyre also did% This an#ient three7season year is dis#)ssed by
3ilsson in his "rimitive Time Re#konin* 519106%
;nly a small (art, however, o the h)*e, disor*ani8ed #or()s o Greek mytholo*y, whi#h
#ontains im(ortations rom .rete, ,*y(t, "alestine, "hry*ia, 4abylonia, and elsewhere, #an
(ro(erly be #lassiied with the .himaera as tr)e myth% Tr)e myth may be deined as the
red)#tion to narrative shorthand o rit)al mime (erormed on ()bli# estivals, and in many
#ases re#orded (i#torially on tem(le walls, vases, seals, bowls, mirrors, #hests, shields,
ta(estries, and the like% The .himaera and her ellow #alendar7beasts m)st have i*)red
(rominently in these dramati# (erorman#es whi#h, with their i#ono*ra(hi# and oral re#ords,
be#ame the (rime a)thority, or #harter, or the reli*io)s instit)tions o ea#h tribe, #lan, or #ity%
Their s)bHe#ts were ar#hai# ma*i#7makin*s that (romoted the ertility or stability o a sa#red
E)eendom, or kin*domJE)eendoms havin*, it seems, (re#eded kin*doms thro)*ho)t the
Greek7s(eakin* areaJand amendments to these, introd)#ed as #ir#)mstan#es reE)ired%
-)#ianAs essay ;n the ?an#e lists an im(osin* n)mber o rit)al mimes still (erormed in the
se#ond #ent)ry !?2 and "a)saniasAs des#ri(tion o the tem(le (aintin*s at ?el(hi and the
#arvin*s on .y(sel)sAs .hest, s)**ests that an immense amo)nt o mis#ellaneo)s
mytholo*i#al re#ords, o whi#h no tra#e now remains, s)rvived into the same (eriod%
Tr)e myth m)st be distin*)ished rom1
516 "hiloso(hi#al alle*ory, as in &esiodAs #osmo*ony%
506 I!etiolo*i#alA e:(lanation o myths no lon*er )nderstood, as in !dmet)sAs yokin* o a
lion and a boar to his #hariot%
5<6 +atire or (arody, as in +ilen)sAs a##o)nt o !tlantis%
5=6 +entimental able, as in the story o 3ar#iss)s and ,#ho%
556 ,mbroidered history, as in !rionAs advent)re with the dol(hin%
566 Minstrel roman#e, as in the story o .e(hal)s and "ro#ris%
5>6 "oliti#al (ro(a*anda, as in These)sAs 'ederali8ation o !tti#a%
586 Moral le*end, as in the story o ,ri(hyleAs ne#kla#e%
596 &)moro)s ane#dote, as in the bedroom ar#e o &era#les, ;m(hale, and "an%
5106 Theatri#al melodrama, as in the story o Thestor and his da)*hters%
5116 &eroi# sa*a, as in the main ar*)ment o the $liad%
5106 Realisti# i#tion, as in ;dysse)sAs visit to the "haea#ians%
De t *en)ine mythi# elements may be o)nd embedded in the least (romisin* stories, and the
)llest or most ill)minatin* version o a *iven myth is seldom s)((lied by any one a)thor2
nor, when sear#hin* or its ori*inal orm, sho)ld one ass)me that the more an#ient the written
so)r#e, the more a)thoritative it m)st be% ;ten, or instan#e, the (lay)l !le:andrian
.allima#h)s, or the rivolo)s !)*)stan ;vid, or the dry7as7d)st late74y8antine T8et8es, *ives
an obvio)sly earlier version o a myth than do &esiod or the Greek tra*edians2 and the
thirteenth7#ent)ry ,:#idi)m Troiae is, in (arts, mythi#ally so)nder than the $liad% When
makin* (rose sense o a mytholo*i#al or (se)domytholo*i#al narrative, one sho)ld always
(ay #are)l attention to the names, tribal ori*in, and ates o the #hara#ters #on#erned2 and
then restore it to the orm o dramati# rit)al, where)(on its in#idental elements will
sometimes s)**est an analo*y with another myth whi#h has been *iven a wholly dierent
ane#dotal twist, and shed li*ht on both% ! st)dy o Greek mytholo*y sho)ld be*in with a
#onsideration o what (oliti#al and reli*io)s systems e:isted in ,)ro(e beore the arrival o
!ryan invaders rom the distant 3orth and ,ast% The whole o 3eolithi# ,)ro(e, to H)d*e
rom s)rvivin* artea#ts and myths, had a remarkably homo*eneo)s system o reli*io)s
ideas, based on worshi( o the many7titled Mother7*oddess, who was also known in +yria
and -ibya%
!n#ient ,)ro(e had no *ods% The Great Goddess was re*arded as immortal, #han*eless, and
omni(otent2 and the #on#e(t o atherhood had not been introd)#ed into reli*io)s tho)*ht%
+he took lovers, b)t or (leas)re, not to (rovide her #hildren with a ather% Men eared,
adored, and obeyed the matriar#h2 the hearth whi#h she tended in a #ave or h)t bein* their
earliest so#ial #entre, and motherhood their (rime mystery% Th)s the irst vi#tim o a Greek
()bli# sa#rii#e was always oered to &estia o the &earth% The *oddessAs white ani#oni#
ima*e, (erha(s her most wides(read emblem, whi#h a((ears at ?el(hi as the om(halos, or
navel7boss, may ori*inally have re(resented the raised white mo)nd o ti*htly7(a#ked ash,
en#losin* live #har#oal, whi#h is the easiest means o (reservin* ire witho)t smoke% -ater, it
be#ame (i#torially identiied with the lime7whitened mo)nd )nder whi#h the harvest #orn7
doll was hidden, to be removed s(ro)tin* in the s(rin*2 and with the mo)nd o sea7shells, or
E)art8, or white marble, )nderneath whi#h dead kin*s were b)ried% 3ot only the moon, b)t
5to H)d*e rom &emera o Gree#e and Grairme o $reland6 the s)n, were the *oddessAs
#elestial symbols% $n earlier Greek myth, however, the s)n yields (re#eden#e to the moonJ
whi#h ins(ires the *reater s)(erstitio)s ear, does not *row dimmer as the year wanes, and is
#redited with the (ower to *rant or deny water to the ields%
The moonNs three (hases o new, )ll and old, re#alled the matriar#hNs three (hases o maiden,
nym(h 5n)bile woman6 and #rone% Then, sin#e the s)nNs ann)al #o)rse similarly re#alled the
rise and de#line o her (hysi#al (owersJs(rin* a maiden, s)mmer a nym(h, winter a #rone
Jthe *oddess be#ame identiied with seasonal #han*es in animal and (lant lie2 and th)s
with Mother ,arth who, at the be*innin* o the ve*etative year, (rod)#es only leaves and
b)ds, then lowers and r)its, and at last #eases to bear% +he #o)ld later be #on#eived as yet
another triad1 the maiden o the )((er air, the nym(h o the earth or sea, the #rone o the
/nderworldJty(iied res(e#tively by +elene, !(hrodite and &e#ate% These mysti#al
analo*)es ostered the sa#redness o the n)mber three, and the Moon7*oddess be#ame
enlar*ed to nine when ea#h o the three (ersonsJmaiden, nym(h and #roneJa((eared in
triad to demonstrate her divinity% &er devotees never E)ite or*ot that there were not three
*oddesses, b)t one *oddess2 altho)*h by .lassi#al times, !r#adian +tym(hal)s was one o
the ew remainin* shrines where they all bore the same name1 &era%
;n#e the relevan#e o #oition to #hild7bearin* had been oi#ially admittedJan a##o)nt o
this t)rnin*7(oint in reli*ion a((ears in the &ittite myth o sim(le7minded !(()JmanNs
reli*io)s stat)s *rad)ally im(roved, and winds or rivers were no lon*er *iven #redit or
im(re*natin* women% The tribal nym(h, it seems, #hose an ann)al lover rom her ento)ra*e
o yo)n* men, a kin* to be sa#rii#ed when the year ended2 makin* him a symbol o ertility,
rather than the obHe#t o her eroti# (leas)re% &is s(rinkled blood served to r)#tiy trees, #ro(s
and lo#ks, and his lesh was torn and eaten raw by the E)eenNs ellow nym(hsJ(riestesses
wearin* masks o bit#hes, mares and sows% 3e:t, in amendment to this (ra#ti#e, the kin* died
as soon as the (ower o the s)n, with whi#h he was identiied, be*an to de#line in the
s)mmer2 and another yo)n* man, his twin, or s)((osed twinJ a #onvenient an#ient $rish
term is NtanistNJthen be#ame the E)eenNs lover, to be d)ly sa#rii#ed at midwinter and, as a
reward, rein#arnated in an ora#)lar ser(ent% These #onsorts a#E)ired e:e#)tive (ower only
when (ermitted to de()tise or the E)een by wearin* her ma*i# robes% Th)s kin*shi(
develo(ed, and tho)*h the s)n be#ame a symbol o male ertility on#e the kin*Ns lie had been
identiied with its seasonal #o)rse, it still remained )nder the moonNs t)tela*e2 as the kin*
remained )nder the E)eenNs t)tela*e, in theory at least, lon* ater the matriar#hal (hase had
been o)t*rown% Th)s the wit#hes o Thessaly, a #onservative re*ion, wo)ld threaten the s)n,
in the moonNs name, with bein* en*)led by (er(et)al 3i*ht%
There is, however, no eviden#e that, even when women were soverei*n in reli*io)s matters,
men were denied ields in whi#h they mi*ht a#t witho)t emale s)(ervision, tho)*h it may
well be that they ado(ted many o the Nweaker7se:N #hara#teristi#s hitherto tho)*ht
)n#tionally (e#)liar to man% They #o)ld be tr)sted to h)nt, ish, *ather #ertain oods, mind
lo#ks and herds, and hel( deend the tribal territory a*ainst intr)ders, so lon* as they did not
trans*ress matriar#hal law% -eaders o totem #lans were #hosen and #ertain (owers awarded
them, es(e#ially in times o mi*ration or war% R)les or determinin* who #o)ld a#t as male
#ommander7in7#hie #arried, it a((ears, in dierent matriar#hies1 )s)ally the E)eenNs maternal
)n#le, or her brother, or the son o her maternal a)nt was #hosen% The most (rimitive tribal
#ommander7in7#hie also had a)thority to a#t as H)d*e in (ersonal dis()tes between men,
insoar as the E)eenNs reli*io)s a)thority was not thereby im(aired% The most (rimitive
matrilineal so#iety s)rvivin* today is that o the 3ayars o +o)thern $ndia, where the
(rin#esses, tho)*h married to #hild7h)sbands whom they immediately divor#e, bear #hildren
to lovers o no (arti#)lar rank2 and the (rin#esses o several matrilineal tribes o West !ri#a
marry orei*ners or #ommoners% The royal women rom (re7&elleni# Gree#e also tho)*ht
nothin* o takin* lovers rom amon* their sers, i the &)ndred &o)ses o -o#ris and
,(i8e(hyrian -o#ri were not e:#e(tional%
Time was irst re#koned by l)nations, and every im(ortant #eremony took (la#e at a #ertain
(hase o the moon2 the solsti#es and eE)ino:es not bein* e:a#tly determined b)t
a((ro:imated to the nearest new or )ll moon% The n)mber seven a#E)ired (e#)liar san#tity,
be#a)se the kin* died at the seventh )ll moon ater the shone day% ,ven when, ater #are)l
astronomi#al observation, the sidereal year (roved to have <6= days, with a ew ho)rs let
over, it had to be divided into monthsJthat is, moon7#y#lesJrather than into ra#tion o the
solar #y#le% These months later be#ame what the ,n*lish7s(eakin* world still #alls N#ommon7
law monthsN, ea#h o twenty7ei*ht days whi#h was a sa#red n)mber, in the sense that the
moon #o)ld be worshi((ed as a woman, whose menstr)al #y#le is normally twenty7ei*ht
days, and that this is also the tr)e (eriod o the moonNs revol)tions in terms o the s)n% The
seven7day week was a )nit o the #ommon7law month, the #hara#ter o ea#h day bein*
ded)#ed, it seems, rom the E)ality attrib)ted to the #orres(ondin* month o the sa#red kin*As
lie% This system led to a still #loser identii#ation o woman with moon and, sin#e the <6=7
day year is e:a#tly divisible by twenty7ei*ht, the ann)al seE)en#e o (o()lar estivals #o)ld
be *eared to these #ommon7law months% !s a reli*io)s tradition, the thirteen7month years
s)rvived amon* ,)ro(ean (easants or more than a millenni)m ater the ado(tion o the
9)lian .alendar2 th)s Robin &ood, who lived at the time o ,dward $$, #o)ld e:#laim in a
ballad #elebratin* the May ?ay estival1
&ow many merryOmonths be in the yearK
There are thirteen, $ say %%%
whi#h a T)dor editor has altered to
%%% There are b)t t welve, $ say %%%A
Thirteen, the n)mber o the s)nAs death7month, has never lost its evil re()tation amon* the
s)(erstitio)s% The days o the week lay )nder the #har*e o Titans1 the *enii o s)n, moon,
and the ive hitherto dis#overed (lanets, who were res(onsible or them to the *oddess as
.reatri:% This system had (robably been evolved in matriar#hal +)meria%
Th)s the s)n (assed thro)*h thirteen monthly sta*es, be*innin* at the winter solsti#e when
the days len*then a*ain ater their lon* a)t)mnal de#line% The e:tra day o the sidereal year,
*ained rom the solar year by the earthAs revol)tion aro)nd the s)nAs orbit, was inter#alated
between the thirteenth and the irst month, and be#ame the most im(ortant day o the <65, the
o##asion on whi#h the tribal 3ym(h #hose the sa#red kin*, )s)ally the winner o a ra#e, a
wrestlin* mat#h, or an ar#hery #ontest% 4)t this (rimitive #alendar )nderwent modii#ations1
in some re*ions the e:tra day seems to have been inter#alated, not at the winter solsti#e, b)t
at some other 3ew DearJat the .andlemas #ross7E)arter day, when the irst si*ns o s(rin*
are a((arent2 or at the s(rin* eE)ino:, when the s)n is re*arded as #omin* to mat)rity2 or at
mids)mmer2 or at the risin* o the ?o* +tar, when the 3ile loods2 or at the a)t)mnal
eE)ino:, when the irst rains all%
,arly Greek mytholo*y is #on#erned, above all else, with the #han*in* relations between the
E)een and her lovers, whi#h be*in with their yearly, or twi#e7yearly, sa#rii#es2 and end, at
the time when the $liad was #om(osed and kin*s boasted1 AWe are ar better than o)r
athersPI, with her e#li(se by an )nlimited male monar#hy% 3)mero)s !ri#an analo*)es
ill)strate the (ro*ressive sta*es o this #han*e%
! lar*e (art o Greek myth is (oliti#o7reli*io)s history% 4ellero(hon masters win*ed "e*as)s
and kills the .himaera% "erse)s, in a variant o the same le*end, lies thro)*h the air and
beheads "e*as)sAs mother, the Gor*on Med)sa2 m)#h as Mard)k, a 4abylonian hero, kills the
she7monster Tiamat, Goddess o the +eal% "erse)sAs name sho)ld (ro(erly be s(elled
"terse)s, Ithe destroyerA2 and he was not, as "roessor Gerenyi has s)**ested, an ar#hety(al
?eath7i*)re b)t, (robably, re(resented the (atriar#hal &ellenes who invaded Gree#e and
!sia Minor early in the se#ond millenni)m 4., and #hallen*ed the (ower o the Tri(le7
*oddess% "e*as)s had been sa#red to her be#a)se the horse with its moon7sha(ed hooves
i*)red in the rain7makin* #eremonies and the instalment o sa#red kin*s2 his win*s were
symboli#al o a #elestial nat)re, rather than s(eed% 9ane &arrison has (ointed o)t
5"role*omena to the +t)dy o Greek Reli*ion6 that Med)sa was on#e the *oddess hersel,
hidin* behind a (ro(hyla#ti# Gor*on mask1 a hideo)s a#e intended to warn the (roane
a*ainst tres(assin* on her Mysteries% "erse)s beheads Med)sa1 that is, the &ellenes overran
the *oddessAs #hie shrines, stri((ed her (riestesses o their Gor*on masks, and took
(ossession o the sa#red horsesJan early re(resentation o the *oddess with a Gor*onAs head
and a mareAs body has been o)nd in 4oeotia% 4ellero(hon, "erse)sAs do)ble, kills the -y#ian
.himaera1 that is, the &ellenes ann)lled the an#ient Med)san #alendar, and re(la#ed it with
another%
!*ain, !(olloAs destr)#tion o the "ython at ?el(hi seems to re#ord the !#haeansA #a(t)re o
the .retan ,arth7*oddessAs shrine2 so does his attem(ted ra(e o ?a(hne, whom &era
there)(on metamor(hosed into a la)rel% This myth has been E)oted by 're)dian
(sy#holo*ists as symboli8in* a *irlAs instin#tive horror o the se:)al a#t2 yet ?a(hne was
anythin* b)t a ri*htened vir*in% &er name is a #ontra#tion o ?a(hoene, Ithe bloody oneA,
the *oddess in or*iasti# mood, whose (riestesses, the Maenads, #hewed la)rel7leaves as an
into:i#ant and (eriodi#ally r)shed o)t at the )ll moon, assa)lted )nwary travellers, and tore
#hildren or yo)n* animals in (ie#es2 la)rel #ontains #yanide o (otassi)m% These Maenad
#olle*es were s)((ressed by the &ellenes, and only the la)rel *rove testiied to ?a(hoeneAs
ormer o##)(an#y o the shrines1 the #hewin* o la)rel by anyone e:#e(t the (ro(heti#
"ythian "riestess, whom !(ollo retained in his servi#e at ?el(hi, was tabooed in Gree#e )ntil
Roman times%
The &elleni# invasions o the early se#ond millenni)m 4., )s)ally #alled the !eolian and
$onian, seem to have been less destr)#tive than the !#haean and ?orian ones, whi#h they
(re#eded% +mall armed bands o herdsmen, worshi((in* the !ryan trinity o *odsJ$ndra,
Mitra, and Car)naJ#rossed the nat)ral barrier o Mo)nt ;thrys, and atta#hed themselves
(ea#e)lly eno)*h to the (re7&elleni# settlements in Thessaly and .entral Gree#e% They were
a##e(ted as #hildren o the lo#al *oddess, and (rovided her with sa#red kin*s% Th)s a male
military aristo#ra#y be#ame re#on#iled to emale theo#ra#y, not only in Gree#e, b)t in .rete,
where the &ellenes also *ained a oothold and e:(orted .retan #ivili8ation to !thens and the
"elo(onnese% Greek was event)ally s(oken thro)*ho)t the !e*ean and, by the time o
&erodot)s, one ora#le alone s(oke a (re7&elleni# lan*)a*e 5&erodot)s6% The kin* a#ted as
the re(resentative o @e)s, or "oseidon, or !(ollo, and #alled himsel by one or other o their
names, tho)*h even @e)s was or #ent)ries a mere demi*od, not an immortal ;lym(ian deity%
!ll early myths abo)t the *odsA sed)#tion o nym(hs reer a((arently to marria*es between
&elleni# #hietains and lo#al Moon (riestesses2 bitterly o((osed by &era, whi#h means by
#onservative reli*io)s eelin*% When the shortness o the kin*As rei*n (roved irksome, it was
a*reed to (rolon* the thirteen7month year to a Great Dear o one h)ndred l)nations, in the
len*th o whi#h o##)rs a near7#oin#iden#e o solar and l)nar time% 4)t sin#e the ields and
#ro(s still needed to be r)#tiied, the kin* a*reed to s)er an ann)al mo#k death and yield
his soverei*nty or one dayJthe inter#alated one, lyin* o)tside the sa#red sidereal yearJto
the s)rro*ate boy7kin*, or interre:, who lied at its dose, and whose blood was )sed or the
s(rinklin* #eremony% 3ow the sa#red kin* either rei*ned or the entire (eriod o a Great Dear,
with a tanist as his lie)tenant2 or the two rei*ned or alternate years2 or the M)een let them
divide the E)eendom into halves and rei*n #on#)rrently% The kin* de()ti8ed or the M)een at
many sa#red )n#tions, dressed in her robes, wore alse breasts, borrowed her l)nar a:e as a
symbol o (ower, and even took over rom her the ma*i#al art o rain7makin*% &is rit)al
death varied *reatly in #ir#)mstan#e2 he mi*ht be torn in (ie#es by wild women, transi:ed
with a ray s(ear, relied with an a:e, l)n* over a #li, b)rned to death on a (yre, drowned in a
(ool, or killed in a l)red arran*ed #hariot #rash% 4)t die he m)st% ! new sta*e was rea#hed
when #ame to be s)bstit)ted or boys at the sa#rii#ial altar, and the kin* re)sed death ater
his len*thened rei*n ended% ?ividin* the realm into three (arts, and awardin* one (art to ea#h
o his s)##essors, he wo)ld rei*n or another term2 his e:#)se bein* that a #loser
a((ro:imation o solar and l)nar time had now been o)nd, namely nineteen years, or <05
l)nations% The Great Dear had be#ome a Greater Dear%
Thro)*ho)t these s)##essive sta*es, rele#ted in n)mero)s myths, the sa#red kin* #ontin)ed
to hold his (osition only by ri*ht o marria*e to the tribal 3ym(h, who was #hosen either as a
res)lt o a oot ra#e between her #om(anions o the royal ho)se or by )ltimo*enit)re, that is
to say, by bein* the yo)n*est n)bile da)*hter o the H)nior bran#h% The throne remained
matrilineal, as it theoreti#ally did even in ,*y(t, and the sa#red kin* and his tanist were
thereore always #hosen rom o)tside the royal emale ho)se2 )ntil some darin* kin* at last
de#ided to #ommit in#est with the heiress, who ranked as his da)*hter, and th)s *ain a new
title to the throne when his rei*n needed renewal% !#haean invasions o the thirteenth #ent)ry
4. serio)sly weakened the matrilineal tradition% $t seems that the kin* now #ontrived to rei*n
or the term o his nat)ral lie2 and when the ?orians arrived, towards the dose o the se#ond
millenni)m, (atrilineal s)##ession be#ame the r)le% ! (rin#e no lon*er let his atherAs ho)se
and married a orei*n (rin#ess2 she #ame to him, as ;dysse)s (ers)aded "enelo(e to do%
Genealo*y be#ame (atrilineal, tho)*h a +amian in#ident mentioned in the "se)do7
&erodot)sAs -it o &omer shows that or some time ater the !(atoria, or 'estival o Male
Ginshi(, had re(la#ed that o 'emale Ginshi(, the rites still #onsisted o sa#rii#es to the
Mother Goddess whi#h men were not eli*ible to attend%
The amiliar ;lym(ian system was then a*reed )(on as a #om(romise between &elleni# and
(re7&elleni# views1 a divine amily o si: *ods and si: *oddesses, headed by the #o7
soverei*ns @e)s and &era and ormin* a .o)n#il o Gods in 4abylonian style% 4)t ater a
rebellion o the (re7&elleni# (o()lation, des#ribed in the $liad as a #ons(ira#y a*ainst @e)s,
&era be#ame s)bservient to him, !thene avowed hersel Iall or the 'atherA and, in the end,
?ionys)s ass)red male (re(onderan#e in the .o)n#il by dis(la#in* &estia% De t the
*oddesses, tho)*h let in a minority, were never alto*ether o)stedJas they were at 9er)salem
Jbe#a)se the revered (oets &omer and &esiod had I*iven the deities their tides and
distin*)ished their several (rovin#es and s(e#ial (owersA 5&erodot)s6, whi#h #o)ld not be
easily e:(ro(riated2 Moreover, tho)*h the system o *atherin* all the women o royal blood
to*ether )nder the kin*As #ontrol, and th)s dis#o)ra*in* o)tsiders rom attem(ts on a
matrilineal throne, was ado(ted at Rome when the Cestal
.olle*e was o)nded, and in "alestine when Gin* ?avid ormed his royal harem, it never
rea#hed Gree#e% "atrilineal des#ent, s)##ession, and inheritan#e dis#o)ra*e )rther myth7
makin*2 histori#al le*end then be*ins and ades into the li*ht o #ommon history%
The lives o s)#h #hara#ters as &era#les, ?aedal)s, Teiresias, and "hine)s s(an several
*enerations, be#a)se these are titles rather than names o (arti#)lar heroes% Det myths, tho)*h
dii#)lt to re#on#ile with #hronolo*y, are always (ra#ti#al1 they insist on some (oint o
tradition, however distorted the meanin* may have be#ome in the tellin*% Take, or instan#e,
the #on)sed story o !ea#)sAs dream, where ants, allin* rom an ora#)lar oak, t)rn into men
and #oloni8e the island o !e*ina ater &era has de(o()lated it% &ere the main (oints o
interest are1 that the oak had *rown rom a ?odonian a#orn2 that the ants were Thessalian
ants2 and that !ea#)s was a *randson o the River !so()s% These elements #ombined to *ive
a #on#ise a##o)nt o immi*rations into !e*ina towards the end o the se#ond millenni)m
4%.% ?es(ite a sameness o (attern in Greek myths, all detailed inter(retations o (arti#)lar
le*ends are o(en to E)estion )ntil ar#haeolo*ists #an (rovide a more e:a#t tab)lation o tribal
movements in Gree#e, and their dates% Det the histori#al and anthro(olo*i#al a((roa#h is the
only reasonable one1 the theory that .himaera, +(hin:, Gor*on, .enta)rs, +atyrs and the like
are blind )(r)shes o the 9)n*ian #olle#tive )n#ons#io)s, to whi#h no (re#ise meanin* had
ever, or #o)ld ever, have been atta#hed, is demonstrably )nso)nd% The 4ron8e and early $ron
!*es in Gree#e were not the #hildhood o mankind, as ?r 9)n* s)**ests% That @e)s
swallowed Metis, or instan#e, and s)bseE)ently *ave birth to !thene, thro)*h an orii#e in
his head, is not an irre(ressible an#y, b)t an in*enio)s theolo*i#al do*ma whi#h embodies at
least three #onli#tin* views1
516 !thene was the (artheno*eno)s da)*hter o Metis2 i%e% the yo)n*est (erson o the Triad
headed by Metis, Goddess o Wisdom%
506 @e)s swallowed Metis2 i%e% the !#haeans s)((ressed her #)lt and arro*ated all wisdom to
@e)s as their (atriar#hal *od%
5<6 !thene was the da)*hter o @e)s2 i%e% the @e)s7worshi((in* !#haeans s(ared !theneAs
tem(les on #ondition that her rotaries a##e(ted his (aramo)nt soverei*nty%
@e)sAs swallowin* o Metis, with its seE)el, will have been re(resented *ra(hi#ally on the
walls o a tem(le2 and as the eroti# ?ionys)sJon#e a (artheno*eno)s son o +emeleJwas
reborn rom his thi*h, so the intelle#t)al !thene was reborn rom his head%
$ some myths are balin* at irst si*ht, this is oten be#a)se the mytho*ra(her has
a##identally or deliberately misinter(reted a sa#red (i#t)re or dramati# rite% $ have #alled s)#h
a (ro#ess Ai#onotro(yA, and e:am(les o it #an be o)nd in every body o sa#red literat)re
whi#h sets the seal )(on a radi#al reorm o an#ient belies% Greek myth teems with
i#onotro(i# instan#es% &e(haest)sAs three7le**ed worksho( tables, or e:am(le, whi#h ran by
themselves to assemblies o the *ods, and ba#k a*ain 5$liad6, are not, as ?r .harles +eltman
s)**ests in his T welve ;lym(ian Gods, anti#i(ations o a)tomobiles2 b)t *olden +)n7disks
with three le*s a (ie#e 5like the emblem o the $sle o Man6, a((arently re(resentin* the
n)mber o three7season years or whi#h a Ison o &e(haest)sA was (ermitted to rei*n in the
island o -emnos% !*ain, the so7#alled I9)d*ement o "arisA, where a hero is #alled )(on to
de#ide between the rival #harms o three *oddesses and awards his a((le to the airest,
re#ords an an#ient rit)al sit)ation, o)t*rown by the time o &omer and &esiod% These three
*oddesses are one *oddess in triad1 !thene the maiden, !(hrodite the nym(h, and &era the
#roneJand !(hrodite is (resentin* "aris with the a((le, rather than re#eivin* it rom him%
This a((le, symboli8in* her love bo)*ht at the (ri#e o his lie, will be "arisAs (ass(ort to the
,lysian 'ields, the a((le or#hards o the west, to whi#h only the so)ls o heroes are admitted%
! similar *it is reE)ently made in $rish and Welsh myth2 as well as by the Three &es(erides,
to &era#les2 and by ,ve, Ithe Mother o !ll -ivin*A, to !dam% Th)s 3emesis, *oddess o the
sa#red *rove who, in late myth, be#ame a symbol o divine ven*ean#e on (ro)d kin*s, #arries
an a((le7h)n* bran#h, her *it to heroes% !ll 3eolithi# and 4ron8e !*e (aradises were
or#hard7islands2 (aradise itsel means Ior#hardA%
! tr)e s#ien#e o myth sho)ld be*in with a st)dy o ar#haeolo*y, history, and #om(arative
reli*ion, not in the (sy#hothera(istAs #ons)ltin*7room% Tho)*h the 9)n*ians hold that Imyths
are ori*inal revelations o the (re7#ons#io)s (sy#he, invol)ntary statements abo)t
)n#ons#io)s (sy#hi# ha((enin*sA, Greek mytholo*y was no more mysterio)s in #ontent than
are modern ele#tion #artoon, and or the most (art orm)lated in territories whi#h maintained
#lose (oliti#al relations with Minoan .reteJa #o)ntry so(histi#ated eno)*h to have written
ar#hives, o)r7storey b)ildin*s with hy*ieni# (l)mbin*, doors with modern lookin* lo#ks,
re*istered trademarks, #hess, a #entral system o wei*hts and meas)res, and a #alendar based
on (atient astronomi# observation%
My method has been to assemble in harmonio)s narrative all the s#attered elements o ea#h
myth, s)((orted by little7known variants whi#h may hel( to determine the meanin*, and to
answer all E)estions that arise, as best $ #an, in anthro(olo*i#al or histori#al terms% This is, $
am well aware, m)#h too ambitio)s a task or any sin*le mytholo*ist to )ndertake, however
lon* or hard he works% ,rrors m)st #ree( in% -et we em(hasi8e that any statement here made
abo)t Mediterranean reli*ion or rit)al beore the a((earan#e o written re#ords is #onHe#t)ral%
3evertheless, $ have been heartened, sin#e this book irst a((eared in 1955, by the #lose
analo*)es whi#h ,% Meyrowit8As !kan .osmolo*i#al ?rama oers to the reli*io)s and so#ial
#han*es here (res)med% The !kan (eo(le res)lt rom an an#ient so)thward emi*ration o
/yo74erbersJ#o)sins to the (ro7&elleni# (o()lation o Gree#eJrom the +ahara desert
oases and their intermarria*e at Timb)#too with 3i*er River ne*roes% $n the eleventh #ent)ry
!? they moved still arther so)th to what is now Ghana% 'o)r dierent #)lt7ty(es (ersist
amon* them% $n the most (rimitive, the Moon is worshi((ed as the s)(reme Tri(le7*oddess
3*ame, #learly identi#al with the -ibyan 3eith, the .artha*inian Tanit, the .anaanite !natha,
and the early Greek !thene% 3*ame is said to have bro)*ht orth the heavenly bodies by her
own eorts, and then to have vitali8ed men and animals by shootin* ma*i#al arrows rom her
new7moon bow into their inert bodies% +he also, it is said, takes lie in her killer as(e#t2 as did
her #o)nter(art, the Moon7*oddess !rtemis% ! (rin#ess o royal line is H)d*ed #a(able, in
)nsettled times, o bein* over#ome by 3*ameAs l)nar ma*i# and bearin* a tribal deity whi#h
takes )( its residen#e in a shrine and leads a *ro)( o emi*rants to some new re*ion% This
woman be#omes E)een7mother, war7leader, H)d*e, and (riestess o the settlement she o)nds%
The deity has meanwhile revealed itsel as a totem animal whi#h is (rote#ted by a #lose
taboo, a(art rom the yearly #hase and sa#rii#e o a sin*le s(e#imen2 this throws li*ht on the
yearly owl7h)nt made by the "elas*ians at !thens% +tates, #onsistin* o tribal ederation, are
then ormed, the most (ower)l tribal deity be#omin* the +tate7*od%
The se#ond #)lt7ty(e marks !kan #oales#en#e with +)danese worshi((ers o a 'ather7*od,
;domankoma, who #laimed to have made the )niverse sin*le7handedly2 they were, it seems,
led by ele#ted male #hietains, and had ado(ted the +)merian seven7day week% !s a
#om(romise myth, 3*ame is now said to have vitali8ed ;domankomaAs lieless #reation2 and
ea#h tribal deity be#omes one o the seven (lanetary (owers% These (lanetary (owersJas $
have (res)med also ha((ened in Gree#e when Titan7worshi( #ame in rom the ,astJorm
male7and7emale (airs% The E)een7mother o the state, as 3*ameAs re(resentative, (erorms
an ann)al sa#red marria*e with ;domankomaAs re(resentative1 namely her #hosen lover
whom, at the #lose o the year, the (riests m)rder, skin, and lay% The same (ra#ti#e seems to
have obtained amon* the Greeks%
$n the third #)lt7ty(e, the E)een7motherAs lover be#omes a kin*2 and is venerated as the male
as(e#t o the Moon, #orres(ondin* with the "hoeni#ian *od 4aal &aman2 and a boy dies
vi#ario)sly or him every year as a mo#k7kin*% The E)een7mother now dele*ates the #hie
e:e#)tive (owers to a vi8ier, and #on#entrates on her rit)al ertili8in* )n#tions%
$n the o)rth #)lt7ty(e, the kin*, havin* *ained the homa*e o several (etty kin*s, abro*ates
his Moon7*od as(e#t and (ro#laims himsel +)n7kin* in ,*y(tian style% Tho)*h #ontin)in*
to #elebrate the ann)al sa#red marria*e, he rees himsel rom de(enden#e on the Moon% !t
this sta*e, (atrilo#al
s)(ersedes matrilo#al marria*e, and the tribes are s)((lied with heroi# male an#estors to
worshi(, as ha((ened in Gree#eJtho)*h s)n7worshi( there never dis(la#ed th)nder7*od
worshi(%
!mon* the !kan, every #han*e in #o)rt7rit)al is marked by an addition to the a##e(ted myth
o events in &eaven% Th)s, i the kin* has a((ointed a royal (orter and *iven his oi#e l)stre
by marryin* him to a (rin#ess, a divine (orter in &eaven is anno)n#ed to have done the same%
$t is likely that &era#lesAs marria*e to the Goddess &ebe and his a((ointment as (orter to
@e)s rele#ted a similar event at the My#enaean .o)rt2 and that the divine eastin*s on
;lym()s rele#ted similar #elebrations at ;lym(ia )nder the Hoint (residen#y o the @e)s7like
&i*h Gin* o My#enae and &eraAs .hie "riestess rom !r*os%
$ am dee(ly *rate)l to 9anet +eymo)r7+mith and Genneth Gay or hel(in* me to *et this
book into sha(e, to "eter and -ala*e Green or (roo7readin* the irst ew #ha(ters, to 'rank
+eymo)r7+mith or sendin* s#ar#e -atin and Greek te:ts rom -ondon, and to the many
riends who have hel(ed me to amend the irst edition%
R%G%
?eyL, MaHor#a,
+(ain%
R,-$G$;3 !3? MDT& $3 &$G& !3T$M/$TD
The early, (re7&elleni#, *ods were maniested in animal orm2 their bein* was intimately
#onne#ted with trees, (lants, bodies o water, with earth and ormations o earth, with wind
and #lo)ds% They dwelt not in the heavens like the ;lym(ian *ods, b)t on and in the earth%
$n (rehistori# reli*ion the eminine essen#e was dominant% $t was women too who held the
hi*hest divine rank% ,ven in the #ase o "oseidon, whose (ower m)st on#e have been so lar*e
and in#l)sive that #om(arison with @e)s was easible, it is obvio)s that he did not a((roa#h
the earth7*oddess in di*nity% !s her h)sband he was, as the name shows, invoked in (rayer%
The same style o address is a((lied to @e)s in &omer as an antiE)e #eremonial orm% This
(rimal world o *ods is (ervaded by a maternal strain, whi#h is as #hara#teristi# o it as is the
(aternal and mas#)line strain in the &omeri# world o *ods% $n the stories o /ran)s and Gaia
and o .ron)s and Rhea, to whi#h we shall address o)rselves (resently, the #hildren are
wholly on the side o the mother, and the ather seems to be a stran*er with whom they have
nothin* to do% Thin*s are very dierent in the realm o @e)s2 there the o)tstandin* deities
des#ribe themselves em(hati#ally as #hildren o their ather%
4)t the distin#tion o the (re7&omeri# reli*ion rom the &omeri# is not #om(rised in the a#t
that the male is o less wei*ht than the emale% $n (re7&omeri# reli*ion the mas#)line
divinities themselves are ashioned dierently than we are a##)stomed to ima*ine them rom
&omer and #lassi#al art% &ere they are Titans, o whom it is told that they were overthrown
by the ;lym(ian *ods and in#ar#erated in the abyss% Tradition has th)s (reserved the memory
o a stren)o)s #onli#t whi#h ended with the vi#tory o the new *ods% What was it that they
over#ame on that o##asionK +)rely not merely names, b)t essen#es% We know eno)*h o the
nat)re o the Titans to reali8e that they were basi#ally dierent rom the ;lym(ians or whom
they had to make way% The irst o the !es#hylean tra*edies introd)#es )s to one o them with
overwhelmin* *rande)r7"romethe)s%
"romethe)s is a *od, son o the *reat earth7*oddess, whose obd)ra#y the new lord o heaven
is )nable to #r)sh% &e mo#ks the yo)th)l ra#e o *ods, whi#h ab)ses him only be#a)se he
(reserved mankind rom destr)#tion% !s witnesses to the inH)sti#e whi#h he has s)ered he
invokes the (rimal divine elements, the ether, the air, the streams, the sea, mother earth, and
the s)n% !bo)t him are the da)*hters o ;#ean)s, and the old *od o the earth7stream himsel
#omes to show his sym(athy% This "romethe)s who takes his mi*hty se#ret with him into the
abyss has been ima*ined by !es#hyl)s with the *rande)r that has im(ressed the s(irit o
h)manity ever sin#e% 4)t there is no do)bt that "romethe)s was ori*inally not so eminent a
i*)re% -ike &e(haest)s he was a *od o ire and handi#rat to whom h)man e:isten#e owed
m)#h, indeed nearly everythin*% 4)t how did he bestow his benea#tions on the h)man ra#eK
&esiod a((lies the desi*nation Q#ratyQ 5ankylometes6 to him% $n &omer, .ron)s, the #hie o
the Titans, and only he, is oten so desi*nated, and &esiodNs a##o)nt *ives him the same
e(ithet% 'or both deities the e(ithet m)st have #arried s(e#ial si*nii#an#e2 and in a#t the
myths that deal with them show their stren*th as #onsistin* in #)nnin* and in se#ret
amb)shes% &omer thereore i*nores their (rowess, and we m)st resort to &esiod or
inormation% The (oet who was enthralled by the (ro)d and wonder)l mas#)linity o the
;lym(ians m)st have o)nd s)#h #hara#ters and the (e#)liar myths in whi#h they a((eared
distaste)l% $t was by thet that "romethe)s (ro#)red the ire that is )se)l to man2 itAs the
myth o the thet o ire, whi#h is e:tremely wides(read, was a((lied to him% &is se#ond
a#hievement was the de#e(tion by means o whi#h he bro)*ht it abo)t that the *ods
themselves #hose the worse (ortion o the sa#rii#e as their share and let the better (ortion
or men% .ron)s too is a robber% To m)tilate his ather /ran)s he ell )(on him in the dark,
o)t o amb)sh% &is misdeeds a*ainst wie and #hildren are also de(i#ted as thievin* atta#ks%
&e l)rked to s(y )(on the (re*nant mother, and it was only when she was on the (oint o
*ivin* birth to @e)s that she s)##eeded, with her (arentsN hel(, in hidin* rom him and in
brin*in* her yo)n*est son into the world s)rre(titio)sly% &e himsel was overrea#hed by
similar #)nnin*1 instead o the #hildren he wished to swallow he was *iven a stone, and
)rther *)ile bro)*ht him to dis*or*e irst the stone and then all the #hildren he had
(revio)sly swallowed%
When we read these stories, )( to the establishment o the lordshi( o @e)s, we eel o)rselves
in a dierent, one may almost say, an )n7Greek world% Memories o mythi#al tales o (rimal
#ivili8ations are aro)sed% $n many res(e#ts the (rin#i(al (ersona*es are like the inventive
heroes and deliverers o (rimitive (eo(les% !s in the #ase o the latter, the h)man and divine
are marvello)sly intermin*led% This s(irit)al kinshi( is *iven very #hara#teristi# e:(ression in
a (e#)liar trait o the stories1 the hero, the deliverer o his (eo(le, the one #alled to lordshi(,
is the yo)n*est% This is tr)e o .ron)s, o @e)s, and, to #ite only a sin*le e:am(le, o Ma)l,
the divine deliverer o "olynesia, who was the last7born #hild o his (arents% The mere a#t
that in &omer @e)s is no lon*er the yo)n*est b)t rather the eldest son o .ron)s is in itsel
eviden#e o the *reat transormation in tho)*ht%
The im(ression whi#h the myths *ive o the mas#)line deities who were s)((ressed by the
;lym(ians seems to it in admirably with what we learn o their names and orms% The name
Titan is said to have denoted Qkin*%Q 3or did the word desi*nate a s(e#ii# kind o *od b)t
more (ro(erly the *reat *ods in *eneral, like de)s amon* the Romans and theos amon* the
Greeks% This is #onsistent with the s)**estion lately advan#ed by "a)l Grets#hmer2 in the
name Titan he re#o*ni8es a Q"elas*ianQ orer)nner o the Greek 5or -atin6 word or heavenly
*ods whi#h inheres in s)#h names as @e)s, ?ies(iter, and the like% Tinia, the ,tr)s#an name
or 9)(iter, wo)ld be a similar orer)nner on $talian soil% $t a((ears then that in QTitanQ we
have the name whi#h #om(rehended the (re7;lym(ian *ods and by whi#h they were invoked%
There are many indi#ations that it a#E)ired the #onnotation o Qwild,Q Qrebellio)s,Q or even
Qwi#kedQ by o((osition to the ;lym(ians, to whom the Titans yielded only ater a str)**le%
3ow it is to be noted that these Titans are reE)ently #hara#teri8ed as "ria(ean deities% Gaibel
re*arded this as the (rin#i(al and ori*inal #on#e(tion2 latterly it has been held that nothin*
more than a Hoke is im(lied% 4)t the eviden#e H)stiies Gaibel, inasm)#h as it #om(els )s to
believe that there m)st have been a remarkable similarity between the ithy(halli# deities and
the (i#t)re in whi#h the Titans were ima*ined% 3evertheless we m)st not attrib)te to the
em(hasis on the se:)al in the #ase o the Titans the si*nii#an#e that atta#hed to (halli#
bein*s in histori#al times% The little wooden idols o (rimitive #)lt)res #an tea#h )s how the
idols o Titans m)st have been ashioned to remind men in later #ent)ries, who may have
en#o)ntered s)#h
wooden ima*es reE)ently, o "ria()s and his (eers% $n these small and E)ite sim(le i*)res
mas#)linity was markedly em(hasi8ed% This #hara#teri8ed them as virile deities #a(able o
re(rod)#tion, b)t not as wanton, and it was th)s that they stood beside the maternal deities
and their e(itome, Mother ,arth, whose eminine and maternal (owers ar trans#ended them
in *rande)r and di*nity%
$n one sin*le #ase the #on#e(t o the mas#)line divinity rises to tr)e *rande)r, and that is the
)nion o divine heaven and divine earth in wedlo#k% ,ven !es#hyl)s sin*s o the amoro)s
*low o Qholy heavenQ and the n)(tial yearnin* o ,arth, who is im(re*nated by the rain rom
above% The myth re(resents the embra#e as a mi*hty event, at the very be*innin* o the
world% The remarkable a##o)nt in the Theo*ony tells how Q*reat /ran)s #ame, brin*in* on
ni*ht and lon*in* or love, and he lay abo)t Gaia, s(readin* himsel )ll )(on her%Q
The hi*h si*nii#an#e o this (i#t)re is (roven by its s)rvival in amo)s myths% $n these,
however, it has been dis*)ised, or the #onH)*al (air do not bear s)#h trans(arent names as
NQheavenQ and QearthQ2 @e)s a((ears in the marble o heaven, and in that o earth a((ear
?anae, +emele, or other h)man women% 4)t )(on #loser e:amination it be#omes #lear that
these are re#)rren#es o the same (rimal moti )nder vario)s names and in vario)s
#on#e(tions% De t loty as the heavenly *od a((ears in this (i#t)re, and altho)*h he is little
inerior to the earth7*oddess in *rande)r, the a#t that the mas#)line divinity is se#ondary to
the eminine in the reli*io)s tho)*ht o the early (eriod remains )nalterable% The *od o
heaven in (arti#)lar m)st have (layed only a sli*ht (art in early reli*ion, however (ersistent
the myths #on#ernin* him may be% +o in the reli*ions o (rimitive (eo(les, o whi#h there is
m)#h to remind )s here, the mas#)line divinity o heaven oten remains in the ba#k*ro)nd%
4)t the i*)re o the *od o heaven draws o)r attention to one o the most si*nii#ant
(henomena o the (rehistori# world, the myth% We m)st )nderstand that *reat myths in the
(ro(er sense were done with when the new view o the world #ame to (revail% $n the latter
(eriod, interest was #antered )(on the shar(ly delineated (ersonal i*)re% 4)t myth is always
a ha((enin* in whi#h the ma*nit)de and im(ortan#e o the individ)al a*ents or vi#tims are
swallowed )(% The h)*eness o the ha((enin* so dominates them that their ima*es may
easily a((ear monstro)s, *rotesE)e, and #omi# to the tamer taste o later *enerations% Th)s
we see that the &omeri# (oems disdain their #hara#teristi# #reations with well7bred silen#e,
as tho)*h they were i*norant o them, tho)*h they knew them well eno)*h, and that "lato
who was himsel *ited in mythi# tho)*ht7tho)*h in a new mode 7makes no se#ret d his
dis*)st or them%
;ne s)#h myth, illed with the s(irit o the (rimal (eriod, is that o .ron)s and /ran)s%
/ran)s does not s)er the #hildren whom Gaia is on the (oint o bearin* to him to rea#h the
li*ht b)t hides them in her de(ths% $n her ali#tion ,arth *roans% &er #hildren are horriied at
the tho)*ht o atta#kin* their ather2 only the yo)n*est son, .ron)s, Qthe #raty,Q shows
#o)ra*e, and with the shar( wea(on whi#h his mother had *iven him alls )(on his ather
rom amb)sh H)st as, at ni*htall and yearnin* or love, /ran)s is s(readin* himsel )ll over
the earth% .ron)s am()tates his atherNs male member and lin*s it into the sea% This
remarkable myth bears )nmistakable kinshi( with the amo)s "olynesian story o the (rimal
(arents, heaven and earth, and o their enor#ed se(aration by one o their sons% -on* a*o
4astian (ointed the kinshi( o)t% $t is not as i some histori#al #onne#tion between the two
#o)ld be made (la)sible2 aside rom other #onsiderations, the diver*en#es are #onsiderable%
!t the be*innin* o all thin*s, says the "olynesian le*end, everlastin* darkness (revailed, or
Ran*i and "a(a, that is, heaven and earth, lay lo#ked to*ether% Their sons #onsidered what
was to be done and determined to se(arate their (arents rom one another by or#e% Cario)s
attem(ts to do so (roved )tile, )ntil Tane, the *od o trees, insin)ated himsel between them
and raised heaven hi*h above earth% 4)t dieren#es in detail are o no #onseE)en#e% The
meanin* and the #hara#ter o the #on#e(tion as a whole are obvio)sly the same in the
&esiodi# and the "olynesian a##o)nt, and the Greek myth, s(atially so ar removed rom the
barbarian, m)st tea#h )s that the &esiodi# re(ort on /ran)s and .ron)s bears the a)thenti#
stam( o *en)ine mythi# tho)*ht% $n one by no means ne*li*ible detail the "olynesian an#y
seems to #oin#ide almost e:a#tly with the Greek% /ran)s hides his #hildren, instead o
s)erin* them to #ome to li*ht, in the earthNs de(ths 5Gaies en ke)thmoni62 the "olynesian
myth #on#l)des 5a##ordin* to 4astan6 with the words1 Q$mmediately )(on the se(aration o
heaven and earth the (eo(le wh o had (revio)sly been hidden in the hollows o their (arentsN
breasts, be#ame visible%Q
The myth o .ron)s and Rhea re(eats the myth o heaven and earth with other an#ies and
other names% l)st as /ran)s did not s)er his #hildren to #ome to li*ht b)t hid them in earthNs
bosom as soon as they were born, so .ron)s swallows his immediately ater birth% !*ain it is
the yo)n*est, @e)s, rom whom deliveran#e #omes% $n this #onne#tion it is im(ossible not to
think o the amo)s myth o the birth o !thena% $t is &esiod, a*ain, who irst tells the story%
!thenaNs mother is said to have been Metis, the *oddess Q$ntelli*en#e,N b)t beore the #hild
#ame into the world @e)s the ather swallowed the mother% &ere too, then, the ather (revents
the #hild rom iss)in* orth rom its mother2 here too he swallows it, as .ron)s had done, b)t
to*ether with the mother2 here too he a#ts to orestall the destiny oretold by /ran)s and Gaia
that a son o this )nion wo)ld east him rom his throne% 4)t here we have added the new
moti that the #hild is born o the ather himsel, and in very (e#)liar ashion7rom the head%
Ts reminds )s o the birth o ?ionys)s, whom @e)s #a)*ht )( into his own thi*h as an
in#om(lete embryo rom his b)rnin* mother and himsel *ave birth to at the a((ro(riate
season%
$t is E)ite remarkable that all these myths #o)ld latterly have been #onsidered as relatively
late #reations o s(e#)lation or e:e*esis% With )ll re*ard to the #a)tion that is here #alled or
it may still be (ositively asserted that o all (ossible inter(retations this is the least (robable%
Whatever the ori*inal meanin* o these stories may have been, their astonishin*, romanti#,
and *i*anti# E)alities are (roo o their validity as #reations o *en)ine and ori*inal mythi#
tho)*ht, or rather, view(oint% They are E)ite analo*o)s to the irst rank *rowth o myths
amon* (rimitive #ivili8ations and strike )s with the same sense o stran*eness% ,ven the
remarkable birth o !thena has a "olynesian (arallel, at least in the #ir#)mstan#e that there
too the mythi#al (ersona*e was born o)t o the head% ; Tan*aroa it is related that his mother
"a(a bore him not in the )s)al manner b)t thro)*h her arm, or, a##ordin* to another version,
Qstrai*ht o)t o her head%NN
To )s they so)nd stran*e, these myths, and so they did to the &omeri# a*e also% &omer knew
well eno)*h that !thene s(ran* rom her atherNs head2 the honorii# e(ithet obrimo(atre,
Qda)*hter o the mi*hty ather,Q is a #lear eno)*h indi#ation% The *oddess hersel de#lares, in
!es#hyl)s, that she is Qwholly her atherNsN and knows o no mother2 she is eE)ally her atherNs
in &omer% 4)t #on#ernin* the romanti# myth o her birth rom his head &omer is silent, and it
is as little #on#eivable that he #o)ld s(eak o it as it is that he #o)ld s(eak o the monstro)s
myths o /ran)s and .ron)s% We reali8e that the a*e o the antasti# narrative myth is over% $n
the new a*e, whi#h #on#eives the essen#e o the world and o h)man lie in loty i*)res,
myth no lon*er enHoys the soverei*n inde(enden#e and #a(a#ity or the ab)lo)s whi#h it had
(ossessed in the (rehistori# (eriod% The distin#tion between the two will be#ome #lear in the
seE)el%
!lon* with an#ient myth, ma*i# also (erished, and tho)*h both may have s)rvived here and
there in Gree#e in one orm or another, the main line o the Greek s(irit (roves that it had
on#e and or all de#ided a*ainst them% !nd this de#ision was made in the (eriod or whi#h the
&omeri# (oems are the *reat do#)ment%
We #an #lassiy the world7view o (eo(les a##ordin* to the de*ree by whi#h they are
(reo##)(ied and #ontrolled by ma*i# thinkin*% 3one has so #om(letely over#ome ma*i# in its
#hara#teristi# world o tho)*ht as has the Greek% $n the &omeri# world, ma*i# (ossesses no
im(ortan#e, whether we look at *ods or men, and the ew #ases where knowled*e o ma*i# is
indi#ated only *o to show how remote it had be#ome% The *ods do not (ra#ti#e en#hantment,
even tho)*h at times they brin* thin*s to (ass in a manner reminis#ent o an#ient ma*i#%
Their mi*ht, like their essen#e, is based not on ma*i#al (ower, b)t on the bein* o nat)re%
Q3at)reQ is the *reat new word whi#h the mat)red Greek s(irit o((osed to an#ient ma*i#%
'rom here the (ath leads dire#tly to the arts and to the s#ien#es o the Greeks% 4)t in the a*e
when the an#ient myths were still vital, ma*i# 5whi#h is related to an#ient myth in s(irit6
a((ears to have (ossessed no sli*ht im(ortan#e2 or in mythi#al narratives the mira#)lo)s,
whi#h has *rown alien to the &omeri# s(irit, o##)(ies a
lar*e (la#e%
! *en)ine mira#)lo)s hero in early myth is "erse)s, whom his mother ?anae #on#eived in
the de(ths o the earth rom the *olden rain o the *od o heaven2 as an inant he was ished
o)t o an ark in the sea, and later e:(erien#ed advent)res most astonishin*% To rea#h the
horrid Gor*ons at the western e:tremity o the world, beyond ;#ean, he irst visited the ;ld
Women and or#ed them to show him the way to the 3ym(hs, rom whom he re#eived
win*ed shoes, a #a( o invisibility, and s#ri(% Th)s eE)i((ed he lew to the end o the world
and hewed Med)saNs head o, where)(on there s(ran* rom her tr)nk .hrysaor, Qthe man
with the *olden sword,Q and "e*as)s, the li*htnin* steed, whom Med)sa had #on#eived rom
"oseidon%
&ow dierent is the world to whi#h this heroi# myth belon*s rom the world o &omeri#
*ods and men2 how dierent is this hero rom a &era#les or rom the heroes o &omerP &ere
advent)re and marvel is everythin*, and nothin* is let o the (ersona*e involved% !ll that
ha((ens has a marvello)s, airytale E)ality, and is e:traordinary to the (oint o monstrosity%
When the head o Med)sa is severed rom her body and man and horse s(rin* orth, one eels
that somethin* (ower)l and (roo)ndly si*nii#ant is *oin* on, e:(ressed in (e#)liar
ima*ery7b)t who #an now inter(ret s)#h an ima*eK G)ile and en#hantment are the E)alities
by whi#h the hero brin*s the in#redible to (ass% The ;ld Women he robs o their most
(re#io)s (ossession and thereby or#es them to show him the way to the 3ym(hs2 and rom
these he re#eives the ma*i# arti#les by whi#h alone he #an rea#h his *oal in the e:treme west
beyond ;#ean and (erorm his advent)re7win*ed shoes and the #a( that made him invisible%
;ne is reminded o Q#ratyQ .ron)s and o the deed he a#hieved with his si#kle7the same
wea(on that one ima*ines in the hands o "erse)s%
"erse)s is not a *od, b)t he stands very near the *ods and (erha(s on#e was one% Ginshi(
with &ermes is very strikin*, and e:tends (re#isely to those traits in the (i#t)re o &ermes
whi#h, as we shall see, belon* to the oldest mode o #on#eivin* the world% !nd th)s it
be#omes (ossible or )s to re#o*ni8e #learly what it is that distin*)ishes the earlier
#on#e(tion o the *ods rom the &omeri#, and in the )llest sense Greek, #on#e(tion%
The most mira#)lo)s ha((enin* in the world and the most astonishin* and ma*i#al #a(a#ity
o hi*her bein*s7s)#h are the ima*es and tho)*hts by whi#h the s(irit was at one time illed%
4)t the new s(irit looks into e:isten#e with dierent eyes% 'or it, not ha((enin* and #a(a#ity
are most im(ortant, b)t bein*% The divinities be#ome i*)res o reality in whi#h the maniold
bein* oR nat)re inds its (ere#t and eternal e:(ression% With this ste( an#ient myth is
abolished, ma*i# over#ome, and the *ods are inally se(arated rom the elemental%
1% T&, ",-!+G$!3 .R,!T$;3 MDT&
$n the be*innin*, ,)rynome, The Goddess o !ll Thin*s, rose naked rom .haos, b)t o)nd
nothin* s)bstantial or her eet to rest )(on, and thereore divided the sea rom the sky,
dan#in* lonely )(on its waves% +he dan#ed towards the so)th, and the wind set in motion
behind her seemed somethin* new and a(art with whi#h to be*in a work o #reation%
Wheelin* abo)t, she #a)*ht hold o this north wind, r)bbed it between her hands, and beholdP
the *reat ser(ent ;(hion% ,)rynome dan#ed to warm hersel, wildly and more wildly, )ntil
;(hion, *rown l)st)l, #oiled abo)t those divine limbs and was moved to #o)(le with her%
3ow, the 3orth Wind, who is also #alled 4oreas, ertili8es2 whi#h is why mares oten t)rn
their hind7E)arters to the wind and breed oals witho)t aid o a stallion% +o ,)rynome was
likewise *ot with #hild%
b% 3e:t, she ass)med the orm o a dove, broodin* on the waves and in d)e (ro#ess o time
laid the /niversal ,**% !t her biddin*, ;(hion #oiled seven times abo)t this e**, )ntil it
hat#hed and s(lit in two% ;)t t)mbled all thin*s that e:ist, her #hildren1 s)n, moon, (lanets,
stars, the earth with its mo)ntains and rivers, its trees, herbs, and livin* #reat)res%
#% ,)rynome and ;(hion made their home )(on Mo)nt ;lym()s, where he ve:ed her by
#laimin* to be the a)thor o the /niverse% 'orthwith she br)ised his head with her heel,
ki#ked o)t his teeth, and banished him to the dark #aves below the earth%
d% 3e:t, the *oddess #reated the seven (lanetary (owers, settin* a Titaness and a Titan over
ea#h% Theia and &y(erion or the +)n2 "hoebe and !tlas or the Moon2 ?ione and .ri)s or
the (lanet Mars2 Metis and .oe)s or the (lanet Mer#)ry2 Themis and ,)rymedon or the
(lanet 9)(iter2 Tethys and ;#ean)s or Cen)s2 Rhea and .ron)s or the (lanet +at)rn% 4)t the
irst man was "elas*)s, an#estor o the "elas*ians2 he s(ran* rom the soil o !r#adia,
ollowed by #ertain others, whom he ta)*ht to make h)ts and eed )(on a#orns, and sew (i*
Jskin t)ni#s s)#h as (oor olk still wear in ,)boea and "ho#is%
1% ;nly tantali8in* ra*ments o this (reJ&elleni# myth s)rvive in Greek literat)re, the
lar*est bein* !(olloni)s Rhodi)sNs !*rona)ti#a and T8et8es b)t it is im(li#it in the ;r(hi#
Mysteries, and #an be restored, as above, rom the 4erossian 'ra*ment and the "hoeni#ian
#osmo*onies E)oted by "hilostrat)s and ?amas#i)s2 rom the .anaanitish elements in the
&ebrew .reation story2 rom &y*in)s 5'ab)la62 rom the 4oeotian le*end o the dra*onNs
teeth2 and rom early rit)al art% That all "elas*ians were born rom ;(hion is s)**ested by
their #ommon sa#rii#e, the "eloria 5!thenae)s6, ;(hion havin* been a "elor, or N(rodi*io)s
ser(entN% $n this ar#hai# reli*io)s system there were, as yet, neither *ods nor (riests, b)t only
a )niversal *oddess and her (riestesses, woman bein* the dominant se: and man her
ri*htened vi#tim% 'atherhood was not hono)red, #on#e(tion bein* attrib)ted to the wind, the
eatin* o beans, or the a##idental swallowin* o an inse#t2 inheritan#e was matrilineal and
snakes were re*arded as in#arnations o the dead% ,)rynome 5Nwide wanderin*N6 was the
*oddessNs title as the visible moon2 her +)merian name was $ah) 5Ne:alted doveN6, a title whi#h
later (assed to 9ehovah as the .reator% $t was as a dove that Mard)k symboli#ally sli#ed her in
two at the 4abylonian +(rin* 'estival, when he ina)*)rated the new world order%
0% ;(hion, or 4oreas, is the ser(ent demi)r*e o &ebrew and ,*y(tian mythJin early
Mediterranean art, the Goddess is #onstantly shown in his #om(any% The earthJborn
"elas*ians, whose #laim seems to have been that they s(ran* rom ;(hionNs teeth, were
ori*inally (erha(s the 3eolithi# N"ainted WareN (eo(le2 they rea#hed the mainland o Gree#e
rom "alestine abo)t <500 4., and the early &ellads J immi*rants rom !sia Minor by way
o the .y#lades J o)nd them in o##)(ation o the "elo(onnese seven h)ndred years later%
4)t N"elas*iansN be#ame loosely a((lied to all (reJ&elleni# inhabitants o Gree#e% Th)s
,)ri(ides 5E)oted by +trabo6 re#ords that the "elas*ians ado(ted the name N?anaidsN on the
#omin* to !r*os o ?ana)s and his ity da)*hters% +tri#t)res on their li#entio)s #ond)#t
5&erodot)s6 reer (robably to the (reJ&elleni# #)stom o eroti# or*ies% +trabo says in the
same (assa*e that those who lived near !thens were known as "elar*i 5NstorksN62 (erha(s this
was their totem bird%
<% The Titans 5NlordsN6 and Titanesses had their #o)nter(arts in early 4abylonian and
"alestinian astrolo*y, where they were deities r)lin* the seven days o the sa#red (lanetary
week2 and may have been introd)#ed by the .anaanite, or &ittite, #olony whi#h settled the
$sthm)s o .orinth early in the se#ond millenni)m 4., or even by the ,arly &ellads% 4)t
when the Titan #)lt was abolished in Gree#e, and the sevenJday week #eased to i*)re in the
oi#ial #alendar, their n)mber was E)oted as twelve by some a)thors, (robably to make them
#orres(ond with the si*ns o the @odia#% &esiod, !(ollodor)s, +te(han)s o 4y8anti)m,
"a)sanias, and others *ive in#onsistent lists o their names% $n 4abylonian myth the (lanetary
r)lers o the week, namely +amas,
+in, 3er*al, 4el, 4eltis, and 3inib, were all male, e:#e(t 4eltis, the -oveJ*oddess2 b)t in
the Germani# week, whi#h the .elts had borrowed rom the ,astern Mediterranean, +)nday,
T)esday, and 'riday were r)led by Titanesses, as o((osed to Titans% To H)d*e rom the divine
stat)s o !eol)sNs (aired Jo da)*hters and sons, and the myth o 3iobe, it was de#ided,
when the system irst rea#hed (reJ&elleni# Gree#e rom "alestine, to (air a Titaness with
ea#h Titan, as a means o sae*)ardin* the *oddessNs interests% 4)t beore lon* the o)rteen
were red)#ed to a mi:ed #om(any o seven% The (lanetary (owers were as ollows1 +)n or
ill)mination2 Moon or en#hantment2 Mars or *rowth2 Mer#)ry or wisdom2 9)(iter or law2
Cen)s or love2 +at)rn or (ea#e% .lassi#al Greek astrolo*ers #onormed with the
4abylonians, and awarded the (lanets to &eli)s, +elene, !res, &ermes 5or !(ollo6, @e)s,
!(hrodite, .ron)sJwhose -atin eE)ivalents, *iven above, still name the 'ren#h, $talian, and
+(anish weeks%
=% $n the end, mythi#ally s(eakin*, @e)s swallowed the Titans, in#l)din* his earlier sel J
sin#e the 9ews o 9er)salem worshi((ed a trans#endent God, #om(osed o all the (lanetary
(owers o the week1 a theory symboli8ed in the sevenJbran#hed #andlesti#k, and in the
+even "illars o Wisdom% The seven (lanetary (illars set )( near the &orseNs Tomb at +(arta
were said by "a)sanias to be adorned in an#ient ashion, and may have been #onne#ted with
the ,*y(tian rites introd)#ed by the "elas*ians% Whether the 9ews borrowed the theory rom
the ,*y(tians, or #ontrariwise, is )n#ertain2 b)t the soJ#alled &elio(olitan @e)s, whom !%
4% .ook dis#)sses in his @e)s, was ,*y(tian in #hara#ter, and bore b)sts o the seven
(lanetary (owers as rontal ornaments on his body sheath2 )s)ally, also, b)sts o the
remainin* ;lym(ians as rear ornaments% ;ne bron8e stat)ette o this *od was o)nd at
Tortosa in +(ain, another at 4yblos in "hoeni#ia2 and a marble stele rom Marseilles dis(lays
si: (lanetary b)sts and one )llJlen*th i*)re o &ermes J who is also *iven *reatest
(rominen#e in the stat)ettes J (res)mably as the inventor o astronomy% !t Rome, 9)(iter
was similarly #laimed to be a trans#endent *od by M)int)s Caletins +oran)s, tho)*h the week
was not observed there, as it was at Marseilles, 4yblos, and 5(robably6 Tortosa% 4)t (lanetary
(owers were never allowed to inl)en#e the oi#ial ;lym(ian #)lt, bein* re*arded as )nJ
Greek 5&erodot)s6, and thereore )n(atrioti#1 !risto(hanes 5"ea#e6 makes Try*as)s say that
the Moon and Nthat old villain the +)nN are hat#hin* a (lot to herray Gree#e into the hands o
the "ersian barbarians%
5% "a)saniasNs statement that "elas*)s was the irst o men re#ords the #ontin)an#e o a
"alaeolithi# #)lt)re in !r#adia )ntil .lassi#al times%
T&, &;M,R$. !3? ;R"&$. .R,!T$;3 MDT&+
+;M, say that all *ods and all livin* #reat)res ori*inated in the stream o ;#ean)s whi#h
*irdles the world, and that Tethys was the mother o all his #hildren%
b% 4)t the ;r(hi#s say that bla#k7win*ed 3i*ht, a *oddess o whom even @e)s stands in awe,
was #o)rted by the Wind and laid a silver e** in the womb o ?arkness2 and that ,ros, whom
some #all "hanes, was hat#hed rom this e** and set the /niverse in motion% ,ros was
do)ble7se:ed and *olden7win*ed and, havin* o)r heads, sometimes roared like a b)ll or a
lion, sometimes hissed like a ser(ent or bleated like a ram% 3i*ht, who named him ,ri#e(ai)s
and "roto*en)s "haBthon, lived in a #ave with him, dis(layin* hersel in triad1 3i*ht, ;rder
and 9)sti#e% 4eore this #ave sat ines#a(able mother Rhea, (layin* on a bra8en dr)m, and
#om(ellin* manNs attention to the ora#les o the *oddess% "hanes #reated earth, sky, s)n, and
moon, b)t the tri(le7*oddess r)led the )niverse, )ntil her s#e(tre (assed to /ran)s
1% &omerNs myth is a version o the "elas*ian #reation story, sin#e Tethys rei*ned over the sea
like ,)rynome, and ;#ean)s *irdled the /niverse like ;(hion%
0% The ;r(hi# myth is another version, b)t inl)en#ed by a mysti#al do#trine o love 5,ros6
and theories abo)t the (ro(er relation o the se:es% 3i*htNs silver e** means the moon, silver
bein* the l)nar metal% !s ,ri#e(ai)s 5Needer )(on heatherN6, the loveJ*od "hanes 5NrevealerN6
is a lo)dlyJb)88in* #elestial bee, son o the Great Goddess% The beehive was st)died as an
ideal re()bli#, and #onirmed the myth o the Golden !*e, when honey dro((ed rom the
trees% RheaNs bra8en dr)m was beaten to (revent bees rom swarmin* in the wron* (la#e, and
to ward o evil inl)en#es, like the b)llJroarers )sed in the Mysteries% !s "haBthon
"roto*en)s 5NirstJborn shinerN6, "hanes is the +)n, whi#h the ;r(hi#s made a symbol o
ill)mination, and his o)r heads #orres(ond with the symboli# beasts o the o)r seasons%
!##ordin* to Ma#robi)s, the ;ra#le o .olo(hon identiied this "hanes with the trans#endent
*od $ao1 @e)s 5ram6, +(rin*2 &eli)s 5lion6, +)mmer2 &ades 5snake6, Winter2 ?ionys)s 5b)ll6,
3ew Dear% 3i*htNs s#e(tre (assed to /ran)s with the advent o (atriar#halism%
T&, ;-DM"$!3 .R,!T$;3 MDT&
!T the be*innin* o all thin*s Mother ,arth emer*ed rom .haos and bore her son /ran)s as
she sle(t% Ga8in* down ondly at her rom the mo)ntains, he showered ertile rain )(on her
se#ret #lets, and she bore *rass, lowers, and trees, with the beasts and birds (ro(er to ea#h%
This same rain made the rivers low and illed the hollow (la#es with water, so that lakes and
seas #ame into bein*%
b% &er irst #hildren o semi7h)man orm were the h)ndred7handed *iants 4riare)s, Gy*es,
and .ott)s% 3e:t a((eared the three wild, oneJeyed .y#lo(es, b)ilders o *i*anti# walls and
masterJsmiths, ormerly o Thra#e, aterwards o .rete and -y#ia, whose sons ;dysse)s
en#o)ntered in +i#ily% Their names were 4rontes, +tero(es, and !r*es, and their *hosts have
dwelt in the #averns o the vol#ano !etna sin#e !(ollo killed them in reven*e or the death o
!s#le(i)s%
#% The -ibyans, however, #laim that Garamas was born beore the &)ndredJhanded ;nes
and that, when he rose rom the (lain, he oered Mother ,arth a sa#rii#e o the sweet a#orn%
1% This (atriar#hal myth o /ran)s *ained oi#ial a##e(tan#e )nder the ;lym(ian reli*io)s
system% /ran)s, whose name #ame to mean Nthe skyN, seems to have won his (osition as 'irst
'ather by bein* identiied with the (astoral *od Car)na, one o the !ryan male trinity2 b)t his
Greek name is a mas#)line orm o /r7ana 5NE)een o the mo)ntainsN, NE)een o s)mmerN,
NE)een o the windsN, or NE)een o wild o:enN6 J the *oddess in her or*iasti# mids)mmer
as(e#t% /ran)sNs marria*e to Mother ,arth re#ords an early &elleni# invasion o 3orthern
Gree#e, whi#h allowed Car)naNs (eo(le to #laim that he had athered the native tribes he
o)nd there, tho)*h a#knowled*in* him to be Mother ,arthNs son% !n emendation to the
myth, re#orded by !(ollodor)s, is that ,arth and +ky (arted in deadly strie and were then
re)nited in love1 this is mentioned by ,)ri(ides 5Melani((e the Wise6 and !(olloni)s
Rhodi)s 5!r*ona)tion6% The deadly strie m)st reer to the #lash between the (atriar#hal and
matriar#hal (rin#i(les whi#h the &elleni# invasions #a)sed% Gy*es 5N earthJbornN6 has
another orm, *i*as 5N*iantN6, and *iants are asso#iated in myth with the mo)ntains o
3orthern Gree#e% 4riare)s 5Nstron*N6 was also #alled !e*aeon 5$liad6, and his (eo(le may
thereore be the -ibyoJThra#ians, whose GoatJ*oddess !e*is *ave her name to the
!e*ean +ea% .ott)s was the e(onymo)s 5nameJ*ivin*6 an#estor o the .ottians who
worshi((ed the or*iasti# .otytto, and s(read her worshi( rom Thra#e thro)*ho)t 3orthJ
western ,)ro(e% These tribes are des#ribed as Nh)ndredJhandedN, (erha(s be#a)se their
(riestesses were or*ani8ed in #olle*es o ity, like the ?anaids and 3ereids2 (erha(s be#a)se
the men were or*ani8ed in warJbands o one h)ndred, like the early Romans%
0% The .y#lo(es seem to have been a *)ild o ,arly &elladi# bron8eJsmiths% .y#lo(s means
Nrin*JeyedN, and they are likely to have been tattooed with #on#entri# rin*s on the orehead,
in hono)r o the s)n, the so)r#e o their )rna#e ires2 the Thra#ians #ontin)ed to tattoo
themselves )ntil .lassi#al times% .on#entri# #ir#les are (art o the mystery o smithJ#rat1 in
order to beat o)t bowls, helmets, or rit)al masks, the smith wo)ld *)ide himsel with s)#h
#ir#les, des#ribed by #om(ass aro)nd the #entre o the lat disk on whi#h he was workin*%
The .y#lo(es were oneJeyed also in the sense that smiths oten shade one eye with a (at#h
a*ainst lyin* s(arks% -ater, their identity was or*otten and the mytho*ra(hers an#i)lly
(la#ed their *hosts in the #averns o !etna, to e:(lain the ire and smoke iss)in* rom its
#rater% ! #lose #)lt)ral #onne:ion e:isted between Thra#e, .rete, and -y#ia2 the .y#lo(es
will have been at home in all these #o)ntries% ,arly &elladi# #)lt)re also s(read to +i#ily2 b)t
it may well be 5as +am)el 4)tler irst s)**ested6 that the +i#ilian #om(osition o the ;dyssey
e:(lains the .y#lo(esN (resen#e there% The names 4rontes, +tero(es, and !r*es 5Nth)nderN,
Nli*htnin*N, and Nbri*htnessN6 are late inventions%
<% Garamas is the e(onymo)s an#estor o the -ibyan Garamantians who o##)(ied the ;asis
o ?Hado, so)th o the 'e88an, and were #onE)ered by the Roman General 4alb)s in 19 4.%
They are said to have been o .)shiteJ4erber sto#k, and in the se#ond #ent)ry !? were
s)bd)ed by the matrilineal -emta 4erbers% They later )sed with 3e*ro abori*ines on the
so)th bank o the /((er 3i*er and ado(ted their lan*)a*e% They s)rvive today in a sin*le
villa*e )nder the name o Goromantse% Garamant is derived rom the words *ara, man, and
te, meanin* NGaraNs state (eo(leN% Gara seems to be the Goddess Ger, or MNre, or .ar, who
*ave her name to the .arians, amon* other (eo(le, and was asso#iated with a(i#)lt)re%
,s#)lent a#orns, a sta(le ood o the an#ient world beore the introd)#tion o #orn, *rew in
-ibya2 and the Garamantian settlement o !mmon was Hoined with the 3orthern Greek
settlement o ?odona in a reli*io)s lea*)e whi#h, a##ordin* to +ir 'linders "etrie, may have
ori*inated as early as the third millenni)m 4.% 4oth (la#es had an an#ient oakJora#le%
&erodot)s des#ribes the Garamantians as a (ea#eable b)t very (ower)l (eo(le, who
#)ltivate the dateJ(alm, *row #orn, and herd #attle%
TW; "&$-;+;"&$.!- .R,!T$;3 MDT&+
+;M, say that ?arkness was irst, and rom ?arkness s(ran* .haos% 'rom a )nion between
?arkness and .haos s(ran* 3i*ht, ?ay, ,reb)s, and the !ir% 'rom a )nion between 3i*ht and
,reb)s s(ran* ?oom, ;ld !*e, ?eath, M)rder, .ontinen#e, +lee(, ?reams, ?is#ord, Misery,
Ce:ation, 3emesis, 9oy, 'riendshi(, "ity, the Three 'ates, and the Three &es(erides% 'rom a
)nion between !ir and ?ay s(ran* Mother ,arth, +ky, and +ea% 'rom a )nion between !ir
and Mother ,arth s(ran* Terror, .rat, !n*er, +trie, -ies, ;aths, Cen*ean#e, $ntem(eran#e,
!lter#ation, Treaty, ;blivion, 'ear, "ride, 4attle2 also ;#ean)s, Metis, and the other Titans,
Tartar)s, and the Three ,rinnyes, or ')ries% 'rom a )nion between ,arth and Tartar)s s(ran*
the Giants%
b% 'rom a )nion between the +ea and its Rivers s(ran* the 3ereids% 4)t, as yet, there were no
mortal men )ntil, with the #onsent o the *oddess !thene, "romethe)s, son o $a(et)s, ormed
them in the likeness o *ods% &e )sed #lay and water o "ano(e)s in "ho#is, and !thene
breathed lie into them%
#% ;thers say that the God o !ll Thin*s J whoever he may have been, or some #all him
3at)re J a((earin* s)ddenly in .haos, se(arated earth rom the heavens, the water rom the
earth, and the )((er air rom the lower% &avin* )nravelled the elements, he set them in d)e
order, as they are now o)nd% &e divided the earth into 8ones, some very hot, some very #old,
others tem(erate2 mo)lded it into (lains and mo)ntains2 and #lothed it with *rass and trees%
!bove it he set the rollin* irmament, s(an*lin* it with stars, and assi*ned stations to the o)r
winds% &e also (eo(led the waters with ish, the earth with beasts, and the sky with the s)n,
the moon, and the ive (lanets% -astly, he made man J who, alone o all beasts, raises his
a#e to heaven and observes the s)n, the moon, and the stars J )nless it be indeed tr)e that
"romethe)s, son o $a(et)s, made manNs body rom water and #lay, and that his so)l was
s)((lied by #ertain wanderin* divine elements, whi#h had s)rvived rom the 'irst .reation%
1% $n &esiodNs Theo*ony J on whi#h the irst o these (hiloso(hi#al myths is based J the
list o abstra#tions is #on)sed by the 3ereids, the Titans, and the Giants, whom he eels
bo)nd to in#l)de% 4oth the Three 'ates and the Three &es(erides are the Tri(le MoonJ
*oddess in her death as(e#t%
0% The se#ond myth, o)nd only in ;vid, was borrowed by the later Greeks rom the
4abylonian Gil*amesh e(i#, the introd)#tion to whi#h re#ords the *oddess !r)r)Ns (arti#)lar
#reation o the irst man, ,abani, rom a (ie#e o #lay2 b)t, altho)*h @e)s had been the
/niversal -ord or many #ent)ries, the mytho*ra(hers were or#ed to admit that the .reator
o all thin*s mi*ht (ossibly have been a .reatri:% The 9ews, as inheritors o the N"elas*ianN, or
.anaanitish, #reation myth, had elt the same embarrassment1 in the Genesis a##o)nt, a
emale N+(irit o the -ordN broods on the a#e o the waters, tho)*h she does not lay the world
e**2 and ,ve, N the Mother o !ll -ivin* N, is ordered to br)ise the +er(entNs head, tho)*h he is
not destined to *o down to the "it )ntil the end o the world%
<% +imilarly, in the Talm)di# version o the .reation, the ar#han*el Mi#haelJ "romethe)sNs
#o)nter(artJ orms !dam rom d)st at the order, not o the Mother o !ll -ivin*, b)t o
9ehovah% 9ehovah then breathes lie into him and *ives him ,ve who, like "andora, brin*s
mis#hie on mankind%
=% Greek (hiloso(hers distin*)ished "romethean man rom the im(ere#t earthJborn
#reation, (art o whi#h was destroyed by @e)s, and the rest washed away in the ?e)#alionian
'lood% M)#h the same distin#tion is o)nd in Genesis C$% 0J= between the Nsons o GodN and
the Nda)*hters o menN, whom they married%
5% The Gil*amesh tablets are late and eE)ivo#al2 there the N4ri*ht Mother o the &ollowN is
#redited with havin* ormed everythin* J N!r)r)N is only one o this *oddessNs many titlesJ
and the (rin#i(al theme is a revolt a*ainst her matriar#hal order, des#ribed as one o )tter
#on)sion, by the *ods o the new (atriar#hal order% Mard)k, the 4abylonian #ityJ*od,
event)ally deeats the *oddess in the (erson o Tiamat the +eaJser(ent2 and it is then
bra8enly anno)n#ed that he, not anyone else, #reated herbs, lands, rivers, beasts, birds, and
mankind% This Mard)k was an )(start *odlin* whose #laim to have deeated Tiamat and
#reated the world had (revio)sly been made by the *od 4elJ 4el bein* a mas#)line orm o
4elili, the +)merian MotherJ *oddess% The transition rom matriar#hy to (atriar#hy seems to
have #ome abo)t in Meso(otamia, as elsewhere, thro)*h the revolt o the M)eenNs #onsort to
whom she had de()ted e:e#)tive (ower by allowin* him to ado(t her name, robes, and
sa#red instr)ments%
T&, '$C, !G,+ ;' M!3
+;M, deny that "romethe)s #reated men, or that any man s(ran* rom a ser(entNs teeth%
They say that ,arth bore them s(ontaneo)sly, as the best o her r)its, es(e#ially in the soil o
!tti#a, and that !lal#omene)s was the irst man to a((ear, by -ake .o(ais in 4oeotia, beore
even the Moon was% &e a#ted as @e)sNs #o)nsellor on the o##asion o his E)arrel with &era,
and as t)tor to !thene while she was still a *irl%
b% These men were the soJ#alled *olden ra#e, s)bHe#ts o .ron)s, who lived witho)t #ares or
labo)r, eatin* only a#orns, wild r)it, and honey that dri((ed rom the trees, drinkin* the milk
o shee( and *oats, never *rowin* old, dan#in*, and la)*hin* m)#h2 death, to them, was no
more terrible than slee(% They are all *one now, b)t their s(irits s)rvive as *enii o ha((y
r)sti# retreats, *ivers o *ood ort)ne, and )(holders o H)sti#e%
#% 3e:t #ame a silver ra#e, eaters o bread, likewise divinely #reated% The men were )tterly
s)bHe#t to their mothers and dared not disobey them, altho)*h they mi*ht live to be a h)ndred
years old% They were E)arrelsome and i*norant, and never sa#rii#ed to the *ods b)t, at least,
did not make war on one another% @e)s destroyed them all%
d% 3e:t #ame a bra8en ra#e, who ell like r)its rom the ashJtrees, and were armed with
bra8en wea(ons% They ate lesh as well as bread, and deli*hted in war, bein* insolent and
(itiless men% 4la#k ?eath has sei8ed them all%
e% The o)rth ra#e o men was bra8en too, b)t nobler and more *enero)s, bein* be*otten by
the *ods on mortal mothers% They o)*ht *lorio)sly in the sie*e o Thebes, the e:(edition o
the !r*ona)ts, and the TroHan War% These be#ame heroes, and dwell in the ,lysian 'ields%
% The ith ra#e is the (resent ra#e o iron, )nworthy des#endants o the o)rth% They are
de*enerate, #r)el, )nH)st, mali#io)s, libidino)s, )nilial, trea#hero)s%
1% Tho)*h the myth o the Golden !*e derives event)ally rom a tradition o tribalJ
s)bservien#e to the 4eeJ*oddess, the sava*ery o her rei*n in (reJa*ri#)lt)ral times had
been or*otten by &esiodNs day, and all that remained was an idealisti# #onvi#tion that men
had on#e lived in harmony to*ether like bees% &esiod was a small armer, and the hard lie he
lived made him morose and (essimisti#% The myth o the silver ra#e also re#ords matriar#hal
#onditions J s)#h as those s)rvivin* in .lassi#al times amon* the "i#ts, the Moesynoe#hians
o the 4la#k +ea, and some tribes in the 4aleares, Gali#ia, and the G)l o +irte J )nder
whi#h men were still the des(ised se:, tho)*h a*ri#)lt)re had been introd)#ed and wars were
inreE)ent% +ilver is the metal o the MoonJ*oddess% The third ra#e were the earliest
&elleni# invaders1 4ron8e !*e herdsmen, who ado(ted the ashJtree #)lt o the Goddess and
her son "oseidon% The o)rth ra#e were the warriorJkin*s o the My#enaean !*e% The ith
were the ?orians o the twelth #ent)ry 4., who )sed iron wea(ons and destroyed the
My#enaean #ivili8ation% !lal#omene)s 5N*)ardianN6 is a i#titio)s #hara#ter, a mas#)line orm
o !lal#omeneSs, !theneNs title 5$liad6 as the *)ardian o 4oeotia% &e serves the (atriar#hal
do*ma that no woman, even a *oddess, #an be wise witho)t male instr)#tion, and that the
MoonJ*oddess and the Moon itsel were late #reations o @e)s%
T&, .!+TR!T$;3 ;' /R!3/+
/R!3/+ athered the Titans )(on Mother ,arth, ater he had thrown his rebellio)s sons, the
.y#lo(es, into Tartar)s, a *loomy (la#e in the /nderworld, whi#h lies as ar distant rom the
earth as the earth does rom the sky2 it wo)ld take a allin* anvil nine days to rea#h its
bottom% $n reven*e, Mother ,arth (ers)aded the Titans to atta#k their ather2 and they did so,
led by .ron)s, the yo)n*est o the seven, whom she armed with a lint si#kle% They s)r(rised
/ran)s as he sle(t, and it was with the lint si#kle that the mer#iless .ron)s #astrated him,
*ras(in* his *enitals with the let hand 5whi#h has ever sin#e been the hand o illJomen6 and
aterwards throwin* them, and the si#kle too, into the sea by .a(e ?re(an)m% 4)t dro(s o
blood lowin* rom the wo)nd ell )(on Mother ,arth, and she bore the Three ,rinnyes,
)ries who aven*e #rimes o (arri#ide and (erH)ry J by name !le#to, Tisi(hone, and
Me*aera% The nym(hs o the ashJtree, #alled the Meliae, also s(ran* rom that blood%
b% The Titans then released the .y#lo(es rom Tartar)s, and awarded the soverei*nty o the
earth to .ron)s% &owever, no sooner did .ron)s ind himsel in s)(reme #ommand than he
#onined the .y#lo(es to Tartar)s a*ain to*ether with the &)ndredJhanded ;nes and, takin*
his sister Rhea to wie, r)led in ,lis%
1% &esiod, who re#ords this myth, was a .admeian, and the .admeians #ame rom !sia
Minor, (robably on the #olla(se o the &ittite ,m(ire, brin*in* with them the story o
/ran)sNs #astration% $t is known, however, that the myth was not o &ittite #om(osition, sin#e
an earlier &)rrian 5&orite6 version has been dis#overed% &esiodNs version may rele#t an
allian#e between the vario)s (reJ&elleni# settlers in +o)thern and .entral Gree#e, whose
dominant tribes avo)red the Titan #)lt, a*ainst the early &elleni# invaders rom the north%
Their war was s)##ess)l, b)t they there)(on #laimed s)8erainty over the northern natives,
whom they had reed% The #astration o /ran)s is not ne#essarily meta(hori#al i some o the
vi#tors had ori*inated in ,ast !ri#a where, to this day, Galla warriors #arry a miniat)re
si#kle into battle to #astrate their enemies2 there are #lose ainities between ,ast !ri#an
reli*io)s rites and those o early Gree#e%
0% The later Greeks read N.ron)sN as .hronos, N'ather TimeN with his relentless si#kle% 4)t he
is (i#t)red in the #om(any o a #row, like !(ollo, !s#le(i)s, +at)rn, and the early 4ritish *od
4ran2 and #ronos (robably means N#rowN, like the -atin #orni: and the Greek #orone% The
#row was an ora#)lar bird, s)((osed to ho)se the so)l o a sa#red kin* ater his sa#rii#e%
<% &ere the three ,rinnyes, or ')ries, who s(ran* rom the dro(s o /ran)sNs blood, are the
Tri(leJ*oddess hersel2 that is to say, d)rin* the kin*Ns sa#rii#e, desi*ned to r)#tiy the
#ornields and or#hards, her (riestesses will have worn mena#in* Gor*on masks to ri*hten
away (roane visitors% &is *enitals seem to have been thrown into the sea, to en#o)ra*e ish
to breed% The ven*e)l ,rinnyes are )nderstood by the mytho*ra(her as warnin* @e)s not to
emas#)late .ron)s with the same si#kle2 b)t it was their ori*inal )n#tion to aven*e inH)ries
inli#ted only on a mother, or a s)((liant who #laimed the (rote#tion o the &earthJ*oddess,
not on a ather%
=% The ashJnym(hs are the Three ')ries in more *ra#io)s mood1 the sa#red kin* was
dedi#ated to the ashJtree, ori*inally )sed in rainJmakin* #eremonies% $n +#andinavia it
be#ame the tree o )niversal ma*i#2 the Three 3orns, or 'ates, dis(ensed H)sti#e )nder an ash
whi#h ;din, on #laimin* the atherhood o mankind, made his ma*i#al steed% Women m)st
have been the irst rainJmakers in Gree#e as in -ibya%
5% 3eolithi# si#kles o bone, toothed with lint or obsidian, seem to have #ontin)ed in rit)al
)se lon* ater their s)((ression as a*ri#)lt)ral instr)ments by si#kles o bron8e and iron%
6% The &ittites make G)marbi 5.ron)s6 bite o the *enitals o the +kyJ*od !n) 5/ran)s6,
swallow some o the seed, and s(it o)t the rest on Mo)nt Gans)ra where it *rows into a
*oddess2 the God o -ove th)s #on#eived by him is #)t rom his side by !n)Ns brother ,a%
These two births have been #ombined by the Greeks into a tale o how !(hrodite rose rom a
sea im(re*nated by /ran)sNs severed *enitals% G)marbi is s)bseE)ently delivered o another
#hild drawn rom his thi*h J as ?ionys)s was reborn rom @e)s J who rides a stormJ
#hariot drawn by a b)ll, and #omes to !n)Ns hel(% The Nknie that se(arated the earth rom the
skyN o##)rs in the same story, as the wea(on with whi#h G)marbiNs son, the earthJborn *iant
/llik)mmi, is destroyed%
T&, ?,T&R;3,M,3T ;' .R;3/+
.R;3/+ married his sister Rhea, to whom the oak is sa#red% 4)t it was (ro(hesied by
Mother ,arth, and by his dyin* ather /ran)s, that one o his own sons wo)ld dethrone him%
,very year, thereore, he swallowed the #hildren whom Rhea bore him1 irst &estia, then
?emeter and &era, then
&ades, then "oseidon%
b% Rhea was enra*ed% +he bore @e)s, her third son, at dead o ni*ht on Mo)nt -y#ae)m in
!r#adia, where no #reat)re #asts a shadow and, havin* bathed him in the River 3eda, *ave
him to Mother ,arth2 by whom he was #arried to -y#tos in .rete, and hidden in the #ave o
?i#te on the !e*ean &ill% Mother ,arth let him there to be n)rsed by the !shJnym(h
!drasteia and her sister $o, both da)*hters o Melisse)s, and by the GoatJnym(h !maltheia%
&is ood was honey, and he drank !maltheiaNs milk, with GoatJ"an, his osterJbrother%
@e)s was *rate)l to these three nym(hs or their kindness and, when he be#ame -ord o the
/niverse, set !maltheiaNs ima*e amon* the stars, as .a(ri#orn% &e also borrowed one o her
horns, whi#h resembled a #owNs, and *ave it to the da)*hters o Melisse)s2 it be#ame the
amo)s .orn)#o(ia, or horn o (lenty, whi#h is always illed with whatever ood or drink its
owner may desire% 4)t some say that @e)s was s)#kled by a sow, and rode on her ba#k, and
that he lost his navelJstrin* at ;m(halion near .noss)s%
#% !ro)nd the inant @e)sNs *olden #radle, whi#h was h)n* )(on a tree 5so that .ron)s mi*ht
ind him neither in heaven, nor on earth, nor in the sea6 stood the armed .)retes, RheaNs sons%
They #lashed their s(ears a*ainst their shields, and sho)ted to drown the noise o his wailin*,
lest .ron)s mi*ht hear it rom ar o% 'or Rhea had wra((ed a stone in swaddlin* #lothes,
whi#h she *ave to .ron)s on Mo)nt Tha)masi)m in !r#adia2 he swallowed it, believin* that
he was swallowin* the inant @e)s% 3evertheless, .ron)s *ot wind o what had ha((ened and
()rs)ed @e)s, who transormed himsel into a ser(ent and his n)rses into bears1 hen#e the
#onstellations o the +er(ent and the 4ears%
d% @e)s *rew to manhood amon* the she(herds o $da, o##)(yin* another #ave2 then so)*ht
o)t Metis the Titaness, who lived beside the ;#ean stream% ;n her advi#e he visited his
mother Rhea, and asked to be made .ron)sNs #)(Jbearer% Rhea readily assisted him in his
task o ven*ean#e2 she (rovided the emeti# (otion, whi#h Metis had told him to mi: with
.ron)sNs honeyed drink% .ron)s, havin* dr)nk dee(, vomited )( irst the stone, and then
@e)sNs elder brothers and sisters% They s(ran* o)t )nh)rt and, in *ratit)de, asked him to lead
them in a war a*ainst the Titans, who #hose the *i*anti# !tlas as their leader2 or .ron)s was
now (ast his (rime%
e% The war lasted ten years b)t, at last, Mother ,arth (ro(hesied vi#tory to her *randson @e)s,
i he took as allies those whom .ron)s had #onined in Tartar)s2 so he #ame se#retly to
.am(e, the old Haileress o Tartar)s, killed her, took her keys and, havin* released the
.y#lo(es and the &)ndredJ handed ;nes, stren*thened them with divine ood and drink%
The .y#lo(es there)(on *ave @e)s the th)nderbolt as a wea(on o oen#e2 and &ades, a
helmet o darkness2 and "oseidon, a trident% !ter the three brothers had held a #o)nsel o
war, &ades entered )nseen into .ron)sNs (resen#e, to steal his wea(ons2 and, while "oseidon
threatened him with the trident and th)s diverted his attention, @e)s str)#k him down with the
th)nderbolt% The three &)ndredJhanded ;nes now took )( ro#ks and (elted the remainin*
Titans, and a s)dden sho)t rom GoatJ"an ()t them to li*ht% The *ods r)shed in ()rs)it%
.ron)s, and all the deeated Titans, e:#e(t !tlas, were banished to a 4ritish island in the
arthest west 5or, some say, #onined in Tartar)s6, and *)arded there by the &)ndredJhanded
;nes2 they never tro)bled &ellas a*ain% !tlas, as their warJleader, was awarded an
e:em(lary ()nishment, bein* ordered to #arry the sky on his sho)lders2 b)t the Titanesses
were s(ared, or the sake o Metis and Rhea%
% @e)s himsel set )( at ?el(hi the stone whi#h .ron)s had dis*or*ed% $t is still there,
#onstantly anointed with oil, and strands o )nwoven wool are oered )(on it%
*% +ome say that "oseidon was neither eaten nor dis*or*ed, b)t that Rhea *ave .ron)s a oal
to eat in his stead, and hid him amon* the horse herds% !nd the .retans, who are liars, relate
that @e)s is born every year in the same #ave with lashin* ire and a stream o blood2 and
that every year he dies and is b)ried%
1% Rhea, (aired with .ron)s as Titaness o the seventh day, may be eE)ated with ?ione, or
?iana, the Tri(leJ*oddess o the ?ove and ;ak #)lt% The billJhook #arried by +at)rn,
.ron)sNs -atin #o)nter(art, was sha(ed like a #rowNs bill and a((arently )sed in the seventh
month o the sa#red thirteen Jmonth year to emas#)late the oak by lo((in* o the mistletoe,
H)st as a rit)al si#kle was )sed to rea( the irst ear o #orn% This *ave the si*nal or the sa#red
@e)sJkin*Ns sa#rii#e2 and at !thens, .ron)s, who shared a tem(le with Rhea, was
worshi((ed as the 4arleyJ*od +aba8i)s, ann)ally #)t down in the #ornield and bewailed
like ;siris or -ityerses or Maneros% 4)t, by the times to whi#h these myths reer, kin*s had
been (ermitted to (rolon* their rei*ns to a Great Dear o one h)ndred l)nations, and oer
ann)al boy vi#tims in their stead2 hen#e .ron)s is (i#t)red as eatin* his own sons to avoid
dethronement% "or(hyry 5;n !bstinen#e6 re#ords that the .retan .)retes )sed to oer #hild
sa#rii#es to .ron)s in an#ient times%
0% $n .rete a kid was early s)bstit)ted or a h)man vi#tim2 in Thra#e, a b)llJ#al2 amon* the
!eolian worshi((ers o "oseidon, a oal2 b)t in ba#kward distri#ts o !r#adia boys were still
sa#rii#ially eaten even in the .hristian era% $t is not #lear whether the ,lean rit)al was
#annibalisti#, or whether, .ron)s bein* a .rowJTitan, sa#red #rows ed on the sla)*htered
vi#tim%
<% !maltheiaNs name, NtenderN, shows her to have been a maidenJ*oddess2 $o was an
or*iasti# nym(hJ*oddess2 !drasteia means Nthe ines#a(able ;neN, the ora#)lar .rone o
a)t)mn% To*ether they ormed the )s)al MoonJtriad% The later Greeks identiied !drasteia
with the (astoral *oddess 3emesis, o the rainJmakin* ashJtree, who had be#ome a
*oddess o ven*ean#e% $o was (i#t)red at !r*os as a white #ow in heat J some .retan #oins
rom "raes)s show @e)s s)#kled by her J b)t !maltheia, who lived on NGoat &illN, was
always a sheJ*oat2 and Melisse)s 5NhoneyJmanN6, !drasteia and $oNs re()ted ather, is really
their mother J Melissa, the *oddess as M)eenJbee, who ann)ally killed her male #onsort%
?iodor)s +i#)l)s and .allima#h)s 5&ymn to @e)s6 both make bees eed the inant @e)s% 4)t
his osterJmother is sometimes also (i#t)red as a sow, be#a)se that was one o the .roneJ
*oddessesNs emblems2 and on .ydonian #oins she is a bit#h, like the one that s)#kled 3ele)s%
The sheJbears are !rtemisNs beasts J the .)retes attended her holo#a)sts J and @e)s as
ser(ent is @e)s .tesi)s, (rote#tor o storeJho)ses, be#a)se snakes *ot rid o mi#e%
=% The .)retes were the sa#red kin*Ns armed #om(anions, whose wea(onJdashin* was
intended to drive o evil s(irits d)rin* rit)al (erorman#es% Their name, )nderstood by the
later Greeks as Nyo)n* men who have shaved their hairN, (robably meant Ndevotees o Ger, or
.arN, a wides(read title o the Tri(leJ*oddess% &era#les won his #orn)#o(ia rom the
!#helo)s b)ll, and the enormo)s si8e o the .retan wildJ*oatNs horns have led
mytho*ra(hers )na#E)ainted with .rete to *ive !maltheia an anomalo)s #owNs horn%
5% $nvadin* &ellenes seem to have oered riendshi( to the (reJ&elleni# (eo(le o the Titan
J#)lt, b)t *rad)ally deta#hed their s)bHe#tJallies rom them, and overr)n the "elo(onnese%
@e)sNs vi#tory in allian#e with the &)ndredJhanded ;nes over the Titans o Thessaly is said
by Thall)s, the irstJ#ent)ry historian, E)oted by Tatian in his !ddress to the Greeks, to
have taken (la#e I<00 years beore the sie*e o TroyN1 that is to say 1505 4., a (la)sible date
or an e:tension o &elleni# (ower in Thessaly% The bestowal o soverei*nty on @e)s re#alls a
similar event in the 4abylonian .reation ,(i#, when Mard)k was em(owered to i*ht Tiamat
by his elders -ahm) and -aham)%
6% The brotherhood o &ades, "oseidon, and @e)s re#alls that o the Cedi# male trinity J
Mitra, Car)na, and $ndra J who a((ear in a &ittite treaty dated to abo)t 1<80 4. J b)t in
this myth they seem to re(resent three s)##essive &elleni# invasions, #ommonly known as
$onian, !eolian, and !#haean% The (reJ&elleni# worshi((ers o the MotherJ*oddess
assimilated the $onians, who be#ame #hildren o $o2 tamed the !eolians2 b)t were
overwhelmed by the !#haeans% ,arly &elleni# #hietains who be#ame sa#red kin*s o the oak
and ash #)lts, took the titles N@e)sN and N"oseidonN, and were obli*ed to die at the end o their
set rei*ns% 4oth these trees tend to attra#t li*htnin*, and thereore i*)re in (o()lar rainJ
makin* and ireJmakin* #eremonies thro)*ho)t ,)ro(e%
>% The vi#tory o the !#haeans ended the tradition o royal sa#rii#es% They ranked @e)s and
"oseidon as immortals2 (i#t)rin* both as armed with the th)nderbolt J a lint do)bleJa:e,
on#e wielded by Rhea, and in the Minoan and My#enaean reli*ions withheld rom male )se%
-ater, "oseidonNs th)nderbolt was #onverted into a threeJ(ron*ed ishJs(ear, his #hie
devotees havin* t)rned seaarers2 whereas @e)s retained his as a symbol o s)(reme
soverei*nty% "oseidonNs name, whi#h was sometimes s(elt "otidan, may have been borrowed
rom that o his *oddessJmother, ater whom the #ity "otidaea was #alled1 Nthe waterJ
*oddess o $daN J $da meanin* any wooded mo)ntain% That the &)ndredJhanded ;nes
*)arded the Titans in the 'ar West may mean that the "elas*ians, amon* whose remnants
were the .enta)rs o Ma*nesia J #enta)r is (erha(s #o*nate with the -atin #ent)ria, Na war
Jband o one h)ndredN J did not abandon their Titan #)lt, and #ontin)ed to believe in a 'ar
Western "aradise, and in !tlasNs s)((ort o the irmament%
8% RheaNs name is (robably a variant o ,ra, NearthN2 her #hie bird was the dove, her #hie
beast the mo)ntainJlion% ?emeterNs name means N4arleyJmotherN2 &estia is the *oddess o
the domesti# hearth% The stone at ?el(hi, )sed in rainJmakin* #eremonies, seems to have
been a lar*e meteorite%
9% ?i#te and Mo)nt -y#ae)m were an#ient seats o @e)s worshi(% ! ire sa#rii#e was
(robably oered on Mo)nt -y#ae)m, when no #reat)re #ast a shadow J that is to say, at
noon on mids)mmer day2 b)t "a)sanias adds that tho)*h in ,thio(ia while the s)n is in
.an#er men do not throw shadows, this is invariably the #ase on Mo)nt -y#ae)m% &e may be
E)ibblin*1 nobody who tres(assed in this (re#in#t was allowed to live 5!rat)s1 "henomena6,
and it was well known that the dead #ast no shadows 5"l)tar#h1 Greek M)estions6% The #ave
o "sy#hro, )s)ally re*arded as the ?i#ta#an .ave, is wron*ly sited to be the real one, whi#h
has not yet been dis#overed% ;m(halion 5Nlittle navelN6 s)**ests the site o an ora#le%
10% "anNs s)dden sho)t whi#h terriied the Titans be#ame (roverbial and has *iven the word
N(ani#N to the ,n*lish lan*)a*e%
T&, 4$RT& ;' !T&,3,
!##ordin* to the "elas*ians, the *oddess !thene was born beside -ake Tritonis in -ibya,
where she was o)nd and n)rt)red by the three nym(hs o -ibya, who dress in *oatJskins%
!s a *irl she killed her (laymate, "allas, by a##ident, while they were en*a*ed in riendly
#ombat with s(ear and shield and, in token o *rie, set "allasNs name beore her own% .omin*
to Gree#e by way o .rete, she lived irst in the #ity o !thenae by the 4oeotian River Triton%
1% "lato identiied !thene, (atroness o !thens, with the -ibyan *oddess 3eith, who belon*ed
to an e(o#h when atherhood was not re#o*ni8ed% 3eith had a tem(le at +ais, where +olon
was treated well merely be#a)se he was an !thenian 5"lato1 Timae)s6% Cir*inJ(riestesses o
3eith en*a*ed ann)ally in armed #ombat 5&erodot)s6, a((arently or the (osition o &i*hJ
(riestess% !(ollodor)sNs a##o)nt o the i*ht between !thene and "allas is a late (atriar#hal
version1 he says that !thene, born o @e)s and bro)*ht )( by the RiverJ*od Triton,
a##identally killed her osterJsister "allas, the River TritonNs da)*hter, be#a)se @e)s
inter(osed his ae*is when "allas was abo)t to strike !thene, and so distra#ted her attention%
The ae*is, however, a ma*i#al *oatJskin ba* #ontainin* a ser(ent and (rote#ted by a
Gor*on mask, was !theneNs lon* beore @e)s #laimed to be her ather% GoatJskin a(rons
were the habit)al #ost)me o -ibyan *irls, and "allas merely means NmaidenN, or Nyo)thN%
&erodot)s writes1 N!theneNs *arments and ae*is were borrowe d by the Greeks rom the
-ibyan women, who are dressed in e:a#tly the same way, e:#e(t that their leather *arments
are rin*ed with thon*s, not ser(ents%N ,thio(ian *irls still wear this #ost)me, whi#h is
sometimes ornamented with #owries, a yoni# symbol% &erodot)s adds here that the lo)d #ries
o tri)m(h, olol), olol), )ttered in hono)r o !thene above 5$liad6 were o -ibyan ori*in%
Tritone means Qthe third E)eenQ1 that is, the eldest member o the triad J mother o the
maiden who o)*ht "allas and o the nym(h into whi#h she *rew J H)st as .oreJ
"erse(hone was ?emeterNs da)*hter%
0% "ottery inds s)**est a -ibyan immi*ration into .rete as early as =000 4.2 and a lar*e
n)mber o *oddess7worshi((in* -ibyan re)*ees rom the Western ?elta seem to have
arrived there when /((er and -ower ,*y(t were or#ibly )nited )nder the 'irst ?ynasty
abo)t the year <000 4.% The 'irst Minoan !*e be*an soon aterwards, and .retan #)lt)re
s(read to Thra#e and ,arly &elladi# Gree#e%
<% !mon* other mytholo*i#al (ersona*es named "allas was the Titan who married the River
+ty: and athered on her @el)s 5N8ealN6, .rat)s 5Nstren*thN6, 4ia 5Nor#eN6, and 3i#e 5Nvi#toryN6
5&esiod1 Theo*ony and <8<62 he was (erha(s an alle*ory o the "elo(ian dol(hin sa#red to
the MoonJ*oddess% &omer #alls another "allas Nthe ather o the moonN 5&omeri# &ymn to
&ermes6% ! third be*ot the ity "allantids, These)sNs enemies, who seem to have been
ori*inally i*htin* (riestesses o !thene% ! o)rth was des#ribed as !theneNs ather%
@,/+ !3? M,T$+
+;M, &ellenes say that !thene had a ather named "allas, a win*ed *oatish *iant, who later
attem(ted to o)tra*e her, and whose name she added to her own ater stri((in* him o his
skin to make the ae*is, and o his win*s or her own sho)lders2 i, indeed, the ae*is was not
the skin o Med)sa the Gor*on, whom she rayed ater "erse)s had de#a(itated her%
b% ;thers say that her ather was one $ton)s, a kin* o $ton in "hthiotis, whose da)*hter
$odama she killed by a##identally lettin* her see the Gor*onNs head, and so #han*in* her into
a blo#k o stone, when she tres(assed in the (re#in#t at ni*ht%
#% +till others say that "oseidon was her ather, b)t that she disowned him and be**ed to be
ado(ted by @e)s, whi#h he was *lad to do%
d% 4)t !theneNs own (riests tell the ollowin* story o her birth @e)s l)sted ater Metis the
Titaness, who t)rned into many sha(es to es#a(e him )ntil she was #a)*ht at last and *ot with
#hild% !n ora#le o Mother ,arth then de#lared that this wo)ld be a *irlJ#hild and that, i
Metis #on#eived a*ain, she wo)ld bear a son who was ated to de(ose @e)s, H)st as @e)s had
de(osed .ron)s, and .ron)s had de(osed /ran)s% Thereore, havin* #oa:ed Metis to a #o)#h
with honeyed words, @e)s s)ddenly o(ened his mo)th and swallowed her, and that was the
end o Metis, tho)*h he #laimed aterwards that she *ave him #o)nsel rom inside his belly%
$n d)e (ro#ess o time, he was sei8ed by a ra*in* heada#he as he walked by the shores o
-ake Tritonis, so that his sk)ll seemed abo)t to b)rst, and he howled or ra*e )ntil the whole
irmament e#hoed% /( ran &ermes, who at on#e divined the #a)se o @e)sNs dis#omort% &e
(ers)aded &e(haest)s, or some say "romethe)s, to et#h his wed*e and beetle and make a
brea#h in @e)sNs sk)ll, rom whi#h !thene s(ran*, )lly armed, with a mi*hty sho)t%
1% 9% ,% &arrison ri*htly des#ribed the story o !theneNs birth rom @e)sNs head as Na des(erate
theolo*i#al e:(edient to rid her o her matriar#hal
#onditions%N $t is also a do*mati# insisten#e on wisdom as a male (rero*ative2 hitherto the
*oddess alone had been wise% &esiod has, in a#t, mana*ed to re#on#ile three #onli#tin*
views in his story1
T !thene, the !theniansN #ityJ*oddess, was the (artheno*eno)s da)*hter o the immortal
Metis, Titaness o the o)rth day and o the (lanet Mer#)ry, who (resided over all wisdom
and knowled*e%
T @e)s swallowed Metis, b)t did not thereby lose wisdom 5i%e% the !#haeans s)((ressed the
Titan #)lt, and as#ribed all wisdom to their *od @e)s6%
T !thene was the da)*hter o @e)s 5i%e% the !#haeans insisted that the !thenians m)st
a#knowled*e @e)sNs (atriar#hal overlordshi(6%
&e has borrowed the me#hanism o his myth rom analo*o)s e:am(les1 @e)s ()rs)in*
3emesis2 .ron)s swallowin* his sons and da)*hters2 ?ionys)sNs rebirth rom @e)sNs thi*h2
and the o(enin* o Mother ,arthNs head by two men with a:es, a((arently in order to release
.ore Jas shown, or instan#e, on a bla#kJi*)red oilJHar in the 4ibliothUE)e 3ationale at
"aris% Thereater, !thene is @e)sNs obedient mo)th(ie#e, and deliberately s)((resses her
ante#edents% +he em(loys (riests, not (riestesses%
0% "allas, meanin* NmaidenN, is an ina((ro(riate name or the win*ed *iant whose attem(t on
!theneNs #hastity is (robably ded)#ed rom a (i#t)re o her rit)al marria*e, as !thene
-a(hria, to a *oatJkin* ater an armed #ontest with her rival% This -ibyan #)stom o *oatJ
marria*e s(read to 3orthern ,)ro(e as (art o the May ,ve merrymakin*s% The !kan, a
-ibyan (eo(le, on#e rayed their kin*s%
<% !theneNs re()diation o "oseidonNs atherhood #on#erns an early #han*e in the overlordshi(
o the #ity o !thens%
=% The myth o $ton)s 5NwillowJmanN6 re(resents a #laim by the $tonians that they
worshi((ed !thene even beore the !thenians did2 and his name shows that she had a willow
#)lt in "hthiotis J like that o her #o)nter(art, the *oddess !natha, at 9er)salem )ntil
9ehovahNs (riests o)sted her and #laimed the rainJmakin* willow as his tree at the 'east o
Taberna#les%
5% $t will have been death or a man to remove an ae*is J the *oatJskin #hastityJt)ni#
worn by -ibyan *irlsJ witho)t the ownerNs #onsent2 hen#e the (ro(hyla#ti# Gor*on mask set
above it, and the ser(ent #on#ealed in the leather (o)#h, or ba*% 4)t sin#e !theneNs ae*is is
des#ribed as a shield, $ s)**est in The White Goddess that it was a ba*JJ#over or a sa#red
disk, like the one whi#h #ontained "alamedesNs al(habeti#al se#ret, and whi#h he is said to
have invented% .y(rian i*)rines holdin* disks o the same (ro(ortionate si8e as the amo)s
"haestos one, whi#h is s(irally marked with a sa#red le*end, are held by "roessor Ri#hter to
anti#i(ate !thene and her ae*is% The heroi# shields so #are)lly des#ribed by &omer and
&esiod seem to have borne (i#to*ra(hs en*raved on a s(iral band%
6% $odama, (robably meanin* Nheier #al o $oN, will have been an antiE)e stone ima*e o the
MoonJ*oddess, and the story o her (etrii#ation is a warnin* to inE)isitive *irls a*ainst
violatin* the Mysteries%
>% $t wo)ld be a mistake to think o !thene as solely or (redominantly the *oddess o !thens%
+everal an#ient a#ro(olises were sa#red to her, in#l)din* !r*os 5"a)sanias6, +(arta 5ibid%6,
Troy 5$liad6, +myrna 5+trabo6, ,(ida)r)s 5"a)sanias6, Troe8en 5"a)sanias6, and "hene)s
5"a)sanias6% !ll these are (reJ&elleni# sites%
T&, '!T,+
T&,R, are three #onHoined 'ates, robed in white, whom ,reb)s be*ot on 3i*ht1 by name
.lotho, -a#hesis, and !tro(os% ; these, !tro(os is the smallest in stat)re, b)t the most
terrible%
b% @e)s, who wei*hs the lives o men and inorms the 'ates o his de#isions #an, it is said,
#han*e his mind and intervene to save whom he (leases, when the thread o lie, s()n on
.lothoNs s(indle, and meas)red by the rod o -a#hesis, is abo)t to be sni((ed by !tro(osNs
shears% $ndeed, men #laim that they themselves #an, to some de*ree, #ontrol their own ates
by avoidin* )nne#essary dan*ers% The yo)n*er *ods, thereore, la)*h at the 'ates, and some
say that !(ollo on#e mis#hievo)sly made them dr)nk in order to save his riend !dmet)s
rom death%
#% ;thers hold, on the #ontrary, that @e)s himsel is s)bHe#t to the 'ates, as the "ythian
(riestess on#e #onessed in an ora#le2 be#a)se they are not his #hildren, b)t (artheno*eno)s
da)*hters o the Great Goddess 3e#essity, a*ainst whom not even the *ods #ontend, and who
is #alled NThe +tron* 'ateN%
d% !t ?el(hi only two 'ates are worshi((ed, those o 4irth and ?eath2 and at !thens
!(hrodite /rania is #alled the eldest o the three%
1% This myth seems to be based on the #)stom o weavin* amily and #lan marks into a newly
Jborn #hildNs swaddlin* bands, and so allottin* him his (la#e in so#iety2 b)t the Moerae, or
Three 'ates, are the Tri(le MoonJ*oddessJ hen#e their white robes, and the linen thread
whi#h is sa#red to her as $sis% .lotho is the Ns(innerN, -a#hesis the Nmeas)rerN, !tro(os is Nshe
who #annot be t)rned, or avoided N% Moera means Ia shareN or Na (haseN, and the moon has
three (hases and three (ersons1 the new moon, the MaidenJ*oddess o the s(rin*, the irst
(eriod o the year2 the )ll moon, the 3ym(hJ *oddess o the s)mmer, the se#ond (eriod2
and the old moon, the .roneJ*oddess o a)t)mn, the last (eriod%
0% @e)s #alled himsel NThe -eader o the 'atesN when he ass)med s)(reme soverei*nty and
the (rero*ative o meas)rin* manNs lie2 hen#e, (robably, the disa((earan#e o -a#hesis, Nthe
meas)rerN, at ?el(hi% 4)t his #laim to be their ather was not taken serio)sly by !es#hyl)s,
&erodot)s, or "lato%
<% The !thenians #alled !(hrodite /rania Nthe eldest o the 'atesN be#a)se she was the 3ym(h
J*oddess, to whom the sa#red kin* had, in an#ient times, been sa#rii#ed at the s)mmer
solsti#e% N/raniaN means NE)een o the mo)ntainsN%
T&, 4$RT& ;' !"&R;?$T,
!"&R;?$T,, Goddess o ?esire, rose naked rom the oam o the sea and, ridin* on a
s#allo( shell, ste((ed ashore irst on the island o .ythera2 b)t indin* this only a small
island, (assed on to the "elo(onnese, and event)ally took )( residen#e at "a(hos, in .y(r)s,
still the (rin#i(al seat o her worshi(% Grass and lowers s(ran* rom the soil wherever she
trod% !t "a(hos, the +easons, da)*hters o Themis, hastened to #lothe and adorn her%
b% +ome hold that she s(ran* rom the oam whi#h *athered abort the *enitals o /ran)s,
when .ron)s threw them into the sea2 others, that @e)s be*ot her on ?ione, da)*hter either o
;#ean)s and Tethys the seaJnym(h, or o !ir and ,arth% 4)t all a*ree that she takes to the
air a##om(anied by doves and s(arrows%
1% !(hrodite 5NoamJbornN6 is the same wideJr)lin* *oddess who rose rom .haos and
dan#ed on the sea, and who was worshi((ed in +yria and "alestine as $shtar, or !shtaroth%
&er most amo)s #entre o worshi( was "a(hos, where the ori*inal white ani#oni# ima*e o
the *oddess is still shown in the r)ins o a *randiose Roman tem(le2 there every s(rin* her
(riestess bathed in the sea, and rose a*ain renewed%
0% +he is #alled da)*hter o ?ione, be#a)se ?ione was the *oddess o the oakJtree, in whi#h
the amoro)s dove nested% @e)s #laimed to be her ather ater sei8in* ?ioneNs ora#le at
?odona, and ?ione thereore be#ame her mother% NTethysN and NThetisN are names o the
*oddess as .reatri: 5ormed, like NThemisN and NThese)sN, rom tithenai, Nto dis(oseN or Nto
orderN6, and as +eaJ*oddess, sin#e lie be*an in the sea% ?oves and s(arrows were noted or
their le#hery2 and sea ord is still re*arded as a(hrodisia# thro)*ho)t the Mediterranean%
<% .ythera was an im(ortant #entre o .retan trade with the "elo(onnese, and it will have
been rom here that her worshi( irst entered Gree#e% The .retan *oddess had #lose
asso#iations with the sea% +hells #ar(eted the loor o her (ala#e san#t)ary at .noss)s2 she is
shown on a *em rom the $dean .ave blowin* a tritonJshell, with a seaJanemone lyin*
beside her altar2 the seaJ)r#hin and #)ttleJish were sa#red to her% ! tritonJshell was
o)nd in her early san#t)ary at "haest)s, and many more in late Minoan tombs, some o these
bein* terra#otta re(li#as%
&,R! !3? &,R .&$-?R,3
&,R!, da)*hter o .ron)s and Rhea, havin* been born on the island o +amos or, some say,
at !r*os, was bro)*ht )( in !r#adia by Temen)s, son o "elas*)s% The +easons were her
n)rses% !ter banishin* their ather .ron)s, &eraNs twinJbrother @e)s so)*ht her o)t at
.noss)s in .rete or, some say, on Mo)nt Thorna: 5now #alled .)#koo Mo)ntain6 in !r*olis,
where he #o)rted her, at irst )ns)##ess)lly% +he took (ity on him only when he ado(ted the
dis*)ise o a bedra**led #)#koo, and tenderly warmed him in her bosom% There he at on#e
res)med his tr)e sha(e and ravished her, so that she was shamed into marryin* him%
b% !ll the *ods bro)*ht *its to the weddin*2 notably Mother ,arth *ave &era a tree with
*olden a((les, whi#h was later *)arded by the &es(erides in &eraNs or#hard on Mo)nt !tlas%
+he and @e)s s(ent their weddin* ni*ht on +amos, and it lasted three h)ndred years% &era
bathes re*)larly in the s(rin* o .anath)s, near !r*os, and th)s renews her vir*inity%
#% To &era and @e)s were born the deities !res, &e(haest)s, and &ebe, tho)*h some say that
!res and his twinJsister ,ris were #on#eived when &era to)#hed a #ertain lower, and &ebe
when she to)#hed a lett)#e, and that &e(haest)s also was her (artheno*eno)s #hild J a
wonder whi#h he wo)ld not believe )ntil he had im(risoned her in a me#hani#al #hair with
arms that olded abo)t the sitter, th)s or#in* her to swear by the River +ty: that she did not
lie% ;thers say that &e(haest)s was her son by Talos, the ne(hew o ?aedal)s%
1% &eraNs name, )s)ally taken to be a Greek word or NladyN, may re(resent an ori*inal &erwa
5N"rote#tressN6% +he is the (reJ&elleni# Great Goddess% +amos and !r*os were the #hie seats
o her worshi( in Gree#e, b)t the !r#adians #laimed that their #)lt was the earliest, and made
it #ontem(orary with their earthJborn an#estor "elas*)s 5Nan#ientN6% &eraNs or#ed marria*e
to @e)s #ommemorates #onE)ests o .rete and My#enaean J that is to say .retani8edJ
Gree#e, and the overthrow o her s)(rema#y in both #o)ntries% &e (robably #ame to her
dis*)ised as a bedra**led #)#koo, in the sense that #ertain &ellenes who #ame to .rete as
)*itives a##e(ted em(loyment in the royal *)ard, made a (ala#e #ons(ira#y and sei8ed the
kin*dom% .noss)s was twi#e sa#ked, a((arently by &ellenes1 abo)t 1>00 4., and abo)t 1=00
4.2 and My#enae ell to the !#haeans a #ent)ry later% The God $ndra in the Ramayana had
similarly wooed a nym(h in #)#koo dis*)ise2 and @e)s now borrowed &eraNs s#e(tre, whi#h
was s)rmo)nted with the #)#koo% GoldJlea i*)rines o a naked !r*ive *oddess holdin*
#)#koos have been o)nd at My#enae2 and #)#koos (er#h on a *oldJlea model tem(le rom
the same site% $n the wellJknown .retan sar#o(ha*)s rom &a*ia Triada a #)#koo (er#hes
on a do)bleJa:e%
0% &ebe, the *oddess as #hild, was made #)(Jbearer to the *ods in the ;lym(ian #)lt% +he
event)ally married &era#les, ater Ganymedes had )s)r(ed her oi#e% N&e(haest)sN seems to
have been a title o the sa#red kin* as solar demiJ*od2 N!resN, a title o his warJ#hie, or
tanist, whose emblem was the wild boar% 4oth be#ame divine names when the ;lym(ian #)lt
was established and they were #hosen to ill the roles, res(e#tively, o War J*od and +mith
J*od% The N#ertain lowerN is likely to have been the mayJblossom1 ;vid makes the *oddess
'lora J with whose worshi( the mayJ blossom was asso#iated J (oint it o)t to &era% The
may, or whitethorn, is #onne#ted with mira#)lo)s #on#e(tion in (o()lar ,)ro(ean myth2 in
.elti# literat)re its NsisterN is the bla#kthorn, a symbol o +trie J !resNs twin, ,ris%
<% Talos, the smith, was a .retan hero born to ?aedal)sNs sister "erdi: 5N(artrid*eN6, with
whom the mytho*ra(her is identiyin* &era% "artrid*es, sa#red to the Great Goddess, i*)red
in the s(rin* eE)ino: or*ies o the ,astern Mediterranean, when a hobblin* dan#e was
(erormed in imitation o #o#kJ (artrid*es% The hens were said by !ristotle, "liny, and
!elian to #on#eive merely by hearin* the #o#kNs voi#e% &obblin* &e(haest)s and Talos seem
to be the same (artheno*eno)s #hara#ter2 and both were #ast down rom a hei*ht by an*ry
rivals J ori*inally in hono)r o their *oddessJmother%
=% $n !r*os, &eraNs amo)s stat)e was seated on a throne o *old and ivory2 the story o her
im(risonment in a #hair may have arisen rom the Greek #)stom o ramin* divine stat)es to
their thrones Nto (revent es#a(eN% 4y losin* an an#ient stat)e o its *od or *oddess, a #ity
mi*ht oreit divine (rote#tion, and the Romans, thereore, made a (ra#ti#e o what was
(olitely #alled Nenti#in*N *ods to RomeJ whi#h by $m(erial times had be#ome a Ha#kdawNs
nest o stolen ima*es% NThe +easons were her n)rsesN is one way o sayin* that &era was a
*oddess o the #alendar year% &en#e the s(rin* #)#koo on her s#e(tre, and the ri(e
(ome*ranate o late a)t)mn, whi#h she #arried in her let hand to symboli8e the death o the
year%
5% ! hero, as the word indi#ates, was a sa#red kin* who had been sa#rii#ed to &era, whose
body was saely )nder the earth, and whose so)l had *one to enHoy her (aradise at the ba#k o
the 3orth Wind% &is *olden a((les, in Greek and .elti# myth, were (ass(orts to this (aradise%
6% The ann)al bath with whi#h &era renewed her vir*inity was also taken by !(hrodite at
"a(hos2 it seems to have been the ()rii#ation #eremony (res#ribed to a MoonJ(riestess
ater the m)rder o her lover, the sa#red kin*% &era, bein* the *oddess o the ve*etative year,
s(rin*, s)mmer, and a)t)mn 5also symboli8ed by the new, )ll, and old moon6 was
worshi((ed at +tym(hal)s as .hild, 4ride, and Widow 5"a)sanias6%
>% The weddin*Jni*ht on +amos lasted or three h)ndred years1 (erha(s be#a)se the +amian
sa#red year, like the ,tr)s#an one, #onsisted o ten thirty Jday months only1 with 9an)ary
and 'ebr)ary omitted 5Ma#robi)s6% ,a#h day was len*thened to a year% 4)t the
mytho*ra(hers may here be hintin* that it took the &ellenes three h)ndred years beore they
or#ed mono*amy on &eraNs (eo(le%
@,/+ !3? &,R!
;3-D @e)s, the 'ather o &eaven, mi*ht wield the th)nderbolt2 and it was with the threat o
its atal lash that he #ontrolled his E)arrelsome and rebellio)s amily o Mo)nt ;lym()s% &e
also ordered the heavenly bodies, made laws, enor#ed oaths, and (rono)n#ed ora#les% When
his mother Rhea,
oreseein* what tro)ble his l)st wo)ld #a)se, orbade him to marry, he an*rily threatened to
violate her% Tho)*h she at on#e t)rned into a ser(ent, this did not da)nt @e)s, who be#ame a
male ser(ent and, twinin* abo)t her in an indissol)ble knot, made *ood his threat% $t was then
that he be*an his lon* series o advent)res in love% &e athered the +easons and the Three
'ates on Themis2 the .harites on ,)rynome2 the Three M)ses on Mnemosyne, with whom he
lay or nine ni*hts2 and, some say, "erse(hone, the M)een o the /nderworld, whom his
brother &ades or#ibly married, on the nym(h +ty:% Th)s he la#ked no (ower either above or
below earth2 and his wie &era was eE)al to him in one thin* alone1 that she #o)ld still
bestow the *it o (ro(he#y on any man or beast she (leased%
b% @e)s and &era bi#kered #onstantly% Ce:ed by his inidelities, she oten h)miliated him by
her s#hemin* ways% Tho)*h he wo)ld #onide his se#rets to her, and sometimes a##e(t her
advi#e, he never )lly tr)sted &era, and she knew that i oended beyond a #ertain (oint he
wo)ld lo* or even h)rl a th)nderbolt at her% +he thereore resorted to r)thless intri*)e, as in
the matter o &era#lesNs birth2 and sometimes borrowed !(hroditeNs *irdle, to e:#ite his
(assion and th)s weaken his will%
#% ! time #ame when @e)sNs (ride and (et)lan#e be#ame so intolerable that &era, "oseidon,
!(ollo, and all the other ;lym(ians, e:#e(t &estia, s)rro)nded him s)ddenly as he lay aslee(
on his #o)#h and bo)nd him with rawhide thon*s, knotted into a h)ndred knots, so that be
#o)ld not move% &e threatened them with instant death, b)t they had (la#ed his th)nderbolt
o)t o rea#h and la)*hed ins)ltin*ly at him% While they were #elebratin* their vi#tory, and
Healo)sly dis#)ssin* who was to be his s)##essor, Thetis the 3ereid, oreseein* a #ivil war on
;lym()s, h)rried in sear#h o the h)ndredJ handed 4riare)s, who switly )ntied the thon*s,
)sin* every hand at on#e, and released his master% 4e#a)se it was &era who had led the
#ons(ira#y a*ainst him, @e)s h)n* her )( rom the sky with a *olden bra#elet abo)t either
wrist and an anvil astened to either ankle% The other deiies were ve:ed beyond words, b)t
dared attem(t no res#)e or all her (iteo)s #ries% $n the end @e)s )ndertook to ree her i they
swore never more to rebel a*ainst him2 and this ea#h in t)rn *r)d*in*ly did% @e)s ()nished
"oseidon and !(ollo by sendin* them as bondJservants to Gin* -aomedon, or whom they
b)ilt the #ity o Troy2 b)t he (ardoned the others as havin* a#ted )nder d)ress%
1% The marital relations o @e)s and &era rele#t those o the barbaro)s ?orian !*e, when
women had been de(rived o all their ma*i#al (ower, e:#e(t that o (ro(he#y, and #ome to be
re*arded as #hattels% $t is (ossible that the o##asion on whi#h the (ower o @e)s was saved
only by Thetis and 4riare)s, ater the other ;lym(ians had #ons(ired a*ainst him, was a
(ala#e revol)tion by vassal (rin#es o the &elleni# &i*h Gin*, who nearly s)##eeded in
dethronin* him2 and that hel( #ame rom a #om(any o loyal nonJ&elleni# ho)sehold
troo(s, re#r)ited in Ma#edonia, 4riare)sNs home, and rom a deta#hment o Ma*nesians,
ThetisNs (eo(le% $ so, the #ons(ira#y will have been insti*ated by the &i*hJ(riestess o
&era, whom the &i*h Gin* s)bseE)ently h)miliated, as the myth des#ribes%
0% @e)sNs violation o the ,arthJ*oddess Rhea im(lies that the @e)sJworshi((in* &ellenes
took over all a*ri#)lt)ral and )nerary #eremonies% +he had orbidden him to marry, in the
sense that hitherto mono*amy had been )nknown2 women took whatever lovers they (leased%
&is atherhood o the +easons, on Themis, means that the &ellenes also ass)med #ontrol o
the #alendar1 Themis 5NorderN6 was the Great Goddess who ordered the year o thirteen
months, divided by the s)mmer and winter solsti#es into two seasons% !t !thens these
seasons were (ersoniied as Thallo and .ar(o 5ori*inally N.ar(hoN6, whi#h mean res(e#tively
Ns(ro)tin*N and Nwitherin*N, and their tem(le #ontained an altar to the (halli# ?ionys)s% They
a((ear in a ro#kJ#arvin* at &att)sas, or "teria, where they are twin as(e#ts o the -ionJ
*oddess &e(ta, borne on the win*s o a do)bleJheaded +)nJea*le%
<% .haris 5N*ra#eN6 had been the Goddess in the disarmin* as(e#t she (resented when the &i*h
J(riestess #hose the sa#red kin* as her lover% &omer mentions two .harites J "asithea and
.ale, whi#h seems to be a or#ed se(aration o three words1 "asi thea #ale, Nthe Goddess who
is bea)ti)l to all menN% The two .harites, !):o 5Nin#reaseN6 and &e*emone 5NmasteryN6, whom
the !thenians hono)red, #orres(onded with the two +easons% -ater, the .harites were
worshi((ed as a triad, to mat#h the Three 'ates J the Tri(leJ*oddess in her most
)nbendin* mood% That they were @e)sNs #hildren, born to ,)rynome the .reatri:, im(lies that
the &elleni# overlord had (ower to dis(ose o all marria*eable yo)n* women%
=% The M)ses 5Nmo)ntain *oddessesN6, ori*inally a triad 5"a)sanias6, are the Tri(leJ*oddess
in her or*iasti# as(e#t% @e)sNs #laim to be their ather is a late one2 &esiod #alls them
da)*hters o Mother ,arth and !ir%
4$RT&+ ;' &,RM,+, !";--;, !RT,M$+, !3? ?$;3D+/+
!M;R;/+ @e)s lay with n)mero)s nym(hs des#ended rom the Titans or the *ods and,
ater the #reation o man, with mortal women too2 no less than o)r *reat ;lym(ian deities
were born to him o)t o wedlo#k% 'irst, he be*at &ermes on Maia, da)*hter o !tlas, who
bore him in a #ave on Mo)nt .yllene in !r#adia% 3e:t, he be*at !(ollo and !rtemis on -eto,
da)*hter o the Titans .oe)s and "hoebe, transormin* himsel and her into E)ails when they
#o)(led2 b)t Healo)s &era sent the ser(ent "ython to ()rs)e -eto all over the world, and
de#reed that she sho)ld not be delivered in any (la#e where the s)n shone% .arried on the
win*s o the +o)th Wind, -eto at last #ame to ;rty*ia, #lose to ?elos, where she bore
!rtemis, who was no sooner born than she hel(ed her mother a#ross the narrow straits, and
there, between an oliveJtree and a dateJ(alm *rowin* on the north side o ?elian Mo)nt
.ynth)s, delivered her o !(ollo on the ninth day o labo)r% ?elos, hitherto a loatin* island,
be#ame immovably i:ed in the sea and, by de#ree, no one is now allowed either to be born
or to die there1 si#k olk and (re*nant women are erried over to ;rty*ia instead%
b% The mother o @e)sNs son ?ionys)s is vario)sly named1 some say Nthat she was ?emeter, or
$o2 some name her ?ione2 some, "erse(hone, with whom @e)s #o)(led in the likeness o a
ser(ent2 and some, -ethe%
#% 4)t the #ommon story r)ns as ollows% @e)s, dis*)ised as a mortal, had a se#ret love aair
with +emele 5NmoonN6, da)*hter o Gin* .adm)s o Thebes, and Healo)s &era, dis*)isin*
hersel as an old nei*hbo)r, advised +emele, then already si: months with #hild, to make her
mysterio)s lover a reE)est1 that he wo)ld no lon*er de#eive her, b)t reveal himsel in his tr)e
nat)re and orm% &ow, otherwise, #o)ld she know that he was not a monster% +emele ollowed
this advi#e and, when @e)s re)sed her (lea, denied him )rther a##ess to her bed% Then, in
an*er, he a((eared as th)nder and li*htnin*, and she was #ons)med% 4)t &ermes saved her
si:Jmonths son2 sewed him )( inside @e)sNs thi*h, to mat)re there or three months lon*er2
and, in d)e #o)rse o time, delivered him% Th)s ?ionys)s is #alled Ntwi#eJbornN, or Nthe #hild
o the do)ble doorN%
1% @e)sNs ra(es a((arently reer to &elleni# #onE)ests o the *oddessNs an#ient shrines, s)#h as
that on Mo)nt .yllene2 his marria*es, to an an#ient #)stom o *ivin* the title N@e)sN to the
sa#red kin* o the oak #)lt% &ermes, his son by the ra(e o Maia J a title o the ,arthJ
*oddess as .rone
J was ori*inally not a *od, b)t the totemisti# virt)e o a (halli# (illar, or #airn% +)#h (illars
were the #entre o an or*iasti# dan#e in the *oddessNs hono)r%
0% ;ne #om(onent in !(olloNs *odhead seems to have been an ora#)lar mo)se J !(ollo
+minthe)s 5NMo)seJ!(olloN6 is amon* his earliest titles
J #ons)lted in a shrine o the Great Goddess, whi#h (erha(s e:(lains why he was born
where the s)n never shone, namely )nder*ro)nd% Mi#e were asso#iated with disease and its
#)re, and the &ellenes thereore worshi((ed !(ollo as a *od o medi#ine and (ro(he#y2
aterwards sayin* that he was born )nder an oliveJtree and a dateJ(alm on the north side
o a mo)ntain% They #alled him a twinJbrother o !rtemis Goddess o .hildbirth, and made
his mother -eto J the da)*hter o the Titans "hoebe 5NmoonN6 and .oe)s 5Nintelli*en#eN6 J
who was known in ,*y(t and "alestine as -at, ertilityJ *oddess o the dateJ(alm and
olive1 hen#e her #onveyan#e to Gree#e by a +o)th Wind% $n $taly she be#ame -atona 5NM)een
-atN6% &er E)arrel with &era s)**ests a #onli#t between early immi*rants rom "alestine and
native tribes who worshi((ed a dierent ,arthJ*oddess2 the mo)se #)lt, whi#h she seems to
have bro)*ht with her, was well established in "alestine% "ythonNs ()rs)it o !(ollo re#alls
the )se o snakes in Greek and Roman ho)ses to kee( down mi#e% 4)t !(ollo was also the
*host o the sa#red kin* who had eaten the a((le J the word !(ollo may be derived rom the
root abol, Na((leN, rather than rom a(oll)nai, NdestroyN, whi#h is the )s)al view%
<% !rtemis, ori*inally an or*iasti# *oddess, had the las#ivio)s E)ail as her sa#red bird% 'lo#ks
o E)ail will have made ;rty*ia a restin*J(la#e on their way north d)rin* the s(rin*
mi*ration% The story that ?elos, !(olloNs birth(la#e, had hitherto been a loatin* island may
be a mis)nderstandin* o a re#ord that his birth(la#e was now oi#ially i:ed1 sin#e in &omer
5$liad6 he is #alled -y#e*enes, Nborn in -y#iaN2 and the ,(hesians boasted that he was born at
;rty*ia near ,(hes)s 5Ta#it)s1 !nnals6% 4oth the 4oeotian Te*yrans and the !tti# @osterans
also #laimed him as a native son 5+te(han)s o 4y8anti)m s)b Te*yra6%
=% ?ionys)s be*an, (robably, as a ty(e o sa#red kin* whom the *oddess rit)ally killed with a
th)nderbolt in the seventh month rom the winter solsti#e, and whom her (riestesses
devo)red% This e:(lains his mothers1 ?ione, the ;akJ*oddess2 $o and ?emeter, .ornJ
*oddesses2 and "erse(hone, ?eathJ*oddess% "l)tar#h, when #allin* him N?ionys)s, a son o
-ethe 5Ior*et)lnessA6N, reers to his later as(e#t as God o the Cine%
5% The story o +emele, da)*hter o .adm)s, seems to re#ord the s)mmary a#tion taken by
&ellenes o 4oeotia in endin* the tradition o royal sa#rii#e1 ;lym(ian @e)s asserts his
(ower, takes the doomed kin* )nder his own (rote#tion, and destroys the *oddess with her
own th)nderbolt% ?ionys)s th)s be#omes an immortal, ater rebirth rom his immortal ather%
+emele was worshi((ed at !thens d)rin* the -enaea, the 'estival o the Wild Women, when
a yearlin* b)ll, re(resentin* ?ionys)s, was #)t into nine (ie#es and sa#rii#ed to her1 one
(ie#e bein* b)rned, the remainder eaten raw by the worshi((ers% +emele is )s)ally e:(lained
as orm o +elene 5NmoonN6, and nine was the traditional n)mber o or*iasti# moonJ
(riestesses who took (art in s)#h easts J nine s)#h are shown dan#in* aro)nd the sa#red
kin* in a #ave (aintin* at .o*)l, and nine more killed and devo)red +t% +amson o ?olNs
a#olyte in mediaeval times%
T&, 4$RT& ;' ,R;+
+;M, ar*)e that ,ros, hat#hed rom the worldJe**, was the irst o the *ods sin#e, witho)t
him, none o the rest #o)ld have been born2 they make him #ontem(orary with Mother ,arth
and Tartar)s, and deny he had any ather or mother, )nless it were ,ileithyia, Goddess
.hildbirth%
b% ;thers hold that he was !(hroditeNs son by &ermes, or by !res or by her own ather, @e)s2
or the son o $ris by the West Wind% ,ros was a wild boy, who showed no res(e#t or a*e or
(osition, b)t lied abo)t on *olden win*s, shootin* barbed arrows at random or wantonly
settin* hearts on ire with his dread)l tor#hes%
1% ,ros 5Nse:)al (assionN6 was a mere abstra#tion to &esiod% The early Greeks (i#t)red him as
a Ger, or win*ed N+(iteN, like ;ld !*e, "la*)e, in the sense that )n#ontrolled se:)al (assion
#o)ld be dist)rbin* to ordered so#iety% -ater (oets, however, took a (erverse (leas)re in his
anti#s and, by the time o "ra:iteles, he had be#ome sentimentali8ed as bea)ti)l yo)th% &is
most amo)s shrine was at Thes(iae, where the 4oeotians worshi((ed him as a sim(le (halli#
(illar J the (astoral &ermes or "ria()s, )nder a dierent name% The vario)s a##o)nts his
(arenta*e are selJe:(lanatory% &ermes was a (halli# *od2 and !res as a *od o war,
in#reased desire in the warriorsN womenolk% That !(hrodite was ,rosNs mother and @e)s his
ather is a hint that se:)al (assion does not sto( short at in#est2 his birth rom the Rainbow
and the West Wind is a lyri#al an#y% ,ileithyia, Nshe who #omes to the aid o women in
#hildbedN, was a title o !rtemis2 the meanin* bein* that there is no love so stron* as mother
Jlove%
0% ,ros was never #onsidered a s)i#iently res(onsible *od to i*)re amon* the r)lin*
;lym(ian amily o Twelve%
";+,$?;3N+ 3!T/R, !3? ?,,?+
W&,3 @e)s, "oseidon, and &ades, ater de(osin* their ather .ron)s, shook lots in a helmet
or the lordshi( o the sky, sea, and m)rky )nderworld, leavin* the earth #ommon to all, @e)s
won the sky, &ades the )nderworld, and "oseidon the sea% "oseidon, who is eE)al to his
brother @e)s in di*nity, tho)*h not in (ower, and o a s)rely E)arrelsome nat)re, at on#e set
abo)t b)ildin* his )nderwater (ala#e o !e*ae in ,)boea% $n its s(a#io)s stables he kee(s
white #hariot horses with bra8en hooves and *olden manes, and a *olden #hariot at the
a((roa#h o whi#h storms instantly #ease and seaJmonsters rise, riskin*, aro)nd it%
b% 3eedin* a wie who wo)ld be at home in the seaJde(ths, he #o)rted Thetis the 3ereid2
b)t when it was (ro(hesied by Themis that any son born to Thetis wo)ld be *reater than his
ather, he desisted, and allowed her to marry a mortal named "ele)s% !m(hitrite, another
3ereid, whom he ne:t a((roa#hed, viewed his advan#es with re()*nan#e, and led to the
!tlas Mo)ntains to es#a(e him2 b)t he sent messen*ers ater her, amon* them one ?el(hin)s,
who (leaded "oseidonNs #a)se so winnin*ly that she yielded, and asked him to arran*e the
marria*e% Grate)lly, "oseidon set ?el(hin)sNs ima*e amon* the stars as a #onstellation, the
?ol(hin% !m(hitrite bore "oseidon three #hildren1 Triton, Rhode, and 4enthesi#yme2 b)t he
#a)sed her almost as m)#h Healo)sy as @e)s did &era by his love aairs with *oddesses,
nym(hs, and mortals% ,s(e#ially she loathed his inat)ation with +#ylla, da)*hter o "hor#ys,
whom she #han*ed into a barkin* monster with si: heads and twelve eet by throwin*
ma*i#al herbs into her bathin* (ool%
#% "oseidon is *reedy o earthly kin*doms, and on#e #laimed (ossession o !tti#a by thr)stin*
his trident into the a#ro(olis at !thens, where a well o seaJwater immediately *)shed o)t
and is still to be seen2 when the +o)th Wind blows yo) may hear the so)nd o the sea ar
below% -ater, d)rin* the rei*n o .e#ro(s, !thene #ame and took (ossession in a *entler
manner, by (lantin* the irst oliveJtree beside the well% "oseidon, in a )ry, #hallen*ed her
to sin*le #ombat, an !thene wo)ld have a##e(ted had not @e)s inter(osed and ordered them
to s)bmit the dis()te to arbitration% "resently, then, they a((eared beore a divine #o)rt,
#onsistin* o their s)(ernal ellowJdeities who #alled on .e#ro(s to *ive eviden#e% @e)s
himsel e:(ressed o(inion, b)t while all the other *ods s)((orted "oseidon, all the *oddesses
s)((orted !thene% Th)s, by a maHority o one, the #o)rt r)led that !thene had the better ri*ht
to the land, be#a)se she had *iven the better *it%
d% Greatly ve:ed, "oseidon sent h)*e waves to lood the Thriasian "lain, where !theneNs #ity
o !thenae stood, where)(on she took her abode in !thens instead, and #alled that too ater
hersel% &owever, to a((ease "oseidonNs wrath, the women o !thens were de(rived o their
vote, and the men orbidden to bear their mothersN names hitherto%
e% "oseidon also dis()ted Troe8en with !thene2 and on this o##asion @e)s iss)ed an order or
the #ity to be shared eE)ally between them, an arran*ement disa*reeable to both% 3e:t, he
tried )ns)##ess)lly to #laim !e*ina rom @e)s, and 3a:os rom ?ionys)s2 and in a #laim or
.orinth with &eli)s re#eived the $sthm)s only, while &eli)s was awarded the !#ro(olis% $n
)ry, he tried to sei8e !r*olis rom &era, was a*ain ready to i*ht, re)sin* to a((ear beore
his ;lym(ian (eers who, he said, were (reH)di#ed a*ainst him% @e)s, thereore, reerred the
matter to the RiverJ*ods $na#h)s, .e(hiss)s, and !sterion, who H)d*ed in &eraNs avo)r%
+in#e he had been orbidden to reven*e himsel with a lood as beore, he did e:a#tly the
o((osite1 he dried )( H)d*esN streams so that they now never low in s)mmer% &owever, the
sake o !mymone, one o the ?anaids who were distressed by the dro)*ht, he #a)sed the
!r*ive river o -erna to low (er(et)ally%
% &e boasts o havin* #reated the horse, tho)*h some say that, when he was newly born,
Rhea *ave one to .ron)s to eat2 and o havin* invented the bridle, tho)*h !thene had done
so beore him2 b)t his #laim to have instit)ted horseJra#in* is not dis()ted% .ertainly, horses
are sa#red to him, (erha(s be#a)se o his amoro)s ()rs)it o ?emeter when she was tear)lly
seekin* her da)*hter "erse(hone% $t is said that ?emeter, wearied and disheartened by her
sear#h, and disin#lined or (assionate dallian#e with any *od or Titan, transormed hersel
into a mare, and be*an to *ra8e with the herd o one ;n#)s, a son o !(olloNs who rei*ned in
!r#adian ;n#ei)m% +he did not, however, de#eived "oseidon, who transormed himsel into a
stallion and #overed her, rom whi#h o)tra*eo)s )nion s(ran* the nym(h ?es(oena and the
wild horse !rion% ?emeterNs an*er was so hot that she is still worshi((ed lo#allyNas N?emeter
the ')ryN%
1% Thetis, !m(hitrite, and 3ereis were dierent lo#al titles o the Tri(le Moon7*oddess as
r)ler o the sea2 and sin#e "oseidon was the 'ather7*od o the !eolians, who had taken to the
sea, he #laimed to be her h)sband wherever she o)nd worshi((ers% "ele)s married Thetis on
Mo)nt "elion% 3ereis means Ithe wet oneA, and !m(hitriteAs name reers to the Ithird
elementA, the sea, whi#h is #ast abo)t earth, the irst element, and above whi#h rises the
se#ond element, air% $n the &omeri# (oems !m(hitrite means sim(ly Ithe seaA2 she is not
(ersoniied as "oseidonAs wie% &er rel)#tan#e to marry "oseidon mat#hes &eraAs rel)#tan#e
to marry @e)s, and "erse(honeAs to marry &ades2 the marria*e involved the intereren#e by
male (riests with emale #ontrol o the ishin* ind)stry% The able o ?el(hin)s is sentimental
alle*ory1 dol(hins a((ear when the sea *rows #alm% !m(hitriteAs #hildren were hersel in
triad1 Triton, l)#ky new moon2 Rhode, )ll harvest7moon2 and 4enthesi#yme, dan*ero)s old
moon% 4)t Triton has sin#e be#ome mas#)linised% !e*ae stood on the sheltered 4oeotian side
o ,)boea and served as a (ort or ;r#homen)s2 and it was hereabo)ts that the naval
e:(edition m)stered a*ainst Troy%
0% The story o !m(hitriteAs ven*ean#e on +#ylla is (aralleled in that o "asi(haBAs ven*ean#e
on another +#ylla% +#ylla 5Ishe who rendsA or I()((yA6 is merely a disa*reeable as(e#t o
hersel1 the do*headed ?eath7*oddess &e#ate, who was at home both on land and in the
waves% ! seal im(ression rom .noss)s shows her threatenin* a man in a boat, as she
threatened ;dysse)s in the +traits o Messina% The a##o)nt E)oted by T8et8es seems to have
been mistakenly ded)#ed rom an an#ient vase7(aintin* in whi#h !m(hitrite stands beside a
(ool o##)(ied by a do*7headed monster2 on the other side o the vase is a drowned hero
#a)*ht between two do*7headed triads o *oddesses at the entran#e to the /nderworld%
<% "oseidonAs attem(ts to take (ossession o #ertain #ities are (oliti#al myths% &is dis()te over
!thens s)**ests an )ns)##ess)l attem(t to make him the #ityAs t)telary deity in (la#e o
!thene% Det her vi#tory was im(aired by a #on#ession to (atriar#hy1 the !thenians abandoned
the .retan #)stom whi#h (revailed in .aria )ntil .lassi#al times 5&erodot)s6 when they
#eased to take their motherAs names% Carro, who *ives this detail, re(resents the trial as a
(lebis#ite o all the men and women o !thens% $t is (lain that the $onian "elas*ians o !thens
were deeated by the !eolians, and that !thene re*ained her soverei*nty only by allian#e
with @e)sAs !#haeans, who later made her disown "oseidonAs (aternity and admit hersel
reborn rom @e)sAs head%
=% The #)ltivated olive was ori*inally im(orted rom -ibya, whi#h s)((orts the myth o
!theneAs -ibyan ori*in2 b)t what she bro)*ht will have been only a #)ttin*Jthe #)ltivated
olive does not breed tr)e, b)t m)st always be *rated on the oleaster, or wild olive% &er tree
was still shown at !thens d)rin* the se#ond #ent)ry !?% The loodin* o the Thriasian "lain
is likely to be a histori#al event, b)t #annot be dated% $t is (ossible that early in the o)rteenth
#ent)ry 4., whi#h meteorolo*ists re#kon to have been a (eriod o ma:im)m rainall, the
rivers o !r#adia never ran dry, and that their s)bseE)ent shrinkin* was attrib)ted to the
ven*ean#e o "oseidon% "re7&elleni# +)n7worshi( at .orinth is well established 5"a)sanias6%
5% The myth o ?emeter and "oseidon re#ords a &elleni# invasion o !r#adia% ?emeter was
(i#t)red at "hi*alia as the mare7headed (atroness o the (re7&elleni# horse #)lt% &orses were
sa#red to the moon, be#a)se their hooves make a moon7sha(ed mark, and the moon was
re*arded as the so)r#e o all water2 hen#e the asso#iation o "e*as)s with s(rin*s o water%
The early &ellenes introd)#ed a lar*er breed o horse into Gree#e rom Trans7.as(ia, the
native variety havin* been abo)t the si8e o a +hetland (ony and )ns)itable or #hariotry%
They seem to have sei8ed the #entres o the horse #)lt, where their warrior7kin*s or#ibly
married the lo#al (riestesses and th)s won a title to the land2 in#identally s)((ressin* the
wild7mare or*ies% The
sa#red horses !rion and ?es(oena 5this bein* a title o ?emeter hersel6 were then #laimed as
"oseidonAs #hildren% !mymone may have been a name or the *oddess at -erna, the #entre o
the ?anaid water #)lt%
6% ?emeter as ')ry, like 3emesis as ')ry, was the *oddess in her ann)al mood o m)rder2
and the story, also told o "oseidon and ?emeter at Thel()sia 5"a)sanias6, and o "oseidon
and an )nnamed ')ry at the o)ntain o Til(h)sa in 4oeotia 5+#holiast on &omerAs $liad6 was
already old when the &ellenes #ame% $t a((ears in early $ndian sa#red literat)re, where
+arany) t)rns hersel into a mare, Civaswat be#omes a stallion and #overs her2 and the r)it
o this )nion are the two heroi# !svins% I?emeter ,rinnysA may, in a#t, have stood not or
I?emeter the ')ryA, b)t or I?emeter +arany)AJan attem(ted re#on#iliation o the two
warrin* #)lt)res2 b)t to the resent)l "elas*ians ?emeter was, and remained, o)tra*ed%
&ermesAs 3at)re !nd ?eeds
W&,3 &ermes was born on Mo)nt .yllene his mother Maia laid him in swaddlin* bands on
a winnowin* an, b)t he *rew with astonishin* E)i#kness into a little boy, and as soon as her
ba#k was t)rned sli((ed o and went lookin* or advent)re% !rrived at "ieria, where !(ollo
was tendin* a ine herd o #ows, he de#ided to steal them% 4)t, earin* to be betrayed by their
tra#ks, he E)i#kly made a n)mber o shoes rom the bark o a allen oak and tied them with
(laited *rass to the eet o the #ows, whi#h he then drove o by ni*ht alon* the road% !(ollo
dis#overed the loss, b)t &ermesAs tri#k de#eived him, and tho)*h he went as ar as "yl)s in
his westward sear#h, and to ;n#hest)s in his eastern, he was or#ed, in the end, to oer a
reward or the a((rehension o the thie% +ilen)s and his satyrs, *reedy o reward, s(read o)t
in dierent dire#tions to tra#k him down b)t, or a lon* while, witho)t s)##ess% !t last, as a
(arty o them (assed thro)*h !r#adia, they heard the m)led so)nd o m)si# s)#h as they
had never heard beore, and the nym(h .yllene, rom the mo)th o a #ave, told them that a
most *ited #hild had re#ently been born there, to whom she was a#tin* as n)rse1 he had
#onstr)#ted an in*enio)s m)si#al toy rom the shell o a tortoise and some #ow7*)t, with
whi#h he had l)lled his mother to slee(%
b% I!nd rom whom did he *et the #ow7*)tKA asked the alert satyrs, noti#in* two hides
stret#hed o)tside the #ave% I?o yo) #har*e the (oor #hild with thetKA asked .yllene% &arsh
words were e:#han*ed%
#% !t that moment !(ollo #ame )(, havin* dis#overed the thieAs identity by observin* the
s)s(i#io)s behavio)r o a lon*7win*ed bird enterin* the #ave, he awakened Maia and told her
severely that &ermes m)st restore the stolen #ows% Maia (ointed to the #hild, still wra((ed in
his swaddlin* bands and ei*nin* slee(% IWhat an abs)rd #har*e she #ried% 4)t !(ollo had
already re#o*ni8ed the bands% &e (i#ked &ermes, #arried him to ;lym()s, and there ormally
a##)sed him thet, oerin* the bands as eviden#e% @e)s, loathin* to believe that his own new7
born son was a thie, en#o)ra*ed him to (lead not *)ilty, b)t !(ollo wo)ld not be ()t o and
&ermes, at last, weakened #onessed%
ICery well, #ome with me,A he said, Iand yo) may have yo)r herd% $ sla)*htered only two, and
those $ #)t )( into twelve eE)al (ortio as a sa#rii#e to the twelve *ods%A
ITwelve *odsKA asked !(ollo% IWho is the twelthKA
IDo)r servant, sir,A re(lied &ermes modestly% Il ate no more than my share, tho)*h $ was very
h)n*ry, and d)ly b)rned the rest%A
3ow, this was the irst lesh7sa#rii#e ever made%
d% The two *ods ret)rned to Mo)nt .yllene, where &ermes *reet his mother and retrieved
somethin* that he had been hidden )nderneath shee(skin%
IWhat have yo) thereKA asked !(ollo%
$n answer, &ermes showed his newly7invented tortoise7shell lyre and (layed s)#h a ravishin*
t)ne on it with the (le#tr)m he had also invented, at the same time sin*in* in (raise o
!(olloAs nobility, intelli*en#e, and *enerosity, that he was or*iven at on#e% &e led then
s)r(rised and deli*hted !(ollo to "yl)s, (layin* all the way, there *ave him the remainder o
the #attle, whi#h he had hidden it #ave%
I! bar*ainPA #ried !(ollo% IDo) kee( the #ows, and $ take the lyre%V
I!*reed,A said &ermes, and they shook hands on at%
e% While the h)n*ry #ows were *ra8in*, &ermes #)t reeds, made them into a she(herdAs (i(e,
and (layed another t)ne% !(ollo, a*ain deli*hted, #ried1 I! bar*ainP $ yo) *ive me that (i(e,
$ will *ive yo) this *olden sta with whi#h $ herd my #attle2 in )t)re yo) shall be the *od o
all herdsmen and she(herds%A
IMy (i(e is worth more than yo)r sta,A re(lied &ermes% I4)t $ will make the e:#han*e, i
yo) tea#h me a)*)ry too, be#a)se it seems to be a most )se)l art%A
I$ #annot do that,A !(ollo said, Ib)t i yo) *o to my old n)rses, the Thriae who live on
"arnass)s, they will tea#h yo) how to divine rom (ebbles%A
% They a*ain shook hands and !(ollo, takin* the #hild ba#k to ;lym()s, told @e)s all that
had ha((ened% @e)s warned &ermes that hen#eorth he m)st res(e#t the ri*hts o (ro(erty
and rerain rom tellin* downri*ht lies2 b)t he #o)ld not hel( bein* am)sed%
IDo) seem to be a very in*enio)s, eloE)ent, and (ers)asive *odlin*,A he said%
IThen make me yo)r herald, 'ather,A &ermes answered, Iand $ will be res(onsible or the
saety o all divine (ro(erty, and never tell lies, tho)*h $ #annot (romise always to tell the
whole tr)th%A
IThat wo)ld not be e:(e#ted o yo),A said @e)s, with a smile% I4)t yo)r d)ties wo)ld in#l)de
the makin* o treaties, the (romotion o #ommer#e, and the maintenan#e o ree ri*hts o way
or travellers on any road m the world%A When &ermes a*reed to these #onditions, @e)s *ave
him a heraldAs sta with white ribbons, whi#h everyone was ordered to res(e#t2 a ro)nd hat
a*ainst the rain, and win*ed *olden sandals whi#h #arried him abo)t with the switness o
wind% &e was at on#e wel#omed to the ;lym(ian amily, whom he ta)*ht the art o makin*
ire by the ra(id twirlin* o the ire7sti#k%
*% !terwards, the Thriae showed &ermes how to oretell the )t)re rom the dan#e o (ebbles
in a basin o water2 and he himsel invented both the *ame o kn)#kle7bones and the art o
divinin* by them% &ades also en*a*ed him as his herald, to s)mmon the dyin* *ently and
eloE)ently, by layin* the *olden
sta )(on their eyes%
h% &e then assisted the Three 'ates in the #om(osition o the !l(habet, invented astronomy,
the m)si#al s#ale, the arts o bo:in* and *ymnasti#s, wei*hts and meas)res 5whi#h some
attrib)te to "alamedes6, and the #)ltivation o the olive7tree%
i% +ome hold that the lyre invented by &ermes had seven strin*s2 others, that it had three only,
to #orres(ond with the seasons, or o)r to #orres(ond with the E)arters o the year, and that
!(ollo bro)*ht the n)mber )( to seven%
H% &ermes had n)mero)s sons, in#l)din* ,#hion the !r*ona)tsA herald2 !)toly#)s the thie2
and ?a(hnis the inventor o b)#oli# (oetry% This ?a(hnis was a bea)ti)l +i#ilian yo)th
whom his mother, a nym(h, e:(osed in a la)rel *rove on the Mo)ntain o &era2 hen#e the
name *iven him by the she(herds, his oster (arents% "an ta)*ht him to (lay the (i(es2 he was
beloved by !(ollo, and )sed to h)nt with !rtemis, who took (leas)re in his m)si#% &e
lavished *reat #are on his many herds o #attle, whi#h were o the same sto#k as &eli)sAs% !
nym(h named 3omia made him swear never to be )naith)l to her, on (ain o bein* blinded2
b)t her rival, .himaera, #ontrived to sed)#e him when he was dr)nk, and 3omia blinded him
in )lilment o her threat% ?a(hnis #onsoled himsel or a while with sad lays abo)t the loss
o si*ht, b)t he did not live lon*% &ermes t)rned him into a stone, whi#h is still shown at the
#ity o .e(halenitan)m2 and #a)sed a o)ntain #alled ?a(hnis to *)sh )( at +yra#)se, where
ann)al sa#rii#es are oered%
1% The myth o &ermesAs #hildhood has been (reserved in a late literary orm only% ! tradition
o #attle raids made by the #raty Messenians on their nei*hbo)rs, and o a treaty by whi#h
these were dis#ontin)ed, seems to have been mytholo*i#ally #ombined with an a##o)nt o
how the barbaro)s &ellenes took over and e:(loited, in the name o their ado(ted *od !(ollo,
the .reto7&elladi# #ivili8ation whi#h they o)nd in .entral and +o)thern Gree#eJbo:in*,
*ymnasti#s, wei*hts and meas)res, m)si#, astronomy, and olive #)lt)re were all (re7&elleni#
Jand learned (olite manners%
0% &ermes was evolved as a *od rom the stone (halli whi#h were lo#al #entres o a (re7
&elleni# ertility #)ltJthe a##o)nt o his ra(id *rowth may be &omerAs (lay)l obs#enityJ
b)t also rom the ?ivine .hild o the (re7&elleni# .alendar2 rom the ,*y(tian Thoth, God
o intelli*en#e2 and rom !n)bis, #ond)#tor o so)ls to the /nderworld%
<% The heraldi# white ribbons on &ermesAs sta were later mistaken or ser(ents, be#a)se he
was herald to &ades2 hen#e ,#hionAs name% The Thriae are the Tri(le7M)se 5Imo)ntain
*oddessA6 o "arnass)s, their divination by means o dan#in* (ebbles was also (ra#tised at
?el(hi 5Mytho*ra(hi Grae#i1 !((endi: 3arration)m6% !thene was irst #redited with the
invention o divinatory di#e made rom kn)#kle7bones 5@enobi)s1 "roverbs6, and these #ame
into (o()lar )se2 b)t the art o a)*)ry remained an aristo#rati# (rero*ative both in Gree#e
and at Rome% !(olloAs Ilon*7win*ed birdA was (robably &ermesAs own sa#red #rane2 or the
!(ollonian (riesthood #onstantly tres(assed on the territory o &ermes, an earlier (atron o
soothsayin*, literat)re, and the arts2 as did the &ermeti# (riesthood on that o "an, the M)ses,
and !thene% The invention o ire7makin* was as#ribed to &ermes, be#a)se the twirlin* o the
male drill in the emale sto#k s)**ested (halli# ma*i#%
=% +ilen)s and his sons, the satyrs, were #onventional #omi# #hara#ters in the !tti# drama2
ori*inally they had been (rimitive mo)ntaineers o 3orthern Gree#e% &e was #alled an
a)to#hthon, or a son o "an by one o the nym(hs 53orm)s1 ?ionysia#a2 !elian1 Caria
&istoria6%
5% The romanti# story o ?a(hnis has been b)ilt aro)nd a (halli# (illar at .e(halenitan)m,
and a o)ntain at +yra#)se, ea#h (robably s)rro)nded by a la)rel *rove, where son*s were
s)n* in hono)r o the si*htless dead% ?a(hnis was said to be beloved by !(ollo be#a)se he
had taken the la)rel rom the or*iasti# *oddess o Tem(e%
!(hroditeAs 3at)re !nd ?eeds
!"&R;?$T, #o)ld seldom be (ers)aded to lend the other *oddesses her ma*i# *irdle whi#h
made everyone all in love with its wearer2 or she was Healo)s o her (osition% @e)s had
*iven her in marria*e to &e(haest)s, the lame +mith7*od2 b)t the tr)e ather o the three
#hildren with whom she (resented himJ"hob)s, ?eim)s, and &armoniaJwas !res, the
strai*ht7limbed, im(et)o)s, dr)nken, and E)arrelsome God o War% &e(haest)s knew nothin*
o the de#e(tion )ntil, one ni*ht, the lovers stayed too lon* to*ether in bed at !resAs Thra#ian
(ala#e2 then &eli)s, as he rose, saw them at their s(ort and told tales to &e(haest)s%
b% &e(haest)s an*rily retired to his or*e, and hammered o)t a bron8e h)ntin*7net, as ree as
*ossamer b)t E)ite )nbreakable, whi#h he se#retly atta#hed to the (osts and sides o his
marria*e7bed% &e told !(hrodite who ret)rned rom Thra#e, all smiles, e:(lainin* that she
had been away on b)siness at .orinth1 I"ray e:#)se me, dear wie, $ am takin* a short
holiday on -emnos, my avo)rite island%A !(hrodite did not oer to a##om(any him and,
when he was o)t o si*ht, sent h)rriedly or !res, who soon arrived% The two went merrily to
bed b)t, at dawn, o)nd themselves entan*led in the net, naked and )nable to es#a(e%
&e(haest)s, t)rnin* ba#k rom his Ho)rney, s)r(rised them there, and s)mmoned all the *ods
to witness his dishono)r% &e then anno)n#ed that he wo)ld not release his wie )ntil the
val)able marria*e7*its whi#h he had (aid her ado(tive ather, @e)s, were restored to him%
#% /( ran the *ods, to wat#h !(hroditeAs embarrassment2 b)t the *oddesses, rom a sense o
deli#a#y, stayed in their ho)ses% !(ollo, n)d*in* &ermes, asked1 IDo) wo)ld not mind bein*
in !resAs (osition, wo)ld yo), net and allKA
&ermes swore by his own head, that he wo)ld not, even i there were three times as many
nets, and all the *oddesses were lookin* on with disa((roval% !t this, both *ods la)*hed
)(roario)sly, b)t @e)s was so dis*)sted that he re)sed to hand ba#k the marria*e7*its, or to
interere in a v)l*ar dis()te between a h)sband and wie, de#larin* that &e(haest)s was a
ool to have made the aair ()bli#% "oseidon who, at si*ht o !(hroditeAs naked body, had
allen in love with her, #on#ealed his Healo)sy o !res, and (retended to sym(athi8e with
&e(haest)s% I+in#e @e)s re)ses to hel(,A he said, I$ will )ndertake that !res, as a ee or his
release, (ays the eE)ivalent o the marria*e7*its in E)estion%A IThat is all very well,A
&e(haest)s re(lied *loomily% I4)t i !res dea)lts, yo) will have to take his (la#e )nder the
net%A I$n !(hroditeAs #om(anyKA !(ollo asked, la)*hin*% I$ #annot think that !res will
dea)lt,A "oseidon said nobly% I4)t i he sho)ld do so, $ am ready to (ay the debt and marry
!(hrodite mysel%A +o !res was set at liberty, and ret)rned to Thra#e2 and !(hrodite went to
"a(hos, where she renewed her vir*inity in the sea%
d% 'lattered by &ermesAs rank #onession o his love or her, !(hrodite (resently s(ent a
ni*ht with him, the r)it o whi#h was &erma(hrodit)s, a do)ble7se:ed bein*2 and, eE)ally
(leased by "oseidonAs intervention on her behal, she bore him two sons, Rhod)s and
&ero(hil)s% 3eedless to say, !res dea)lted, (leadin* that i @e)s wo)ld not (ay, why sho)ld
heK $n the end, nobody (aid, be#a)se &e(haest)s was madly in love with !(hrodite and had
no real intention o divor#in* her%
e% -ater, !(hrodite yielded to ?ionys)s, and bore him "ria()s2 an )*ly #hild with enormo)s
*enitalsJit was &era who had *iven him this obs#ene a((earan#e, in disa((roval o
!(hroditeAs (romis#)ity% &e is a *ardener and #arries a (r)nin*7knie%
% Tho)*h @e)s never lay with his ado(ted da)*hter !(hrodite, as some say that he did, the
ma*i# o her *irdle ()t him )nder #onstant tem(tation, and at last he de#ided to h)miliate her
by makin* her all des(erately in love with a mortal% This was the handsome !n#hises, Gin*
o the ?ardanians, a *randson o $l)s and, one ni*ht, when he was aslee( in his herdsmanAs
h)t on TroHan Mo)nt $da, !(hrodite visited him in the *)ise o a "hry*ian (rin#ess, #lad in a
da88lin*ly red robe, and lay with him on a #o)#h s(read with the skins o bears and lions,
while bees b)88ed drowsily abo)t them% When they (arted at dawn, she revealed her identity,
and made him (romise not to tell anyone that she had sle(t with him% !n#hises was horriied
to learn that he had )n#overed the nakedness o a *oddess, and be**ed her to s(are his lie%
+he ass)red him that he had nothin* to ear, and that their son wo)ld be amo)s% +ome days
later, while !n#hises was drinkin* with his #om(anions, one o them asked1 IWo)ld yo) not
rather slee( with the da)*hter o +o7and7so than with !(hrodite herselKA I3o,A he re(lied
)n*)ardedly% I&avin* sle(t with both, $ ind the E)estion ine(t%A
*% @e)s overheard this boast, and threw a th)nderbolt at !n#hises, whi#h wo)ld have killed
him o)tri*ht, had not !(hrodite inter(osed her *irdle, and th)s diverted the bolt into the
*ro)nd at his eet% 3evertheless, the sho#k so weakened !n#hises that he #o)ld never stand
)(ri*ht a*ain, and !(hrodite, ater bearin* his son !eneas, soon lost her (assion or him%
h% ;ne day, the wie o Gin* .inyras the .y(rianJb)t some #all him Gin* "hoeni: o
4ybl)s, and some Gin* Theias the !ssyrianJoolishly boasted that her da)*hter +myrna was
more bea)ti)l even than !(hrodite% The *oddess aven*ed this ins)lt by makin* +myrna all
in love with her ather and #limb into his bed one dark ni*ht, when her n)rse had made him
too dr)nk to reali8e what he was doin*% -ater, .inyras dis#overed that he was both the ather
and *randather o +myrnaAs )nborn #hild and, wild with wrath, sei8ed a sword and #hased
her rom the (ala#e% &e overtook her on the brow o a hill, b)t !(hrodite h)rriedly #han*ed
+myrna into a myrrh7tree, whi#h the des#endin* sword s(lit in halves% ;)t t)mbled the inant
!donis% !(hrodite, already re(entin* o the mis#hie that the had made, #on#ealed !donis in
a #hest, whi#h she entr)sted to "erse(hone, M)een o the ?ead, askin* her to stow it away in
a dark (la#e%
i% "erse(hone had the #)riosity to o(en the #hest, and o)nd !donis inside% &e was so lovely
that she lited him o)t and bro)*ht him )( in her own (ala#e% The news rea#hed !(hrodite,
who at on#e visited Tartar)s to #laim !donis2 and when "erse(hone wo)ld not assent, havin*
by now made him her lover, she a((ealed to @e)s% @e)s, well aware that !(hrodite also
wanted to lie with !donis, re)sed to H)d*e so )nsavo)ry a dis()te2 and transerred it to a
lower #o)rt, (resided over by the M)se .allio(e% .allio(eAs verdi#t was that "erse(hone and
!(hrodite had eE)al #laims on !donisJ!(hrodite or arran*in* his birth, "erse(hone or
res#)in* him rom the #hestJb)t that he sho)ld be allowed a brie ann)al holiday rom the
amoro)s demands o both these insatiable *oddesses% +he thereore divided the year into
three eE)al (arts, o whi#h he was to s(end one with "erse(hone, one with !(hrodite, and the
third by himsel% !(hrodite did not (lay air1 by wearin* her ma*i# *irdle all the time, she
(ers)aded !donis to *ive her his own share o the year, *r)d*e the share d)e to "erse(hone,
and disobey the #o)rt7order%
H% "erse(hone, H)stly a**rieved, went to Thra#e, where she told her benea#tor !res that
!(hrodite now (reerred !donis to himsel% I! mere mortal,A she #ried, Iand eeminate at
thatPA !res *rew Healo)s and, dis*)ised as a wild boar, r)shed at !donis who was o)t h)ntin*
on Mo)nt -ebanon, and *ored him to death beore !(hroditeAs eyes% !nemones s(ran* rom
his blood, and his so)l des#ended to Tartar)s% !(hrodite went tear)lly to @e)s, and (leaded
that !donis sho)ld not have to s(end more than the *loomier hal o the year with
"erse(hone, b)t mi*ht be her #om(anion or the s)mmer months% This @e)s ma*nanimo)sly
*ranted% 4)t some say that !(ollo was the boar, and reven*ed himsel or an inH)ry !(hrodite
had done him%
k% ;n#e, to make !donis Healo)s, !(hrodite s(ent several ni*hts at -ilybae)m with 4)tes the
!r*ona)t2 and by him be#ame the mother o ,ry:, a kin* o +i#ily% &er #hildren by !donis
were one son, Gol*os, o)nder o .y(rian Gol*i, and a da)*hter, 4eroB, o)nder o 4eroea in
Thra#e2 and some say that !donis, not ?ionys)s, was the ather o her son "ria()s%
l% The 'ates assi*ned to !(hrodite one divine d)ty only, namely to make love2 b)t one day,
!thene #at#hin* her s)rre(titio)sly at work on a loom, #om(lained that her own (rero*atives
had been inrin*ed and threatened to abandon them alto*ether% !(hrodite a(olo*i8ed
(ro)sely, and has never done a handAs t)rn o work sin#e%
1% The later &ellenes belittled the Great Goddess o the Mediterranean, who had lon* been
s)(reme at .orinth, +(arta, Thes(iae, and !thens, by (la#in* her )nder male t)tela*e and
re*ardin* her solemn se:7or*ies as ad)ltero)s indis#retions% The net in whi#h &omer
re(resents !(hrodite as #a)*ht by &e(haest)s was, ori*inally, her own as Goddess o the +ea,
and her (riestess seems to have worn it d)rin* the s(rin* #arnival2 the (riestess o the 3orse
Goddess &olle, or Gode, did the same on May ,ve%
0% "ria()s ori*inated in the r)de wooden (halli# ima*es whi#h (resided over ?ionysian
or*ies% &e is made a son o !donis be#a)se o the miniat)re I*ardensA oered at his estivals%
The (ear7tree was sa#red to &era as (rime *oddess o the "elo(onnese, whi#h was thereore
#alled !(ia%
<% !(hrodite /rania 5IE)een o the mo)ntainA6 or ,ry#ina 5Io the heatherA6 was the nym(h7
*oddess o mids)mmer% +he destroyed the sa#red kin*, who mated with her on a mo)ntain
to(, as a E)een7bee destroys the drone1 by tearin* o)t his se:)al or*ans% &en#e the heather7
lovin* bees and the red robe in her mo)ntain7to( aair with !n#hises2 hen#e also the worshi(
o .ybele, the "hry*ian !(hrodite o Mo)nt $da, as a E)een7bee, and the e#stati# sel7
#astration o her (riests in memory o her lover !ttis% !n#hises was one o the many sa#red
kin*s who were str)#k with a rit)al th)nderbolt ater #onsortin* with the ?eath7in7-ie
Goddess% $n the earliest version o the myth he was killed, b)t in later ones he es#a(ed1 to
make *ood the story o how (io)s !eneas, who bro)*ht the sa#red "alladi)m to Rome,
#arried his ather away rom b)rnin* Troy% &is name identiies !(hrodite with $sis, whose
h)sband ;siris was #astrated by +et dis*)ised as a boar2 I!n#hisesA is, in a#t, a synonym o
!donis% &e had a shrine at !e*esta near Mo)nt ,ry: 5?ionysi)s o &ali#arnass)s6 and was
thereore said by Cir*il to have died at ?re(an)m, a nei*hbo)rin* town, and been b)ried on
the mo)ntain 5!eneid6% ;ther shrines o !n#hises were shown in !r#adia and the Troad% !t
!(hroditeAs shrine on Mo)nt ,ry: a *olden honey7#omb was dis(layed, said to have been a
votive oerin* (resented by ?aedal)s when he led to +i#ily%
=% !s Goddess o ?eath7in7-ie, !(hrodite earned many titles whi#h seem in#onsistent with
her bea)ty and #om(laisan#e% !t !thens, she was #alled the ,ldest o the 'ates and sister o
the ,rinnyes2 and elsewhere Melaenis 5Ibla#k oneA6, a name in*enio)sly e:(lained by
"a)sanias as meanin* that most love7makin* takes (la#e at ni*ht2 +#otia 5Idark oneA62
!ndro(honos 5Iman7slayerA62 and even, a##ordin* to "l)tar#h, ,(itymbria 5Io the tombsA6%
5% The myth o .inyras and +myrna evidently re#ords a (eriod in history when the sa#red
kin* in a matrilineal so#iety de#ided to (rolon* his rei*n beyond
the #)stomary len*th% &e did so by #elebratin* a marria*e with the yo)n* (riestess,
nominally his da)*hter, who was to be E)een or the ne:t term, instead o lettin* another
(rin#elin* marry her and take away his kin*dom%
6% !donis 5"hoeni#ian1 adon, IlordA6 is a Greek version o the +yrian demi7*od Tamm)8, the
s(irit o ann)al ve*etation% $n +yria, !sia Minor, and Gree#e, the *oddessAs sa#red year was at
one time divided into three (arts, r)led by the -ion, Goat, and +er(ent% The Goat, emblem o
the #entral (art, was the -ove7*oddess !(hroditeAs2 the +er(ent, emblem o the last (art, was
the ?eath7*oddess "erse(honeAs2 the -ion, emblem o the irst (art, was sa#red to the 4irth7
*oddess, here named +myrna, who had no #laim on !donis% $n Gree#e, this #alendar *ave
(la#e to a two7season year, bise#ted either by the eE)ino:es in the ,astern style, as at +(arta
and ?el(hi2 or by the solsti#es in the 3orthern style, as at !thens and Thebes2 whi#h e:(lains
the dieren#e between the res(e#tive verdi#ts o the Mo)ntain7*oddess .allio(e and @e)s%
>% Tamm)8 was killed by a boar, like many similar mythi#al #hara#ters J;siris, .retan @e)s,
!n#ae)s o !r#adia, .armanor o -ydia, and the $rish hero ?iarm)id% This boar seems on#e
to have been a sow with #res#ent7sha(ed t)sks, the *oddess hersel as "erse(hone2 b)t when
the year was bise#ted, the bri*ht hal r)led by the sa#red kin*, and the dark hal r)led by his
tanist, or rival, this rival #ame in wild7boar dis*)iseJlike +et when he killed ;siris, or 'inn
ma# .ool when he killed ?iarm)id% Tamm)8As blood is alle*ori#al o the anemone that
redden the slo(es o Mo)nt -ebanon ater the winter rains2 the !donia, a mo)rnin* estival in
hono)r o Tamm)8, was held at 4ybl)s every s(rin*% !donisAs birth rom a myrrh7treeJ
myrrh bein* a well known a(hrodisia#Jshows the or*iasti# #hara#ter o his rites% The dro(s
o *)m whi#h the myrrh7tree shed were s)((osed to be tears shed or him 5;vid1
Metamor(hoses6% &y*in)s makes .inyras Gin* o !ssyria 5'ab)la6, (erha(s be#a)se
Tamm)87worshi( seemed to have ori*inated there%
8% !(hroditeAs son &erma(hrodit)s was a yo)th with womanish breasts and lon* hair% -ike
the andro*yne, or bearded woman, the herma(hrodite had, o #o)rse, its reakish (hysi#al
#o)nter(art, b)t as reli*io)s #on#e(ts both ori*inated ha the transition rom matriar#hy to
(atriar#hy% &erma(hrodit)s is the sa#red kin* de()ti8in* or the M)een, and wearin* artii#ial
breasts% !ndro*yne is the mother o a (re7&elleni# #lan whi#h has avoided bein*
(atriar#hali8ed2 in order to kee( her ma*istratal (owers or to ennoble #hildren born to her
rom a slave7ather, she ass)mes a alse beard, as was the #)stom at !r*os% 4earded
*oddesses like the .y(rian !(hrodite, and womanish *ods like ?ionys)s, #orres(ond with
these transitional so#ial sta*es%
9% &armonia is, at irst si*ht, a stran*e name or a da)*hter borne by !(hrodite to !res2 b)t,
then as now, more than )s)al ae#tion and harmony (revailed in a state whi#h was at war%
!resAs 3at)re !nd ?eeds
!R,+ loves battle or its own sake, and his sister ,ris is always stirrin* )( o##asions or war
by the s(read o r)mo)r and the in#)l#ation o Healo)sy% -ike her, he never avo)rs one #ity or
(arty more than another, b)t i*hts on this side or that, as in#lination (rom(ts him, deli*htin*
in the sla)*hter o men and the sa#kin* o towns% !ll his ellow7immortals hate him, rom
@e)s and &era downwards, e:#e(t ,ris, and !(hrodite who n)rses a (erverse (assion or
him, and *reedy &ades who wel#omes the bold yo)n* i*htin*7men slain in #r)el wars%
b% !res has not been #onsistently vi#torio)s% !thene, a m)#h more skil)l i*hter than he, has
twi#e worsted him in battle2 and on#e, the *i*anti# sons o !loe)s #onE)ered and ke(t him
im(risoned in a bra8en vessel or thirteen months )ntil, hal dead, he was released by
&ermes2 and, on another o##asion, &era#les sent him r)nnin* in ear ba#k to ;lym()s% &e
(roesses too dee( a #ontem(t or liti*ation ever to a((ear in #o)rt as a (lainti, and has only
on#e done so as a deendant1 that was when his ellow7deities #har*ed him with the wil)l
m)rder o "oseidonAs son &alirrhothi)s% &e (leaded H)stii#ation, #laimin* to have saved his
da)*hter !l#i((e, o the &o)se o .e#ro(s, rom bein* violated by the said &alirrhothi)s%
+in#e no one had witnessed the in#ident, e:#e(t !res himsel, and !l#i((e, who nat)rally
#onirmed her atherAs eviden#e, the #o)rt a#E)itted him% This was the irst H)d*ement ever
(rono)n#ed in a m)rder trial2 and the hill on whi#h the (ro#eedin*s took (la#e be#ame
known as the !reio(a*)s, a name it still bears%
1% The !thenians disliked war, e:#e(t in deen#e o liberty, or or some other eE)ally #o*ent
reason, and des(ised the Thra#ians as barbaro)s be#a)se they made it a (astime%
0% $n "a)saniasAs a##o)nt o the m)rder, &alirrhothi)s had already s)##eeded in violatin*
!l#i((e% 4)t &alirrhothi)s #an only be a synonym or "oseidon2 and !l#i((e a synonym or
the mare7headed *oddess% The myth, in a#t, re#alls "oseidonAs ra(e o ?emeter, and reers to
a #onE)est o !thens by "oseidonAs (eo(le and the *oddessAs h)miliation at their hands% 4)t
it has been altered or (atrioti# reasons, and #ombined with a le*end o some early m)rder
trial% I!reio(a*)sA (robably means Ithe kill o the (ro(itiatin* GoddessA, !reia bein* one o
!theneAs titles%
&estiaAs 3at)re !nd ?eeds
$T is &estiaAs *lory that, alone o the *reat ;lym(ians, she never takes (art in wars or
dis()tes% -ike !rtemis and !thene, moreover, she has always resisted every amoro)s
invitation oered her by *ods, Titans, or others2 or, ater the dethronement o .ron)s, when
"oseidon and !(ollo #ame orward as rival s)itors, she swore by @e)sAs head to remain a
vir*in or ever% !t that, @e)s *rate)lly awarded her the irst vi#tim o every ()bli# sa#rii#e,
be#a)se she had (reserved the (ea#e o ;lym()s%
b% ?r)nken "ria()s on#e tried to violate her at a r)sti# east attended by a##ident or in token
o mo)rnin*, it is kindled aresh with the aid o a ire7wheel%
1% The #entre o Greek lieJeven at +(arta, where the amily had been s)bordinated to the
+tateJwas the domesti# hearth, also re*arded as a sa#rii#ial altar2 and &estia, as its *oddess,
re(resented (ersonal se#)rity and ha((iness, and the sa#red d)ty o hos(itality% The story o
her marria*e7oers rom "oseidon and !(ollo has (erha(s been ded)#ed rom the Hoint
worshi( o these three deities at ?el(hi% "ria()sAs attem(t to violate her is an ane#dotal
warnin* a*ainst sa#rile*io)s ill7treatment o women7*)ests who have #ome )nder the
(rote#tion o the domesti# or ()bli# hearth1 even the ass, a symbol o l)st, (ro#laims
"ria()sAs #riminal olly%
0% The ar#hai# white ani#oni# ima*e o the Great Goddess, in )se thro)*ho)t the ,astern
Mediterranean, seems to have re(resented a hea( o *lowin* #har#oal, ke(t alive by a
#overin* o white ash, whi#h was the most #osy and e#onomi#al means o heatin* in an#ient
times2 it *ave o)t neither smoke nor lame, and ormed the nat)ral #entre o amily or #lan
*atherin*s% !t ?el(hi the #har#oal7hea( was translated into limestone or o)t7o7doors
)se, and be#ame the om(halos, or navel7boss, reE)ently shown in Greek vase7(aintin*s,
whi#h marked the s)((osed #entre o the world% This holy obHe#t, whi#h has s)rvived the r)in
o the shrine, is ins#ribed with the name o Mother ,arth, is abo)t the si8e and sha(e o a
#har#oal ire needed to heat a lar*e room% $n .lassi#al times the "ythoness had an attendant
(riest who ind)#ed her tran#e by b)rnin* barley *rains, hem(, and la)rel over an oil lam( in
an en#losed s(a#e, and then inter(reted what she said% 4)t it is likely that the hem(, la)rel,
and barley were on#e laid on the hot ashes o the #har#oal mo)nd, whi#h is a sim(ler and
more ee#tive way o (rod)#in* nar#oti# )mes% 3)mero)s trian*)lar or lea7sha(ed ladles in
stone or #lay have been o)nd in .retan and My#enaean shrinesJsome o them showin*
si*ns o *reat heatJand seem to have been )sed or tendin* the sa#red ire% The #har#oal
mo)nd was sometimes b)ilt on a ro)nd, three7le**ed day table, (ainted red, white, and bla#k,
whi#h are the moonAs #olo)rs2 e:am(les have been o)nd in the "elo(onnese, .rete, and
?elosJone o them, rom a #hamber tomb at @aer "a(o)ra near .noss)s, had the #har#oal
still (iled on it%
01% !(olloAs 3at)re !nd ?eeds
!";--;, @e)sAs son by -eto, was a seven7monthsA #hild, b)t *ods *row )( switly% Themis
ed him on ne#tar and ambrosia, and when the o)rth day dawned he #alled or bow and
arrows, with whi#h &e(haest)s at on#e (rovided him% ;n leavin* ?elos he made strai*ht or
Mo)nt "arnass)s, where the ser(ent "ython, his motherAs enemy, was l)rkin*2 and wo)nded
him severely with arrows% "ython led to the ;ra#le o Mother ,arth at ?el(hi, a #ity so
named in hono)r o the monster ?el(hyne, his mate2 b)t !(ollo dared ollow him into the
shrine, and there des(at#hed him beside the sa#red #hasm%
b% Mother ,arth re(orted this o)tra*e to @e)s, who not only ordered !(ollo to visit Tem(e or
()rii#ation, b)t instit)ted the "ythian Games, in hono)r o "ython, over whi#h he was to
(reside (enitentially% M)ite )nabashed, !(ollo disre*arded @e)sAs #ommand to visit Tem(e%
$nstead, he went to !i*ialae or ()rii#ation, a##om(anied by !rtemis2 and then, dislikin* the
(la#e, sailed to Tarrha in .rete, where Gin* .armanor (erormed the #eremony%
#% ;n his ret)rn to Gree#e, !(ollo so)*ht o)t "an, the disre()table old *oat7le**ed !r#adian
*od and, havin* #oa:ed him to reveal the art o (ro(he#y, sei8ed the ?el(hi# ;ra#le and
retained its (riestess, #alled the "ythoness, in his own servi#e%
d% -eto, on hearin* the news, #ame with !rtemis to ?el(hi, where she t)rned aside to (erorm
some (rivate rite in a sa#red *rove% The *iant Tity)s interr)(ted her devotions, and was tryin*
to violate her, when !(ollo and !rtemis, hearin* s#reams, ran )( and killed him with a volley
o arrowsJa ven*ean#e whi#h @e)s, Tity)sAs ather, was (leased to #onsider a (io)s one% $n
Tartar)s, Tity)s was stret#hed o)t or torment, his arms and le*s se#)rely (e**ed to the
*ro)nd2 the area #overed was no less than nine a#res, and two v)lt)res ate his liver%
e% 3e:t, !(ollo killed the satyr Marsyas, a ollower o the *oddess .ybele% This was how it
#ame abo)t% ;ne day, !thene made a do)ble l)te rom sta*As bones, and (layed on it at a
banE)et o the *ods% +he #o)ld not )nderstand, at irst, why &era and !(hrodite were
la)*hin* silently behind their hands, altho)*h her m)si# seemed to deli*ht the other deities2
she thereore went away by hersel into a "hry*ian wood, took )( the l)te a*ain beside a
stream, and wat#hed her ima*e in the water, as she (layed% Reali8in* at on#e how l)di#ro)s
that bl)ish a#e and those swollen #heeks made her look, she threw down the l)te, and laid a
#)rse on anyone who (i#ked it )(%
% Marsyas was the inno#ent vi#tim o this #)rse% &e st)mbled )(on the l)te, whi#h he had no
sooner ()t to his li(s than it (layed o itsel, ins(ired by the memory o !theneAs m)si#2 and
he went abo)t "hry*ia in .ybeleAs train, deli*htin* the i*norant (easants% They #ried o)t that
!(ollo himsel #o)ld not have made better m)si#, even on his lyre, and Marsyas was oolish
eno)*h not to #ontradi#t them% This, o #o)rse, (rovoked the an*er o !(ollo, who invited
him to a #ontest, the winner o whi#h sho)ld inli#t whatever ()nishment he (leased on the
loser% Marsyas #onsented, and !(ollo em(anelled the M)ses as a H)ry% The #ontest (roved an
eE)al one, the M)ses bein* #harmed by both instr)ments, )ntil !(ollo #ried o)t to Marsyas1
I$ #hallen*e yo) to do with yo)r instr)ment as m)#h as $ #an do with mine% T)rn it )(side
down, and both (lay and sin* at the same time%A
*% This, with a l)te, was maniestly im(ossible, and Marsyas ailed to meet the #hallen*e%
4)t !(ollo reversed his lyre and san* s)#h deli*ht)l hymns in hono)r o the ;lym(ian *ods
that the M)ses #o)ld not do less than *ive the verdi#t in his avo)r% Then, or all his (retended
sweetness, !(ollo took a most #r)el reven*e on Marsyas1 larin* him alive and nailin* his
skin to a (ine 5or, some say% to a (lane7tree6% $t now han*s in the #avern when#e the Marsyas
River rises%
h% !terwards, !(ollo won a se#ond m)si#al #ontest, at whi#h Gin* Midas (resided2 this time
he beat "an% 4e#omin* the a#knowled*ed *od o M)si#, he has ever sin#e (layed on his
seven7strin*ed lyre while the *ods banE)et% !nother o his d)ties was on#e to *)ard the herds
and lo#ks whi#h the *ods ke(t in "ieria2 b)t he later dele*ated this task to &ermes%
i% Tho)*h !(ollo re)ses to bind himsel in marria*e, he has *ot many nym(hs and mortal
women with #hild2 amon* them, "hthia, on whom he athered ?or)s and his brothers2 and
Thalia the M)se, on whom he athered the .orybantes2 and .oronis, on whom he athered
!s#le(i)s2 and !ria, on whom he athered Milet)s2 and .yrene, on whom he athered
!ristae)s%
H% &e also sed)#ed the nym(h ?ryo(e, who was tendin* her atherAs lo#ks on Mo)nt ;eta in
the #om(any o her riends, the &amadryads% !(ollo dis*)ised himsel as a tortoise, with
whi#h they all (layed and, when ?ryo(e ()t him into her bosom, he t)rned into a hissin*
ser(ent, s#ared away the &amadryads, and enHoyed her% +he bore him !m(hiss)s, who
o)nded the #ity o ;eta and b)ilt a tem(le to his ather2 there ?ryo(e served as (riestess
)ntil, one day, the &amadryads stole her away, and let a (o(lar in her (la#e%
k% !(ollo was not invariably s)##ess)l in love% ;n one o##asion he tried to steal Mar(essa
rom $das, b)t she remained tr)e to her h)sband% ;n another, he ()rs)ed ?a(hne, the
mo)ntain nym(h, a (riestess o Mother ,arth, da)*hter o the river "enei)s in Thessaly2 b)t
when he overtook her, she #ried o)t to Mother ,arth who, in the ni#k o time, s(irited her
away to .rete, where she be#ame known as "asi(haB% Mother ,arth let a la)rel7tree in her
(la#e, and rom its leaves !(ollo made a wreath to #onsole himsel%
l% &is attem(t on ?a(hne, it m)st be added, was no s)dden im()lse% &e had lon* been in love
with her, and had bro)*ht abo)t the death o his rival, -e)#i(()s, son o ;enoma)s, who
dis*)ised himsel as a *irl and Hoined ?a(hneAs mo)ntain revels% !(ollo, knowin* o this by
divination, advised the mo)ntain nym(hs to bathe naked, and th)s make s)re that everyone in
their #om(any was a woman2 -e)#i(()sAs im(ost)re was at on#e dis#overed, and the nym(hs
tore him to (ie#es%
m% There was also the #ase o the bea)ti)l yo)th &ya#inth)s, a +(artan (rin#e, with whom
not only the (oet Thamyris ell in loveJthe irst man who ever wooed one o his own se:J
b)t !(ollo himsel, the irst *od to do so% !(ollo did not ind Thamyris a serio)s rival2 havin*
overheard his boast that he #o)ld s)r(ass the M)ses in son*, he mali#io)sly re(orted it to
them, and they at on#e robbed Thamyris o his si*ht, his voi#e, and his memory or har(in*%
4)t the West Wind had also taken a an#y to &ya#inth)s, and be#ame, insanely Healo)s o
!(ollo, who was one day tea#hin* the boy how to h)rl a dis#)s, when the West Wind #a)*ht
it in mid7air, dashed it a*ainst &ya#inth)sAs sk)ll, and killed him% 'rom his blood s(ran* the
hya#inth lower, on whi#h his
initial letters are still to be tra#ed%
n% !(ollo earned @e)sAs an*er only on#e ater the amo)s #ons(ira#y to dethrone him% This
was when his son !s#le(i)s, the (hysi#ian, had the temerity to res)rre#t a dead man, and th)s
rob &ades o a s)bHe#t2 &ades nat)rally lod*ed a #om(laint on ;lym()s, @e)s killed
!s#le(i)s with a th)nderbolt, and !(ollo in reven*e killed the .y#lo(es% @e)s was enra*ed at
the loss o his armo)rers, and wo)ld have banished !(ollo to Tartar)s or ever, had not -eto
(leaded or his or*iveness and )ndertaken that he wo)ld mend his ways% The senten#e was
red)#ed to one yearAs hard labo)r, whi#h !(ollo was to serve in the shee(7olds o Gin*
!dmet)s o "herae% ;beyin* -etoAs advi#e, !(ollo not only #arried o)t the senten#e h)mbly,
b)t #onerred *reat beneits on !dmet)s%
o% &avin* learned his lesson, he thereater (rea#hed moderation in all thin*s1 the (hrases
IGnow thyselPA and I3othin* in e:#essA were always on his li(s% &e bro)*ht the M)ses down
rom their home on Mo)nt &eli#on to ?el(hi, tamed their wild ren8y, and led them in ormal
and de#oro)s dan#es%
$% !(olloAs history is a #on)sin* one% The Greeks made him the son o -eto, a *oddess
known as -at in +o)thern "alestine, b)t he was also a *od o the &y(erboreans 5Ibeyond7the7
3orth7Wind7menA6, whom &e#atae)s 5?iodor)s +i#)l)s6 #learly identiied with the 4ritish,
tho)*h "indar 5"ythian ;des6 re*arded them as -ibyans% ?elos was the #entre o this
&y(erborean #)lt whi#h, it seems, e:tended so)th7eastward to 3abataea and "alestine,
northwestward to 4ritain, and in#l)ded !thens% Cisits were #onstantly e:#han*ed between the
states )nited in this #)lt 5?iodor)s +i#)l)s%6%
0% !(ollo, amon* the &y(erboreans, sa#rii#ed he#atombs o asses 5"indar6, whi#h identiies
him with the I.hild &or)sA, whose deeat o his enemy +et the ,*y(tians ann)ally #elebrated
by drivin* wild asses over a (re#i(i#e 5"l)tar#h1 ;n $sis and ;siris6% &or)s was aven*in*
+etAs m)rder o his ather ;sirisJthe sa#red kin*, beloved o the Tri(le Moon7*oddess $sis,
or -at, whom his tanist sa#rii#ed at mids)mmer and midwinter, and o whom &or)s was
himsel the rein#arnation% The myth o -etoAs ()rs)it by "ython #orres(onds with the myth o
$sisAs ()rs)it by +et 5d)rin* the seventy7two hottest days o the year6% Moreover, "ython is
identiied with Ty(hon, the Greek +et, in the &omeri# &ymn to !(ollo, and by the s#holiast
on !(olloni)s Rhodi)s% The &y(erborean !(ollo is, in a#t, a Greek &or)s%
<% 4)t the myth has been *iven a (oliti#al t)rn1 "ython is said to have been sent a*ainst -eto
by &era, who had borne him (artheno*eneti#ally, to s(ite @e)s 5&omeri# &ymn to !(ollo62
and !(ollo, ater killin* "ython 5and (res)mably also his mate ?el(hyne6, sei8es the ora#)lar
shrine o Mother ,arth at ?el(hiJor &era was Mother ,arth, or ?el(hyne, in her (ro(heti#
as(e#t% $t seems that #ertain 3orthern &ellenes, allied with Thra#o7-ibyans, invaded .entral
Gree#e and the "elo(onnese, where they were o((osed by the (re7&elleni# worshi((ers o
the ,arth7*oddess, b)t #a(t)red her #hie ora#)lar shrines% !t ?el(hi, they destroyed the
sa#red ora#)lar ser(entJa similar ser(ent was ke(t in the ,re#hthe)m at !thensJand took
over the ora#le in the name o their *od !(ollo +minthe)s% +minthe)s 5Imo)syA6, like ,sm)n
the .anaanite *od o healin*, had a #)rative mo)se or his emblem% The invaders a*reed to
identiy him with !(ollo, the &y(erborean &or)s, worshi((ed by their allies% To (la#ate lo#al
o(inion at ?el(hi, re*)lar )neral *ames were instit)ted in hono)r o the dead hero "ython
and his (riestess was retained in oi#e%
=% The Moon7*oddess 4ri8o 5IsootherA6 o ?elos, indistin*)ishable rom -eto, may be
identiied with the &y(erborean Tri(le7*oddess 4ri*it, who be#ame .hristianised as +t%
4ri*it, or +t% 4ride% 4ri*it was (atroness o all the arts, and !(ollo ollowed her e:am(le% The
attem(t on -eto by the *iant Tity)s s)**ests an abortive risin* by the mo)ntaineers o "ho#is
a*ainst the invaders%
5% !(olloAs vi#tories over Marsyas and "an #ommemorate the &elleni# #onE)ests o "hry*ia
and !r#adia, and the #onseE)ent s)((ression in those re*ions o wind instr)ments by strin*ed
ones, e:#e(t amon* the (easantry% MarsyasAs ()nishment may reer to the rit)al larin* o a
sa#red kin*Jas !thene stri((ed "allas o his ma*i#al ae*isJor the removal o the entire
bark rom an alder7shoot, to make a she(herdAs (i(e, the alder bein* (ersoniied as a *od or
demi7*od% !(ollo was #laimed as an an#estor o the ?orian Greeks, and o the Milesians,
who (aid him es(e#ial hono)rs% The .orybantes, dan#ers at the Winter +olsti#e estival, were
#alled his #hildren by Thalia the M)se, be#a)se he was *od o M)si#2
6% &is ()rs)it o ?a(hne the Mo)ntain7nym(h, da)*hter o the river "enei)s, and (riestess o
Mother ,arth, reers a((arently to the &elleni# #a(t)re o Tem(e, where the *oddess
?a(hoene 5Ibloody oneA6 was worshi((ed by a #olle*e o or*iasti# la)rel7#hewin* Maenads%
!ter s)((ressin* the #olle*eJ "l)tar#hAs a##o)nt s)**ests that the (riestesses led to .rete,
where the Moon7*oddess was #alled "asi(haBJ!(ollo took over the la)rel whi#h,
aterwards, only the "ythoness mi*ht #hew% ?a(hoene will have been mare7headed at Tem(e,
as at "hi*alia2 -e)#i(()s 5Iwhite horseA6 was the sa#red kin* o the lo#al horse #)lt, ann)ally
torn in (ie#es by the wild women, who bathed ater his m)rder to ()riy, themselves, not
beore%
>% !(olloAs sed)#tion o ?ryo(e on ;eta (erha(s re#ords the lo#al s)((ression o an oak #)lt
by a #)lt o !(ollo, to whom the (o(lar was sa#red2 as does his sed)#tion o !ria% &is tortoise
dis*)ise is a reeren#e to the lyre he had bo)*ht rom &ermes% "hthiaAs name s)**ests that
she was an a)t)mnal as(e#t o the *oddess% The )ns)##ess)l attem(t on Mar(essa
5Isnat#herA6, seems to re#ord !(olloAs ail)re to sei8e a Messenian shrine1 that o the Grain7
*oddess as +ow% !(olloAs servit)de to !dmet)s o "herae may re#all a histori#al event1 the
h)miliation o the !(ollonian (riesthood in ()nishment or their massa#re o a (re7&elleni#
smith7*)ild whi#h had enHoyed @e)sAs (rote#tion%
8% The myth o &ya#inth)s, whi#h seems at irst si*ht no more than a sentimental able told to
e:(lain the mark on the Greek hya#inth #on#erns the .retan 'lower7hero &ya#inth)s, also
a((arently #alled 3ar#iss)s, whose worshi( was introd)#ed into My#enaean Gree#e, and who
named the late s)mmer month o &ya#inth)s in .rete, Rhodes, .os, Thera, and at +(arta%
?orian !(ollo )s)r(ed &ya#inth)sAs name at Tarent)m, where he had a hero tomb
5"olybi)s62 and at !my#lae, a My#enaean #ity, another Itomb o &ya#inth)sA be#ame the
o)ndation o !(olloAs throne% !(ollo was an immortal by this time, &ya#inth)s rei*ned only
or a season1 his death by a dis#)s re#alls that o his ne(hew !#risi)s%
9% .oronis 5I#rowA6, mother o !s#le(i)s by !(ollo, was (robably a rile o !theneAs2 b)t the
!thenians always denied that she had #hildren, and dis*)ised the myth%
10% $n .lassi#al times, m)si#, (oetry, (hiloso(hy, astronomy, mathemati#s, medi#ine, and
s#ien#e #ame )nder !(olloAs #ontrol% !s the enemy o barbarism, he stood or moderation in
all thin*s, and the seven strin*s o his lyre were #onne#ted with the seven vowels o the later
Greek al(habet, *iven mysti#al si*nii#an#e and )sed or thera(e)ti# m)si#% 'inally, be#a)se
o his identii#ation with the .hild &or)s, a solar #on#e(t, he was worshi((ed as the s)n,
whose .orinthian #)lt had been taken over by +olar @e)s2 and his sister !rtemis was, ri*htly,
identiied with the moon%
$$% .i#ero, in his essay ;n the 3at)re o the Gods, makes !(ollo son o -eto only the o)rth
o an an#ient series1 he distin*)ishes !(ollo son o &e(haest)s, !(ollo the ather o the
.retan .orybantes, and the !(ollo who *ave !r#adia its laws%
10% !(olloAs killin* o the "ython is not, however, so sim(le a myth as at irst a((ears,
be#a)se the stone om(halos on whi#h the "ythoness sat was traditionally the tomb o the hero
in#arnate in the ser(ent, whose ora#les she delivered 5&esy#hi)s s)b !r#h)sAs Mo)nd2 Carro1
;n the -atin -an*)a*es6%
The &elleni# (riest o !(ollo )s)r(ed the )n#tions o the sa#red kin* who, le*itimately and
#eremonially, had always killed his (rede#essor, the hero% This is (roved by the +te(teria rite
re#orded in "l)tar#hAs Why ;ra#les !re +ilent1 ,very ninth year a h)t re(resentin* a kin*As
dwellin* was b)ilt on the threshin* loor at ?el(hi and a ni*ht atta#k s)ddenly made on it
by %% Where there is a *a( in the a##o)ntX %%% The table o irst7r)its was overt)rned, the h)t set
on ire, and the tor#h7men led rom the san#t)ary witho)t lookin* behind them% !terwards
the yo)th who had taken (art in the deed went to Tem(e or ()rii#ation, when#e he ret)rned
in tri)m(h, #rowned and #arryin* a la)rel bran#h%
1<% The s)dden #on#erted assa)lt on the inmate o the h)t re#alls the mysterio)s m)rder o
Rom)l)s by his #om(anions% $t also re#alls the yearly ,)(honia sa#rii#e at !thens when the
(riests who had killed the @e)sJo: with a do)ble7a:e, led witho)t lookin* behind them2
then ate the lesh at a #omm)nal east, sta*ed a mimi# res)rre#tion o the o:, and bro)*ht )(
the a:e or trial on a #har*e o sa#rile*e%
1=% !t ?el(hi, as at .noss)s, the sa#red kin* m)st have rei*ned )ntil the ninth year% The boy
went to Tem(e do)btless be#a)se the !(ollo #)lt had ori*inated there%
!rtemisAs 3at)re !nd ?eeds
!RT,M$+, !(olloAs sister, *oes armed with bow and arrows and, like him, has the (ower
both to send (la*)es or s)dden death amon* mortals, and to heal them% +he is the (rote#tress
o little #hildren, and o all s)#kin* animals, b)t she also loves the #hase, es(e#ially that o
sta*s%
b% ;ne day, while she was still a three7year7old #hild, her ather @e)s, on whose knee she was
sittin*, asked her what (resents she wo)ld like% !rtemis answered at on#e1 I"ray *ive me
eternal vir*inity2 as many names as my brother !(ollo2 a bow and arrows like his2 the oi#e
o brin*in* li*ht2 a saron h)ntin* t)ni# with a red hem rea#hin* to my knees2 si:ty yo)n*
o#ean nym(hs, all o the same a*e, as my maids o hono)r2 twenty river nym(hs rom
!mnis)s in .rete, to take #are o my b)skins and eed my ho)nds when $ am not o)t
shootin*2 all the mo)ntains in the world2 and, lastly, any #ity yo) #are to #hoose or me, b)t
one will be eno)*h, be#a)se $ intend to live on mo)ntains most o the time% /nort)nately,
women in labo)r will oten be invokin* me, sin#e my mother -eto #arried and bore me
witho)t (ains, and the 'ates have thereore made me (atroness o #hildbirth%A
#% +he stret#hed )( or @e)sAs beard, and he smiled (ro)dly, sayin*1 IWith #hildren like yo), $
need not ear &eraAs Healo)s an*erP Do) shall have all this, and more besides1 not one, b)t
thirty #ities, and a share in many others, both on the mainland and in the ar#hi(ela*o2 and $
a((oint yo) *)ardian o their roads and harbo)rs%A
d% !rtemis thanked him, s(ran* rom his knee, and went irst to Mo)nt -e)#)s in .rete, and
ne:t to the ;#ean stream, where she #hose n)mero)s nine7year7old nym(hs or her
attendants2 their mothers were deli*hted to let them *o% ;n &e(haest)sAs invitation, she then
visited the .y#lo(es on the $sland o -i(ara, and o)nd them hammerin* away at a horse7
tro)*h or "oseidon% 4rontes, who had been instr)#ted to make whatever she wanted, took
her on his knee2 b)t, dislikin* his endearments, she tore a hand)l o hair rom his #hest,
where a bald (at#h remained to the day o his death2 anyone mi*ht have s)((osed that he had
the man*e% The nym(hs were terriied at the wild a((earan#e o the .y#lo(es, and at the din
o their smithyJwell they mi*ht be, or whenever a little *irl is disobedient her mother
threatens her with 4rontes, !r*es, or +tero(es% 4)t !rtemis boldly told them to abandon
"oseidonAs tro)*h or a while, and make her a silver bow, with a E)iver)l o arrows, in ret)rn
or whi#h they sho)ld eat the irst (rey she bro)*ht down% With these wea(ons she went to
!r#adia, where "an was en*a*ed in #)ttin* )( a lyn: to eed his bit#hes and their whel(s% &e
*ave her three lo(7#ared ho)nds, two (atti7#olo)red and one s(otted, to*ether #a(able o
dra**in* live lions ba#k to their kennels2 and seven swit ho)nds rom +(arta%
e% &avin* #a(t)red alive two #o)(le o horned hinds, she harnessed them to a *olden #hariot
with *olden bits, and drove north over Thra#ian Mo)nt &aem)s% +he #)t her irst (ine tor#h
on Mysian ;lym()s, and lit it at the #inders o a li*htnin*7str)#k tree% +he tried her silver
bow o)r times1 her irst two tar*ets were trees2 her third, a wild beast2 her o)rth, a #ity o
)nH)st men%
% Then she ret)rned to Gree#e, where the !mnisian nym(hs )nyoked her hinds, r)bbed them
down, ed them on the same E)i#k *rowin* treoil, rom &eraAs (ast)re, whi#h the steeds o
@e)s eat, and watered them rom *olden tro)*h%
*% ;n#e the River7*od !l(hei)s, son o Thetis, dared all in love with !rtemis and ()rs)e her
a#ross Gree#e2 b)t she #ame to -etrini in ,lis 5or, some say, as ar as the island o ;rty*ia
near +yra#)se6, where she da)bed her a#e, and those o all her nym(hs, with white m)d, so
that she be#ame indistin*)ishable rom the rest o the #om(any% !l(hei)s was or#ed to retire,
()rs)ed by mo#kin* la)*hter%
h% !rtemis reE)ires the same (ere#t #hastity rom her #om(anions as she (ra#tises hersel%
When @e)s had sed)#ed one o them, .allisto, da)*hter o -y#aon, !rtemis noti#ed that she
was with #hild% .han*in* her into a bear, she sho)ted to the (a#k, and .allisto wo)ld have
been h)nted to death had she not been #a)*ht )( to &eaven by @e)s who, later, set her ima*e
amon* the stars% 4)t some say that @e)s himsel #han*ed .allisto into a bear, and that Healo)s
&era arran*ed or !rtemis to #hase her in error% .allistoAs #hild, !r#as, was saved, and
be#ame the an#estor o the !r#adians%
i% ;n another o##asion, !#taeon, son o !ristae)s, stood leanin* a*ainst a ro#k near
;r#homen)m when he ha((ened to see !rtemis bathin* in a stream not ar o, and stayed to
wat#h% -est he sho)ld aterwards dare boast to his #om(anions that she had dis(layed hersel
naked in his (resen#e, she #han*ed him into a sta* and, with his own (a#k o ity ho)nds,
tore him to (ie#es%
1% The Maiden o the +ilver 4ow, whom the Greeks enrolled in the ;lym(ian amily, was the
yo)n*est member o the !rtemis Triad, I !rtemisA bein* one more title o the Tri(le Moon7
*oddess2 and had a ri*ht thereore to eed her hinds on treoil, a symbol o trinity% &er silver
bow stood or the new moon% De t the ;lym(ian !rtemis was more than a Maiden%
,lsewhere, at ,(hes)s, or instan#e, she was worshi((ed in her se#ond (erson, as 3ym(h, an
or*iasti# !(hrodite with a male #onsort, and the date7(alm, sta*, and bee or her (rin#i(al
emblems% &er midwiery belon*s, rather, to the .rone, as do her arrows o death2 and the
nine7year7old (riestesses are a reminder that the moonAs death n)mber is three times three%
+he re#alls the .retan I-ady o the Wild Thin*sA, a((arently the s)(reme 3ym(h7*oddess o
ar#hai# totem so#ieties2 and the rit)al bath in whi#h !#taeon s)r(rised her, like the horned
hinds o her #hariot and the E)ails o ;rty*ia, seems more a((ro(riate to the 3ym(h than the
Maiden% !#taeon was, it seems, a sa#red kin* o the (re7&elleni# sta* #)lt, torn to (ie#es at
the end o his rei*n o ity months, namely hal a Great Dear2 his #o7kin*, or tanist, rei*nin*
or the remainder% The
3ym(h (ro(erly took her bath ater, not beore, the m)rder% There are n)mero)s (arallels to
this rit)al #)stom in $rish and Welsh myth, and as late as the irst #ent)ry !? a man dressed
in a sta*As skin was (eriodi#ally #hased and killed on the !r#adian Mo)nt -y#ae)m 5"l)tar#h1
Greek M)estions6% The ho)nds will have been white with red ears, like the Iho)nds o &ellA in
.elti# mytholo*y% There was a ith horned hind whi#h es#a(ed !rtemis%
0% The myth o her ()rs)it by !l(hei)s seems modelled on that o his ho(eless ()rs)it o
!reth)sa whi#h t)rned her into a s(rin* and him into a river 5"a)sanias6, and may have been
invented to a##o)nt or the *y(s)m, or white #lay, with whi#h the (riestesses o !rtemis
!l(heia at -etrini and ;rty*ia da)bed their a#es in hono)r o the White Goddess% !l(h
denotes both whiteness and #ereal (rod)#e1 al(hos is le(rosy2 al(he is *ain2 al(hiton is (earl
barley2 !l(hito was the White Grain7*oddess as +ow% !rtemisAs most amo)s stat)e at !thens
was #alled Ithe White7browedA 5"a)sanias6% The meanin* o !rtemis is do)bt)l1 it may be
Istron*7limbedA, rom artemes2 or Ishe who #)ts )(A, sin#e the +(artans #alled her !rtamis,
rom artao2 or Ithe loty #onvenerA, rom airo and themis2 or the ItheraisA syllable may mean
IwaterA, be#a)se the moon was re*arded as the so)r#e o all water%
<% ;rty*ia, IM)ail $slandA, near ?elos, was also sa#red to !rtemis%
=% The myth o .allisto has been told to a##o)nt or the two small *irls, dressed as she7bears,
who a((eared in the !tti# estival o 4ra)ronian !rtemis, and or the traditional #onne:ion
between !rtemis and the Great 4ear% 4)t an earlier version o the myth may be (res)med, in
whi#h @e)s sed)#ed !rtemis, altho)*h she irst transormed hersel into a bear and then
da)bed her a#e with *y(s)m, in an attem(t to es#a(e him% !rtemis was, ori*inally, the r)ler
o the stars, b)t lost them to @e)s%
5% Why 4rontes had his hair (l)#ked o)t is do)bt)l2 .allima#h)s may be (lay)lly reerrin*
to some well7known (i#t)re o the event, in whi#h the (aint had worn away rom the
.y#lo(sA #hest%
6% !s I-ady o Wild Thin*sA, or (atroness o all the totem #lans, !rtemis had been ann)ally
oered a livin* holo#a)st o totem beasts, birds, and (lants, and this sa#rii#e s)rvived in
.lassi#al time at "atrae, a .alydonian #ity 5"a)sanias62 she was there #alled !rtemis -a(hria%
!t Messene a similar b)rnt sa#rii#e was oered to her by the .)retes, as totem7#lan
re(resentatives2 and another is re#orded rom &iera(ohs, where the vi#tims were h)n* to the
trees o an artii#ial orest inside the *oddessAs tem(le 5-)#ian1 ;n the +yrian Goddess6% The
olive7tree was sa#red to !thene, the date7(alm to $sis and -at% ! Middle Minoan bead7seal in
my (ossession shows the *oddess standin* beside a (alm, dressed in a (alm7lea skirt, and
with a small (alm7tree held in her hand2 she wat#hes a 3ew Dear b)ll7#al bein* born rom a
date#l)ster% ;n the other side o the tree is a dyin* b)ll, evidently the royal b)ll o the ;ld
Dear%
&e(haest)sAs 3at)re !nd ?eeds
&,"&!,+T/+, the +mith7*od, was so weakly at birth that his dis*)sted mother, &era,
dro((ed him rom the hei*ht o ;lym()s, to rid hersel o the embarrassment that his (iti)l
a((earan#e #a)sed her% &e s)rvived this misadvent)re, however, witho)t bodily dama*e,
be#a)se he ell into the sea, where Thetis and ,)rynome were at hand to res#)e him% These
*entle *oddesses ke(t him with them in an )nderwater *rotto, where he set )( his irst smithy
and rewarded their kindness by makin* them all sorts o ornamental and )se)l obHe#ts%
;ne day, when nine years had (assed, &era met Thetis, who ha((ened to be wearin* a broo#h
o his workmanshi(, and asked1 IMy dear, where in the world did yo) ind that wonder)l
HewelKA
Thetis hesitated beore re(lyin*, b)t &era or#ed the tr)th rom her% !t on#e she et#hed
&e(haest)s ba#k to ;lym()s, where she set him )(on a m)#h iner smithy, with twenty
bellows workin* day and ni*ht, made m)#h o him, and arran*ed that he sho)ld marry
!(hrodite%
b% &e(haest)s be#ame so ar re#on#iled with &era that he dared re(roa#h @e)s himsel or
han*in* her by the wrists rom &eaven when she rebelled a*ainst him% 4)t silen#e wo)ld
have been wiser, be#a)se an*ry @e)s only heaved him down rom ;lym()s a se#ond time%
&e was a whole day ailin*% ;n strikin* the earth o the island o -emnos, he broke both le*s
and, tho)*h immortal, had little lie let in his body when the islanders o)nd him% !terwards
(ardoned and restored to ;lym()s, he #o)ld walk only with *olden le*7s)((orts%
#% &e(haest)s is )*ly and ill7tem(ered, b)t has *reat (ower in his arms and sho)lders, and all
his work is o mat#hless skill% &e on#e made a set o *olden me#hani#al women to hel( him
in his smithy2 they #an even talk, and )ndertake the most dii#)lt tasks he entr)sts to them%
!nd he owns a set o three7le**ed tables with *olden wheels, ran*ed aro)nd his worksho(,
whi#h #an r)n by themselves to a meetin* o the *ods, and ba#k a*ain%
1% &e(haest)s and !thene shared tem(les at !thens, and his name may be a worn7down orm
o hemero7(haistos, Ihe who shines by dayA 5i%e% the s)n6, whereas !thene was the moon7
*oddess, Ishe who shines by ni*htA, (atroness o smith #rat and o all me#hani#al arts% $t is
not *enerally re#o*ni8ed that every 4ron8e !*e tool, wea(on, or )tensil had ma*i#al
(ro(erties, and that the smith was somethin* o a sor#erer% Th)s, o the three (ersons o the
4ri*it Moon7triad, one (resided o (oets, another over smiths, the third over (hysi#ians% When
the *oddess has been dethroned the smith is elevated to *odhead% That the +mith hobbles is a
tradition o)nd in re*ions as ar a(art as West !ri#a and +#andinavia2 in (rimitive times
smiths may have been ()r(osely lamed to (revent them rom r)nnin* o and Hoinin* enemy
tribes% 4)t hobblin* (artrid*e7dan#e was also (erormed in eroti# or*ies #onne#ted with the
mysteries o smith #rat and, sin#e &e(haest)s has married !(hrodite, he may have been
hobbled only on#e a year1 at +(rin* 'estival%
Metall)r*y irst rea#hed Gree#e rom the !e*ean $slands% The im(ortation o inely worked
&elladi# bron8e and *old (erha(s a##o)nts or myth that &e(haest)s was *)arded in a
-emnian *rotto by Thetis and ,)rynome, titles o the +ea7*oddess who #reated the rat verse%
The nine years whi#h he s(ent in the *rotto show his s)bservien#e to the moon% &is all, like
that o .e(hal)s, Talos, +#iron, $(hit)s, and others, was the #ommon ate o the sa#red kin*s
in many (arts o Gree#e when their rei*ns ended% The *olden le*7s)((orts were (erha(s
desi*ned to raise his sa#red heel rom the *ro)nd%
0% &e(haest)sAs twenty three7le**ed tables have, it seems, m)#h same ori*in as the
Gastero#heires who b)ilt Tiryns, *olden s)n7disks with three le*s, like the heraldi# devi#e o
the $sle o Man, do)btless borderin* some early i#on whi#h showed &e(haest)s bein*
married to !(hrodite% They re(resent three7season years, and denote len*th o his rei*n2 he
dies at the be*innin* o the twentieth year when a #lose a((ro:imation o solar and l)nar time
o##)rs2 this #y#le oi#ially re#o*ni8ed at !thens only towards the #lose o the ith #ent)ry
4., b)t had been dis#overed several h)ndred years beore 5White Goddess6% &e(haest)s was
#onne#ted with C)l#anAs ort in the vol#ani# -iar islands be#a)se -emnos, a seat o his
worshi(, vol#ani# and a Het o nat)ral as(halted *as whi#h iss)ed rom the s)mmit Mo)nt
Mos#hyl)s had b)rned steadily or #ent)ries 5T8et8es1 ;n -y#o(hron2 &esy#hi)s s)b
Mos#hyl)s6% ! similar Het, des#ribed by 4isho( Methodi)s in the o)rth #ent)ry !%?, b)rned
on Mo)nt -emnos in -y#ia and was still a#tive in 1801% &e(haest)s had a shrine on both
those mo)ntains% -emnos 5(robably rom leibein, Ishe who (o)rs o)tA6 was name o the Great
Goddess o this matriar#hal island 5&e#atae)s, E)oted by +te(han)s o 4y8anti)m s)b
-emnos6%
?,M,T,RN+ 3!T/R, !3? ?,,?+
T&;/G& the (riestesses o ?emeter, *oddess o the #ornield, initiate brides and
bride*rooms into the se#rets o the #o)#h, she has no h)sband o her own% While still yo)n*
and *ay, she bore .ore and the l)sty $a##h)s to @e)s, her brother, o)t o wedlo#k% +he also
bore "l)t)s to the Titan $asi)s, or $asion, with whom she ell in love at the weddin* o
.adm)s and &armonia% $nlamed by the ne#tar whi#h lowed like water at the east, the
lovers sli((ed o)t o the ho)se and lay to*ether o(enly in a thri#eJ(lo)*hed ield% ;n their
ret)rn, @e)s *)essin* rom their demeano)r and the m)d on their arms and le*s what they
had been at, and enra*ed that $asi)s sho)ld have dared to to)#h ?emeter, str)#k him dead
with a th)nderbolt% 4)t some say that $asi)s was killed by his brother ?ardan)s, or torn to
(ie#es by his own horses%
b% ?emeter hersel has a *entle so)l, and ,rysi#hthon, son o Tro(ias, was one o the ew men
with whom she ever dealt harshly% !t the head o twenty #om(anions, ,rysi#hthon dared
invade a *rove whi#h the "elas*ians had (lanted or her at ?oti)m, and be*an #)ttin* down
the sa#red trees, to (rovide timber or his new banE)etin* hall% ?emeter ass)med the orm o
3i#i((e, (riestess o the *rove, and mildly ordered ,rysi#hthon to desist% $t was only when he
threatened her with his a:e that she revealed hersel in s(lendo)r and #ondemned him to
s)er (er(et)al h)n*er, however m)#h he mi*ht eat% 4a#k he went to dinner, and *or*ed all
day at his (arentsN e:(ense, *rowin* h)n*rier and thinner the more he ate, )ntil they #o)ld no
lon*er aord to kee( him s)((lied with ood, and he be#ame a be**ar in the streets, eatin*
rith% .ontrariwise, on "andare)s the .retan, who stole @e)sNs *olden do* and th)s aven*ed
her or the killin* o $asi)s, ?emeter bestowed the royal *it o never s)erin* rom the belly
Ja#he%
#% ?emeter lost her *aiety or ever when yo)n* .ore, aterwards #alled "erse(hone, was
taken rom her% &ades ell in love with .ore, and went to ask @e)sNs leave to marry her% @e)s
eared to oend his eldest brother by a downri*ht re)sal, b)t knew also that ?emeter wo)ld
not or*ive him i .ore were #ommitted to Tartar)s2 he thereore answered (oliti#ally that he
#o)ld neither *ive nor withhold his #onsent% This emboldened &ades to abd)#t the *irl, as she
was (i#kin* lowers in a meadow J it may have been at +i#ilian ,nna2 or at !tti# .olon)s2
or at &ermione2 or somewhere in .rete, or near "isa, or near -erna2 or beside !r#adian
"hene)s, or at 4oeotian 3ysa, or anywhere else in the widely se(arated re*ions whi#h
?emeter visited in her wanderin* sear#h or .ore% 4)t her own (riests say that it was at
,le)sis% +he so)*ht .ore witho)t rest or nine days and ni*hts, neither eatin* nor drinkin*,
and #allin* r)itlessly all the while% The only news she #o)ld *et #ame rom old &e#ate, who
early one mornin* had heard .ore #ryin* I! ra(eP ! ra(ePN b)t, on h)rryin* to the res#)e,
o)nd no si*n o her%
d% ;n the tenth day, ater a disa*reeable en#o)nter with "oseidon amon* the herds o ;ne)s,
?emeter #ame in dis*)ise to ,le)sis, where Gin* .ele)s and his wie Metaneira entertained
her hos(itably2 and she was invited to remain as wetJn)rse to ?emo(hoFn, the newlyJborn
(rin#e% Their lame da)*hter $ambe tried to #onsole ?emeter with #omi#ally las#ivio)s verses,
and the dryJn)rse, old 4a)bo, (ers)aded her to drink barleyJwater by a Hest1 she *roaned
as i in travail and, )ne:(e#tedly, (rod)#ed rom beneath her skirt ?emeterAs own son
$aa#h)s, who lea(ed into his motherAs arms and kissed her%
e% I;h, how *reedily yo) drinkPA #ried !bas, an elder son o .ele)sAs, as ?emeter *)l(ed the
(it#her)l o barleyJwater, whi#h was lavo)red with mint% ?emeter threw him a *rim look,
and he was metamor(hosed into a li8ard% +omewhat ashamed o hersel, ?emeter now
de#ided to do .ele)s a servi#e, by makin* ?emo(hoFn immortal% That ni*ht she held him
over the ire, to b)rn away his mortality% Metaneira, who was the da)*hter o !m(hi#yon,
ha((ened to enter the hall beore the (ro#ess was #om(lete, and broke the s(ell2 so
?emo(hoFn died% IMine is an )nl)#ky ho)sePA .ele)s #om(lained, wee(in* at the ate o his
two sons, and thereater was #alled ?ysa)les, I?ry yo)r tears, ?ysa)les,A said ?emeter, IDo)
will have three sons, in#l)din* Tri(tolem)s on whom $ intend to #oner s)#h *reat *its that
yo) will or*et yo)r do)ble loss%A
% 'or Tri(tolem)s who herded his atherAs #attle, had re#o*ni8ed ?emeter and *iven her the
news she needed1 ten days beore this his brothers ,)mol()s, a she(herd, and ,)b)le)s, a
swineherd, had been o)t in the ields, eedin* their beasts, when the earth s)ddenly *a(ed
o(en, en*)lin* ,)b)le)sAs swine beore his very eyes2 then, with a heavy th)d o hooves, a
#hariot drawn by bla#k horses a((eared, and dashed down the #hasm% The #hariotJdriverAs
a#e was invisible, b)t his ri*ht arm was ti*htly #las(ed aro)nd a shriekin* *irl% ,)mol()s
had been told o the event by ,)b)le)s, and made it the s)bHe#t or a lament%
*% !rmed with this eviden#e, ?emeter s)mmoned &e#ate% To*ether they a((roa#hed &eli)s,
who sees everythin*, and or#ed him to admit that &ades had been the villain, do)btless with
the #onnivan#e o his brother @e)s% ?emeter was so an*ry that, instead o ret)rnin* to
;lym()s, she #ontin)ed to wander abo)t the earth, orbiddin* the trees to yield r)it and the
herbs to *row, )ntil the ra#e o men stood in dan*er o e:tin#tion% @e)s, ashamed to visit
?emeter in (erson at ,le)sis, sent her irst a messa*e by $ris 5o whi#h she took no noti#e6,
and then a de()tation o the ;lym(ian *ods, with #on#iliatory *its, be**in* her to be
re#on#iled to his will% 4)t she wo)ld not ret)rn to ;lym()s, and swore that the earth m)st
remain barren )ntil .ore had been restored%
h% ;nly one #o)rse o a#tion remained or @e)s% &e sent &ermes with a messa*e to &ades1 I$
yo) do not restore .ore, we are all )ndonePA and with another to ?emeter1 IDo) may have
yo)r da)*hter a*ain, on the sin*le #ondition that she has not yet tasted the ood o the dead%A
i% 4e#a)se .ore had re)sed to eat so m)#h as a #r)st o bread ever sin#e her abd)#tion,
&ades was obli*ed to #loak his ve:ation, tellin* her mildly1 IMy #hild, yo) seem to be
)nha((y here, and yo)r mother wee(s or yo)% $ have thereore de#ided to send yo) home%A
H% .oreAs tears #eased to low, and &ermes hel(ed her to mo)nt his #hariot, 4)t, H)st as she
was settin* o or ,le)sis, one o &adesA *ardeners, by name !s#ala(h)s, be*an to #ry and
hoot derisively% I&avin* seen the -ady .ore,A he said, I(i#k a (ome*ranate rom a tree in
yo)r or#hard, and eat seven seeds, $ am ready to bear witness that she has tasted the ood o
the deadPA &ades *rinned, and told !s#ala(h)s to (er#h on the ba#k o &ermesAs #hariot%
k% !t ,le)sis, ?emeter Hoy)lly embra#ed .ore2 b)t, on hearin* abo)t the (ome*ranate, *rew
more deHe#ted than ever, and said a*ain1 I$ will neither ret)rn to ;lym()s, nor remove my
#)rse rom the land%A @e)s then (ers)aded Rhea, the mother o &ades, ?emeter, and himsel,
to (lead with her2 and a #om(romise was at last rea#hed% .ore sho)ld s(end three months o
the year in &adesAs #om(any, as M)een o Tartar)s, with the title o "erse(hone, and the
remainin* nine in ?emeterAs% &e#ate oered to make s)re that this arran*ement was ke(t,
and to kee( #onstant wat#h on .ore%
l% ?emeter inally #onsented to ret)rn home% 4eore leavin* ,le)sis, she instr)#ted
Tri(tolem)s, ,)mol()s, and .ele)s 5to*ether with ?io#les, Gin* o "herae, who had been
assid)o)sly sear#hin* or .ore all the while6 in her worshi( and mysteries% 4)t she ()nished
!s#ala(h)s or his taleJbearin* by ()shin* him down a hole and #overin* it with an
enormo)s ro#k, rom whi#h he was inally released by &era#les2 and then she #han*ed him
into a shortJ eared owl% +he also rewarded the "heneations o !r#adia, in whose ho)se she
rested ater "oseidon had o)tra*ed her, with all kinds o *rain, b)t orbade them to sow
beans% ;ne .yamites was the irst who dared do so2 he has a shrine by the river .e(hiss)s%
Tri(tolem)s she s)((lied with seedJ
#orn, a wooden (lo)*h, and a #hariot drawn by ser(ents2 and sent him all over the world to
tea#h mankind the art o a*ri#)lt)re% 4)t irst she *ave him lessons on the Rarian "lain,
whi#h is why some #all him the son o Gin* Rar)s% !nd to "hytal)s, who had treated her
kindly on the banks o the .e(hiss)s, she *ave a i*Jtree, the irst ever seen in !tti#a, and
ta)*ht him how to #)ltivate it%
1% .ore, "erse(hone, and &e#ate were, #learly, the Goddess in Triad as Maiden, 3ym(h, and
.rone, at a time when only women (ra#tised the mysteries o a*ri#)lt)re% .ore stands or the
*reen #orn, "erse(hone or the ri(e ears, and &e#ate or the harvested #ornJthe I#arline
wieA o the ,n*lish #o)ntryside% 4)t ?emeter was the *oddessAs *eneral title, and
"erse(honeAs name has been *iven to .ore, whi#h #on)ses the story% The myth o ?emeterAs
advent)re in the thri#e7(lo)*hed ield (oints to a ertility rite, whi#h s)rvived )ntil re#ently in
the 4alkans1 the #orn (riestess will have o(enly #o)(led with the sa#red kin* at the a)t)mn
sowin* in order to ens)re a *ood harvest% $n !tti#a the ield was irst (lo)*hed in s(rin*2
then, ater the s)mmer harvest, #ross7(lo)*hed with a li*hter share2 inally, when sa#rii#es
had been oered to the Tilla*e *ods, (lo)*hed a*ain in the ori*inal dire#tion d)rin* the
a)t)mn month o "yane(sion, as a (reliminary or sowin* 5&esiod1 Works and ?ays2
"l)tar#h1 ;n $sis and ;siris2 !*ainst .olores6%
0% "erse(hone 5rom (hero and (honos, Ishe who brin*s destr)#tionA6, also #alled "erse(hatta
at !thens 5rom (tersis and e(ha(to, Ishe who i:es destr)#tionA6 and "roser(ina 5Ithe ear)l
oneA6 at Rome was, it seems, a title o the 3ym(h when she sa#rii#ed the sa#red kin*% The
title I&e#ateA 5Ione h)ndredA6 a((arently reers to the h)ndred l)nar months o his rei*n, and
to the h)ndredold harvest% The kin*As death by a th)nderbolt, or by the teeth o horses, or at
the hands o the tanist, was his #ommon ate in (rimitive Gree#e%
<% .oreAs abd)#tion by &ades orms (art o the myth in whi#h the &elleni# trinity o *ods
or#ibly marry the (re7&elleni# Tri(le7*oddessJ@e)s &era2 @e)s or "oseidon ?emeter2
&ades .oreJas in $rish myth 4rian, $)#har, and $)#harba marry the Tri(le7*oddess ,ire,
'odhla, and 4anbha% $t reers to male )s)r(ation o the emale a*ri#)lt)ral mysteries in
(rimitive times% Th)s the in#ident o ?emeterAs re)sal to (rovide #orn or mankind is only
another version o $noAs #ons(ira#y to destroy !thamasAs harvest% ')rther, the .ore myth
a##o)nts or the winter b)rial o a emale #orn7()((et, whi#h was )n#overed in the early
s(rin* and o)nd to be s(ro)tin*1 this (re7&elleni# #)stom s)rvived in the #o)ntryside in
.lassi#al times, and is ill)strated by vase7(aintin*s o men reein* .ore rom a mo)nd o
earth with matto#ks, or breakin* o(en Mother ,arthAs head with a:es%
=% The story o ,rysi#hthon, son o Tro(ias, is moral ane#dote1 amon* the Greeks, as amon*
the -atin and early $rish, the ellin* o a sa#red *rove #arried the death (enalty% 4)t a
des(erate and )seless h)n*er or ood, whi#h the ,li8abethans #alled Ithe wolA, wo)ld not be
an a((ro(riate ()nishment or tree7ellin*, and ,rysi#hthonAs nameJalso borne by a son o
.e#ro(sJthe (atriar#halist and introd)#er o barley7#akesJmeans Iearth7rearerA, whi#h
s)**ests that his real #rime was darin* to (lo)*h witho)t ?emeterAs #onsent, like !thamas%
"andare)sAs stealin* o the *olden do* s)**ests .retan intervention m Gree#e, when the
!#haeans tried to reorm a*ri#)lt)ral rit)al% This do*, taken rom the ,arth7*oddess, seems to
have been the visible (roo o the !#haean &i*h Gin*As inde(enden#e o her%
5% The myths o &ylas 5Io the woodlandA6, !donis, -ityerses, and -in)s des#ribe the ann)al
mo)rnin* or the sa#red kin*, or his boy7s)rro*ate, sa#rii#ed to (la#ate the *oddess o
ve*etation% This same s)rro*ate a((ears in the le*end o Tri(tolem)s, who rode in a ser(ent7
drawn #hariot and #arried sa#ks o #orn, to symboli8e that his death bro)*ht wealth% &e was
also "l)t)s 5IwealthA6, be*otten in the (lo)*hed ield, rom whom &adesAs e)(hemisti# title
I"l)toA is borrowed% Tri(tolem)s 5tri(tolmaios, Ithri#e darin*A6 may be a title awarded the
sa#red kin* or havin* three times dared to (lo)*h the ield and #o)(le with the #orn7
(riestess% .ele)s, ?io#les, and ,)mol()s, whom ?emeter ta)*ht the art o a*ri#)lt)re,
re(resent (riestly heads o the !m(hi#tyoni# -ea*)eJMetaneira is des#ribed as
!m(hi#tyonAs da)*hterJwho hono)red her at ,le)sis%
6% $t was at ,le)sis 5IadventA6, a My#enaean #ity, that the *reat ,le)sinian Mysteries were
#elebrated, in the month #alled 4oedromion 5Ir)nnin* or hel(A6% ?emeterAs e#stati# initiates
symboli#ally #ons)mmated her love aair with $asi)s, or Tri(tolem)s, or @e)s, in an inner
re#ess o the shrine, by workin* a (halli# obHe#t )( and down a womanAs to(7boot2 hen#e
,le)sis s)**ests a wornJdown derivative o ,ilyth)ies, IWthe tem(leX o her who ra*es in a
l)rkin* (la#eA% The mysta*o*)es, dressed as she(herds, then entered with Hoy)l sho)ts, and
dis(layed a winnowin*7an, #ontainin* the #hild 4ran)s, son o 4rimo 5Ian*ry oneA6, the
immediate r)it o this rit)al marria*e% 4rimo was a title o ?emeterAs, and 4rim)sJ
synonym or "l)t)s2 b)t his #elebrants knew him best as $a##h)sJrom the rioto)s hymn, the
$a##h)s, whi#h was s)n* on the si:th day o the Mysteries d)rin* a tor#hli*ht (ro#ession
rom ?emeterAs tem(le%
>% ,)mol()s re(resents the sin*in* she(herds who bro)*ht in the #hild2 Tri(tolem)s is a
#owherd, in servi#e to $o the Moon7*oddess as #ow, who watered the seed7#orn2 and
,)b)le)s a swineherd, in servi#e to the *oddess Mar(essa, "hor#is, .hoere, or .erdo, the
+ow7*oddess, who made the #orn s(ro)t% ,)b)le)s was the irst to reveal .oreAs ate, be#a)se
IswineherdA, in early ,)ro(ean myth, means soothsayer, or ma*i#ian% Th)s ,)mae)s
5Isear#hin* wellA6, ;dysse)sAs swineherd, is addressed as dios 5I*od7likeA62 and tho)*h, by
.lassi#al times, swineherds had lon* #eased to e:er#ise their (ro(heti# art, swine were still
sa#rii#ed to ?emeter and "erse(hone by bein* thrown down nat)ral #hasms% ,)b)le)s is not
said to have beneited rom ?emeterAs instr)#tion, (robably be#a)se her #)lt as +ow7*oddess
had been s)((ressed at ,le)sis%
8% IRar)sA, whether it means Ian abortive #hildA, or Ia wombA, is an ina((ro(riate name or a
kin*, and will have reerred to the womb .orn7mother rom whi#h the #orn s(ran*%
9% $ambe and 4a)bo (ersoniy the obs#ene son*s, in iambi# metre, whi#h were s)n* to relieve
emotional tension at the ,le)sinian Mysteries2 b)t $ambe, ?emeter, and 4a)bo orm the
amiliar triad o maiden, nym(h, and #rone% ;ld n)rses in Greek myth nearly always stand or
the *oddess as .rone% !bas was t)rned into a li8ard, be#a)se li8ards are o)nd in the hottest
and driest (la#es, and #an live witho)t water2 this is a moral ane#dote told to tea#h #hildren
res(e#t or their elders and reveren#e or the *ods%
10% The story o ?emeterAs attem(t to make ?emo(hoFn immortal is (aralleled in the myths
o Medea and Thetis% $t reers, (artly, to the wides(read (rimitive #)stom o Ishinin*A
#hildren a*ainst evil s(irits with sa#red ire #arried aro)nd them at birth, or with a hot *riddle
set )nder them2 (artly to the #)stom o b)rnin* boys to death, as a vi#ario)s sa#rii#e or the
sa#red kin*, and so #onerrin* immortality on them% .ele)s, the name o ?emo(hoFnAs
ather, #an mean Ib)rnerA as well as Iwood(e#kerA or Isor#ererA%
11% ! (rimitive taboo rested on red7#olo)red ood, whi#h mi*ht be oered to the dead only2
and the (ome*ranate was s)((osed to have s(r)n*Jlike the ei*ht7(etalled s#arlet anemone
Jrom the blood o !donis, or Tamm)8% The seven (ome*ranate seeds re(resent, (erha(s,
the seven (hases o the moon d)rin* whi#h armers wait or the *reen #orn7shoots to a((ear%
4)t "erse(hone eatin* the (ome*ranate is ori*inally +heol, the Goddess o &ell, devo)rin*
Tamm)82 while $shtar 5+heol hersel in a dierent *)ise6 wee(s to (la#ate his *host% &era, as
a ormer ?eath7*oddess, also held a (ome*ranate%
10% The as#ala(hos, or short7eared owl, was a bird o evil omen2 and the able o his tale7
bearin* is told to a##o)nt or the noisiness o owls in 3ovember, beore the three winter
months o .oreAs absen#e be*in% &era#les released !s#ala(h)s%
1<% ?emeterAs *it o the i* to "hytal)s, whose amily was a leadin* one in !tti#a, means no
more than that the (ra#ti#e o i* #a(rii#ationJ
(olloni8in* the domesti# tree with a bran#h o the wild oneJ#eased to be a emale
(rero*ative at the same time as a*ri#)lt)re% The taboo on the (lantin* o beans by men seems
to have s)rvived later than that on *rain, be#a)se o the #lose #onne:ion between beans and
*hosts% $n Rome beans were thrown to *hosts at the !ll +o)lsA estival, and i a (lant *rew
rom one o these, and a woman ate its beans, she wo)ld be im(re*nated by a *host% &en#e
the "ytha*oreans abstained rom beans lest they mi*ht deny an an#estor his #han#e o
rein#arnation%
1=% ?emeter is said to have rea#hed Gree#e by way o .rete, landin* at Thori#)s in !tti#a
5&ymn to ?emeter6% This is (robable1 the .retans had established themselves in !tti#a, where
they irst worked the silver mines at -a)rei)m% Moreover, ,le)sis is a My#enaean site, and
?iodor)s +i#)l)s says that rites akin to the ,le)sinian were (erormed at .noss)s or all who
#ared to attend, and that a##ordin* to the .retans all rites o initiation were invented by their
an#estors% ?emeterAs ori*in is to be looked or in -ibya%
15% The lowers whi#h, a##ordin* to ;vid, .ore was (i#kin* were (o((ies% !n ima*e o a
*oddess with (o((y7heads in her headdress, o)nd at Ga8i in .rete2 another *oddess on a
mo)ld rom "alaiokastro, holds (o((ies in her hand2 and on the *old rin* rom the !#ro(olis
Treas)re at My#enae a seated ?emeter *ives three (o((y7heads to standin* .ore% "o((y7
seeds were )sed as a #ondiment on bread, th)s (o((ies are nat)rally asso#iated with ?emeter,
sin#e they *row in #o ields2 b)t .ore (i#ks or a##e(ts (o((ies be#a)se o their so(orii#
E)alities, and be#a)se o their s#arlet #olo)r whi#h (romises res)rre#tion ater death% +he is
abo)t to retire or her ann)al slee(%
!T&,3,N+ 3!T/R, !3? ?,,?+
!T&,3, invented the l)te, the tr)m(et, the earthenware (ot, the (lo)*h, the rake, the o:J
yoke, the horseJbridle, the #hariot, and the shi(% +he irst ta)*ht the s#ien#e o n)mbers, and
all womenNs arts, s)#h as #ookin*, weavin*, and s(innin*% !ltho)*h a *oddess o war, she
*ets no (leas)re rom battle, as !res and ,ris do, b)t rather rom settlin* dis()tes, and
)(holdin* the law by (a#ii# means% +he bears no arms in time o (ea#e and, i ever she needs
any, will )s)ally borrow a set rom @e)s% &er mer#y is *reat1 when the H)d*esN votes are eE)al
in a #riminal trial at !reio(a*)s, she always *ives a #astin* vote to liberate the a##)sed% Det,
on#e en*a*ed in battle, she never loses the day, even a*ainst !res himsel, bein* better
*ro)nded in ta#ti#s and strate*y than he2 and wise #a(tains always a((roa#h her or advi#e%
b% Many *ods, Titans, and *iants wo)ld *ladly have married !thene, b)t she has re()lsed all
advan#es% ;n one o##asion, in #o)rse o the TroHan War, not wishin* to borrow arms rom
@e)s, who had de#lared himsel ne)tral, she asked &e(haest)s to make her a set o her own%
&e(haest)s re)sed (ayment, sayin* #oyly that he will )ndertake the work or love2 and
when, missin* the im(li#ation these words, she entered the smithy to wat#h him beat o)t the
red7hot metal, he s)ddenly t)rned abo)t and tried to o)tra*e her% &e(haest)s, who does not
oten behave so *rossly, was the vi#tim o a mali#io)s Hoke1 "oseidon had H)st inormed him
that !thene was on her way to the smithy, with @e)sAs #onsent, ho(e)lly e:(e#tin* to have
violent love made to her% !s she tore hersel away, &e(haest)s eHa#)lated a*ainst her thi*h, a
little above the knee% +he wi(ed o the seed with a hand)l o wool, whi#h she threw away in
dis*)st2 it ell to the *ro)nd near !thens, and a##identally ertili8ed Mother ,arth, who was
on a visit them% Revolted at the (ros(e#t o bearin* a #hild whi#h &e(haest)s had tried to
ather on !thene, Mother ,arth de#lared that she wo)ld a##e(t no res(onsibility or its
)(brin*in*%
#% ICery well,A said !thene, I$ will take #are o it mysel%A +o she took #har*e o the inant as
soon as he was born, #alled him ,ri#hthoni)s and, not wishin* "oseidon to la)*h at the
s)##ess o his (ra#ti#al Hoke, hid him in a sa#red basket2 this she *ave to !*la)ros, eldest
da)*hter o the !thenian Gin* .e#ro(s, with orders to *)ard it #are)lly%
d% .e#ro(s, a son o Mother ,arth and, like ,ri#hthoni)sJwhom some s)((ose to have been
his atherJ(art man, (art ser(ent, was the irst kin* to re#o*ni8e (aternity% &e married a
da)*hter o !#tae)s, the earliest Gin* o !tti#a% &e also instit)ted mono*amy, divided !tti#a
into twelve #omm)nities, b)ilt tem(les to !thene, and abolished #ertain bloody sa#rii#es in
avor o sober barleyJ#ake oerin*s% &is wie was named !*ra)los2 and his three da)*hters,
!*la)ros, &erse, and "androsos, lived in a three7roomed ho)se on the !#ro(olis% ;ne
evenin*, when the *irls had ret)rned rom a estival, #arryin* !theneAs sa#red baskets on their
heads, &ermes bribed !*la)ros to *ive him a##ess to &erse, the yo)n*est o the three, with
whom he had allen violently in love% !*la)ros ke(t &ermesAs *old, b)t did nothin* to earn it,
be#a)se !thene had made her Healo)s o &erseAs *ood ort)ne2 so &ermes strode an*rily into
the ho)se, t)rned !*la)ros to stone, and had his will o &erse% !ter &erse had borne &ermes
two sons, .e(hal)s, the beloved o ,os, and .ery:, the irst herald o the ,le)sinian
Mysteries, she and "androsos and their mother !*ra)los were #)rio)s eno)*h to (ee(
beneath the lid o the basket whi#h !*la)ros had #radled% +eein* a #hild with a ser(entAs tail
or le*s, they s#reamed in ear and, headed by !*ra)los, lea(ed rom the !#ro(olis%
e% ;n learnin* o this atality, !thene was so *rieved that she let all the enormo)s ro#k whi#h
she had been #arryin* to the !#ro(olis as an additional ortii#ation, and it be#ame Mo)nt
-y#abett)s% !s or the #row that had bro)*ht her the news, she #han*ed its #olo)r rom white
to bla#k, and orbade all #rows ever a*ain to visit the !#ro(olis% ,ri#hthoni)s then took
re)*e in !theneAs ae*is, where she reared him so tenderly that some mistook her or his
mother% -ater, he be#ame Gin* o !thens, where he instit)ted the worshi( o !thene, and
ta)*ht his ellow7#iti8ens the )se o silver% &is ima*e was set amon* the stars as the
#onstellation !)ri*a, sin#e he had introd)#ed the o)r7horse #hariot%
% !nother, very dierent, a##o)nt o !*ra)losAs death is #)rrent1 namely that on#e, when an
assa)lt was bein* la)n#hed a*ainst !thens, she threw hersel rom the !#ro(olis, in
obedien#e to an ora#le, and so saved the day% This version ()r(orts to e:(lain why all yo)n*
!thenians, on irst takin* )( arms, visit the tem(le o !*ra)los and there dedi#ate their lives
to the #ity%
*% !thene, tho)*h as modest as !rtemis, is ar more *enero)s% When Teiresias, one day,
a##identally s)r(rised her in a bath, she laid her hands over his eyes and blinded him, b)t
*ave him inward si*ht by way o a #om(ensation%
h% +he is not re#orded to have shown (et)lant Healo)sy on more than a sin*le o##asion% This is
the story% !ra#hne, a (rin#ess o -ydian .olo(honJamed or its ()r(le dyeJwas so skilled
in the art o weavin* that !thene hersel #o)ld not #om(ete with her% +hown a #loth into
whi#h !ra#hne had woven ill)strations o ;lym(ian love aairs, the *oddess sear#hed
#losely to ind a a)lt b)t, )nable to do so, tore it )( in a #old, ven*e)l ra*e% When the
terriied !ra#hne han*ed hersel rom a rater, !thene t)rned her into a s(iderJthe inse#t she
hates mostJand the ro(e into a #obweb, )( whi#h !ra#hne #limbed to saety%
1% The !thenians made their *oddessAs maidenhood symboli# o the #ityAs invin#ibility2 and
thereore dis*)ised early myths o her o)tra*e by "oseidon, and 4oreas2 and denied that
,ri#hthoni)s, !(ollo, and -y#hn)s 5Ilam(A6 were her sons by &e(haest)s% They derived
I,ri#hthoni)sA rom either erion, IwoolA, or eris, IstrieA, and #hthonos, IearthA, and invented
the myth o his birth to e:(lain the (resen#e, in ar#hai# (i#t)res, o a ser(ent7#hild (ee(in*
rom the *oddessAs ae*is% "oseidonAs (art in the birth o ,ri#hthoni)s may ori*inally have
been a sim(ler and more dire#t one2 why else sho)ld ,ri#hthoni)s introd)#e the "oseidonian
o)r7horse #hariot into !thens%
0% !thene had been the Tri(le7*oddess, and when the #entral (erson, the Goddess as 3ym(h,
was s)((ressed and myths relatin* to her transerred to !(hrodite, ;reithyia, or !l#i((e,
there remained the Maiden #lad in *oat7skins, who s(e#iali8ed in war, and the .rone, who
ins(ired ora#les and (resided over all the arts% ,ri#hthoni)s is (erha(s an e:(anded orm o
,re#hthe)s, meanin* Irom the land o heatherA rather than Im)#h earthA, as is )s)ally said1
the !thenians re(resented him as a ser(ent with a h)man head, be#a)se he was the hero, or
*host, o the sa#rii#ed kin* who made the .roneAs wishes known% $n this .rone7as(e#t,
!thene was attended by an owl and a #row% The ardent royal amily o !thens #laimed
des#ent rom ,ri#hthoni)s and ,re#hthe)s, and #alled themselves ,re#htheids2 they )sed to
wear *olden ser(ents as am)lets and ke(t a sa#red ser(ent in the ,re#hthe)m% 4)t
,ri#hthoni)s was also a (ro#reative wind rom the heather7#lad mo)ntains, and !theneAs
ae*is 5or a re(li#a6 was taken to all newly married #o)(les at !thens, to ens)re their ertility
5+)idas s)b !e*is6%
<% +ome o the inest .retan (ots are known to have been made by women, and so ori*inally,
no do)bt, were all the )se)l instr)ments invented by !thene2 b)t in .lassi#al Gree#e an
artisan had to be a man% +ilver was at irst a more val)able metal than *old, sin#e harder to
reine, and sa#red to the moon2 "eri#lean !thens owed her (re7eminen#e lar*ely to the ri#h
silver mines at -a)rei)m irst worked by the .retans, whi#h allowed her to im(ort ood and
b)y allies%
=% The o##asion on whi#h .e#ro(sAs da)*hters lea(ed rom the !#ro(olis may have been a
&elleni# #a(t)re o !thens, ater whi#h an attem(t was made to or#e mono*amy on !theneAs
(riestesses, as in the myth o &alirrhothi)s% They (reerred death to dishono)rJhen#e the
oath taken by the !thenian yo)ths at !*ra)losAs shrine% The other story o !*ra)losAs death is
merely a moral ane#dote1 a warnin* a*ainst the violation o !theneAs mysteries% I!*ra)losA
was one more title o the Moon7*oddess1 a*ra)los and its transliteration a*la)ros mean m)#h
the same thin*, a*ra)los bein* a &omeri# e(ithet or she(herds, and a*la)ros 5like herse and
(androsos6 reerrin* to the moon as the re()ted so)r#e o the dew whi#h rereshed the
(ast)res% !t !thens *irls went o)t )nder the )ll moon at mids)mmer to *ather dewJthe
same #)stom s)rvived in ,n*land )ntil the last #ent)ryJor sa#red ()r(oses% The estival
was #alled the &erse(horia, or Idew7*atherin*A2 !*ra)los or !*ra)le was, in a#t, a title o
!thene hersel, and !*ra)le is said to have been worshi((ed in .y(r)s )ntil late times
5"or(hyry6 with h)man sa#rii#es% ! *old rin* rom My#enae shows three (riestesses
advan#in* towards a tem(le2 the two leaders s#atter dew, the third 5(res)mably !*ra)los6 has
a bran#h tied to her elbow% The #eremony (erha(s ori*inated in .rete% &ermesAs sed)#tion o
&erse, or whi#h he (aid !*la)ros in *old, m)st reer to the rit)al (rostit)tion o (riestesses
beore an ima*e o the *oddessJ!*la)ros t)rned to stone% The sa#red baskets #arried on
s)#h o##asions will have #ontained (halli# snakes and similar or*iasti# obHe#ts% Rit)al
(rostit)tion by devotees o the Moon7*oddess was (ra#tised in .rete, .y(r)s, +yria, !sia
Minor, and "alestine%
5% !theneAs e:()lsion o the #row is a mythi# variant o .ron)sAs banishmentJ.ron)s means
I#rowAJthe tri)m(h, in a#t, o ;lym(ianism, with the introd)#tion o whi#h .e#ro(s, who
is really ;(hion74oreas the "elas*ian demi)r*e, has here been wron*ly #redited% The #rowAs
#han*e o #olo)r re#alls the name o !theneAs Welsh #o)nter(art1 4ranwen, Iwhite #rowA,
sister to 4ran% !thene was, it seems, titled I.oronis I%
6% &er ven*ean#e on !ra#hne may be more than H)st a (retty able, i it re#ords an early
#ommer#ial rivalry between the !thenians and the -ydio7.arian thalasso#rats, or sea7r)lers,
who were o .retan ori*in% 3)mero)s seals with a s(ider emblem whi#h have been o)nd at
.retan Milet)sJthe mother #ity o .arian Milet)s was the lar*est e:(orter o dyed woollens
in the an#ient worldJs)**est a ()bli# te:tile ind)stry o(erated there at the be*innin* o the
se#ond millenni)m 4.% 'or a while the Milesians #ontrolled the (roitable 4la#k +ea trade,
and had an enter(rises at 3a)#ratis in ,*y(t% !thene had *ood reason to be Healo)s o the
s(ider%
>% !n a((arent #ontradi#tion o##)rs in &omer% !##ordin* to the .atalo*)e o the +hi(s
5$liad6, !thene set ,re#hthe)s down in her ri#h tem(le at !thens2 b)t, a##ordin* to the
;dyssey, she *oes to !thens and enters his stron* ho)se% The a#t was that the sa#red kin*
had his own E)arters in the M)eenAs (ala#e where the *oddessAs ima*e was ke(t% There were
no tem(les in .rete or My#enaean Gree#e, only domesti# shrines or ora#)lar #ave%
"anAs 3at)re !nd ?eeds
+,C,R!- (ower)l *ods and *oddesses o Gree#e have never been enrolled amon* the
;lym(ian Twelve% "an, or instan#e, a h)mble ellow, now dead, was #ontent to live on earth
in r)ral !r#adia2 and &ades, "erse(hone, and &e#ate know that their (resen#e is )nwel#ome
on ;lym()s2 and Mother ,arth is ar too old and set in her ways to a##ommodate hersel to
the amily lie o her *rand#hildren and *reat7*rand#hildren%
b% +ome say that &ermes athered "an on ?ryo(e, da)*hter o ?ryo(s2 or on the nym(h
;eneis2 or on "enelo(e, wie o ;dysse)s, whom he visited in the orm o a ram2 or on
!maltheia the Goat2 &e is said to have been so )*ly at birth, with horns, beard, tail, and *oat
le*s, that his mother ran away rom him in ear, and &ermes #arried him )( to ;lym()s or
the *odsA am)sement% 4)t "an was @e)sAs oster7brother, and thereore ar older than &ermes,
or than "enelo(e, on whom 5others say6 he was athered by all the s)itors who wooed her
d)rin* ;dysse)sAs absen#e% +till others make him the son o .ron)s and Rhea2 or o @e)s by
&ybris, whi#h is the least im(robable a##o)nt%
#% &e lived in !r#adia, where he *)arded lo#ks, herds, and beehives, took (art in the revels
o the mo)ntain7nym(hs, and hel(ed h)nters to ind their E)arry% &e was, on the whole, easy7
*oin* and la8y, lovin* nothin* better than his aternoon slee(, and reven*ed himsel on those
who dist)rbed him with a s)dden lo)d sho)t rom a *rove, or *rotto, whi#h made the hair
bristle on their heads% Det the !r#adians (aid him so little res(e#t that, i ever they ret)rned
em(ty7handed ater a lon* dayAs h)ntin*, they dared s#o)r*e him with sE)ills%
d% "an sed)#ed several nym(hs, s)#h as ,#ho, who bore him $yn: and #ame to an )nl)#ky
end or love o 3ar#iss)s2 and ,)(heme, n)rse o the M)ses, who bore him .rot)s, the
4owman in the @odia#% &e also boasted that he had #o)(led with all ?ionys)sAs dr)nken
Maenads%
e% ;n#e he tried to violate the #haste "itys, who es#a(ed him only by bein* metamor(hosed
into a ir7tree, a bran#h o whi#h he aterwards wore as a #ha(let% ;n another o##asion he
()rs)ed the #haste +yrin: rom Mo)nt -y#ae)m to the River -adon, where she be#ame a
reed2 there, sin#e he #o)ld not distin*)ish her rom amon* all the rest, he #)t several reeds at
random, and made them into a "ano(i(e% &is *reatest s)##ess in love was the sed)#tion o
+elene, whi#h he a##om(lished by dis*)isin* his hairy bla#k *oatishness with well7washed
white lee#es% 3ot reali8in* who he was, +elene #onsented to ride on his ba#k, and let him do
as he (leased with her%
% The ;lym(ian *ods, while des(isin* "an or his sim(li#ity and love o riot, e:(loited his
(owers% !(ollo wheedled die art o (ro(he#y rom him, and &ermes #o(ied a (i(e whi#h he
had let all, #laimed it as his own invention, and sold it to !(ollo%
*% "an is the only *od who has died in o)r time% The news o his death #ame to one Tham)s, a
sailor in a shi( bo)nd or $taly by way o the island o "a:i% ! divine voi#e sho)ted a#ross the
sea1 ITham)s, are yo) thereK When yo) rea#h "alodes, take #are to (ro#laim that the *reat
*od "an is deadPA, whi#h Tham)s did2 and the news was *reeted rom the shore with *roans
and laments%
1% "an, whose name is )s)ally derived rom (aein, Ito (ast)reA, stands or the IdevilA, or
I)(ri*ht manA, o the !r#adian ertility #)lt, whi#h #losely resembled the wit#h #)lt o 3orth7
western ,)ro(e% This man, dressed in a *oat7skin, was the #hosen lover o the Maenads
d)rin* their dr)nken or*ies on the hi*h mo)ntains, and sooner or later (aid or his (rivile*e
with death%
0% The a##o)nts o "anAs birth vary *reatly% +in#e &ermes was the (ower resident in a (halli#
stone whi#h ormed the #entre o these or*ies, the she(herds des#ribed their *od "an as his
son by a wood(e#ker, a bird whose ta((in* is held to (ortend the wel#ome s)mmer rain% The
myth that he athered "an on ;eneis is sel7e:(lanatory, tho)*h the ori*inal Maenads )sed
other into:i#ants than wine2 and the name o his re()ted mother, "enelo(e 5Iwith a web over
her a#eA6, s)**ests that the Maenads wore some orm o war (aint or their or*ies, re#allin*
the stri(es on the (enelo(e, a variety o d)#k% "l)tar#h says that the Maenads who killed
;r(he)s were tattooed by their h)sbands as a ()nishment2 and a Maenad whose le*s and
arms are tattooed with a webbed (attern a((ears on a vase at the 4ritish M)se)m% &ermesAs
visit to "enelo(e in the orm o a ramJthe ram devil is as #ommon in the 3orth7western
wit#h #)lt as the *oatJher im(re*nation by all the s)itors, and the #laim that "an had
#o)(led with every one o the Maenads reers to the (romis#)o)s nat)re o the revels in
hono)r o the 'ir7*oddess "itys or ,late% The !r#adian mo)ntaineers were the most (rimitive
in Gree#e, and their more #ivili8ed nei*hbo)rs (roessed to des(ise them%
<% "anAs son, the wryne#k, or make7bird, was a s(rin* mi*rant em(loyed in eroti# #harms%
+E)ills #ontain an irritant (oisonJval)able a*ainst mi#e and ratsJand were )sed as a ()r*e
and di)reti# beore takin* (art in a rit)al a#t2 th)s sE)ill #ame to symboli8e the removal o
evil inl)en#es 5"liny1 3at)ral &istory6, and "anAs ima*e was s#o)r*ed with sE)ill i *ame
were s#ar#e%
=% &is sed)#tion o +elene m)st reer to a moonli*ht May ,ve or*y, in whi#h the yo)n*
M)een o the May rode )(on her )(ri*ht manAs ba#k beore #elebratin* a *reenwood
marria*e with him% 4y this time the ram #)lt had s)(erseded the *oat #)lt in !r#adia%
%5% The ,*y(tian Tham)s a((arently misheard the #eremonial lament YTham)s "an7me*as
Tethne#ePV 5Ithe all7*reat Tamm)8 is deadPA6 or the messa*e1 ITham)s, Great "an is deadV%
!t any rate, "l)tar#h, a (riest at ?el(hi in the latter hal o the irst #ent)ry !?, believed and
()blished it2 yet when "a)sanias made his to)r o Gree#e, abo)t a #ent)ry later, he o)nd
"anAs shrines, altars, sa#red #aves, and sa#red mo)ntains still m)#h reE)ented%
?ionys)sAs 3at)re !nd ?eeds
;3 &eraAs orders the Titans sei8ed @e)sAs newly7born son ?ionys)s, a horned #hild #rowned
with ser(ents and, des(ite his transormations, tore him into shreds% These they boiled in a
#a)ldron, while a (ome*ranate s(ro)ted rom the soil where his blood had allen2 b)t, res#)ed
and re#onstit)ted by his *randmother Rhea, he #ame to lie a*ain% "erse(hone, now entr)sted
with his #har*e by @e)s, bro)*ht him to Gin* !thamas o ;r#homen)s and his wie $no,
whom she (ers)aded to rear the #hild in the womenAs E)arters, dis*)ised as a *irl% 4)t &era
#o)ld not be de#eived, and ()nished the royal (air with madness, so that !thamas killed their
son -ear#h)s, mistakin* him or a sta*%
b% Then, on @e)sAs instr)#tions, &ermes tem(orarily transormed ?ionys)s into a kid or a
ram, and (resented him to the nym(hs Ma#ris, 3ysa, ,rato, 4romia, and 4a##he, o
&eli#onian Mo)nt 3ysa% They tended ?ionys)s in a #ave, #osseted him, and ed him on
honey, or whi#h servi#e @e)s s)bseE)ently (la#ed their ima*es amon* the stars, namin*
them the &yades% $t was on Mo)nt 3ysa that ?ionys)s invented wine, or whi#h he is #hiely
#elebrated% When he *rew to manhood &era re#o*ni8ed him as @e)sAs son, des(ite the
eemina#y to whi#h his ed)#ation had red)#ed him, and drove him mad also% &e went
wanderin* all over the world, a##om(anied by his t)tor +ilen)s and a wild army o +atyrs and
Maenads, whose wea(ons were the ivy7twined sta ti((ed with a (ine7#one, #alled the
thyrs)s, and swords and ser(ents and ear7im(osin* b)llroarers% &e sailed to ,*y(t, brin*in*
the vine with him2 and at "haros Gin* "rote)s re#eived him hos(itably% !mon* the -ibyans
o the 3ile ?elta, o((osite "haros, were #ertain !ma8on E)eens whom ?ionys)s invited to
mar#h with him a*ainst the Titans and restore Gin* !mmon to the kin*dom rom whi#h he
had been e:(elled% ?ionys)sAs deeat o the Titans and restoration o Gin* !mmon was the
earliest o his many military s)##esses%
#% &e then t)rned east and made or $ndia% .omin* to the ,)(hrates, he was o((osed by the
Gin* o ?amas#)s, whom he layed alive, b)t b)ilt a brid*e a#ross the river with ivy and
vine2 ater whi#h a ti*er, sent by his ather @e)s, hel(ed him a#ross the river Ti*ris% &e
rea#hed $ndia, havin* met with m)#h o((osition by the way, and #onE)ered the whole
#o)ntry, whi#h he ta)*ht the art o vini#)lt)re, also *ivin* it laws and o)ndin* *reat #ities%
d% ;n his ret)rn he was o((osed by the !ma8ons, a horde o whom he #hased as ar as
,(hes)s% ! ew took san#t)ary in the Tem(le o !rtemis, where their des#endants are still
livin*2 others led to +amos, and ?ionys)s ollowed them in boats, killin* so many that the
battleield is #alled "anhaema% 3ear "hloe#)s some o the ele(hants whi#h he had bro)*ht
rom $ndia died, and their bones are still (ointed o)t%
e% 3e:t, ?ionys)s ret)rned to ,)ro(e by way o "hry*ia, where his *randmother Rhea
()riied him o the many m)rders he had #ommitted d)rin* his madness, and initiated him
into her Mysteries% &e then invaded Thra#e2 b)t no sooner had his (eo(le landed at the mo)th
o the river +trymon than -y#)r*)s, Gin* o the ,donians, o((osed them sava*ely with an
o:7*oad, and #a(t)red the entire army, e:#e(t ?ionys)s himsel, who (l)n*ed into the sea
and took re)*e in ThetisAs *rotto% Rhea, ve:ed by this reverse, hel(ed the (risoners to es#a(e,
and drove -y#)r*)s mad1 he str)#k his own son ?ryas dead with an a:e, in the belie that he
was #)ttin* down a vine% 4eore re#overin* his senses he had be*)n to (r)ne the #or(se o its
nose and ears, in*ers and toes2 and the whole land o Thra#e *rew barren in horror o his
#rime% When ?ionys)s, ret)rnin* rom the sea, anno)n#ed that this barrenness wo)ld
#ontin)e )nless -y#)r*)s were ()t to death, the ,donians led him to Mo)nt "an*ae)m, where
wild horses ()lled his body a(art%
% ?ionys)s met with no )rther o((osition in Thra#e, b)t travelled on to his well7beloved
4oeotia, where he visited Thebes, and invited the women to Hoin his revels on Mo)nt
.ithaeron% "enthe)s, Gin* o Thebes, dislikin* ?ionys)sAs dissol)te a((earan#e, arrested
him, to*ether with all his Maenads, b)t went mad and, instead o sha#klin* ?ionys)s,
sha#kled a b)ll% The Maenads es#a(ed a*ain, and went ra*in* o)t )(on the mo)ntain, where
they tore #alves in (ie#es% "enthe)s attem(ted to sto( them2 b)t, inlamed by wine and
reli*io)s e#stasy, they rent him limb rom limb% &is mother !*ave led the riot, and it was she
who wren#hed o his head%
*% !t ;r#homen)s the three da)*hters o Minyas, by name !l#ithoB, -e)#i((e, and !rsi((e,
or !risti((e, or !rsinoB, re)sed to Hoin in the revels, tho)*h ?ionys)s himsel invited them,
a((earin* in the orm o a *irl% &e then #han*ed his sha(e, be#omin* s)##essively a lion, a
b)ll, and a (anther, and drove them insane% -e)#i((e oered her own son &i((as)s as a
sa#rii#eJhe had been #hosen by lotJand the three sisters, havin* torn him to (ie#es and
devo)red him, skimmed the mo)ntains in a ren8y )ntil at last &ermes #han*ed them into
birds, tho)*h some say that ?ionys)s #han*ed them into bats% The m)rder o &i((as)s is
ann)ally atoned at ;r#homen)s, in a east #alled !*rionia 5I(rovo#ation to sava*eryA6, when
the women devotees (retend to seek ?ionys)s and then, havin* a*reed that he m)st be away
with the M)ses, sit in a #ir#le and ask riddles, )ntil the (riest o ?ionys)s r)shes rom his
tem(le, with a sword, and kills the one whom he it #at#hes%
h% When all 4oeotia had a#knowled*ed ?ionys)sAs divinity, he made a to)r o the !e*ean
$slands, s(readin* Hoy and terror wherever he went% !rrivin* at $#aria, he o)nd that his shi(
was )nseaworth and hired another rom #ertain Tyrrhenian sailors who #laimed to be bo)nd
or 3a:os% 4)t they (roved to be (irates and, )naware o *odhead, steered or !sia, intendin*
to sell him there as a slave% ?ionys)s made a vine *row rom the de#k and enold the mast, he
also t)rned the oars into ser(ents, and be#ame a lion himsel, illin* the vessel with (hantom
beasts and illin* it with so)nd o l)tes, so that the terriied (irates lea(ed overboard and
be#ame dol(hins%
i% $t was at 3a:os that ?ionys)s met the lovely !riadne whom These)s had deserted, and
married her witho)t delay% +he bore him ;eno(ion, Thoas, +ta(hyl)s, -atromis, ,)anthes,
and Ta)ro(ol)s% -ater, he (la#ed her bridal #ha(let amon* the stars%
H% 'rom 3a:os he #ame to !r*os and ()nished "erse)s, who at o)*ht o((osed him and killed
many o his ollowers, by inli#tin* a madness on the !r*ive women1 they be*an devo)rin*
their own inants2 )ntil "erse)s hastily admitted his error, and a((eased ?ionys)s by b)ildin*
a tem(le in his hono)r%
k% 'inally, havin* established his worshi( thro)*ho)t the world ?ionys)s as#ended to
&eaven, and now sits at the ri*ht hand o @e)s as one o the Twelve Great ;nes% The sel7
ea#in* *oddess &est resi*ned her seat at the hi*h table in his avo)r2 *lad o any e:#)se to
es#a(e the Healo)s wran*lin*s o her amily, and knowin* that she #o)ld always #o)nt on a
E)iet wel#ome in any Greek #ity whi#h mi*ht (lease her to visit% ?ionys)s then des#ended,
by way o -eto to Tartar)s where he bribed "erse(hone with a *it o myrtle to release his
dead mother, +emele% +he as#ended with him into !rtemisAs tem(le at Troe8en2 b)t, lest other
*hosts sho)ld be Healo)s and a**rieved, he #han*ed her name and introd)#ed her to his
ellow7;lym(ians as Thyone% @e)s (la#ed an a(artment at her dis(osal, and &era (reserved
an an*ry b)t resi*ned silen#e%
1% The main #l)e to ?ionys)sAs mysti# history is the s(read o the vine #)lt over ,)ro(e, !sia,
and 3orth !ri#a% Wine was not invented by the Greeks1 it seems to have been irst im(orted
in Hars rom .rete% Gra(es *rew wild on the so)thern #oast o the 4la#k +ea, when#e their
#)ltivation s(read to Mo)nt 3ysa in -ibya, by way o "alestine, and so to .rete2 to $ndia, by
way o "ersia2 and to 4ron8e !*e 4ritain, by way o the !mber Ro)te% The wine or*ies o
!sia Minor and "alestineJthe .anaanite 'east o Taberna#les was, ori*inally, a 4a##hanal
or*yJwere marked by m)#h the same e#stasies as the beer or*ies o Thra#e and "hry*ia%
?ionys)sAs tri)m(h was that wine everywhere s)(erseded other into:i#ants% !##ordin* to
"here#ydes 3ysa means ItreeA%
0% &e had on#e been s)bservient to the Moon7*oddess +emeleJalso #alled Thyone, or
.otyttoJand the destined vi#tim o her or*ies% &is bein* reared as a *irl, as !#hilles also
was, re#alls the .retan #)stom o kee(in* boys Iin darknessA 5s#otioi6, that is to say, in the
womenAs E)arters, )ntil ()berty% ;ne o his titles was ?endrites, Itree7yo)thA, and the +(rin*
'estival, when the trees s)ddenly b)rst into lea and the whole world is into:i#ated with
desire, #elebrated his eman#i(ation% &e is des#ribed as a horned #hild in order not to
(arti#)lari8e the horns, whi#h were *oatAs, sta*As, b)llAs, or ramAs a##ordin* to the (la#e o his
worshi(% When !(ollodor)s says that he was dis*)ised as a kid to save him rom the wrath o
&eraJI,ri(h)sA 5IkidA6 was one o his riles 5&esy#hi)s s)b ,ri(hos6Jthis reers to the
.retan #)lt o ?ionys)s @a*re)s, the wild *oat with the enormo)s horns% Cir*il 5Geor*i#s6
wron*ly e:(lains that the *oat was the animal most #ommonly sa#rii#ed to ?ionys)s
Ibe#a)se *oats inH)re the vine by *nawin* it%A ?ionys)s as a sta* is -ear#h)s, whom !thamas
killed when driven mad by &era% $n Thra#e he was a white b)ll% 4)t in !r#adia &ermes
dis*)ised him as a ram, be#a)se the !r#adians were she(herds, and the +)n was enterin* the
Ram at their +(rin* 'estival% The &yades 5Irain7makersA6, into whose #har*e he *ave
?ionys)s, were renamed Ithe tallA, Ithe lameA, Ithe (assionateA, Ithe roarin*A, and Ithe ra*in*A
ones, to des#ribe his #eremonies% &esiod 5E)oted by Theon1 ;n !rat)s6 re#ords the &yadesA
earlier names as "haesyle 5KIiltered li*htA6, .oronis 5I#rowA6, .leia 5Iamo)sA6, "haeo
5IdimA6, and ,)dore 5I*enero)sA62 and &y*in)sAs list 5"oeti# !stronomy6 is somewhat similar%
3ys)s means IlameA, and in these beer or*ies on the mo)ntain the sa#red kin* seems to have
hobbled like a (artrid*eJas in the .anaanite +(rin* 'estival #alled the "esa#h 5Ihobblin*A6%
4)t that Ma#ris ed ?ionys)s on honey, and that the Maenads )sed ivy7twined ir7bran#hes as
thyrsi, re#ords an earlier orm o into:i#ant1 s(r)#e7beer, la#ed with ivy, and sweetened with
mead% Mead was Ine#tarA, brewed rom ermented honey, whi#h the *ods #ontin)ed to drink
in the &omeri# ;lym()s%
<% 9%,% &arrison, who irst (ointed o)t 5"role*omena6 that ?ionys)s the Wine7*od is a late
s)(erim(osition on ?ionys)s the 4eer7*od, also #alled +aba8i)s, s)**ests that tra*edy may
be derived not rom tra*os, Ia *oatA, as Cir*il s)**ests, b)t rom tra*os, Is(eltAJa *rain )sed
in !thens or beer7brewin*% +he adds that, in early vase7(aintin*s, horse7men, not *oat7men,
are (i#t)red as ?ionys)sAs #om(anions2 and that his *ra(e7basket is, at irst, a winnowin* an%
$n a#t, the -ibyan or .retan *oat was asso#iated with wine2 the &elladi# horse with beer and
ne#tar% Th)s -y#)r*)s, who o((oses the later ?ionys)s, is torn to (ie#es by wild horsesJ
(riestesses o the Mare7headed *oddess whi#h was the ate o the earlier ?ionys)s%
-y#)r*)sAs story has been #on)sed by the irrelevant a##o)nt o the #)rse that overtook his
land ater the m)rder o ?ryas 5IoakA62 ?ryas was the oak7kin*, ann)ally killed% The
trimmin* o his e:tremities served to kee( his *host at bay, and the wanton ellin* o a sa#red
oak #arried the death (enalty% .otytto was the name o the *oddess in whose hono)r the
,donian Rites were (erormed%
=% ?ionys)s had e(i(hanies as -ion, 4)ll, and +er(ent, be#a)se these were .alendar emblems
o the tri(artite year% &e was born in winter as a ser(ent 5hen#e his ser(ent #rown62 be#ame a
lion in the s(rin*2 and was killed and devo)red as a b)ll, *oat, or sta* at mids)mmer% These
were his transormations when the Titans set on him% !mon* the ;r#homenans a (anther
seems to have taken the ser(entAs (la#e% &is Mysteries resembled ;sirisAs2 hen#e his visit to
,*y(t%
5% &eraAs hatred o ?ionys)s and his wine7#)(, like the hostility shown by "enthe)s and
"erse)s, rele#ts #onservative o((osition to the rit)al )se o wine and to the e:trava*ant
Maenad ashion, whi#h had s(read rom Thra#e to !thens, .orinth, +i#yon, ?el(hi, and other
#ivili8ed #ities% ,vent)ally, in the late seventh and early si:th #ent)ries 4., "eriander, tyrant
o .orinth, .leisthenes, tyrant o +i#yon, and "eisistrat)s, tyrant o !thens, de#idin* to
a((rove the #)lt, o)nded oi#ial ?ionysia# easts% There)(on ?ionys)s and his vine were
held to have been a##e(ted to &eavenJhe o)sted &estia rom her (osition as one o the
Twelve ;lym(ians at the #lose o the ith #ent)ry 4.Jtho)*h some *ods #ontin)ed to e:a#t
Isober sa#rii#esA% 4)t, altho)*h one o the re#ently de#i(hered tablets rom 3estorAs (ala#e at
"yl)s shows that he had divine stat)s even in the thirteenth #ent)ry 4., ?ionys)s never
really #eased to be a demi7*od, and the tomb o his ann)al res)rre#tion #ontin)ed to be
shown at ?el(hi 5"l)tar#h1 ;n $sis and ;siris6, where the (riests re*arded !(ollo as his
immortal (art% The story o his rebirth rom @e)sAs thi*h, as the &ittite *od o the Winds had
been born rom G)mabiAs, re()diates his ori*inal matriar#hal settin*% Rit)al rebirth rom a
man was a well7known 9ewish ado(tion #eremony 5R)th6, a &ittite borrowin*%
6% ?ionys)s voya*ed in a new7moon boat, and the story o his #onli#t with the (irates seems
to have been based on the same i#on whi#h *ave rise to the le*end o 3oah and the beasts in
the !rk1 the lion, ser(ent, and other #reat)res are his seasonal e(i(hanies% ?ionys)s is, in a#t,
?e)#alion% The -a#onians o 4rasiae (reserved an )n#anoni#al a##o)nt o his birth1 how
.adm)s sh)t +emele and her #hild in an ark, whi#h drited to 4rasiae, where +emele died and
was b)ried, and how $no reared ?ionys)s 5"a)sanias6%
>% "haros, a small island o the 3ile ?elta, on the shore o whi#h "rote)s went thro)*h the
same transormations as ?ionys)s, had the *reatest harbo)r o
4ron8e !*e ,)ro(e% $t was the de(ot or traders rom .rete, !sia Minor, the !e*ean $slands,
Gree#e, and "alestine% 'rom here the vine #)lt will have s(read in every dire#tion% The
a##o)nt o ?ionys)sAs #am(ai*n in -ibya may re#ord military aid sent to the Garamantians
by their Greek allies2 that o his $ndian #am(ai*n has been taken or a an#i)l history o
!le:anderAs dr)nken (ro*ress to the $nd)s, b)t is earlier in date and re#ords the eastward
s(read o the vine% ?ionys)sAs visit to "hry*ia, where Rhea initiated him, s)**ests that the
Greek rites o ?ionys)s as +aba8i)s, or 4romi)s, were o "hry*ian ori*in%
8% The .orona 4orealis, !riadneAs bridal #ha(let, was also #alled Ithe .retan .rownA% +he
was the .retan Moon7*oddess, and her vino)s #hildren by ?ionys)sJ;eno(ion, Thoas,
+ta(hyl)s, Ta)ro(ol)s, -atromis, and ,)anthesJwere the e(onymo)s an#estors o &elladi#
tribes livin* in .hios, -emnos, the Thra#ian .hersonese, and beyond% 4e#a)se the vine #)lt
rea#hed Gree#e and the !e*ean by way o .reteJoinos, IwineA, is a .retan wordJ
?ionys)s has been #on)sed with .retan @a*re)s, who was similarly torn to (ie#es at birth%
9% !*ave, mother o "enthe)s, is the Moon7*oddess who r)led the beer revels% The tearin* to
(ie#es o &i((as)s by the three sisters, who are the Tri(le7*oddess as 3ym(h, is (aralleled in
the Welsh tale o "wyll "rin#e o ?yedd where, on May ,ve, Rhiannon, a #orr)(tion o
Ri*antona 5I*reat E)eenA6, devo)rs a oal who is really her son "ryderi 5Ian:ietyA6% "oseidon
was also eaten in the orm o a oal by his ather .ron)s2 b)t (robably in an earlier version by
his mother Rhea% The meanin* o the myth is that the an#ient rite in whi#h mare7headed
Maenads tore the ann)al boy vi#timJ+aba8i)s, 4romi)s, or whatever he was #alledJto
(ie#es and ate him raw, was s)(erseded by the more orderly ?ionysian revels2 the #han*e
bein* si*nali8ed by the killin* o a oal instead o the )s)al boy%
10, The (ome*ranate whi#h s(ro)ted rom ?ionys)sAs blood was also the tree o Tamm)87
!donis7Rimmon2 its ri(e r)it s(lits o(en like a wo)nd and shows the red seeds inside% $t
symboli8es death and the (romise o res)rre#tion when held in the hand o the *oddess &era
or "erse(hone%
11% ?ionys)sAs res#)e o +emele, renamed Thyone 5Ira*in* E)eenA6, has been ded)#ed rom
(i#t)res o a #eremonial held at !thens on the dan#in* loor dedi#ated to the Wild Women%
There to the so)nd o sin*in*, (i(in*, and dan#in*, and with the s#atterin* o lower (etals
rom baskets, a (riest s)mmoned +emele to emer*e rom an om(halos, or artii#ial mo)nd,
and #ome attended by Ithe s(irit o +(rin*A, the yo)n* ?ionys)s 5"indar1 'ra*ment6% !t
?el(hi a similar as#ension #eremony #ond)#ted wholly by women was #alled the &erois, or
Ieast o the heroineA 5"l)tar#h1 Greek M)estions2 !risto(hanes1 'ro*s, with s#holiast6% +till
another may be (res)med in !rtemisAs tem(le at Troe8en% The Moon7*oddess, it m)st be
remembered, had three dierent as(e#ts1 in the words o 9ohn +kelton1
?iana in the leaves *reen2
-)na who so bri*ht doth sheen2
"erse(hone in &ell%
+emele was, in a#t, another name or .ore, or "erse(hone, and the as#ension s#ene is
(ainted on many Greek vases, some o whi#h show +atyrs assistin* the heroineAs emer*en#e
with matto#ks2 their (resen#e indi#ates that this was a "elas*ian rite% What they disinterred
was (robably a #orn7doll b)ried ater the harvest and now o)nd to be s(ro)tin* *reen% .ore,
o #o)rse, did not as#end to &eaven2 she wandered abo)t on earth with ?emeter )ntil the time
#ame or her to ret)rn to the /nderworld% 4)t soon ater the award o ;lym(i# stat)s to
?ionys)s the !ss)m(tion o his vir*in7mother be#ame do*mati# and, on#e a *oddess, she
was dierentiated rom .ore, who #ontin)ed heroine7like to as#end and des#end%
10% The vine was the tenth tree o the sa#ral tree7year and its month #orres(onded with
+e(tember, when the vinta*e east took (la#e% $vy, the eleventh tree, #orres(onded with
;#tober, when the Maenads revelled and into:i#ated themselves by #hewin* ivy leaves2 and
was im(ortant also be#a)se, like o)r other sa#red treesJ,lAs (ri#kly oak on whi#h the
#o#hineal inse#ts ed, "horone)sAs alder, and ?ionys)sAs own vine and (ome*ranateJit
(rovided a red dye% Theo(hil)s, the 4y8antine monk 5R)*er)s1 ;n &andi#rats6, says that
I(oets and artists loved ivy be#a)se o the se#ret (owers it #ontained %%% one o whi#h $ will
tell yo)% $n Mar#h, when the sa( rises, i yo) (erorate the stems o ivy with an an*er in a ew
(la#es, a *)mmy liE)id will e:)de whi#h, when mi:ed with )rine and boiled, t)rns a blood
#olo)r #alled IlakeA, )se)l or (aintin* and ill)mination%A Red dye was )sed to #olo)r the
a#es o male ertility ima*es 5"a)sanias6, and o sa#red kin*s2 at Rome this #)stom s)rvived
in the reddenin* o the tri)m(hant *eneralAs a#e% The *eneral re(resented the *od Mars, who
was a +(rin*7?ionys)s beore he s(e#iali8ed as the Roman God o War, and who *ave his
name to the month o Mar#h% ,n*lish kin*s still have their a#es sli*htly ro)*ed on +tate
o##asions to make them look healthy and (ros(ero)s% Moreover, Greek ivy, like the vine and
(lane7tree, has a ive7(ointed lea, re(resentin* the #reative hand o the ,arth7*oddess Rhea%
The myrtle was a death tree%
;r(he)s
;R"&,/+, son o the Thra#ian Gin* ;ea*r)s and the M)se .allio(e, was the most amo)s
(oet and m)si#ian who ever lived% !(ollo (resented him with a lyre, and the M)ses ta)*ht
him its )se, so that he not only en#hanted wild beasts, b)t made the trees and ro#ks move
rom their (la#es to ollow the so)nd o his m)si#% !t @one in Thra#e a n)mber o an#ient
mo)ntain oaks are still standin* in the (attern o one o his dan#es, H)st as he let them% !ter
a visit to ,*y(t, ;r(he)s Hoined the !r*ona)ts, with whom he sailed to .ol#his, his m)si#
hel(in* them to over#ome many dii#)ltiesJand, on his ret)rn, married ,)rydi#e, whom
some #alled !*rio(e, and settled amon* the sava*e .i#ones o Thra#e%
#% ;ne day, near Tem(e, in the valley o the river "enei)s, ,)rydi#e met !ristae)s, who tried
to or#e her% +he trod on a ser(ent as she led, and died o its bite2 b)t ;r(he)s boldly
des#ended into Tartar)s, ho(in* to et#h her ba#k% &e )sed the (assa*e whi#h o(ens at
!orn)m in Thes(rotis and, on his arrival, not only #harmed the erryman .haron, the ?o*
.erber)s, and the three 9)d*es o the ?ead with his (laintive m)si#, b)t tem(orarily
s)s(ended the tort)res o the #lanmeal2 and so ar soothed the sava*e heart o &ades that he
won leave to restore ,)rydi#e to the )((er world% &ades made a sin*le #ondition1 that
;r(he)s mi*ht not look behind him )ntil she was saely ba#k )nder the li*ht o the s)n%
,)rydi#e ollowed ;r(he)s )( thro)*h the dark (assa*e, *)ided by the so)nd o his lyre, and
it was only when he rea#hed the s)nli*ht a*ain that he t)rned to see whether she were still
behind him, and so lost her or ever%
d% When ?ionys)s invaded Thra#e, ;r(he)s ne*le#ted to hono)r him, b)t ta)*ht other sa#red
mysteries and (rea#hed the evil o sa#rii#ial m)rder to the men o Thra#e, who listened
reverently% ,very mornin* he wo)ld rise to *reet the dawn on the s)mmit o Mo)nt
"an*ae)m, (rea#hin* that &eli)s, whom he named !(ollo, was the *reatest o all *ods% $n
ve:ation, ?ionys)s set the Maenads )(on him at ?ei)m in Ma#edonia% 'irst waitin* )ntil
their h)sbands had entered !(olloAs tem(le, where ;r(he)s served as (riest, they sei8ed the
wea(ons sta#ked o)tside, b)rst in, m)rdered their h)sbands, and tore ;r(he)s limb rom
limb% &is head they threw into the river &ebr)s, b)t it loated, still sin*in*, down to the sea,
and was #arried to the island o -esbos%
e% Tear)lly, the M)ses #olle#ted his limbs and b)ried them at -eibethra, at the oot o Mo)nt
;lym()s, where the ni*htin*ales now sin* sweeter than
anywhere else in the world% The Maenads had attem(ted to #leanse themselves o ;r(he)sAs
blood in the river &eli#on2 b)t the River7*od dived )nder the *ro)nd and disa((eared or the
s(a#e o nearly o)r miles, emer*in* with a dierent name, the 4a(hyra% Th)s he avoided
be#omin* an a##essory to the m)rder%
% $t is said that ;r(he)s had #ondemned the MaenadsA (romis#)ity and (rea#hed homose:)al
love2 !(hrodite was thereore no less an*ered than ?ionys)s% &er ellow7;lym(ians,
however, #o)ld not a*ree that his m)rder had been H)stiied, and ?ionys)s saved the
MaenadsA lives by t)rnin* them into oak7trees, whi#h remained rooted to the *ro)nd% The
Thra#ian men who had s)rvived the massa#re de#ided to tattoo their wives as a warnin*
a*ainst the m)rder o (riests2 and the #)stom s)rvives to this day%
*% !s or ;r(he)sAs head1 ater bein* atta#ked by a Healo)s -emnian ser(ent 5whi#h !(ollo at
on#e #han*ed into a stone6 it was laid to rest in a #ave at !ntissa, sa#red to ?ionys)s% There it
(ro(hesied day and ni*ht )ntil !(ollo, indin* that his ora#les at ?el(hi, Grynei)m, and
.lar)s were deserted, #ame and stood over the head, #ryin*1 I.ease rom intereren#e in my
b)siness2 $ have borne lon* eno)*h with yo) and yo)r sin*in*PA There)(on the head ell
silent% ;r(he)sAs lyre had likewise drited to -esbos and been laid )( in a tem(le o !(ollo,
at whose inter#ession, and that o the M)ses, the -yre was (la#ed in heaven as a
.onstellation%
h% +ome *ive a wholly dierent a##o)nt o how ;r(he)s died1 they say that @e)s killed him
with a th)nderbolt or div)l*in* divine se#rets% &e had, indeed, instit)ted the Mysteries o
!(ollo in Thra#e2 those o &e#ate in !e*ina2 and those o +)bterrene ?emeter at +(arta%
1% ;r(he)sAs sin*in* head re#alls that o the de#a(itated !lder7*od 4ran whi#h, a##ordin* to
the Mabino*ion, san* sweetly on the ro#k at &arle#h in 3orth Wales2 a able, (erha(s, o
)neral (i(es made rom alder7bark% Th)s the name ;r(he)s, i it stands or o(hr)oeis, Ion
the river bankA, may be a title o 4ranAs Greek #o)nter(art, "horone)s, or .ron)s, and reer to
the alders I*rowin* on the banks oA the "enei)s and other rivers% The name o ;r(he)sAs
ather, ;ea*r)s 5Io the wild sorb7a((leA6, (oints to the same #)lt, sin#e the sorb7a((le
5'ren#h alisier6 and the alder 5+(anishJaliso6 both bear the name o the (re7&elleni# River7
*oddess &alys, or !lys, or ,lis, E)een o the ,lysian $slands, where "horone)s, .ron)s, and
;r(he)s went ater death% !orn)m is !vern)s, an $tali# variant o the .elti# !valon 5Ia((le7
tree islandA6%
0% ;r(he)s is said by ?iodor)s +i#)l)s to have )sed the old thirteen7#onsonant al(habet2 and
the le*end that he made the trees move and #harmed wild beasts a((arently reers to its
seE)en#e o seasonal trees and symboli# animals% !s sa#red kin* he was str)#k by a
th)nderboltJthat is, killed with a do)ble7a:eJin an oak *rove at the s)mmer solsti#e, and
then dismembered by the Maenads o the b)ll #)lt, like @a*re)s2 or o the sta* #)lt, like
!#taeon2 the Maenads, in a#t, re(resented the M)ses% $n .lassi#al Gree#e the (ra#ti#e o
tattooin* was #onined to Thra#ians, and in a vase7(aintin* o ;r(he)sAs m)rder a Maenad
has a small sta* tattooed on her orearm% This ;r(he)s did not #ome in #onli#t with the #)lt
o ?ionys)s2 he was ?ionys)s, and he (layed the r)de alder7(i(e, not the #ivili8ed lyre% Th)s
"ro#l)s 5.ommentary on "latoAs "oliti#s6 writes1 Y;r(he)s, be#a)se he wa s the (rin#i(al in
the ?ionysian rites, is said to have s)ered the same ate as the *odV, and !(ollodor)s #redits
him with havin* invented the Mysteries o ?ionys)s%
<% The novel worshi( o the +)n as !ll7ather seems to have been bro)*ht to the 3orthern
!e*ean by the )*itive (riesthood o the monotheisti# !khenaton, in the o)rteenth #ent)ry
4., and *rated )(on the lo#al #)lts2 hen#e ;r(he)sAs alle*ed visit to ,*y(t% Re#ords o this
aith are o)nd in +o(ho#les 5'ra*ments6, where the s)n is reerred to as Ithe eldest lame,
dear to the Thra#ian horsemenA, and as Ithe sire o the *ods, and ather o all thin*s%A $t seems
to have been or#e)lly resisted by the more #onservative Thra#ians, and bloodily s)((ressed
in some (arts o the #o)ntry% 4)t later ;r(hi# (riests, who wore ,*y(tian #ost)me, #alled the
demi7*od whose raw b)llAs lesh they ate I?ionys)sA, and reserved the name !(ollo or the
immortal +)n1 distin*)ishin* ?ionys)s, the *od o the senses, rom !(ollo, the *od o the
intelle#t% This e:(lains why the head o ;r(he)s was laid )( in ?ionys)sAs san#t)ary, b)t the
lyre in !(olloAs% &ead and lyre are both said to have drited to -esbos, whi#h was the #hie
seat o lyri# mimi#2 Ter(ander, the earliest histori#al m)si#ian, #ame rom !ntissa% The
ser(entAs atta#k on ;r(he)sAs head re(resents either the (rotest o an earlier ora#)lar hero
a*ainst ;r(he)sAs intr)sion at !ntissa, or that o "ythian !(ollo whi#h "hilostrat)s re#orded
in more dire#t lan*)a*e%
=% ,)rydi#eAs death by snake7bite and ;r(he)sAs s)bseE)ent ail)re to brin* her ba#k into the
s)nli*ht, i*)re only in late myth% They seem to be mistakenly ded)#ed rom (i#t)res whi#h
show ;r(he)sAs wel#ome in Tartar)s, where his m)si# has #harmed the +nake7*oddess
&e#ate, or !*rio(e 5Isava*e a#eA6, into *ivin* s(e#ial (rivile*es to all *hosts initiated into
the ;r(hi# Mysteries, and rom other (i#t)res showin* ?ionys)s, whose (riest ;r(he)s was,
des#endin* to Tartar)s in sear#h o his mother +emele% ,)rydi#eAs vi#tims died o snake7bite,
not hersel%
5% The alder7month is the o)rth o the sa#ral tree7seE)en#e, and it (re#edes the willow7
month, asso#iated with the water ma*i# o the *oddess &eli#e 5IwillowA62 willows also *ave
their name to the river &eli#on, whi#h #)rves aro)nd "arnass)s and is sa#red to the M)seJ
the Tri(le Mo)ntain7*oddess o ins(iration% &en#e ;r(he)s was shown in a tem(le7(aintin*
at ?el(hi 5"a)sanias6 leanin* a*ainst a willow7tree and to)#hin* its bran#hes% The Greek
alder #)lt was s)((ressed in very early times, yet vesti*es o it remain in .lassi#al literat)re1
alders en#lose the death7island o the wit#h7*oddess .ir#e 5&omer1 ;dyssey6Jshe also had a
willow7*rove #emetery at .ol#his 5!(olloni)s Rhodi)s6 and, a##ordin* to Cir*il, the sisters
o "haBthon were metamor(hosed into an alder thi#ket%
6% This is not to s)**est that ;r(he)sAs de#a(itation was never more than a meta(hor a((lied
to the lo((ed alder7bo)*h% ! sa#red kin* ne#essarily s)ered dismemberment, and the
Thra#ians may well have had the same #)stom as the $ban ?ayaks o modern +arawak% When
the men #ome home rom a s)##ess)l head7h)ntin* e:(edition the $ban women )se the
tro(hy as a means o ertili8in* the ri#e #ro( by invo#ation% The head is made to sin*, mo)rn,
and answer E)estions, and n)rsed tenderly in every la( )ntil it inally #onsents to enter an
ora#)lar shrine, where it *ives advi#e on all im(ortant o##asions and, like the heads o
,)rysthe)s, 4ran, and !dam, re(els invasions%
Ganymedes
G!3DM,?,+, the son o Gin* Tros who *ave his name to Troy, was the most bea)ti)l
yo)th alive and thereore #hosen by the *ods to be @e)sAs #)(7bearer% $t is said that @e)s,
desirin* Ganymedes also as his bedellow, dis*)ised himsel in ea*leAs eathers and abd)#ted
him rom the TroHan (lain%
b% !terwards, on @e)sAs behal, &ermes (resented Tros with a *olden vine, the work o
&e(haest)s, and two ine horses, in #om(ensation or his loss, ass)rin* him at the same time
that Ganymedes had be#ome immortal, e:em(t rom the miseries o old a*e, and was now
smilin*, *olden bowl in hand, as he dis(ensed bri*ht ne#tar to the 'ather o &eaven%
#% +ome say that ,os had irst abd)#ted Ganymedes to be her (aramo)r, and that @e)s took
him rom her% 4e that as it may, &era #ertainly de(lored the ins)lt to hersel, and to her
da)*hter &ebe, )ntil then the #)(7bearer o the *ods2 b)t she s)##eeded only in ve:in* @e)s,
who set GanymedesAs ima*e amon* the stars as !E)ari)s, the water7#arrier%
1% GanymedesAs task as wine7(o)rer to all the *odsJnot merely @e)s in early a##o)ntsJand
the two horses, *iven to Gin* Tros as #om(ensation or his death, s)**est the misreadin* o
an i#on whi#h showed the new kin* (re(arin* or his sa#red marria*e% GanymedesAs bowl
will have #ontained a libation, (o)red to the *host o his royal (rede#essor2 and the
oi#iatin* (riest in the (i#t)re, to whom he is makin* a token resistan#e, has a((arently been
misread as amoro)s @e)s% +imilarly, the waitin* bride has been misread as ,os by a
mytho*ra(her who re#alled ,osAs abd)#tion o Tithon)s, son o -aomedonJbe#a)se
-aomedon is also said, by ,)ri(ides to have been GanymedesAs ather% This i#on wo)ld
eE)ally ill)strate "ele)sAs marria*e to Thetis, whi#h the *ods viewed rom their twelve
thrones2 the two horses were rit)al instr)ments o his rebirth as kin*, ater a mo#k7death% The
ea*leAs alle*ed abd)#tion o Ganymedes is e:(lained by a .aeretan bla#k7i*)red vase1 an
ea*le dartin* at the thi*hs o a newly enthroned kin* named @e)s ty(iies the divine (ower
#onerred )(on himJhis ka, or other selJH)st as a solar hawk des#ended on the "haraohs at
their #oronation% De t the tradition o GanymedesAs yo)th s)**ests that the kin* shown in the
i#on was the royal s)rro*ate, or interre:, r)lin* only or a sin*le day1 like "haBthon, @a*re)s,
.hrysi(()s, and the rest% @e)sAs ea*le may thereore be said not only to have enroyalled him,
b)t to have snat#hed him )( to ;lym()s%
0% ! royal as#ent to &eaven on ea*le7ba#k, or in the orm o an ea*le, is a wides(read
reli*io)s an#y% !risto(hanes #ari#at)res it in "ea#e by sendin* his hero )( on the ba#k o a
d)n*7beetle% The so)l o the .elti# hero -)*hJ-lew -law in the Mabino*ionJlew )( to
&eaven as an ea*le when the tanist killed him at mids)mmer% ,tana, the 4abylonian hero,
ater his sa#red marria*e at Gish, rode on ea*le7ba#k towards $shtarAs heavenly #o)rts, b)t
ell into the sea and was drowned% ,tanaAs death, by the way, was not the )s)al end7o7the7
year sa#rii#e, as in the #ase o $#ar)s, b)t a ()nishment or the bad #ro(s whi#h had
#hara#teri8ed his rei*nJhe was lyin* to dis#over a ma*i#al herb o ertility% &is story is
woven into an a##o)nt o the #ontin)o)s str)**le between ,a*le and +er(entJwa:in* and
wanin* year, Gin* and Tanist, and as in the myth o -lew -law, the ,a*le, red)#ed to his last
*as( at the winter solsti#e, has its lie and stren*th ma*i#ally renewed% Th)s we ind in "salm
.$$$1 IThy yo)th is renewed, as the ea*leA%
<% The @e)s7Ganymedes myth *ained immense (o()larity in Gree#e and Rome be#a)se it
aorded reli*io)s H)stii#ation or a *rown manAs (assionate love o a boy% &itherto, sodomy
had been tolerated only as an e:treme orm o *oddess7worshi(1 .ybeleAs male devotees
tried, to a#hieve e#stati# )nity with her by emas#)latin* themselves and dressin* like women%
Th)s a sodomiti# (riesthood was a re#o*ni8ed instit)tion in the Great GoddessAs tem(les at
Tyre, 9o((a, &iera(olis, and at 9er)salem )ntil H)st beore the ,:ile% 4)t this new (assion, or
the introd)#tion o whi#h Thamyris has been *iven the #redit by !(ollodor)s, em(hasi8ed the
vi#tory o (atriar#hy over matriar#hy% $t t)rned Greek (hiloso(hy into an intelle#t)al *ame
that men #o)ld (lay witho)t the assistan#e o women, now that they had o)nd a new ield o
homose:)al roman#e% "lato e:(loited this to the all, and )sed the myth o Ganymedes to
H)stiy his own sentimental eelin*s towards his ()(ils 5"haedr)s62 tho)*h elsewhere 5-aws6
he o)tra#ed sodomy as a*ainst nat)re, and #alled the myth o @e)sAs ind)l*en#e in it Ia
wi#ked .retan inventionA% 5&ere he has the s)((ort o +te(han)s o 4y8anti)m Ws)b
&ar(a*iaX, who says that Gin* Minos o .rete #arried o Ganymedes to be his bedellow,
Ihavin* re#eived the laws rom @e)sA%6 With the s(read o "latoni# (hiloso(hy the hitherto
intelle#t)ally dominant Greek woman de*enerated into an )n(aid worker and breeder o
#hildren wherever @e)s and !(ollo were the r)lin* *ods%
=% GanymedesAs name reers, (ro(erly, to the Hoy)l stirrin* o his own desire at the (ros(e#t
o marria*e, not to that o @e)s when rereshed by ne#tar rom his bedellowAs hand2 b)t,
be#omin* #atamit)s in -atin, it has *iven ,n*lish the word #atamite, meanin* the (assive
obHe#t o male homose:)al l)st%
5% The #onstellation !E)ari)s, identiied with Ganymedes, was ori*inally the ,*y(tian *od,
(residin* over the so)r#e o the 3ile, who (o)red water, not wine, rom a la*on 5"indar1
'ra*ment62 b)t the Greeks took little interest in the 3ile%
6% @e)sAs ne#tar, whi#h the later mytho*ra(hers des#ribed as a s)(ernat)ral red wine, was, in
a#t, a (rimitive brown mead2 and ambrosia, the dele#table ood o the *ods, seems to have
been a (orrid*e o barley, oil, and #ho((ed r)it, with whi#h kin*s were (am(ered when their
(oorer s)bHe#ts still s)bsisted on as(hodel, mallow, and a#orns%
@a*re)s
@,/+ se#retly be*ot his son @a*re)s on "erse(hone, beore she was taken to the /nderworld
by her )n#le &ades% &e set RheaAs sons, the .retan .)retes or, some say, the .orybantes, to
*)ard his #radle in the $daean .ave, where they lea(ed abo)t him, #lashin* their wea(ons, as
they had lea(ed abo)t @e)s himsel at ?i#te% 4)t the Titans, @e)sAs enemies, whitenin*
themselves with *y(s)m )ntil they were )nre#o*ni8able, waited )ntil the .)retes sle(t% !t
midni*ht they l)red @a*re)s away, by oerin* him s)#h #hildish toys as a #one, a b)ll7roarer,
*olden a((les, a mirror, a kn)#kle7bone, and a t)t o wool% @a*re)s showed #o)ra*e when
they m)rdero)sly set )(on him, and went thro)*h several transormations in an attem(t to
del)de them1 he be#ame s)##essively @e)s in a *oat7skin #oat, .ron)s makin* rain, a lion, a
horse, a horned ser(ent, a ti*er, and a b)ll% !t that (oint the Titans sei8ed him irmly by the
horns and eet, tore him a(art with their teeth, and devo)red his lesh raw%
b% !thene interr)(ted this *risly banE)et shortly beore its end and, res#)in* @a*re)sAs heart,
en#losed it in a *y(s)m i*)re, into whi#h she breathed lie2 so that @a*re)s be#ame an
immortal% &is bones were #olle#ted and b)ried at ?el(hi, and @e)s str)#k the Titans dead
with th)nderbolts%
1% This myth #on#erns the ann)al sa#rii#e o a boy whi#h took (la#e in an#ient .rete1 a
s)rro*ate or Minos the 4)ll7kin*% &e rei*ned or a sin*le day, went thro)*h a dan#e
ill)strative o the ive seasonsJlion, *oat, horse, ser(ent, and b)ll7#alJand was then eaten
raw% !ll the toys with whi#h the Titans l)red him away were obHe#ts )sed by the
(hiloso(hi#al ;r(hi#s, who inherited the tradition o this sa#rii#e b)t devo)red a b)ll7#al
raw, instead o a boy% The b)ll7roarer was a (ier#ed stone or (ie#e o (ottery, whi#h when
whirled at the end o a #ord made a noise like a risin* *ale2 and the t)t o wool may have
been )sed to da)b the .)retes with the wet *y(s)mJthese bein* yo)ths who had #)t and
dedi#ated their irst hair to the *oddess .ar% They were also #alled .orybantes, or #rested
dan#ers% @a*re)sAs other *its served to e:(lain the nat)re o the #eremony by whi#h the
(arti#i(ants be#ame one with the *od1 the #one was an an#ient emblem o the *oddess, in
whose hono)r the Titans sa#rii#ed him2 the mirror re(resented ea#h initiateAs other sel, or
*host2 the *olden a((les, his (ass(ort to ,lysi)m ater a mo#k7death2 the kn)#klebone, his
divinatory (owers%
0% ! .retan hymn dis#overed a ew years a*o at "alaiokastro, near the ?i#taean .ave, is
addressed to the .ronian ;ne, *reatest o yo)ths, who #omes dan#in* at the head o his
demons and lea(s to in#rease the ertility o soil and lo#ks, and or the s)##ess o the ishin*
leet% 9ane &arrison in Themis s)**ests that the shielded t)tors there mentioned, who Ntook
thee, immortal #hild, rom RheaAs sideA, merely (retended to kill and eat the vi#tim, an
initiate into their se#ret so#iety% 4)t all s)#h mo#k7deaths at initiation #eremonies, re(orted
rom many (arts o the world, seem )ltimately based on a tradition o a#t)al h)man sa#rii#e2
and @a*re)sAs #alendar #han*es distin*)ish him rom an ordinary member o a totemisti#
raternity%
<% The )n#anoni#al ti*er in the last o @a*re)sAs transormations is e:(lained by his identity
with ?ionys)s, o whose death and res)rre#tion the same story is told, altho)*h with #ooked
lesh instead o raw, and RheaAs name instead o !theneAs% ?ionys)s, too, was a horned
ser(entJhe had horns and ser(ent lo#ks at birthJand his ;r(hi# devotees ate him
sa#ramentally in b)ll orm% @a*re)s be#ame I@e)s in a *oat7skin #oatA, be#a)se @e)s or his
#hild s)rro*ate had as#ended to &eaven wearin* a #oat made rom the hide o the *oat
!maltheia% I.ron)s makin* rainA is a reeren#e to the )se o the b)ll7roarer in rain7makin*
#eremonies% $n this #onte:t the Titans were Titanoi, Iwhite7#halk menA, the .)retes
themselves dis*)ised so that the *host o the vi#tim wo)ld not re#o*ni8e them% When h)man
sa#rii#es went o)t o ashion, @e)s was re(resented as h)rlin* his th)nderbolt at the
#annibals2 and the Titans, Ilords o the seven7day weekA, be#ame #on)sed with the Titanoi,
Ithe white7#halk menA, be#a)se o their hostility to @e)s% 3o ;r(hi#, who had on#e eaten the
lesh o his *od, ever a*ain to)#hed meat o any kind%
=% @a*re)s7?ionys)s was also known in +o)thern "alestine% !##ordin* to the Ras +hamra
tablets, !shtar tem(orarily o##)(ied the throne o &eaven while the *od 4aal lan*)ished in
the /nderworld, havin* eaten the ood o the dead% !shtar was only a #hild and when he sat
on the throne, his eet did not rea#h the ootstool2 4aal (resently ret)rned and killed him with
a #l)b% The Mosai# -aw (rohibited initiation easts in !shtarAs hono)r1 ITho) shalt not seethe
a kid in his motherAs milkAJan inH)n#tion three times re(eated%
The Gods ; The /nderworld
W&,3 *hosts des#end to Tartar)s, the main entran#e to whi#h lies in a *rove o bla#k
(o(lars beside the ;#ean stream, ea#h is s)((lied by (io)s relatives with a #oin laid )nder the
ton*)e o its #or(se% They are th)s able to (ay .haron, the miser who erries them in a #ra8y
boat a#ross the +ty:% This hate)l river bo)nds Tartar)s on the western side, and has or its
trib)taries !#heron, "hle*ethon, .o#yt)s, !ornis, and -ethe% "enniless *hosts m)st wait or
ever on the near bank2 )nless they have evaded &ermes, their #ond)#tor, and #re(t down by a
ba#k entran#e, s)#h as at -a#onian Taenar)s, or Thes(rotian !orn)m% ! three7headed or,
some say, ity7headed do* named .erber)s2 *)ards the o((osite shore o +ty:, ready to
devo)r livin* intr)ders or *hostly )*itives%
b% The irst re*ion o Tartar)s #ontains the #heerless !s(hodel 'ields, where so)ls o heroes
stray witho)t ()r(ose amon* the thron*s o less distin*)ished dead that twitter like bats, and
where only ;rion still has the heart to h)nt the *hostly deer% 3one o them b)t wo)ld rather
live in bonda*e to a landless (easant than r)le over all Tartar)s% Their one deli*ht is in
libations o blood (o)red to them by the livin*1 when they drink they eel themselves almost
men a*ain% 4eyond these meadows lie ,reb)s and the (ala#e o &ades and "erse(hone% To
the let o the (ala#e, as one a((roa#hes it, a white #y(ress shades the (ool o -ethe, where
the #ommon *hosts lo#k down to drink% $nitiated so)ls avoid this water, #hoosin* to drink
instead rom the (ool o Memory, shaded by a white (o(lar WKX, whi#h *ives them a #ertain
advanta*e over their ellows% .lose by, newly arrived *hosts are daily H)d*ed by Minos,
Rhadamanthys, and !ea#)s at a (la#e where three roads meet% Rhadamanthys tries !siati#s
and !ea#)s tries ,)ro(eans2 b)t both reer the dii#)lt #ases to Minos% !s ea#h verdi#t is
*iven the *hosts are dire#ted alon* one o the three roads1 that leadin* ba#k to the !s(hodel
Meadows, i they are neither virt)o)s nor evil2 that leadin* to the ()nishment7ield o
Tartar)s, i they are evil2 that leadin* to the or#hards o ,lysi)m, i they are virt)o)s%
#% ,lysi)m, r)led over by .ron)s, lies near &adesAs dominions, its entran#e #lose to the (ool
o Memory, b)t orms no (art o them2 it is a ha((y land o (er(et)al day, witho)t #old or
snow, where *ames, m)si#, and revels never #ease, and where the inhabitants may ele#t to be
reborn on earth whenever they (lease% 3ear by are the 'ort)nate $slands, reserved or those
who have been three times born, and three times attained ,lysi)m% 4)t some say that there is
another 'ort)nate $sle #alled -e)#e in the 4la#k +ea, o((osite the mo)ths o the ?an)be,
wooded and )ll o beasts, wild and tame, where the *hosts o &elen and !#hilles bold hi*h
revelry and de#laim &omerAs verses to heroes who have taken (art in the events #elebrated by
him%
d% &ades, who is ier#e and Healo)s o his ri*hts, seldom visits the )((er air, e:#e(t on
b)siness or when he is over#ome by s)dden l)st% ;n#e he da88led the 3ym(h Minthe with
the s(lendo)r o his *olden #hariot and its o)r bla#k horses, and wo)ld have sed)#ed her
witho)t dii#)lty had not M)een "erse(hone made a timely a((earan#e and metamor(hosed
Minthe into sweet7smellin* mint% ;n another o##asion &ades tried to violate the 3ym(h
-e)#e, who was similarly metamor(hosed into the white (o(lar standin* by the (ool o
Memory% &e willin*ly allows none o his s)bHe#ts to es#a(e, and ew who visit Tartar)s
ret)rn alive to des#ribe it, whi#h makes him the most hated o the *ods%
e% &ades never knows what is ha((enin* in the world above, or in ;lym()s, e:#e(t or
ra*mentary inormation whi#h #omes to him when mortals strike their hands )(on the earth
and invoke him with oaths and #)rses% &is most (ri8ed (ossession is the helmet o
invisibility, *iven him as a mark o *ratit)de by the .y#lo(es when he #onsented to release
them at @e)sAs order% !ll the ri#hes o *ems and (re#io)s metals hidden beneath the earth are
his, b)t he owns no (ro(erty above *ro)nd, e:#e(t or #ertain *loomy tem(les in Gree#e and,
(ossibly, a herd o #attle in the island o ,rytheia whi#h, some say, really belon* to &eli)s%
% M)een "erse(hone, however, #an be both *ra#io)s and mer#i)l% +he is aith)l to &ades,
b)t has had no #hildren by him and (reers the #om(any o &e#ate, *oddess o wit#hes, to
his% @e)s himsel hono)rs &e#ate so *reatly that he never denies her the an#ient (ower whi#h
she has always enHoyed1 o bestowin* on mortals, or withholdin* rom them, any desired *it%
+he has three bodies and three headsJlion, do*, and mare%
*% Tisi(hone, !le#to, and Me*aera, the ,rinnyes or ')ries, live in ,reb)s, and are older than
@e)s or any o the other ;lym(ians% Their task is to hear #om(laints bro)*ht by mortals
a*ainst the insolen#e o the yo)n* to the a*ed, o #hildren to (arents, o hosts to *)ests, and
o ho)seholders or #ity #o)n#ils to s)((liantsJand to ()nish s)#h #rimes by ho)ndin* the
#)l(rits relentlessly, witho)t rest or (a)se, rom #ity to #ity and rom #o)ntry to #o)ntry%
These ,rinnyes are #rones, with snakes or hair, do*sA heads, #oal7bla#k bodies, batsA win*s,
and bloodshot eyes% $n their hands they #arry brass7st)dded s#o)r*es, and their vi#tims die in
torment% $t is )nwise to mention them by name in #onversation2 hen#e they are )s)ally styled
the ,)menides, whi#h means IThe Gindly ;nesAJas &ades is styled "l)ton, or "l)to, IThe
Ri#h ;neA%
1% The mytho*ra(hers made a bold eort to re#on#ile the #onli#tin* views o the aterworld
held by the (rimitive inhabitants o Gree#e% ;ne view was that *hosts lived in their tombs, or
)nder*ro)nd #averns or iss)res, where they mi*ht take the orm o ser(ents, mi#e, or bats,
b)t never be rein#arnate as h)man bein*s% !nother was that the so)ls o sa#red kin*s walked
visibly on the se()l#hral islands where their bodies had been b)ried% ! third was that *hosts
#o)ld be#ome men a*ain by enterin* beans, n)ts, or ish, and bein* eaten by their (ros(e#tive
mothers% ! o)rth was that they went to the 'ar
3orth, where the s)n never shines, and ret)rned, i at all, only as ertili8in* winds% ! ith was
that they went to the 'ar West, where the s)n sets in the o#ean, and a s(irit world m)#h like
the (resent% ! si:th was that a *host re#eived ()nishment a##ordin* to the lie he had led% To
this the ;r(hi#s inally added the theory metem(sy#hosis, the transmi*ration o so)ls1 a
(ro#ess whi#h #o)ld be to some de*ree #ontrolled by the )se o ma*i#al orm)las%
0% "erse(hone and &e#ate stood or the (re7&elleni# ho(e o re*eneration2 b)t &ades, a
&elleni# #on#e(t, or the inel)#tability o death% .ron)s, des(ite his bloody re#ord, #ontin)ed
to enHoy the (leas)res o ,lysi)m, sin#e that had always been the (rivile*e o a sa#red kin*,
and Menela)s was (romised the same enHoyment, not be#a)se he had been (arti#)larly
virt)o)s or #o)ra*eo)s b)t be#a)se he had married &elen, the (riestess o the +(artan Moon7
*oddess% The &omeri# adHe#tive as(hodelos, a((lied only to leimones 5ImeadowsA6, (robably
means Iin the valley o that whi#h is not red)#ed to ashesA 5rom aJnot, s(odosJash, elosJ
valley6Jnamely the heroAs *host ater his body has been b)rned2 and, e:#e(t in a#orn7eatin*
!r#adia, as(hodel roots and seeds, oered to s)#h *hosts, made the sta(le Greek diet beore
the introd)#tion o #orn% !s(hodel *rows reely even on waterless islands and *hosts, like
*ods, are #onservative in their diet% ,lysi)m seems to mean Ia((le7landAJalisier is a (reJ
Galli# word or sorb7a((le Jas do the !rth)rian I!valonA and the -atin I!vern)sA, or
I!vorn)sA, both ormed rom the $ndo7,)ro(ean root abol, meanin* a((le%
<% .erber)s was the Greek #o)nter(art o !n)bis, the do*7headed son o the -ibyan ?eath7
*oddess 3e(hthys, who #ond)#ted so)ls to the /nderworld% $n ,)ro(ean olklore, whi#h is
(artly o -ibyan ori*in, the so)l o the damned were h)nted to the 3orthern &ell by a yellin*
(a#k o ho)ndsJthe &o)nds o !nnwm, &erne, !rth)r, or GabrielJa myth derived rom the
noisy s)mmer mi*ration o wild *eese to their breedin* (la#es in the !r#ti# #ir#le% .erber)s
was, at irst, ity7headed, like the s(e#tral (a#k that destroyed !#taeon2 b)t aterwards three7
headed, like his mistress &e#ate%
=% +ty: 5IhatedA6, a small stream in !r#adia, the waters o whi#h were s)((osed to be deadly
(oison, was lo#ated in Tartar)s only by later mytho*ra(hers% !#heron 5Istream o woeA6 and
.o#yt)s 5Iwailin*A6 are an#i)l names to des#ribe the misery o death% !ornis 5IbirdlessA6 is2
Greek mistranslation o the $tali# I!vern)sA% -ethe means Ior*et)lnessA and ,reb)s
I#overedA% "hle*ethon 5Ib)rnin*A6 reers to the #)stom o #remation b)t also, (erha(s, to the
theory that sinners were b)rned in streams o lava% Tartar)s seems to be a red)(li#ation o the
(re7&elleni# word tar, whi#h o##)rs in the names o (la#es lyin* to the West2 its sens o
inernality #omes late%
5% 4la#k (o(lars were sa#red to the ?eath7*oddess2 and white (o(lars, or as(ens, either to
"erse(hone as Goddess o Re*eneration, or to &era#les be#a)se he barrowed &ell% Golden
head7dresses o as(en leaves have been o)nd in Meso(otamian b)rials o the o)rth
millenni)m 4.% The ;r(hi# tablets do not name the tree by the (ool o Memory2 it is
(robably the white (o(lar into whi#h -e)#e was transormed, b)t (ossibly a n)t7tree, the
emblem o Wisdom% White7#y(ress wood, re*arded as an antiJ#orr)(tive, was )sed or
homehold #hests and #oins%
6% &ades had a tem(le at the oot o Mo)nt Menthe in ,lis, and his ra(e o Minthe 5ImintA6 is
(robably ded)#ed rom the )se o mint in )nerary rites, to*ether with rosemary and myrtle,
to oset the smell o de#ay% ?emeterAs barley7water drink at ,le)sis was lavo)red with mint%
Tho)*h awarded the s)n7#attle o ,rytheia 5Ired landA6 be#a)se that was where the +)n met
his ni*htly death, &ades is more )s)ally #alled .ron)s, or Geryon, in this #onte:t%
>% &esiodAs a##o)nt o &e#ate shows her to have been the ori*inal Tri(le7*oddess, s)(reme in
&eaven, on earth, and in Tartar)s2 b)t the &ellenes em(hasi8ed her destr)#tive (owers at the
e:(ense o her #reative ones )ntil, at last, she was invoked only in #landestine rites o bla#k
ma*i# es(e#ially at (la#es where three roads met% That @e)s did not deny her the an#ient
(ower o *rantin* every mortal his heartAs desire is a trib)te to the Thessalian wit#hes, o
whom everyone stood in dread% -ion, do*, and horse, her heads, evidently reer to the an#ient
tri(artite year, the do* bein* the ?o*7star +iri)s2 as do also .erber)sAs heads%
8% &e#ateAs #om(anions, the ,rinnyes, were (ersoniied (an*s o #ons#ien#e ater the
breakin* o a tabooJat irst only the taboo o ins)lt, disobedien#e, or violen#e to a mother%
+)((liants and *)ests #ame )nder the (rote#tion o &estia, Goddess o the &earth, and to ill7
treat them wo)ld be to disobey and ins)lt her%
9% -e)#e, the lar*est island in the 4la#k +ea, b)t very small at that, is now a treeless
Romanian (enal #olony%
Ty#he !nd 3emesis
TD.&, is a da)*hter o @e)s, to whom he has *iven (ower to de#ide what the ort)ne o this
or that mortal shall be% ;n some she hea(s *its rom a horn o (lenty, others she de(rives o
all that they have% Ty#he is alto*ether irres(onsible in her awards, and r)ns abo)t H)**lin*
with a ball to e:em(liy the )n#ertainty o #han#e1 sometimes )(, sometimes down% 4)t i it
ever ha((ens that a man, whom she has avo)red, boasts o his ab)ndant ri#hes and neither
sa#rii#es a (art o them to the *ods, nor alleviates the (overty o his ellow7#iti8ens, then the
an#ient *oddess 3emesis ste(s in to h)miliate him% 3emesis, whose home is at !tti#
Rhamn)s, #arries an a((le7bo)*h in one hand, and a wheel in the other, and wears a silver
#rown adorned with sta*s2 the s#o)r*e han*s at her *irdle% +he is a da)*hter o ;#ean)s and
has somethin* o !(hroditeAs bea)ty%
b% +ome say that @e)s on#e ell in love with 3emesis, and ()rs)ed her over the earth and
thro)*h the sea% Tho)*h she #onstantly #han*ed her sha(e, he violated her at last by ado(tin*
the orm o a swan, and rom the e** she laid #ame &elen, the #a)se o the TroHan War%
1% Ty#he 5Iort)neA6, like ?i#e and !edos 5(ersonii#ations o 3at)ral -aw, or 9)sti#e, and
+hame6, was an artii#ial deity invented by the early (hiloso(hers2 whereas 3emesis 5Id)e
ena#tmentA6 had been the 3ym(h7*oddess o ?eath7in7-ie whom they now redeined as a
moral #ontrol on Ty#he% That 3emesisAs wheel was ori*inally the solar year is s)**ested by
the name o her -atin #o)nter(art, 'ort)na 5rom vort)mna, Ishe who t)rns the year abo)tA6%
When the wheel had t)rned hal #ir#le, the sa#red kin*, raised to the s)mmit o his ort)ne,
was ated to dieJthe !#taeon sta*s on her #rown anno)n#e thisJb)t when it #ame )ll
#ir#le, he reven*ed himsel on the rival who had s)((lanted him% &er s#o)r*e was ormerly
)sed or rit)al lo**in*, to r)#tiy the trees and #ro(s, and the a((le7bo)*h was the kin*As
(ass(ort to ,lysi)m%
0% The 3emesis whom @e)s #hased, is not the (hiloso(hi#al #on#e(t o divine ven*ean#e on
overweenin* mortals, b)t the ori*inal 3ym(h7*oddess, whose )s)al name was -eda% $n (re7
&elleni# myth, the *oddess #hases the sa#red kin* and, altho)*h he *oes thro)*h his seasonal
transormations, #o)nters ea#h o them in t)rn with her own, and devo)rs him at the s)mmer
solsti#e% $n &elleni# myth the (arts are reversed1 the *oddess lees, #han*in* sha(e, b)t the
kin* ()rs)es and inally violates her, as in the story o @e)s and Metis, or "ele)s and Thetis%
The reE)ired seasonal transormations will have been indi#ated on the s(okes o 3emesisAs
wheel2 b)t in &omerAs .y(ria only a ish and Ivario)s beastsA are mentioned% I-edaA is
another orm o -eto, or -atona, whom the "ython, not @e)s, #hased% +wans were sa#red to
the *oddess 5,)ri(ides1 $(hi*eneia !mon* the Ta)rians6, be#a)se o their
white (l)ma*e, also be#a)se the C7ormation o their li*ht was a emale symbol, and
be#a)se, at mids)mmer, they lew north to )nknown breedin* *ro)nds, s)((osedly takin* the
dead kin*As so)l with them%
<% The (hiloso(hi#al 3emesis was worshi((ed at Rhamn)s where, a##ordin* to "a)sanias,
the "ersian #ommander7in7#hie, who had intended to set )( a white marble tro(hy in
#elebration o his #onE)est o !tti#a, was or#ed to retire by news o a naval deeat at
+alamis2 the marble was )sed instead or an ima*e o the lo#al 3ym(h7*oddess 3emesis% $t is
s)((osed to have been rom this event that 3emesis #ame to (ersoniy I?ivine ven*ean#eA,
rather than the Id)e ena#tmentA o the ann)al death drama2 sin#e to &omer, at any rate,
nemesis had been merely a warm h)man eelin* that (ayment sho)ld be d)ly made, or a task
d)ly (erormed% 4)t 3emesis the 3ym(h7*oddess bore the title !drasteia 5Iines#a(ableAJ
+trabo6, whi#h was also the name o @e)sAs oster7n)rse, an ash7nym(h2 and sin#e the ash7
nym(hs and the ,rinnyes were sisters, born rom the blood o /ran)s, this may have been
how 3emesis #ame to embody the idea o ven*ean#e% The ash7tree was one o the *oddessAs
seasonal dis*)ises, and an im(ortant one to her (astoral devotees, be#a)se o its asso#iation
with th)nderstorms and with the lambin* month, the third o the sa#ral year%
=% 3emesis is #alled a da)*hter o ;#ean)s, be#a)se as the 3ym(h7*oddess with the a((le7
bo)*h she was also the sea7born !(hrodite, sister o the ,rinnyes%
The .hildren ; The +ea
T&, ity 3ereids, *entle and benei#ent attendants on the +ea7*oddess Thetis, are mermaids,
da)*hters o the nym(h ?oris by 3ere)s, a (ro(heti# old man o the sea, who has the (ower
o #han*in* his sha(e%
b% The "hor#ids, their #o)sins, #hildren o .eto by "hor#ys, another wise old man o the sea,
are -adon, ,#hidne, and the three Gor*ons, dwellers in -ibya2 the three Graeae2 and, some
say, the three &es(erides% The Gor*ons were named +theino, ,)ryale, and Med)sa, all on#e
bea)ti)l% 4)t one ni*ht Med)sa lied with "oseidon, and !thene, enra*ed that they had
bedded in one o her own tem(les, #han*ed her into a win*ed monster with *larin* eyes,
h)*e teeth, (rotr)din* ton*)e, bra8en #laws and ser(ent lo#ks, whose *a8e t)rned men to
stone% When event)ally "erse)s de#a(itated Med)sa, and "oseidonAs #hildren .hrysaor and
"e*as)s s(ran* rom her dead body, !thene astened the head to her ae*is2 b)t some say that
the ae*is was Med)saAs own skin, rayed rom her by !thene%
#% The Graeae are air7a#ed and swan7like, b)t with hair *rey rom birth, and only one eye
and one tooth between the three o them% Their names are ,nyo, "em(hredo, and ?eino%
d% The three &es(erides, by name &es(ere, !e*le, and ,rytheis, live in the ar7western
or#hard whi#h Mother ,arth *ave to &era% +ome #all them da)*hters o 3i*ht, others o !tlas
and o &es(eris, da)*hter o &es(er)s2 sweetly they sin*%
e% &al o ,#hidne was lovely woman, hal was s(e#kled ser(ent% +he on#e lived in a dee(
#ave amon* the !rimi, where she ate men raw, and raised a brood o ri*ht)l toototers to her
h)sband Ty(hon2 b)t h)ndred7eyed !r*)s killed her while she sle(t%
% -adon was wholly ser(ent, tho)*h *ited with the (ower o h)man s(ee#h, and *)arded the
*olden a((les o the &es(erides )ntil &era#les shot him dead%
*% 3ere)s, "hor#ys, Tha)mas, ,)rybia, and .eto were all #hildren born to "ont)s by Mother
,arth2 th)s the "hor#ids and 3ereids #laim #o)sinhood with the &ar(ies% These are the air7
haired and swit7win*ed da)*hters o Tha)mas by the ;#ean7nym(h ,le#tra, who snat#h )(
#riminals or ()nishment by the ,rinnyes, and live in a .retan #ave%
1% $t seems that the Moon7*oddessAs title ,)rynome 5Iwide r)leA or Iwide wanderin*A6
(ro#laimed her r)ler o heaven and earth2 ,)rybia 5Iwide stren*thA6, r)ler o the sea2 ,)rydi#e
5Iwide H)sti#eA6 the ser(ent7*ras(in* r)ler o the /nderworld% Male h)man sa#rii#es were
oered to her as ,)rydi#e, their death bein* a((arently #a)sed by vi(erAs venom% ,#hidneAs
death at the hated o !r*)s (robably reers to the s)((ression o the +er(ent7*oddessAs !r*ive
#)lt% &er brother -adon is the ora#)lar ser(ent who ha)nts every (aradise, his #oils
embra#in* the a((le7tree%
0% !mon* ,)rybiaAs other sea7titles were Thetis 5Idis(oserA6, or its variant Tethys2 .eto, as
the sea7monster #orres(ondin* with the &ebrew Rahab, or the 4abylonian Tiamat2 3ereis, as
the *oddess o the wet dement2 ,le#tra, as (rovider o amber, a sea (rod)#t hi*hly val)ed by
the an#ients2 Tha)mas, as wonder)l2 and ?oris, as bo)nti)l% 3ere)sJalias "rote)s 5Iirst
manA6Jthe (ro(heti# Iold man o the seaA, who took his name rom 3ereis, not #ontrariwise,
seems to have been an ora#)lar sa#red kin*, b)ried on a #oastal island2 he is (i#t)red in an
early vase7(aintin* as ish7tailed, with a lion, a sta*, and a vi(er emer*in* rom his body%
"rote)s, in the ;dyssey, similarly #han*ed sha(es, to mark the seasons thro)*h whi#h the
sa#red kin* moved rom birth to death%
<% The ity 3ereids seem to have been a #olle*e o ity Moon7(riestesses, whose ma*i# rites
ens)red *ood ishin*2 and the Gor*ons, re(resentatives o the Tri(le7*oddess, wearin*
(ro(hyla#ti# masks with s#owl, *larin* eyes, and (rotr)din* ton*)e between bared teeth to
ri*hten stran*ers rom her Mysteries% The +ons o &omer knew only a sin*le Gor*on, who
was a shade in Tartar)s 5;dyssey6, and whose head, an obHe#t o terror to ;dysse)s
5;dyssey6, !thene wore on her ae*is, do)btless to warn (eo(le a*ainst e:aminin* the divine
mysteries hidden behind it% Greek bakers )sed to (aint Gor*on masks on their ovens, to
dis#o)ra*e b)sy7bodies rom o(enin* the oven door, (ee(in* in, and th)s allowin* a dra)*ht
to s(oil the bread% The Gor*onsA namesJ+theino 5Istron*A6, ,)ryale 5Iwide roamin*A6, and
Med)sa 5I#)nnin* oneA6Jare titles o the Moon7*oddess2 the ;r(hi#s #alled the moonAs a#e
Ithe Gor*onAs headA%
=% "oseidonAs atherin* o "e*as)s on Med)sa re#alls his atherin* o the horse !rion on
?emeter, when she dis*)ised hersel as a mare, and her s)bseE)ent )ry2 both myths des#ribe
how "oseidonAs &ellenes or#ibly married the Moon7(riestesses, disre*ardin* their Gor*on
masks, and took over the rain7makin* rites o the sa#red horse #)lt% 4)t a mask o ?emeter
was still ke(t in a stone #hest at "hene)s, and the (riest o ?emeter ass)med it when he
(erormed the #eremony o beatin* the $nernal +(irits with rods 5"a)sanias6%
5% .hrysaor was ?emeterAs new7moon si*n, the *olden si#kle, or al#hion2 her #onsorts
#arried it when they de()ti8ed or her% !thene, in this version, is @e)sAs #ollaborator, reborn
rom his head, and a traitress to the old reli*ion% The three &ar(ies, re*arded by &omer as
(ersonii#ations o the storm winds 5;dyssey6, were the earlier !thene, the Tri(le7*oddess, in
her #a(a#ity o s)dden destroyer% +o were the Graeae, the Three Grey ;nes, as their names
,nyo 5IwarlikeA6, "em(hredo 5Iwas(A6, and ?eino 5IterribleA6 show2 their sin*le eye and tooth
are misreadin*s o a sa#red (i#t)re, and the swan is a death7bird in ,)ro(ean mytholo*y%
6% "hor#ys, a mas#)line orm o "hor#is, the Goddess as +ow, who devo)rs #or(ses, a((ears
in -atin as ;r#)s, a title o &ades, and as (or#)s, ho*% The Gor*ons and Grey ;nes were
#alled "hor#ids, be#a)se it was death to (roane the GoddessAs Mysteries2 b)t "hor#ysAs
(ro(heti# wisdom m)st reer to a sow7ora#le%
>% The names o the &es(erides, des#ribed as #hildren either o .eto and "hor#ys, or o
3i*ht, or o !tlas the Titan who holds )( the heavens in the 'ar West, reer to the s)nset%
Then the sky is *reen, yellow, and red, as i it were an a((le7tree in )ll bearin*2 and the +)n,
#)t by the hori8on like a #rimson hal7a((le, meets his death dramati#ally in the western
waves% When the +)n has *one, &es(er)s a((ears% This star was sa#red to the -ove7*oddess
!(hrodite, and the a((le was the *it by whi#h her (riestess de#oyed the kin*, the +)nAs
re(resentative to his death with love7son*s2 i an a((le is #)t in two transversely, ive7(ointed
star a((ears in the #entre o ea#h hal%
The .hildren ; ,#hidne
,.&$?3, bore a dread)l brood to Ty(hon1 namely, .erber)s, a three7headed &o)nd o
&ell2 the &ydra, a many7beaded water7ser(ent livin* at -erna2 the .himaera, a ire7breathin*
*oat with lionAs and ser(entAs body2 and ;rthr)s, the two7headed ho)nd o Geryo1 who lay
with his own mother and be*ot on her the +(hin: and the 3emean -ion%
1% .erber)s, asso#iated by the ?orians with do*7headed ,*y(tian *od !n)bis who #ond)#ted
so)ls to the /nderworld, seems to have ori*inally been the ?eath7*oddess &e#ate or &e#abe2
she was (ortrayed as a bit#h be#a)se do*s eat #or(se lesh and howl at the moon%
0% The .himaera was, a((arently, a #alendar7symbol o the tri(artite year, o whi#h the
seasonal emblems were lion, *oat, and ser(ent%
<% ;rthr)s, who athered the .himaera, the +(hin:, the &ydra, and the 3emean -ion on
,#hidne was +iri)s, the ?o*7star, whi#h ina)*)rated the !thenian 3ew Dear% &e had two
heads, like 9an)s, be#a)se the reormed year in !thens had two seasons, not three1 ;rthr)sAs
son, the -ion, emblemi8in* the irst hal, and his da)*hter, the +er(ent, emblemi8in* the
se#ond% When the Goat7emblem disa((eared, the .himaera *ave (la#e to +(hin:, with her
win*ed7lionAs body and ser(entAs tail% +in#e the reorm 3ew Dear be*an when the +)n was in
-eo and the ?o* ?ays had be*)n, ;rthr)s looked in two dire#tions Jorward to the 3ew
ba#kward to the ;ldJlike the .alendar7*oddess .ardea, whom the Romans named "ostvorta
and !ntevorta on that a##o)nt% ;rthr)s was #alled IearlyA (res)mably be#a)se he introd)#ed
the 3ew Dear%
The GiantsA Revolt
,3R!G,? be#a)se @e)s had #onined their brothers, the Titans, in Tartar)s, #ertain tall and
terrible *iants, with lon* lo#ks and beards, and ser(ent7tails or eet, (lotted an assa)lt on
&eaven% They had been born rom Mother ,arth at Thra#ian "hle*ra, twenty7o)r in n)mber%
b% Witho)t warnin*, they sei8ed ro#ks and ire7brands and h)rled them )(wards rom their
mo)ntain to(s, so that the ;lym(ians were hard (ressed% &era (ro(hesied *loomily that the
*iants #o)ld never be killed by any *od, b)t only by a sin*le, lion7skinned mortal2 and that
even he #o)ld do nothin* )nless the enemy were anti#i(ated in their sear#h or a #ertain herb
o inv)lnerability, whi#h *rew in a se#ret (la#e on earth% @e)s at on#e took #o)nsel with
!thene2 sent her o to warn &era#les, the lion7skinned mortal to whom &era was evidently
reerrin*, e:a#tly how matters stood2 and orbade ,os, +elene, and &eli)s to shine or a
while% /nder the eeble li*ht o the stars, @e)s *ro(ed abo)t on earth, in the re*ion to whi#h
!thene dire#ted him, o)nd the herb, and bro)*ht it saely to &eaven%
#% The ;lym(ians #o)ld now Hoin battle with the *iants% &era#les let loose his irst arrow
a*ainst !l#yone)s, the enemyAs leader% &e ell to the *ro)nd, b)t s(ran* )( a*ain revived,
be#a)se this was his native soil o "hle*ra% IM)i#k, noble &era#lesPA #ried !thene% I?ra* him
away to another #o)ntryPA &era#les #a)*ht !l#yone)s )( on his sho)lders, and dra**ed him
over the Thra#ian border, where he des(at#hed him with a #l)b%
d% Then "or(hyrion lea(ed into &eaven rom the *reat (yramid o ro#ks whi#h the *iants had
(iled )(, and none o the *ods stood his *ro)nd% ;nly !thene ado(ted a (ost)re o deen#e%
R)shin* by her, "or(hyrion made or &era, whom he tried to stran*le2 b)t, wo)nded in the
liver by a timely arrow rom ,rosAs bow, he t)rned rom an*er to l)st, and ri((ed o &eraAs
*lorio)s robe% @e)s, seein* that his wie was abo)t to be o)tra*ed, ran orward in Healo)s
wrath, and elled "or(hyrion with a th)nderbolt% /( he s(ran* a*ain, b)t &era#les, ret)rnin*
to "hle*ra in the ni#k o time, mortally wo)nded him with an arrow% Meanwhile, ,(hialtes
had en*a*ed !res and beaten him to his knees2 however, !(ollo shot the wret#h in the let
eye and #alled to &era#les, who at on#e (lanted another arrow in the rib% Th)s died ,(hialtes%
e% 3ow, wherever a *od wo)nded a *iantJas when ?ionysi)s elled ,)ryt)s with his
thyrs)s, or &e#ate sin*ed .lyti)s with tor#hes, or &e(haest)s s#alded Mimas with a ladle o
red7hot metal, !thene #r)shed the l)st)l "allas with a stone, it was &era#les who had to deal
the death blow% The (ea#e7lovin* *oddesses &estia and ?emeter took no (art in the #onli#t,
b)t stood dismayed, wrin*in* their hands to the 'ates, however, sw)n* bra8en (estles to *ood
ee#t%
% ?is#o)ra*ed, the remainin* *iants led ba#k to earth, ()rs)ed by the ;lym(ians% !thene
threw a vast missile at ,n#elad)s, who #r)shed him lat and be#ame the island o +i#ily% !nd
"oseidon bro)*ht o (art o .os with his trident and threw it at "olyb)tes2 this be#ame the
nearby islet o 3isyros, beneath whi#h he lies b)ried%
*% The remainin* *iants made a last stand at 4athos, near !r#adian Tra(e8)s, where the
*ro)nd still b)rns, and *iantsA bones are sometimes t)rned )( by (lo)*h7men% &ermes,
borrowin* &adesAs helmet o invisibility, str)#k down &i((olyt)s, and !rtemis (ier#ed
Gration with an arrow2 while the 'atesA (estles broke the heads o !*ri)s and Thoas% !res,
with his s(ear, and @e)s, with his th)nderbolt, are a##o)nted or the rest, tho)*h &era#les
was #alled
)(on to des(at#h ea#h *iant as he ell% 4)t some say that the battle took (la#e on "hle*raean
"lain, near .)mae in $taly%
h% +ilen)s, the earth7born +atyr, #laims to have taken (art in battle at the side o his ()(il
?ionys)s, killin* ,n#elad)s and s(read (ani# amon* the *iants by the brayin* o his old
(a#k7ass2 b)t +ilen)s is )s)ally dr)nken and #annot distin*)ish tr)th rom alsehood%
1% This is a (ost7&omeri# story, (reserved in a de*enerate version1 ,ros and ?ionys)s, who
take (art in the i*htin*, are late7#omer ;lym()s, and &era#les is admitted there beore
a(otheosis on Mo)nt ;eta% $t ()r(orts to a##o)nt or indin* o mammoth bones at Tra(e8)s
5where they are still shown in a lo#al m)se)m62 and or the vol#ani# ires at 4athos near byJ
also at !r#adian, or Thra#ian, "allene, at .)mae, and in the islands o +i#ily and 3isyros,
beneath whi#h !thene and "oseidon are said to have b)ried two o the *iants%
0% The histori#al in#ident )nderlyin* the GiantsA RevoltJand also the !loeidsA Revolt, o
whi#h it is )s)ally re*arded as a do)bleJseems to be a #on#erted attem(t by non7&elleni#
mo)ntaineers to storm #ertain &elleni# ortresses, and their re()lse by the &ellenesA s)bHe#t7
allies% 4)t the (owerlessness and #owardi#e o the *ods, #ontrasted with the invin#ibility o
&era#les, and the ar#i#al in#idents o the battle, are more #hara#teristi# o (o()lar i#tion
than o myth%
<% There is, however, a hidden reli*io)s element in the story% These *iants are not lesh and
blood, b)t earth7born s(irits, as their ser(ent7tails (rove, and #an be thwarted only by the
(ossession o a ma*i#al herb% 3o mytho*ra(her mentions the name o the herb, b)t it was
(robably the e(hialtion, a s(e#ii# a*ainst the ni*htmare% ,(hialtes, the name o the *iantsA
leader, means literally Ihe who lea(s )(onA 5 in#)b)s in -atin62 and the attem(ts o
"or(hyrion to stran*le and ra(e &era, and o "allas to ra(e !thene, s)**est that the story
mainly #on#erns the wisdom o invokin* &era#les the +avio)r, when threatened by eroti#
ni*htmares at any ho)r o the twenty7o)r%
=% !l#yone)s 5Imi*hty assA6 is (robably the s(irit o the siro##o, Ithe breath o the Wild !ssA,
or Ty(hon, whi#h brin*s bad dreams, and m)rdero)s in#linations, and ra(es2 and this makes
+ilen)sAs #laim to have ro)ted the *iants with the brayin* o his (a#k7ass still more
ridi#)lo)s% Mimas 5Imimi#ryA6 may reer to the del)sive verisimilit)de o dreams2 and
&i((olyt)s 5Istam(ede o horsesN6 re#alls the an#ient attrib)tion o terror7dreams to the Mare7
headed *oddess% $n the north, it was ;din whom s)erers rom Ithe 3i*htmare and her
nineoldA invoked, )ntil his (la#e was taken by +t% +withold%
5% What )se &era#les made o the herb #an be ded)#ed rom the 4abylonian myth o the
#osmi# i*ht between the new *ods and the old% There Mard)k, &era#lesAs #o)nter(art, holds
a herb to his nostrils a*ainst the no:io)s smell o the *oddess Tiamat2 here !l#yone)sAs
breath has to be #o)ntera#ted%
Ty(hon
$3 reven*e or the destr)#tion o the *iants, Mother ,arth lay with Tartar)s, and (resently in
the .ory#ian .ave o .ili#ia bro)*ht orth her yo)n*est #hild, Ty(hon1 the lar*est monster
ever born% 'rom the thi*hs downward he was nothin* b)t #oiled ser(ents, and his arms
whi#h, when he s(read them o)t, rea#hed a h)ndred lea*)es in either dire#tion, had #o)ntless
ser(entsA heads instead o hands% &is br)tish ass7head to)#hed the stars, his vast win*s
darkened the s)n, ire lashed rom his eyes, and lamin* ro#ks h)rtled rom his mo)th% When
he #ame r)shin* towards ;lym()s, the *ods led in terror to ,*y(t, where they dis*)ised
themselves as animals1 @e)s be#omin* a ram2 !(olloJa #row2 ?ionys)sJa *oat2 &eraJa
white #ow2 !rtemisJa #at2 !(hroditeJa ish2 !resJa boar2 &ermesJan ibis, and so on%
b% !thene alone stood her *ro)nd, and ta)nted @e)s with #owardi#e )ntil, res)min* his tr)e
orm, he let ly a th)nderbolt at Ty(hon, and ollowed this )( with a swee( o the same lint
si#kle that had served to #astrate his ather /ran)s% Wo)nded and sho)tin*, Ty(hon led to
Mo)nt .asi)s, whi#h looms over +yria rom the north, and there the two *ra((led% Ty(hon
twined his myriad #oils abo)t @e)s, disarmed him o his si#kle and, ater severin* the sinews
o his hands and eet with it, dra**ed him into the .ory#ian .ave% @e)s is immortal, b)t now
he #o)ld not move a in*er, and Ty(hon had hidden the sinews in a bear7skin, over whi#h
?el(hyne, a ser(ent7tailed sister7monster, stood *)ard%
#% The news o @e)sAs deeat s(read dismay amon* the *ods, b)t &ermes and "an went
se#retly to the #ave, where "an ri*htened ?el(hyne with a s)dden horrible sho)t, while
&ermes skill)lly abstra#ted the sinews and re(la#ed them on @e)sAs limbs%
d% 4)t some say that it was .adm)s who wheedled the sinews rom ?el(hyne, sayin* that he
needed them or lyre7strin*s on whi#h to (lay her deli*ht)l m)si#2 and !(ollo who shot her
dead%
e% @e)s ret)rned to ;lym()s and, mo)nted )(on a #hariot drawn by win*ed horses, on#e
more ()rs)ed Ty(hon with th)nderbolts% Ty(hon had *one to Mo)nt 3ysa, where the Three
'ates oered him e(hemeral r)its, (retendin* that these wo)ld restore his vi*o)r tho)*h, in
reality, they doomed him to #ertain death% &e rea#hed Mo)nt &aem)s in Thra#e and, (i#kin*
)( whole mo)ntains, h)rled them at @e)s, who inter(osed his th)nderbolts, so that they
rebo)nded on the monster, wo)ndin* him ri*ht)lly% The streams o Ty(honAs blood *ave
Mo)nt &aem)s its name% &e led towards +i#ily, where @e)s ended the r)nnin* i*ht by
h)rlin* Mo)nt !etna )(on him, and ire bel#hes rom its #one to this day%
1% I.ory#ianA, said to mean Io the leather sa#kA, may re#ord the an#ient #)stom o #oninin*
winds in ba*s, ollowed by !eol)s, and (reserved by mediaeval wit#hes% $n the other
.ory#ian .ave, at ?el(hi, ?el(hyneAs ser(ent7mate was #alled "ython, not Ty(hon% "ython
5Iser(entA6 (ersoniied the destr)#tive 3orth WindJwinds were habit)ally de(i#ted with
ser(ent tailsJwhi#h whirls down on +yria rom Mo)nt .asi)s, and on Gree#e rom Mo)nt
&aem)s% Ty(hon, on the other hand, means Ist)(eyin* smokeA, and his a((earan#e des#ribes
a vol#ani# er)(tion2 hen#e @e)s was said to have b)ried him at last )nder Mo)nt !etna% 4)t
the name Ty(hon also meant the b)rnin* +iro##o rom the +o)thern ?esert, a #a)se o havo#
in -ibya and Gree#e, whi#h #arries a vol#ani# smell and was (i#t)red by the ,*y(tians as a
desert ass% The *od +et, whose breath Ty(hon was said to be, maimed ;siris in m)#h the
same way as "ython maimed @e)s, b)t both were inally over#ome2 and the (arallel has
#on)sed "ython with Ty(hon%
0% This divine li*ht into ,*y(t, as -)#ian observes 5;n +a#rii#es6, was invented to a##o)nt
or the ,*y(tian worshi( o *ods in animal ormJ@e)s7!mmon as ram, &ermes7Thoth as
ibis or #rane, &era7$sis as #ow, !rtemis7"asht as #at, and so on2 b)t it may also reer
histori#ally to a ri*htened e:od)s o (riests and (riestesses rom the !e*ean !r#hi(ela*o,
when a vol#ani# er)(tion en*)led hal o the lar*e island o Thera, shortly beore 0000 4.%
.ats were not domesti#ated in .lassi#al Gree#e% ! )rther so)r#e o this le*end seems to be
the 4abylonian .reation ,(i#, the ,n)ma ,lish, a##ordin* to whi#h, in ?amas#i)sAs earlier
version, the *oddess Tiamat, her #onsortA !(s), and their son M)mmi 5I#on)sionA6, let loose
Gin*) and a horde o other monsters a*ainst the newly7born trinity o *ods1 ,a, !n), and 4el%
! (ani# li*ht ollows2 b)t (resently 4el rallies his brothers, takes #ommand, and deeats
TiamatNs or#es, #r)shin* her sk)ll with a #l)b and sli#in* her in two Nlike a iat7ishN%
<% The myth o @e)s, ?el(hyne, and the bear7skin re#ords @e)sNs h)miliation at the hands o
the Great Goddess, worshi((ed as a +he7bear, whose #hie ora#le was at ?el(hi2 the histori#al
o##asion is )nknown, b)t the .admeians o 4oeotia seem to have been #on#erned with
(reservin* the @e)s #)lt% Ty(honNs Ne(hemeral r)itsN, *iven him by the Three 'ates, a((ear to
be the )s)al death7a((les% $n a (roto7&ittite version o the myth the ser(ent llly)nka
over#omes the +torm7*od and takes away his eyes and heart, whi#h he re#overs by strata*em%
The ?ivine .o)n#il then #all on the *oddess $nara to e:ert ven*ean#e, llly)nka, invited by
her to a east, eats )ntil *or*ed2 when )(on she binds him with a #ord and he is des(at#hed by
the +torm7*od%
=% Mo)nt .asi)s 5now 9ebel7el7!kra6 is the Mo)nt &a88i whi#h i*)res in the &ittite story o
/llik)mmi the stone *iant, who *rew at an enormo)s rate, and was ordered by his ather
G)marbi to destroy the seventy *ods o &eaven% The +torm7*od, the +)n7*od, the Goddess o
4ea)ty and all their ellow7deities ailed to kill /llik)mmi, )ntil ,a the God o Wisdom,
)sin* the knie that ori*inally severed &eaven rom ,arth, #)t o the monsterNs eet and sent
it #rashin* into the sea% ,lements o this story o##)r in the mythoTy(hon, and also in that o
the !loeids who *rew at the same rate and )sed mo)ntains as a ladder to &eaven% The
.admeians are likely to have bro)*ht these le*ends into Gree#e rom !sia Minor%
The !loeids
,"&$!-T,+ and ;t)s were the bastard sons o $(himedeia, a da)*hter o Trio(s% +he had
allen in love with "oseidon, and )sed to #ro)#h the seashore, s#oo(in* )( the waves in her
hands and (o)rin* them into her la(2 th)s she *ot hersel with #hild% ,(hialtes and ;t)s were,
however, #alled the !loeids be#a)se $(himedeia s)bseE)ently married !loe)s, who had been
made kin* o 4oeotian !so(ia by his ather &eli)s% The !loeids *rew one #)bit in breadth
and one athom hei*ht every year and, when they were nine years old, bein* then nine #)bits
broad and nine athoms hi*h, de#lared war on ;lym()s% ,(hialtes swore by the river +ty: to
o)tra*e &era, and ;t)s similarly swore to o)tra*e !rtemis%
b% ?e#idin* that !res the God o War m)st be their irst #a(t)red, they went to Thra#e,
disarmed him, bo)nd him, and #onined him to a bra8en vessel, whi#h they hid in the ho)se
o their ste(mother ,riboea, $(himedeia bein* now dead% Then their sie*e o ;lym()s be*an1
they made a mo)nd or its assa)lt by (ilin* Mo)nt "elion on Mo)nt ;ssa, and )rther
threatened to #ast mo)ntains into the sea )ntil it be#ame dry land, tho)*h the lowlands were
swam(ed by the waves% Their #oniden#e was )nE)en#hable be#a)se it had been (ro(hesied
that no other men, nor any *ods, #o)ld kill them%
#% ;n !(olloNs advi#e, !rtemis sent the !loeids a messa*e1 i they raised their sie*e, she
wo)ld meet them on the island o 3a:os, and there s)bmit to ;t)sNs embra#es% ;t)s was
overHoyed, b)t ,(hialtes, not havin* re#eived a similar messa*e rom &era, *rew Healo)s and
an*ry% ! #r)el E)arrel broke o)t on 3a:os, where they went to*ether1 ,(hialtes insistin* that
the terms sho)ld be reHe#ted )nless, as the elder o the two, he was the irst to enHoy !rtemis%
The ar*)ment had rea#hed its hei*ht, when !rtemis hersel a((eared in the orm o a white
doe, and ea#h !loeid, sei8in* his Havelin, made ready to (rove himsel the better marksman
bylin*in* it at her% !s she darted between them, swit as the wind, they letlyand ea#h
(ier#ed the other thro)*hand thro)*h% Th)s both (erished, and the (ro(he#y that they #o)ld
not be killed by other men, or by *ods, was H)stiied% Their bodies were #arried ba#k or
interment in 4oeotian !nthedon2 b)t the 3a:ians still (aythem heroi# hono)rs% They are
remembered also as the o)nders o 4oeotian !stra2 and as the irst mortals to worshi( the
M)ses o &eli#on%
d% The sie*e o ;lym()s bein* th)s raised, &ermes went in sear#h o !res, and or#ed
,riboea to release him, halJdead, rom the bra8en vessel% 4)t the so)ls o the !loeids
des#ended to Tartar)s, where they were se#)rely tied to a (illar with knotted #ords o livin*
vi(ers% There they sit, ba#k to ba#k, and the 3ym(h +ty: (er#hes *rimly on the (illar7to(, as
a reminder o their )n)lilled oaths%
1% This is another (o()lar version o the GiantsN Revolt% The name ,(hialtes, the assa)lt on
;lym()s, the threat to &era, and the (ro(he#y o their inv)lnerability, o##)r in both versions%
,(hialtes and ;t)s, Nsons o the threshin*7loorN by Nher who stren*thens the *enitalsN,
*randsons o NThree 'a#eN, namely &e#ate, and worshi((ers o the wild M)ses, (ersoniy the
in#)b)s, or or*iasti# ni*htmare, whi#h stiles and o)tra*es slee(in* women% -ike the
3i*htmare in 4ritish le*end, they are asso#iated with the n)mber nine% The myth is #on)sed
by a shadowy histori#al e(isode re(orted by ?iodor)s +i#)l)s% &e says that !loe)s, a
Thessalian, sent his sons to liberate their mother $(himedeia and their sister "an#ratis 5Nall7
stren*thN6 rom the Thra#ians, who had #arried them o to 3a:os2 their e:(edition was
s)##ess)l, b)t they E)arrelled abo)t the (artition o the island and killed ea#h other%
&owever, tho)*h +te(han)s o 4y8anti)m re#ords that the #ity o !loei)m in Thessaly was
named ater the !loeids, early mytho*ra(hers make them 4oeotians%
0% The twinsN m)t)al m)rder re#alls the eternal rivalry or the love o the White Goddess
between the sa#red kin* and his tanist, who alternately meet death at ea#h otherNs hands% That
they were #alled Nsons o the threshin*7loorN and es#a(ed destr)#tion by @e)sNs li*htnin*,
#onne#ts them with the #orn #)lt, rather than the oak #)lt% Their ()nishment in Tartar)s, like
that o These)s and "eiritho)s, seems to be ded)#ed rom an an#ient #alendar symbol
showin* the twinsN heads t)rned ba#k to ba#k, on either side o a #ol)mn, as they sit on the
.hair o 'or*et)lness% The #ol)mn, on whi#h the ?eath7in7-ie Goddess (er#hes, marks the
hei*ht o s)mmer when the sa#red kin*Ns rei*n ends and the tanistNs be*ins% $n $taly, this same
symbol be#ame two7headed 9an)s2 b)t the $talian 3ew Dear was in 9an)ary, not at the
helia#al risin* o two7headed +iri)s%
<% !resNs im(risonment or thirteen months is an )nrelated mythi# ra*ment o )n#ertain date,
reerrin* (erha(s to an armisti#e o one whole yearJthe "elas*ian year had thirteen months
Ja*reed )(on between the Thessalo74oeotians and Thra#ians, with war7like tokens o both
nations entr)sted to a bra8en vessel in a tem(le o &era ,riboea% "elion, ;ssa, and ;lym()s
are all mo)ntains to the east o Thessaly, with a distant view o the Thra#ian .hersonese
where the war terminated by this armisti#e may have been o)*ht%
?e)#alionNs 'lood
?,/.!-$;3N+ 'lood, so #alled to distin*)ish it rom the ;*y*ianand other loods, was
#a)sed by @e)sNs an*er a*ainst the im(io)s sons o -y#aon, the son o "elas*)s% -y#aon
himsel irst #ivili8ed !r#adia and instit)ted the worshi( o @e)s -y#ae)s2 b)t an*ered @e)s
by sa#rii#in* a boy to him% &e
was thereore transormed into a wol, and his ho)se str)#k by li*htnin*% -y#aonNs sons were,
some say, twenty7two in n)mber2 b)t others say ity%
b% 3ews o the #rimes #ommitted by -y#aonNs sons rea#hed ;lym()s, and @e)s himsel
visited them, dis*)ised as a (oor traveller% They had the erontery to set )mble so)( beore
him, mi:in* the *)ts o their brother 3y#tim)s with the )mbles o shee( and *oats that it
#ontained% @e)s was )nde#eived and, thr)stin* away the table on whi#h they had served the
loathsome banE)etJthe (la#e was aterwards known as Tra(e8)sJ#han*ed all o them
e:#e(t 3y#tim)s, whom he restored to lie, into wolves%
#% ;n his ret)rn to ;lym()s, @e)s in dis*)st let loose a *reat lood on the earth, meanin* to
wi(e o)t the whole ra#e o man2 b)t ?e)#alion, Gin* o "hthia, warned by his ather
"romethe)s the Titan, whom he had visited in the .a)#as)s, b)ilt an ark, vi#t)alled it, and
went aboard with his wie "yrrha, a da)*hter o ,(imethe)s% Then the +o)th Wind blew, the
rain ell, and the rivers roared down to the sea whi#h, risin* with astonishin* s(eed, washed
away every #ity o the #oast and (lain2 )ntil the entire world was looded, b)t or a ew
mo)ntain (eaks, and all mortal #reat)res seemed to have been lost, e:#e(t ?e)#alion and
"yrrha% The ark loated abo)t or nine days )ntil, at last, the waters s)bsided, and it #ame to
rest on Mo)nt "arnass)s or, some tell, on Mo)nt !etna2 or Mo)nt !thos2 or Mo)nt ;thrys in
Thessaly% $t is said that ?e)#alion was reass)red by a dove whi#h he had sent on an
e:(loratory li*ht%
d% ?isembarkin* in saety, they oered a sa#rii#e to 'ather @e)s, the (reserver o )*itives,
and went down to (ray at the shrine o Themis, beside the river .e(hiss)s, where the roo
was now dra(ed with seaweed and the altar #old% They (leaded h)mbly that mankind sho)ld
be renewed, and @e)s, hearin* their voi#es rom aar, sent &ermes to ass)re them that
whatever reE)est they mi*ht make wo)ld be *ranted orthwith% Themis a((eared in (erson,
sayin*1 N+hro)d yo)r heads, and throw the bones o yo)r mother behind yo)PN +in#e
?e)#alion and "yrrha had dierent mothers, both now de#eased, they de#ided that the
Titaness meant Mother ,arth, whose bones were the ro#ks lyin* on the river bank% Thereore,
stoo(in* with shro)ded heads, they (i#ked )( ro#ks and threw them over their sho)lders2
these be#ame either men or women, a##ordin* as ?e)#alion or "yrrha had handled them%
Th)s mankind was renewed, and ever sin#e Na (eo(leN 5laos6 and Na stoneN 5loas6 have been
m)#h the same word in many lan*)a*es%
e% &owever, as it (roved, ?e)#alion and "yrrha were not the sole s)rvivors o the 'lood, or
Me*ar)s, a son o @e)s, had been ro)sed rom his #o)#h by the s#ream o #ranes that
s)mmoned him to the (eak o Mo)nt Gerania, whi#h remained above water% !nother who
es#a(ed was .eramb)s o "elion, whom the nym(hs #han*ed to a s#arabae)s, and he lew to
the s)mmit o "arnass)s%
% +imilarly, the inhabitants o "arnass)sJa #ity o)nded by "arnas)s, "oseidonNs son, who
invented the art o a)*)ryJwere awakened by the howlin* o wolves and ollowed them to
the mo)ntain to(% They named their new #ity -y#orea, ater the wolves%
*% Th)s the lood (roved o little avail, or some o the "arnassians mi*rated to !r#adia, and
revived -y#aonNs abominations% To this day a boy is sa#rii#ed to -y#aean @e)s, and his *)ts
mi:ed with others in an )mble so)(, whi#h is then served to a #rowd o she(herds beside a
stream% The she(herd who eats the boyNs *)t 5assi*ned to him by lot6, howls like a wol,
han*s his #lothes )(on an oak, swims a#ross the stream, and be#omes a werewol% 'or ei*ht
years he herds with wolves b)t i he abstains rom eatin* men thro)*ho)t that (eriod, may
ret)rn at the #lose, swim ba#k a#ross the stream and res)me his #lothes% 3ot lon* a*o, a
"arrhasian named ?amar#h)s s(ent ei*ht years with the wolves, re*ained his h)manity and,
in the tenth year, ater hard (ra#ti#e in the *ymnasi)m, won the bo:in* (ri8e at the ;lym(i#
Games%
h% This ?e)#alion was the brother o .retan !riadne and the ather o ;resthe)s, Gin* o the
;8olian -o#rians, in whose time a white bit#h littered a sti#k, whi#h ;resthe)s (lanted, and
whi#h *rew into a vine% !nother o his sons, !m(hi#tyon, entertained ?ionys)s, and was the
irst man to mi: wine with water% 4)t his eldest and most amo)s son was &ellen, ather o all
Greeks%
1% The story o @e)s and the boyNs *)ts is not so m)#h a myth as a moral ane#dote e:(ressin*
the dis*)st elt in more #ivili8ed (arts o Gree#e or the an#ient #annibalisti# (ra#ti#es o
!r#adia, whi#h were still (erormed in the name o @e)s, as Nbarbaro)s and )nnat)ralN
5"l)tar#h1 -ie o "elo(idas6% -y#aonNs virt)o)s !thenian #ontem(orary .e#ro(s, oered only
barleyJ#akes, abstainin* even rom animal sa#rii#es% The -y#aonian rites, whi#h the a)thor
denies that @e)s ever #o)ntenan#ed, were a((arently intended to dis#o)ra*e the wolves rom
(reyin* on lo#ks and herds, by sendin* them a h)man kin*% N-y#ae)sN means No the she7wol,
b)t also No the li*htN, and the li*htnin* in the -y#aon myth shows that !r#adian @e)s be*an
as a rain7makin* sa#red kin*Jin servi#e to the divine +he7wol, the Moon, to whom the
wol(a#k howls%
0% ! Great Dear o one h)ndred months, or ei*ht solar years, was divided eE)ally between the
sa#red kin* and his tanist2 and -y#aonNs ity sonsJone or every month o the sa#red kin*Ns
rei*nJwill have been the eaters o the )mble so)(% The i*)re twenty7two, )nless it has been
arrived at by a #o)nt o the amilies who #laimed des#ent rom -y#aon and had to (arti#i(ate
in the )mble7east, (robably reers to the twenty7two ive7year l)stra whi#h #om(osed a #y#le
Jthe 1107year #y#le #onstit)tin* the rei*n o a (arti#)lar line o (riestesses%
<% The myth o ?e)#alionNs 'lood, a((arently bro)*ht rom !sia by the &ellads, has the same
ori*in as the 4ibli#al le*end o 3oah% 4)t tho)*h 3oahNs invention o wine is the s)bHe#t o a
&ebrew moral tale, in#identally H)stiyin* the enslavement o the .anaanites by their Gassite
and +emiti# #onE)erors, ?e)#alionNs #laim to the invention has been s)((ressed by the
Greeks in avo)r o ?ionys)s% ?e)#alion is, however, des#ribed as the brother o !riadne,
who was the mother, by ?ionys)s, o vario)s vine7#)lt tribes, and has ke(t his name Nnew7
wine sailorN 5rom de)#os and halie)s6% The ?e)#alion myth re#ords a Meso(otamian lood o
the third millenni)m 4.2 b)t also the a)t)mnal 3ew Dear east o 4abylonia, +yria, and
"alestine% This east #elebrated "arna(ishtimNs o)t(o)rin* o sweet new wine to the b)ilders
o the ark, in whi#h 5a##ordin* to the 4abylonian Gil*amesh ,(i#6 he and his amily s)rvived
the ?el)*e sent by the *oddess $shtar% The ark was a moon7shi( and the east was #elebrated
on the new moon nearest to the a)t)mnal eE)ino:, as a means o ind)#in* the winter rains%
$shtar, in the Greek myth, is #alled "yrrhaJthe name o the *oddess7mother o the ")resati
5"hilistines6, a .retan (eo(le who #ame to "alestine byway o .ili#ia abo)t the year 1000
4.2 in Greek, (yrrha means Niery redN, and is an adHe#tive a((lied to wine%
=% Zis)thros was the hero o the +)merian 'lood le*end, re#orded by 4eross)s, and his ark
#ame to rest on Mo)nt !rarat% !ll these arks were b)ilt o a#a#ia7wood, a timber also )sed by
$sis or b)ildin* ;sirisNs death7bar*e%
5% The myth o an an*ry *od who de#ides to ()nish manNs wi#kedness with a del)*e seems to
be a late Greek borrowin* rom the "hoeni#ians, or the 9ews2 b)t the n)mber o dierent
mo)ntains, in Gree#e, Thra#e, and +i#ily, on whi#h ?e)#alion is said to have landed, s)**ests
that an an#ient 'lood myth has been s)(erim(osed on a later le*end o a lood in 3orthern
Gree#e% $n the earliest Greek version o the myth, Themis renews the ra#e o man witho)t
irst obtainin* @e)sNs #onsent2 it is thereore likely that she, not he, was #redited with the
'lood, as in 4abylonia%
6% The transormation o stones into a (eo(le is, (erha(s, another &elladi# borrowin* rom
the ,ast2 +t% 9ohn the 4a(tist reerred to a similar le*end, in a ()n on the &ebrew words
banim and abanim, de#larin* that God #o)ld raise )( #hildren to !braham rom the desert
stones%
>% That a white bit#h, the Moon7*oddess &e#ate, littered a vine7sti#k in the rei*n o
?e)#alionNs son ;resthe)s is (robably the earliest Greek wine myth%
The name ;8olian is said to be derived rom o8oi, Nvine shootsN% ;ne o the wi#ked sons o
-y#aon was also named ;resthe)s, whi#h may a##o)nt or the or#ed #onne#tion whi#h the
mytho*ra(hers have made between the myth o the )mble so)( and the ?e)#alionian 'lood%
8% !m(hi#tyon, the name o another o ?e)#alionNs sons, is a male orm o !m(hi#tyonis, the
*oddess in whose name the amo)s northern #onederation, the !m(hi#tyoni# -ea*)e, had
been o)nded2 a##ordin* to +trabo, .allima#h)s, and the +#holiast on ,)ri(idesNs ;restes,
itwas re*)lari8ed by!#risi)s o !r*os% .ivili8ed Greeks, )nlike the dissol)te Thra#ians,
abstained rom neat wine2 and its tem(erin* with water at the #oneren#e o the member
states, whi#h took (la#e in the vinta*e season at !ntela near Thermo(ylae, will have been a
(re#a)tion a*ainst m)rdero)s dis()tes%
9% ?e)#alionNs son &ellen was the e(onymo)s an#estor o the entire &elleni# ra#e1 his name
shows that he was a royal de()ty or the (riestess o &elle, or &ellen, or &elen, or +elene, the
Moon2 and, a##ordin* to "a)sanias, the irst tribe to be #alled &ellenes #ame rom Thessaly
where &elle was worshi((ed%
10% !ristotle 5Meteorolo*i#a6 says that ?e)#alionNs 'lood took (la#e Nin an#ient Gree#e
5Grae#ia6, namely the distri#t abo)t ?odona and the !#helo)s RiverN% Grae#i means
Nworshi((ers o the .roneN, (res)mably the ,arth7*oddess o ?odona, who a((eared in triad
as the Graeae2 and it has been s)**ested that the !#haeans were or#ed to invade the
"elo(onnese be#a)se )n)s)ally heavy rains had swam(ed their *ra8in* *ro)nds% &elleNs
worshi( seems to have o)sted that o the Graeae%
11% The s#arabae)s beetle was an emblem o immortality in -ower ,*y(t be#a)se it s)rvived
the loodin* o the 3ileJthe "haraoh as ;siris entered his s)n7boat in the orm o a
s#arabae)sJand its sa#ral )se s(read to "alestine, the !e*ean, ,tr)ria, and the 4aleari#
$slands% !ntonin)s -iberalis also mentions the myth o .eramb)s, orTeramb)s, E)otin*
3i#ander%
!tlas !nd "romethe)s
"R;M,T&,/+, the #reator o mankind, whom some in#l)de amon* the seven Titans, was
the son either o the Titan ,)rymedon, or o la(et)s by the nym(h .lymene2 and his brothers
were ,(imethe)s, !tlas, and Menoeti)s%
b% Gi*anti# !tlas, eldest o the brothers, knew all the de(ths o the sea2 he r)led over a
kin*dom with a (re#i(ito)s #oastline, lar*er than !ri#a and !sia ()t to*ether% This land o
!tlantis lay beyond the "illars o &era#les, and a #hain o r)it7bearin* islands se(arated it
rom a arther #ontinent, )n#onne#ted with o)rs% !tlasNs (eo(le #anali8ed and #)ltivated an
enormo)s #entral (lain, ed by water rom the hills whi#h rin*ed it #om(letely, e:#e(t or a
seaward *a(% They also b)ilt (ala#es, baths, ra#e7#o)rses, *reat harbo)r works, had tem(les2
and #arried war not only westwards as ar as the other #ontinent, b)t eastward as ar as ,*y(t
and $taly% The ,*y(tians say that !tlas was the son o "oseidon, whose ive (airs o male
twins all swore alle*ian#e to their brother by the blood o a b)ll sa#rii#ed at the (illar7to(2
and that at irst they were e:tremely virt)o)s, bearin* with ortit)de the b)rden o their *reat
wealth in *old and silver% 4)t one day *reed and #r)elty over#ame them and, with @e)sNs
(ermission, the !thenians deeated them sin*le7handed and destroyed their (ower% !t the
same time, the *ods sent a del)*e whi#h, in one day and one ni*ht, overwhelmed all !tlantis,
so that the harbo)r works and tem(les were b)ried beneath a waste o m)d and the sea
be#ame )nnavi*able%
#% !tlas and Menoeti)s, who es#a(ed, then Hoined .ron)s and the Titans in their )ns)##ess)l
war a*ainst the ;lym(ian *ods% @e)s killed Menoeti)s with a th)nderbolt and sent him down
to Tartar)s1 b)t s(ared !tlas, whom he #ondemned to s)((ort &eaven on his sho)lders or all
eternity%
d% !tlas was the ather o the "leiades, the &yades, and the &es(erides2 and has held )( the
&eavens ever sin#e, e:#e(t on one o##asion when &era#les tem(orarily relieved him o the
task% +ome say that "erse)s (etriied !tlas into Mo)nt !tlas by showin* him the Gor*onNs
head, b)t they or*et that "erse)s was in #ommon o(inion, eE)ivalent to &era#les%
e% "romethe)s, bein* wiser than !tlas, oresaw the iss)e o the rebellion a*ainst .ron)s, and
thereore (reerred to i*ht on @e)sNs side, (ers)adin* ,(imethe)s to do the same% &e was,
indeed, the wisest o his ra#e, and !thene, at whose birth rom @e)sNs head he had assisted,
ta)*ht him ar#hite#t)re, astronomy, mathemati#s, navi*ation, medi#ine, metall)r*y, and other
)se)l arts, whi#h he (assed on to mankind% 4)t @e)s, who had de#ided to e:tir(ate the whole
ra#e o man, and s(ared them only at "romethe)sNs )r*ent (lea, *rew an*ry at their in#reasin*
(owers and talents%
% ;ne day, when a dis()te took (la#e at +i#yon, as to whi#h (ortions o a sa#rii#ial b)ll
sho)ld be oered to the *ods, and whi#h sho)ld be reserved or men, "romethe)s was invited
to a#t as arbiter% &e thereore rayed and Hointed a b)ll, and sewed its hide to orm two o(en7
mo)thed ba*s, illin* these with what he had #)t )(% ;ne ba* #ontained all the lesh, b)t this
he #on#ealed beneath the stoma#h, whi#h is the least tem(tin* (art o any animal2 and the
other #ontained the bones, hidden beneath a ri#h layer o at% When he oered @e)s the
#hoi#e o either, @e)s, easily de#eived, #hose the ba* #ontainin* the bones and at 5whi#h are
still the divine (ortion62 b)t ()nished "romethe)s, who was la)*hin* at him behind his ba#k,
by withholdin* ire rom mankind% N-et them eat theirlesh rawPN he #ried%
*% "romethe)s at on#e went to !thene, with a (lea or a ba#kstairs admittan#e to ;lym()s,
and this she *ranted% ;n his arrival, he li*hted a tor#h at the iery #hariot o the +)n and
(resently broke rom it a ra*ment o *lowin* #har#oal, whi#h he thr)st into the (ithy hollow
o a *iant ennel7stalk% Then, e:tin*)ishin* his tor#h, he stole away )ndis#overed, and *ave
ire to mankind%
h% @e)s swore reven*e% &e ordered &e(haest)s to make a #lay woman, and the o)r Winds to
breathe lie into her, and all the *oddesses o ;lym()s to adorn her% This woman, "andora,
the most bea)ti)l ever #reated, @e)s sent as a *it to ,(imethe)s, )nder &ermesAs es#ort% 4)t
,(imethe)s, havin* been warned by his brother to a##e(t no *it rom @e)s, res(e#t)lly
e:#)sed himsel% 3ow more *rieved even than beore, @e)s had "romethe)s #hained naked to
a (illar in the .a)#asian mo)ntains, where a *reedy v)lt)re tore at his liver all day, year in,
year o)t2 and there was no end to the (ain, be#a)se every ni*ht 5d)rin* whi#h "romethe)s
was e:(osed to #r)el rost and #old6 his liver *rew whole a*ain%
i% 4)t @e)s, loath to #oness that he had been vindi#tive, e:#)sed his sava*ery by #ir#)latin*
a alsehood1 !thene, he said, had invited "romethe)s to ;lym()s or a se#ret love aair%
H% ,(imethe)s, alarmed by his brotherAs ate, hastened to marry "andora, whom @e)s had
made as oolish, mis#hievo)s, and idle as she was bea)ti)lJ the irst o a lon* line o s)#h
women% "resently she o(ened a Har, whi#h "romethe)s had warned ,(imethe)s to kee(
#losed, and in whi#h he had been at (ains to im(rison all the +(ites that mi*ht (la*)e
mankind1 s)#h as ;ld !*e, -abo)r, +i#kness, $nsanity, Ci#e, and "assion% ;)t these lew in a
#lo)d, st)n* ,(imethe)s and "andora in every (art o their bodies, and then atta#ked the ra#e
o mortals% ?el)sive &o(e, however, whom "romethe)s had also sh)t in the Har, dis#o)ra*ed
them by her lies rom a *eneral s)i#ide%
1% -ater mytho*ra(hers )nderstood !tlas as a sim(le (ersonii#ation o Mo)nt !tlas, in
3orth7western !ri#a, whose (eak seemed to hold )( the &eavens2 b)t, or &omer, the
#ol)mns on whi#h he s)((orted the irmament stood ar o)t in the !tlanti# ;#ean, aterwards
named in his hono)r by &erodotto% &e be*an, (erha(s, as the Titan o the +e#ond day o the
Week, who se(arated the waters o the irmament rom the ware o the earth% Most rain
#omes to Gree#e rom the !tlanti#, es(e#ially the helia#al risin* o !tlasAs star7da)*hters, the
&yades2 whi#h (art e:(lains why his home was in the west% &era#les took the &eavens rom
his sho)lders in two senses%
0% The ,*y(tian le*end o !tlantisJalso #)rrent in olk7tale alon* the !tlanti# seaboard rom
Gibraltar to the &ebrides, and amon* the Dor)b in West !ri#aJis not to be dismissed as
()re an#y, and seems to date rom the third millenni)m 4.% 4)t "latoAs version, whi#h he
#laims that +olon learned rom his riends the -ibyan (riests o +ais in the ?elta, he
a((arently been *rated on a later tradition1 how the Minoan .retans who had e:tended their
inl)en#e to ,*y(t and $taly, were deeated a &elleni# #onedera#y with !thens at its head2
and whom, (erha(s as the res)lt o a s)bmarine earthE)ake, the enormo)s harbo)r works
b)ilt by the Geti) 5Isea7(eo(leA, meanin* the .retans and their allies6 on the island o "haros
and, s)bsided )nder seven athoms o waterJwhere they have lately been redis#overed by
dive1 These works #onsisted o an o)ter and an inner basin, to*ether #overin* some two
h)ndred and% ity a#res 5Gaston 9ondet1 -es "orts s)bmer*es lAan#ienne [le de "haros6% +)#h
an identii#ation o !tlantis with "haros wo)ld a##o)nt or !tlasAs bein* sometimes des#ribed
as a son o $a(et)sJthe 9a(het o Genesis, whom the &ebrews #alled 3oahAs son and made
the an#estor o the +ea7(eo(leAs #onedera#yJand sometimes as a son o "oseidon and,
tho)*h in Greek myth $a(et)s a((ears as ?e)#alionAs *randather, this need mean no more
than that he was the e(onymo)s an#estor o the .anaanite tribe whi#h bro)*ht the
Meso(otamian 'lood le*end rather than the !tlantian, to Gree#e% +everal details in "latoAs
a##o)nt s)#h as the (illar sa#rii#e o b)lls and the hot7and7#old water systems in !tlasAs
(ala#e, make it #ertain that the .retans are bein* des#ribed, and no other nation% -ike !tlas,
the .retans Iknew all the de(ths o the seaA% !##ordin* to ?iodor)s, when most o the
inhabitants o Gree#e, were destroyed by the *reat lood, the !thenians or*ot that they have
o)nded +ais in ,*y(t% This seems to be a m)ddled way o sayin* that ater the s)bmer*en#e
o the "haros harbo)r7works the !thenians or*ot their reli*io)s ties with the #ity o +ais,
where the same -ibyan *oddess 3eith, or !thene, or Tanit, was worshi((ed%
<% "latoAs story is #on)sed by his a##o)nt o the vast n)mbers o ele(hants in !tlantis, whi#h
may reer to the heavy im(ort o Gree#e by way o "haros, b)t as (erha(s been borrowed
rom the elder le*end% The whereabo)ts o the olk7tale !tlantis has been the s)bHe#t o
n)mero)s theories, tho)*h "latoAs inl)en#e has nat)rally #on#entrated (o()lar attention on
the !tlanti# ;#ean% /ntil re#ently, the !tlanti# Rid*e 5stret#hin* rom $#eland to the !8ores
and then bendin* so)theastward to !s#ension $sland and Tristan da .)nha6 was s)((osed to
be its remains2 b)t o#eano*ra(hi# s)rveys show that a(art rom these (eaks the entire rid*e
has been )nder water or at least si:ty million years% ;nly one lar*e inhabited island in the
!tlanti# is known to have disa((eared1 the (latea) now #alled the ?o**er 4ank% 4)t the
bones and im(lements ha)led )( in #od7nets show that this disaster o##)rred in "aleolithi#
times2 and it is ar less likely that the news o its disa((earan#e rea#hed ,)ro(e rom
s)rvivors who drited a#ross the intervenin* waste o waters than that the memory o a
dierent #atastro(he was bro)*ht to the !tlanti# seaboard by the hi*hly #ivili8ed 3eolithi#
immi*rants rom -ibya, )s)ally known as the (assa*e7*rave b)ilders%
=% These were armers and arrived in Great 4ritain towards the #lose o the third millenni)m
4.2 b)t no e:(lanation has been oered or their mass movement westwards by way o T)nis
and Moro##o to +o)thern +(ain and then northward to "ort)*al and beyond% !##ordin* to the
Welsh !tlantis le*end o the lost .antrevs o ?yed 5im(ossibly lo#ated in .ardi*an 4ay6, a
heavy sea broke down the sea7walls and destroyed si:teen #ities% The $rish &y 4rasil2 the
4reton .ity o Ds2 the .ornish -and o -yonesse, 5im(ossibly lo#ated between .ornwall and
the +i#ily $sles62 the 'ren#h \le Certe2 the "ort)*)ese $lha Cerde1 all are variants o this
le*end% 4)t i what the ,*y(tian (riests really told +olon was that the disaster took (la#e in
the 'ar West, and that the s)rvivors moved Ibeyond the "illars o &era#lesA, !tlantis #an be
easily identiied%
5% $t is the #o)ntry o the !tlantians, mentioned by ?iodor)s +i#)l)s as a most #ivili8ed
(eo(le livin* to the westward o -ake Tritonis, rom whom the -ibyan !ma8ons, meanin*
the matriar#hal tribes later des#ribed by &erodot)s, sei8ed their #ity o .erne% ?iodor)sAs
le*end #annot be ar#haeolo*i#ally dated, b)t he makes it (re#ede a -ibyan invasion o the
!e*ean $slands and Thra#e, an event whi#h #annot have taken (la#e later than the third
millenni)m 4.% $, then, !tlantis was Western -ibya, the loods whi#h #a)sed it to disa((ear
may have been d)e either to a (henomenal rainall s)#h as #a)sed the amo)s Meso(otamian
and ;*y*ian 'loods, or to a hi*h tide with a stron* north7westerly *ale, s)#h as washed away
a lar*e (art o the 3etherlands in the twelth and thirteenth #ent)ries and ormed the @)ider
@ee, or to a s)bsiden#e o the #oastal re*ion% !tlantis may, in a#t, have been swam(ed at the
ormation o -ake Tritonis, whi#h a((arently on#e #overed several tho)sand sE)are miles o
the -ibyan lowlands2 and (erha(s e:tended northward into the Western G)l o +irte, #alled
by the *eo*ra(her +#yla: Ithe G)l o TritonisA, where the dan*ero)s rees s)**est a #hain o
islands o whi#h only 9erba and the Gerkennahs s)rvive%
6% The island let in the #entre o the -ake mentioned by ?iodor)s was (erha(s the .haamba
4o) Ro)ba in the +ahara% ?iodor)s seems to be reerrin* to s)#h a #atastro(he when he
writes in his a##o)nt o the !ma8ons and !tlantians1 I!nd it is said that, as a res)lt o
earthE)akes, the (arts o -ibya towards the o#ean en*)led -ake Tritonis, makin* it
disa((ear%A +in#e -ake Tritonis still e:isted in his day, what he had (robably been told was
that as a res)lt o earthE)akes in the Western Mediterranean the sea en*)led (art o -ibya
and ormed -ake Tritonis% The @)ider @ee and the .o(ai# -ake have now both been
re#laimed2 and -ake Tritonis, whi#h, a##ordin* to +#yla:, still #overed nine h)ndred sE)are
miles in .lassi#al times, has shr)nk to the salt7marshes o .hott Mel*hir and .hott el 9erid% $
this was !tlantis, some o the dis(ossessed a*ri#)lt)rists were driven west to Moro##o, others
so)th a#ross the +ahara, others east to ,*y(t and beyond, takin* their story with them2 a ew
remained by the lakeside% "latoAs ele(hants may well have been o)nd in this territory, tho)*h
the mo)ntaino)s #oastline o !tlantis belon*s to .rete, o whi#h the sea7hatin* ,*y(tians
knew only by hearsay%
>% The ive (airs o "oseidonAs twin sons who took the oath o alle*ian#e to !tlas will have
been re(resentatives at "haros o IGeti)A kin*doms allied to
the .retans% $n the My#enaean !*e do)ble7soverei*nty was the r)le1 +(arta with .astor and
"olyde)#es, Messene with $das and -yn#e)s, !r*os with "roet)s and !#risi)s, Tiryns with
&era#les and $(hi#les, Thebes with ,teo#les and "olynei#es% Greed and #r)elty will have
been dis(layed by the +ons o "oseidon only ater the all o .noss)s, when #ommer#ial
inte*rity de#lined and the mer#hant t)rned (irate%
8% "romethe)sAs name Ioretho)*htA, may ori*inate in a Greek mis)nderstandin* o the
+anskrit word (ramantha, the s wastika, or ire7drill, whi#h he had s)((osedly invented, sin#e
@e)s "romethe)s at Th)rii was shown holdin* a ire7drill% "romethe)s, the $ndo7,)ro(ean
olk7hero, be#ame #on)sed with the .arian hero "alamedes, the inventor or distrib)tor o all
#ivili8ed arts 5)nder the *oddessAs ins(iration62 and with the 4abylonian *od ,a, who #laimed
to have #reated a s(lendid man rom the blood o Gin*) 5a sort o .ron)s6, while the Mother7
*oddess !r)r) #reated an inerior man rom #lay% The brothers "ramanth) and Manth), who
o##)r in the 4ha*avata ")rana, a +anskrit e(i#, may be (rototy(es o "romethe)s and
,(imethe)s 5Iatertho)*htA62 yet &esiodAs a##o)nt o "romethe)s, ,(imethe)s, and "andora
is not *en)ine myth, b)t an antieminist able, (robably o his own invention, tho)*h based
on the story o ?emo(hon and "hyllis% "andora 5Iall7*ivin*A6 was the ,arth7*oddess Rhea,
worshi((ed )nder that title at !thens and elsewhere 5!risto(hanes1 4irds2 "hilostrat)s6,
whom the (essimisti# &esiod blames or manAs mortality and all the ills whi#h beset lie, as
well as or the rivolo)s and )nseemly behavio)r o wives% &is story o the division o the
b)ll is eE)ally )nmythi#al1 a #omi# ane#dote, invented to a##o)nt or "romethe)sAs
()nishment, and or the anomaly o (resentin* the *ods only with the thi*h7bones and at #)t
rom the sa#rii#ial beast% $n Genesis the san#tity o the thi*h7bones is e:(lained by 9a#obAs
lameness whi#h an an*el inli#ted on him d)rin* a wrestlin* mat#h% "andoraAs Har 5not bo:6
ori*inally #ontained win*ed so)ls%
9% Greek islanders still #arry ire rom one (la#e to another in the (ith o *iant ennel, and
"romethe)sAs en#hainment on Mo)nt .a)#as)s may be a le*end (i#ked )( by the &ellenes as
they mi*rated to Gree#e rom the .as(ian +ea1 o a rost7*iant, re#)mbent on the snow o the
hi*h (eaks, and attended by a lo#k o v)lt)res%
10% The !thenians were at (ains to deny that their *oddess took "romethe)s as her lover,
whi#h s)**ests that he had been lo#ally identiied with &e(haest)s, another ire7*od and
inventor, o whom the same story was told be#a)se he shared a tem(le with !thene on the
!#ro(olis%
11% Menoeti)s 5Ir)ined stren*thA6 is a sa#red kin* o the oak #)lt2 the name reers (erha(s to
his rit)al maimin*%
10% While the ri*ht7handed s wastika is a symbol o the s)n, the let7handed is a symbol o the
moon% !mon* the !kan o West !ri#a, a (eo(le o -ibyo74erber an#estry, it re(resents the
Tri(le7*oddess 3*ame%
,os
!T the #lose o every ni*ht, rosy7in*ered, saron7robed ,os, a da)*hter o the Titans
&y(erion and Theia, rises rom her #o)#h in the east, mo)nts her #hariot drawn by the horses
-am()s and "haBthon, and rides to ;lym()s, where she anno)n#es the a((roa#h o her
brother &eli)s% When &eli)s a((ears, she be#omes &emera, and a##om(anies him on his
travels )ntil, as &es(era, she anno)n#es their sae arrival on the western shores o ;#ean%
b% !(hrodite was on#e ve:ed to ind !res in ,osAs bed, and #)rsed her with a #onstant
lon*in* or yo)n* mortals, whom there)(on she se#retly and shame7a#edly be*an to sed)#e,
one ater the other% 'irst, ;rion2 ne:t, .e(hal)s2 then .leit)s, a *randson o Melam()s2
tho)*h she was married to !strae)s, who #ame o Titan sto#k, and to whom she bore not only
the 3orth, West, and +o)th Winds, b)t also "hos(hor)s and, some say, all the other stars o
&eaven%
#% -astly, ,os #arried o Ganymedes and Tithon)s, son o Tros or $l)s% When @e)s robbed
her o Ganymedes she be**ed him to *rant Tithon)s immortality, and to this he assented% 4)t
she or*ot to ask also or (er(et)al yo)th, a *it won by +elene or ,ndymion2 and Tithon)s
be#ame daily older, *reyer, and more shr)nken, his voi#e *rew shrill, and, when ,os tired o
n)rsin* him, she lo#ked him in her bedroom, where he t)rned into a #i#ada%
1% The ?awn7maiden was a &elleni# an#y, *r)d*in*ly a##e(ted by the mytho*ra(hers as a
Titaness o the se#ond *eneration2 her two7horse #hariot and her anno)n#ement o the +)nAs
advent are alle*ories% +he evolved rom the bloody7in*ered $ndian Mother7*oddess /shas%
0% ,osAs #onstant love aairs with yo)n* mortals are also alle*ori#1 dawn brin*s midni*ht
lovers a renewal o eroti# (assion, and is the most )s)al time or men to be #arried o by
ever% The alle*ory o her )nion with !strae)s is a sim(le one1 the stars mer*e with dawn in
the east !strae)s, the dawn wind, rises as i it were their emanation% Then, be#a)se wind was
held to be a ertili8in* a*ent, ,os be#ame the mother !strae)s o the Mornin* +tar let alone
in the sky% 5!strae)s was another name or .e(hal)s, also said to have athered the Mornin*
+tar on her%6 $t ollowed (hiloso(hi#ally that, sin#e the ,venin* +tar is identi#al with the
Mornin* +tar, and sin#e ,venin* is ?awnAs last a((earan#e, all the stars m)st be born rom
,os, and so m)st every wind b)t the dawn wind% This alle*ory, however, #ontradi#ted the
myth o 4oreasAs #reation by the Moon7*oddess ,)rynome%
<% $n Greek art, ,os and &emera are indistin*)ishable #hara#ters% Tithon)s has been taken by
the alle*orist to mean Ia *rant o a stret#hin* o)tA 5rom teino and one6, a reeren#e to the
stret#hin*7o)t o his lie, ,osAs (lea2 b)t it is likely, rather, to have been a mas#)line orm
oleos own name, TitonBJrom tito, IdayA and onB, IE)eenAJand to have meant I(artner o
the M)een o ?ayA% .i#adas are a#tive as soon as the day warms )(, and the *olden #i#ada
was an emblem o !(ollo as the +)n7*od amon* the Greek #olonists o !sia Minor%
;rion
;R$;3, a h)nter o 4oeotian &yria, and the handsomest man alive, was the son o "oseidon
and ,)ryale% .omin* one day to &yria in .hios, he ell in love with Mero(e, da)*hter o
?ionys)sAs son ;eno(ion% ;eno(ion had (romised Mero(e to ;rion in marria*e, i he wo)ld
ree the island rom the dan*ero)s wild beasts that inested it2 and this he set himsel to do,
brin*in* the (elts to Mero(e every evenin*% 4)t when the task was at last a##om(lished, and
he #laimed her as his wie, ;eno(ion bro)*ht him r)mo)rs o lions, bears, and wolves still
l)rkin* in the hills, and re)sed to *ive her )(, the a#t bein* that he was in love with her
himsel%
b% ;ne ni*ht ;rion, in dis*)st, drank a skin)l o ;eno(ionAs wine, whi#h so inlamed him
that he broke into Mero(eAs bedroom, and or#ed her to lie with him% When dawn #ame,
;eno(ion invoked his ather, ?ionys)s, who sent satyrs to (ly ;rion with still more wine,
)ntil he ell ast aslee(2 where)(on
;eno(ion ()t o)t both his eyes and l)n* him on the seashore% !n ora#le anno)n#ed that the
blind man wo)ld re*ain his si*ht, i he travelled to the east and t)rned his eye7so#kets
towards &eli)s at the (oint where he irst rises rom ;#ean% ;rion at on#e rowed o)t to sea in
a small boat and, ollowin* the so)nd o a .y#lo(sAs hammer, rea#hed -emnos% There he
entered the smithy o &e(haest)s, snat#hed )( an a((renti#e named .edalion, and #arried
him o on his sho)lders as a *)ide% .edalion led ;rion over land and sea, )ntil he #ame at
last to the arthest ;#ean, where ,os ell in love with him, and her brother &eli)s d)ly
restored his si*ht%
#% !ter visitin* ?elos in ,osAs #om(any, ;rion ret)rned to aven*e himsel on ;eno(ion,
whom he #o)ld not, however, ind anywhere in .hios, be#a)se he was hidin* in an
)nder*ro)nd #hamber made or him by &e(haest)s% +ailin* on to .rete, where he tho)*ht
that ;eno(ion mi*ht have led or (rote#tion to his *randather Minos, ;rion met !rtemis,
who shared his love o the #hase% +he soon (ers)aded him to or*et his ven*ean#e and,
instead, #ome h)ntin* with her%
d% 3ow, !(ollo was aware that ;rion had not re)sed ,osAs invitation to her #o)#h in the holy
island o ?elosJ?awn still daily bl)shes to remember this indis#retionJand, )rther,
boasted that he rid the whole earth o wild beasts and monsters% 'earin*, thereore, his sister
!rtemis mi*ht (rove as s)s#e(tible as ,os, !(ollo went Mother ,arth and, mis#hievo)sly
re(eatin* ;rionAs boast, arran*ed or a monstro)s s#or(ion to ()rs)e him% ;rion atta#ked the
s#or(ion irst with arrows, then with his sword, b)t, indin* that its armo)r is (roo a*ainst
any mortal wea(on, dived into the sea and swam in the dire#tion o ?elos where, he ho(ed,
,os wo)ld (rote#t him% !(ollo then #alled to !rtemis1 I?o yo) see that bla#k obHe#t bobbin*
abo)t in the sea, ar away, #lose to ;rty*iaK $t is the head o a villain, #alled .andaon, who
has H)st sed)#ed ;(is, one o yo)r &y(erborean (riestesses% $ #hallen*e yo) to transi: it with
an arrowPA 3ow, .adaon was ;rionAs 4oeotian ni#kname, tho)*h !rtemis did not know this%
+he took #are)l aim, let ly, and, swimmin* o)t to retrieve the E)arry, o)nd that she had
shot ;rion thro)*h the head% $n *reat *rie she im(lored !(olloAs son !s#le(i)s to revive
him, and he #onsented b)t was destroyed by @e)sAs th)nderbolt beore he #o)ld a##om(lish
his task% !rtemis then set ;rionAs ima*e amon* the stars, eternally ()rs)ed by the +#or(ion2
his *host had already des#ended to !s(hodel 'ields%
e% +ome, however, say that the s#or(ion st)n* ;rion to death, a that !rtemis was ve:ed with
him or havin* amoro)sly #hased the vir*in #om(anions, the seven "leiades, da)*hters o
!tlas and "leione, they led a#ross the meadows o 4oeotia, )ntil the *ods, havin* #han*ed
them into doves, set their ima*es amon* the stars% 4)t this is a mistaken a##o)nt, sin#e the
"leiades were not vir*ins1 three o the had lain with @e)s, two with "oseidon, one with !res,
and the seventh married +isy(h)s o .orinth, and ailed to be in#l)ded in the #onstellation,
be#a)se +isy(h)s was a mere mortal%
% ;thers tell the ollowin* stran*e story o ;rionAs birth, to a##o)nt or his name 5whi#h is
sometimes written /rion6 and or the tradition that he was a son o Mother ,arth% &yri#)s, a
(oor bee7kee(er a armer, had vowed to have no #hildren, and he *rew old and im(otent%
When, one day, @e)s and &ermes visited him in dis*)ise, and were hos(itably entertained,
they enE)ired what *it he most desired% +i*hin* dee(ly, &yri#)s re(lied that what he most
wanted, namely to have a son, was now im(ossible% The *ods, however, instr)#ted him to
sa#rii#e a b)ll, make water on its hide, and then b)ry it in his wit *rave% &e did so and, nine
months later, a #hild was born to him, who he named /rionJIhe who makes waterAJand,
indeed, both the risin* and settin* o the #onstellation ;rion brin* rain%
1% ;rionAs story #onsists o three or o)r )nrelated myths str)n* to*ether% The irst,
#on)sedly told, is that o ;eno(ion% This #on#erns a sa#red kin*As )nwillin*ness to resi*n his
throne, at the #lose o his term, even when the new #andidate or kin*shi( had been thro)*h
his rit)al #ombats and married the E)een with the )s)al eastin*% 4)t the new kin* is only an
interre: who, ater rei*nin* or one day, is d)ly m)rdered and devo)red by Maenads2 the old
kin*, who has been shammin* dead in a tomb, then remarries the E)een and #ontin)es his
rei*n%
0% The irrelevant detail o the .y#lo(sAs hammer e:(lains ;rionAs blindness1 a mytholo*i#al
(i#t)re o ;dysse)s searin* the dr)nken .y#lo(sAs eye has a((arently been #ombined with a
&elleni# alle*ory1 how the +)n Titan is blinded every evenin* by his enemies, b)t restored to
si*ht by the ollowin* ?awn% ;rion 5Ithe dweller on the mo)ntainA6 and &y(erion 5Ithe
dweller on hi*hA6 are, in a#t, identiied here% ;rionAs boast that he wo)ld e:terminate the
wild beasts not only reers to his rit)al #ombats, b)t is a able o the risin* +)n, at whose
a((earan#e all wild beasts retire to their dens%
<% "l)tar#hAs a##o)nt o the s#or(ion sent by the *od +et to kill the .hild &or)s, son o $sis
and ;siris, in the hottest (art o the s)mmer, e:(lains ;rionAs death by s#or(ion7bite and
!rtemisAs a((eal to !s#le(i)s 5"l)tar#h1 ;n $sis and ;siris6% &or)s died, b)t Ra, the +)n7*od,
revived him, and later he aven*ed his ather ;sirisAs death2 in the ori*inal myth ;rion, too,
will have been revived% ;rion is also, in (art, Gil*amesh, the 4abylonian &era#les, whom
+#or(ion7men atta#k in the Tenth Tablet o the .alendar e(i#Ja myth whi#h #on#erned the
mortal wo)ndin* o the sa#red kin* as the +)n rose in +#or(io% ,:a#tly at what season the
wo)ndin* took (la#e de(ends on the antiE)ity o the myth2 when the @odia# ori*inated,
+#or(io was (robably an !)*)st si*n, b)t in .lassi#al times the (re#ession o the eE)ino:es
had advan#ed it to ;#tober%
=% !nother version o ;rionAs death is re#orded on one o the &ittite Ras +hamra tablets%
!nat, or !natha, the 4attle7*oddess, ell in love with a handsome h)nter named !Ehat, and
when he ve:atio)sly re)sed to *ive her his bow, asked the m)rdero)s Dat(an to steal it rom
him% To her *reat *rie the #l)msy Dat(an not only killed !Ehat, b)t dro((ed the bow into the
sea% The astronomi#al meanin* o this myth is that ;rion and the 4owJa (art o the
#onstellation, whi#h the Greeks #alled IThe &o)ndAJsink below the so)thern hori8on or
two whole months every s(rin*% $n Gree#e this story seems to have been ada(ted to a le*end
o how the or*iasti# (riestesses o !rtemisJ;(is bein* a rile o !rtemis herselJkilled an
amoro)s visitor to their islet o ;rty*ia% !nd in ,*y(t sin#e the ret)rn o the #onstellation
;rion introd)#es the s)mmer heat, it was #on)sin*ly identiied with &or)sAs enemy +et, the
two bri*ht star above him bein* his assAs ears%
5% The myth o ;rionAs birth is (erha(s more than a #omi# tale modelled on that o "hilemon
and 4a)#is 5;vid1 Metamor(hoses6, and told to a##o)nt or the irst syllable o his an#ient
name /rionJas tho)*h it were derived rom o)rein, Ito )rinateA, not rom o)ros, the
&omeri# orm o oros, Imo)ntainA% Det a (rimitive !ri#an rain7(rod)#in* #harm, whi#h
#onsists in makin* water on a b)llAs hide may have been known to the Greeks2 and that ;rion
was a son o "oseidon, the water7*od, is a #lear all)sion to his rain7makin* (owers%
6% The name "leiades, rom the root (lei, Ito sailA, reers to their risin* at the season when
*ood weather or sailin* a((roa#hes% 4)t "indar orm "eleiades, Ilo#k o dovesA, was
(erha(s the ori*inal orm, sin#e the &yades are (i*lets% $t a((ears that a seventh star in the
*ro)( be#ame e:tin#t towards the end o the se#ond millenni)m2 sin#e &y*in)s 5'ab)la6 says
that ,le#tra disa((eared in *rie or the destr)#tion o the &o)se o ?ardan)s% ;rionAs vain
()rs)it o the "leiades, whi#h o##)r in the 4)ll #onstellation, reers to their risin* above the
hori8on H)st beore the rea((earan#e o ;rion%
&eli)s
&,-$/+, whom the #ow7eyed ,)ry(haessa, or Theia, bore to the Titan &y(erion, is a brother
o +elene and ,os% Ro)sed by the #rowin* o the #o#k,
whi#h is sa#red to him, and heralded by ,os, he drives by o)r7horse #hariot daily a#ross the
&eavens rom a ma*nii#ent (ala#e in the ar east, near .ol#his, to an eE)ally ma*nii#ent
ar7western (ala#e, where his )nharnessed horses (ast)re in the $slands o the 4lessed% &e
sails home alon* the ;#ean stream, whi#h lows aro)nd the world, embarkin* his #hariot and
team on a *olden erry7boat made or him by &e(haest)s, and slee(s all ni*ht in a
#omortable #abin%
b% &eli)s #an see everythin* that ha((ens on earth, b)t is not (arti#)larly observantJon#e he
even ailed to noti#e the robbery o his sa#red #attle by ;dysse)sAs #om(anions% &e has
several herds o s)#h #attle, ea#h #onsistin* o three h)ndred and ity head% Those in +i#ily
are tended by his da)*hters "haet)sa and -am(etia, b)t he kee(s his inest herd in the
+(anish island o ,rytheia% Rhodes is his reehold% $t ha((ened that, when @e)s was allottin*
islands and #ities to the vario)s *ods, he or*ot to in#l)de &eli)s amon* these, and I!lasPA he
said, Inow $ shall have to be*in all over a*ain%A
I3o, +ire,A re(lied &eli)s (olitely, Itoday $ noti#ed si*ns o a new island emer*in* rom the
sea, to the so)th o !sia Minor% $ shall be well #ontent with that%A
#% @e)s #alled the 'ate -a#hesis to witness that any s)#h new island sho)ld belon* to &eli)s2
and, when Rhodes had risen well above the waves, &eli)s #laimed it and be*ot seven sons
and a da)*hter there on the 3ym(h Rhode% +ome say that Rhodes had e:isted beore this
time, and was re7emer*in* rom the waves ater havin* been overwhelmed by the *reat lood
whi#h @e)s sent% The Tel#hines were its abori*inal inhabitants and "oseidon ell in love with
one o them, the nym(h &alia, on whom he be*ot Rhode and si: sons2 whi#h si: sons
ins)lted !(hrodite in her (assa*e rom .ythera to "a(hos, and were str)#k mad by her2 they
ravished their mother and #ommitted other o)tra*es so o)l that "oseidon sank them
)nder*ro)nd, and they be#ame the ,astern ?emons% 4)t &alia threw hersel into the sea and
was deiied as -e)#otheaJtho)*h the same story is told o $no, mother o .orinthian
Meli#ertes% The Tel#hines, oreseein* the lood, sailed away in all dire#tions, es(e#ially to
-y#ia, and abandoned their #laims on Rhodes% Rhode was th)s let the sole heiress, and her
seven sons by &eli)s r)led in the island ater its re7emer*en#e% They be#ame amo)s
astronomers, and had one sister named ,le#tryo, who died a vir*in and is now worshi((ed as
a demi7*oddess% ;ne o them, by name !#tis, was banished or ratri#ide, and led to ,*y(t,
where he o)nded the #ity o &elio(olis, and ist ta)*ht the ,*y(tians astrolo*y, ins(ired by
his ather &eli)s% The Rhodians have now b)ilt the .oloss)s, seventy #)bits hi*h, in his
hono)r% @e)s also added to &eli)sAs dominions the new island o +i#ily, whi#h had been a
missile l)n* in the battle with the Gi*ants%
d% ;ne mornin* &eli)s yielded to his son "haBthon who had been #onstantly (la*)in* him or
(ermission to drive the s)n7#hariot% "haBthon wished to show his sisters "rote and .lymene
what a ree ellow he was1 and his ond mother Rhode 5whose name is )n#ertain be#a)se she
had been #alled by both her da)*htersA names and by that o Rhode6 en#o)ra*ed him% 4)t, not
bein* stron* eno)*h to #he#k the #areer o the white horses, whi#h his sisters had yoked or
him, "haBthon drove them irst so hi*h above the earth that everyone shivered, and then so
near the earth that he s#or#hed the ields% @e)s, in a it o ra*e, killed him with a th)nderbolt,
and he ell into the river "o% &is *rievin* sisters were #han*ed into (o(lar7trees on its banks,
whi#h wee( amber tears2 or, some say, into alder7trees%
1% The +)nAs s)bordination to the Moon, )ntil !(ollo )s)r(ed &eli)sAs (la#e and made an
intelle#t)al deity o him, is a remarkable eat)re o early Greek myth% &eli)s was not even an
;lym(ian, b)t a mere TitanAs son2 and, altho)*h @e)s later borrowed #ertain solar
#hara#teristi#s rom the &ittite and .orinthian *od Tes)( and other oriental s)n7*ods, these
were )nim(ortant #om(ared with his #ommand o th)nder and li*htnin*% The n)mber o
#attle in &eli)sAs herdsJthe ;dyssey makes him &y(erionJis a reminder o his t)tela*e to
the Great Goddess1 bein* the n)mber o days #overed by twelve #om(lete l)nations, as in the
3)man year 5.ensorin)s6, less the ive days sa#red to ;siris, $sis, +et, &or)s, and 3e(hthys%
$t is also a m)lti(le o the Moon7n)mbers ity and seven% &eli)sAs so7#alled da)*hters are, in
a#t, Moon7(riestessesJ#attle bein* l)nar rather than solar animals in early ,)ro(ean myth2
and &eli)sAs mother, the #ow7eyed ,)ry(haessa, is the Moon7*oddess hersel% The alle*ory
o a s)n7#hariot #o)rsin* a#ross the sky is &elleni# in #hara#ter2 b)t 3ilsson in his "rimitive
Time Re#konin* 519006 has shown that the an#estral #lan #)lts even o .lassi#al Gree#e were
re*)lated by the moon alone, as was the a*ri#)lt)ral e#onomy o &esiodAs 4oeotia% ! *old
rin* rom Tiryns and another rom the !#ro(olis at My#enae (rove that the *oddess
#ontrolled both the moon and the s)n, whi#h are (la#ed above her head%
0% $n the story o "haBthon, whi#h is another name or &eli)s himsel 5&omer1 $liad and
;dyssey6, an instr)#tive able has been *rated on the #hariot alle*ory, the moral bein* that
athers sho)ld not s(oil their sons by listenin* to emale advi#e% This able, however, is not
E)ite so sim(le as it seems1 it has a mythi# im(ortan#e in its reeren#e to the ann)al sa#rii#e
o a royal (rin#e, on the one day re#koned as belon*in* to the terrestrial, b)t not to the
sidereal year, namely that whi#h ollowed the shortest day% The sa#red kin* (retended to die
at s)nset2 the boy interre: was at on#e invested with his titles, di*nities, and sa#red
im(lements, married to the E)een, and killed twenty7o)r ho)rs later1 in Thra#e, torn to (ie#es
by women dis*)ised as horses, b)t at .orinth, and elsewhere, dra**ed at the tail o a s)n7
#hariot drawn by maddened horses, )ntil he was #r)shed to death% There)(on the old kin*
rea((eared rom the tomb where he had been hidin*, as the boyAs s)##essor% The myths o
Gla)#)s, "elo(s, and &i((olyt)s 5Istam(ede o horsesA6, reer to this #)stom, whi#h seems to
have been taken to 4abylon by the &ittites%
<% 4la#k (o(lars were sa#red to &e#ate, b)t the white *ave (romise o res)rre#tion2 th)s the
transormation o "haBthonAs sisters into (o(lars (oints to a se()l#hral island where a #olle*e
o (riestesses oi#iated at the ora#le o a tribal kin*% That they were also said to have been
t)rned into alders s)((orts this view1 sin#e alders rin*ed .ir#eAs !eaea 5Iwailin*A6, a
se()l#hral island lyin* at the head o the !driati#, not ar rom the mo)th o the "o 5&omer1
;dyssey6% !lders were sa#red to "horone)s, the ora#)lar hero and inventor o ire% The "o
valley was the so)thern termin)s o the 4ron8e !*e ro)te down whi#h amber, sa#red to the
+)n, travelled to the Mediterranean rom the 4alti#%
=% Rhodes was the (ro(erty o the Moon7*oddess ?anaBJ#alled .ameira, $alysa, and -inda
J)ntil she was e:tr)ded by the &ittite +)n7*od Tes)(, worshi((ed as a b)ll% ?anaB may be
identiied with &alia 5Io the seaA6, -e)#othea 5Iwhite *oddessA6, and ,le#tryo 5IamberA6%
"oseidonAs si: sons and one da)*hter, and &eli)sAs seven sons, (oint to a seven7day week
r)led by (lanetary (owers, or Titans% !#tis did not o)nd &elio(olisJ;nn, or !)nisJ one o
the most an#ient #ities in ,*y(t2 and the #laim that he ta)*ht the ,*y(tians astrolo*y is
ridi#)lo)s% 4)t ater the TroHan War the Rhodians were or a while the only sea7traders
re#o*ni8ed by the "haraohs, and seem to have had an#ient reli*io)s ties with &elio(olis, the
#entre o the Ra #)lt% The I&elio(olitan @e)sA, who bears b)sts o the seven (lanetary (owers
on his body sheath, may be o Rhodian ins(iration2 little similar stat)es o)nd at Tortosa in
+(ain, and 4yblos in "hoeni#ia%
The +ons ; &ellen
&,--,3, son o ?e)#alion, married ;rseis, and settled in Thessaly, where his eldest son,
!eol)s, s)##eeded him% b% &ellenAs yo)n*est son, ?or)s, emi*rated to Mo)nt "arnass)s,
where he o)nded the irst ?orian #omm)nity% The se#ond son, Z)th)s, had already led
to !thens ater bein* a##)sed o thet by his brothers, and there married .re)sa, da)*hter o
,re#hthe)s, who bore him $on and !#hae)s% Th)s the o)r most amo)s &elleni# nations,
namely the $onians, !eolians, !#haeans, and ?orians, are all des#ended rom &ellen% 4)t
Z)th)s did not (ros(er at !thens1 when #hosen as arbitrator, )(on ,re#hthe)sAs death, he
(rono)n#ed his eldest brother7in7law, .e#ro(s the +e#ond, to be the ri*ht)l heir to the
throne% This de#ision (roved )n(o()lar, and Z)th)s, banished rom the #ity, died in !e*ial)s,
now !#haia%
#% !eol)s sed)#ed .heironAs da)*hter, the (ro(hetess Thea, by some #alled Thethis, who was
!rtemisAs #om(anion o the #hase% Thea eared that .heiron wo)ld ()nish her severely when
he knew o her #ondition, b)t dared not a((eal to !rtemis or assistan#e2 however, "oseidon,
wishin* to do his riend !eol)s a layo)t, tem(orarily dis*)ised her as a mare #alled ,)i((e%
When she had dro((ed her oal, Melani((e, whi#h he aterwards transormed into an inant
*irl, "oseidon set TheaAs ima*e amon* the stars2 this is now #alled the #onstellation o the
&orse% !eol)s took )( Melani((e, renamed her !rne, and entr)sted her to one ?esmontes
who, bein* #hildless, was *lad to ado(t her% .heiron knew nothin* o all this%
d% "oseidon sed)#ed !rne, on whom he had been kee(in* an eye, so soon as she was o a*e2
and ?esmontes, dis#overin* that she was with #hild, blinded her, sh)t her in an em(ty tomb,
and s)((lied her with the very least amo)nt o bread and water that wo)ld serve to s)stain
lie% There she bore twin sons, whom ?esmontes ordered his servants to e:(ose on Mo)nt
"elion, or the wild beasts to devo)r% 4)t an $#arian herdsman o)nd and res#)ed the twins,
one o whom so #losely resembled his maternal *randather that he was named !eol)s2 the
other had to be #ontent with the name 4oeot)s%
e% Meanwhile, Meta(ont)s, Gin* o $#aria, had threatened to divor#e his barren wie Theano
)nless she bore him an heir within the year% While he was away on a visit to an ora#le she
a((ealed to the herdsman or hel(, and he bro)*ht her the o)ndlin*s whom, on Meta(ont)sAs
ret)rn, she (assed o as her own% -ater, (rovin* not to be barren ater all, she bore him twin
sons2 b)t the o)ndlin*s, bein* o divine (arenta*e, were ar more bea)ti)l than they% +in#e
Meta(ont)s had no reason to s)s(e#t that !eol)s and 4oeot)s were not his own #hildren, they
remained his avo)rites% Growin* Healo)s, Theano waited )ntil Meta(ont)s let home a*ain,
this time or a sa#rii#e at the shrine o !rtemis Meta(ontina% +he then ordered his own sons
to *o h)ntin* with their elder brothers, and m)rder them as i by a##ident% TheanoAs (lot
ailed, however, be#a)se in the ens)in* i*ht "oseidon #ame to the assistan#e o his sons%
!eol)s and 4oeot)s were soon #arryin* their assailantsA dead bodies ba#k to the (ala#e, and
when Theano saw them a((roa#h she stabbed hersel to death with a h)ntin* knie%
% !t this, !eol)s and 4oeot)s led to their oster7ather, the herdsman, where "oseidon in
(erson revealed the se#ret o their (arenta*e% &e ordered them to res#)e their mother, who
was still lan*)ishin* in the tomb, and to kill ?esmontes% They obeyed witho)t hesitation2
"oseidon then restored !rneAs si*ht, and all three went ba#k to $#aria% When Meta(ont)s
learned that Theano had de#eived him he married !rne and ormally ado(ted her sons as his
heirs%
*% !ll went well or some years, )ntil Meta(ont)s de#ided to dis#ard !rne and marry a*ain%
!eol)s and 4oeot)s took their motherAs side in the ens)in* wran*le, and killed !)tolyte, the
new E)een, b)t were obli*ed to oreit their inheritan#e and lee% 4oeot)s, with !rne, took
re)*e in the (ala#e o his *randather !eol)s, who beE)eathed him the so)thern (art o his
kin*dom, and renamed it !rne2 the inhabitants are still #alled 4oeotians% Two Thessalian
#ities, one o whi#h later be#ame .haeronaea, also ado(ted !rneAs name%
h% !eol)s, meanwhile, had set sail with a n)mber o riends an steerin* west, took (ossession
o the seven !eolian $slands in the Tyrrhenian +ea, where he be#ame amo)s as the #onidant
o the *ods at *)ardian o the winds% &is home was on -i(ara, a loatin* island o sheer #li,
within whi#h the winds were #onined% &e had si: sons at si: da)*hters by his wie ,narete,
all o whom lived to*ether, with #ontent with one anotherAs #om(any, in a (ala#e s)rro)nded
by bra8en wall% $t was a lie o (er(et)al eastin*, son*, and merriment )ntil, one day, !eol)s
dis#overed that the yo)n*est son, Ma#are)s had been slee(in* with his sister .ana#he% $n
horror, he threw the r)it o their in#est)o)s love to the do*s, and sent .ana#he a sword with
whi#h she d)ti)lly killed hersel% 4)t he then learned that his both, sons and da)*hters,
havin* never been warned that in#est amon* h)mans was dis(leasin* to the *ods, had also
inno#ently (aired o, #onsidered themselves as h)sbands and wives% 3ot wishin* to oend
@e)s, who re*ards in#est as an ;lym(i# (rero*ative, !eol)s broke these )nions, and ordered
o)r o his remainin* sons to emi*rate% They visited $taly and +i#ily, where ea#h o)nded a
amo)s kin*dom, and rivalled his ather in #hastity and H)sti#e2 only the ith and eldest son
stayed at home, as !eol)sAs s)##essor to the throne o -i(ara% 4)t some say that Ma#are)s
and .ana#he had a da)*hter, !m(hissa, later beloved by !(ollo%
i% @e)s had #onined the winds be#a)se he eared that, )nless ke(t )nder #ontrol, they mi*ht
one day swee( both earth and sea away into the air, and !eol)s took #har*e o them at &eraAs
desire% &is task was to let them o)t, one by one, at his own dis#retion, or at the #onsidered
reE)est o some ;lym(ian deity% $ a storm were needed he wo)ld (l)n*e his s(ear into the
#li7side and the winds wo)ld stream o)t the hole it had made, )ntil he sto((ed it a*ain%
!eol)s was so dis#reet and #a(able that, when his death ho)r a((roa#hed, @e)s did not
#ommit him to Tartar)s, b)t seated him on a throne within the .ave o the Winds, where he is
still to be o)nd% &era insists that !eol)sAs res(onsibilities entitle him to attend the easts o
the *ods2 b)t the other ;lym(iansJes(e#ially "oseidon, who #laims the sea, and the air
above it, his own (ro(erty, and *r)d*es anyone the ri*ht to raise storms re*ard him as an
interlo(er%
1% The $onians and !eolians, the irst two waves o (atriar#hal &ellenes to invade Gree#e%
They were (ers)aded by the &ellads already there to worshi( the Tri(le7*oddess and #han*e
their so#ial #)stoms a##ordin*ly, be#omin* Greeks 5*raikoi, Iworshi((ers o the Grey
Goddess, or .roneA6% -ater, the !#haeans and ?orians s)##eeded in establishin* (atriar#hal
r)le and (atrilinear inheritan#e, and thereore des#ribed !#hae)s and ?or)s as irst7
*eneration sons o a #ommon an#estor, &ellenJa mas#)line orm o the Moon7*oddess &elle
or &elen% The "arian .hroni#le re#ords that this #han*e rom Greeks to &ellenes took (la#e
in 1501 4., whi#h seems a reasonable eno)*h date% !eol)s and $on were then rele*ated to
the se#ond *eneration, and #alled sons o the thievish Z)th)s, this bein* a way o deno)n#in*
the !eolian and $onian devotion to the or*iasti# Moon7*oddess !(hroditeJwhose sa#red
bird was the :)thos, or s(arrow, and whose (riestesses #ared nothin* or the (atriar#hal view
that women were the (ro(erty o their athers and h)sbands% 4)t ,)ri(ides, as a loyal $onian
o !thens, makes $on elder brother to ?or)s and !#hae)s, and the son o !(ollo as well%
0% "oseidonAs sed)#tion o Melani((e, his sed)#tion o the Mare7headed ?emeter, and
!eol)sAs sed)#tion o ,)i((e, all reer (erha(s to the same event1 the sei8)re by !eolians o
the (re7&elleni# horse7#)lt #entres% The myth o !rneAs bein* blinded and im(risoned in a
tomb, where she bore the twins !eol)s and 4oeot)s, and o their s)bseE)ent e:(os)re on the
mo)ntain amon* wild beasts, is a((arently ded)#ed rom the amiliar i#on that yielded the
myths o ?anaB, !ntio(e, and the rest% ! (riestess o Mother ,arthAs is shown #ro)#hed in a
thol)s tomb, (resentin* the 3ew Dear twins to the she(herds, or revelation at her Mysteries2
thol)s tombs have their entran#es always a#in* east, as i in (romise o rebirth% These
she(herds are instr)#ted to re(ort that they o)nd the inants abandoned on the mo)ntainside,
bein* s)#kled by some sa#red animalJ#ow, sow, she7*oat, bit#h, or she7wol% The wild
beasts rom whom the twins are s)((osed to have been saved re(resent the seasonal
transormations o the newly7born sa#red kin*%
<% ,:#e(t or the matter o the im(risoned winds, and the amily in#est on -i(ara, the
remainder o the myth #on#erns tribal mi*rations% The mytho*ra(hers are thoro)*hly
#on)sed between !eol)s the son o &ellen2 another !eol)s who, in order to make the
!eolians into third7*eneration Greeks, is said to have been the son o Z)th)s2 and the third
!eol)s, *randson o the irst%
=% +in#e the &omeri# *ods did not re*ard the in#est o !eol)sAs sons and da)*hters as in the
least re(rehensible, it looks as i both he an ,narete were not mortals and th)s bo)nd by the
(riestly tables o kinshi( and ainity, b)t Titans2 and that their sons and da)*hters were the
remainin* si: #o)(les, in #har*e o the seven #elestial bodies and the seven days o the sa#red
week% This wo)ld e:(lain their (rivile*ed *od7like e:isten#e, witho)t (roblems o either
ood, drink, #lothin*, in an im(re*nable (ala#e b)ilt on a loatin* islandJlike ?elos beore
the birth o !(ollo% IMa#are)sA meansA ha((yA, as only *ods were ha((y% $t was let or -atin
mytho*ra(hers to h)manise !eol)s, and awaken him to a serio)s view o his amilyAs
#ond)#t2 the amendment to the myth (ermitted them to a##o)nt both or the o)ndation o
!eolian kin*doms in $taly and +i#ily, andJbe#a)se I.ana#heA means Ibarkin*A and her #hild
was thrown to the do*sJor the $talian #)stom o ()((y sa#rii#e% ;vid a((arently took this
story rom the se#ond book o +ostrat)sAs ,tr)s#an &istory 5"l)tar#h1 "arallel +tories6%
5% The winds were ori*inally the (ro(erty o &era, and the male *od had no (ower over them2
indeed, in ?iodor)sAs a##o)nt, !eol)s merely tea#hes the islanders the )se o sails in
navi*ation and oretells, rom si*ns in the ire, what winds will rise% .ontrol o the winds,
re*arded as the s(irits o the dead, is one o the (rivile*es that the ?eath7*oddessAs
re(resentatives have been most loth to s)rrender2 wit#hes in ,n*land2 +#otland and 4rittany
still #laimed to #ontrol and sell winds to sailors as late as the si:teenth and seventeenth
#ent)ries% 4)t the ?orians had been thoro)*hly already by &omerAs time they had advan#ed
!eol)s, the e(onymo)s an#estor o the !eolians, to the rank o *odlin*, and *iven him #har*e
o his ellow7winds at &eraAs e:(enseJthe !eolian $slands, whi#h bore his name, bein*
sit)ated in a re*ion notorio)s or the violen#e and diversity o its winds% This #om(romise
was a((arently a##e(ted with bad *ra#e by the (riests o @e)s and "oseidon, who o((osed
the #reation o any new deities, and do)btless also by &eraAs #onservative devotee who
re*arded the winds as her inalienable (ro(erty%
$on
!";--; lay se#retly with ,re#hthe)sAs da)*hter .re)sa, wie o Z)th)s, in a #ave below
the !thenian "ro(ylaea% When her son was born !(ollo s(irited him away to ?el(hi, where
he be#ame a tem(le servant, and the (riests named him $on% Z)th)s had no heir and, ater
many delays, went at last to ask the ?el(hi# ;ra#le how he mi*ht (ro#)re one% To his s)r(rise
he was told that the irst (erson to meet him as he let the san#t)ary wo)ld be his son2 this
was $on, and Z)th)s #on#l)ded that he had be*otten him on some Maenad in the
(romis#)o)s ?ionysia# or*ies at ?el(hi many years beore% $on #o)ld not #ontradi#t this, and
a#knowled*ed him as his ather% 4)t .re)sa was ve:ed to ind that Z)th)s now had a son,
while she had none, and tried to m)rder $on by oerin* him a #)( o (oisoned wine% $on,
however, irst (o)red a libation to the *ods, and a dove lew down to taste the s(ilt wine% The
dove died, and .re)sa led or san#t)ary to !(olloAs altar% When the ven*e)l $on tried to
dra* her away, the (riestess intervened, e:(lainin* that he was .re)saAs son by !(ollo,
tho)*h Z)th)s m)st not be )nde#eived in the belie that he had athered him on a Maenad%
Z)th)s was then (romised that he wo)ld be*et ?or)s and !#hae)s on .re)sa%
b% !terwards, $on married &eli#e, da)*hter o +elin)s, Gin* o !e*ial)s, whom he
s)##eeded on the throne2 and, at the death o ,re#hthe)s, he was #hosen Gin* o !thens% The
o)r o##)(ational #lasses o !theniansJarmers, #ratsmen, (riests, and soldiersJare named
ater the sons borne to him by &eli#e%
1% This theatri#al myth is told to s)bstantiate the $oniansA seniority over ?orians and
!#haeans, and also to award them divine des#ent rom !(ollo% 4)t .re)sa in the #ave is
(erha(s the *oddess, (resentin* the 3ew Dear inant, or inants, to a she(herdJmistaken or
!(ollo in (astoral dress% &eli#e, the willow, was the tree o the ith month, sa#red to the
Tri(le M)se, whose (riestess )sed it in every kind o wit#h#rat and water7ma*i#2 the $onians
seem to have s)bordinated themselves willin*ly to her%
!l#yone !nd .ey:
!-.D;3, was the da)*hter o !eol)s, *)ardian o the winds, and !e*iale% +he married
.ey: o Tra#his, son o the Mornin*7star, and they were so ha((y in ea#h otherAs #om(any
that she darin*ly #alled hersel &era, and him @e)s% This nat)rally ve:ed the ;lym(ian @e)s
and &era, who let a th)nderstorm break over the shi( in whi#h .ey: was sailin* to #ons)lt an
ora#le, and drowned him% &is *host a((eared to !l#yone who, *reatly a*ainst her will, had
stayed behind in Tra#his, where)(on distra)*ht with *rie, she lea(t into the sea% +ome
(ityin* *od transormed them both into kin*ishers%
b% 3ow, every winter, the hen7kin*isher #arries her dead mate with *reat wailin* to his b)rial
and then, b)ildin* a #losely #om(a#ted nest rom the thorns o the sea7needle, la)n#hes it on
the sea, lays her e**s in it, and hat#hes o)t her #hi#ks% +he does all this in the &al#yon ?ays
Jthe seven whi#h (re#ede the winter solsti#e, and the seven whi#h s)##eed itJwhile !eol)s
orbids his winds to swee( a#ross the waters%
#% 4)t some say that .ey: was t)rned into a seamew%
1% The le*end o the hal#yonAs, or kin*isherAs, nest 5whi#h has no o)ndation in nat)ral
history, sin#e the hal#yon does not b)ild any kind o nest, b)t lays e**s in holes by the
waterside6 #an reer only to the birth o the new sa#red kin* at the winter solsti#eJater the
E)een who re(resents his mother, the Moon7*oddess, has #onveyed the old kin*As #or(se to a
se()l#hral island% 4)t be#a)se the winter solsti#e does not always #oin#ide with the same
(hase o the moon, Ievery yearA m)st be )nderstood as Ievery Great DearA, o one h)ndred
l)nations, in the last o whi#h solar and l)nar time were ro)*hly syn#hroni8ed, and the sa#red
kin*As term ended%
0% &omer #onne#ts the hal#yon with !l#yone, a title o Melea*erAs wie .leo(atra 5$liad6, and
with a da)*hter o !eol)s, *)ardian o the winds% &al#yon #annot thereore mean hal7#yon,
Isea7ho)ndA, as is )s)ally s)((osed, b)t m)st stand or al#y7one, Ithe E)een who wards o
evilA% This derivation is #onirmed by the myth o !l#yone and .ey:, and the manner o their
()nishment by @e)s and &era% The seamew (art o the le*end need not be (ressed, altho)*h
this bird, whi#h has a (laintive #ry, was sa#red to the +ea7*oddess !(hrodite, or -e)#othea,
like the hal#yon o .y(r)s% $t seems that late in the se#ond millenni)m 4. the sea7arin*
!eolians, who had a*reed to worshi( the (re7&elleni# Moon7*oddess as their divine
an#estress and (rote#tress, be#ame trib)tary to the @e)s7worshi((in* !#haeans, and were
or#ed to a##e(t the ;lym(ian reli*ion% I@e)sA, whi#h a##ordin* to 9ohannes T8et8es, hitherto
been a title born by (etty kin*s, was hen#eorth reserved or the 'ather o &eaven alone% 4)t
in .rete, the an#ient mysti#al tradition that
@e)s was born and died ann)ally lin*ered on into .hristian times, and tombs o @e)s were
shown at .noss)s, on Mo)nt $da, and on Mo)nt ?i#te, ea#h a dierent #)lt7#entre%
.allima#h)s was s#andali8ed, and in his &ymn to @e)s wrote1 IThe .retans are always liars%
They have even b)ilt thy tomb, ; -ordP 4)t tho) art not dead, or tho) livest or ever%A This is
E)oted in Tit)s%
<% "liny, who des#ribes the hal#yonAs alle*ed nest in detailJa((arently the 8oo(hyte #alled
hal#yone)m by -innae)sJre(orts that the hal#yon is rarely seen, and then only at the two
solsti#es and at the settin* o the "leiades% This (roves her to have ori*inally been a
maniestation o the Moon7*oddess, who was alternately the Goddess o -ie7in7?eath at the
winter solsti#e, and o ?eath7in7-ie at the s)mmer solsti#e2 and who, every Great Dear, early
in 3ovember, when the "leiades set, sent the sa#red kin* his death s)mmons%
=% +till another !l#yone, da)*hter o "leione 5Isailin* E)eenA6 by !tlas, was the leader o the
seven "leiades% The "leiadesA helia#al risin* in May be*an the navi*ational year2 their settin*
marked its end, when 5as "liny notes in a (assa*e abo)t the hal#yon6 a remarkably #old north
wind blows% The #ir#)mstan#es o .ey:As death show that the !eolians, who were amo)s
sailors, worshi((ed the *oddess as I!l#yoneA be#a)se she (rote#ted them rom ro#ks and
ro)*h weather1 @e)s wre#ked .ey:As shi(, in deian#e o her (owers, by h)rlin* a
th)nderbolt at it% De t the hal#yon was still #redited with the ma*i#al (ower o allayin*
storms2 and its body, when dried, was )sed as a talisman a*ainst @e)sAs li*htnin*J
(res)mably on the *ro)nd that where on#e it strikes it will not strike a*ain% The
Mediterranean is in#lined to be #alm abo)t the time o the winter solsti#e%
Tere)s
T,R,/+, a son o !res, r)led over the Thra#ians then o##)(yin* "ho#ian ?a)lisJtho)*h
some say that he was Gin* o "a*ae in Me*arisJand, havin* a#ted as mediator in a
bo)ndary dis()te or "andion, Gin* o !thens and ather o twins 4)tes and ,re#ht#he)s2
married their sister "ro#ne, who bore him a son, $tys%
b% /nort)nately Tere)s, en#hanted by the voi#e o "andionAs yo)n*er sister "hilomela, had
allen in love with her2 and, a year later #on#ealin* "ro#ne in a r)sti# #abin near his (ala#e at
?a)lis, he re(orted her death to "andion% "andion, #ondolin* with Tere)s, *enero)sly oered
him "hilomela in "ro#neAs (la#e, and (rovided !thenian *)ards as her es#ort when she went
to ?a)lis or the weddin*% The *)ards Tere)s m)rdered and, when "hilomela rea#hed the
(ala#e had already or#ed her to lie with him% "ro#ne soon heard the news, b)t, as a meas)re
o (re#a)tion, Tere)s #)t o)t her ton*)e and #onined to the slavesA E)arters, where she #o)ld
#omm)ni#ate with "hilomela only by weavin* a se#ret messa*e into the (attern o a bridal
robe intended or her% This ran sim(ly1 I"ro#ne is amon* the slaves%A
#% Meanwhile, an ora#le had warned Tere)s that $tys wo)ld die the hand o a blood relative
and, s)s(e#tin* his brother ?ryas o m)rdero)s (lot to sei8e the throne, str)#k him down
)ne:(e#tedly with an a:e% The same day, "hilomela read the messa*e woven into robe% +he
h)rried to the slavesA E)arters, o)nd one o the rooms, broke down the door, and released
"ro#ne, who was #hatterin* )nintelli*ibly and r)nnin* aro)nd in #ir#les%
I;h, to be reven*ed on Tere)s, who (retended that yo) were dead and sed)#ed mePA wated
"hilomela, a*hast%
"ro#ne, bein* ton*)eless, #o)ld not re(ly, b)t lew o)t and, sei8ed her son $tys, killed him,
*)tted him, and then boiled him in a #a)ldron or Tere)s to eat on his ret)rn%
d% When Tere)s reali8ed what lesh he had been tastin*, he *ras(ed the a:e with whi#h he had
killed ?ryas and ()rs)ed the sisters as they led rom the (ala#e% &e soon overtook them and
was on the (oint o #ommittin* a do)ble m)rder when the *ods #han*ed all three into birds2
"ro#ne be#ame a swallow2 "hilomelaJa ni*htin*ale2 Tere)sJa hoo(oe% !nd the "ho#ians
say that no swallow dares nest in ?a)lis and its environs, and no ni*htin*ale sin*s, or ear o
Tere)s% 4)t swallow, havin* no ton*)e, s#reams and lies aro)nd in #ir#les2 and the hoo(oe
l)tters in ()rs)it o her, #ryin* I "o)K "o)KA 5whereK whereK6% Meanwhile, the ni*htin*ale
retreats to !thens, where mo)rns witho)t #ease or $tys, whose death she inadvertently
#a)sed sin*in* I$t)P $t)PA
e% 4)t some say that Tere)s was t)rned into a hawk%
1% This e:trava*ant roman#e seems to have been invented to a##o)nt or a series o Thra#o7
"elas*ian wall7(aintin*s, o)nd by "ho#ian invaders in a tem(le at ?a)lis 5Isha**yA6, whi#h
ill)strated dierent methods o (ro(he#y in lo#al )se%
0% The #)ttin*7o)t o "ro#neAs ton*)e misre(resents a s#ene showin* a (ro(hetess in a tran#e,
ind)#ed by the #hewin* o la)rel7leaves2 her a#e is #ontorted with e#stasy, not (ain, and the
ton*)e whi#h seems to have been #)t o)t is in a#t a la)rel7leave handed her by the (riest who
inter(rets her wild babblin*s% The weavin* o the letters into the bridal robe misre(resents
another s#ene1 a (riestess has #ast a hand)l o ora#)lar sti#ks on a white #loth, in the .elti#
'ashion des#ribed by Ta#it)s 5Germania6, or the +#ythian ashion des#ribed by &erodot)s2
they take the sha(e o letters, whi#h she is abo)t to read% $n the so7#alled eatin* o $tys by
Tere)s, a willow7(riestess is takin* omens rom the entrails o a #hild sa#rii#ed or the
beneit o a kin*% The s#ene o Tere)s and the ora#le (robably showed him aslee( on a shee(7
skin in a tem(le, re#eivin* a dream revelation2 the Greeks wo)ld not have mistaken this% That
o ?ryasAs m)rder (robably showed an oak7tree and (riests takin* omens beneath it, in
?r)idi# ashion, by the way a man ell when he died% "ro#neAs transormation into a swallow
will have been ded)#ed rom a s#ene that showed a (riestess in a eathered robe, takin*
a)*)ries rom the li*ht o a swallow2 "hilomelaAs transormation into a ni*htin*ale, and
Tere)sAs into a hoo(oe, seem to res)lt rom similar misreadin*s% Tere)sAs name, whi#h means
Iwat#herA, s)**ests that a male a)*)r i*)red in the hoo(oe (i#t)re%
<% Two )rther s#enes may be (res)med1 a ser(ent7tailed ora#)lar hero, bein* oered blood7
sa#rii#es2 and a yo)n* man #ons)ltin* a bee7ora#le% These are, res(e#tively, ,re#hthe)s and
4)tes who was the most amo)s bee7kee(er o antiE)ity, the brothers o "ro#ne and
"hilomela% Their mother was @e):i((e, Ishe who yokes horsesA, do)btless a Mare7headed
?emeter%
=% !ll mytho*ra(hers b)t &y*in)s make "ro#ne a ni*htin*ale, and "hilomela a swallow% This
m)st be a #l)msy attem(t to re#tiy a sli( made by some earlier (oet1 that Tere)s #)t o)t
"hilomelaAs ton*)e, not "ro#neAs% The hoo(oe is a royal bird, be#a)se it has a #rest o
eathers, and is (arti#)larly a((ro(riate to the story o Tere)s, be#a)se it is notorio)s or their
sten#h% !##ordin* to the Goran, the +olomon (ro(heti# se#rets%
5% ?a)lis, aterwards #alled "ho#is, seems to have been the #entre o bird #)lt% "ho#)s, the
e(onymo)s o)nder o the new state, was the son o ;rnytion
5Imoon birdA6, and a later kin* was named Z)th)s 5Is(arrowA6% &y*in)s re(orts that Tere)s
be#ame hawk, a royal bird o ,*y(t, Thra#e, and 3orth7western ,)ro(e%
,re#hthe)s !nd ,)mol()s
G$3G "andion died (remat)rely o *rie when he learned what beallen "ro#ne, "hilomela,
and $tys% &is twin sons shared the in inheritan#e1 ,re#hthe)s be#omin* Gin* o !thens, while
4)tes served as (riest both to !thene and "oseidon%
b% 4y his wie "ra:ithea, ,re#hthe)s had o)r sons, amon* the s)##essor, .e#ro(s2 also seven
da)*hters1 namely "roto*onia, "andora, "ro#nis, wie o .e(hal)s, .re)sa, ;reithyia,
.hthonia, who married her )n#le 4)tes, and ;tionia, the yo)n*est%
#% 3ow, "oseidon se#retly loved .hione, ;reithyiaAs da)*hter to 4oreas% +he bore him a son,
,)mol()s, b)t threw him into the sea, araid that 4oreas sho)ld be an*ry% "oseidon wat#hed
over ,)mol()s, and let him )( on the shores o ,thio(ia, where he was reared in the home
o 4enthesi#yme, his hal7sister by the +ea7*oddess !m(hitrite% When ,)mol()s #ame o
a*e, 4enthesi#yme married him to one o her da)*hters2 b)t he ell in love with another o
them, and she thereore banished him to Thra#e, where he (lotted a*ainst his (rote#tor,
Te*yri)s, and was or#ed to seek re)*e at ,le)sis% &ere he mend ways, and be#ame (riest o
the Mysteries o ?emeter and "erse(hone, into whi#h he s)bseE)ently initiated &era#les, at
the same time tea#hin* him to sin* and (lay the lyre% With the lyre, ,)mol()s had *reat skill
and was also vi#torio)s in the l)te #ontest at "eliasAs )neral% &is ,le)sinian #o7(riestesses
were the da)*hters o .ele)s2 and his well7known (iety at last earned him the dyin*
or*iveness o Te*yri)s, who beE)eathed him the throne o Thra#e%
d% When war broke o)t between !thens and ,le)sis, ,)mol()s bro)*ht a lar*e or#e o
Thra#ians to the ,le)siniansA assistan#e, #laimin* the throne o !tti#a himsel in the name o
his ather "oseidon% The !thenians were *reatly alarmed, and when ,re#hthe)s #ons)lted an
ora#le he was told to sa#rii#e his yo)n*est da)*hter ;tionia to !thene, i he ho(ed or
vi#tory% ;tionia was willin*ly led to the altar, where)(on her two eldest sisters, "roto*onia
and "andora, also killed themselves, havin* on#e vowed that i one o them sho)ld die
be#a)se o violen#e, they wo)ld die too%
e% $n the ens)in* battle, $on led the !thenians to vi#tory2 and ,re#hthe)s str)#k down
,)mol()s as he led% "oseidon a((ealed or ven*ean#e to his brother @e)s, who at on#e
destroyed ,re#hthe)s with a th)nderbolt2 b)t some say that "oseidon elled him with a trident
blow at Ma#rae, where the earth o(ened to re#eive him%
% 4y the terms o a (ea#e then #on#l)ded, the ,le)sinians be#ame s)bHe#t to the !thenians in
everythin*, e:#e(t the #ontrol o their Mysteries% ,)mol()s was s)##eeded as (riest by his
yo)n*er son .ery:, whose des#endants still enHoy *reat hereditary (rivile*es at ,le)sis%
*% $on rei*ned ater ,re#hthe)s2 and, be#a)se o his three da)*htersA sel7sa#rii#e, wineless
libations are still (o)red to them today%
1% The myth o ,re#hthe)s and ,)mol()s #on#erns the s)bH)*ation o ,le)sis by !thens, and
the Thra#o7-ibyan ori*in o the ,le)sinian Mysteries% !n !thenian #)lt o the or*iasti# 4ee7
nym(h o Mids)mmer also enters into the story, sin#e 4)tes is asso#iated in Greek myth with
a bee #)lt on Mo)nt ,ry:2 and his twin brother ,re#hthe)s 5Ihe who hastens over the
heatherA, rather than IshattererA6 is the h)sband o the I!#tive Goddess I, the M)een7bee% The
name o Gin* Te*yri)s o Thra#e, whose kin*dom ,re#hthe)sAs *randson inherited, makes a
)rther asso#iation with bees1 it means Ibeehive #oveterA% !thens was amo)s or its honey%
0% ,re#hthe)sAs three noble da)*hters, like the three da)*hters o his an#estor .e#ro(s, are
the "elas*ian Tri(le7*oddess, to whom libations were (o)red on solemn o##asions1 ;tionia
5Iwith the ear7la(sA6, who is said to have been #hosen as a sa#rii#e to !thene, bein*
evidently ;wl7*oddess !thene hersel2 "roto*onia, the .reatri: ,)rynome2 and "andora, the
,arth7*oddess Rhea% !t the transition rom matriar#hy to (atriar#hy some o !theneAs
(riestesses may have been sa#rii#ed to "oseidon%
<% "oseidonAs trident and @e)sAs th)nderbolt were ori*inally the same wea(on, the sa#red
labrys, or do)ble7a:e, b)t distin*)ished rom other when "oseidon be#ame *od o the sea,
and @e)s #laimed the ri*ht to the th)nderbolt%
=% 4)tes, who was enrolled amon* the !r*ona)ts, didnAt really belon* to the ,re#htheid
amily2 b)t his des#endants, the 4)tadae o !thens, or#ed their way into !thenian so#iety
and, by the si:th #ent)ry, held the (riesthoods o !thene "olias and o "oseidon ,re#hthe)sJ
this was a )sion o the &elleni# "oseidon with the old "elas*ian heroJas a amily
inheritan#e, and seem to have altered the myth a##ordin*ly, as they also altered the These)s
one% They #ombined the !tti# 4)tes with their an#estor, Thra#ian son o 4oreas, who had
#oloni8ed 3a:os and in a rally to Thessaly violated .oronis, the -a(ith (rin#ess%
4oreas
;R,$T&D$!, da)*hter o ,re#hthe)s, Gin* o !thens, and his wie "ra:ithea, was one day
whirlin* in a dan#e beside the river $liss)s, when 4oreas, son o !strae)s and ,os, and
brother o the +o)th West Winds, #arried her o to a ro#k near the river ,r*ines and, wra((ed
in a mantle o dark #lo)ds, he ravished her%
b% 4oreas had lon* loved ;reithyia and re(eatedly s)ed or her hand2 b)t ,re#hthe)s ()t him
o with vain (romises )ntil at the end, #om(lainin* that he had wasted too m)#h time in
words, he resorted to nat)ral violen#e% +ome, however, say that ;reithyia was #arryin* basket
in the ann)al Thesmo(horian (ro#ession that winds )( slo(e o the !#ro(olis to the tem(le o
!thene "olias, when 4oreas t)#ked her beneath his tawny win*s and whirled her away,
)nseen by the s)rro)ndin* #rowd%
#% &e took her to the #ity o the Thra#ian .i#ones, where she be#ame his wie, and bore him
twin sons, .alais and @etes, who *rew win*s when they rea#hed manhood2 also two
da)*hters, namely .hione, who bore ,)mol()s to "oseidon, and .leo(atra, who married
Gin* "hine)s, the vi#tim o the &ar(ies%
d% 4oreas has ser(ent7tails or eet, and inhabits a #ave on Mo)nt &aem)s, in the seven
re#esses o whi#h !res stables his horses2 b)t he is also at home beside the river +trymon%
e% ;n#e, dis*)isin* himsel as a dark7maned stallion, he #overed twelve o the three tho)sand
mares belon*in* to ,ri#hthoni)s, son o ?ardan)s, whi#h )sed to *ra8e in the water7meadows
beside the river +#amander% Twelve illies were born rom this )nion2 they #o)ld ra#e over
ri(e ears o standin* #orn witho)t bendin* them, or over the #rests o waves%
% The !thenians re*ard 4oreas as their brother7in7law and, havin* on#e s)##ess)lly invoked
him to destroy Gin* Zer:esAs leet, they b)ilt him a ine tem(le on the banks o the river
$liss)s%
1% +er(ent7tailed 4oreas, the 3orth Wind, was another name or the demi)r*e ;(hion who
dan#ed with ,)rynome, or ;reithyia, Goddess o .reation, and im(re*nated her% 4)t, as
;(hion was to ,)rynome, or 4oreas to ;reithyia, so was ,re#hthe)s to the ori*inal !thene2
and !thene "olias 5Io the #ityA6, or whom ;reithyia dan#ed, may have been !thene "olias7
!thene the 'illy, *oddess o the lo#al horse #)lt, and beloved by 4oreas7,re#hthe)s, who
th)s be#ame the !theniansA brother7in7law% The 4oreas #)lt seems to have ori*inated in
-ibya% $t sho)ld be remembered that &ermes, allin* in love with ;reithyiaAs (rede#essor
&erse while she was #arryin* a sa#red basket in a similar (ro#ession, to the !#ro(olis, had
ravished her witho)t in#)rrin* !theneAs dis(leas)re% The Thesmo(horia seems to have on#e
been an or*iasti# estival in whi#h (riestesses ()bli#ly (rostit)ted themselves as a means
ertili8in* the #ornields% These baskets #ontained (halli# obHe#ts%
0% ! (rimitive theory that #hildren were the rein#arnations o their an#estors, who entered into
womenAs wombs as s)dden *)sts o wind lin*ered in the eroti# #)lt o the Mare7*oddess2 and
&omerAs a)thority was wei*hty eno)*h to make ed)#ated Romans still believe, with "liny
that +(anish mares #o)ld #on#eive by t)rnin* their hindE)arters to wind 5"liny1 3at)ral
&istory6% Carro mentions the same (henomenon, and -a#tanti)s, in the late third #ent)ry !?,
makes it an analo*y o the Cir*inAs im(re*nation by the +an#t)s +(irit)s%
<% 4oreas blows in winter rom the &aem)s ran*e and the +trymon, and, when +(rin* #omes
with its lowers, seems to have im(re*nated whole land o !tti#a2 b)t, sin#e he #annot blow
ba#kwards, the myth o ;reithyiaAs ra(e a((arently also re#ords the s(read o the 3orth Wind
#)lt rom !thens to Thra#e% 'rom Thra#e, or dire#tly rom !thens rea#hed the Troad, where
the owner o the three tho)sand mares is ,ri#hthoni)s, a synonym o ,re#hthe)s% The twelve
illies will have served to draw three o)r7horse #hariots, one or ea#h o ann)al triad1 +(rin*,
+)mmer, and !)t)mn% Mo)nt &aem)s was ha)nt o the monster Ty(hon%
=% +o#rates, who had no )nderstandin* o myths, misses the (oint o ;reithyiaAs ra(e1 he
s)**ests that a (rin#ess o that name, (layin* on #lis near the $liss)s, or on the &ill o !res,
was a##identally blown o the ed*e and killed 5"lato1 "haedr)s6% The #)lt o 4oreas has
re#ently been revived at !thens to #ommemorate his destr)#tion o "ersian leet 5&erodot)s6%
&e also hel(ed the Me*alo(olitans a*ainst the +(artans and earned ann)al sa#rii#es
5"a)sanias6%
!lo(e
T&, !r#adian Gin* .er#yon, son o &e(haest)s, had a bea)ti)l da)*hter, !lo(e, who was
sed)#ed by "oseidon and, witho)t atherAs knowled*e, bore a son whom she ordered a n)rse
to e:(ose a mo)ntain% ! she(herd o)nd him bein* s)#kled by a mare, and took him to the
shee(7#otes, where his ri#h robe attra#ted *reat interest, and ellow7she(herd vol)nteered to
rear the boy, b)t insisted on takin* robe too, in (roo o his noble birth% The two she(herds
be*an E)arrel, and m)rder wo)ld have been done, had their #om(anions not led them beore
Gin* .er#yon% .er#yon #alled or the dis()ted robe and, when it was bro)*ht, re#o*ni8ed it
as havin* been #)t rom a *arment belon*in* to his da)*hter% The n)rse now took ri*ht, and
#onessed her (art in the aair2 where)(on .er#yon ordered !lo(e to be imm)red, and the
#hild to be e:(osed a*ain% &e was on#e more s)#kled by the mare and, this time, o)nd by the
se#ond she(herd who, now satisied as to his royal (arenta*e, #arried him to his own #abin
and #alled him &i((otho)s%
b% When These)s killed .er#yon, he set &i((otho)s on the throne o !r#adia2 !lo(e had
meanwhile died in (rison, and was b)ried beside the road leadin* rom ,le)sis to Me*ara,
near .er#yonAs wrestlin* *ro)nd% 4)t "oseidon transormed her body into a s(rin*, named
!lo(e%
1% This myth is o amiliar (attern, e:#e(t that &i((otho)s is twi#e e:(osed and that, on the
irst o##asion, the she(herds #ome to blows% The anomaly is (erha(s d)e to a misreadin* o
an i#on7seE)en#e, whi#h showed royal twins bein* o)nd by she(herds, and these same twins
#omin* to blows when *rown to manhoodJlike "elias and 3ele)s, "roet)s and !#risi)s or
,teo#les and "olynei#es%
0% !lo(e is the Moon7*oddess as vi:en who *ave her name to the Thessalian #ity o !lo(e
5"here#ydes, E)oted by +te(han)s o 4y8anti)m s)b !lo(e62 the vi:en was also the emblem
o Messene% The mytho*ra(her is (robably mistaken in re#ordin* that the robe worn by
&i((otho)s was #)t rom !lo(eAs dress2 it will have been the swaddlin* band into whi#h his
#lan and amily marks were woven%
!s#le(i)s
.;R;3$+, da)*hter o "hle*yas, Gin* o the -a(iths, $:ionAs brother, lived on the shores o
the Thessalian -ake 4eobeis, in whi#h she )sed to wash her eet%
b% !(ollo be#ame her lover, and let a #row with snow7white eathers to *)ard her while he
went to ?el(hi on b)siness% 4)t .oronis had lon* n)rsed a se#ret (assion or $s#hys, the
!r#adian son o ,lat)s and now admitted him to her #o)#h, tho)*h already with #hild !(ollo%
,ven beore the e:#ited #row had set o)t or ?el(hi, to re(ort the s#andal and be (raised or
its vi*ilan#e, !(ollo had divined .oronisAs inidelity, and thereore #)rsed the #row or not
havin* (e#ked o)t $s#hysAs eyes when he a((roa#hed .oronis% The #row was t)rned bla#k by
this #)rse, and all its des#endants have been bla#k ever sin
#% When !(ollo #om(lained to his sister !rtemis o the ins)lt done to him, she aven*ed it by
shootin* a E)iver)l o arrows at .oronis% !terwards, *a8in* at her #or(se, !(ollo was illed
with s)dden remorse, b)t #o)ld not now restore her to lie% &er s(irit had des#ended to
Tartar)s, her #or(se had been laid
on the )neral (yre, the last )mes (o)red over it, and the ire already li*hted, beore !(ollo
re#overed his (resen#e o mind2 then he motioned to &ermes, who in the li*ht o the lames
#)t the still livin* #hild rom .oronisAs womb% $t was a boy, whom !(ollo named !s#le(i)s,
and #arried o to the #ave o .heiron the .enta)r, where he learned the arts o medi#ine and
#hase% !s or $s#hys, also #alled .hyl)s1 some say that he was killed @e)s with a th)nderbolt,
others that !(ollo himsel shot him%
d% The ,(ida)rians, however, tell a very dierent story% They say that .oronisAs ather,
"hle*yas, who o)nded the #ity o that name, where he *athered to*ether all the best warriors
o Gree#e, and lived by raidin*, #ame to ,(ida)r)s to s(y o)t the land and the stren*th o the
(eo(le2 and that his da)*hter .oronis who, )nknown to him, with #hild by !(ollo, #ame too%
$n !(olloAs shrine at ,(ida)r)s, with assistan#e o !rtemis and the 'ates, .oronis *ave birth
to a boy, whom she at on#e e:(osed on Mo)nt Titthion, now amo)s or the medi#ine virt)es
o its (lants% There, !resthanas, a *oat7herd, noti#in* that bit#h and one o his she7*oats were
no lon*er with him, went in sear#h o them, and o)nd them takin* t)rns to s)#kle a #hild% &e
was to lit the #hild )(, when a bri*ht li*ht all abo)t it deterred him% -oth to meddle with a
divine mystery, he (io)sly t)rned away, th)s leavin* !s#le(i)s to the (rote#tion o his ather
!(ollo%
e% !s#le(i)s, say the ,(ida)rians, learned the art o healin* both rom !(ollo and rom
.heiron% &e be#ame so skilled in s)r*ery and the )se o dr)*s that he is revered as the
o)nder o medi#ine% 3ot only did he heal the si#k, b)t !thene had *iven him two (hials o
the Gor*on Med)saAs blood2 with what had been drawn rom the veins o her let side, he
#o)ld raise the dead2 with what had been drawn rom her ri*ht side, he #o)ld destroy
instantly% ;thers say that !thene and !s#le(i)s divided the blood between them1 he )sed it to
save lie, b)t she to destroy lie and insti*ate wars% !thene had (revio)sly *iven two dro(s o
this same blood to ,ri#hthoni)s, one to kill, the other to #)re, and astened the (hials to his
ser(ent body with *olden bands%
% !mon* those whom !s#le(i)s raised rom the dead were -y#)r*)s, .a(ane)s, and
Tyndare)s% $t is not known on whi#h o##asion &ades #om(lained to @e)s that his s)bHe#ts
were bein* stolen rom himJwhether it was ater the res)rre#tion o Tyndare)s, or o
Gla)#)s, or o &i((olyt)s, or o ;rion2 it is #ertain only that !s#le(i)s was a##)sed o havin*
been bribed with *old, and that both he and his (atient were killed by @e)sAs th)nderbolt%
*% &owever, @e)s later restored !s#le(i)s to lie2 and so )lilled an indis#reet (ro(he#y
made by .heironAs da)*hter ,)i((e, who had de#lared that !s#le(i)s wo)ld be#ome a *od,
die, and res)me *odheadJth)s twi#e renewin* his destiny% !s#le(i)sAs ima*e, holdin* a
#)rative ser(ent, was set amon* the stars by @e)s%
h% The Messenians #laim that !s#le(i)s was a native o Tri##a in Messene2 the !r#adians, that
he was born at Thel()sa2 and the Thessalians, that he was a native o Tri##a in Thessaly% The
+(artans #all him !*nitas, be#a)se they have #arved his ima*e rom a willow7tr)nk2 and the
(eo(le o +i#yon hono)r him in the orm o a ser(ent mo)nted on a m)le7#art% !t +i#yon the
let hand o his ima*e holds the #one o a (ista#hio7(ine2 b)t at ,(ida)r)s it rests on a
ser(entAs head2 in both #ases the ri*ht hand holds a s#e(tre%
i% !s#le(i)s was the ather o "odaleiri)s and Ma#haon, the (hysi#ians who attended the
Greeks d)rin* the sie*e o Troy2 and o the radiant &y*ieia% The -atins #all him !es#)la(i)s,
and the .retans say that he, not "olyeid)s, restored Gla)#)s, son o Minos, to lie2 )sin* a
#ertain herb, shown him by a ser(ent in a tomb%
1% This myth #on#erns e##lesiasti#al (oliti#s in 3orthern Gree#e, !tti#a, and the "elo(onnese1
the s)((ression, in !(olloAs name, o (re7&elleni# medi#al #)lt, (resided over by Moon7
(riestesses at the ora#)lar shrines o lo#al heroes rein#arnate as ser(ents, or #rows, or ravens%
!mon* their names were "horone)s, identiiable with the .elti# Raven7*od 4ran, or Cron2
,ri#hthoni)s the ser(ent7tailed2 and .ron)s, whi#h is a orm o .oron)s 5I#rowA or IravenA6,
the name o two other -a(ith kin*s% !s#le(i)s 5I)n#easin*ly *entleA6 will have been a
#om(limentary title *iven to all (hysi#ian heroes, in the ho(e o winnin* their benevolen#e%
0% The *oddess !thene, (atroness o this #)lt, was not ori*inally re*arded as a maiden2 the
dead hero havin* been both her son and her lover% +he re#eived the title I.oronisA be#a)se o
the ora#)lar #row, or raven, and I&y*ieiaA be#a)se o the #)res she bro)*ht abo)t% &er
symbol was the mistletoe, i:ias, a word with whi#h the name $s#hys 5Istren*thA6 and $:ion
5Istron* nativeA6 are #losely #onne#ted% The ,astern ,)ro(ean mistletoe is a (arasite o the
oak and not like the Western variety, o the (o(lar or the a((le7tree2 and I!es#)la(i)sA, the
-atin orm o !s#le(i)sJa((arently meanin* Ithat whi#h han*s rom the es#)lent oak I, i%e%
the mistletoeJmay well be the earlier rile o the two% Mistletoe was re*arded as the oak7
treeAs *enitals, and when the ?r)ids rit)ally lo((ed it with a *olden si#kle, they were
(erormin* a symboli# emas#)lation% The vis#o)s H)i#e o it berries (assed or oak7s(erm, a
liE)id o *reat re*enerative virt)e% +ir 9ames 'ra8er has (ointed o)t in his Golden 4o)*h that
!eneas visited the /nderworld with mistletoe in his hand, and th)s held the (ower o
ret)rnin* at will to the )((er air% The I#ertain herbA, whi#h raised Gla)#)s rom the tomb, is
likely to have been the mistletoe also% $s#hys !s#le(i)s, $:ion, and "olyeid)s are, in a#t, the
same mythi# #hara#ter (ersonii#ations o the #)rative (ower resident in the dismembered
*enitals o the sa#rii#ed oak7hero% I.hyl)sA, $s#hysAs other name, mean Ithe H)i#e o a (lant,
or berryA%
<% !theneAs dis(ensation o Gor*on7blood to !s#le(i)s and ,ri#hthoni)s s)**ests that the
#)rative rites )sed in this #)lt were a se#ret *)arded by (riestesses, whi#h it was death to
investi*ateJthe Gor*on7head is a ormal warnin* to (ryers% 4)t the blood o the sa#rii#ed
oak7kin*, or o his #hild s)rro*ate, is likely to have been dis(ensed on these o##asions, as
well as mistletoe7H)i#e%
=% !(olloAs mytho*ra(hers have made his sister !rtemis res(onsible or $s#hysAs m)rder2 and,
indeed, she was ori*inally the same *oddess as !thene, in whose hono)r the oak7kin* met his
death% They have also made @e)s destroy both $s#hys and !s#le(i)s with th)nderbolts2 and,
indeed, all oak7kin*s ell beneath the do)ble7a:e, later ormali8ed as a th)nderbolt, and their
bodies were )s)ally roasted in a bonire%
5% !(ollo #)rsed the #row, b)rned .oronis to death or her ille*itimate love aair with $s#hys,
and #laimed !s#le(i)s as his own son2 then .heiron and he ta)*ht him the art o healin*% $n
other words1 !(olloAs &elleni# (riests were hel(ed by their Ma*nesian allies the .enta)rs,
who were hereditary enemies o the -a(iths, to take over a Thessalian #row7ora#le, hero and
all, e:(ellin* the #olle*e o Moon7(riestesses and s)((ressin* the worshi( o the *oddess%
!(ollo retained the stolen #row, or raven, as an emblem o divination, b)t his (riests o)nd
dream7inter(retation a sim(ler and more ee#tive means o dia*nosin* their (atientsA
ailments than the birdsA eni*mati# #roakin*% !t the same time, the sa#ral )se o mistletoe was
dis#ontin)ed in !r#adia, Messene, Thessaly, and !thens2 and $s#hys be#ame a son o the
(ine7tree 5,lat)s6, not o the oakJhen#e the (ista#hio7#one in the hands o !s#le(i)sAs ima*e
at +i#yon% There was another -a(ith (rin#ess named .oronis whom 4)tes, the an#estor o the
!thenian 4)tadae, violated%
6% !s#le(i)sAs ser(ent orm, like that o ,ri#hthoni)sJwhom !thene also em(owered to raise
the dead with Gor*on7bloodJshows that he was an ora#)lar hero2 b)t several tame ser(ents
were ke(t in his tem(le at ,(ida)r)s 5"a)sanias6 as a symbol o renovation1 be#a)se ser(ents
#ast their slo)*h every year% The bit#h who s)#kled !s#le(i)s, when the *oat7herd hailed him
as the new7born kin*, m)st be &e#ate, or &e#abe2 and it is (erha(s to a##o)nt or this bit#h,
with whom he is always (i#t)red, that .heiron has been made to t)tor him in h)ntin*% &is
other oster7mother, the she7*oat, m)st be the Goat7!thene, in whose ae*is ,ri#hthoni)s took
re)*e2 indeed, i !s#le(i)s ori*inally had a twinJas "elias was s)#kled by a mare, and
3ele)s by a
bit#hJthis will have been ,ri#hthoni)s%
>% !thene, when reborn as a loyal vir*in7da)*hter o ;lym(ian @e)s, had to ollow !(olloAs
e:am(le and #)rse the #row, her ormer amiliar%
8% The willow was a tree o (ower)l moon7ma*i#2 and the bitter dr)* (re(ared rom its bark
is still a s(e#ii# a*ainst rhe)matismJto whi#h the +(artans in their dam( valleys will have
been m)#h s)bHe#t% 4)t bran#hes o the (arti#)lar variety o willow with whi#h the +(artan
!s#le(i)s was asso#iated, namely the a*n)s #ast)s, were strewn on the beds o matrons at the
!thenian Thesmo(horia, a ertility estival, s)((osedly to kee( o ser(ents 5!rrian1 &istory
o !nimals6, tho)*h really to en#o)ra*e ser(ent7sha(ed *hosts2 and !s#le(i)sAs (riests may
thereore have s(e#iali8ed in the #)re o barrenilness%
The ;ra#les
T&, ;ra#les o Gree#e and Greater Gree#e are many2 b)t the eldest is that o ?odonian
@e)s% $n a*es (ast, two bla#k doves lew rom ,*y(tian Thebes1 one to -ibyan !mmon, the
other to ?odona, and ea#h ali*hted on an oak7tree, whi#h they (ro#laimed to be an ora#le o
@e)s% !t ?odona, @e)sAs (riestesses listen to the #ooin* o doves, or to the r)stlin* o oak7
leaves, or to the #lankin* o bra8en vessels s)s(ended rom the bran#hes% @e)s has another
amo)s ora#le at ;lym(ia, where his (riests re(ly to E)estions ater ins(e#tin* the entrails o
sa#rii#ial vi#tims%
b% The ?el(hi# ;ra#le irst belon*ed to Mother ,arth, who a((ointed ?a(hnis as her
(ro(hetess2 and ?a(hnis, seated on a tri(od, drank in the )mes o (ro(he#y, as "ythian
(riestess still does% +ome say that Mother ,arth later resi*ned her ri*hts to the Titaness
"hoebe, or Themis2 and that she #eded them to !(ollo, who b)ilt himsel a shrine o la)rel7
bo)*hs bro)*ht rom Tem(e% 4)t others say that !(ollo robbed the ora#le rom Mother ,arth,
ater killin* "ython, and that his &y(erborean (riests "a*as)s and !*yie)s established his
worshi( there%
#% !t ?el(hi it is said that the irst shrine was made o bees7wa: and eathers2 the se#ond, o
ern7stalks twisted to*ether2 the third, o la)rel7bo)*hs2 that &e(haest)s b)ilt the o)rth o
bron8e, with *olden son*7birds (er#hed on the roo, b)t one day the earth en*)led it2 and
that the ith, b)ilt o dressed stone, b)rned down in the year o the ity7ei*hth ;lym(iad,
and was re(la#ed by the (resent shrine%
d% !(ollo owns n)mero)s other ora#)lar shrines1 s)#h as those in the -y#ae)m and on the
!#ro(olis at !r*os, both (resided over by a (riestess% 4)t at 4oeotian $smeni)m, his ora#les
are *iven by (riests, ater the ins(e#tion o entrails2 at .lar)s, near .olo(hon, his seer drinks
the water o a se#ret well and (rono)n#es an ora#le in verse2 while at Telmess)s and
elsewhere, dreams are inter(reted%
e% ?emeterAs (riestesses *ive ora#les to the si#k at "atrae, rom a mirror lowered into her well
by a ro(e% !t "harae, in ret)rn or a #o((er #oin, the si#k who #ons)lt &ermes are *ranted
their ora#)lar res(onses in the irst #han#e words that they hear on leavin* the market (la#e%
% &era has a venerable ora#le near "a*ae2 and Mother ,arth is still #ons)lted at !e*eira in
!#haea, whi#h means IThe "la#e o 4la#k "o(larsA, where her (riestess drinks b)llAs blood,
deadly (oison to all other mortals%
*% 4esides these, there are many other ora#les o heroes, the ora#le o &era#les, at !#haean
4)ra, where the answer is *iven by a throw o o)r di#e2 and n)mero)s ora#les o !s#le(i)s,
where the si#k lo#k or #ons)ltation and or #)re, and are told the remedy in their dreams
ater a ast% The ora#les o Theban !m(hiara)s and Mallian !m(hilo#h)sJwith Mo(s)s, the
most inallible e:tantJollow the !s#le(ian (ro#ed)re%
h% Moreover, "asi(haB has an ora#le at -a#onian Thalamae, (atroni8ed by the Gin*s o
+(arta, where answers are also *iven in dreams%
i% +ome ora#les are not so easily #ons)lted as others% 'or instan#e, at -ebadeia there is an
ora#le o Tro(honi)s, son o ,r*in)s the !r*ona)t, where the s)((liant m)st ()riy himsel
several days beorehand, and lod*e in a b)ildin* dedi#ated to Good 'ort)ne and a #ertain
Good Geni)s, bathin* only in the river &er#yna and sa#rii#in* to Tro(honi)s, to his n)rse
?emeter ,)ro(e, and to other deities% There he eeds on sa#red lesh, es(e#ially that o a ram
whi#h has been sa#rii#ed to the shade o !*amedes, the brother o Tro(honi)s, who hel(ed
him to b)ild !(olloAs tem(le at ?el(hi%
H% When it to #ons)lt the ora#le, the s)((liant is led down to the river by two boys, thirteen
years o a*e, and there bathed and anointed% 3e:t, he drinks rom a s(rin* #alled the Water o
-ethe, whi#h will hel( him to or*et his (ast2 and also rom another, #lose by, #alled the
Water o Memory, whi#h will hel( him to remember what he saw and heard% ?ressed in
#o)ntry boots and a linen t)ni#, and with illets like a sa#rii#ial vi#tim, he then a((roa#hes
the ora#)lar #ave% This resembles a h)*e bread7bakin* (ot ei*ht yards dee(, and des#endin*
by a ladder, he inds a narrow o(enin* at the ba#k thro)*h whi#h he thr)sts his le*s, holdin*
in either hand a barley #ake mi:ed with honey% ! s)dden t)* at his ankles, and he is ()lled
thro)*h as i by the swirl o a swit river, and in the darkness a blow alls sk)ll, so that he
seems to die, and an invisible s(eaker then reveals )t)re to him, besides many mysterio)s
se#rets% !s soon as the has inished, he loses all sense and )nderstandin*, and is ret)rned, eet
oremost, to the bottom o the #hasm, b)t witho)t honey7#akes2 ater whi#h he is enthroned
on the so7#alled .hair o Memory and asked to re(eat what he has heard% 'inally, still in a
di88y #ondition, he ret)rns to the ho)se o the Good Geni)s, where he re*ains his senses and
the (ower to la)*h%
k% The invisible s(eaker is one o the Good Genii, belon*in* to Golden !*e o .ron)s, who
have des#ended rom the moon to be in #har*e o ora#les and initiatory rites, and a#t as
#hasteners, war and savio)rs everywhere2 he #ons)lts the *host o Tro(honi)s in ser(ent orm
and *ives the reE)ired ora#le as (ayment or the s)((liantAs honey7#akes%
1% !ll ora#les were ori*inally delivered by the ,arth7*oddess, whose a)thority was so *reat
that (atriar#hal invaders made a (ra#ti#e o stealin* her shrines and either a((ointin* (riests
or retainin* the (riestesses in their own servi#e% Th)s @e)s at ?odona, and !mmon in the
;asis o +iwwa, took over the #)lt o the ora#)lar oak, sa#red to ?ia or ?ioneJas the
&ebrew 9ehovah did that o $shtarAs ora#)lar a#a#iaJand !(ollo #a(t)red the shrines o
?el(hi and !r*os% !t !r*os, the (ro(hetess was allowed )ll reedom2 at ?el(hi, a (riest
intervened between (ro(hetess and votary, translatin* her in#oherent )tteran#es into
he:ameters2 at ?odona, both the ?ove7(riestesses and @e)sAs male (ro(hets delivered
ora#les%
0% Mother ,arthAs shrine at ?el(hi was o)nded by the .retans, who let their sa#red m)si#,
rit)al, dan#es, and #alendar as a le*a#y to the &ellenes% &er .retan s#e(tre, the labrys, or
do)ble7a:e, named the (riestly #or(oration at ?el(hi, the -abryadae, whi#h was still e:tant in
.lassi#al times% The tem(le made rom bees7wa: and eathers reers to the *oddess as 4ee
and as ?ove2 the tem(le o ern re#alls the ma*i#al (ro(erties attrib)ted to ern7
seed at the s)mmer and winter solsti#es 5+ir 9ames 'ra8er devotes several (a*es to the s)bHe#t
in his Golden 4o)*h62 the shrine o la)rel re#alls the la)rel7lea #hewed by the (ro(hetess
and her #om(anions in their or*ies% ?a(hnis is a shortened orm o ?a(hoenissa 5Ithe bloody
oneA6, as ?a(hne is o ?a(hoene% The shrine o bron8e en*)led by the earth may merely
mark the o)rth sta*e o a ?el(hi# son* that, like I-ondon 4rid*e is 4roken ?ownA, told o
the vario)s )ns)itable materials with whi#h the shrine was s)##essively b)ilt2 b)t it may also
reer to an )nder*ro)nd tholos, the tomb o a hero who was in#arnate in the (ython% The
tholos, a beehive7sha(ed *host7ho)se, a((ears to be o !ri#an ori*in, and introd)#ed into
Gree#e by way o "alestine% The Wit#h o ,ndor (resided at a similar shrine, and the *host o
!dam *ave ora#les at &ebron% "hilostrat)s reers to the *olden birds in his -ie o !(olloni)s
o Tyana and des#ribes them as siren7like wryne#ks2 b)t "indar #alls them ni*htin*ales
5'ra*ment E)oted by !thenae)s6% Whether the birds re(resented ora#)lar ni*htin*ales, or
wryne#ks )sed as love7#harms and rain7ind)#ers, is dis()table%
<% $ns(e#tion o entrails seems to have been an $ndoJ,)ro(ean manti# devi#e% ?ivination by
the throw o o)r kn)#klebone di#e was (erha(s al(habeti#al in ori*in1 sin#e Isi*nsA, not
n)mbers, were said to be marked on the only o)r sides o ea#h bone whi#h #o)ld t)rn )(%
Twelve #onsonants and o)r vowels 5as in the divinatory $rish ;*ham #alled I;A+)llivanAsA6
are the sim(lest orm to whi#h the Greek al(habet #an be red)#ed% 4)t, in .lassi#al times,
n)mbers only were markedJ1, <, =, and 6 on ea#h kn)#kleboneJand the meanin*s o all
their (ossible #ombinations had been #odiied% "ro(he#y rom dreams is a )niversal (ra#ti#e%
=% !(olloAs (riests e:a#ted vir*inity rom the "ythian (riestesses at ?el(hi, who were
re*arded as !(olloAs brides2 b)t when one o was s#andalo)sly sed)#ed by a votary, they had
thereater to be abo)t ity years old on installation, tho)*h still dressin* as brides% 4)llAs
blood was tho)*ht to be hi*hly (oisono)s, be#a)se o its ma*i#al (oten#y1 the blood o
sa#red b)lls, sometimes )sed to #onse#rate a tribe, as in ,:od)s, was mi:ed with *reat
E)antities o water beore bein* s(rinkled on the ields as a ertili8er% The "riestess o ,arth
however, #o)ld drink whatever Mother ,arth hersel drank%
5% &era, "asi(haB, and $no were all titles o the Tri(le7*oddess, interde(enden#e o whose
(ersons was symbolised by the tri(od whi#h her (riestess sat%
6% The (ro#ed)re at the ora#le o Tro(honi)sJwhi#h "a)sanias sel visitedJre#alls !eneasAs
des#ent, mistletoe in hand, to Tartar)s, where he #ons)lted his ather !n#hises, and
;dysse)sAs earlier #ons)ltation o Teiresias2 it also shows the relevan#e o these myths to a
#ommon orm o initiation rite in whi#h the novi#e s)ers a mo#k7death, re#eives mysti#al
instr)#tion rom a (retendin* *host, and is then reborn in new #lan, or se#ret so#iety% "l)tar#h
remarks that the Tro(honiads mysta*o*)es in the dark denJbelon* to the (re7;lym(ian a*e
o .ron)s, and #orre#tly #o)(les them with the $daean ?a#tyls who ormed the +amothra#ian
Mysteries%
>% 4la#k (o(lar was sa#red to the ?eath7*oddess at "a*ae, and "erse(hone had a bla#k (o(lar
*rove in the 'ar West 5"a)sanias6%
8% !m(hilo#h)s and Mo(s)s had killed ea#h other, b)t their *hosts a*reed to o)nd a Hoint
ora#le%
The !l(habet
T&, Three 'ates or, some say, $o the sister o "horone)s, invented ive vowels o the irst
al(habet, and the #onsonants 4 and T2 "alamedes, son o 3a)(li)s, invented the remainin*
eleven #onsonants, and &ermes red)#ed these so)nds to #hara#ters, )sin* wed*e sha(e,
be#a)se #ranes ly in wed*e ormation, and #arried the system Gree#e to ,*y(t% This was the
"elas*ian al(habet, whi#h .adm)s bro)*ht ba#k to 4oeotia, and whi#h ,vander o !r#adia, a
"elas*ian, introd)#ed into $taly, where his mother .armenta ormed the amiliar iteen
#hara#ters o the -atin al(habet%
b% ;ther #onsonants have sin#e then been added to the Greek al(habet by +imonides o
+amos, and ,(i#harm)s o +i#ily2 and two vowels, lon* ; and short ,, by the (riests o
!(ollo, so that his sa#red lyre now has one vowel or ea#h o its seven strin*s%
#% !l(ha was the irst o the ei*hteen letters, be#a)se al(he means hono)r, and al(hainein is to
invent, and be#a)se the !l(hei)s is the most notable o rivers2 moreover, .adm)s, tho)*h he
#han*ed the order o the letters, ke(t al(ha in this (la#e, be#a)se ale(h, in the "hoeni#ian
ton*)e, means an o:, and be#a)se 4oeotia is the land o o:en%
1% The Greek al(habet was a sim(lii#ation o the .retan hiero*ly(hs% +#holars are now
*enerally a*reed that the irst written al(habet develo(ed in ,*y(t d)rin* the ei*hteenth
#ent)ry 4. )nder .retan inl)en#e2 whi#h #orres(onds with !ristidesAs tradition, re(orted by
"liny, that an ,*y(tian #alled Menos 5ImoonA6 invented it Iiteen years beore the rei*n o
"horone)s, Gin* o !r*osA%
0% There is eviden#e, however, that beore the introd)#tion o the modiied "hoeni#ian
al(habet into Gree#e an al(habet had e:isted there as a reli*io)s se#ret held by the (riestesses
o the MoonJ$o, or the Three 'ates2 that it was #losely linked with the #alendar, and that its
letters were re(resented not by written #hara#ters, b)t by twi*s #)t rom dierent trees ty(i#al
o the yearAs seE)ent months%
<% The an#ient $rish al(habet, like that )sed by the Galli# dr)ids o whom .aesar wrote, mi*ht
not at irst be written down, and all its letters were named ater trees% $t was #alled the 4eth7
l)is7nion 5Ibir#h7rowan7ashA6 ater its irst three #onsonants2 and its #anon, whi#h s)**ests a
"hry*ian (rovenien#e, #orres(onded with the "elas*ian and the -atin al(habets, namely
thirteen #onsonants and ive vowels% The ori*inal order was !, 4, -, 3, ;, ', +, &, /, ?, T,
., ,, M, G, 3* or Gn, R, $, whi#h is likely also to have been the order )sed by &ermes% $rish
ollaves made it into a dea7and7d)mb lan*)a*e, )sin* in*er7Hoints to re(resent the dierent
letters, or one o verbal #y(hers% ,a#h #onsonant re(resented a twenty7ei*ht7day month o a
series o thirteen, be*innin* two days ater the winter solsti#e2 namely1
1 ?e#% 0= 4 bir#h, or wild olive
0 9an% 01 - rowan
< 'eb% 18 3 ash
= Mar#h 18 ' alder, or #ornel
5 !(ril 15 + willow2 ++ 5@6, bla#kthorn
6 May 1< & hawthorn, or wild (ear
> 9)ne 10 ? oak, or terebinth
8 9)ly 8 T holly, or (ri#kly oak
9 !)*% 5 . n)t2 .. 5M6, a((le, sorb
10 +e(t% 0 M vine
11 +e(t% <0 G ivy
10 ;#t% 08 3* or Gn reed, or *)elder rose
1< 3ov% 05 R #ider, or myrtle
=% !bo)t =00 4., as the res)lt o a reli*io)s revol)tion, the order #han*ed as ollows to
#orres(ond with a new #alendar system1 4, $% 3, &, ?, T, ., M, M, G, 3*, @, R% This is the
al(habet asso#iated with &era#les ;*mi)s, or I;*ma +)na#eA, as the earlier is with
"horone)s%
5% ,a#h vowel re(resented a E)arterly station o the year1 ; 5*reenweed6 the +(rin* ,E)ino:2
/ 5heather6 the +)mmer +olsti#e2 , 5(o(lar6 !)t)mn ,E)ino:2 ! 5ir, or (alm6 the birth7tree,
and $ 5yew6 death7tree, shared the Winter +olsti#e between them% This order o letters is
im(li#it in Greek and -atin myth and the sa#ral tradition o all ,)ro(e and, m)tatis m)tandis,
+yria and !sia Minor% The *oddess .armenta invented 4 and T as well as the vowels,
be#a)se ea#h o these #alendar7#onsonants introd)#ed one hal o her year, as divided
between the sa#red kin* and his tanist%
6% .ranes were sa#red to &ermes, (rote#tor o (oets beore !(ollo )s)r(ed his (ower2 and the
earliest al(habeti# #hara#ters were wed*e7sha(ed% "alamedes 5Ian#ient intelli*en#eA6, with his
sa#red #rane 5Martial1 ,(i*rams6 was the .arian #o)nter(art o ,*y(tian *od Thoth, inventor
o letters, with his #rane7like ibis% &ermes was ThothAs early &elleni# #o)nter(art% That
+imonides and ,(i#harm)s added new letters to the al(habet is history, not myth2 tho)*h
e:a#tly why they did so remains do)bt)l% Two additions, :i and (si, were )nne#essary, and
the removal o the as 5&6 and di*amma 5'6 im(overished the #anon%
>% $t #an be shown that the names o the letters (reserved in the 4eth7l)is7nion, whi#h are
traditionally re(orted to have #ome rom Gree#e and rea#hed $reland by way o +(ain, orm
ar#hai# Greek #harm in hono)r o the !r#adian White Goddess !l(hito, who, by .lassi#al
times, had de*enerated into a mere n)rsery% The .admeian order o letters, (er(et)ated in the
amiliar !4., see be a deliberate misarran*ement by "hoeni#ian mer#hants2 they )sed se#ret
al(habet or trade ()r(oses b)t eared to oend the *oddess, revealin* its tr)e order%
This #om(li#ated and im(ortant s)bHe#t is dis#)ssed at len*th in White Goddess%
8% The vowels added by the (riests o !(ollo to his lyre were (robably those mentioned by
?emetri)s, an !le:andrian (hiloso(her o the irst #ent)ry 4., when he writes in his
dissertation ;n +tyle1 I$n ,*y(t the (riests sin* hymns to the Gods by )tterin* the seven
vowels in s)##ession, the so)nd o whi#h (rod)#es as stron* a m)si#al im(ression on their
hearers as i the l)te and lyre were )sed, b)t (erha(s $ had better not enlar*e on this theme%A
This s)**ests that the vowels were )sed in thera(e)ti# lyre m)si# at !(olloAs shrines%
The ?a#tyls
+;M, say that while Rhea was bearin* @e)s, she (ressed her in*ers into the soil to ease her
(an*s and )( s(ran* the ?a#tyls1 ive emales rom her let hand, and ive males rom her
ri*ht% 4)t it is *enerally held that they were livin* on "hry*ian Mo)nt $da lon* beore the
birth o @e)s, and some say that the nym(h !n#hiale bore them in the ?i#taean .ave near
;a:)s% The male ?a#tyls were smiths and irst dis#overed iron in near7by Mo)nt
4ere#ynth)s2 and their sisters, who settled in +amothra#e, e:#ited *reat wonder there by
#astin* ma*i# s(ells, and ta)*ht ;r(he)s the GoddessAs mysteries1 their names are a well7
*)arded se#ret%
b% ;thers say that the males were the .)retes who (rote#ted @e)sAs #radle in .rete, and that
they aterwards #ame to ,lis and raised a tem(le to (ro(itiate .ron)s% Their names were
&era#les, "aeoni)s, ,(imedes, $asi)s, and !#esidas% &era#les, havin* bro)*ht wild7olive
rom the &y(erboreans to ;lym(ia, set his yo)n*er brothers to r)n a ra#e there, and th)s the
;lym(i# Games ori*inated% $t is also said that he #rowned "aeoni)s, the vi#tor, with a s(ray
o wild7olive2 and that, aterwards, they sle(t in beds made rom its *reen leaves% 4)t the
tr)th is that wild7olive was not )sed or the vi#torAs #rown )ntil the seventh ;lym(iad, when
the ?el(hi# ;ra#le had ordered $(hit)s to s)bstit)te it or the a((le7s(ray hitherto awarded as
the (ri8e o vi#tory%
#% !#mon, ?amnamene)s, and .elmis are titles o the three eldest ?a#tyls2 some say that
.elmis was t)rned to iron as a ()nishment or ins)ltin* Rhea%
1% The ?a#tyls (ersoniy the in*ers, and &era#lesAs ;lym(i# Games are a #hildish able
ill)strated by dr)mmin* oneAs in*ers on a table, omittin* the th)mbJwhen the orein*er
always wins the ra#e% 4)t se#ret ;r(hi# knowled*e was based on a #alendar seE)en#e o
ma*i#al trees, ea#h o them is assi*ned to a se(arate in*er Hoint in the si*n7lan*)a*e and a
se(arate letter in ;r(hi# #alendar7al(habet, whi#h seems to have been "hry*ian in ori*in%
Wild7olive belon*s to the to(7Hoint o the th)mb, s)((osedly the seat o virility and thereore
#alled &era#les% This &era#les is said to have had leaves *rowin* rom his body
5"alae(hat)s6% The similar system is re#alled in the (o()lar Western in*er7names1 e%*% IoolAs
in*erA whi#h #orres(onds with ,(imedes, the middle in*er, and the I] in*erA, whi#h
#orres(onds with $asi)s, the o)rth2 and in the in*er names o (almistry1 e%*% +at)rn or
,(imedes J+at)rn havin* shown himsel slow7witted in his str)**le with @e)s2 and !(ollo,
*od o healin* or $asi)s% The orein*er is *iven to 9)(iter, or @e)s, who
won the ra#e% The little in*er, Mer#)ry or &ermes, is the ma*i#al one% Thro)*h (rimitive
,)ro(e, metall)r*y was a##om(anied by in#antations, and smiths thereore #laimed the
in*ers o the ri*ht hand as their ?a#tyls, leavin* the let to the sor#eresses%
0% The story o !#mon, ?amnamene)s, and .elmis, whose names reer to smith #rat, is
another #hildish able, ill)strated by ta((in* with inde: in*er on the th)mb, as a hammer on
an anvil, and then sli((in* ti( o the middle in*er between them, as tho)*h it were a (ie#e o
hot iron% $ron #ame to .rete thro)*h "hry*ia rom arther alon* +o)thern 4la#k +ea #oast2
and .elmis, bein* a (ersonii#ation o smith iron, will have been obno:io)s to the Great
Goddess Rhea, (atroness o smiths, whose reli*io)s de#line be*an with the smeltin* o iron
an arrival o the iron7wea(oned ?orians% +he had re#o*ni8ed only silver, #o((er, lead, and tin
as terrestrial ores2 tho)*h l)m(s o meteoriti# iron were hi*hly (ri8ed be#a)se o their
mira#)lo)s ori*in, and one have allen on Mo)nt 4ere#ynth)s% !n )nworked l)m( was o)nd
in 3eolithi# de(osit at "haest)s beside a sE)attin* #lay ima*e o the *oddess ] sea7shells,
and oerin* bowls% !ll early ,*y(tian iron is meteoriti#, it #ontains a hi*h (ro(ortion o
ni#kel and is nearly r)st7(roo% .elmisAs ins)lt to &era *ave the middle in*er its name1 di*ita
im()di#a%
<% The ;lym(i# Games ori*inated in a oot ra#e, r)n by *irls, or the (rivile*e o be#omin*
the (riestess o the Moon7*oddess &era 5"a)sanias62 and sin#e this event took (la#e in the
month "arthenios, Io the maidenA, it seems to have been ann)al% When @e)s married &eraJ
when, that is, a new orm o sa#red kin*shi( had been introd)#ed into Gree#e by the
!#haeansJa se#ond oot ra#e was r)n by yo)n* men or the dan*ero)s (rivile*e o
be#omin* the (riestessAs #onsort, +)n to her Moon, and th)s Gin* o ,lis2 H)st as !ntae)s
made his da)*hterAs s)itors ra#e or her 5"indar1 "ythian ;des6, ollowin* the e:am(le o
$#ari)s and ?ana)s%
=% The Games were thereater held every o)r years, instead o ann)ally, the *irls oot ra#e
bein* r)n at a se(arate estival, either a ortni*ht beore or a ortni*ht ater the ;lym(ian
Games (ro(er2 and the sa#red kin*shi( #onerred on the vi#tor o the oot ra#e at his marria*e
to the new (riestess, is re#alled in the divine hono)rs that the vi#tory #ontin)ed to bestow in
.lassi#al times% &avin* been wreathed with &era#lesAs or @e)sAs olive, sal)ted as IGin*
&era#lesA, and (elted with leaves like a 9a#k oAGreen, he led the dan#e in a tri)m(hal
(ro#ession and ate sa#rii#ial b)llAs lesh in the .o)n#il &all%
5% The ori*inal (ri8e, an a((le, or an a((le7s(ray, had been a (romise o immortality when he
was d)ly killed by his s)##essor2 or "l)tar#h mentions that tho)*h a oot ra#e was the sole
#ontest in the ori*inal ;lym(i# Games, a sin*le #ombat also took (la#e, whi#h ended only in
the death o the vanE)ished% This #ombat is mytholo*i#ally re#orded in the story that the
;lym(i# Games be*an with a wrestlin* mat#h between @e)s and .ron)s or the (ossession
o ,lis 5"a)sanias6, namely the mids)mmer #ombat between the kin* and his tanist2 and the
res)lt was a ore*one #on#l)sionJthe tanist #ame armed with a s(ear%
6% ! s#holiast on "indar 5;lym(ian ;des6, E)otin* .omar#h)s, shows that the ,lian 3ew
Dear was re#koned rom the )ll moon nearest to the winter solsti#e, and that a se#ond 3ew
Dear be*an at mids)mmer% "res)mably thereore the new @e)s7&era#les, that is to say, the
winner o the oot ra#e, killed the ;ld Dear tanist, .ron)s7$(hi#les, at midwinter% &en#e
&era#les irst instit)ted the Games and named the se()l#hral &ill o .ron)s Iat a season
when the s)mmit was wet with m)#h snowA 5"indar1 ;lym(ian ;des6
>% $n an#ient times, @e)s7&era#les was (elted with oak7leaves and *iven the a((le7s(ray at
mids)mmer, H)st beore bein* killed by his tanist2 he had won the royal wild7olive bran#h at
midwinter% The re(la#ement o the a((le by wild7olive, whi#h is the tree that drives away evil
s(irits, im(lied the abortion o this death7#ombat, and the #onversion o the sin*le year,
divided into two halves, into a Great Dear% This be*an at midwinter, when solar and l)nar
time #oin#ided avo)rably or a +)n7and7Moon marria*e, and was divided into two
;lym(iads o o)r years a(ie#e2 the kin* and his tanist rei*nin* s)##essively or #)rrently%
Tho)*h by .lassi#al times the solar #hariot ra#eJor the mytholo*i#al a)thority is "elo(sAs
#ontest with ;enoma)s or ?eidameiaJhad be#ome the most im(ortant event in the
#ontests, it was still tho)*ht somehow )nl)#ky to be (elted with leaves vi#tory in the oot
ra#e2 and "ytha*oras advised his riends to #om(ete in this event b)t not to win it% The
vi#tory7o:, eaten at the .o)n#il was #learly a s)rro*ate or the kin*, as at the !thenian
,)(honia%
8% ;lym(ia is not a My#enaean site and the (re7!#haean myths thereore )nlikely to have
been borrowed rom .rete2 they seem "elas*ian%
The Tel#hines
T&, nine do*7headed, li((er7handed Tel#hines, .hildren o the +ea, ori*inated in Rhodes,
where they o)nded the #ities o .ameir)s, $alys)s, and -ind)s2 and mi*ratin* then#e to
.rete, be#ame its irst inhabitants% Rhea entr)sted the inant "oseidon to their #are, and they
or*ed his trident b)t, lon* beore this, had made or .ron)s his toothed si#kle with whi#h he
#astrated his ather /ran)s2 and moreover, the irst to #arve ima*es o the *ods%
b% Det @e)s resolved to destroy them by a lood, be#a)se they have been intererin* with the
weather, raisin* ma*i# mists and bli] #ro(s by means o s)l(h)r and +ty*ian water% Warned
by !rtemis they all led overseas1 some to 4oeotia, where they b)ilt the tem(le o !thene at
Te)mess)s2 some to +i#yon, some to -y#ia, or some to ;r#homen)s, where they were the
ho)nds that tore !#taeon to (ie#es% 4)t @e)s destroyed the Te)messian Tel#hines with a
lood2 !(ollo dis*)ised as a wol, destroyed the -y#ian ones, tho)*h they tried to (la#ate him
with a new tem(le2 and they are no lon*er to be at ;r#homen)s% R)mo)r has it that some are
still livin* in +i#yon%
1% That the nine Tel#hines were .hildren o the +ea, a#ted as the ho)nds o !rtemis, #reated
ma*i# mists, and o)nded the #ities named ater the three ?anaids1 .ameira, $alysa, and
-inda, s)**ests that they were ori*inally emanations o the Moon7*oddess ?anaB, ea#h o her
three (ersons in triad% ITel#hinA was derived by the Greek *rammarians rom thel*ein, Ito
en#hantA% 4)t, sin#e woman, do* and ish were likewise #ombined in (i#t)res o +#ylla the
TyrrhenianJwho was also at home in .reteJand in the i*)re7heads o Tyrrhenian shi(s, the
word may be a variant o ITyrrhenA or ITyrsenA2 l and r havin* been #on)sed by the -ibyans,
and the ne:t #onsonant bein* somethin* between an as(irate and a sibilant% They were, it
seems, worshi((ed by an early matriar#hal (eo(le o Gree#e, .rete, -ydia, and the !e*ean
$slands, whom the invadin* (atriar#hal &ellenes (erse#)ted2 absorbed or or#ed to emi*rate
westward% Their ori*in may have been ,ast !ri#an%
0% Ma*i# mists were raised by willow s(ells% +ty: water was s)((osedly so holy that the least
dro( o it #a)sed death, )nless dr)nk rom a #)( made o a horseAs hoo, whi#h (roves it
sa#red to the Mare7headed *oddess o !r#adia% !le:ander the Great is said to have been
(oisoned by +ty: water 5"a)sanias6% The Tel#hinesA ma*i#al )se o it s)**ests that their
devotees held near7by Mo)nt 3ona#rid, 5Inine (eaksA6, at one time the #hie reli*io)s #entre
o Gree#e2 even the ;lym(i# *ods swore their most solemn oath by the +ty:%
The ,m()sae
T&, ilthy demons #alled ,m()sae, #hildren o &e#ate, are ass7ha)n#hed and wear bra8en
sli((ersJ)nless, as some de#lare, ea#h has one assAs le* and one bra8en le*% Their habit is to
ri*hten travellers, b)t they may be ro)ted by ins)ltin* words, at the so)nd o whi#h they lee
shriekin*% ,m()sae dis*)ise themselves in the orms o bit#hes, #ows, or bea)ti)l maidens
and, in the latter sha(e, they lie with men by ni*ht, or at the time o midday slee(, s)#kin*
their vital or#es )ntil they die%
1% The ,m()sae 5Ior#ers7inA6 are *reedily sed)#tive emale demonsJa #on#e(t (robably
bro)*ht to Gree#e rom "alestine, where they were known by the name o -ilim 5I#hildren o
-ilithA6 and were tho)*ht to be ha)n#hed, the ass symboli8in* le#hery and #r)elty% -ilith
5Is#rit#h7owl6 was a .anaanite &e#ate, and the 9ews made am)lets to (rote#t themselves
a*ainst her as late as the Middle !*es% &e#ate, the real r)ler o Tartar)s, wore a bra8en sandal
Jthe *olden sandal was !(hroditeAsJand her da)*hters, the ,m()sae, ollowed this
e:am(le% They #o)ld #han*e themselves into bea)ti)l maidens or #ows, as well as bit#hes,
be#a)se the 4it#h &e#ate, bein* a member o the Moon7triad was the same *oddess as
!(hrodite, or #ow7eyed &era%
lo
$;, da)*hter o the River7*od $na#h)s, was a (riestess o !r*ive &era% @e)s, over whom
$yn:, da)*hter o "an and ,#ho, had #ast a s(ell, ell in love with $o, and when &era #har*ed
him with inidelity and t)rned $yn: into a wryne#k as a ()nishment, he lied1 I$ have never
to)#hed $oA% &e then t)rned her into a white #ow, whi#h &era #laimed as hers and handed
over or sae kee(in* to !r*)s "ano(tes, orderin* him1 ITether this beast se#retly to an olive7
tree at 3emea%A 4)t @e)s sent &ermes to et#h her ba#k, and himsel led the way to 3emeaJ
or, some say, to My#enaeJdressed in wood(e#ker dis*)ise% &ermes, tho)*h the #leverest o
thieves, knew that he #o)ld not steal $o witho)t bein* dete#ted by one o !r*)sAs h)ndred
eyes2 he thereore #harmed him aslee( by (layin* the l)te, #r)shed him with a bo)lder, #)t
o his head, and released $o% &era, havin* (la#ed !r*)sAs eyes in the tail o her (ea#o#k, as a
#onstant reminder o his o)l m)rder, set a *adly to stin* $o and #hase her all over the world%
b% $o irst went to ?odona, and (resently rea#hed the sea #alled the $onian ater her, b)t there
t)rned 4a#k and travelled north to Mo)nt &aem)s and then, by way o the ?an)beAs delta,
#o)rsed s)n7wise aro)nd the 4la#k +ea, #rossin* the .rimean 4os(hor)s, and ollowin* the
River &ybristes to its so)r#e in the .a)#as)s, where "romethe)s still lan*)ished on his ro#k%
+he re*ained ,)ro(e by way o .ol#his, the land o the .halybes, and the Thra#ian
4os(hor)s2 then away she *allo(ed thro)*h !sia Minor to Tars)s and 9o((a, then#e to
Media, 4a#tria, and $ndia and, (assin* so)th7westward thro)*h !rabia, a#ross the $ndian
4os(hor)s Wthe +traits o 4ab7el7MandebX, rea#hed ,thio(ia% Then#e she travelled down rom
the so)r#es o the 3ile, where the (y*mies make (er(et)al war with the #ranes, and o)nd
rest at last in ,*y(t% There @e)s restored her to h)man orm and, havin* married Tele*on)s,
she *ave birth to ,(a(h)sJher son by @e)s, who had to)#hed her to some ()r(oseJand
o)nded the worshi( o $sis, as she #alled ?emeter% ,(a(h)s, who was r)mo)red to be the
divine b)ll !(is, rei*ned over ,*y(t, and had a da)*hter, -ibya, the mother by "oseidon o
!*enor and 4el)s%
#% 4)t some believe that $o bore ,(a(h)s in an ,)boean #ave #alled 4oFsa)le, and aterwards
died there rom the stin* o the *adly2 and that, as a #ow, she #han*ed her #olo)r rom white
to violet7red, and rom violet7red to bla#k%
d% ;thers have a E)ite dierent story to tell% They say that $na#h)s, a son o $a(et)s, r)led
over !r*os, and o)nded the #ity o $o(olisJor $o is the name by whi#h the moon was on#e
worshi((ed at !r*osJand #alled his da)*hter $o in hono)r o the moon% @e)s "i#)s, Gin* o
the West, sent his servants to #arry o $o, and o)tra*ed her as soon as she rea#hed his (ala#e%
!ter bearin* him a da)*hter named -ibya, $o led to ,*y(t, b)t o)nd that &ermes, son o
@e)s, was rei*nin* there2 so #ontin)ed her li*ht to Mo)nt +il(i)m in +yria, where she died
o *rie and shame% $na#h)s then sent $oAs brothers and kinsolk in sear#h o her, warnin*
them not to ret)rn em(ty7handed% With Tri(tolem)s or their *)ide, they kno#ked on every
door in +yria, #ryin*1 IMay the s(irit o $o ind restPA2 )ntil at last they rea#hed Mo)nt
+il(i)m, where a (hantasmal #ow addressed them with1 I&ere am $, $o%A They de#ided that $o
m)st have been b)ried on that s(ot, and thereore o)nded a se#ond $o(olis, now #alled
!ntio#h% $n hono)r o $o, the $o(olitans kno#k at one anotherAs doors in the same way every
year, )sin* the same #ry2 and the !r*ives mo)rn ann)ally or her%
1% This myth #onsists o several strands% The !r*ives worshi((ed the moon as a #ow, be#a)se
the horned new moon was re*arded as the so)r#e o all water, and thereore o #attle odder%
&er three #olo)rs1 white or the new moon, red or the harvest moon, bla#k or the moon
when it waned, re(resented the three a*es o the Moon7*oddessJMaiden, 3ym(h, and
.rone% $o #han*ed her #olo)r, as the moon #han*es, b)t or IredA the mytho*ra(her s)bstit)tes
IvioletA be#a)se ion is Greek or the violet lower% Wood(e#kers were tho)*ht to be kno#kin*
or rain when they ta((ed on oak7tr)nks2 and $o was the Moon as rain brin*er% The herdsmen
needed rain most (ressin*ly in late s)mmer when *adlies atta#ked their #attle and sent them
ranti#2 in !ri#a #attle7ownin* 3e*ro tribes still h)rry rom (ast)re to (ast)re when atta#ked
by them% $oAs !r*ive (riestesses seem to have (erormed ann)al heier7dan#e in whi#h they
(retended to be driven mad by *adlies, while wood(e#ker7men, ta((in* on oak7doors and
#ryin* I$oP $oPA, invited the rain to all and relieve their torments% This seems to the ori*in o
the myth o the .oan women who were t)rned into #ows% !r*ive #olonies o)nded in ,)boea,
the 4os(hor)s, the 4la#k +ea, +yria, and ,*y(t, took their rain7makin* dan#e with them% The
wryne#k, the Moon7*oddessAs (rime or*iasti# bird, nests in willows and was thereore
#on#erned with water7ma*i#
0% The le*end invented to a##o)nt or the eastward s(read o this rit)al, as well as the
similarity between the worshi( o $o in Gree#e, $sis in ,*y(t, !starte in +yria, and Gali in
$ndia, has been *rated on the )nrelated stories1 that o the holy moon7#ow wanderin* aro)nd
the heavens, *)arded by the starsJ there is a #o*nate $rish le*end o IGreen +tri((erAJand
that o the Moon7(riestesses whom the leaders o the invadin* &ellenes, ea#h #allin* himsel
@e)s, violated to the dish o the lo#al (o()lation% &era, as @e)sAs wie, is then made to
e:(and Healo)sy o $o, tho)*h $o was another name or I#ow7eyedA &era% ?emeterAs mo)rnin*
or "erse(hone is re#alled in the !r*ive estival o mo)rnin* or $o, sin#e $o has been eE)ated
in the myth with ?emeter% Moreover, every three years ?emeterAs Mysteries were #elebrated
in .eleae 5I#allin*A6, near .orinth, and said to have been o)nded by a brother o
.ele)s 5Iwood(e#kerA6, Gin* o ,le)sis% &ermes is #alled the son o @e)s "i#)s
5Iwood(e#kerA6J!risto(hanes in his 4irds a##)ses @e)s o stealin* the wood(e#kerAs
s#e(treJas "an is said to have been &ermesAs son by the 3ym(h ?ryo(e 5Iwood(e#kerA62
and 'a)n)s, the -atin "an, was the son o "i#)s 5Iwood(e#kerA6 whom .ir#e t)rned into a
wood(e#ker or s()rnin* her love 5;vid1 Metamor(hoses6% 'a)n)sAs .retan tomb bore the
e(ita(h1 I&ere lies the wood(e#ker wh o wa s also @e)sA 5+)idas s)b "i#os6% !ll three are
rain7makin* she(herd7*ods% -ibyaAs name denotes rain, and the winter rains #ame to Gree#e
rom the dire#tion o -ibya%
<% @e)sAs atherin* o ,(a(h)s, who be#ame the an#estor o -ibya, !*enor, 4el)s, !e*y(t)s,
and ?ana)s, im(lies that the @e)s7worshi((in* !#haeans #laimed soverei*nty over all the
sea7(eo(les o the so)theastern Mediterranean%
=% The myth o (y*mies and #ranes seems to #on#ern the tall #attle7breedin* tribesmen who
had broken into the )((er 3ile7valley rom +omaliland and driven the native (y*mies
so)thward% They were #alled I#ranesA be#a)se, then as now, they wo)ld stand or lon* (eriods
on one le*, holdin* the ankle o the other with the o((osite hand, and leanin* on a s(ear%
"horone)s
T&, irst man to o)nd and (eo(le a #ity with a market7town was $oAs brother "horone)s, son
o the River7*od $na#h)s and the 3ym(h Melia2 later its name, "horoni#)m, was #han*ed to
!r*os% "horone)s was also the irst to dis#over the )se o ire, ater "romethe)s had stolen it%
&e married the 3ym(h .erdo, r)led the entire "elo(onnese, and initiated the worshi( o
&era% When he died, his sons "elas*)s, $as)s, and !*enor divided the "elo(onnese between
them2 b)t his son .ar o)nded the #ity o Me*ara%
1% "horone)sAs name, whi#h the Greeks read as Ibrin*er o a (ri#eA in the sense that he
invented markets, (robably stands or 'earin)s 5Io the dawn o the yearA, i%e% the +(rin*62
variants are 4ran, 4arn, 4er*n, Crot, ,(hron, Gwern, 'earn, and 4renn)s% !s the s(irit o the
alder7tree whi#h (resided over the o)rth month in the sa#red year, d)rin* whi#h the +(rin*
'ire 'estival was #elebrated, he was des#ribed as a son o $na#h)s, be#a)se alders *row by
rivers% &is mother is the ash7nym(h Melia, be#a)se the ash, the (re#edin* tree o the same
series, is said to I#o)rt the lashAJli*htnin*7str)#k trees were (rimitive manAs irst so)r#e o
ire% 4ein* an ora#)lar hero, he was also asso#iated with the #row% "horone)sAs dis#overy o
the )se o ire may be e:(lained by the an#ient smithsA and (ottersA (reeren#e or alder
#har#oal, whi#h *ives o)t more heat than any other% .erdo 5I*ain or IartA6 is one o ?emeterAs
titles2 it was a((lied to her as weasel, or vi:en, or both are #onsidered (ro(heti# animals%
I"horone)sA seems to have been title o .ron)s, with whom the #row and the alder are also
asso#iated and thereore the Titan o the +eventh ?ay% The division o "horone)sAs kin*dom
between his sons "elas*)s, $as)s, and !*enor re#alls that o .ron)sAs kin*dom between @e)s,
"oseidon, and &ades, b)t (erha(s des#ribes a (re7!#haean (artition o the "elo(onnese%
0% .ar is MAre, or .ari)s, or the Great God Ger, who seems to have derived his title rom his
Moon7mother !rtemis .aria, or .aryatis%
,)ro(e !nd .adm)s
!G,3;R, -ibyaAs son by "oseidon and twin to 4el)s, let ,*y(t to settle in the -and o
.anaan, where he married Tele(hassa, otherwise #alled !r*io(e, who bore him .adm)s,
"hoeni:, .ili:, Thas)s and "hine)s, and one da)*hter, ,)ro(e%
b% @e)s, allin* in love with ,)ro(e, sent &ermes to drive !*enors #attle down to the
seashore at Tyre, where she and her #om(anions )sed to walk% &e himsel Hoined the herd,
dis*)ised as a snow7white b)ll with *reat dew7la(s and small, *em7like horns, between whi#h
ran sin*le bla#k streak% ,)ro(e was str)#k by his bea)ty and, on indin* him *entle as a lamb,
mastered her ear and be*an to (lay with him ()ttin* lowers in his mo)th and han*in*
*arlands on his horns2 in the end, she #limbed )(on his sho)lders, and let him amble down
with her to the ed*e o the sea% +)ddenly he swam away, while she looked ba#k in terror at
the re#edin* shore2 one o her hands d)n* to his ri*ht horn, the other still held a lower7
basket%
#% Wadin* ashore near .retan Gortyna, @e)s be#ame an ea*le and ravished ,)ro(e in a
willow7thi#ket beside a s(rin*2 or, some say, )nder an ever*reen (ine7tree% +he bore him three
sons1 Minos, Rhadamanthys, and +ar(edon%
d% !*enor sent his sons in sear#h o their sister, orbiddin* them to ret)rn witho)t her% They
set sail at on#e b)t, havin* no notion where the b)ll had *one, ea#h steered a dierent #o)rse%
"hoeni: travelled westward, beyond -ibya, to what is now .artha*e, and there *ave his name
to the ()ni#s2 b)t, ater !*enorAs death, ret)rned to .anaan, sin#e renamed "hoeni#ia in his
hono)r, and be#ame the ather o !donis by !l(hesiboea% .ili: went to the -and o the
&y(a#haeans, whi#h took his name, .ili#ia2 and "hine)s to Thynia, a (enins)la se(aratin*
the +ea o Marmara rom the 4la#k +ea, where he was later m)#h distressed by har(ies%
Thas)s and his ollowers, irst makin* or ;lym(ia, dedi#ated a bron8e stat)e there to Tyrian
&era#les, ten ells hi*h, holdin* a #l)b and a bow, b)t then set o to #oloni8e the island o
Thasos and work its ri#h *old mines% !ll this took (la#e ive *enerations beore &era#les, son
o !m(hitryon, was born in Gree#e%
e% .adm)s sailed with Tele(hassa to Rhodes, where he dedi#ated a bra8en #a)ldron to !thene
o -ind)s, and b)ilt "oseidonAs tem(le, leavin* a hereditary (riesthood behind to #are or it%
They ne:t to)#hed at Thera, and b)ilt a similar tem(le, inally rea#hin* the land o the
Thra#ian ,donians, who re#eived them hos(itably% &ere Tele(hassa died s)ddenly and, ater
her )neral, .adm)s and his #om(anions (ro#eeded on oot to the ?el(hi# ;ra#le% When he
asked where ,)ro(e mi*ht be o)nd, the "ythoness advised him to *ive )( his sear#h and,
instead, ollow a #ow and b)ild a #ity wherever she sho)ld sink down or weariness%
% ?e(artin* by the road that leads rom ?el(hi to "ho#is, .adm)s #ame )(on some #owherds
in the servi#e o Gin* "ela*on, who sold him a #ow marked with a white )ll moon on ea#h
lank% This beast he drove eastward thro)*h 4oeotia, never allowin* her to (a)se )ntil, at last,
she sank down where the #ity o Thebes now stands, and here he ere#ted an ima*e o !thene,
#allin* it by her "hoeni#ian name o ;n*a%
*% .adm)s, warnin* his #om(anions that the #ow m)st be sa#rii#ed to !thene witho)t delay,
sent them to et#h l)stral water rom the +(rin* o !res, now #alled the .astalian +(rin*, b)t
did not know that it was *)arded by a *reat ser(ent% This ser(ent killed most o .adm)sA
men, and he took ven*ean#e by #r)shin* its head with a ro#k% 3o sooner had he oered
!thene the sa#rii#e, than she a((eared, (raisin* him or what he had done, and orderin* him
to
sow the ser(entAs teeth in the soil% When he obeyed her, armed +(arti, or +own Men, at on#e
s(ran* )(, #lashin* their wea(ons to*ether% .adm)s tossed a stone amon* them and they
be*an to brawl, ea#h a##)sin* the other o havin* thrown it, and o)*ht so ier#ely that, at
last, only ive s)rvive ,#hion, /dae)s, .hthoni)s, &y(erenor, and "elor)s, who )nanimo)sly
oered .adm)s their servi#es% 4)t !res demanded ven*ean#e or the death o the ser(ent,
and .adm)s was senten#ed by a divine #o)rt to be#ome his bondman or a Great Dear%
1% There are n)mero)s #on)sin* variations o the *enealo*y *iven above1 or instan#e,
Thas)s is alternatively des#ribed as the son o "oseidon, .ili: 5!(ollodor)s6, or Tity)s
5"indar1 "ythian ;des6% !*enor is the "hoeni#ian hero .hnas, who a((ears in Genesis as
I.anaanA2 many .anaanite #)stoms (oint to an ,ast !ri#an (rovenien#e and the .anaanites
may have ori*inally #ome to -ower ,*y(t rom /*anda% The dis(ersal o !*enorAs sons
seems to re#ord the westward li*ht o .anaanite tribes early in the se#ond millenni)m 4.,
)nder (ress)re rom !ryan and +emiti# invaders%
0% The story o $na#h)sAs sons and their sear#h or $o the moon7#ow has inl)en#ed that o
!*enorAs sons and their sear#h o ,)ro(e% "hoeni: is a mas#)line orm o "hoenissa 5Ithe
red, or bloody oneA6, a title *iven to the moon as *oddess o ?eath7in7-ie% ,)ro(e means
Ibroad7a#eA, a synonym or the )ll moon, and a title o Moon7Goddesses ?emeter at
-ebadeia and !starte at +idon% $, however, the word is not e)r7o(e b)t e)7ro(e 5on the
analo*y o e)boea6, it may mean I*ood or willowsAJthat is, Iwell7wateredA% The willow
r)les the ith month o the sa#red year, and is asso#iated with wit#h#rat and with ertility
rites thro)*ho)t ,)ro(e, es(e#ially on May ,ve, whi#h alls in this month% -ibya, Tele(hassa,
!r*io(e, and !l(hesiboea are all, similarly, titles o the Moon7*oddess%
<% @e)sAs ra(e o ,)ro(e, whi#h re#ords an early &elleni# o##)(ation o .rete, has been
ded)#ed rom (re7&elleni# (i#t)res o the Moon7(riestess tri)m(hantly ridin* on the +)n7
b)ll, her vi#tim2 the s#ene s)rvives in ei*ht mo)lded (laE)es o bl)e *lass, o)nd in the
My#enaean #ity o Midea% This seems to have been (art o the ertility rit)al d)rin* whi#h
,)ro(eAs May7*arland was #arried in (ro#ession 5!thenae)s6% @e)sAs sed)#tion o ,)ro(e in
ea*le7dis*)ise re#alls his sed)#tion o &era in #)#koo7dis*)ise2 sin#e 5a##ordin* to
&esy#hi)s6 &era bore the title I,)ro(iaA% ,)ro(eAs .retan and .orinthian name was &ellotis,
whi#h s)**ests &eli#e 5IwillowA62 &elle, and &elen are the same divine #hara#ter%
.allima#h)s in his ,(ithalamion or &elen mentions that the (lane7tree was also sa#red to
&elen% $ts san#tity lay in its ive7(ointed leaves, re(resentin* the hand o the *oddess, and its
ann)al slo)*hin* o bark2 b)t !(ollo borrowed it, as the God ,sm)n did TanitAs 53eithAs6
o(en7hand emblem%
=% $t is (ossible that the story o ,)ro(e also #ommemorates a raid on "hoeni#ia by &ellenes
rom .rete% 9ohn Malalas will hardly have invented the I,vil ,venin*A at Tyre when he
writes1 ITa)r)s 5Yb)llV6, Gin* .rete, assa)lted Tyre ater a sea7battle d)rin* the absen#e o
!*enor and his sons% They took the #ity that same evenin* and #arried o many #a(tives,
,)ro(e amon* them2 this event is still re#alled in the ann)al Y,vil ,venin*V observed at TyreA
5.hroni#les6% &erodot)s a*rees with Malalas%
5% Tyrian &era#les, whom These)s worshi((ed at ;lym(ia, was the *od Melkarth2 and a
small tribe, s(eakin* a +emiti# lan*)a*e, seems to have moved )( rom the +yrian (lains to
.admeia in .ariaJ.adm)s is a +emiti# word meanin* IeasternAJwhen#e they #rossed over
to 4oeotia towards the end o the se#ond millenni)m, sei8ed Thebes, and be#ame masters o
the #o)ntry% The myth o the +own Men and .adm)sAs bonda*e to !res s)**est that the
invadin* .admeans se#)red their hold on 4oeotia by s)##ess)lly intervenin* in a #ivil war
amon* the "elas*ian tribes who #laimed to be a)to#hthono)s2 and that they a##e(ted the lo#al
r)le o an ei*ht7year rei*n or the sa#red kin*% .adm)s killed the ser(ent in the same sense as
!(ollo killed the "ython at ?el(hi% The names o the +own MenJ,#hion 5Ivi(erA62 /dae)s
5Io the earthA62 .hthoni)s 5Io the soilA62 &y(erenor 5Iman who #omes )( I6 and "elor)s
5Iser(entA6Jare #hara#teristi# o ora#)lar heroes% 4)t I"elor)sA s)**ests that all "elas*ians,
not merely the Thebans, #laimed to be born in this way2 their #ommon east bein* the "eloria%
9asonAs #ro( o dra*onAs teeth was (robably sown at $ol#)s or .orinth, not .ol#his%
6% Troy and !ntio#h were also said to have been o)nded or sele#ted by sa#red #ows% 4)t it is
less likely that this (ra#ti#e was literally #arried o)t, than that the #ow was t)rned loosely
restri#ted (art o a sele#ted site and the tem(le o the Moon7*oddess o)nded where she lay
down% ! #owAs strate*i# and #ommer#ial abilities are not hi*hly develo(ed%
.adm)s !nd &armonia
W&,3 .adm)s had served ei*ht years in bonda*e to !res, to e:(iate the m)rder o the
.astallan ser(ent, !thene se#)red him the land o 4oeotia% With the hel( o his +own Men,
he b)ilt the Theban (olis, named IThe .admeaA in his own hono)r and, ater bein* initiated
into the mysteries whi#h @e)s had ta)*ht $asion, married &armonia, the da)*hter o
!(hrodite and !res2 some say that !thene ]bro)*ht] her to him when he visited
+amothra#e%
b% This was the irst mortal weddin* ever attended by the ;lym(ians% Twelve *olden thrones
were set )( or them in .adm)sAs (ala#e, whi#h stood on the site o the (resent Theban
market (la#e2 and all bro)*ht *its% !(hrodite (resented &armonia with the amo)s *olden
ne#kla#e made by &e(haest)sJ ori*inally it had been @e)sAs love7*it to .adm)sAs sister
,)ro(eJwhi#h #onerred irresistible bea)ty on its wearer% !thene *ave her a *olden robe,
whi#h #onerred divine di*nity on its wearer, also a set o l)tes2 and &ermes lyre% .adm)sAs
own (resent to &armonia was another ri#h robe% ,le#tra, $asionAs mother, ta)*ht her the rites
o the Great Goddess, while ?emeter ass)red her a (ros(ero)s barley harvest by lyin* with
$asion in a thri#e7(lo)*hed ield d)rin* the #elebrations% The Thebans still show the (la#e
where the M)ses (layed the l)te and san* on this o##asion, and where !(ollo (erormed on
the lyre%
#% $n his old a*e, to (la#ate !res, who had not yet wholly or*iven him or him or killin* the
ser(ent, .adm)s resi*ned the Theban throne in avo)r o his *randson "enthe)s, whom his
da)*hter !*ave had to ,#hion the +own Man, and lived E)ietly in the #ity% 4)t when
"enthe)s was done to death by his mother, ?ionys)s oretold that .adm)s and &armonia,
ridin* in a #hariot drawn by heiers, wo)ld r)le over barbarian hordes% These same
barbarians, he said, wo)ld sa#k many Greek #ities )ntil, at last, they (l)ndered a tem(le o
!(ollo, where)(on they wo)ld s)er H)st ()nishment2 b)t !res wo)ld res#)e .adm)s and
&armonia, ater t)rnin* them into ser(ents, and they wo)ld live ha((ily or all time in the
$slands o the 4lessed%
d% .adm)s and &armonia thereore emi*rated to the land o the ,n#heleans who, when
atta#ked by the $llyrians, #hose them as their r)lers, in a##ordan#e with ?ionys)sAs advi#e%
!*ave was now married to -y#otherses, Gin* o $llyria, at whose #o)rt she had taken re)*e
ater her m)rder o "enthe)s2 b)t on hearin* that her (arents #ommanded the ,n#helean
or#es, she m)rdered -y#otherses too, and *ave the kin*dom to .adm)s%
e% $n their old a*e, when the (ro(he#y had been wholly )lilled, .adm)s and &armonia d)ly
be#ame bl)e7s(otted bla#k ser(ents, and were sent by @e)s to the $slands o the 4lessed% 4)t
some say that !res #han*ed them into lions% Their bodies were b)ried in $llyria, where
.adm)s had b)ilt the #ity o 4)thoB% &e was s)##eeded by $llyri)s, the son o his old a*e%
1% .adm)sAs marria*e to &armonia, in the (resen#e o the Twelve ;lym(ian deities, is
(aralleled by "ele)sAs marria*e to Thetis, and seems to re#ord a *eneral &elleni# re#o*nition
o the .admeian #onE)erors o Thebes, ater they had been s(onsored by the !thenians and
de#ently initiated into the +amothra#ian Mysteries% &is o)ndin* o 4)thoB #onstit)tes a
#laim by the $llyrians to be treated as Greeks, and thereore to take (art in the ;lym(i#
Games% .adm)s will have had an ora#le in $llyria, i he was (i#t)red there as a ser(ent2 and
the lions into whi#h he and &armonia are also said to have been transormed, were (erha(s
twin heraldi# s)((orters o the Great GoddessAs ani#oni# ima*eJas on the amo)s -ion Gate
at My#enae% The mytho*ra(her s)**ests that he was allowed to emi*rate with a #olony at the
#lose o his rei*n, instead o bein* ()t to death%
4el)s !nd The ?anaids
G$3G 4el)s, who r)led at .hemmis in the ,*y(tian Thebaid, was the son o -ibya by
"oseidon, and twin7brother o !*enor% &is wie !n#hinoB, da)*hter o 3il)s, bore him the
twins !e*y(t)s and ?ana)s, and a third son, .e(he)s%
b% !e*y(t)s was *iven !rabia as his kin*dom2 b)t also s)bd)ed the #o)ntry o the
Melam(odes, and named it ,*y(t ater himsel% 'ity sons were born to him o vario)s
mothers1 -ibyans, !rabians, "hoeni#ians, and the like% ?ana)s, sent to r)le -ibya, had ity
da)*hters, #alled the ?anaids, also born o vario)s mothers1 3aiads, &amadryads, ,*y(tian
(rin#esses o ,le(hantis and Mem(his, ,thio(ians, and the like%
#% ;n 4el)sAs death, the twins E)arrelled over their inheritan#e, and as a #on#iliatory *est)re
!e*y(t)s (ro(osed a mass7marria*e between the ity (rin#es and the ity (rin#esses%
?ana)s, s)s(e#tin* a (lot, wo)ld not #onsent and, when an ora#le #onirmed his ears that
!e*y(t)s had it in his mind to kill all the ?anaids, (re(ared to lee rom -ibya%
d% With !theneAs assistan#e, he b)ilt a shi( or himsel and his da)*htersJthe irst two7
(rowed vessel that ever took to seaJand they sailed towards Gree#e to*ether, by way o
Rhodes% There ?ana)s dedi#ated an ima*e to !thene in a tem(le raised or her by the
?anaids, three o whom died d)rin* their stay in the island2 the #ities o -ind)s, $alys)s, and
.ameir)s are #alled ater them%
e% 'rom Rhodes they sailed to the "elo(onnese and landed near -erna, where ?ana)s
anno)n#ed that he was divinely #hosen to be#ome Gin* o !r*os% Tho)*h the !r*ive Gin*,
Gelanor, nat)rally la)*hed at this #laim, his s)bHe#ts assembled that evenin* to dis#)ss it%
Gelanor wo)ld do)btless have ke(t the throne, des(ite ?ana)sAs de#laration that !thene was
s)((ortin* him, had not the !r*ives (ost(oned their de#ision )ntil dawn, when a wol #ame
boldly down rom the hills, atta#ked a herd o #attle *ra8in* near the #ity walls, and killed the
leadin* b)ll% This they read as an omen that ?ana)s wo)ld take the throne by violen#e i he
were o((osed, and thereore (ers)aded Gelanor to resi*n it (ea#e)lly%
% ?ana)s, #onvin#ed that the wol had been !(ollo in dis*)ise, dedi#ated the amo)s shrine
to Wolish !(ollo at !r*os, and be#ame so (ower)l a r)ler that all the "elas*ians o Gree#e
#alled themselves ?anaans% &e also b)ilt the #itadel o !r*os, and his da)*hters bro)*ht the
Mysteries o ?emeter, #alled Thesmo(horia, rom ,*y(t, and ta)*ht these to the "elas*ian
women, 4)t, sin#e the ?orian invasion, the Thesmo(horia are no lon*er (erormed in the
"elo(onnese, e:#e(t by the !r#adians%
*% ?ana)s had o)nd !r*olis s)erin* rom a (rolon*ed dro)*ht, sin#e "oseidon, ve:ed by
$na#h)sAs de#ision that the land was &eraAs, had dried )( all the rivers and streams% &e sent
his da)*hters in sear#h o water, with orders to (la#ate "oseidon by any means they knew%
;ne o them, by name !mymone, while #hasin* a deer in the orest, ha((ened to dist)rb a
slee(in* satyr% &e s(ran* )( and tried to ravish her2 b)t "oseidon, whom she invoked, h)rled
his trident at the satyr% The leein* satyr dod*ed, the trident st)#k E)iverin* in a ro#k, and
"oseidon himsel lay with !mymone, who was *lad that she #o)ld #arry o)t her atherAs
instr)#tions so (leasantly% ;n learnin* her errand, "oseidon (ointed to his trident and told her
to ()ll it rom the ro#k% When she did so, three streams o water Hetted )( rom the three tine7
holes% This s(rin*, now named !mymone, is the so)r#e o the river -erna, whi#h never ails,
even at the hei*ht o s)mmer%
h% !t !mymone the monstro)s &ydra was born to ,#hidne )nder a (lane7tree% $t lived in the
near7by -ernaean -ake, to whi#h m)rderers #ome or ()rii#ationJhen#e the (roverb1 I!
-erna o evils%A
i% !e*y(t)s now sent his sons to !r*os, orbiddin* them to ret)rn )ntil they had ()nished
?ana)s and his whole amily% ;n their arrival, they be**ed ?ana)s to reverse his ormer
de#ision and let them marry his da)*htersJintendin*, however, to m)rder them on the
weddin* ni*ht% When he still re)sed, they laid sie*e to !r*os% 3ow, there are no s(rin*s on
the !r*ive #itadel, and tho)*h the ?anaids aterwards invented the art o sinkin* wells, and
s)((lied the #ity with several o these, in#l)din* o)r sa#red ones, it was waterless at the time
in E)estion% +eein* that thirst wo)ld soon or#e him to #a(it)late, ?ana)s (romised to do
what the sons o !e*y(t)s asked, as soon as they raise the sie*e%
H% ! mass7marria*e was arran*ed, and ?ana)s (aired o the #o)(lesJhis #hoi#e bein* made
in some #ases be#a)se the bride and bride*room had mothers o eE)al rank, or be#a)se their
names were similarJth)s .leite, +thenele, and .hrysi((e married .leit)s, +thenel)s, and
.hrysi(()sJb)t in most #ases he drew lots rom a helmet%
k% ?)rin* the weddin*7east ?ana)s se#retly doled o)t shar( (ins whi#h his da)*hters were
to #on#eal in their hair2 and at midni*ht ea#h stabbed her h)sband thro)*h the heart% There
was only one s)rvivorJon !rtemisAs advi#e, &y(ermnestra saved the lie o -yn#e)s,
be#a)se he had s(ared her maidenhead2 and hel(ed him in his li*ht to the #ity o -yn#ea,
si:ty )rlon*s away% &y(ermnestra be**ed him to li*ht bea#on as a si*nal that he had rea#hed
saety, )ndertakin* to answer with another bea#on rom the #itadel2 and the !r*ives still li*ht
ann)al bea#on7ires in #ommemoration o this (a#t% !t dawn, ?ana)s learned o
&y(ermnestraAs disobedien#e, and she was tried or her lie2 b)t a#E)itted by the !r*ive
H)d*es% +he thereore raised an ima*e to Ci#torio)s !(hrodite in the shrine o Wolish !(ollo,
and also dedi#ate a san#t)ary to "ers)asive !rtemis%
l% The m)rdered menAs heads were b)ried at -erna, and their bodies *iven )ll )neral
hono)rs below the walls o !r*os2 b)t, altho)*h !thene and &ermes ()riied the ?anaids in
the -ernaean -ake with @e)sAs (ermission, the 9)d*es o the ?ead have #ondemned them the
endless task o #arryin* water in Hars (erorated like sieves%
m% -yn#e)s and &y(ermnestra were re)nited, and ?ana)s, de#idin* to marry o the other
da)*hters as ast as he #o)ld beore noon on the day o their ()rii#ation, #alled or s)itors%
&e (ro(osed a marria*e ra#e startin* rom the street now #alled !(heta1 the winner to have
ast #hoi#e o a wie, and the others the ne:t #hoi#es, in their order o inishin* the ra#e%
+in#e he #o)ld not ind eno)*h men who wo)ld risk their lives by marryin* m)rderesses,
only a
ew ran2 b)t when the weddin* ni*ht (assed witho)t disaster to the new bride*rooms, more
s)itors a((eared, and another ra#e was r)n on the ollowin* day% ! des#endants o these
marria*es rank as ?anaans2 and the !r*ives still #elebrate the ra#e in their so7#alled
&ymenaean .ontest% -yn#e)s later killed ?ana)s, and rei*ned in his stead% &e wo)ld
willin*ly have killed his sisters7in7law at the same time, to aven*e his m)rdered brothers, had
the !r*ives (ermitted this%
n% Meanwhile, !e*y(t)s had #ome to Gree#e, b)t when he learned o his sonsA ate, led to
!roe, where he died, and was b)ried at "atrae, in a san#t)ary o +era(is%
o% !mymoneAs son by "oseidon, 3a)(li)s, a amo)s navi*ator, dis#overed the art o steerin*
by the Great 4ear, and o)nded the #ity o 3a)(li)s, where he settled the ,*y(tian #rew that
had sailed with his *randather% &e was the an#estor o 3a)(li)s the Wre#ker, who )sed to
l)re hostile shi(s to their death by li*htin* alse bea#ons%
1% This myth re#ords the early arrival in Gree#e o &elladi# #olonists rom "alestine, by way
o Rhodes, and their introd)#tion o a*ri#)lt)re into the "elo(onnese% $t is #laimed that they
in#l)ded emi*rants rom -ibya and ,thio(ia, whi#h seems (robable% 4el)s is the 4aal o the
;ld Testament, and the 4el o the !(o#ry(ha2 he had taken his name rom the +)merian
Moon7*oddess 4elili, whom he o)sted%
0% The three ?anaids, also known as the Tel#hines, or Ien#hantersA, who named the three
#hie #ities o Rhodes, were the Tri(le Moon7*oddess ?anaB% The names -inda, .ameira, and
$alysa seem to be worn7down orms o linodeo)sa 5Ibinder with linen threadA6, #atameri8o)sa
5Isharer o)tA6, and ialemistria 5Iwailin* womanA62 they are, in a#t, the amiliar Three 'ates,
or Moerae, otherwise known as .lotho, -a#hesis, and !tro(os, be#a)se they e:er#ised very
same )n#tions% The .lassi#al theory o the linen7thread was that the *oddess tied the h)man
bein* to the end o a #are)lly meas)red thread whi#h she (aid o)t yearly, )ntil the time #ame
or her to #)t it and relinE)ish his so)l to death% 4)t ori*inally she bo)nd the wailin* inant
with a linen swaddlin* band on whi#h his #lan and amily marks were embroidered and th)s
assi*ned him his destined (la#e in so#iety%
<% ?anaBAs +)merian name was ?am7kina% The &ebrews #alled her ?inah 5Genesis6, also
mas#)lini8ed as ?an% 'ity Moon7(riestesses were the re*)lar #om(lement o a #olle*e, and
their d)ty was to (reserve the land watered by rain7makin* #harms, irri*ation, and well7
di**in*2 hen#e the ?anaidsA name has been #onne#ted with the Greek word danos
JI(ar#hedA, and with danosJIa *itA, the irst o whi#h is sometimes lon* and sometimes
short% The twinshi( o !*enor and 4el)s, like that o ?ana)s and !e*y(t)s, (oints to a re*al
system at !r*os, in whi#h ea#h #o7kin* married a .hie7(riestess and rei*ned or ity l)nar
months, or Great Dear% .hie7(riestesses were #hosen by a oot ra#e 5the ori*in o ;lym(i#
Games6, r)n at the end o the ity months, or o orty7nine in alternate years% !nd the 3ew
Dear oot ra#e at ;lym(ia, +(arta, 9er)salem 5&ooke1 ;ri*in o ,arly +emiti# Rit)als6, and
4abylon 5-an*don1 ,(i# o .reation6 was r)n or the sa#red kin*shi(, as at !r*os% ! +)n7
kin* m)st be E)i#k%
=% The &ydra, destroyed by &era#les, seem to have (ersoniied this #olle*e o water7
(rovidin* (riestesses, and the myth o the ?anaids a((arently re#ords two &elleni# attem(ts
on their san#t)ary, the irst o whi#h ailed si*nally% !ter the se#ond s)##ess)l attem(t, the
&elleni# leader married the .hie7(riestess and distrib)ted the water7(riestesses as wives
amon* his #hietains% IThe street #alled !(hetaA will have been the startin*7(oint in the *irlsA
ra#e or the oi#e o .hie7(riestess2 b)t also )sed in the menAs oot ra#e or the sa#red
kin*shi(% -yn#e)s, a royal title in Messene too, means Io the lyn:AJthe #ara#al, a sort o
lion, amo)s or its shar( si*ht%%
5% I!e*y(t)sA and I?ana)sA seem to have been early titles o !r*ive #oJkin*s2 and sin#e it
was a wides(read #)stom to b)ry the sa#red kin*As head at the a((roa#hes o a #ity, and th)s
(rote#t it a*ainst invasion, the s)((osed heads o !e*y(t)sAs sons b)ried at -erna are
(robably those o s)##essive sa#red kin*s% The ,*y(tians were Melam(odes 5Ibla#k eetA6
be#a)se they (addled abo)t in the bla#k m)d d)rin* the sowin* season%
6% ! later, mono*amo)s, so#iety re(resented the ?anaids with leakin* water7(ots as
)nder*oin* eternal ()nishment or matri#ide% 4)t in the i#on rom whi#h this story derived,
they were (erormin* a ne#essary #harm1 s(rinklin* water on the *ro)nd to (rod)#e rain
showers by sym(atheti# ma*i#% $t seems that the sieve, or leakin* (ot, remained a
distin*)ishin* mark o the wise woman many #ent)ries ater the abolition o the ?anaid
#olle*es1 "hilostrat)s writes 5-ie o !(olloni)s o Tyana6 o Iwomen with sieves in their
hands who *o abo)t (retendin* to heal #attle or sim(le #owherds%A
>% &y(ermnestraAs and -yn#e)sAs bea#on7ires will have been those li*hted at the !r*ive
+(rin* 'estival to #elebrate the tri)m(h o the +)n% $t may be that at !r*os the sa#red kin*
was ()t to death with a lon* needle thr)st thro)*h his heart1 a #om(aratively mer#i)l end%
8% The Thesmo(horia 5Id)e oerin*sA6 were a*ri#)lt)ral or*ies #elebrated at !thens, in the
#o)rse o whi#h the severed *enitals o the sa#red kin*, or his s)rro*ate, were #arried in a
basket2 these were re(la#ed in more #ivili8ed times by (hall)s7sha(ed loaves and live
ser(ents% !(ollo -y#i)s may mean I!(ollo o the -i*htA, rather than IWolish !(olloA, b)t the
two #on#e(ts were #onne#ted by the wolvesA habit o howlin* at the )ll moon%
-amia
4,-/+ had a bea)ti)l da)*hter, -amia, who r)led in -ibya, and on whom @e)s, in
a#knowled*ement o her avo)rs, bestowed the sin*)lar (ower o (l)#kin* o)t and re(la#in*
her eyes at will% +he bore him several #hildren, b)t all o them e:#e(t +#ylla were killed by
&era in a it o Healo)sy% -amia took her reven*e by destroyin* the #hildren o others, and
behaved so #r)elly that her a#e t)rned into a ni*htmarish mask%
b% -ater, she Hoined the #om(any o the ,m()sae, lyin* with yo)n* men and s)#kin* their
blood while they sle(t%
1% -amia was the -ibyan 3eith, the -ove7and74attle *oddess, also named !natha and !thene,
whose worshi( the !#haeans s)((ressed2 like !l(hito o !r#adia, she ended as a n)rse bo*ey%
&er name, -amia, seems to be akin to lamyros 5I*l)ttono)sA6, rom laimos 5I*)lletA6Jth)s,
o a woman1 Ile#hero)sA2 and her )*ly a#e is the (ro(hyla#ti# Gor*on mask worn by her
(riestesses d)rin* their Mysteries, o whi#h inanti#ide was an inte*ral (art%
-amiaAs removable eyes are (erha(s ded)#ed rom a (i#t)re o the *oddess abo)t to bestow
mysti# si*ht on a hero by (roerin* him an eye% The ,m()sae were in#)bae%
-eda
+;M, say that when @e)s ell in love with 3emesis, she led rom him into the water and
be#ame a ish2 he ()rs)ed her as a beaver, (lo)*hin* )( the waves% +he lea(ed ashore, and
transormed hersel into this wild beast or that, b)t #o)ld not shake @e)s o, be#a)se he
borrowed the orm o even ier#er and switer beasts% !t last she took to the air as a wild
*oose2 he be#ame a swan, and trod her tri)m(hantly at Rhamn)s in !tti#a% 3emesis shook
her eathers resi*nedly, and #arried to +(arta, where -eda, wie o Gin* Tyndare)s, (resently
o)nd hya#inth7#olo)red e** lyin* in a marsh, whi#h she bro)*ht home and hid in a #hest1
rom it &elen o Troy was hat#hed% 4)t some say that this e** dro((ed rom the moon, like
the e** that, in an#ient times (l)n*ed into the river ,)(hrates and, bein* towed ashore by ish
and hat#hed by doves, broke o(en to reveal the +yrian Goddess o -ove%
b% ;thers say that @e)s, (retendin* to be a swan ()rs)ed by an ea*le took re)*e in
3emesisAs bosom, where he ravished her and that, in d)e (ro#ess o time, she laid an e**,
whi#h &ermes threw between -edaAs thi*hs, as she sat on a stool with her le*s a(art% Th)s
-eda *ave birth to &elen, and @e)s (la#ed the ima*es o +wan and ,a*le in the &eavens to
#ommemorate this r)se%
#% The most )s)al a##o)nt, however, is that it was -eda hersel with whom @e)s #om(anied
in the orm o a swan beside the river ,)rot1 that she laid an e** rom whi#h were hat#hed
&elen, .astor, and "olyde)#es2 and that she was #onseE)ently deiied as the *oddess
3emesis% 3ow, -edaAs h)sband Tyndare)s had also lain with her the same ni*ht and, tho)*h
some hold that all these three were @e)sAs #hildrenJand .lytaemnestra too, who had been
hat#hed, with &elen, rom a se#ond e**Jothers re#ord that &elen alone was a da)*hter o
@e)s, and that .astor and "olyde)#es were Tyndare)sAs sons2 some others a*ain, that .astor
and .lytaemnestra were #hildren o Tyndare)s, while &elen and "olyde)#es were #hildren o
@e)s%
1% 3emesis was the Moon7*oddess as 3ym(h and, in the earliest orm o the love7#hase
myth, she ()rs)ed the sa#red kin* thro)*h his seasonal #han*es o hare, ish, bee, and mo)se
Jor hare, ish, bird, and *rain o wheatJand inally devo)red him% With the vi#tory o the
(atriar#hal system, the #hase was reversed1 the *oddess now led rom @e)s, as in the ,n*lish
ballad o the .oal7bla#k +mith% +he had #han*ed into an otter or beaver to ()rs)e the ish,
and .astorAs name 5IbeaverA6 is #learly a s)rvival o this myth, whereas that o "olyde)#es
5Im)#h sweet wineA6 re#ords the #hara#ter o the estivities d)rin* whi#h the #hase took
(la#e%
0% -ada is said to be the -y#ian 5i%e% .retan6 word or IwomanA, and -eda was the *oddess
-atona, or -eto, or -at, who bore !(ollo and !rtemis at ?elos% The hya#inth7#olo)red e**
re#alls the blood7red ,aster e** o the ?r)ids, #alled the *lain, or whi#h they sear#hed every
year by the seashore2 in .elti# myth it was laid by the *oddess as sea7ser(ent% The story o its
bein* thrown between -edaAs thi*hs may have been ded)#ed rom a (i#t)re o the *oddess
seated on the birth7stool, with !(olloAs head (rotr)din* rom her womb%
<% &elenWaX and &elle, or +elene, are lo#al variants o the Moon7*oddess, whose identity with
-)#ianAs +yrian *oddess is em(hasi8ed by &y*in)s% 4)t &y*in)sAs a##o)nt is #on)sed1 it
was the *oddess hersel who laid the world7e** ater #o)(lin* with the ser(ent ;(hion, and
who hat#hed it on the waters, ado(tin* the orm o a dove% +he hersel rose rom the Coid%
&elen had two tem(les near +(arta1 one at Thera(nae, b)ilt on a My#enaean site2 another at
?endra, #onne#ted with a tree #)lt, as her Rhodian shrine also was% "oll): mentions a +(artan
estival #alled the &elene(horia, #losely resemblin* !theneAs Thesmo(horia at !thens, d)rin*
whi#h #ertain )nmentionable obHe#ts were #arried in a s(e#ial basket #alled a helene2 s)#h a
basket &elen hersel #arries in relies showin* her a##om(anied by the ?ios#)ri% The obHe#ts
may have been (halli# emblems2 she was an or*iasti# *oddess%
=% @e)s tri#ked 3emesis, the *oddess o the "elo(onnesian swan #)lt, by a((ealin* to her
(ity, e:a#tly as he had tri#ked &era o the .retan #)#koo #)lt% This myth reers, it seems, to
the arrival at .retan or "elas*ian #ities o &elleni# warriors who, to be*in with, (aid homa*e
to the Great Goddess and (rovided her (riestesses with obedient #onsorts, b)t event)ally
wrested the s)(reme soverei*nty rom her%
$:ion
$Z$;3, a son o "hle*yas, the -a(ith kin*, a*reed to marry ?ia, da)*hter o ,ione)s,
(romisin* ri#h bridal *its and invitin* ,ione)s to a banE)et2 b)t had laid a (itall in ront o
the (ala#e, with a *reat #har#oal ire )nderneath, into whi#h the )ns)s(e#tin* ,ione)s ell
and was b)rned%
b% Tho)*h the lesser *ods tho)*ht this a heino)s deed, and re)sed to ()riy $:ion, @e)s,
havin* behaved eE)ally ill himsel when in love, not only ()riied him b)t bro)*ht him to eat
at his table%
#% $:ion was )n*rate)l, and (lanned to sed)#e &era who, he *)essed, wo)ld be *lad o a
#han#e to reven*e hersel on @e)s or his reE)ent )naith)lness% @e)s, however, readin*
$:ionAs intentions, sha(ed a #lo)d into a alse &era with whom $:ion, bein* too ar *one in
drink to noti#e the de#e(tion, d)ly took his (leas)re% &e was s)r(rised in the a#t by @e)s,
who ordered &ermes to s#o)r*e him mer#ilessly )ntil he re(eated the words1 I4enea#tors
deserve hono)rA, and then bind him to a iery wheel whi#h rolled witho)t #ease thro)*h the
sky%
d% The alse &era, aterwards #alled 3e(hele, bore $:ion the o)t#ast #hild .enta)r)s who,
when he *rew to manhood, is said to have sired horse7#enta)rs on Ma*nesian mares, o
whom the most #elebrated was the learned .heiron
1% $:ionAs name, ormed rom is#hys 5Istren*thA6 and io 5ImoonA6, also s)**ests i:ias
5ImistletoeA6% !s an oak7kin* with mistletoe *enitals, re(resentin* the th)nder7*od, he rit)ally
married the rain7makin* Moon7*oddess2 and was then s#o)r*ed, so that his blood and s(erm
wo)ld r)#tiy the earth,
beheaded with an a:e, emas#)lated, s(readJea*led to a tree, and roasted2 ater whi#h his
kinsmen ate him sa#ramentally% ,ion is the &omeri# e(ithet or a river2 b)t ?iaAs ather is
#alled ?eione)s, meanin* Irava*erA, as well as ,ione)s% The Moon7*oddess o the oak #)lt
was known as ?ia 5Io the skyA6, a title o the ?odonian ;ak7*oddess, and thereore o @e)sAs
wie &era% That old7ashioned kin*s #alled themselves @e)s and married ?ia o the Rain
.lo)ds, nat)rally dis(leased the ;lym(ian (riests, who misinter(reted the rit)al (i#t)re o the
s(read7ea*led -a(ith kin* as re#ordin* his ()nishment or im(iety, and invented the ane#dote
o the #lo)d% ;n an ,tr)s#an mirror, $:ion is shown s(read7ea*led to a ire7wheel, with
m)shroom tinder at his eet2 elsewhere, he is bo)nd in the same Iive7old bondA with whi#h
the $rish hero .)roi tied .)#h)lainJbent ba#kwards into a hoo( 5"hilostrat)s1 -ie o
!(olloni)s o Tyana6, with his ankles, wrists, and ne#k tied to*ether, like ;siris in the 4ook
o the ?ead% This attit)de re#alls the b)rnin* wheels rolled downhill at ,)ro(ean mids)mmer
estivities, as a si*n that the s)n has rea#hed its 8enith and m)st now de#line a*ain )ntil the
winter solsti#e% $:ionAs (itall is )nmeta(hori#al1 s)rro*ate vi#tims were needed or the sa#red
kin*, s)#h as (risoners taken in battle or, ailin* these, travellers #a)*ht in tra(s% The myth
seems to re#ord a treaty made by @e)sAs &ellenes with the -a(iths, "hle*yans, and .enta)rs,
whi#h was broken by the rit)al m)rder o &elleni# travellers and the sei8)re o their
womenolk2 the &ellenes demanded, and were *iven, an oi#ial a(olo*y%
0% &orses were sa#red to the moon, and hobby7horse dan#es, desi*ned to make rain all, have
a((arently *iven rise to the le*end that the .enta)rs were hal horse, hal man% The earliest
Greek re(resentation o .enta)rsJtwo men Hoined at the waist to horsesA bodiesJis o)nd
on a My#enaean *em rom the &erae)m at !r*os2 they a#e ea#h other and are dan#in*% !
similar (air a((ear on a .retan bead7seal2 b)t, sin#e there was no native horse #)lt in .rete,
the moti has evidently been im(orted rom the mainland% $n ar#hai# art, the satyrs were also
(i#t)red as hobby7horse men, b)t later as *oats% .enta)r)s will have been an ora#)lar hero
with a ser(entAs tail, and the story o 4oreasAs matin* with mares is thereore atta#hed to him%
1% This myth re#ords how an !eolian #hie invaded ,lis, and a##e(ted the #onseE)en#es o
marryin* the "elas*ian Moon7*oddess &eraAs re(resentativeJthe names o ,ndymionAs
wives are all moon7titlesJhead o a #olle*e o ity water7(riestesses% When his rei*n ended
he was d)ly sa#rii#ed and awarded a hero shrine at ;lym(ia% "isa, the #ity to whi#h ;lym(ia
belon*ed, is said to have meant in the -ydian 5or .retan6 lan*)a*e I(rivate restin*7(la#eA1
namely, o the Moon 5+ervi)s on Cir*il6%
0% The name ,ndymion, rom ende)ein 5-atin1 ind)#ere6, reers to the MoonAs sed)#tion o
the kin*, as tho)*h she were one o the ,m()sae2 b)t the an#ients e:(lain it as reerrin* to
somn)m ei ind)#t)m, Ithe slee( ()t )(on himA%
<% !etol)s, like "elo(s, will have driven his #hariot aro)nd the ;lym(ian stadi)m in
im(ersonation o the s)n2 and his a##idental killin* o !(is, whi#h is made to a##o)nt or the
,lean #oloni8ation o !etolia, seems to be ded)#ed rom a (i#t)re o the ann)al #hariot #rash,
in whi#h the kin*As s)rro*ate died% 4)t the oot ra#e won by ,(ei)s 5Is)##essorA6 was the
earlier event% The e:isten#e o an ,ndymion san#t)ary on Mo)nt -atm)s in .aria s)**ests
that an !eolian #olony rom ,lis settled there% &is rit)al marria*e with &era, like $:ionAs, will
have oended the (riests o @e)s%
=% !(is is the no)n ormed rom a(ios, a &omeri# adHe#tive )s)ally meanin* Iar oA b)t,
when a((lied to the "elo(onnese 5!es#hyl)s1 +)((liants6, Io the (ear7treeA%
"y*malion !nd Galatea
"DGM!-$;3, son o 4el)s, ell in love with !(hrodite and, be#a)se she wo)ld not lie with
him, made an ivory ima*e o her and laid it in his bed, (rayin* to her or (ity% ,nterin* into
this ima*e, !(hrodite bro)*ht it to lie as Galatea, who bore him "a(h)s and Metharme%
"a(h)s, "y*malionAs s)##essor, was the ather o .inyras, who o)nded the .y(rian #ity o
"a(hos and b)ilt a amo)s tem(le to !(hrodite there%
1% "y*malion, married to !(hroditeAs (riestess at "a(hos, seems to have ke(t the *oddessAs
white #)lt7ima*e in his bed as a means o retainin* the .y(rian throne% $ "y*malion was, in
a#t, s)##eeded by a son whom this (riestess bore him, he will have been the irst kin* to
im(ose the (atrilineal system on the .y(riots% 4)t it is more likely that, like his *randson
.inyras, he re)sed to *ive )( the *oddessAs ima*e at the end o his ei*ht7year rei*n2 and that
he (rolon*ed this by marria*e with another o !(hroditeAs (riestessesJte#hni#ally his
da)*hter, sin#e she was heiress to the throneJwho is #alled Metharme 5I#han*eA6, to mark
the innovation%
!ea#)s
T&, River7*od !so()sJwhom some #all the son o ;#ean)s and Tethys2 some, o "oseidon
and "ero2 others, o @e)s and ,)rynomeJmarried Meto(e, da)*hter o the river -adon, by
whom he had two sons and either twelve or twenty da)*hters%
b% +everal o these had been #arried o and ravished on vario)s o##asions by @e)s, "oseidon,
or !(ollo, and when the yo)n*est, !e*ina, twin sister o Thebe, one o @e)sAs vi#tims, also
disa((eared, !so()s set o)t in sear#h o her% !t .orinth he learned that @e)s was on#e a*ain
the #)l(rit, went ven*e)lly in ()rs)it, and o)nd him embra#in* !e*ina in a wood% @e)s,
who was )narmed, led i*nominio)sly thro)*h the thi#kets and, when o)t o si*ht,
transormed himsel into a ro#k )ntil !so()s had *one by2 where)(on he stole ba#k to
;lym()s and rom the saety o its ram(arts (elted him with th)nderbolts% !so()s still moves
slowly rom the wo)nds he then re#eived, and l)m(s o b)rned #oal are oten et#hed rom
his river bed%
#% &avin* th)s dis(osed o !e*inaAs ather, @e)s #onveyed se#retly to the island then #alled
;enone, or ;eno(ia, where he laid with her in the orm o an ea*le, or o a lame, and #)(ids
hovered over their #o)#h, administerin* the *its o love% $n #o)rse o time &era dis#overed
that !e*ina had borne @e)s a son named !ea#)s, ant resolved to destroy every inhabitant o
;enone, where he was a kin*% +he introd)#ed a ser(ent into one o its streams, whi#h hat#hed
o)t tho)sands o e**s2 so that swarms o ser(ents went wri**lin* over the ields into all the
other streams and rivers% Thi#k darkness and a drowsy heat s(read a#ross the island, whi#h
!ea#)s had renamed !e*ina, and the (estilential +o)th Wind blew or not less than o)r
months% .ro(s and (ast)res dried )(, and amine ens)ed2 b)t the islanders were #hiely
(la*)ed with thirst and, when their wine was e:ha)sted, wo)ld #rawl to the nearest stream,
where they died as they drank its (oisono)s water%
d% !((eals to @e)s were in vain1 the ema#iated s)((liants and their sa#rii#ial beasts ell dead
beore his very altars, )ntil hardly a sin*le warm7blooded #reat)re remained alive%
e% ;ne day, !ea#)sAs (rayers were answered with th)nder and li*htnin*% ,n#o)ra*ed by this
avo)rable omen, he be**ed @e)s to re(lenish the em(ty land, *ivin* him as many s)bHe#ts
as there were ants #arryin* *rains o #orn )( a near7by oak% The tree, s(r)n* rom a ?odonian
a#orn, was sa#red to @e)s2 at !ea#)sAs (rayer, thereore, it trembled, and a r)stlin* #ame rom
its wides(read bo)*hs, not #a)sed by any wind% !ea#)s, tho)*h terriied, did not lee, b)t
re(eatedly kissed the tree7tr)nk and the earth beneath it% That ni*ht, in a dream, he saw a
shower o ants illin* to the *ro)nd rom the sa#red oak, and brin*in* )( as men% When he
awoke, he dismissed this as de#eit)l antasy2 b)t s)ddenly his son Telamon #alled him
o)tside to wat#h a host o men a((roa#hin*, and he re#o*ni8ed their a#es rom his dream%
The (la*)e o ser(ents had vanished, and rain was allin* in a steady (eriod%
% !ea#)s, with *rate)l thanks to @e)s, divided the deserted #ity and lands amon* his new
(eo(le, whom he #alled Myrmidons, that is IantsA, and whose des#endants still dis(lay an ant7
like thrit, (atien#e, and tena#ity% -ater, these Myrmidons ollowed "ele)s into e:ile rom
!e*ina, and o)*ht beside !#hilles and "atro#l)s at Troy%
*% 4)t some say that !#hillesAs allies, the Myrmidons, were so named in hono)r o Gin*
Myrmidon, whose da)*hter ,)rymed)sa was sed)#ed by @e)s in the orm o an antJwhi#h
is why ants are sa#red in Thessaly% !nd others tell o a nym(h named Myrme: who, when her
#om(anion !thene invented the (lo)*h, boasted that she had made the dis#overy hersel, and
was t)rned into an ant as a ()nishment%
h% !ea#)s, who married ,ndeis o Me*ara, was widely renowned or his (iety, and held in
s)#h hono)r that men lon*ed to east their eyes )(on him% !ll the noblest heroes o +(arta
and !thens #lamo)red to i*ht )nder his #ommand, tho)*h he had made !e*ina the most
dii#)lt o the !e*ean islands to a((roa#h, s)rro)ndin* it with s)nken ro#ks and dan*ero)s
rees, as a (rote#tion a*ainst (irates% When al Gree#e was ae#ted with a dro)*ht #a)sed by
"elo(sAs m)rder o the !r#adian kin* +tym(hal)s or, some say, by the !theniansA m)rder o
!ndro*e)s, the ?el(hi# ;ra#le advised the Greeks1 I!sk !ea#)s to (ray or yo)r deliveryPA
There)(on every #ity sent a herald to !ea#)s who as#ended Mo)nt "anhelleni)s, the hi*hest
(eak in his island, robed as a (riest o @e)s% There he sa#rii#ed to the *ods, and (rayed or an
end to the dro)*ht% &is (rayer was answered by a lo)d th)nder #la(, #lo)ds obs#)red the sky,
and )rio)s showers o rain soaked the whole land o Gree#e% &e then dedi#ated a san#t)ary
to @e)s on "anhelleni)s, and a #lo)d settlin* on the mo)ntain s)mmit has ever sin#e been an
)nailin* (ortent o rain%
i% !(ollo and "oseidon took !ea#)s with them when they b)ilt the walls o Troy, knowin*
that )nless a mortal Hoined in this work, the #ity wo)ld be im(re*nable and its inhabitants
#a(able o deyin* the *ods% +#ar#ely had they inished their task when three *rey7eyed
ser(ents tried to s#ale the walls% Two #hose the (art H)st #om(leted by the *ods, b)t t)mbled
down and died2 the third, with a #ry, r)shed !ea#)sAs (art and or#ed his way in% !(ollo then
(ro(hesied that Troy wo)ld all more than on#e, and that !ea#)sAs sons wo)ld be amon* it
#a(tors, both in the irst and o)rth *enerations2 as indeed #ame to in the (ersons o Telamon
and !Ha:%
H% !ea#)s, Minos, and Rhadamanthys were the three o @e)sAs sons whom he wo)ld have
most liked to s(are the b)rden o old a*e% The 'ates, however, wo)ld not (ermit this, and
@e)s, by *ra#io)sly a##e(tin* their ban, (rovided the other ;lym(ians with a *ood e:am(le%
k% When !ea#)s died, he be#ame one o the three 9)d*es in Tartar)s, where he *ives laws to
the shades, and is even #alled )(on to arbitrate E)arrels that may arise between the *ods%
+ome add that he kee(s the keys o Tartar)s, im(oses a toll, and #he#ks the *hosts bro)*ht
down by &ermes a*ainst !tro(osAs invoi#e%
1% !so()sAs da)*hters ravished by !(ollo and "oseidon will have been #olle*es o Moon7
(riestesses in the !so()s valley o the 3orth7eastern "elo(onnese, whose ertile lands were
sei8ed by the !eolians% !e*inaAs ra(e seems to re#ord a s)bseE)ent !#haean #onE)est o
"hli)s, a #ity at the
head waters o the !so()s2 and an )ns)##ess)l a((eal made by their nei*hbo)rs or military
aid rom .orinth% ,)rynome and Tethys, the names o !so()sAs mother, were an#ient titles o
the Moon7*oddess, and I"eroA (oints to (era, a leather ba*, and th)s to !theneAs *oat7skin
ae*isJas I!e*inaA also does%
0% The !ea#)s myth #on#erns the #onE)est o !e*ina by "hthiotian Myrmidons, whose tribal
emblem was an ant% "revio)sly, the island was, it seems, held by *oat7#)lt "elas*ians, and
their hostility towards the invaders is re#orded in &eraAs (oisonin* o the streams% !##ordin*
to +trabo, who always looked or reasonable e:(lanations o myths, b)t seldom looked ar
eno)*h, the soil o !e*ina was #overed by a layer o stones, and the !e*inetans #alled
themselves Myrmidons be#a)se, like ants, they had to e:#avate beore they #o)ld ill their
ields, and be#a)se they were tro*lodytes 5+trabo6% 4)t the Thessalian le*end o Myrme: is a
sim(le myth o ori*in1 the "hthiotian Myrmidons #laimed to be a)to#hthono)s, as ants are,
and showed s)#h loyalty to the laws o their (riestess, the M)een !nt, that @e)sAs &elleni#
re(resentative who married her had to be#ome an honorary ant himsel% $ Myrme: was, in
a#t, a title o the Mother7*oddess o 3orthern Gree#e, she mi*ht well #laim to have invented
the (lo)*h, be#a)se a*ri#)lt)re had been established by immi*rants rom !sia Minor beore
the &ellenes rea#hed !thens%
<% The "hthiotian #olonists o !e*ina later mer*ed their myths with those o !#haean
invaders rom "hli)s on the iver !so()s2 and, sin#e these "hthians had retained their
alle*ian#e to the oak7ora#le o ?odona, the ants are des#ribed as illin* rom a tree, instead o
emer*in* rom the *ro)nd%
=% $n the ori*inal myth, !ea#)s will have ind)#ed the rain7storm not by an a((eal to @e)s, b)t
by some s)#h ma*i# as +almone)s )sed% &is law7*ivin* in Tartar)s, like that o Minos and
Rhadamanthys s)**ests that an !e*inetan le*al #ode was ado(ted in other (arts o Gree#e% $t
(robably a((lied to #ommer#ial, rather than #riminal, law H)d*in* rom the *eneral
a##e(tan#e, in .lassi#al times, o the !e*inetan talent as the standard wei*ht o (re#io)s
metal% $t was o .retan ori*in and t)rned the s#ales at 100 lb%
+isy(h)s
+$+D"&/+, son o !eol)s, married !tlasAs da)*hter Mero(e, the "leiad, who bore him
Gla)#)s, ;rnytion, and +inon, and owned a ine herd o #attle on the $sthm)s o .orinth%
b% 3ear him lived !)toly#)s, son o .hione, whose twin7brother "hilammon was be*otten by
!(ollo, tho)*h !)toly#)s himsel #laimed &ermes as his ather%
#% 3ow, !)toly#)s was a (ast master in thet, &ermes havin* *iven him the (ower o
metamor(hosin* whatever beasts he stole, rom horned to )nhorned, or rom bla#k to white,
and #ontrariwise% Th)s altho)*h +isy(h)s noti#ed that his own herds *rew steadily smaller
while those o !)toly#)s in#reased, he was )nable at irst to a##)se him o thet2 and
thereore, one day, en*raved the inside o all his #attleAs hooves with the mono*ram ++ or,
some say, with the words I+tolen by !)toly#)sA% That ni*ht !)toly#)s hel(ed himsel as
)s)ally and at dawn hoo7(rints alon* the road (rovided +isy(h)s with s)i#ient eviden#e to
s)mmon nei*hbo)rs in witness o the thet% &e visited !)toly#)sAs stable, re#o*ni8ed his
stolen beasts by their marked hooves and, leavin* his witnesses to remonstrate with the thie,
h)rried aro)nd the ho)se, entered by the (ortal, and while the ar*)ment was in (ro*ress
o)tside sed)#ed !)toly#)sAs da)*hter !nti#leia, wie to -aertes the !r*ive% +he bore him
;dysse)s, the manner o whose #on#e(tion is eno)*h to a##o)nt or the #)nnin* he
habit)ally showed, and or his ni#kname I&y(si(ylonA%
d% +isy(h)s o)nded ,(hyra, aterwards known as .orinth, and (eo(led it with men s(r)n*
rom m)shrooms, )nless it be tr)e that Medea *ave him the kin*dom as a (resent% &is
#ontem(oraries knew him as the worst knave on earth, *rantin* only that he (romoted
.orinthian #ommer#e and navi*ation%
e% When, on the death o !eol)s, +almone)s )s)r(ed the Thessalian throne, +isy(h)s, who
was the ri*ht)l heir, #ons)lted the ?el(hi# ;ra#le and was told1 I+ire #hildren on yo)r nie#e2
they will aven*e yo)PA &e thereore sed)#ed Tyro, +almone)sAs da)*hter, who, ha((enin* to
dis#over that his motive was not love or her, b)t hatred o her ather, killed the two sons she
had borne him% +isy(h)s then entered the market (la#e o -arissa and (rod)#ed the dead
bodies, alsely a##)sed +almone)s o in#est and m)rder2 and had him e:(elled rom Thessaly%
% !ter @e)sAs abd)#tion o !e*ina, her ather the River7*od !so()s #ame to .orinth in
sear#h o her% +isy(h)s knew well what had ha((ened to !e*ina b)t wo)ld not reveal
anythin* )nless !so()s )ndertook to s)((ly the #itadel o .orinth with a (erennial s(rin*%
!so()s a##ordin*ly made the s(rin* "eirene rise behind !(hroditeAs tem(le, where there are
now ima*es o the *oddess, armed2 o the +)n2 and o ,ros the !r#her% Then +isy(h)s told
him all he knew%
*% @e)s, who had narrowly es#a(ed !so()sAs ven*ean#e, ordered his brother &ades to et#h
+isy(h)s down to Tartar)s and ()nish him everlastin*ly or his betrayal o divine se#rets% Det
+isy(h)s wo)ld not be da)nted1 he #)nnin*ly ()t &ades himsel in hand#)s by (ers)adin*
him to demonstrate their )se, and then E)i#kly lo#kin* them% Th)s &ades was ke(t a (risoner
in +isy(h)sAs ho)se or some daysJan im(ossible sit)ation, be#a)se nobody #o)ld die, even
men who had been beheaded or #)t in (ie#es2 )ntil at last !res, whose interests were
threatened, #ame h)rryin* )(, set him ree, and delivered +isy(h)s into his #l)t#hes%
h% +isy(h)s, however, ke(t another tri#k in reserve% 4eore des#endin* to Tartar)s, he
instr)#ted his wie Mero(e not to b)ry him2 and, on rea#hin* the "ala#e o &ades went
strai*ht to "erse(hone, and told her that, as an )nb)ried (erson, he had no ri*ht to be there
b)t sho)ld have been let on the ar side o the river +ty:% I-et me ret)rn to the )((er world,A
he (leaded, Iarran*e or my b)rial, and aven*e ne*le#t shown me% My (resen#e here is most
irre*)lar% $ will be ba#k within three days%A "erse(hone was de#eived and *ranted his reE)est,
b)t as soon as +isy(h)s o)nd himsel on#e a*ain )nder the li*ht o s)n, he re()diated his
(romise to "erse(hone% 'inally, &ermes #alled )(on to et#h him ba#k by or#e%
i% $t may have been be#a)se he had inH)red +almone)s, or be#a)se he had betrayed @e)sAs
se#ret, or be#a)se he had always lived by robbery and oten m)rdered )ns)s(e#tin* travellers
Jsome say that it These)s who ()t an end to +isy(h)sAs #areer, tho)*h this is not *enerally
mentioned amon* These)sAs 'eatsJat any rate, +isy(h)s was *iven an e:em(lary
()nishment% The 9)d*es o the ?ead showed him a tall blo#k o stoneJidenti#al in si8e with
that into whi#h @e)s had t)rned himsel when leein* rom !so()sJand ordered him to roll
it )ntil brow o a hill and to((le it down the arther slo(e% &e has never s)##eeded in doin*
so% !s soon as he has almost rea#hed the s)mmit, he is or#ed ba#k by the wei*ht o the
shameless stone, whi#h bo)n#e the very bottom on#e more2 where he wearily retrieves it and
rollin* be*ins all over a*ain, tho)*h sweat bathes his limbs, and a #lo)d o rises above his
head%
H% Mero(e, ashamed to ind hersel the only "leiad with a h)sband in the /nderworldJand a
#riminal tooJdeserted her si: starry sisters rom the ni*ht
sky and has never been seen sin#e% !nd as the whereabo)ts o 3ele)sAs tomb on the
.orinthian $sthm)s was a se#ret whi#h +isy(h)s re)sed to div)l*e even to 3estor, so the
.orinthians are now eE)ally reti#ent when asked or the whereabo)ts o +isy(h)sAs own%
1% I+isy(h)sA, tho)*h the Greeks )nderstood it to mean Ivery wiseA, is s(elled +ese(h)s by
&esy#hi)s, and is tho)*ht to be a Greek variant o Tes)(, the &ittite +)n7*od, identi#al with
!tabyri)s the +)n7*od o Rhodes, whose sa#red animal was a b)ll% 4ron8e stat)ettes and
relies o this b)ll, datin* rom the o)rteenth #ent)ry 4., have been o)nd, marked with a
s#e(tre and two disks on the lank, and with a treoil on the ha)n#h% Raids on the +)n7*odAs
marked #attle are a #ommon(la#e in Greek myth1 ;dysse)sAs #om(anions made them, so also
did !l#yone)s, and his #ontem(orary, &era#les% 4)t !)toly#)sAs )se o ma*i# in his thet
rom +isy(h)s re#alls the story o 9a#ob and -aban 5Genesis6% 9a#ob, like !)toly#)s, had the
*it o t)rnin* #attle to whatever #olo)r he wanted, and th)s diminished -abanAs lo#ks% The
#)lt)ral #onne#tion between .orinth and .anaan, whi#h is shown in the myths o 3is)s,
;edi()s, !l#atho)s, and Meli#ertes, may be &ittite% !l#yone)s also #ame rom .orinth%
0% +isy(h)sAs Ishameless stoneA was ori*inally a s)nJdisk, and the hill )( whi#h he rolled it
is the va)lt o &eaven2 this made a amiliar eno)*h i#on% The e:isten#e o a .orinthian +)n
#)lt is well established1 &eli)s and !(hrodite are said to have held the a#ro(olis in
s)##ession, and shared a tem(le there 5"a)sanias6% Moreover, +isy(h)s is invariably (la#ed
ne:t to $:ion in Tartar)s, and $:ionAs ire7wheel is a symbol o the s)n% This e:(lains why the
(eo(le o ,(hyra s(ran* rom m)shrooms1 m)shrooms were the rit)al tinder o $:ionAs ire7
wheel, and the +)n7*od demanded h)man b)rnt sa#rii#es to ina)*)rate his year% !nti#leiaAs
sed)#tion has been ded)#ed (erha(s rom a (i#t)re showin* &eli)sAs marria*e to !(hrodite2
and the mytho*ra(herAs hostility towards +isy(h)s voi#es &elleni# dis*)st at the strate*i#
(lantin* o non7&elleni# settlements on the narrow isthm)s se(aratin* the "elo(onnese rom
!tti#a% &is o)twittin* o &ades (robably reers to a sa#red kin*As re)sal to abdi#ate at the
end o his rei*n% To H)d*e rom the s)n7b)llAs markin*s, he #ontrived to r)le or two Great
Dears, re(resented by the s#e(tre and the s)n7disks, and obtained the Tri(le7*oddessAs assent,
re(resented by the treoil% &y(si(ylon, ;dysse)sAs ni#kname, is the mas#)line orm o
&y(si(yle1 a title, (robably, o the Moon7*oddess%
<% +isy(h)s and 3ele)s were (robably b)ried at strate*i# (oints on the $sthm)s as a #harm
a*ainst invasion% ! la#)na o##)rs in &y*in)sAs a##o)nt o +isy(h)sAs reven*e on +almone)s2
$ hay s)((lied a (assa*e whi#h makes sense o the story%
=% "eirene, the s(rin* on the #itadel o .orinth where 4ellero(hon took "e*as)s to drink, had
no emanation and never ailed% "eirene was also the name o a o)ntain o)tside the #ity *ate,
on the way rom the market7(la#e to -e#hae)m, where "eirene 5Io the osiersA6Jwhom the
mytho*ra(hers des#ribe as the da)*hter o !#helo)s, or o ;ebal)s2 or o !so()s and Mero(e
5?iodor)s +i#)l)s6Jwas said to have been t)rned into a s(rin* when she we(t or her son
.en#hrias 5Is(otted ser(entA62 whom !rtemis had )nwittin*ly killed% I.orinthian bron8eA took
#hara#teristi# #olo)r rom bein* (l)n*ed red7hot into this s(rin*%
5% ;ne o the seven "leiads disa((eared in early .lassi#al times, and her absen#e had to be
e:(lained%
6% ! E)estion remains1 was the do)ble7+ really the mono*ram +isy(h)s% The i#on ill)stratin*
the myth (robably showed him e:aminin* the tra#ks o the stolen shee( and #attle whi#h,
sin#e they I(arted hooA, were ormali8ed as .% This si*n stood or ++ in the earlier Greek
s#ri(t, and #o)ld also be read as the #onHoined halves o the l)nar month and all that these
im(liedJwa:in* and wanin*, in#rease an de#line, blessin* and #)rsin*% 4easts whi#h I(arted
the hooA were sel7dedi#ated to the MoonJthey are the sa#rii#es ordained at the Moon
'estivals in -eviti#)sJand the ++ will thereore have reerred to +elene the Moon, alias
!(hrodite, rather than to +isy(h)s, who as s)n7kin* merely held her sa#red herd in tr)st% The
i*)re .. re(resentin* the )ll moon 5as distin*)ished rom ;, re(resentin* the sim(le s)n7
disk6 was marked on ea#h lank o the sa#red #ow whi#h dire#ted .adm)s to the site o
Thebes%
+almone)s !nd Tyro
+!-M;3,/+, a son, or *randson, o !eol)s and ,narete, rei*ned or time in Thessaly
beore leadin* an !eolian #olony to the eastern #onines o ,lis2 where he b)ilt the #ity o
+almonia near the so)r#e o the river ,ni(e)s, a trib)tary o the !l(hei)s% +almone)s was
hated by his s)bHe#ts, and went so ar in his royal insolen#e as to transer @e)sAs sa#rii#es to
his own altars, and anno)n#e that he was @e)s% &e even drove thro)*h the streets o
+almonia, dra**in* bra8en #a)ldrons, bo)nd with hide, behind his #hariot to sim)late @e)sAs
th)nder, and h)rlin* oaken tor#hes into the air2 some o these, as they ell, s#or#hed his
)nort)nate s)bHe#ts, who were e:(e#ted to mistake them or li*htnin*% ;ne ine day @e)s
()nished +almone)s by h)rlin* a real th)nderbolt, whi#h not only destroyed him, #hariot and
all, b)t b)rned down the entire #ity%
b% !l#idi#e, +almone)sAs wie, had died many years beore, in *ivin* birth to a bea)ti)l
da)*hter named Tyro% Tyro was )nder the #har*e o her ste(mother +idero, and treated with
*reat #r)elty as the #a)se o the amilyAs e:()lsion rom Thessaly2 havin* killed the two sons
she bore to her evil )n#le +isy(h)s% +he now ell in love with the river ,ni(e)s, and ha)nted
its banks day ater day, wee(in* or loneliness% 4)t the River7*od, altho)*h am)sed and even
lattered by her (assion, wo)ld not show her the least en#o)ra*ement%
#% "oseidon de#ided to take advanta*e o this ridi#)lo)s sit)ation% ?is*)isin* himsel as the
River7*od, he invited Tyro to Hoin him at the #onl)en#e o the ,ni(e)s and the !l(hei)s2 and
there threw her into a ma*i# slee(, while a dark wave rose )( like a mo)ntain and #)red in
#rest to s#reen his knavery% When Tyro awoke, and o)nd hersel ravished, she was a*hast at
the de#e(tion2 b)t "oseidon la)*hed as he told her to be o home and kee( E)iet abo)t what
had ha((ened% &er reward, he said, wo)ld be ine twins, sons o a better ather than a mere
river7*od%
d% Tyro #ontrived to kee( her se#ret )ntil she bore the (romised twins, b)t then, )nable to a#e
+ideroAs an*er, e:(osed them on a mo)ntain% ! (assin* horse7herd took them home with him,
b)t not beore his brood7mare had ki#ked the elder in the a#e% The horse7herdAs wie reared
the boys, *ivin* the br)ised one to the mare or s)#klin* and #allin* him "elias2 the other,
whom she #alled 3ele)s, took his sava*e nat)re rom the bit#h whi#h served as his oster7
mother% 4)t some say that the twins were o)nd loatin* down the ,ni(e)s in a wooden ark%
!s soon as "elias and 3ele)s dis#overed their motherAs name and learned how )nkindly she
had been treated, they set o)t to aven*e her% +idero took re)*e in the tem(le o &era2 b)t
"elias str)#k her down as she #l)n* to the horns o the altar% This was many ins)lts that he
oered the *oddess%
e% Tyro later married her )n#le .rethe)s, o)nder o $ol#)s, whom she bore !eson, ather o
9ason the !r*ona)t2 he also re*arded "elias and 3ele)s as his sons%
% !ter .rethe)sAs death, the twins #ame to blows1 "elias took the throne o $ol#)s, e:iled
3ele)s, and ke(t !eson as a (risoner in his (ala#e% 3ele)s led
.rethe)sAs *randsons Melam()s and 4ias with #om(any o !#haeans, "hthiotians, and
!eolians to the land o Messene, where he drove the -ele*ans o)t o "yl)s, and raised to
s)#h a hei*ht o ame that he is now a##laimed as its o)nder% &e married .hloris2 b)t all
their twelve #hildren, e:#e(t 3estor have been event)ally killed by &era#les%
1% !nti*on)s o .aryst)s 5!##o)nt o Marvello)s Thin*s6 re#o)nts that a rain7brin*in*
bron8e wa*on was ke(t at .rannon1 whirl o dro)*ht the (eo(le drove over ro)*h *ro)nd to
shake it and *ive so)ndJand also 5as .rannonian #oins show6 to s(lash abo)t the water rom
the Hars whi#h it #ontained% Rain always #ame, a##ordin* to !nti*on)s% Th)s +almone)sAs
#harm or ind)#in* th)nderstorms have been #ommon reli*io)s (ra#ti#e1 like rattlin* (ebbles
in a dry Har, ta((in* on oak doors, rollin* stones abo)t in a #hest, dan#in*, shields, or
swin*in* b)ll7roarers% &e was (i#t)red as a #riminal or the im(ersonation o @e)s had been
orbidden by the !#haean a)thority% To H)d*e rom the ?anaidsA sieves and the !r*ive #ow
dan#e, rain7makin* was ori*inally emale (rero*ativeJas it remains amon* #ertain (rimitive
!ri#an tribesJthe &ereros and the ?amarasJb)t (assed into the sa#red kin* when the
M)een (ermitted him to a#t as her de()ty%
0% Tyro was the Goddess7mother o the Tyrians and Tyrrhenians, or Tyrsenians, and (erha(s
also o the Tirynthians2 hers is (robably a (re7&elleni# name, b)t s)((lied Greek with the
word tyrsis 5Iwalled #ityA6, and so with the #on#e(t o ItyrannyA% &er ill7treatment by +idero
re#alls that o !ntio(e by ?ir#e, a myth whi#h it #losely resembles2 and may ori*inally have
re#orded an o((ression o the Tyrians by their nei*hbo)rs, the +idonians% River water was
held to im(re*nate brides who bathed in itJbathin* was also a ()riyin* rit)al ater
menstr)ation, or #hild7birthJand it is likely that TyroAs ,ni(e)s, like the +#amander, was
invoked to take away vir*inity% The ane#dote o TyroAs sed)#tion by "oseidon ()r(orts to
e:(lain why +almone)sAs des#endants were sometimes #alled I+ons o ,ni(e)sA, whi#h was
their ori*inal home, and sometimes I+ons o "oseidonA, be#a)se o their naval ame% &er
(revio)s sed)#tion by +isy(h)s s)**ests that the .orinthian +)n #)lt had been (lanted at
+almonia2 !ntio(e was also #onne#ted by marria*e with +isy(h)s%
<% TyroAs ark, in whi#h she sent the twins loatin* down the ,ni(e)s, will have been o alder7
wood, like that in whi#h Rhea +ilvia sent Rom)l)s and Rem)s loatin* down the Tiber% The
E)arrel o "elias and 3ele)s, with that o ,teo#les and "olynei#es, !#risi)s and "roet)s,
!tre)s and Thyestes, and similar (airs o kin*s, seems to re#ord the breakdown o the system
by whi#h kin* and tanist r)led alternately or orty7nine or ity months in the same kin*dom%
=% The horns o the altar to whi#h +idero #l)n* were those habit)ally i:ed to the #)lt7ima*e
o the .ow7*oddess &era, !starte, $o, $sis, or &athor2 and "elias seems to have been an
!#haean #onE)eror who or#ibly reor*ani8ed the !eolian Goddess #)lt o +o)thern Thessaly%
$n "alestine horned altars, like that to whi#h 9oab #l)n* 5Gin*s%6, s)rvived the dethronement
o the Moon7#ow and her *olden .al%
!l#estis
!-.,+T$+, the most bea)ti)l o "eliasAs da)*hters, was asked in marria*e by many kin*s
and (rin#es% 3ot wishin* to endan*er his (oliti#al (osition by re)sin* any o them, and yet
#learly )nable to satisy more than one, "elias let it be known that he wo)ld marry !l#estis to
the man who #o)ld yoke a wild boar and a lion to his #hariot and drive them aro)nd the ra#e7
#o)rse% !t this, !dmet)s Gin* o "herae s)mmoned !(ollo, whom @e)s had bo)nd to him or
one year as a herdsman, and asked1 I&ave $ treated yo) with the res(e#t d)e to yo)r *odheadK
IDo) have indeed,A !(ollo assented, Iand $ have shown my *ratit)de by makin* all yo)r ewes
dro( twins%A I!s a inal avo)r, then,A (leaded !dmet)s, I(ray hel( me to win !l#estis, by
enablin* me to )lill "eliasAs #onditions%A I$ shall be (leased to do so,A re(lied !(ollo%
&era#les lent him a hand with the tamin* o the wild beasts (resently !dmet)s was drivin*
his #hariot aro)nd the ra#e7#o)rse $ol#)s, drawn by this sava*e team%
b% $t is not known why !dmet)s omitted the #)stomary sa#rii#e to !rtemis beore marryin*
!l#estis, b)t the *oddess was E)i#k eno)*h to ()nish him% When, l)shed with wine,
anointed with essen#es, *arlanded with lowers, he entered the bridal #hamber that ni*ht, he
re#oiled in horror% 3o lovely naked bride awaited him on the marria*e #o)#h, b)t a tan*led
knot o hissin* ser(ents% !dmet)s ran sho)tin* or !(ollo, who kindly intervened with
!rtemis on his behal% The ne*le#ted sa#rii#e havin* been oered at on#e, all was well,
!(ollo even obtainin* !rtemisAs (romise that, when the day o !dmet)sA death #ame, he
sho)ld be s(ared on #ondition that a member o his amily died vol)ntarily or love o him%
#% This atal day #ame sooner than !dmet)s e:(e#ted% &ermes lied into the (ala#e one
mornin* and s)mmoned him to Tartar)s% General #onsternation (revailed2 b)t !(ollo *ained
a little time or !dmet)s by makin* the Three 'ates dr)nk, and th)s delayed the atal s#ission
o his lieAs thread% !dmet)s ran in haste to his old (arents, #las(ed their knees, and be**ed
ea#h o them in t)rn to s)rrender him the b)tt7end o e:isten#e% 4oth ro)ndly re)sed, sayin*
that they still derived m)#h enHoyment rom lie, and that he sho)ld be #ontent with his
a((ointed lot, like everyone else%
d% Then, or love o !dmet)s, !l#estis took (oison and her *host des#ended to Tartar)s2 b)t
"erse(hone #onsidered it an evil thin* that a wie sho)ld die instead o a h)sband% I4a#k with
yo) to the )((er airPA she #ried%
e% +ome tell the tale dierently% They say that &ades #ame in (erson to et#h !dmet)s and
that, when he led, !l#estis vol)nteered to take his (la#e2 b)t &era#les arrived )ne:(e#tedly
with a new wild7oily, #l)b, and res#)ed her%
1% The yokin* o a lion and a wild boar to the same #hariot is the theme o a Theban myth,
where the ori*inal meanin* has been eE)ally obs#)red% -ion and boar were the animal
symbols *iven to the irst and se#ond halves o the +a#red Dear, res(e#tivelyJthey
#onstantly o##)r, in o((osition, on ,tr)s#an vasesJand the ora#le seems to have (ro(osed a
(ea#e)l settlement o the traditional rivalry between the sa#red kin* and his tanist% This was
that the kin*dom sho)ld be divided in halves, and that they sho)ld rei*n #on#)rrently, as
"roet)s and !#risi)s event)ally did at !r*os, rather than kee( it entire, and r)le alternatelyJ
as "olynei#es and ,teo#les did at Thebes% ! r)it o the ra#e7#o)rse in a #hariot was a (roo o
royalty%
0% !rtemis was hostile to mono*ami# marria*e be#a)se she belon*ed to the (re7&elleni# #)lt
in whi#h women mated (romis#)o)sly o)tside their own #lans2 so the &ellenes (ro(itiated
her with weddin* sa#rii#es, #arryin* tor#hes o the #haste hawthorn in her hono)r% The
(atriar#hal (ra#ti#e o s)ttee, attested here and in the myths o ,vadne and "oly:ena, *rew
rom the $ndo7,)ro(ean #)stom whi#h orbade widows to remarry2 on#e this ban was
rela:ed, s)ttee be#ame less attra#tive%
<% $n the irst version o this myth, "erse(hone re)sed !l#estisAs sa#rii#eJ"erse(hone
re(resents the matriar#hal (oint o view% $n the se#ond version,
&era#les orbade it, and was #hosen as the instr)ment o @e)sAs will, that is to say o
(atriar#hal ethi#s, on the *ro)nd that he on#e harrowed &ell and res#)ed These)s% Wild7olive
served in Gree#e to e:(el evil inl)en#es2 as the bir#h did in $taly and northern ,)ro(e%
!thamas
!T&!M!+ the !eolian, brother o +isy(h)s and +almone)s, r)led over 4oeotia% !t &eraAs
#ommand, he married 3e(hele, a (hantom whom @e)s #reated in her likeness when he
wished to de#eive $:ion the -a(ith, and who was now wanderin* dis#onsolately abo)t the
halls o ;lym()s% +he bore !thamas two sons1 "hri:)s and -e)#on, and a da)*hter, &elle%
4)t !thamas resented the disdain in whi#h 3e(hele held him and, allin* in love with $no,
da)*hter o .adm)s, bro)*ht her se#retly to his (ala#e at the oot o Mo)nt -a(hysti)m,
where he be*ot -ear#h)s and Meli#ertes on her%
b% -earnin* abo)t her rival rom the (ala#e servants, 3e(hele t)rned in a )ry to ;lym()s,
#om(lainin* to &era that she had been ins)lted% &era took her (art, and vowed1 IMy eternal
ven*ean#e shall all )(on !thamas and his &o)sePA
#% 3e(hele there)(on went ba#k to Mo)nt -a(hysti)m, where she ()bli#ly re(orted &eraAs
vow, and demanded that !thamas sho)ld die% 4)t the men o 4oeotia, who eared !thamas
more than &era, wo)ld not listen to 3e(hele2 and the women o 4oeotia were devoted to $no,
who now (ers)aded them to (ar#h the seed7#orn, witho)t their h)sbandsA knowled*e, so that
the harvest wo)ld ail% $no oresaw that when the *rain was d)e to s(ro)t, b)t no blade
a((eared, !thamas wo)ld send to ask the ?el(hi# ;ra#le what was amiss% +he had already
bribed !thamasAs messen*ers to brin* ba#k a alse re(ly1 namely, that the land wo)ld re*ain
its ertility only i 3e(heleAs son "hri:)s were sa#rii#ed to @e)s on Mo)nt -a(hysti)m%
d% This "hri:)s was a handsome yo)n* man, with whom his a)nt 4iadi#e, .rethe)sAs wie,
had allen in love, and whom, when he reb)ed her advan#es, she a##)sed o tryin* to ravish
her% The men o 4oeotia, believin* 4iadi#eAs story, a((la)ded !(olloAs wise #hoi#e o a sin7
oerin* and demanded that "hri:)s sho)ld die2 where)(on !thamas, lo)dly wee(in*, led
"hri:)s to the mo)ntain to(% &e was on the (oint o #)ttin* his throat when &era#les, who
ha((ened to be in the nei*hbo)rhood, #ame r)nnin* )( and wrested the sa#rii#ial lint rom
his hand% IMy ather @e)s,A &era#les e:#laimed, Iloathes h)man sa#rii#esPA 3evertheless,
"hri:)s wo)ld have (erished des(ite this (lea, had not a win*ed *olden ram, s)((lied by
&ermes at &eraAs orderJor, some say, by @e)s himselJs)ddenly lown down to the res#)e
rom ;lym()s%
I.limb on my ba#kPA #ried the ram, and "hri:)s obeyed%
ITake me tooA (leaded &elle% I?o not leave me to the mer#y o my ather%A
e% +o "hri:)s ()lled her )( behind him, and the ram lew eastwards, makin* or the land o
.ol#his, where &eli)s stables his horses% 4eore lon*, &elle elt *iddy and lost her hold2 she
ell into the straits between ,)ro(e and !sia, now #alled the &elles(ont in her hono)r2 b)t
"hri:)s rea#hed .ol#his saely, and there sa#rii#ed the ram to @e)s the ?eliverer% $ts *olden
lee#e be#ame amo)s a *eneration later when the !r*ona)ts #ame in sear#h o it%
% ;ver7awed by the mira#le o Mo)nt -a(hysti)m, !thamasAs messen*ers #onessed that
they had been bribed by $no to brin* ba#k a alse re(ly rom ?el(hi2 and (resently all her
wiles, and 4iadi#eAs, #ame to li*ht% 3e(hele there)(on a*ain demanded that !thamas sho)ld
die, and the sa#rii#ial illet, whi#h "hri:)s had worn, was (la#ed on his head2 only
&era#lesAs renewed intervention saved him rom death%
*% 4)t &era was in#ensed with !thamas and drove him mad, not only on 3e(heleAs a##o)nt,
b)t be#a)se he had #onnived at $noAs barbo)tin* o the inant ?ionys)s, @e)sAs bastard by her
sister +emele, who was livin* in the (ala#e dis*)ised as a *irl% +ei8in* his bow, !thamas
s)ddenly yelled1 I-ook, a white sta*P +tand ba#k while $ shootPA +o sayin*, he transi:ed
-ear#h)s with an arrow, and (ro#eeded to tear his still7E)iverin* body into (ie#es%
h% $no snat#hed )( Meli#ertes, her yo)n*er son, and led2 b)t wo)ld hardly have es#a(ed
!thamasAs ven*ean#e, had not the inant ?ionys)s tem(orarily blinded him, so that he be*an
to lo* a she7*oat in mistake or her% $no ran to the Mol)rian Ro#k, where she lea(ed into the
sea and was drownedJthis ro#k aterwards be#ame a (la#e o ill re()te, be#a)se the sava*e
+#iron )sed to h)rl stran*ers rom it% 4)t @e)s, rememberin* $noAs kindness to ?ionys)s,
wo)ld not send her *host down to Tartar)s and deiied her instead as the Goddess -e)#othea%
&e also deiied her son Meli#ertes as the God "alaemon, and sent him to the $sthm)s o
.orinth ridin* on dol(hin7ba#k2 the $sthmian Games, o)nded in his hono)r by +isy(h)s, are
still #elebrated there every o)rth year%
i% !thamas, now banished rom 4oeotia, and #hildless be#a)se his remainin* son, -e)#on,
had si#kened and died, enE)ired rom the ?el(hi# ;ra#le where he sho)ld settle, and was
told1 IWherever wild beasts entertain yo) to dinnerA% Wanderin* aimlessly northward, witho)t
ood or drink, he #ame on a wol7(a#k devo)rin* a lo#k o shee( in a desolate Thessalian
(lain% The wolves led at his a((roa#h, and he and his starvin* #om(anions ate what m)tton
had been let% Then he re#alled the ora#le and, havin* ado(ted &aliart)s and .oronea, his
.orinthian *rand7ne(hews, o)nded a #ity whi#h he #alled !los, rom his wanderin*s, or
rom his servin*7maid !los2 and the #o)ntry was #alled !thamania2 aterwards he married
Themisto and raised a new amily%
H% ;thers tell the tale dierently% ;mittin* !thamasAs marria*e to 3e(hele, they say that one
day, ater the birth o -ear#h)s and Meli#ertes, his wie $no went o)t h)ntin* and did not
ret)rn% 4loodstains on a torn t)ni# #onvin#ed him that she had been killed by wild beasts2 b)t
the tr)th was that a s)dden 4a##hi# ren8y had sei8ed her when she was atta#ked by a lyn:%
+he had stran*led it, layed it with her teeth and nails, and *one o, dressed only in the (elt,
or a (rolon*ed revel on Mo)nt "arnass)s% !ter an interval o mo)rnin*, !thamas married
Themisto who, a year later, bore him twin sons% Then, to has dismay, he learned that $no was
still alive% &e sent or her at on#e, installed her in the (ala#e n)rsery, and told Themisto1 IWe
have a likely7lookin* n)rse7maid, a #a(tive taken in the re#ent raid on Mo)nt .ithaeron%A
Themisto, whom her maids soon )nde#eived, visited the n)rsery, (retendin* not to know who
$no was% +he told her1 I"ray, n)rse, *et ready a set o white woollen *arments or my two
sons, and a set o mo)rnin* *arments or those o my )nort)nate (rede#essor $no% They are
to be worn tomorrow%A
k% The ollowin* day, Themisto ordered her *)ards to break into the royal n)rsery and kill the
twins who were dressed in mo)ntin*, b)t s(are the other two% $no, however, *)essin* what
was in ThemistoAs mind, had (rovided white *arments or her own sons, and mo)rnin*
*arments or her rivalAs% Th)s ThemistoAs twins were m)rdered, and the news sent !thamas
mad1 he shot -ear#h)s dead, mistakin* him or a sta*, b)t $no es#a(ed with Meli#ertes,
s(ran* into the sea, and be#ame immortal%
1% ;thers, a*ain, say that "hri:)s and &elle were 3e(heleAs #hildren by $:ion% ;ne day, as
they wandered in a wood, their mother #ame )(on them in a 4a##hi# ren8y, leadin* a *olden
ram by the horns% I-ook,A she babbled, Ihere is a son o yo)r #o)sin Theo(hane% +he had too
many s)itors, so "oseidon #han*ed her into a ewe and himsel into a ram, and to((ed her on
the $sland o .r)missa%A
IWhat ha((ened to the s)itors, motherKA asked little &elle%
IThey be#ame wolves,A $no answered, Iand howl or Theo(hane all ni*ht lon*% 3ow ask me
no more E)estions, b)t #limb on this ramAs ba#k, both o yo), and ride away to the kin*dom
o .ol#his, where &eli)sAs son !eBtes rei*ns% !s soon as yo) arrive, sa#rii#e it to !res%A
"hri:)s #arried o)t his motherAs stran*e instr)#tions, and h)n* )( the *olden lee#e in a
tem(le o !res at .ol#his, where it was *)arded by a dra*on2 and, many years later his son
"resbon, or .ytisor)s, #omin* to ;r#homen)s rom .ol#his, res#)ed !thamas as he was
bein* sa#rii#ed or a sin7oerin*%
1% !thamasAs name is #onne#ted in the myth with !thamania, the #ity whi#h he is said to have
o)nded in the Thessalian wilderness2 b)t seems ormed, rather, rom !th 5Ihi*hA6, and
amaein 5Ito rea(A6Jmeanin* Ithe kin* dedi#ated to the Rea(er on &i*hA, namely the Goddess
o the &arvest Moon% The #onli#t between his rival wives $no and 3e(hele was (robably one
between early $onian settlers in 4oeotia, who had ado(ted the worshi( o the .orn7*oddess
$no, and the (astoral !eolian invaders% !n attem(t to make over the a*ri#)lt)ral rites o the
$onian *oddess $no to the !eolian th)nder7*od and his wie 3e(hele, the rain#lo)d, seems to
have been oiled by the (riestessesA (ar#hin* o the seed7#orn%
0% The myth o !thamas and "hri:)s re#ords the ann)al mo)ntain sa#rii#e o the kin*, or o
the kin*As s)rro*ateJirst a boy dressed in a ramAs lee#e, and later a ramJd)rin* the 3ew
Dear rain7ind)#in* estival whi#h she(herds #elebrated at the +(rin* ,E)ino:% @e)sAs ram7
sa#rii#e on the s)mmit o Mo)nt "elion, not ar rom -a(hysti)m, took (la#e in !(ril when,
a##ordin* to the @odia#, the Ram was in the as#endant2 the #hie men o the distri#t )sed to
str)**le )(, wearin* white shee(7skins 5?i#ear#h)s6, and the rite still s)rvives there today in
the mo#k7sa#rii#e and res)rre#tion o an old man who wears a bla#k shee(As mask% The
mo)rnin* *arments, ordered or the #hildren senten#ed to death, s)**est that a bla#k lee#e
was worn by the vi#tim, and white ones by the (riest and the s(e#tators% 4iadi#eAs love or
"hri:)s re#alls "oti(harAs wieAs love or 9ose(h, a #om(anion myth rom .anaan2 m)#h the
same story is also told o !nteia and 4ellero(hon, .retheis and "ele)s, "haedra and
&i((olyt)s, "hylonome and Tenes%
<% That 3e(hele 5I#lo)dA6 was &eraAs *it to !thamas and #reated in her own ima*e, s)**ests
that in the ori*inal version !thamas the !eolian kin* himsel re(resented the th)nder7*od,
like his (rede#essor $:ion, and his brother +almone)s2 and that, when he married Themisto
5who, in ,)ri(idesAs version o the myth, is $noAs rival6, she took the (art o the th)nder7*odAs
wie%
=% $no was -e)#othea, Ithe White Goddess I, and (roved her identity with the Tri(le M)se by
revellin* on Mo)nt "arnass)s% &er name 5Ishe who makes sinewyA6 s)**ests ithy(halli#
or*ies, and the st)rdy *rowl o #orn2 boys will have been bloodily sa#rii#ed to her beore eve
o winter sowin*% @e)s is himsel #redited with havin* deied $no in *ratit)de or her
kindness to ?ionys)s, and !thamas bears an a*ri#)lt)ral name in her hono)r2 in other words,
the $onian armers settled the reli*io)s dieren#es with the !eolian she(herds to their own
advanta*e%
5% The myth, however, is a medley o early #)lt elements% The sa#ramental @a*re)s #)lt,
whi#h be#ame that o ?ionys)s the Gid is s)**ested when !thamas takes $no or a she7*oat2
the sa#rament !#taeon #)lt is s)**ested when he takes -ear#h)s or a sta*, shoots and tears
him in (ie#es% $noAs yo)n*er son Meli#ertes is the .anaanite &era#les Melkarth 5I(rote#tor o
the #ityA6, alias Molo#h as the new7born solar kin*, #omes ridin* on dol(hin7ba#k towards the
isthm)s2 and whose death, at the #lose o his o)r yearsA rei*n, was #elebrated at the $sthmian
')neral Games% $nants were sa#rii#ed to Meli#ertes on the $sland o Tenedos, and (robably
also at .orinth, as they were to Molo#h at 9er)salem 5-eviti#)s and Gin*s6%
6% ;nly when @e)s be#ame *od o the #lear sky and )s)r(ed the *oddessAs solar attrib)tes did
the lee#e be#ome *oldenJth)s the 'irst Cati#an Mytho*ra(her says that it was Ithe lee#e in
whi#h @e)s as#ended the skyAJb)t while he was ind)#er o the th)nderstorm it had been
()r(le7bla#k 5+imonides6%
>% $n one version o the myth 5&i((ias1 'ra*ment, $no is #alled Gor*o(is 5I*rim7a#edA6, a
title o !theneAs2 and sava*e +#iron who h)rled travellers over the #li, took his name rom
the white (arasol, or more (ro(erly a (aral)neJ#arried in !theneAs (ro#essions% The
Mol)rian Ro#k was evidently the #li rom whi#h the sa#red kin*, or his s)rro*ates, were
thrown into the sea in hono)r o the Moon7*oddess !thene, or $no, while (arasol bein*
a((arently )sed to break the all%
8% &elleAs drownin* (arallels $noAs% 4oth are Moon7*oddesses, and the myth is ambivalent1 it
re(resents the ni*htly settin* o the Moon and, the same time, the abandonment o &elleAs
l)nar #)lt in avo)r o @e)sA solar one% 4oth are eE)ally +ea7*oddesses1 &elle *ave her name
to the H)n#tion o two seas, $no7-e)#othea a((eared to ;dysse)s in the *)ise a seamew and
res#)ed him rom drownin*%
9% !thamasAs tribe is more likely to have mi*rated rom 4oeotian Mo)nt -a(hysti)m and
!thamania to Thessalian Mo)nt -a(hysti)s and !thamania, than #ontrariwise2 he had a
stron* #onne#tion with .orinth, the kin*dom o his brother +isy(h)s, and is said to have
o)nded the #ity o !#rae(hia to the east o -ake .o(ais, where there was a I'ield o
!thamasA 5+te(han)s o 4y8anti)m s)b !#rae(hia6% +everal o his sons are also #redited with
the o)ndation o 4oeotian #ities% &e is indeed (la)sibly des#ribed as a son o Minyas, and
Gin* o ;r#homen)s, whi#h wo)ld have *iven him (ower over the .o(ai# "lain and Mo)nt
-a(hysti)m 5+#holiast on !(olloni)s Rhodi)s6 and allied him with .orinth a*ainst the
intervenin* states o !thens and Thebes% The (robable reason or the !thamaniansA northward
wanderin*s into Thessaly was the disastro)s war o)*ht between ;r#homen)s and Thebes,
re#orded in the &era#les #y#le% 3e(heleAs ra*in*s on the mo)ntain re#all the da)*hters o
Minyas who are said to have been overtaken by a 4a##hi# ren8y on Mo)nt -a(hysti)m
5+#holiast on -y#o(hronAs !le:andra62 the alle*ed ori*in o the !*rionia estival at
;r#homen)s%
The Mares ; Gla)#)s
G-!/./+, son o +isy(h)s and Mero(e, and ather o 4ellero(hon, lived at "otniae near
Thebes where, s#ornin* the (ower o !(hrodite, he re)sed to let his mares breed% &e ho(ed
by this means to make them more s(irited than other #ontestants in the #hariot ra#es whi#h
were his #hie interest% 4)t !(hrodite was ve:ed2 and #om(lained to @e)s that he had *one so
ar as to eed the mares on h)man lesh% When @e)s (ermitted her to take what a#tion she
(leased a*ainst Gla)#)s, she led the mares o)t by ni*ht to drink rom a well sa#red to hersel,
and *ra8e on a herb #alled hi((omanes whi#h *rew at its li(% This she did H)st beore 9ason
#elebrated the )neral *ames o "elias on the seashore at $ol#)s2 and no sooner had Gla)#)s
yoked the mares to his #hariot (ole than they bolted, overthrew the #hariot, dra**ed him
alon* the *ro)nd, entan*led in the reins, or the whole len*th o the stadi)m, and then ate him
alive% 4)t some say that this took (la#e at "otniae, not $ol#)s2 and others, that Gla)#)s lea(ed
into the sea in *rie or Meli#ertes son o !thamas2 or that Gla)#)s was the name *iven to
Meli#ertes ater his death%
b% Gla)#)sAs *host, #alled the Tara:i(()s, or &orse7s#arer, still ha)nts the $sthm)s o .orinth,
where his ather +isy(h)s irst ta)*ht him the #harioteerAs art, and deli*hts in s#arin* the
horses at the $sthmian Games, th)s #a)sin* many deaths% !nother horse7s#arer is the *host o
Myrtil)s whom "elo(s killed% &e ha)nts the stadi)m at ;lym(ia, where #harioteers oer him
sa#rii#es in the ho(e o avoidin* destr)#tion%
1% The myths o -y#)r*)s and ?iomedes s)**est that the (re7&elleni# sa#red kin* was torn in
(ie#es at the #lose o his rei*n by women dis*)ised as mares% $n &elleni# times, this rit)al
was altered to death by bein* dra**ed at the tail o a o)r7horse #hariot, as in the myths o
&i((olyt)s, -ai)s, ;enoma)s, !bder)s, &e#tor, and others% !t the 4abylonian 3ew Dear
estivities, when the +)n7*od Mard)k, in#arnate in the Gin*, was believed to be in &ell
i*htin* the sea7monster Tiamat, a #hariot drawn by o)r masterless horses was let loose in
the streets, to symboli8e the #haoti# state o the world d)rin* the demise o the #rown2
(res)mably with a ()((et #harioteer entan*led in the reins% $ the 4abylonian rit)al was o
#ommon ori*in with the Greek, a boy interre: will have s)##eeded to the Gin*As throne and
bed d)rin* his demise o a sin*le day and, at dawn ne:t mornin*, been dra**ed at the
#hariotAs tailJas in the myths o "haBthon and &i((olyt)s% The Gin* was then reinstalled on
his throne%
0% The myth o Gla)#)s is )n)s)al1 he is not only involved in a #hariot7wre#k, b)t eaten by
the mares% That he des(ised !(hrodite and wo)ld not let his mares breed, s)**ests a
(atriar#hal attem(t to s)((ress Theban eroti# estivities in hono)r o the "otniae, I(ower)l
onesA, namely the Moon triad%
<% The Tara:i(()s seems to have been an ar#hai# royal stat)e, markin* the irst t)rn o the
ra#e7#o)rse2 horses new to the stadi)m were distra#ted by it at the moment when their
#harioteer was tryin* to #)t in and take the inner berth2 b)t this was also the (la#e where the
#hariot7#rash was sta*ed or the old kin*, or his interre:, by the removal o his lin#h(ins%
=% Gla)#)s 5I*rey7*reenA6 is likely to have been in one sense the Minoan re(resentative who
visited the $sthm)s with the ann)al edi#ts2 and in another Meli#ertes 5Melkarth, I*)ardian o
the #ityA6, a "hoeni#ian title o the Gin* o .orinth, who theoreti#ally arrived every year,
new7born, on dol(hin7ba#k, and was l)n* into the sea when his rei*n ended%
Melam()s
M,-!M"/+ the Minyan, .rethe)sAs *randson, who lived at "yl)s in Messene, was the irst
mortal to be *ranted (ro(heti# (owers, the irst to (ra#tise as a (hysi#ian, the irst to b)ild
tem(les to ?ionys)s in Gree#e, and the irst to tem(er wine with water%
b% &is brother 4ias, to whom he was dee(ly atta#hed, ell in love with their #o)sin "ero2 b)t
so many s)itors #ame or her hand that she was (romised by her ather 3ele)s to the man
who #o)ld drive o Gin* "hyla#)sAs #attle rom "hyla#e% "hyla#)s (ri8ed these #attle above
everythin* in the world, e:#e(t his only son $(hi#l)s, and *)arded them in (erson with the
hel( o an )nslee(in* and )na((roa#hable do*%
#% 3ow, Melam()s #o)ld )nderstand the lan*)a*e o birds, his ears havin* been li#ked #lean
by a *rate)l brood o yo)n* ser(ents2 he had res#)ed these rom death at the hands o his
attendants and (io)sly b)ried their (arentsA dead bodies% Moreover, !(ollo, whom he met one
day by the banks o the river !l(hei)s, had ta)*ht him to (ro(hesy rom the entrails o
sa#rii#ial vi#tims% $t th)s #ame to his knowled*e that whoever tried to steal the #attle wo)ld
be made a (resent o them, tho)*h only ater bein* im(risoned or e:a#tly one year% +in#e
4ias was in des(air, Melam()s de#ided to visit "hyla#)sAs byre by dead o ni*ht2 b)t as soon
as he laid his hand on a #ow, the do* bit his le*, and "hyla#)s, s(rin*in* )( rom the straw,
led him away to (rison% This was, o #o)rse, no more than Melam()s e:(e#ted%
d% ;n the evenin* beore his year o im(risonment ended, Melam()s heard two woodworms
talkin* at the end o a beam whi#h was so#keted into the wall above his head% ;ne asked with
a si*n o ati*)e1 I&ow many days yet o *nawin*, brotherKA
The other worm, his mo)th )ll o wood7d)st, re(lied1 IWe a makin* *ood (ro*ress% The
beam will #olla(se tomorrow at dawn, we waste no time in idle #onversation%A
Melam()s at on#e sho)ted1 I"hyla#)s, "hyla#)s, (ray transer me to another #ellPA "hyla#)s,
tho)*h la)*hin* at Melam()sAs reasons this reE)est, did not deny him% When the beam d)ly
#olla(sed and killed one o the women who was hel(in* to #arry o)t the bed, "hyla#)s was
asto)nded at Melam()sAs (res#ien#e% I$ will *rant yo) both yo)r reedom and the #attle,A he
said, Ii only yo) wo)ld #)re my son $(hi#l)s o im(oten#y%A
e% Melam()s a*reed% &e be*an the task by sa#rii#in* two b)lls !(ollo, and ater he had
b)rned the thi*h7bones with the at, let the #ar#asses lyin* by the altar% "resently two
v)lt)res lew down, and remarked to the other1 I$t m)st be several years sin#e we were here
Jthat time when "hyla#)s was *eldin* rams and we #olle#ted o)r (erE)isites%A
I$ well remember it,A said the other v)lt)re% I$(hi#l)s, who was then still a #hild, saw his
ather #omin* towards him with a blood7stain, knie, and took ri*ht% &e a((arently eared to
be *elded himsel be#a)se he s#reamed at the to( o his voi#e% "hyla#)s drove the knie into
the sa#red (ear7tree over there, or sae7kee(in*, while he ran to #omort $(hi#l)s% That ri*ht
a##o)nts or the im(oten#y% -oo "hyla#)s or*ot to re#over the knieP There it still is, sti#kin*
in tree, b)t bark has *rown over its blade, and only the end o its hand shows%V
I$n that #ase,A remarked the irst v)lt)re, Ithe remedy or $(hi#l)sAs im(oten#y wo)ld be to
draw o)t the knie, s#ra(e o the r)st let the ramsA blood and administer it to him, mi:ed in
water, everyday or ten days%A
I$ #on#)r,A said the other v)lt)re% I4)t who, less intelli*ent then o)rselves, wo)ld have the
sense to (res#ribe s)#h a medi#ineKA
% Th)s Melam()s was able to #)re $(hi#l)s, who soon be*ot a son named "odar#es2 and,
havin* #laimed irst the #attle and then "ero, (resented her, still a vir*in, to his *rate)l
brother 4ias%
*% 3ow, "roet)s, son o !bas, Hoint7kin* o !r*olis with !#risi)s had married +theneboea,
who bore him three da)*hters named -ysi((e, $(hinoB, and $(hianassaJb)t some #all the
two yo)n*er ones &i((onoB and .yrianassa% Whether it was be#a)se they have oended
?ionys)s, or be#a)se they had oended &era by their over7ind)l*en#e in love7aairs, or by
stealin* *old rom her ima*e at Tiryns, their atherAs #a(ital, all three were divinely ali#ted
by madness and went ra*in* on the mo)ntains, like #ows st)n* by the *adly, behavin* in a
most disorderly ashion and assa)ltin* travellers%
h% Melam()s, when he heard the news, #ame to Tiryns and oered to #)re them, on #ondition
that "roet)s (aid him with a third share o his kin*dom%
IThe (ri#e is ar too hi*h,A said "roet)s br)sE)ely2 and Melam()s retired%
The madness then s(read to the !r*ive women, a *reat many o whom killed their #hildren,
deserted their homes, and went ravin* o to Hoin "roet)sAs three da)*hters, so that no roads
were sae, and shee( and #attle s)ered heavy losses be#a)se the wild women tore them in
(ie#es and devo)red them raw% !t this "roet)s sent hastily or Melam()s, to say that he
a##e(ted his terms% I3o, no,A said Melam()s, Ias the disease has in#reased, so has my eeP
Give me one third o yo)r kin*dom, and another third to my brother 4ias, and $ )ndertake to
save yo) rom this #alamity% $ yo) re)se, there will not be one !r*ive woman let in her
home%A
When "roet)s a*reed, Melam()s advised him1 ICow twenty red o:en to &eli)sJ$ will tell
yo) what to sayJand all will be well%A
i% "roet)s a##ordin*ly vowed the o:en to &eli)s, on #ondition that his da)*hters and their
ollowers were #)red2 and &eli)s, who sees everythin*, at on#e (romised !rtemis the names
o #ertain kin*s who had omitted their sa#rii#es to her, on #ondition that she (ers)aded &era
to remove the #)rse rom the !r*ive women% 3ow, !rtemis had re#ently h)nted the 3ym(h
.allisto to death or &eraAs sake, so o)nd no dii#)lty in #arryin* o)t her side o the bar*ain%
This is the way that b)siness is done in &eaven as on earth1 hand washes hand%
H% Then Melam()s, hel(ed by 4ias and a #hosen #om(any o st)rdy yo)n* men, drove the
disorderly #rowd o women down rom the mo)ntains to +i#yon, where their madness let
them, and then ()riied them by immersion in a holy well% 3ot indin* "roet)sAs da)*hters
amon* this rabble, Melam()s and 4ias went o a*ain and #hased all three o them to -)si in
!r#adia, where they took re)*e in a #ave overlookin* the river +ty:% There -ysi((e and
$(hianassa re*ained their sanity and were ()riied2 b)t $(hinoB had died on the way%
k% Melam()s then married -ysi((e, 4ias 5whose wie "ero had re#ently died6 married
$(hianassa, and "roet)s rewarded them both a##ordin* to his (romise% 4)t some say that
"roet)sAs tr)e name was !na:a*oras%
1% $t was a #ommon #laim o wi8ards that their ears had been li#ked by ser(ents, whi#h were
held to be in#arnate s(irits o ora#)lar heroes 5The -an*)a*e o !nimals by 9% R% 'ra8er,
!r#haeolo*i#al Review6 and that they were th)s enabled to )nderstand the lan*)a*e o birds
and inse#ts% !(olloAs (riests a((ear to have been more than )s)ally ast)te in #laimin* to
(ro(hesy by this means%
0% $(hi#l)sAs disability is a#t)al rather than mythi#al1 the r)st o the *eldin*7knie wo)ld be
an a((ro(riate (sy#holo*i#al #)re or im(oten#y #a)sed by a s)dden ri*ht, and in a##ordan#e
with the (rin#i(les o sym(atheti# ma*i#% !(ollodor)s des#ribes the tree, into whi#h the knie
was thr)st as an oak, b)t it is more likely to have been the wild (ear7tree, sa#red to the White
Goddess o the "elo(onnese, whi#h r)it in May, the month o enor#ed #hastity2 "hyla#)s
had ins)lted the *oddess by wo)ndin* her tree% The wi8ardAs #laim to have been told o the
treatment by v)lt)resJim(ortant birds in a)*)ryJ wo)ld stren*then the belie in its
ei#a#y% "eroAs name has been inter(reted as meanin* Imaimed or dei#ientA, a reeren#e to
$(hi#l)sAs disability, whi#h is the main (oint o the story, rather than as meanin* Ileather ba*A,
a reeren#e to her #ontrol o the winds%
<% $t a((ears that IMelam()sA, a leader o !eolians rom "yl)s, sei8ed (art o !r*olis rom
the .anaanite settlers who #alled themselves +on o !bas 5the +emiti# word or IatherA6,
namely the *od Melkarth, and instit)ted a do)ble kin*dom% &is winnin* o the #attle rom
"hyla#)s 5I*)ardianA6, who has an )nslee(in* do*, re#alls &era#lesA Tenth -abo)r, and the
myth is similarly based on the &elleni# #)stom o b)yin* a bride with the (ro#eeds o a #attle
raid%
=% I"roet)sA seems to be another name or ;(hion, the ?emi)r*% The mother o his da)*hters
was +theneboea, the Moon7*oddess as #owJnamely $o, who was maddened in m)#h the
same wayJand their names are titles o the same *oddess in her destr)#tive #a(a#ity as
-amia, and as &i((olyte, whose wild mares tore the sa#red kin* to (ie#es at the end o his
rei*n% 4)t the or*y or whi#h the Moon7(riestesses dressed as mares, sho)ld be distin*)ished
rom the rain7makin* *adly dan#e or whi#h they dressed as heiers2 and rom the a)t)mn
*oat7#)lt revel, when they tore #hildren and animals to (ie#es )nder the to:i# inl)en#e o
mead, wine, or ivy7beer% The !eoliansA #a(t)re o the *oddessAs shrine at -)si, re#orded here
in mythi# orm, wo)ld have ()t an end to the wild7mare or*ies2 ?emeterAs ra(e by "oseidon
re#ords the same event% -ibations (o)red to the +er(ent7*oddess in an !r#adian shrine
between +i#yon and -)si may a##o)nt or the story o $(hinoBAs death%
5% The oi#ial re#o*nition at ?el(hi, .orinth, +(arta, and !thens o ?ionys)sAs e#stati# wine
#)lt, *iven many #ent)ries later, was aimed at the dis#o)ra*ement o all earlier, more
(rimitive, rites2 and seems to have ()t an end to #annibalism and rit)al m)rder, e:#e(t in the
wilder (arts o Gree#e% !t "atrae in !#haea, or instan#e, !rtemis Tridaria 5Ithreeold
assi*ner o lotsA6 had reE)ired the ann)al sa#rii#e o boys and *irls, their heads wreathed
with ivy and #orn, at her harvest or*ies% This #)stom, said to atone or the dese#ration o the
san#t)ary by two lovers, Melani(()s and .omaetho, (riestess o !rtemis, was ended by the
arrival o a #hest #ontainin* an ima*e o ?ionys)s, bro)*ht by ,)ry(yl)s rom Troy
5"a)sanias6%
6% Melamo(odes 5Ibla#k eetA6, is a #ommon .lassi#al name or the ,*y(tians2 and these
stories o how Melam()s )nderstood what birds or inse#ts were sayin* are likely to be o
!ri#an, not !eolian, ori*in%
"erse)s
!4!+, Gin* o !r*olis and *randson o ?ana)s, was so renowned a warrior that, ater he
died, rebels a*ainst the royal &o)se #o)ld be ()t to li*ht merely by dis(layin* his shield% &e
married !*laia, to whose twin sons, "roet)s and !#risi)s, he beE)eathed his kin*dom,
biddin* them r)le alternately% Their E)arrel, whi#h be*an in the womb, be#ame more bitter
than ever when "roet)s lay with !#risi)sAs da)*hter ?anaB, and barely es#a(ed alive% +in#e
!#risi)s now re)sed to *ive )( the throne at the end o his term, "roet)s led to the #o)rt o
$obates, Gin* o -y#ia, whose da)*hter +theneboea, or !nteia, he married2 ret)rnin*
(resently at the head o a -y#ian army to s)((ort his #laims to the s)##ession% ! bloody battle
was o)*ht, b)t sin#e neither side *ained the advanta*e, "roet)s and !#risi)s rel)#tantly
a*reed to divide the kin*dom between them% !#risi)sAs share was to be !r*os and its
environs2 "roet)sAs was to be Tiryns, the &erae)m 5now (art o My#enae6, Midea, and the
#oast o !r*olis%
b% +even *i*anti# .y#lo(es, #alled Gastero#heires, be#a)se they earned their livin* as
masons, a##om(anied "roet)s rom -y#ia, and ortiied Tiryns with massive walls, )sin*
blo#ks o stone so lar*e that a m)le team #o)ld not have stirred the least o them%
#% !#risi)s, who was married to !*ani((e, had no sons, b)t only this one da)*hter ?anaB
whom "rote)s had sed)#ed2 and, when he asked an ora#le
how to (ro#)re a male heir, was told1 IDo) will have no sons, and yo)r *randson m)st kill
yo)%A To orestall this ate, !#risi)s im(risoned ?anaB in a d)n*eon with bra8en doors,
*)arded by sava*e do*s2 b)t, des(ite these (re#a)tions, @e)s #ame )(on her in a shower o
*old, and she bore him a son named "erse)s% When !#risi)s learned o ?anaBAs #ondition, he
wo)ld not believe that @e)s was the ather, and s)s(e#ted his brother "roet)s o havin*
renewed his intima#y with her2 b)t, not darin* to kill his own da)*hter, lo#ked her and the
inant "erse)s in a wooden ark, whi#h he #ast into the sea% This ark was washed towards the
island o +eri(hos, where a isherman named ?i#tys netted it, ha)led it ashore, broke it o(en
and o)nd both ?anaB and "erse)s still alive% &e took them at on#e to his brother, Gin*
"olyde#tes, who reared "erse)s in his own ho)se%
d% +ome years (assed and "erse)s, *rown to manhood, deended ?anaB a*ainst "olyde#tes
who, with his s)bHe#tsA s)((ort, had tried to or#e marria*e )(on her% "olyde#tes then
assembled his riends and, (retendin* that he was abo)t to s)e or the hand o &i((odameia,
da)*hter o "elo(s, asked them to #ontrib)te one horse a(ie#e as his love7*it% I+eri(hos is
only a small island,A he said,A b)t $ do not wish to #)t a (oor i*)re beside the wealthy s)itors
rom the mainland% Will yo) be able to hel( me, noble "erse)sKA
I!las,A answered "erse)s, I$ (ossess no horse, nor any *old to b)y one% 4)t i yo) intend to
marry &i((odameia, and not my mother, $ will #ontrive to win whatever *it yo) name%A &e
added rashly1 I,ven the Gor*on Med)saAs head, i need be%A
e% IThat wo)ld indeed (lease me more than any horse in the world,A re(lied "olyde#tes at
on#e% 3ow, the Gor*on Med)sa had ser(ents or hair, h)*e teeth, (rotr)din* ton*)e, and
alto*ether so )*ly a a#e that all who *a8ed at it were (etriied with ri*ht%
% !thene overheard the #onversation at +eri(hos and, bein* a sworn enemy o Med)saAs, or
whose ri*ht)l a((earan#e she had hersel been res(onsible, a##om(anied "erse)s on his
advent)re% 'irst she led him to the #ity o ?ei#terion in +amos, where ima*es o all the three
Gor*ons are dis(layed, th)s enablin* him to distin*)ish Med)sa rom her immortal sisters
+theno and ,)ryale2 then she warned him never to look at Med)sa dire#tly, b)t only at her
rele#tion, and (resented him with a bri*htly7(olished shield%
*% &ermes also hel(ed "erse)s, *ivin* him an adamantine si#kle with whi#h to #)t o
Med)saAs head% 4)t "erse)s still needed a (air o win*ed sandals, a ma*i# wallet to #ontain
the de#a(itated head, and the dark helmet o invisibility whi#h belon*ed to &ades% !ll these
thin*s were in the #are o the +ty*ian 3ym(hs, rom whom "erse)s had to et#h them2 b)t
their whereabo)ts were known only to the Gor*onsA sisters, the three swan7like Graeae, who
had a sin*le eye and tooth amon* the three o them% "erse)s a##ordin*ly so)*ht o)t the
Graeae on their thrones at the oot o Mo)nt !tlas% .ree(in* )( behind them, he snat#hed the
eye and tooth, as they were bein* (assed rom one sister to another, and wo)ld not ret)rn
either )ntil he had been told where the +ty*ian 3ym(hs lived%
h% "erse)s then #olle#ted the sandals, wallet, and helmet rom the nym(hs, and lew
westwards to the -and o the &y(erboreans, where he o)nd the Gor*ons aslee(, amon* rain7
worn sha(es o men and wild beasts (etriied by Med)sa% &e i:ed his eyes on the rele#tion
in the shield, !thene *)ided his hand, and he #)t o Med)saAs head with one stroke o the
si#kle2 where)(on, to his s)r(rise, the win*ed horse "e*as)s, and the warrior .hrysaor
*ras(in* a *olden al#hion, s(ran* )lly7*rown rom her dead body% "erse)s was )naware
that these had been be*otten on Med)sa by "oseidon in one o !theneAs tem(les, b)t de#ided
not to anta*oni8e them )rther% &)rriedly thr)stin* the head into his wallet, he took li*ht2
and tho)*h +theno and ,)ryale, awakened by their new ne(hews, rose to ()rs)e him, the
helmet made "erse)s invisible, and he es#a(ed saely so)thward%
i% !t s)nset, "erse)s ali*hted near the (ala#e o the Titan !tlas to whom, as a ()nishment or
his inhos(itality, he showed the Gor*onAs head and th)s transormed him into a mo)ntain2
and on the ollowin* day t)rned eastward and lew a#ross the /lbyan desert, &ermes hel(in*
him to #arry the wei*hty head% 4y the way he dro((ed the GraeaeAs eye and tooth into -ake
Triton2 and some dro(s o Gor*on blood ell the desert sand, where they bred a swarm o
venomo)s ser(ents, one o whi#h later killed Mo(s)s the !r*ona)t%
H% "erse)s (a)sed or rereshment at .hemmis in ,*y(t, where he is still worshi((ed, and
then lew on% !s he ro)nded the #oast o "hilistia to the north, he #a)*ht si*ht o a naked
woman #hained to a sea7#li, and instantly ell in love with her% This was !ndromeda,
da)*hter o .e(he)s, the ,thio(ian Gin* o 9o((a, and .assio(eia% .assio(eia had boasted
that both she and her da)*hter were more bea)ti)l than the 3ereids, who #om(lained o this
ins)lt to their (rote#tor "oseidon% "oseidon sent a lood and a emale sea7monster to
devastate "hilistia2 and when .e(he)s #ons)lted the ;ra#le o !mmon, he was told that his
only ho(e o deliveran#e lay in sa#rii#in* !ndromeda to the monster% &is s)bHe#ts had
thereore obli*ed him to #hain her to a ro#k, naked e:#e(t or #ertain Hewels, and leave her to
be devo)red%
k% !s "erse)s lew towards !ndromeda, he saw .e(he)s and .assio(eia wat#hin* an:io)sly
rom the shore near by, and ali*hted beside them or a h)rried #ons)ltation% ;n #ondition that,
i he res#)ed her, she sho)ld be his wie and ret)rn to Gree#e with him, "erse)s took to the
air a*ain, *ras(ed his si#kle and, divin* m)rdero)sly rom above, beheaded the a((roa#hin*
monster, whi#h was de#eived by his shadow on the sea% &e had drawn the Gor*onAs head
rom the wallet, lest the monster mi*ht look )(, and now laid it a#e downwards on a bed o
leaves and sea7weed 5whi#h instantly t)rned to #oral6, while he #leansed his hands o blood,
raised three altars and sa#rii#ed a #al, a #ow, and a b)ll to &ermes, !thene, and @e)s
res(e#tively%
l% .e(he)s and .assio(eia *r)d*in*ly wel#omed him as their son7in7law and, on
!ndromedaAs insisten#e, the weddin* took (la#e at on#e2 b)t the estivities were r)dely
interr)(ted when !*enor, Gin* 4el)sAs twin brother, entered at the head o an armed (arty,
#laimin* !ndromeda or himsel% &e was do)btless s)mmoned by .assio(eia, sin#e she and
.e(he)s at on#e broke aith with "erse)s, (leadin* that the (romise o !ndromedaAs hand
had been or#ed rom them by #ir#)mstan#es, and that !*enorAs #laim was the (rior one%
I"erse)s m)st diePA #ried .assio(eia ier#ely%
m% $n the ens)in* i*ht, "erse)s str)#k down many o his o((onents b)t, bein* *reatly
o)tn)mbered, was or#ed to snat#h the Gor*onAs head rom its bed o #oral and t)rn the
remainin* two h)ndred o them to stone%
n% "oseidon set the ima*es o .e(he)s and .assio(eia amon* the starsJthe latter, as a
()nishment or her trea#hery, is tied in a market7basket whi#h, at some seasons o the year,
t)rns )(side7down, so that she looks ridi#)lo)s% 4)t !thene aterwards (la#ed !ndromedaAs
ima*e in a more hono)rable #onstellation, be#a)se she had insisted on marryin* "erse)s,
des(ite her (arentsA ill aith% The marks let by her #hains are still (ointed o)t on a #li near
9o((a2 and the monsterAs (etriied bones were e:hibited in the #ity itsel )ntil Mar#)s
!emili)s +#a)r)s had them taken to Rome d)rin* his aedileshi(%
o% "erse)s ret)rned h)rriedly to +eri(hos, takin* !ndromeda with him, and o)nd that ?anaB
and ?i#tys, threatened by the violen#e o "olyde#tes who, o #o)rse, never intended to marry
&i((odameia, had taken re)*e in a tem(le% &e thereore went strai*ht to the (ala#e where
"olyde#tes was banE)etin* with his #om(anions, and anno)n#ed that he had bro)*ht the
(romised love7*it% Greeted by a storm o ins)lts, he dis(layed the Gor*onAs head, avertin*
his own *a8e as he did so, and t)rned them all to stone2 the #ir#le o bo)lders is still shown in
+eri(hos% &e then *ave the head to !thene, who i:ed it on her ae*is2 and &ermes ret)rned
the sandals, wallet, and helmet to the *)ardianshi( o the +ty*ian nym(hs%
(% !ter raisin* ?i#tys to the throne o +eri(hos, "erse)s set sail or !r*os, a##om(anied by
his mother, his wie, and a (arty o .y#lo(es% !#risi)s, hearin* o their a((roa#h, led to
"elas*ian -arissa2 b)t "erse)s ha((ened to be invited there or the )neral *ames whi#h Gin*
Te)tamides was holdin*
in hono)r o his dead ather, and #om(eted in the ive7old #ontest% When it #ame to the
dis#)s7throw, his dis#)s, #arried o)t o its (ath by the wind and the will o the Gods, str)#k
!#risi)sAs oot and killed him%
E% Greatly *rieved, "erse)s b)ried his *randather in the tem(le o !thene whi#h #rowns the
lo#al a#ro(olis and then, bein* ashamed to rei*n in !r*os, went to Tiryns, where "roet)s had
been s)##eeded by his son Me*a(enthes, and arran*ed to e:#han*e kin*doms with him% +o
Me*a(enthes moved to !r*os, while "erse)s rei*ned in Tiryns and (resently won ba#k the
other two (arts o "roet)sAs ori*inal kin*dom%
r% "erse)s ortiied Midea, and o)nded My#enae, so #alled be#a)se, when he was thirsty, a
m)shroom Wmy#osX s(ran* )(, and (rovided him with a stream o water% The .y#lo(es b)ilt
the walls o both #ities%
s% ;thers *ive a very dierent a##o)nt o the matter% They say that "olyde#tes s)##eeded in
marryin* ?anaB, and reared "erse)s in the tem(le o !thene% +ome years later, !#risi)s heard
o their s)rvival and sailed to +eri(hos, resolvin* this time to kill "erse)s with his own hand%
"olyde#tes intervened and made ea#h o them solemnly swear never to attem(t the otherAs
lie% &owever, a storm arose and, while !#risi)sAs shi( was still ha)led )( on the bea#h,
weather7bo)nd, "olyde#tes died% ?)rin* his )neral *ames, "erse)s threw a dis#)s whi#h
a##identally str)#k !#risi)s on the head and killed him% "erse)s then sailed to !r*os and
#laimed the throne, b)t o)nd that "roet)s had )s)r(ed it, and thereore t)rned him into stone2
th)s he now rei*ned over the whole o !r*olis, )ntil Me*a(enthes aven*ed his atherAs death
by m)rderin* him%
t% !s or the Gor*on Med)sa, they say that she was a bea)ti)l da)*hter o "hor#ys, who had
oended !thene, and led the -ibyans o -ake Tritonis in battle% "erse)s, #omin* rom !r*os
with an army, was hel(ed by !thene to assassinate Med)sa% &e #)t o her head by ni*ht, and
b)ried it )nder a mo)nd o earth in the market (la#e at !r*os% This mo)nd lies #lose to the
*rave o "erse)sAs da)*hter Gor*o(hone, notorio)s as the irst widow ever to remarry%
1% The myth o !#risi)s and "roet)s re#ords the o)ndation o an !r*ive do)ble7kin*dom1
instead o the kin*As dyin* every mids)mmer, and bein* s)##eeded by his tanist or the rest o
the year, ea#h rei*ned in t)rn or orty7nine or ity monthsJnamely hal a Great Dear% This
kin*dom was later, it seems, divided in halves, with #o7kin*s r)lin* #on#)rrently or an entire
Great Dear% The earlier theory, that the bri*ht s(irit o the Wa:in* Dear, and his tanist twin,
the dark s(irit o the Wanin* Dear, stand in endless rivalry (ervades .elti# and "alestinian
myth, as well as the Greek and -atin%
0% Two s)#h (airs o twins o##)r in Genesis1 ,sa) and 9a#ob2 and "hare8 and @arah, both o
whom E)arrel or (re#eden#e in the womb, like !#risi)s and "roet)s% $n the sim(ler
"alestinian myth o Mot and !leyn, the twins E)arrel abo)t a woman, as do !#risi)s and
"roet)s2 and as their #o)nter(arts do in .elti# mythJor instan#e, Gwyn and Gwyth)r, in the
Mabino*ion, d)el every May ,ve )ntil the end o the world or the hand o .reiddylad,
da)*hter o -lyr 5.ordelia, da)*hter o Gin* -ear6% This woman is, in ea#h #ase, a Moon7
(riestess, marria*e to whom #oners kin*shi(%
<% The b)ildin* o !r*os and Tiryns by the seven Gastero#heires 5Ibellies with handsA6, and
the death o !#risi)s, are a((arently ded)#ed rom a (i#t)re o a walled #ity1 seven s)n7disks,
ea#h with three limbs b)t no head, are (la#ed above it, and the sa#red kin* is bein* killed by
an ei*hth s)n7disk, with win*s, whi#h strikes his sa#red heel% This wo)ld mean that seven
yearly s)rro*ates die or the kin*, who is then himsel sa#rii#ed at the (riestessAs orders2 his
s)##essor, "erse)s, stands by%
=% The myth o ?anaB, "erse)s, and the ark seems related to that o $sis, ;siris, +et, and the
.hild &or)s% $n the earliest version, "roet)s is "erse)sAs ather, the !r*ive ;siris2 ?anaB is
his sister7wie, $sis2 "erse)s, the .hild &or)s2 and !#risi)s, the Healo)s +et who killed his
twin ;siris and was taken ven*ean#e on by &or)s% The ark is the a#a#ia7wood boat in whi#h
$sis and &or)s sear#hed the ?elta or ;sirisAs body% ! similar story o##)rs in one version o
the +emele myth, and in that o Rhoeo% 4)t ?anaB, im(risoned in the bra8en d)n*eon, where
she bears a #hild, is the s)bHe#t o a amiliar 3ew Dear i#on2 @e)sAs im(re*nation o ?anaB
with a shower o *old m)st reer to the rit)al marria*e o the +)n and the Moon, rom whi#h
the 3ew Dear kin* was born% $t #an also be read as (astoral alle*ory1 Iwater o *oldA or the
Greek she(herd, and @e)s sends th)nder7showers on the earthJ?anaB% The name
I?ei#terionA means that the Gor*onAs head was shown there to "erse)s%
5% ?ynasti# dis()tes at !r*os were #om(li#ated by the e:isten#e o an !r*ive #olony in .aria
Jas a((ears both in this myth and in that o 4ellero(hon2 when .noss)s ell abo)t 1=00 4.,
the .arian navy was, or a while, one o the stron*est in the Mediterranean% The myths o
"erse)s and 4ellero(hon are #losely related% "erse)s killed the monstro)s Med)sa with the
hel( o win*ed sandals2 4ellero(hon )sed a win*ed horse, born rom the de#a(itated body o
Med)sa, to kill the monstro)s .himaera% 4oth eats re#ord the )s)r(ation by &elleni#
invaders o the Moon7*oddessAs (owers, and are )niied in an ar#hai# 4oeotian vase7(aintin*
o a Gor*on7headed mare% This mare is the Moon7*oddess, whose #alendar7symbol was the
.himaera2 and the Gor*on7head is a (ro(hyla#ti# mask, worn by her (riestesses to s#are away
the )ninitiated, whi#h the &ellenes stri((ed rom them%
6% $n the se#ond and sim(ler version o the myth, "erse)s i*hts a -ibyan E)een, de#a(itates
her, and b)ries her head in the market (la#e o !r*os% This m)st re#ord an !r*ive #onE)est o
-ibya, the s)((ression there o the matriar#hal system, and the violation o the *oddess
3eithAs mysteries% The b)rial o the head in the market (la#e s)**ests that sa#red reli#s were
lo#ked in a #hest there, with a (ro(hyla#ti# mask (la#ed above them, to dis#o)ra*e m)ni#i(al
di**ers rom dist)rbin* the ma*i#% "erha(s the reli#s were a (air o little (i*s, like those said
in the Mabino*ion to have been b)ried by Gin* -)d in a stone #hest at .ara:, ;:ord, as a
(rote#tive #harm or the whole Gin*dom o 4ritain2 tho)*h (i*s, in that #onte:t, may be an
e)(hemism or #hildren%
>% !ndromedaAs story has (robably been ded)#ed rom a "alestinian i#on o the +)n7*od
Mard)k, or his (rede#essor 4el, mo)nted on his white horse and killin* the sea7monster
Tiamat% This myth also ormed (art o &ebrew mytholo*y1 $saiah mentions that 9ehovah
5Mard)k6 ha#ked Rahab in (ie#es with a sword2 and a##ordin* to 9ob, Rahab was the +ea% $n
the same i#on, the Hewelled, naked !ndromeda, standin* #hained to a ro#k, is !(hrodite, or
$shtar, or !starte, the le#hero)s +ea7*oddess, Ir)ler o menA% 4)t she is not waitin* to be
res#)ed2 Mard)k has bo)nd her there himsel, ater killin* her emanation, Tiamat the sea7
ser(ent, to (revent )rther mis#hie% $n the 4abylonian .reation ,(i#, it was she who sent the
'lood% !starte, as +ea7*oddess, had tem(les all alon* the "alestinian #oast, and at Troy she
was &esione, IM)een o !siaA, whom &era#les is said to have res#)ed rom another sea7
monster% ! Greek #olony (lanted at .hemmis, a((arently towards the end o the se#ond
millenni)m 4., identiied "erse)s with the *od .hem, whose hiero*ly(h was a win*ed bird
and a solar disk2 and &erodot)s em(hasi8es the #onne#tion between ?anaB, "erse)sAs mother,
and the -ibyan invasion o !r*os by the ?anaans% The myth o "erse)s and the m)shroom is
o )n)s)al interest% 'or a theory that this was the into:i#atin* m)shroom o ?ionys)s, to
whose worshi( he had been #onverted, read the 'oreword to this revised edition%
9% The se#ond, sim(ler version o the myth s)**ests that "erse)sAs visit to the Graeae, his
a#E)isition o the eye, tooth, wallet, si#kle, and helmet o darkness, and his ()rs)it by the
other Gor*ons ater the de#a(itation o Med)sa are e:traneo)s to his E)arrel with !#risi)s% $n
The White Goddess, $ (ost)late that these airy7tale elements are misreadin*s o a wholly
dierent i#on1 whi#h shows &ermes, wearin* his amiliar win*ed sandals and helmet, bein*
*iven a ma*i# eye by the Three 'ates% This eye symboli8es the *it o (er#e(tion1 &ermes is
enabled to master the tree7al(habet, whi#h they have invented% They also *ive him a
divinatory tooth, like the one )sed by 'ionn in the $rish le*end2 a si#kle, to #)t al(habeti#
twi*s rom the *rove2 a #rane7skin
ba*, in whi#h to stow these saely2 and a Gor*on7mask, to s#are away the #)rio)s% &ermes is
lyin* thro)*h the sky to Tartess)s, where the Gor*ons had a sa#red *rove, es#orted, not
()rs)ed, by a triad o *oddesses wearin* Gor*on7masks% ;n the earth below, the *oddess is
shown a*ain, holdin* )( a mirror whi#h rele#ts a Gor*onAs a#e, to em(hasi8e the se#re#y o
his lesson% &ermesAs asso#iation with the Graeae, the +ty*ian 3ym(hs, and the helmet o
invisibility (roves that he is the s)bHe#t o this (i#t)re2 the #on)sion between him and
"erse)s may have arisen be#a)se &ermes, as the messen*er o ?eath, had also earned the title
o "terse)s, Ithe destroyerA%
The Rival Twins
W&,3 the male line o "oly#aonAs &o)se had died o)t ater ive *enerations, the Messenians
invited "erieres, the son o !eol)s, to be their kin*, and he married "erse)sAs da)*hter
Gor*o(hone% +he s)rvived him and was the irst widow to remarry, her new h)sband bein*
;ebal)s the +(artan% &itherto it had been #)stomary or women to #ommit s)i#ide on the
death o their h)sbands1 as did Melea*erAs da)*hter "olydora, whose h)sband "rotesila)s
was the irst to lea( ashore when the Greek leet rea#hed the #oast o Troy2 Mar(essa2
.leo(atra2 and ,vadne, da)*hter o "hyla#)s, who threw hersel on the )neral (yre when her
h)sband (erished at Thebes%
b% !(hare)s and -e)#i(()s were Gor*o(honeAs sons by "erieres, whereas Tyndare)s and
$#ari)s were her sons by ;ebal)s% Tyndare)s s)##eeded his ather on the throne o +(arta,
$#ari)s a#tin* as his #o7kin*2 b)t &i((o#oFn and his twelve sons e:(elled both o them,
tho)*h some, indeed, say that $#ari)s 5later to be#ome ;dysse)sAs ather7in7law6 took
&i((o#oFnAs side% Takin* re)*e with kin* Thest)s in !etolia, Tyndare)s married his
da)*hter -eda, who bore him .astor and .lytaemnestra, at the same time bearin* &elen and
"olyde)#es to @e)s% -ater, havin* ado(ted "olyde)#es, Tyndare)s *ained the +(artan throne,
and was one o those whom !s#le(i)s raised rom the dead% &is tomb is still shown at +(arta%
#% Meanwhile, his hal7brother !(hare)s had s)##eeded "erieres on the throne o Messene,
where -e)#i(()sJrom whom, the Messenians say, the #ity o -e)#tra took its nameJa#ted
as his #o7kin* and enHoyed the lesser (owers% !(hare)s took to wie his hal7sister !rene,
who bore him $das and -yn#e)s2 tho)*h $das was, in tr)th, "oseidonAs son% 3ow, -e)#i(()sAs
da)*hters, the -e)#i((ides, namely "hoebe, a (riestess o !thene, and &ilaeira, a (riestess o
!rtemis, were betrothed to their #o)sins, $das and -yn#e)s2 b)t .astor and "olyde)#es, who
are #ommonly known as the ?ios#)ri, #arried them o, and had sons by them, whi#h
o##asioned a bitter rivalry between the two sets o twins%
d% The ?ios#)ri, who were never se(arated rom one another in an advent)re, be#ame the
(ride o +(arta% .astor was amo)s as a soldier and tamer o horses, "olyde)#es as the best
bo:er o his day2 both won (ri8es at the ;lym(i# Games% Their #o)sins and rivals were not
devoted to ea#h other2 $das had *reater stren*th than -yn#e)s, -yn#e)s s)#h shar( eyes that
he #o)ld see in the dark or divine the whereabo)ts o b)ried treas)re%
e% 3ow, ,ven)s, a son o !res, had married !l#i((e, by whom he be#ame the ather o
Mar(essa% $n an attem(t to kee( her a vir*in, he invited ea#h o her s)itors in t)rn to r)n a
#hariot ra#e with him2 vi#tor wo)ld win Mar(essa, the vanE)ished wo)ld oreit his head%
+oon many heads were nailed to the walls o ,ven)sAs ho)se and !(ollo, allin* in love with
Mar(essa, e:(ressed his dis*)st o so barbaro)s a #)stom2 and said that he wo)ld soon end it
by #hallen*in* ,ven)s to a ra#e% 4)t $das had also set his heart on Mar(essa, and be**ed a
win*ed #hariot rom his ather "oseidon% 4eore !(ollo #o)ld a#t, he had driven to !etolia,
and #arried Mar(essa away rom the midst o a band o dan#ers% ,ven)s *ave #hase, b)t
#o)ld not overtake $das, and elt s)#h mortii#ation that, ater killin* his horses, he drowned
himsel in the river -y#ormas, ever sin#e #alled the ,ven)s%
% When $das rea#hed Messene, !(ollo tried to take Mar(essa rom him% They o)*ht a d)el,
b)t @e)s (arted them, and r)led that Mar(essa hersel sho)ld de#ide whom she (reers%
Gnowin* that !(ollo wo)ld #ast her o when she *rew old, as he had done with many
another o his loves, she #hose $das or her h)sband%
*% $das and -yn#e)s were amon* the .alydonian h)nters, and sailed in the !r*o to .ol#his%
;ne day, ater the death o !(hare)s, they and the ?ios#)ri (at#hed )( their E)arrel
s)i#iently to Hoin or#es in a #attle7raid on !r#adia% The raid (roved s)##ess)l, and $das was
#hosen by lot to divide the booty amon* the o)r o them% &e thereore E)artered a #ow, and
r)led that hal the s(oil sho)ld *o to the man who ate his share irst, the remainder to the ne:t
E)i#kest% !lmost beore the others had settled themselves to be*in the #ontest, $das bolted his
own share and then hel(ed -yn#e)s to bolt his2 soon down went the last *obbet, and he and
-yn#e)s drove the #attle away towards Messene% The ?ios#)ri remained, )ntil "olyde)#es,
the slower o the two, had inished eatin*2 where)(on they mar#hed a*ainst Messene, and
(rotested to the #iti8ens that -yn#e)s had oreited his share by a##e(tin* hel( rom $das, and
that $das had oreited his by not waitin* )ntil all the #ontestants were ready% $das and
-yn#e)s ha((ened to be away on Mo)nt Tay*et)s, sa#rii#in* to "oseidon2 so the ?ios#)ri
sei8ed the dis()ted #attle, and other (l)nder as well, and then hid inside a hollow oak to await
their rivalsA ret)rn% 4)t -yn#e)s had #a)*ht si*ht o them rom the s)mmit o Tay*et)s2 and
$das, h)rryin* down the mo)ntain slo(e, h)rled his s(ear at the tree and transi:ed .astor%
When "olyde)#es r)shed o)t to aven*e his brother, $das tore the #arved headstone rom
!(hare)sAs tomb, and threw it at him% !ltho)*h badly #r)shed, "olyde)#es #ontrived to kill
-yn#e)s with his s(ear2 and at this (oint @e)s intervened on behal o his son, strikin* $das
dead with a th)nderbolt%
h% 4)t the Messenians say that .astor killed -yn#e)s, and that $das, distra#ted by *rie, broke
o the i*ht and be*an to b)ry him% .astor then a((roa#hed and insolently demolished the
mon)ment whi#h $das had H)st raised, denyin* that -yn#e)s was worthy o it% IDo)r brother
()t )( no better i*ht than a woman wo)ld have donePA he #ried ta)ntin*ly% $das t)rned, and
(l)n*ed his sword into .astorAs belly2 b)t "olyde)#es took instant ven*ean#e on him%
i% ;thers say that it was -yn#e)s who mortally wo)nded .astor in a battle o)*ht at !(hidna2
others a*ain, that .astor was killed when $das and -yn#e)s atta#ked +(arta2 and still others,
that both ?ios#)ri s)rvived the i*ht, .astor bein* killed later by Melea*er and "olynei#es%
H% $t is *enerally a*reed, at least, that "olyde)#es was the last s)rvivor o the two sets o twins
and that, ater settin* )( a tro(hy beside the +(artan ra#e#o)rse to #elebrate his vi#tory over
-yn#e)s, he (rayed to @e)s1 I'ather, let me not o)tlive my dear brotherPA +in#e, however, it
was ated that only one o -edaAs sons sho)ld die, and sin#e .astorAs ather Tyndare)s had
been a mortal, "olyde)#es, as the son o @e)s, was d)ly #arried )( to &eaven% Det he re)sed
immortality )nless .astor mi*ht share it, and @e)s thereore allowed them both to s(end their
days alternately in the )((er air, and )nder the earth at Thera(ne% $n )rther reward o their
brotherly love, he set their ima*es amon* the stars as the Twins%
k% !ter the ?ios#)ri had been deiied, Tyndare)s s)mmoned Menela)s to +(arta, where he
resi*ned the kin*dom to him2 and sin#e the &o)se o !(hare)s was now also let witho)t an
heir, 3estor s)##eeded to the throne o all Messenia, e:#e(t or the (art r)led over by the son
o !s#le(i)s%
l% The +(artans still show the ho)se where the ?ios#)ri lived% $t was aterwards owned by one
"hormio, whom they visited one ni*ht, (retendin* to be stran*ers rom .yrene% They asked
him or lod*in*, and be**ed leave to slee( in their old room% "hormio re(lied that they were
wel#ome to any other (art o the ho)se b)t that, re*rettably, his da)*hter was now o##)(yin*
the room o whi#h they s(oke% 3e:t mornin*, the *irl and all her (ossessions had vanished,
and the room was em(ty, e:#e(t or ima*es o the ?ios#)ri and some herb7benHamin laid
)(on a table%
m% "oseidon made .astor and "olyde)#es the savio)rs o shi(wre#ked sailors, and *ranted
them (ower to send avo)rable winds2 in res(onse to a sa#rii#e o white lambs oered on the
shi(, they will #ome hastenin* thro)*h the sky,
n% The ?ios#)ri o)*ht with the +(artan leet at !e*os(otamos, and the vi#tors aterwards
h)n* )( two *olden stars in their hono)r at ?el(hi2 b)t these ell down and disa((eared
shortly beore the atal battle o -e)#tra%
o% ?)rin* the se#ond Messenian War, a #o)(le o Messenians aro)sed the ?ios#)riAs an*er by
im(ersonali8in* them% $t ha((ened that the +(artan army was #elebratin* a east o the demi7
*ods, when twin s(earmen rode into the #am( at )ll *allo(, dressed in white t)ni#s, ()r(le
#loaks, and e**7shell #a(s% The +(artans ell down to worshi( them, and the (retended
?ios#)ri, two Messenian yo)ths named Goni(()s and "anorm)s, killed many o them% !ter
the battle o the 4oarAs Grave, thereore, the ?ios#)ri sat on a wild (ear7tree, and s(irited
away the shield belon*in* to the vi#torio)s Messenian #ommander !ristomenes, whi#h
(revented him rom (ressin* on the +(artan retreat, and th)s saved many lives2 a*ain, when
!ristomenes attem(ted to assa)lt +(arta by ni*ht, the (hantoms o the ?ios#)ri and o their
sister &elen t)rned him ba#k% -ater, .astor and "olyde)#es or*ave the Messenians, who
sa#rii#ed to them when ,(aminondas o)nded the new #ity o Messene%
(% They (reside at the +(artan Games, and be#a)se they invented the war7dan#e and war7like
mimi# are the (atrons o all bards who sin* o an#ient battles% $n &ilaeira and "hoebeAs
san#t)ary at +(arta, the two (riestesses are still #alled -e)#i((ides, and the e** rom whi#h
-edaAs twins were hat#hed is s)s(ended rom the roo% The +(artans re(resent the ?ios#)ri by
two (arallel wooden beams, Hoined by two transverse ones% Their #o7kin*s always take these
into battle and when, or the irst time, a +(artan army was led by one kin* alone, it was
de#reed that one beam sho)ld also remain at +(arta% !##ordin* to those who have seen the
?ios#)ri, the only noti#eable dieren#e between them is that "olyde)#esAs a#e bears the
s#ars o bo:in*% They dress alike1 ea#h has his hal e**7shell s)rmo)nted by a star, ea#h his
s(ear and white horse% +ome say that "oseidon *ave them their horses2 others, that
"olyde)#esAs Thessalian #har*er was a *it rom &ermes%
1% $n order to allow the sa#red kin* (re#eden#e over his tanist, he was )s)ally des#ribed as
the son o a *od, by a mother on whom her h)sband s)bseE)ently tithered a mortal twin%
Th)s &era#les is @e)sAs son by !l#mene, b)t his twin $(hi#les is the son o her h)sband
!m(hitryon, similar story is told both abo)t the ?ios#)ri o -a#onia, and abo)t their rivals,
$das and -yn#e)s o Messenia% The (ere#t harmony e:istin* between the twins themselves
marks a new sta*e in the develo(ment o kin*shi(, when the tanist a#ts as vi8ier and #hie7o7
sta, bein* nominally less (ower)l than the sa#red kin*% .astor thereore, not "olyde)#es, is
the a)thority on warJhe even instr)#ts &era#les in militant arts, th)s identiyin* himsel
with $(hi#lesJand -yn#e)s, not $das, *ited with a#)te vision% 4)t )ntil the do)ble7kin*dom
system had been evolved, the tanist was not re*arded as immortal, nor *ranted the same
(osth)mo)s stat)s as his twin%
0% The +(artans were reE)ently at war with the Messenians and, in .lassi#al times, had
s)i#ient military (ower, and inl)en#e over the ?el(hi# ;ra#le, to im(ose their twin heroes
on the rest o Gree#e, as enHoyin* *reater avo)r with 'ather @e)s than any other (air2 and the
+(artan kin*dom did indeed o)tlast all its rivals% &ad this not been so, the #onstellation o the
Twins mi*ht have #ommemorated &era#les and $(hi#les, or $das and -yn#e)s, or !#risi)s and
"roet)sJinstead o merely .astor and "olyde)#es, who were not even the only heroes
(rivile*ed to ride white horses1 every hero worthy o a hero7east was a horseman% $t is these
s)nset easts, at whi#h a whole o: was eaten by the heroAs des#endants, that a##o)nt or the
*l)ttony attrib)ted to -e(re)s and &era#les2 and here to $das, -yn#e)s and their rivals%
<% Marria*e to the -e)#i((ides enroyalled the +(artan #o7kin*s% They were des#ribed as
(riestesses o !thene and !rtemis, and *iven moon7names, bein*, in a#t, the Moon7
*oddessAs re(resentatives2 th)s, in vase7(aintin*s, the #hariot o +elene is reE)ently attended
by the ?ios#)ri% !s the +(irit o the Wa:in* Dear, the sa#red kin* wo)ld nat)rally mate with
!rtemis, a Moon7*oddess o s(rin* and s)mmer2 and his tanist, as +(irit o the Wanin* Dear,
with !thene, who had be#ome a Moon7*oddess o a)t)mn and winter% The mytho*ra(her is
s)**estin* that the +(artans deeated the Messenians, and that their leaders or#ibly married
the heiresses o !rene, a (rin#i(al #ity o Messenia, where the Mare7headed Mother was
worshi((ed2 th)s establishin* a #laim to the s)rro)ndin* re*ion%
=% +imilarly with Mar(essa1 a((arently the Messenians made a raid on the !etolians in the
,ven)s valley, where the +ow7mother was worshi((ed, and #arried o the heiress, Mar(essa
5Isnat#herA or I*obblerA6% They were o((osed by the +(artans, worshi((ers o !(ollo, who
*r)d*ed them their s)##ess2 the dis()te was then reerred to the #entral a)thority at My#enae,
whi#h s)((orted the Messenians% 4)t ,ven)sAs #hariot7ra#e with $das re#alls the "elo(s7
;enoma)s and the &era#les7.yen)s myths% $n ea#h #ase the sk)lls o the kin*As rivals are
mentioned% The i#on rom whi#h all these stories are ded)#ed m)st have shown the old kin*
headin* or his destined #hariot #rash ater havin* oered seven ann)al s)rro*ates to the
*oddess% &is horses are sa#rii#ed as a (reliminary to the installation o the new kin*% The
drownin* o ,ven)s is (robably misread1 it shows $das bein* ()riied beore marria*e and
then ridin* o tri)m(hantly in the M)eenAs #hariot% Det these "elas*ian marria*e rites have
been #ombined in the story with the &elleni# #)stom o marria*e by #a(t)re% The atal #attle7
raid may re#ord a histori#al in#ident1 a E)arrel between the Messenians and +(artans abo)t
the sharin* o s(oil in a Hoint e:(edition a*ainst !r#adia%
5% .astor and "olyde)#esAs visit to "hormioAs ho)se is disin*en)o)sly des#ribed1 the a)thor is
relatin* another tri#k (layed on the st)(id +(artans by an im(ersonation o their national
heroes% .yrene, where the ?ios#)ri were worshi((ed, s)((lied herb7benHamin, a kind o
asaetida, the stron* smell and taste o whi#h made it val)ed as a #ondiment% The two
.yrenian mer#hants were obvio)sly what they (roessed themselves to be, and when they
went o with "hormioAs da)*hter, let their war behind in (ayment2 "hormio de#ided to #all
it a mira#le%
6% Wild (ear7trees were sa#red to the Moon be#a)se o their white blossom, and the most
an#ient ima*e o the ?eath7*oddess &era, in the &erae)m at My#enae, was made o (ear7
wood% "l)tar#h and !elian mention the (ear as a r)it (e#)liarly venerated at !r*os and
Tiryns2 hen#e the "elo(onnese was #alled !(ia Io the (ear7treeA% !thene, also a ?eath7
*oddess, had the name ;n#B 5I(ear7treeA6 at her (ear7san#t)ary in 4oeotia% The ?ios#)ri
#hose this tree or their (er#h in order to show that they were *en)ine heroes2 moreover, the
(ear7tree orms r)it towards the end o May, when the s)n is in the ho)se o the Twins2 and
when the sailin* season be*ins in the ,astern Mediterranean% +(arrows that ollow the
?ios#)ri, when they a((ear in answer to sailorsA (rayers, belon* to the +ea7*oddess
!(hrodite2 Z)th)s 5Is(arrowA6, the ather o !eol)s, was an an#estor o the ?ios#)ri, who
worshi((ed her%
>% $n the &omeri# &ymn to the ?ios#)ri, it is not made #lear whether .astor and "olyde)#es
are ollowed by s(arrows or whether they #ome dartin* on Is(arrowy win*sA thro)*h the
)((er air, to aid distressed sailors2 b)t on ,tr)s#an mirrors they are sometimes (i#t)red as
win*ed% Their symbol at +(arta, the do#ana, re(resented the two s)((ortin* (illars o a
shrine2 another symbol #onsisted o two am(hora ea#h entwined by a ser(entJthe ser(ents
bein* the in#arnate ?ios#)ri who #ame to eat ood (la#ed in the am(horas%
8% Gor*o(hone deied the $ndo7,)ro(ean #onvention o s)ttee marryin* a*ain%
4ellero(hon
4,--,R;"&;3, son o Gla)#)s and *randson o +isy(h)s, let .orinth )nder a #lo)d,
dis*ra#ed by havin* irst killed one 4eller)sJwhi#h earned him ni#kname 4ellero(hontes,
shortened to 4ellero(honJand then own brother, whose name is )s)ally *iven as ?eliades%
&e led as s)((liant to "roet)s, Gin* o Tiryns2 b)t 5so ill l)#k6 wo)ld have !nteia, "roet)sAs
wie whom some #all +theneboea, ell in love wit him at si*ht% When he reHe#ted her
advan#es, she a##)sed him o havin* tried to sed)#e her, and "roet)s, who believed the story,
*rew in#ensed% De t he dared not risk the ')riesA ven*ean#e by the dire#t m)rder o a
s)((liant, and thereore sent him to !nteiaAs ather $obates, Gin* o -y#ia, #arryin* a sealed
letter, whi#h read1 I"ray remove the bearer rom this world2 he has tried to violate my wie,
yo)r da)*hter%A
b% $obates, eE)ally loth to ill7treat a royal *)est, asked 4ellero(hon to do him the servi#e o
destroyin* the .himaera, a ire7breathin* she7monster with lionAs head, *oatAs body, and
ser(entAs tail% I+he isA, he e:(lained, Ia da)*hter o ,#hidne, whom my enemy, the Gin* o
.aria, has made a ho)sehold (et%A 4eore settin* abo)t this task, 4ellero(hon #ons)lted the
seer "olyeid)s, and was advised to #at#h and tame the win*ed horse "e*as)s, beloved by the
M)ses o Mo)nt &eli#on, or whom he had #reated the well &i((o#rene by stam(in* his
moon7sha(ed hoo%
#% "e*as)s was absent rom &eli#on, b)t 4ellero(hon o)nd him drinkin* at "eirene, on the
!#ro(olis o .orinth, another o his wells2 and threw over his head a *olden bridle, !theneAs
timely (resent% 4)t some say that !thene *ave "e*as)s already bridled to 4ellero(hon2 and
others, that "oseidon, who was really 4ellero(honAs ather, did so% 4e that as it may,
4ellero(hon over#ame the .himaera by lyin* above her on "e*as)sAs ba#k, riddlin* her with
arrows, and then thr)stin* between her Haws a l)m( o lead whi#h he had i:ed to the (oint o
his s(ear% The .himaeraAs iery breath melted the lead, whi#h tri#kled down her throat,
searin* her vitals%
d% $obates, however, ar rom rewardin* 4ellero(hon or this darin* eat, sent him at on#e
a*ainst the warlike +olymians and their allies, the !ma8ons2 both o whom he #onE)ered by
soarin* above them, well o)t o bow7shot, and dro((in* lar*e bo)lders on their heads% 3e:t,
in the -y#ian "lain o Zanth)s, he beat o a band o .arian (irates led by one .heimarrh)s, a
iery and boast)l warrior, who sailed in a shi( adorned with a lion i*)rehead and a ser(ent
stern% When $obates showed no *ratit)de even then b)t, on the #ontrary, sent the (ala#e
*)ards to amb)sh him on his ret)rn, 4ellero(hon dismo)nted and (rayed that, while he
advan#ed on oot, "oseidon wo)ld lood the Zanthian "lain behind him% "oseidon heard his
(rayer, and sent *reat waves rollin* slowly orward as 4ellero(hon a((roa#hed $obatesAs
(ala#e2 and, be#a)se no man #o)ld (ers)ade him to retire, the Zanthian women hoisted their
skirts to the waist and #ame r)shin* towards him )ll b)tt, oerin* themselves to him one
and all, i only he wo)ld relent% 4ellero(honAs modesty was s)#h that he t)rned tail and ran2
and the waves retreated with him%
e% .onvin#ed now that "roet)s m)st have been mistaken abo)t the attem(t on !nteiaAs virt)e,
$obates (rod)#ed the letter, and demanded an e:a#t a##o)nt o the aair% ;n learnin* the
tr)th, he im(lored 4ellero(honAs or*iveness, *ave him his da)*hter "hilonoB in marria*e,
and made him heir to the -y#ian throne% &e also (raised the Zanthian women or their
reso)r#e)lness and ordered that, in )t)re, all Zanthians sho)ld re#kon des#ent rom the
mother, not the ather%
% 4ellero(hon, at the hei*ht o his ort)ne, (res)m(t)o)sly )ndertook a li*ht to ;lym()s, as
tho)*h he were an immortal2 b)t @e)s sent a *adly, whi#h st)n* "e*as)s )nder the tail,
makin* him rear and lin* 4ellero(hon in*lorio)sly to earth% "e*as)s #om(leted the li*ht to
;lym()s, where @e)s now )ses him as a (a#k7beast or th)nderbolts2 and 4ellero(hon, who
had allen into a thorn7b)sh, wandered abo)t the earth, lame, blind, lonely and a##)rsed,
always avoidin* the (aths o men, )ntil death overtook him%
1% !nteiaAs attem(ted sed)#tion o 4ellero(hon has several Greek (arallels, besides a
"alestinian (arallel in the story o 9ose(h and "oti(harAs wie, and an ,*y(tian (arallel in The
Tale o the T wo 4rothers% The (rovenien#e o the myth is )n#ertain%
0% ,#hidneAs da)*hter, the .himaera, who is de(i#ted on a &ittite b)ildin* at .ar#hemish,
was a symbol o the Great GoddessAs tri(artite +a#red DearJlion or s(rin*, *oat or s)mmer,
ser(ent or winter% ! dama*ed *lass (laE)e o)nd at ?endra near My#enae shows her t)sslin*
with a lion, rom the ba#k o whi#h emer*es what a((ears to be a *oatAs head2 the tail is lon*
and ser(entine% +in#e the (laE)e dates rom a (eriod when the *oddess was still s)(reme, this
i#onJ(aralleled in an ,tr)s#an res#o at TarE)inia, tho)*h the hero here is mo)nted, like
4ellero(honJm)st be read as a kin*As #oronation #ombat a*ainst men in beast dis*)ise who
re(resent the dierent seasons o the year% !ter the !#haean reli*io)s revol)tion whi#h
s)bordinated the *oddess &era to @e)s, the i#on be#ame ambivalent1 it #o)ld also be read as
re#ordin* the s)((ression, by &elleni# invaders, o the an#ient .arian #alendar%
<% 4ellero(honAs tamin* o "e*as)s, the Moon7horse )sed in rain7makin*, with a bridle
(rovided by !thene, s)**ests that the #andidate or the sa#red kin*shi( was #har*ed by the
Tri(le M)se 5Imo)ntain *oddessA6, or her re(resentative, with the #a(t)re o a wild horse2
th)s &era#les later rode !rion 5Imoon7#reat)re on hi*hA6 when he took (ossession o ,lis% To
H)d*e rom (rimitive ?anish and $rish (ra#ti#e, the lesh o this horse was sa#ramentally
eaten by the kin* ater his symboli# rebirth rom the Mare7headed Mo)ntain7*oddess% 4)t
this (art o the myth is eE)ally ambivalent1 it #an also be read as re#ordin* the sei8)re by
&elleni# invaders o the Mo)ntain7*oddessAs shrines at !s#ra on Mo)nt &eli#on, and .orinth%
! similar event is re#orded in "oseidonAs violation o the Mare7headed !r#adian ?emeter, on
whom he be*ot this same Moon7horse !rion2 and o Med)sa, on whom he be*ot "e*as)s2
whi#h e:(lains "oseidonAs intr)sion into the story o 4ellero(hon% &ow @e)s h)mbled
4ellero(hon is a moral ane#dote told to dis#o)ra*e revolt a*ainst the ;lym(ian aith2
4ellero(hon, the dart7bearer, lyin* a#ross the sky, is the same #hara#ter as his *randather
+isy(h)s, or Tes)(, a solar hero whose #)lt was re(la#ed by that o solar @e)s2 he is thereore
*iven a similarly l)#kless end, whi#h re#alls that o &eli)sAs son "haBthon%
=% 4ellero(honAs enemies, the +olymians, were .hildren o +alma% +in#e all titles and #a(es
be*innin* with the syllable salm have an easterly sit)ation, she was (robably the Goddess o
the +(rin* ,E)ino:2 b)t she soon be#ame mas#)lini8ed as the +)n7*od +olyma, or +elim,
+olomon, or !b+alom, who *ave his name to 9er)salem% The !ma8ons were the Moon7
*oddessAs i*htin* (riestesses%
5% 4ellero(honAs retreat rom the Zanthian women may have been ded)#ed rom an i#on
whi#h showed the Wild Women maddened with hi((omanesJ either a herb, or the slimy
va*inal iss)e o a mare in heat, or the bla#k membrane #)t rom the orehead o a new7born
oalJ#losin* in on the sa#red kin* by the seashore at the end o his rei*n% Their skirts were
hoisted, as in the eroti# worshi( o ,*y(tian !(is 5?iodor)s +i#)l)s6, so that when they
dismembered him, his s()rtin* blood wo)ld E)i#ken their wombs% +in#e Zanth)s 5IyellowA6
is the name o one o !#hillesAs horses, and o one belon*in* to &e#tor, and o one *iven to
"ele)s by "oseidon, these women (erha(s wore rit)al horse7masks with moon7yellow manes,
like those o (alominos2 or wild mares had eaten 4ellero(honAs ather Gla)#)s by the
seashore o .orinth% Det this reormed myth retains a (rimitive element1 the a((roa#h, naked
women rom the #hietainAs own #lan, with whom inter#o)rse was orbidden, wo)ld or#e
him to retreat and hide his a#e, and in $rish le*end this same r)se was em(loyed a*ainst
.)#h)lain, when his )ry #o)ld not otherwise be #he#ked% The a##o)nt o the Zanthian
matrilineal re#konin* o des#ent has
been t)rned inside o)t1 it was the &ellenes who, on the #ontrary, mana*ed to enor#e
(atrilineal re#konin* on all .arians e:#e(t the #onservative Zanthians%
6% .heimarrh)sAs name is derived rom #himaros, or #himaera 5I*oatA62 both his iery nat)re
and his shi( with the lion i*)re7head and ser(ent stern have been introd)#ed into
4ellero(honAs story by some e)hemerists to e:(lain away the ire7breathin* .himaera% Mo)nt
.himaera 5I*oat mo)ntainA6 was also the name o an a#tive vol#ano near "haselis in -y#ia
5"liny1 3at)ral &istory6, whi#h a##o)nts or the ier#e breath%
!ntio(e
+;M, say that when @e)s sed)#ed !ntio(e, da)*hter o 3y#te)s the Theban, she led to the
Gin* o +i#yon, who a*reed to marry her, and th)s o##asioned a war in whi#h 3y#te)s was
killed% !ntio(eAs )n#le -y#)s (resently deeated the +i#yonians in a bloody battle and bro)*ht
her ba#k, a widow, to Thebes% !ter *ivin* birth in a wayside thi#k to the twins !m(hion and
@eth)s, whom -y#)s at on#e e:(osed at Mo)nt .ithaeron, she was #r)elly ill7treated or
many years by her a)nt, ?ir#e% !t last, she #ontrived to es#a(e rom the (rison in whi#h she
was imm)red, and led to the h)t where !m(hion and @eth)s, whom a (assin* #attle7man
had res#)ed, were now livin*% 4)t they mistook !ntio(e or a r)nway slave, and re)sed to
shelter her% ?ir#e then #ame r)shin* )( in a 4a##hi# ren8y, sei8ed hold o !ntio(e, and
dra**ed her away%
IMy lads,A #ried the #attle7man, Iyo) had better beware o the ')ries%A
IWhy the ')riesKA they asked%
I4e#a)se yo) have re)sed to (rote#t yo)r mother, who is now bein* #arried o or e:e#)tion
by that sava*e a)nt o hers%A
The twins at on#e went in ()rs)it, res#)ed !ntio(e, and tied ?ir#e by the hair to the horns o
a wild b)ll, whi#h made short work o her%
b% ;thers say that the river !so()s was !ntio(eAs ather, and that one ni*ht the Gin* o
+i#yon im(ersonated -y#)s, to whom she was married, and sed)#ed her% -y#)s divor#ed
!ntio(e in #onseE)en#e and married ?ir#e, th)s leavin* @e)s ree to #o)rt the lonely
!ntio(e, and *et her with #hild% ?ir#e, s)s(e#tin* that this was -y#)sAs doin*, im(risoned
!ntio(e in a dark d)n*eon2 rom whi#h, however, she was reed by @e)s H)st in time to brin*
orth !m(hion and @eth)s on Mo)nt .ithaeron% The twins *rew )( amon* the #attle7men
with whom !ntio(e had taken re)*e and, when they were old eno)*h to )nderstand how
)nkindly their mother had been treated, she (ers)aded them to aven*e her% They met ?ir#e
roamin* the slo(es o Mo)nt .ithaeron in a 4a##hi# ren8y, tied her by the hair to the horns
o a wild b)ll and, when she was dead, l)n* her body on the *ro)nd2 where a s(rin* welled
)(, aterwards #alled the ?ir#aean +tream% 4)t ?ionys)s aven*ed this m)rder o his votary1
he sent !ntio(e ra*in* madly all over Gree#e )ntil at last "ho#)s, a *randson o +isy(h)s,
#)red and married her in "ho#is%
#% !m(hion and @eth)s visited Thebes, where they e:(elled Gin* -ai)s and b)ilt the lower
#ity, .adm)s havin* already b)ilt the )((er% 3ow, @eth)s had oten ta)nted !m(hion or his
devotion to the lyre *iven him by &ermes% I$t distra#ts yo)A, he wo)ld say, Irom )se)l
work%A Det when they be#ame masons, !m(hionAs stones moved to the so)nd o his lyre and
*ently slid into (la#e, while @eth)s was obli*ed to )se main or#e, la**in* ar behind his
brother% The twins r)led Hointly in Thebes, where @eth)s married Thebe, ater whom the #ity
J(revio)sly known as .admeiaJis now named2 and !m(hion married 3iobe% 4)t all her
#hildren e:#e(t two were shot dead by !(ollo and !rtemis, whose mother -eto she had
ins)lted% !m(hion was himsel killed by !(ollo or tryin* to take ven*ean#e on the ?el(hi#
(riests, and )rther ()nished in Tartar)s% !m(hion and @eth)s are b)ried in one *rave at
Thebes, whi#h is *)arded #are)lly when the s)n is in Ta)r)s2 or then the (eo(le o "ho#ian
Tithorea try to steal earth rom the mo)nd and (la#e it on the *rave o "ho#)s and !ntio(e%
!n ora#le on#e said that this a#t wo)ld in#rease the ertility o all "ho#is at the e:(ense o
Thebes%
1% These two versions o the ?ir#e myth show how ree the mytho*ra(hers elt to make their
narrative it the main elements o a literary tradition whi#h, in this #ase, seems to have been
ded)#ed rom a series o sa#red i#ons% !ntio(e, emer*in* Hoy)lly o)t o her d)n*eon and
ollowed by the s#owlin* ?ir#e, re#alls .oreAs ann)al rea((earan#e in &e#ateAs #om(any% +he
is #alled !ntio(e 5I#onrontin*A6 in this #onte:t, be#a)se her a#e is )(t)rned to the sky, not
bent towards the /nderworld, and I?a)*hter o 3i*htAJ3y#teis, not 3y#te)sJbe#a)se she
emer*es rom the darkness% The Ira*in* on the mo)ntainA by ?ir#e and !ntio(e has been
misinter(reted as a 4a##hi# or*y2 theirs was #learly an eroti# *adly dan#e, or whi#h they
behaved like Moon7heiers in heat% ?ir#eAs name 5Ido)bleA6 stands or the horned moon, and
the i#on rom whi#h the myth is taken will have shown her not bein* tied to the b)ll in
()nishment, b)t rit)ally marryin* the b)ll7kin*% ! se#ondary meanin* may be #on#ealed in
dir#e1 namely I#letA, that is, Iin an eroti# #onditionA% The ?ir#aean s(rin*, like &i((o#rene,
will have been moon7sha(ed% !ntio(eAs sons are the amiliar royal twins borne by the Moon7
*oddess1 her sa#red kin* and his tanist%
0% !m(hionAs three7strin*er lyre, with whi#h he raised the walls o -ower ThebesJsin#e
&ermes was his em(loyer, it #an have had only three strin*s Jwas #onstr)#ted to #elebrate
the Tri(le7*oddess, who rei*ned in the air, on earth, and in the /nderworld, and will have
been (layed d)rin* the b)ildin* to sae*)ard the #ityAs o)ndations, *ates, ant towers% The
name I!m(hionA 5Inative o two landsA6 re#ords his #iti8enshi( o +i#yon and Thebes%
3iobe
3$;4,, sister o "elo(s, had married !m(hion, Gin* o Thebes an borne him seven sons and
seven da)*hters, o whom she was so inordinately (ro)d that, one day, she dis(ara*ed -eto
hersel or havin* only two #hildren1 !(ollo and !rtemis% Manto, the (ro(heti# da)*hter o
Teiresias, overhearin* this rash remark, advised the Theban women to (la#ate -eto and her
#hildren at on#e1 b)rnin* rank7in#ense and wreathin* their hair with la)rel bran#hes% When
the s#ent o in#ense was already loatin* in the air, 3iobe a((eared, ollowed by a thron* o
attendants and dressed in a s(lendid "hry*ian robe, her lon* hair lowin* loose% +he
interr)(ted the sa#rii#e and )rio)sly asked why -eto, a woman o obs#)re (arenta*e, with a
mannish da)*hter and a womanish son, sho)ld be (reerred to her, 3iobe, *rand#hild o @e)s
and !tlas, the dread o the "hry*ians, and a E)een o .adm)sAs royal ho)seK Tho)*h ate or
ill7l)#k mi*ht #arry o two or three o her #hildren, wo)ld she not still remain the ri#herK
b% !bandonin* the sa#rii#e, the terriied Theban women tried to (la#ate -eto with m)rm)red
(rayers, b)t it was too late% +he had already sent !(ollo and
!rtemis, armed with bows, to ()nish 3iobeAs (res)m(tion% !(ollo o)nd the boys h)ntin* on
Mo)nt .ithaeron and shot them down one by one, s(arin* only !my#las, who had wisely
oered a (ro(itiatory (rayer to -eto% !rtemis o)nd the *irls s(innin* in the (ala#e and, with
a E)iver)l o arrows, des(at#hed all o them, e:#e(t MeliboBa, who had ollowed !my#lasAs
e:am(le% These two s)rvivors hastened to b)ild -eto a tem(le, tho)*h MeliboBa had t)rned
so (ale with ear that she was still ni#knamed .hloris when she married 3ele)s some years
later% 4)t some say that none o 3iobeAs #hildren s)rvived, and that her h)sband !m(hion
was also killed by !(ollo%
#% 'or nine days and nine ni*hts 3iobe bewailed her dead, and o)nd no one to b)ry them,
be#a)se @e)s, takin* -etoAs (art, had t)rned all the Thebans into stone% ;n the tenth day, the
;lym(ians themselves dei*ned to #ond)#t the )neral% 3iobe led overseas to Mo)nt +i(yl)s,
the home o her ather Tantal)s, where @e)s, moved by (ity, t)rned her into a stat)e whi#h
#an still be seen wee(in* #o(io)sly in the early s)mmer%
d% !ll men mo)rned or !m(hion, de(lorin* the e:tin#tion o his ra#e, b)t none mo)rned or
3iobe, e:#e(t her eE)ally (ro)d brother "elo(s%
1% The n)mber o 3iobeAs #hildren is *iven by &omer as twelve and 5a##ordin* to vario)s
s#holiasts6 by &esiod as twenty, by &erodot)s as o)r, and by +a((ho as ei*hteen2 b)t the
a##o)nt ollowed by ,)ri(ides and !(ollodor)s, whi#h makes the best sense, is that she had
seven and seven da)*hters% +in#e 3iobe, in the Theban version o the myth was a *rand7
da)*hter o the Titan !tlas and, in the !r*ive version, da)*hter or mother o "horone)s, also
des#ribed as a Titan, and "elas*)s2 and #o)ld #laim to be the irst mortal woman violated by
@e)s, the myth may #on#ern the deeat o the seven Titans and Titanesses by the ;lym(ians%
$ so, it re#ords the s)((ression o the #alendar system (revailin* in "elas*ian Gree#e,
"alestine, +yria, and 3orthwestern ,)ro(e2 whi#h was based on a month divided into o)r
weeks o seven days, ea#h r)led by one o the seven (lanetary bodies% !m(hion and his
twelve #hildren, in &omerAs version o the myth, (erha(s stand or the thirteen months o this
#alendar% Mo)nt +i(yl)s may have been the last home in !sia Minor o the TitanAs #)lt, as
Thebes was in Gree#e% The stat)e o 3iobe is a #ra* o ro)*hly h)man sha(e, whi#h seems to
wee( when the s)nAs arrows strike its winter #a( o snow, and the likeness is reinor#ed by a
&ittite Goddess mother #arved in ro#k on the same mo)ntain and datin* rom (erha(s the late
iteenth #ent)ry 4.% I3iobeA (robably means snowyJthe b re(resentin* the v in the -atin
nivis, or the (h in the Greek ni(ha% ;ne o her da)*hters is #alled .hiade by &y*in)s1 a word
whi#h makes no sense in Greek, )nless it be a worn7down orm o #hionos ni(hades, Isnow7
lakesA%
*% "artheni)s 5-ove +tories6 *ives a dierent a##o)nt o 3iobeAs ()nishment1 by -etoAs
#ontrivan#e, 3iobeAs ather ell in#est)o)sly love with her and, when she re()lsed him,
b)rned her #hildren to death2 her h)sband was then man*led by a wild boar, and she threw
hersel rom a ro#k% This story, #onirmed by the s#holiast on ,)ri(idesAs "hoeni#ian Women,
is inl)en#ed by the myths o .inyras, +myrna and !donis, and by the #)stom o b)rnin*
#hildren to the *od Molo#h%
.!,3$+ !3? .!,3,/+
";+,$?;3 on#e lay with the 3ym(h .aenis, da)*hter o ,lat)s the Ma*nesian or, some
say, o .oron)s the -a(ith, and asked her to name a love7*it%
ITransorm meA, she said, Iinto an inv)lnerable i*hter% $ am weary o bein* a woman%A
"oseidon obli*in*ly #han*ed her se:, and she be#ame .aene)s, wa*in* war with s)#h
s)##ess that the -a(iths soon ele#ted her their kin*2 and she even be*ot a son, .oron)s,
whom &era#les killed many years later while i*htin* or !e*imi)s the ?orian% ,:alted by
this new #ondition, .aene)s set )( a s(ear in the middle o the market7(la#e, where the
(eo(le #on*re*ated, and made them sa#rii#e to it as i to a *od, and hono)r no other deity
whatsoever%
b% @e)s, hearin* o .aene)sAs (res)m(tion, insti*ated the .enta)rs to an a#t o m)rder%
?)rin* the weddin* o "eiritho)s they made a s)dden atta#k on her, b)t she had no dii#)lty
in killin* ive or si: o them, witho)t in#)rrin* the sli*htest wo)nd, be#a)se their wea(ons
rebo)nded harmlessly rom her #harmed skin% &owever, the remainin* .enta)rs beat her on
the head with ir lo*s, )ntil they had driven her )nder the earth, and then (iled a mo)nd o
lo*s above% +o .aene)s smothered and died% "resently o)t lew a sandy7win*ed bird, whi#h
the seer Mo(s)s, who was (resent, re#o*ni8ed as her so)l2 and when they #ame to b)ry her,
the #or(se was a*ain a womanAs%
1% This myth has three distin#t strands% 'irst, a #)stom whi#h still (revails in !lbania, o *irls
Hoinin* a war7band and dressin* in menAs #lothes, so that when they are killed in battle the
enemy is s)r(rised to dis#over their se:% +e#ond, a re)sal o the -a(iths to a##e(t &elleni#
overlordshi(2 the s(ear set )( or worshi( is likely to have been a may7(ole in hono)r o the
3ew Moon7*oddess .aenis, or ,late 5Iir7treeA6, to whom the ir was sa#red% The -a(iths
were then deeated by the !eolians o $ol#)s who, with the hel( o their allies the .enta)rs,
s)bHe#ted them to their *od "oseidon, b)t did not interere with tribal law% ;nly, as at !r*os,
the #lan #hietainess will have been obli*ed to ass)me an artii#ial beard to assert her ri*ht to
a#t as ma*istrate and #ommander1 th)s .aenis be#ame .aene)s, and ,late be#ame ,lat)s% !
similar #han*e o se: is still anno)n#ed by the M)een o the +o)th, a Hoint r)ler o the -o8i
Gin*dom in the @ambesi basin, when she enters the #o)n#il #hamber1 I$ am transormed to a
manPA Jb)t this is be#a)se one o her an#estresses )s)r(ed a (atriar#hal throne% Third, the
rit)al re#orded on a bla#k7i*)red oil Har, in whi#h naked men, armed with mallets, beat an
ei*y o Mother ,arth on head, a((arently to release .ore, the +(irit o the 3ew Dear2
I.aenisV means InewA%
0% The variety o sandy7win*ed bird released rom the ei*y de(ends on the season at whi#h
the rite was (erormed% $ s(rin*, it may have been a #)#koo%
,ri*one
!-T&;/G& ;ene)s was the irst mortal to be *iven a vine (lant by ?ionys)s, $#ari)s
anti#i(ated him in the makin* o wine% &e oered a sam(le rom his trial Har)l to a (arty o
she(herds in the Marathonian woods beneath Mo)nt "enteli#)s, who, ailin* to mi: it with
water, as ;eno(ion later advised, *rew so dr)nk that they saw everythin* do)ble, believed
themselves bewit#hed, and killed $#ari)s% &is ho)nd Maera wat#hed while they b)ried him
)nder
a (ine7tree and, aterwards, led his da)*hter ,ri*one to the *rave by #at#hin* at her robe, and
then d)* )( the #or(se% $n des(air, ,ri*one han*ed hersel rom the (ine, (rayin* that the
da)*hters o !thens sho)ld s)er the same ate as hers while $#ari)s remained )naven*ed%
;nly the *ods heard her, and the she(herds led overseas, b)t many !thenian maidens were
o)nd han*in* rom the (ine one ater another, )ntil the ?el(hi# ;ra#le e:(lained that it was
,ri*one who demanded their lives% The *)ilty she(herds were so)*ht o)t at on#e and han*ed,
and the (resent Cinta*e 'estival instit)ted, d)rin* whi#h libations are (o)red to $#ari)s and
,ri*one, while *irls swin* on ro(es rom the bran#hes o the tree, their eet restin* on small
(latorms2 this is how swin*s were invented% Masks are also h)n* rom the bran#hes, whi#h
twist aro)nd with the wind%
b% The ima*e o Maera the ho)nd was set in the sky, and be#ame the -esser ?o*7star2 some,
thereore, identiy $#ari)s with 4ootes, and ,ri*one with the #onstellation o the Cir*in%
1$% Maera was the name *iven to "riamAs wie &e#abe, or &e#)ba, ater her transormation
into a do*, and sin#e &e#)ba was really the three7headed ?eath7*oddess &e#ate, the libations
(o)red to ,ri*one and $#ari)s were (robably meant or her% The valley in whi#h this
#eremony took (la#e is now #alled I?ionys)sA% ,ri*oneAs (ine will have been the tree )nder
whi#h !ttis the "hry*ian was #astrated and bled to death, and the e:(lanation o the myth
seems to be that when the -esser ?o*7star was in the as#endant, the she(herds o Marathon
sa#rii#ed one o their n)mber as an ann)al vi#tim to the *oddess #alled ,ri*one%
0% $#ari)s means Irom the $#arian +eaA, i%e% rom the .y#lades, when#e the !ttis #)lt #ame to
!tti#a% -ater, the ?ionys)s #)lt was s)(erim(osed on it2 and the story o the !thenian *irlsA
s)i#ide may have been told to a##o)nt or the masks o ?ionys)s, h)n* rom a (ine7tree in
the middle o a vineyard, whi#h t)rned with the wind and were s)((osed to r)#tiy the vines
wherever they looked% ?ionys)s was )s)ally (ortrayed as a lon*7haired, eeminate yo)th,
and his masks wo)ld have s)**ested han*ed women% 4)t it is likely that dolls re(resentin*
the ertility *oddess !riadne or &elen were (revio)sly h)n* rom r)it7trees% The *irlsA
swin*in* at the vinta*e estival will have been ma*i#al in its ori*inal intention1 they
re(resented bird7*oddesses, and their swin*s made a semi7#ir#le in hono)r o the new moon%
This #)stom may have been bro)*ht to !tti#a rom .rete, sin#e a terra#otta *ro)( o)nd at
&a*ia Triada shows a *irl swin*in* between two (illars, on ea#h o whi#h a bird is (er#hed%
<% The name ,ri*one is e:(lained by the mytho*ra(her as I#hild o strieA, be#a)se o the
tro)ble she o##asioned2 b)t its obvio)s meanin* is I(lenti)l os(rin*A, a reeren#e to the
(lenti)l #ro( ind)#ed by the dolls%
The .alydonian 4oar
;,3,/+, Gin* o .alydon in !etolia, married !lthaea% +he irst bore him To:e)s, whom
;ene)s killed with his own hands or r)dely lea(in* over the osse whi#h had been d)* in
deen#e o the #ity2 and then Melea*er, said to have been, in reality, her son by !res% When
Melea*er was seven days old, the 'ates #ame to !lthaeaAs bedroom am anno)n#ed that he
#o)ld live only so lon* as a #ertain brand on the hearth remained )nb)rned% +he at on#e
snat#hed the brand rom the ire, e:tin*)ishin* it with a (it#her)l o water, and then hid it in
a #hest%
b% Melea*er *rew )( to be a bold and inv)lnerable i*hter, and the best Havelin7thrower in
Gree#e, as he (roved at !#ast)sAs )neral *ames% &e mi*ht still be alive b)t or an
indis#retion #ommitted by ;ene)s who, one s)mmer, or*ot to in#l)de !rtemis in his yearly
sa#rii#es to the twelve *ods o ;lym()s% !rtemis, when inormed o this ne*le#t by &eli)s,
sent a h)*e boar to kill ;ene)sAs #attle and labo)rers, and to rava*e his #ro(s2 b)t ;ene)s
des(at#hed heralds, invitin* all the bravest i*hters o Gree#e to h)nt the boar, and (romisin*
that whoever killed it sho)ld have its (elt and t)sks%
#% Many answered the #all, amon* them .astor and "olyde)#es rom +(arta2 $das and
-yn#e)s rom Messene2 These)s rom !thens and "eiritho)s rom -arissa2 9ason rom $ol#)s
and !dmet)s rom "herae2 3estor rom "yl)s2 "ele)s and ,)rytion rom "hthia2 $(hi#les
rom Thebes2 !m(hiara)s rom !r*os2 Telamon rom +alamis2 .aene)s rom Ma*nesia2 and
inally !n#ae)s and .e(he)s rom !r#adia, ollowed by their #om(atriot, the #haste, swit7
ooted !talanta, only da)*hter o $as)s and .lymene% $as)s had wished or a male heir and
!talantaAs birth disa((ointed him so #r)elly that he e:(osed her on the "arthenian &ill near
.alydon, where she was s)#kled by a bear whi#h !rtemis sent to her aid% !talanta *rew to
womanhood amon* a #lan o h)nters who o)nd and reared her, b)t remained a vir*in, and
always #arried arms% ;n one o##asion she #ame aintin* rom thirst to .y(hanta and there,
#allin* on !rtemis, and strikin* a ro#k with the (oint o her s(ear, made a s(rin* o water
*)sh o)t% 4)t she was not yet re#on#iled to her ather%
d% ;ene)s entertained the h)ntsmen royally or nine days2 and tho)*h !n#ae)s and .e(he)s
at irst re)sed to h)nt in #om(any with a woman, Melea*er de#lared, on ;ene)sAs behal,
that )nless they withdrew their obHe#tion he wo)ld #an#el the #hase alto*ether% The tr)th was
that Melea*er had married $dasAs da)*hter .leo(atra, b)t now elt a s)dden love or !talanta
and wished to in*ratiate himsel with her% &is )n#les, !lthaeaAs brothers, took an immediate
dislike to the *irl, #onvin#ed that her (resen#e #o)ld lead only to mis#hie, be#a)se he ke(t
si*hin* dee(ly and e:#laimin*1 I!h, how ha((y the man whom she marries herA Th)s the
#hase be*an )nder bad a)s(i#es2 !rtemis hersel had seen to this%
e% !m(hiara)s and !talanta were armed with bows and arrows2 others with boar7s(ears,
Havelins, or a:es, ea#h bein* so an:io)s to win the (elt or himsel that h)nt dis#i(line was
ne*le#ted% !t Melea*erAs, s)**estion, the #om(any advan#ed in a hal7moon, at some (a#es
interval, thro)*h the orest where the boar had its lair%
% The irst blood shed was h)man% When !talanta (osted hersel on the e:treme ri*ht lank at
some distan#e rom her ellow7h)nters, two .enta)rs, &ylae)s and Rhae#)s, who had Hoined
the #hase, de#ided to ravish her, ea#h in t)rn assistin* the other% 4)t as soon as they ran
towards her, she shot them both down and went to h)nt at Melea*erAs side%
*% "resently the boar was l)shed rom a water7#o)rse over*rown with willows% $t #ame
bo)ndin* o)t, killed two o the h)nters, hamstr)n* another, and drove yo)n* 3estor, who
aterwards o)*ht at Troy, )( a tree% 9ason and several others l)n* ill7aimed Havelins at the
boar, $(hi#les alone #ontrivin* to *ra8e its sho)lder% Then Telamon and "ele)s went in boldly
with boar7s(ears2 b)t Telamon tri((ed over a tree root and, while "ele)s was ()llin* him to
his eet, the boar saw them and #har*ed% !talanta let ly a timely arrow, whi#h sank in behind
the ear, and sent it s#)rryin* o% !n#ae)s sneered1 IThat is no way to h)ntP Wat#h mePA &e
sw)n* his battle7a:e at the boar as it #har*ed, b)t was not E)i#k eno)*h2 the ne:t instant he
lay #astrated and disembowelled% $n his e:#itement, "ele)s killed ,)rytion with a Havelin
aimed at the boar, whi#h !m(hiara)s had s)##eeded in blindin* with an arrow% 3e:t, it
r)shed at These)s, whose Havelin lew wide2 b)t Melea*er also l)n* and transi:ed its ri*ht
lank, and then, as the boar whirled aro)nd in (ain, tryin* to dislod*e the missile, drove his
h)ntin*7s(ear dee( )nder its let sho)lder7blade to the heart% The boar ell dead at last% !t
on#e, Melea*er layed it, and (resented the (elt to !talanta, sayin*1 IDo) drew irst blood,
and had we let the beast alone it wo)ld soon have s)##)mbed to yo)r arrow%A
b% &is )n#les were dee(ly oended% The eldest, "le:i(()s, ar*)ed that Melea*er had won the
(elt himsel and that, on his re)sal, it sho)ld have *one to the most hono)rable (erson
(resentJnamely himsel, as ;ene)sAs brother7in7law% "le:i(()sAs yo)n*er brother s)((orted
him with the #ontention that $(hi#les, not !talanta, had drawn irst blood% Melea*er, in a
loverAs ra*e, killed them both%
i% !lthaea, as she wat#hed the dead bodies bein* #arried home, set a #)rse )(on Melea*er2
whi#h (revented him rom deendin* .alydon when his two s)rvivin* )n#les de#lared war on
the #ity and killed many o its deenders% !t last his wie .leo(atra (ers)aded him to take )(
arms, and he killed both these )n#les, des(ite their s)((ort by !(ollo2 where)(on the ')ries
instr)#ted !lthaea to take the )nb)rned brand rom the #hest and #ast it on the ire% Melea*er
elt a s)dden s#or#hin* o his inwards, and the enemy over#ame him with ease% !lthaea and
.leo(atra han*ed themselves, and !rtemis t)rned all b)t two o Melea*erAs shriekin* sisters
into *)inea7hens, whi#h she bro)*ht to her island o -eros, the home o evil7livers%
H% ?eli*hted by !talantaAs s)##ess, $as)s re#o*ni8ed her at last as his da)*hter2 b)t when she
arrived at the (ala#e his irst words were1 IMy #hild, (re(are to take a h)sbandPAJa
disa*reeable anno)n#ement, sin#e the ?el(hi# ;ra#le had warned her a*ainst marria*e% +he
answered1 I'ather, $ #onsent on one #ondition% !ny s)itor or my hand m)st either beat me in
a oot ra#e, or else let me kill him%A I+o be it,A said $as)s%
k% Many )nort)nate (rin#es lost their lives in #onseE)en#e, be#a)se she was the switest
mortal alive2 b)t Melanion, a son o !m(hidamas the !r#adian, invoked !(hroditeAs
assistan#e% +he *ave him three *olden a((les, sayin*1 I?elay !talanta by lettin* these all,
one ater the other, in the #o)rse o the ra#e%A The strata*em was s)##ess)l% !talanta stoo(ed
to (i#k )( ea#h a((le in t)rn and rea#hed the winnin*7(ost H)st behind Melanion%
l% The marria*e took (la#e, b)t the ;ra#leAs warnin* was H)stiied be#a)se, one day, as they
(assed by a (re#in#t o @e)s, Melanion (ers)aded !talanta to #ome inside and lie with him
there% Ce:ed that his (re#in#t had been deiled, @e)s #han*ed them both into lions1 or lions
do not mate with lions, b)t only with leo(ards, and they were th)s (revented rom ever a*ain
enHoyin* ea#h other% This was !(hroditeAs ()nishment irst or !talantaAs obstina#y in
remainin* a vir*in, and then or her la#k o *ratit)de in the matter o the *olden a((les% 4)t
some say that beore this !talanta had been )ntr)e to Melanion and borne Melea*er a #hild
#alled "artheno(ae)s, whom she e:(osed on the same hill where the she7bear had s)#kled
her% &e too s)rvived and aterwards deeated $das in $onia and mar#hed with the +even
.ham(ions a*ainst Thebes% !##ordin* to others, !res, not Melea*er, was "artheno(ae)sAs
ather2 !talantaAs h)sband was not Melanion b)t &i((omenes2 and she was the da)*hter o
+#hoene)s, who r)led 4oeotian ;n#hest)s% $t is added that she and he (ro(haned a san#t)ary
not o @e)s b)t o .ybele, who t)rned them into lions and yoked them to her #hariot%
1% Greek (hysi#ians #redited the marshmallow 5althaia, rom althainein, Ito #)reA6 with
healin* virt)e and, bein* the irst s(rin* lower rom whi#h bees s)#k honey, it had m)#h the
same mythi# im(ortan#e as ivy7blossom, the last% The .alydonian h)nt is heroi# sa*a, based
(erha(s on a amo)s boar h)nt, and on an !etolian #lan e)d o##asioned by it% 4)t the sa#red
kin*As death at the onset o a boarJwhose #)rved t)sks dedi#ated it to the moonJis an#ient
myth, and e:(lains the introd)#tion into the story o heroes rom several dierent Greek
states who had s)ered this ate% The boar was (e#)liarly the emblem o .alydon, and sa#red
to !res, Melea*erAs re()ted ather%
0% To:e)sAs lea( over the osse is (aralleled by Rem)sAs lea( over Rom)l)sAs wall2 it s)**ests
the wides(read #)stom o sa#rii#in* a royal (rin#e at the o)ndation o a #ity 5$ Gin*s6%
Melea*erAs brand re#alls several .elti# myths1 a heroAs death takin* (la#e when some
e:ternal obHe#tJa r)it, a tree, or an animalJis destroyed%
<% !rtemis was worshi((ed as a melea*ris, or *)inea7hen, in the island o -eros, and on the
!thenian !#ro(olis2 the #)lt is o ,ast !ri#an ori*in, to H)d*e rom this (arti#)lar variety o
*)inea7owlJwhi#h had a bl)e wattle, as o((osed to the red7wattled $talian bird introd)#ed
rom 3)midiaJand its E)eer #l)#kin*s were taken to be so)nds o mo)rnin*% ?evotees o
neither !rtemis nor $sis mi*ht eat *)inea7owl% The -eriansA re()tation or evil7livin* may
have been d)e to their reli*io)s #onservatism, like the .retansA re()tation or lyin*%
=% +he7bears were sa#red to !rtemis, and !talantaAs ra#e a*ainst Melanion is (robably
ded)#ed rom an i#on whi#h showed the doomed kin*, with the *olden a((les in his hand,
bein* #hased to death by the *oddess% ! #om(anion i#on will have shown an ima*e o
!rtemis s)((orted by two lions, as on the *ate at My#enae, and on several My#enaean and
.retan seals% The se#ond version o the myth seems to be the older, i only be#a)se
+#hoene)s, !talantaAs ather, stands or +#hoenis, a title o !(hroditeAs2 and be#a)se @e)s
does not i*)re in it%
5% Why the lovers were ()nishedJhere the mytho*ra(hers mistakenly reer to "liny, tho)*h
"liny says, on the #ontrary, that lions vi*oro)sly ()nish lionesses or matin* with leo(ards
53at)ral &istory6Jis a (roblem o *reater interest than +ir 9ames 'ra8er in his notes on
!(ollodor)s allows% $t seems to re#ord an old e:o*ami# r)lin*, a##ordin* to whi#h members
o the same totem #lan #o)ld not marry one another, nor #o)ld lion #lansmen marry into the
leo(ard #lan, whi#h belon*ed to the same s)b7(hratry2 as the lamb and *oat #lans #o)ld not
intermarry at !thens%
6% ;ene)s was not the only &elleni# kin* who withheld a sa#rii#e rom !rtemis% &er
demands were m)#h more severe than those o other ;lym(ian deities, and even in .lassi#al
times in#l)ded holo#a)sts o livin* animals% These ;ene)s will hardly have denied her2 b)t
the !r#adian and 4oeotian (ra#ti#e was to sa#rii#e the kin* himsel, or a s)rro*ate, as the
!#taeon sta*2 and ;ene)s may well have re)sed to be torn in (ie#es%
Telamon !nd "ele)s
T&, mother o !ea#)sAs two elder sons, namely Telamon and "ele)s, was ,ndeis, +#ironAs
da)*hter% "ho#)s, the yo)n*est, was a son o the 3ereid "samathe, who had t)rned hersel
into a seal while )ns)##ess)lly tryin* to es#a(e rom !ea#)sAs embra#es% They all lived
to*ether in the island o !e*ina%
b% "ho#)s was !ea#)sAs avo)rite, and his e:#ellen#e at athleti# *ames drove Telamon and
"ele)s wild with Healo)sy% 'or the sake o (ea#e, thereore, he led a (arty o !e*inetan
emi*rants to "ho#is, where another "ho#)s, a son o ;rnytion the .orinthian, had already
#oloni8ed the nei*hbo)rhood o Tithorea and ?el(hiJand in the #o)rse o time his sons
e:tended the state o "ho#is to its (resent limits%
;ne day !ea#)s sent or "ho#)s, (erha(s intendin* to beE)eath him the island kin*dom2 b)t,
en#o)ra*ed by their mother, Telamon and "ele)s (lotted to kill him on his ret)rn% They
#hallen*ed "ho#)s to a ive7old athleti# #ontest, and whether it was Telamon who elled him,
as i a##identally, by throwin* a stone dis#)s at his head, and "ele)s who then des(at#hed
him with an a:e, or whether it was the other way abo)t, has been m)#h dis()ted ever sin#e%
$n either #ase, Telamon and "ele)s were eE)ally *)ilty o ratri#ide, and to*ether hid the body
in a wood, where !ea#)s o)nd it% "ho#)s lies b)ried #lose to the !ea#e)m%
#% Telamon took re)*e in the island o +alamis, where .y#hre)s was kin*, and sent ba#k a
messen*er, denyin* any (art in the m)rder% !ea#)s, in re(ly2 orbade him ever a*ain to set
oot in !e*ina, tho)*h (ermittin* him to (lead his #ase rom the sea% Rather than stand and
sho)t on the ro#kin* de#k o his shi( an#hored behind the breakers, Telamon sailed one ni*ht
into what is now #alled the +e#ret &arbo)r, and sent masons ashore to b)ild a mole, whi#h
wo)ld serve him as rostr)m2 they inished this task beore dawn, and it is still to be seen%
!ea#)s, however, reHe#ted his eloE)ent (lea that "ho#)sAs death was a##idental, and Telamon
ret)rned to +alamis, where he married the kin*As da)*hter Gla)#e, and s)##eeded to
.y#hre)sAs throne%
d% This .y#hre)s, a son o "oseidon and +alamis, da)*hter o the river !so()s, had been
#hosen Gin* o +alamis when he killed a ser(ent to end its wides(read rava*es% 4)t he ke(t a
yo)n* ser(ent o the same breed whi#h behaved in the same destr)#tive way )ntil e:(elled by
,)rylo#h)s, a #om(anion o ;dysse)s2 ?emeter then wel#omed it at ,le)sis as one o her
attendants% 4)t some e:(lain that .y#hre)s himsel, #alled I+er(entA be#a)se o his #r)elty,
was banished by ,)rylo#h)s and took re)*e at ,le)sis, where he was a((ointed to a minor
oi#e in ?emeterAs san#t)ary% &e be#ame, at all events, one o the *)ardian heroes o
+alamis, the +er(ent $sle2 there he was b)ried, his a#e t)rned to the west, and a((eared in
ser(ent orm amon* the Greek shi(s at the amo)s vi#tory o +alamis% +a#rii#es were oered
at his tomb, and when the !thenians dis()ted the (ossession o the island with the Me*arians,
+olon the amo)s law7*iver sailed a#ross by ni*ht and (ro(itiated him%
e% ;n the death o his wie Gla)#e, Telamon married "eriboea o !thens, a *rand7da)*hter o
"elo(s, who bore him Great !Ha:2 and later the #a(tive &esione, da)*hter o -aomedon, who
bore him the eE)ally well7known Te)#er%
% "ele)s led to the #o)rt o !#tor, Gin* o "hthia, by whose ado(ted son ,)rytion he was
()riied% !#tor then *ave him his da)*hter "olymela in marria*e, and a third (art o the
kin*dom% ;ne day ,)rytion, who r)led over another third (art, took "ele)s to h)nt the
.alydonian hoar, b)t "ele)s s(eared him a##identally and led to $ol#)s, where he was on#e
more ()riied, this time by !#ast)s, son o "elias%
*% !#ast)sAs wie, .retheis, tried to sed)#e "ele)s and, when he reb)ed her advan#es,
lyin*ly told "olymela1 I&e intends to desert yo) and marry my da)*hter +tero(e%A "olymela
believed .retheisAs mis#hievo)s tale, and han*ed hersel% 3ot #ontent with the harm she had
done, .retheis went wee(in* to !#ast)s, and a##)sed "ele)s o havin* attem(ted her virt)e%
h% -oth to kill the man whom he had ()riied, !#ast)s #hallen*ed him to a h)ntin* #ontest on
Mo)nt "elion% 3ow, in reward or his #hastity, the *ods had *iven "ele)s a ma*i# sword,
or*ed by ?aedal)s whi#h had the (ro(erty o makin* its owner vi#torio)s in battle and
eE)ally s)##ess)l in the #hase% Th)s he soon (iled )( a *reat hea( o sta*s, bears, and boars2
b)t when he went o to kill even more !#ast)sAs #om(anions #laimed the (rey as their
masterAs and Heered a his want o skill% I-et the dead beasts de#ide this matter with their own
mo)thsPA #ried "ele)s, who had #)t o)t their ton*)es, and now (rod)#ed them rom a ba* to
(rove that he had easily won the #ontest%
i% !ter a estive s)((er, in the #o)rse o whi#h he o)tdid all other as a tren#her7man, "ele)s
ell ast aslee(% !#ast)s then robbed him o his ma*i# sword, hid it )nder a (ile o #ow7d)n*,
and stole away with his ollowers% "ele)s awoke to ind himsel deserted, disarmed, and
s)rro)nded by wild .enta)rs, who were on the (oint o m)rderin* him however, their kin*
.heiron not only intervened to save his lie, b)t divined where the sword lay hidden and
restored it to him%
H% Meanwhile, on the advi#e o Themis, @e)s #hose "ele)s to be the h)sband o the 3ereid
Thetis, whom he wo)ld have married himsel had he not been dis#o)ra*ed by the 'atesA
(ro(he#y that any son born to Thetis wo)ld be#ome ar more (ower)l than his ather% &e
was also ve:ed that Thetis had reHe#ted his advan#es, or her oster7mother &eraAs sake, and
thereore vowed that she sho)ld never marry an immortal% &era, however, *rate)lly de#ided
to mat#h her with the noblest o mortals, and s)mmoned all ;lym(ians to the weddin* when
the moon sho)ld ne:t be )ll, at the same time sendin* her messen*er to Gin* .heironAs #ave
with an order or "ele)s to make ready%
k% 3ow, .heiron oresaw that Thetis, bein* immortal, wo)ld at irst resent the marria*e2 and,
a#tin* on his instr)#tions, "ele)s #on#ealed himsel behind a b)sh o (atti7#olo)red myrtle7
berries on the shores o a Thessalian islet, where Thetis oten #ame, ridin* naked on a
harnessed dol(hin, to enHoy her midday slee( in the #ave whi#h this b)sh hal s#reened% 3o
sooner had she entered the #ave and allen aslee( than "ele)s sei8ed hold o her% The str)**le
was silent and ier#e% Thetis t)rned s)##essively into ire, water, a lion, and a ser(ent2 b)t
"ele)s had been warned what to e:(e#t, and #l)n* to her resol)tely, even when she be#ame
an enormo)s sli((ery #)ttle7ish and sE)irted ink at himJa #han*e whi#h a##o)nts or the
name o .a(e +e(ias, the near7by (romontory, now sa#red to the 3ereids% Tho)*h b)rned,
dren#hed, ma)led, st)n*, and #overed with sti#ky se(ia ink, "ele)s wo)ld not let her *o and,
in the end, she yielded and they lay lo#ked in a (assionate embra#e%
1% Their weddin* was #elebrated o)tside .heironAs #ave on Mo)nt "elion% The ;lym(ians
attended, seated on twelve thrones% &era hersel raised the bridal tor#h, and @e)s, now
re#on#iled to his deeat, *ave Thetis away% The 'ates and the M)ses san*2 Ganymedes (o)red
ne#tar2 and the ity 3ereids (erormed a s(iral dan#e on the white sands% .rowds o .enta)rs
attended the #eremony, wearin* #ha(lets o *rass, brandishin* darts o ir, and (ro(hesyin*
*ood ort)ne%
m% .heiron *ave "ele)s a s(ear2 !thene had (olished its shat, whi#h was #)t rom an ash on
the s)mmit o "elion2 and &e(haest)s had or*ed its blade% The GodsA Hoint *it was a
ma*nii#ent s)it o *olden armo)r, to whi#h "oseidon added the two immortal horses 4ali)s
and Zanth)sJby the West Wind o)t o the &ar(y "odar*e%
n% 4)t the *oddess ,ris, who had not been invited, was determined to ()t the divine *)ests at
lo**er7heads, and while &era, !thene, and !(hrodite were #hattin* ami#ably to*ether, arm in
arm, she rolled a *olden a((le at their eet% "ele)s (i#ked it )(, and stood embarrassed by its
ins#ri(tion1 ITo the 'airestPA, not knowin* whi#h o the three mi*ht be intended% This a((le
was the (roto7#atar#ti#al #a)se o the TroHan War%
o% +ome des#ribe "ele)sAs wie Thetis as .heironAs da)*hter, and a mere mortal2 and say that
.heiron, wishin* to hono)r "ele)s, s(read the r)mo)r that he had married the *oddess, her
mistress%
(% Meanwhile "ele)s, whose ort)nes the kindly .heiron had restored, and who now also
a#E)ired lar*e herds o #attle as a dowry, sent some o these to "hthia as an indemnity or his
a##idental killin* o ,)rytion2 b)t, when the (ayment was re)sed by the "hthians, let them to
roam at will abo)t the #o)ntryside% This (roved to have been a ort)nate de#ision, be#a)se a
ier#e wol whi#h "samathe had sent ater him, to aven*e the death o her son "ho#)s, so
*l)tted its h)n*er on these masterless #attle that it #o)ld hardly #rawl% When "ele)s and
Thetis #ame a#e to a#e with the wol, it made as i to s(rin* at "ele)sAs throat, b)t Thetis
*lowered bale)lly with (rotr)ded ton*)e, and t)rned it into a stone, whi#h is still (ointed o)t
on the road between -o#ris and "ho#is%
E% -ater, "ele)s ret)rned to $ol#)s, where @e)s s)((lied him with an army o ants
transormed into warriors2 and th)s he be#ame known as Gin* o the Myrmidons% &e
#a(t)red the #ity sin*le7handed, killed irst !#ast)s, then the #owerin* .retheis2 and led his
Myrmidons into the #ity between the (ie#es o her dismembered body%
r% Thetis s)##essively b)rned away the mortal (arts o her si: sons by "ele)s, in order to
make them immortal like hersel, and sent ea#h o them in t)rn )( to ;lym()s% 4)t "ele)s
#ontrived to mat#h the seventh rom her when she had already made all his body, e:#e(t the
ankle7bone, immortal by layin* it on the ire and aterwards r)bbin* it with ambrosia2 the
hal7#harred ankle7bone had es#a(ed this inal treatment% ,nra*ed by his intereren#e, Thetis
said arewell to "ele)s, and ret)rned to her home in the sea, namin* her son I!#hillesA,
be#a)se he had as yet (la#ed no li(s to her breast% "ele)s (rovided !#hilles with a new ankle7
bone, taken rom the skeleton o the swit *iant ?amys)s, b)t this was ated to (rove his
)ndoin*%
s% Too old to i*ht at Troy himsel, "ele)s later *ave !#hilles the *olden armo)r, the ashen
s(ear, and the two horses whi#h had been his weddin*
(resents% &e was event)ally e:(elled rom "hthia by !#ast)sAs sons, who no lon*er eared
him when they heard o !#hillesAs death2 b)t Thetis instr)#ted him to visit the #ave by the
myrtle7b)sh, where he had irst mastered her, and wait there )ntil she took him away to live
with her or ever in the de(ths o the sea% "ele)s went to the #ave, and ea*erly wat#hed the
(assin* shi(s, ho(in* that one o them mi*ht be brin*in* his *randson 3eo(tolem)s ba#k
rom Troy%
t% 3eo(tolem)s, meanwhile, was reittin* his shattered leet in Molossia and, when he heard
o "ele)sAs banishment, dis*)ised himsel as a TroHan #a(tive and took shi( or $ol#)s, there
#ontrivin* to kill !#ast)sAs sons and sei8e the #ity% 4)t "ele)s, *rowin* im(atient, had
#hartered a vessel or a voya*e to Molossia2 ro)*h weather drove her to the island o Gos,
near ,)boea, where he died and was b)ried, th)s oreitin* the immortality whi#h Thetis had
(romised him%
1% The myth o !ea#)s, "samathe 5Isandy shoreA6, and "ho#)s 5IsealA6 o##)rs in the olklore
o almost every ,)ro(ean #o)ntry% /s)ally the hero sees a lo#k o seals swimmin* towards a
deserted shore )nder a )ll moon, and then ste((in* o)t o their skins to reveal themselves as
yo)n* women% &e hides behind a ro#k, while they dan#e naked on the sand, then sei8es one
o the seal skins, th)s winnin* (ower over its owner, whom he *ets with #hild% ,vent)ally
they E)arrel2 she re*ains her skin and swims away% The dan#e o the ity 3ereids at ThetisAs
weddin*, and her ret)rn to the sea ater the birth o !#hilles, a((ear to be ra*ments the same
mythJthe ori*in o whi#h seems to have been a rit)al dan#e o ity seal7(riestesses,
dedi#ated to the Moon, whi#h ormed a (roem to the .hie7(riestessAs #hoi#e o a sa#red
kin*% &ere the s#ene is set !e*ina b)t, to H)d*e rom the story o "ele)sAs str)**le near .a(e
+e(ias, a similar rit)al was (erormed in Ma*nesia by a #olle*e o #)ttle7ish (riestessesJthe
#)ttle7ish a((ears (rominently in .retan works art, in#l)din* the standard wei*ht rom the
Royal Treas)ry at .noss)s, and also on me*alithi# mon)ments at .arna# and elsewhere in
4rittany% $t has ei*ht tenta#les, as the sa#red anemone o "elion has ei*ht (etalsJei*ht bein*
the n)mber o ertility in Mediterranean myth% "ele)s 5Im)ddyA6 may have be#ome the sa#red
kin*As title ater he had been anointed with se(ia, sin#e he is des#ribed as the son o ,ndeis,
Ithe entan*lerA, a synonym or the #)ttleish%
0% !#ast)sAs h)ntin* (arty, the s)bseE)ent banE)et, and the loss o "ele)sAs ma*i# sword
seem to be mistakenly ded)#ed rom an i#on whi#h showed the (reliminaries to a #oronation
#eremony1 #oronation im(lyin* marria*e to the tribal heiress% The s#ene a((arently in#l)ded
the kin*As rit)al #ombat with men dressed as beasts, and the drawin* a re*al sword rom a
#let ro#k 5misinter(reted by the mytho*ra(her as a hea( o #ow d)n*6Jas in the myths o
These)s and Gin* !rth)r o -yonesse% 4)t the ashen s(ear #)t by .heiron rom Mo)nt "elion
is an earlier symbol o soverei*nty than the sword%
<% ThetisAs transormations s)**est a dis(lay o the *oddessAs seasonal (owers (resented in a
seE)en#e o dan#es% The myrtle behind whi#h "ele)s irst met her, emblemi8ed the last month
o his (rede#essorAs rei*n2 and thereore served as their rende8vo)s when his own rei*n
ended% This myth seems to re#ord a treaty7marria*e, attended by re(resentatives o twelve
#onederate tribes or #lans, between a "hthian (rin#e and the Moon7(riestess o $ol#)s in
Thessaly%
=% $t may well be that the a)thor o the old ,n*lish +ee*e or 4attayle o Troy drew on a lost
.lassi#al so)r#e when he made "ele)s Ihal man, hal horseA1 that is to say, "ele)s was
ado(ted into an !ea#id horse7oak #lan% +)#h an ado(tion will have im(lied a sa#rii#ial
horse7east1 whi#h e:(lains the weddin* *it o 4ali)s and Zanth)s witho)t a #hariot or them
to draw% The .enta)rs o Ma*nesia and the Thessalians o $ol#)s seem to have been bo)nd by
an e:o*ami# allian#e1 hen#e the statement by the s#holiast on !(olloni)s Rhodi)s that
"ele)sAs wie was, in reality, .heironAs da)*hter%
5% "ele)sAs embarrassment when he looked at the a((le thrown down by ,ris s)**ests a
(i#t)re o the Moon7*oddess, in triad, (resentin* the a((le o immortality to the sa#red kin*%
!#ast)sAs m)rder, and "ele)sAs mar#h into the #ity between the dismembered (ie#es o
.retheisAs body, may be a misinter(retation o an i#on whi#h showed a new kin* abo)t to ride
thro)*h the streets o his #a(ital ater havin* rit)ally ha#ked his (rede#essor in (ie#es with an
a:e%
6% The reE)ent m)rders, a##idental or intentional, whi#h #a)sed (rin#es to leave home and be
()riied by orei*n kin*s, whose da)*hters they then married, are an invention o later
mytho*ra(hers% There is no reason to s)((ose that "ele)s let !e*ina, or "hthia, )nder a
#lo)d2 at a time when kin*shi( went by matrilineal s)##ession, #andidates or the throne
always #ame rom abroad, and the new kin* was reborn into the royal ho)se ater rit)ally
m)rderin* his (rede#essor% &e then #han*ed his name and tribe, whi#h was e:(e#ted to throw
the ven*e)l *host o the m)rdered man o his s#ent% +imilarly, Telamon o !e*ina went to
+alamis, was #hosen as the new kin*, killed the old kin*Jwho be#ame an ora#)lar heroJ
and married the #hie7(riestess o an owl #olle*e% $t was o)nd #onvenient, in more #ivili8ed
times, when m)#h the same rit)al was )sed to ()riy ordinary #riminals, to or*et that
kin*shi( im(lied m)rder, and to s)**est that "ele)s, Telamon, and the rest had been involved
in #rimes or s#andals )n#onne#ted with their a##ession to the throne% The s#andal is
reE)ently a alse a##)sation o havin* attem(ted a E)eenAs virt)e% .y#hre)sAs #onne#tion
with the ,le)sinian Mysteries and TelamonAs marria*e to an !thenian (rin#ess be#ame
im(ortant when, in 600 4., !thens and Me*ara dis()ted the (ossession o +alamis% The
+(artans H)d*ed the #ase, and the !thenian ambassadors s)##ess)lly based their #laim on
TelamonAs #onne#tion with !tti#a 5"l)tar#h1 +olon6%
>% "ho#)sAs death by the dis#)s, like that o !#risi)s, seems to be a misinter(retation o an
i#on whi#h showed the end o the seal7kin*As rei*nJthe lyin* dis#)s bein* a s)n7disk2 as the
myth makes (lain, the sa#rii#ial wea(on was an a:e% +everal heroes besides !#hilles were
killed by a heel wo)nd, and not only in Greek b)t in ,*y(tian, .elti#, -ydian, $ndian, and
3orse mytholo*y%
8% The b)rnin* o ThetisAs sons was #ommon (ra#ti#e1 the yearly sa#rii#e o boy s)rro*ates
or the sa#red kin*% !t the #lose o the ei*hth year the kin* himsel died% ! (arallel in the
$ndian Mahabharata is the drownin* by the Gan*es7*oddess o her seven sons by the God
Grishna% &e saves the last, 4hishma2 then she deserts him% !#torAs division o his kin*dom
into three (arts is (aralleled in the myth o "roet)s1 the sa#red kin*, instead o lettin* himsel
be sa#rii#ed when his rei*n was d)e to end, retailed one (art o his kin*dom, and beE)eathed
the remainder to his s)##essors% +)bseE)ent kin*s insisted on a lietime ten)re o soverei*nty%
9% "ele)sAs death at .os s)**ests that his name was a royal title there as well as at "hthia,
$ol#)s, and +alamis% &e be#ame kin* o the Myrmidons be#a)se the "hthians worshi((ed
their *oddess as Myrme: 5IantA6% !ntonin)s -iberalisAs story o Thetis and the wol seems to
have been ded)#ed rom an i#on whi#h showed a (riestess o Wolish !(hrodite 5"a)sanias6
wearin* a Gor*on mask as she sa#rii#es #attle%
!ristae)s
&D"+,/+, a hi*h7kin* o the -a(iths, whom the 3aiad .re)sa bore to the River7*od
"enei)s, married .hlidano(e, another 3aiad, and had by her a
da)*hter, .yrene% .yrene des(ised s(innin*, weavin*, and similar ho)sehold tasks2 instead,
she wo)ld h)nt wild beasts on Mo)nt "elion all day and hal the ni*ht, e:(lainin* that her
atherAs lo#ks and herds needed (rote#tion% !(ollo on#e wat#hed her wrestlin* with a
(ower)l lion2 he s)mmoned Gin* .heiron the .enta)r to witness the #ombat 5rom whi#h
.yrene, as )s)al, emer*ed tri)m(hant6 askin* her name, and whether she wo)ld make him a
s)itable bride% .heiron la)*hed% &e was aware that !(ollo not only knew her name, b)t had
already made )( his mind to #arry her o, either when he saw her *)ardin* &y(se)sAs lo#ks
by the river "enei)s, or when she re#eived two h)ntin* do*s rom his hands as a (ri8e or
winnin* the oot ra#e at "eliasAs )neral *ames%
b% .heiron )rther (ro(hesied that !(ollo wo)ld #onvey .yrene overseas to the ri#hest
*arden o @e)s, and make her the E)een o a *reat #ity, havin* irst *athered an island (eo(le
abo)t a hill risin* rom a (lain% Wel#omed by /lbya to a *olden (ala#e, she wo)ld win a
E)eendom eE)ally benei#ent to h)nters and armers, and there bear him a son% &ermes
wo)ld a#t as man7midwie and #arry the #hild, #alled !riste)s, or !ristae)s, to the enthroned
&o)rs and Mother ,arth, biddin* them eed him on ne#tar and ambrosia% When !ristae)s
*rew to manhood, he wo)ld win the titles o I$mmortal @e)sA, I")re !(olloA, and IG)ardian
o the 'lo#ksA%
#% !(ollo d)ly took .yrene away in his *olden #hariot, to the site o what is now the #ity o
.yrene2 !(hrodite was waitin* to *reet their arrival, and bedded them witho)t delay in
-ibyaAs *olden #hamber% That evenin* !(ollo (romised .yrene a lon* lie in whi#h to
ind)l*e her (assion or h)ntin* and rei*n over a ertile #o)ntry% &e then let her to the #are o
#ertain Myrtle7nym(hs, #hildren o &ermes, on the near7by hills, where she bore !ristae)s
and, ater a se#ond visit rom !(ollo, $dmon the seer% 4)t she also lay with !res one ni*ht,
and bore him the Thra#ian ?iomedes, owner o the man7eatin* mares%
d% The Myrtle7nym(hs, ni#knamin* !ristae)s I!*re)sA and I3omi)sA, ta)*ht him how to
#)rdle milk or #heese, b)ild bee7hives, and make the oleaster yield the #)ltivated olive%
These )se)l arts he (assed on to others, who *rate)lly (aid him divine hono)rs% 'rom /lbya
he sailed to 4oeotia, ater whi#h !(ollo led him to .heironAs #ave or instr)#tion in #ertain
Mysteries%
e% When !ristae)s had *rown to manhood, the M)ses married him to !)tonoB, by whom he
be#ame the ather o the ill7ated !#taeon, and o Ma#ris, n)rse to ?ionys)s% They also ta)*ht
him the art o healin* and (ro(he#y, and set him to wat#h over their shee( whi#h *ra8ed
a#ross the !thamantian "lain o "hthia, and abo)t Mo)nt ;thrys, and in the valley o the
river !(idan)s% $t was here that !ristae)s (ere#ted the art o h)ntin*, ta)*ht him by .yrene%
% ;ne day he went to #ons)lt the ?el(hi# ;ra#le, and was told to visit the island o .eos,
where he wo)ld be *reatly hono)red% +ettin* sail at on#e, !ristae)s o)nd that the s#or#hin*
?o*7star had #a)sed a (la*)e amon* the islanders, in ven*ean#e o $#ari)s whose se#ret
m)rderers were shelterin* amon* them% !ristae)s s)mmoned the (eo(le, raised a *reat altar
in the mo)ntains, and oered sa#rii#es on it to @e)s, at the same time (ro(itiatin* the ?o*7
star by ()ttin* the m)rderers to death% @e)s was *ratiied and ordered the ,tesian Winds, in
)t)re, to #ool Gree#e and its adHa#ent islands or orty days rom the ?o*7starAs risin*% Th)s
the (la*)e #eased, and the .eans not only showered !ristae)s with *ratit)de, b)t still
#ontin)e to (ro(itiate the ?o*7star every year beore its a((earan#e%
*% &e then visited !r#adia and, later, settled at Tem(e% 4)t there all his bees died and, *reatly
distressed, he went to a dee( (ool in the rive "enei)s where he knew that .yrene wo)ld be
stayin* with her 3aiad sisters% &is a)nt, !reth)sa, heard an im(lorin* voi#e thro)*h the
water2 ()t o)t her head, re#o*ni8ed !ristae)s, and invited him down to the wonder)l (ala#e
o the 3aiads% These washed him with water drawn rom a (er(et)al s(rin* and, ater a
sa#rii#ial east, he was advised by .yrene1 I4ind my #o)sin "rote)s, and or#e him to
e:(lain why yo)r bees si#kened%A
h% "rote)s was takin* his midday rest in a #ave on the island "haros, shelterin* rom the heat
o the ?o*7star, and !ristae)s, havin* over#ome him, des(ite his #han*es, learned that the
beesA si#kness was his ()nishment or havin* #a)sed ,)rydi#eAs death2 and it was tr)e that
when he had made love to her on the river7bank near Tem(e, she had led rom him and been
bitten by a ser(ent%
i% !ristae)s now ret)rned to the 3aiadsA (ala#e, where .yrene instr)#ted him to raise o)r
altars in the woods to the ?ryads, ,)rydi#eAs #om(anions, and sa#rii#e o)r yo)n* b)lls and
o)r heiers2 then to (o)r a libation o blood, leavin* the #ar#asses where they lay and inally
to ret)rn in the mornin*, nine days later, brin*in* (o((ies o or*et)llness, a atted #al, and
a bla#k ewe to (ro(itiate the *host o ;r(he)s, who had now Hoined ,)rydi#e below%
!ristae)s obeyed and, on the ninth mornin*, a swarm o bees rose rom the rottin* #ar#asses
and settled on a tree% &e #a(t)red the swarm, whi#h he ()t into a hive2 and the !r#adians now
hono)r him as @e)s or havin* ta)*ht them this method o raisin* new swarms o bees%
H% -ater, distressed by the death o his son !#taeon, whi#h arose in him a hatred o 4oeotia, he
sailed with his ollowers to -ibya, where he asked .yrene or a leet in whi#h to emi*rate%
+he *ladly #om(lied, and soon he was at sea a*ain, makin* north7westward% ,n#hanted by
the sava*e bea)ty o +ardinia, his irst landall, he be*an to #)ltivate it and, havin* be*otten
two sons there, was (resently Hoined by ?aedal)s2 b)t is said to have o)nded no #ity there%
k% !ristae)s visited other distant islands, and s(ent some years in +i#ily, where he re#eived
divine hono)rs, es(e#ially rom the olive7*rowers% 'inally he went to Thra#e, and
s)((lemented his ed)#ation by takin* (art in the Mysteries o ?ionys)s% !ter livin* or a
while near Mo)nt &aem)s, and o)ndin* the #ity o !ristae)m, he disa((eared witho)t tra#e,
and is now worshi((ed as a *od both by the Thra#ian barbarians and by #ivili8ed Greeks
1% !ristae)sAs ori*ins have been embroidered )(on by "indar, to latter a des#endant o 4att)s
who, in 691 4. led a #olony rom Thera to -ibya, where he o)nded .yrene, and was the
irst kin* o a lon* dynasty% The .yreneans #laimed their an#estor !ristae)sJa##ordin* to
9)stin, 4att)s 5Iton*)e7tiedA6 was only his ni#kname as the son o !(ollo, be#a)se !(ollo had
been worshi((ed in Thera2 and the (ort o .yrene was #onseE)ently #alled !(ollonia% 4)t
.yrene was a mytholo*i#al i*)re lon* beore 4att)sAs time% &er asso#iation with the
.enta)rs shows that she was *oddess o a Ma*nesian horse #)lt im(orted to Thera2 or
.heironAs name also a((ears in early Theran ro#k ins#ri(tions% The myth o $dmonAs birth
rom .yrene and !res reers to this earlier *oddess%
0% Myrtle is ori*inally a death7tree, and the Myrtle7nym(hs were thereore (ro(hetesses
#a(able o instr)#tin* yo)n* !ristae)s2 b)t it be#ame symboli# o #oloni8ation, be#a)se
emi*rants took myrtle bo)*hs with them to demonstrate that they had ended an e(o#h%
<% !ristae)s was a #)lt7title o !r#adian and .ean @e)s2 and elsewhere o !(ollo and &ermes%
!##ordin* to +ervi)s &esiod #alled !ristae)s Ia (astoral !(olloA% !t Tana*ra in 4oeotia
5"a)sanias6 &ermes was known as IRam7bearerA, and ish were sa#red to him at "harae in
!#haea 5"a)sanias6% Th)s a tomb7(aintin* at .yrene shows I!ristae)sA s)rro)nded by shee(
and ish and #arryin* a ram% &is wanderin*s are oered in e:(lanation o the #)ltJtitle
!ristae)s, whi#h o##)rs in +i#ily, +ardinia, .eos, 4oeotia, Thessaly, Ma#edonia, and !r#adia%
The ?o*7star is the ,*y(tian *od Thoth, identiied with &ermes, who was known as
!ristae)s by the .eans%
=% &is raisin* o bees rom the #ar#asses o #attle has been mistold by Cir*il% They will have
swarmed, rather, rom the lion whi#h .yrene lolled, or whi#h was killed in her hono)r% This
myth, like that o +amsonAs bees whi#h swarmed rom a lionAs #ar#ass, seems to be ded)#ed
rom a (rimitive i#on
showin* a naked woman t)sslin* amoro)sly with a lion, while a bee hovers above the #ar#ass
o another lion% The naked woman is the -ion7*oddess .yrene, or &e(at) the &ittite, or
!natha o +yria, or &era the -ion7*oddess o My#enae, and her (artner is the sa#red kin*,
who is d)e to die )nder the mids)mmer si*n o -eo, emblemi8ed by a knie in the ,*y(tian
@odia#% -ike These)s or &era#les, he wears a lion mask and skin, and is animated by the
s(irit o the dead lion, his (rede#essor, whi#h a((ears as a bee% This is s(rin*7time, when bees
irst swarm, b)t aterwards, as the Mids)mmer 4ee7*oddess, she will stin* him to death, and
emas#)late him% The lion whi#h the sa#red kin* himsel killedJas did both &era#les and his
riend "hyli)s the "elo(onnese2 or .y8i#)s on Mo)nt ?indym)m in the +ea o Marmara2 or
+amson in "hilistia 59)d*es62or ?avid at 4ethlehem 5+am)el6Jwas one o the beasts whi#h
#hallen*ed him to a rit)al #ombat at his #oronation%
5% Cir*ilAs a##o)nt o !ristae)sAs visit to the river "enei)s ill)strates the irres(onsible )se o
myth1 "rote)s, who lived at "haros in the 3ile ?elta, has been dra**ed into the story by the
heelsJthere was a amo)s ora#le o !(ollo at Tem(e, whi#h !ristae)s, his son2 wo)ld
nat)rally have #ons)lted2 !reth)sa, a "elo(onnesian stream, had no b)siness in the "enei)s2
and !ristae)s is shown dierent #hambers in the 3aiadsA (ala#e, where the so)r#es o the
Tiber, the "o, the !nio, the "hasis, and other widely se(arated rivers are ke(tJa
mytholo*i#ally abs)rd #on#e(tion%
6% ,:(ort o oil to +i#ily will have been more (roitable to the .retans than that o olive7
*rats2 b)t on#e &elleni# #olonies had been o)nded on the so)thern #oast in late My#enaean
times, olive7#)lt)re was established there% The !ristae)s who visited +i#ily may be identiied
with @e)s Mori)s, who was res(onsible or distrib)tin* *rats o the sa#red olive7trees
des#ended rom the one (lanted by !thene on the !thenian !#ro(olis% &e may also have
introd)#ed the s#ien#e o bee7kee(in* whi#h #ame to !thens rom Minoan .rete, where
(roessional beekee(ers had a bee and a *love as their trade devi#e, and )sed terra#otta hives%
The Greek word or bee7bread, #erinthos, is .retan2 and so m)st all the related words beJ
s)#h as #erion, honey#omb, #erinos, wa:en, and #era(his, Ibee7mothAJa kind o lo#)st% .er,
in a#t, whose name 5also s(elt .ar or MAre6 #ame *enerally to mean IateA, IdoomA, or
IdestinyA m)lti(lied into #eres, Is(ites, (la*)es, or )nseen illnessesAJm)st have been the
.retan 4ee7*oddess, a *oddess o ?eath in -ie% Th)s the +(hin:7*oddess o Thebes is #alled
by !es#hyl)s 5+even !*ainst Thebes6 Ithe man7snat#hin* .erA%
Midas
M$?!+, son o the Great Goddess o $da, by a satyr whose name is not remembered, was a
(leas)re7lovin* Gin* o Ma#edonian 4romi)m, where he r)led over the 4ri*ians 5also #alled
Mos#hians6 and (lanted his #elebrated rose *ardens% $n his inan#y, a (ro#ession o ants was
observed #arryin* *rains o wheat )( the side o his #radle and (la#in* them between his li(s
as he sle(tJa (rodi*y whi#h the soothsayers read as an omen o the *reat wealth that wo)ld
a##r)e to him2 and when he *rew older, ;r(he)s t)tored him%
b% ;ne day, the deba)#hed old satyr +ilen)s, ?ionys)sAs ormer (eda*o*)e, ha((ened to
stra**le rom the main body o the rioto)s ?ionysian army as it mar#hed o)t o Thra#e into
4oeotia, and was o)nd slee(in* o his dr)nken it in the rose *ardens% The *ardeners bo)nd
him with *arlands o lowers and led him beore Midas, to whom he told wonder)l tales o
an immense #ontinent lyin* beyond the ;#ean stream7alto*ether se(arate rom the #onHoined
mass o ,)ro(e, !sia, or !ri#aJwhere s(lendid #ities abo)nd, (eo(led by *i*anti#, ha((y,
and lon*7lived inhabitants, and enHoyin* a remarkable le*al system% ! *reat e:(editionJat
least ten million stron*Jon#e set o)t then#e a#ross the ;#ean in shi(s to visit the
&y(erboreans2 b)t on learnin* that theirs was the best land that the old world had to oer,
retired in dis*)st% !mon* other wonders, +ilen)s mentioned a ri*ht)l whirl(ool beyond
whi#h no traveller may (ass% Two streams low #lose by, and trees *rowin* on the banks o
the irst bear r)it that #a)ses those who eat it to wee( and *roan and (ine away% 4)t r)it
*rowin* by the other +tream renews the yo)th even o the very a*ed1 in a#t, ater (assin*
ba#kwards thro)*h middle a*e, yo)n* manhood, and adoles#en#e, they be#ome #hildren
a*ain, then inantsJand inally disa((earP Midas, en#hanted by +ilen)sAs i#tions,
entertained him or ive days and ni*hts, and then ordered a *)ide to es#ort him to ?ionys)sAs
headE)arters%
#% ?ionys)s, who had been an:io)s on +ilen)sAs a##o)nt, sent to ask how Midas wished to be
rewarded% &e re(lied witho)t hesitation1 I"ray *rant that all $ to)#h be t)rned into *old%A
&owever, not only stones, lowers, and the )rnishin*s o his ho)se t)rned to *old b)t, when
he sat down to table, so did the ood he ate and the water drank% Midas soon be**ed to be
released rom his wish, be#a)se he was ast dyin* o h)n*er and thirst2 where)(on ?ionys)s,
hi*hly entertained, told him to visit the so)r#e o the river "a#tol)s, near Mo)nt Tmol)s, and
there wash himsel% &e obeyed, and was at on#e reed rom the *olden to)#h, b)t the sands o
the river "a#tol)s are bri*ht with *old to this day%
d% Midas, havin* th)s entered !sia with his train o 4ri*ians, was ado(ted by the #hildless
"hry*ian Gin* Gordi)s% While only a (oor (easant, Gordi)s had been s)r(rised one day to
see a royal ea*le (er#h on the (ole o his o:7#art% +in#e it seemed (re(ared to settle there all
day, he drove the team towards "hry*ian Telmiss)s, now a (art o Galatia, where there was a
reliable ora#le2 b)t at the *ate o the #ity he met a yo)n* (ro(hetess who, when she saw the
ea*le still (er#hed on the (ole, insisted on his oerin* immediate sa#rii#es to @e)s the Gin*%
I-et me #ome with yo), (easant,A she said, Ito make s)re that yo) #hoose the #orre#t vi#tims%A
I4y all means,A re(lied Gordi)s% IDo) a((ear to be a wise and #onsiderate yo)n* woman% !re
yo) (re(ared to marry meKA I!s soon as the sa#rii#es have been oered,A she answered%
e% Meanwhile, the Gin* o "hry*ia had died s)ddenly, witho)t iss)e, and an ora#le
anno)n#ed1 I"hry*ians, yo)r new kin* is a((roa#hin* with his bride, seated in an o:7#artPA
When the o:7#art entered the market (la#e o Telmiss)s, the ea*le at on#e attra#ted (o()lar
attention, and Gordi)s was )nanimo)sly a##laimed kin*% $n *ratit)de, he dedi#ated the #art to
@e)s, to*ether with its yoke, whi#h he had knotted to the (ole in a (e#)liar manner% !n ora#le
then de#lared that whoever dis#overed how to )ntie the knot wo)ld be#ome the lord o all
!sia% Doke and (ole were #onseE)ently laid )( in the !#ro(olis at Gordi)m, a #ity whi#h
Gordi)s had o)nded, where the (riests o @e)s *)arded them Healo)sly or #ent)riesJ)ntil
!le:ander the Ma#edonian (et)lantly #)t the knot with his sword%
% !ter Gordi)sAs death, Midas s)##eeded to the throne, (romoted the worshi( o ?ionys)s,
and o)nded the #ity o !n#yra% The 4ri*ians who had #ome with him be#ame known as
"hry*ians, and the kin*s o "hry*ia are alternately named Midas and Gordi)s to this day2 so
that the irst Midas is now mistakenly des#ribed as a son o Gordi)s%
*% Midas attended the amo)s m)si#al #ontest between !(ollo and Marsyas, )m(ired by the
River7*od Tmol)s% Tmol)s awarded the (ri8e to !(ollo who, when Midas dissented rom the
verdi#t, ()nished him with a (air o assAs ears% 'or a lon* time, Midas mana*ed to #on#eal
these )nder a "hry*ian #a(2 b)t his barber, made aware o the deormity, o)nd it im(ossible
to kee( the shame)l se#ret #lose, as Midas had enHoined him to do on (ain o death% &e
thereore d)* a hole in the river7bank and, irst makin* s)re that nobody was abo)t,
whis(ered into it1 IGin* Midas has assAs earsPA Then he illed )( the hole, and went away, at
(ea#e with himsel )ntil a reed s(ro)ted rom the bank and whis(ered the se#ret to all who
(assed% When Midas learned that his dis*ra#e had be#ome ()bli# knowled*e, he #ondemned
the barber to death, drank b)llAs blood, and (erished miserably%
1% Midas has been (la)sibly identiied with Mita, Gin* o the Mos#hians 5I#al7menA6, or
M)shki, a (eo(le o "onti# ori*in who, in the middle o the se#ond
millenni)m 4., o##)(ied the western (art o Thra#e, aterwards known as Ma#edonia2 they
#rossed the &elles(ont abo)t the year 1000 4., broke the (ower o the &ittites in !sia Minor,
and #a(t)red "teria, their #a(ital% IMos#hiansA reers (erha(s to a #)lt o the b)ll7#al as the
s(irit o the sa#red year% MidasAs rose *ardens and the a##o)nt o his birth s)**est an or*iasti#
#)lt o !(hrodite, to whom the rose was sa#red% The story o the *olden to)#h has been
invented to a##o)nt or the ri#hes o the Mita dynasty, and or the (resen#e o *old in the
"a#tol)s river2 and it is oten said that the assAs ears were s)**ested by MidasAs re(resentation
as a satyr, with hideo)sly len*thened ears, in !thenian #omi# drama%
0% 4)t sin#e asses were sa#red to his benea#tor ?ionys)s, who set a (air o them amon* the
stars 5&y*in)s1 "oeti# !stronomy6, it is likely that the ori*inal Midas *loried in his ass
dis*)ise% ! (air o assAs ears at the ti( o a reed s#e(tre was the token o royalty #arried by all
,*y(tian dynasti# *ods, in memory o the time when ass7eared +et r)led their (antheon% +et
had *reatly de#lined in (ower )ntil his tem(orary revival by the &yksos kin*s o the early
se#ond millenni)m 4.2 b)t be#a)se the &ittites ormed (art o the *reat horde o northern
#onE)erors led by the &yksos, ass7eared Midas may well have #laimed soverei*nty over the
&ittite ,m(ire in +etAs name% $n (re7dynasti# times, +et has r)led the se#ond hal o the year,
and ann)ally m)rdered his brother ;siris, the s(irit o the irst hal, whose emblem was a
b)ll1 they were, a#t, the amiliar rival twins (er(et)ally #ontendin* or the avo)rs their
sister, the Moon7*oddess $sis%
<% $t is likely that the i#on rom whi#h the story o MidasAs barber derives showed the death o
the ass7kin*% &is s)n7ray hair, the seat royal (ower, is shorn o, like +amsonAs2 his
de#a(itated body is b)ried in a hole to *)ard the #ity o !n#yra rom invasion% The reed an
ambivalent symbol1 as the ItreeA o the twelth month, *ives him ora#)lar warnin* o
imminent death2 it also enroyals his s)##essor% 4e#a)se o the *reat ma*i#al (oten#y o b)llAs
blood, only (riestesses o the ,arth7mother #o)ld drink it witho)t harm, and bein* the blood
o ;siris, it wo)ld be (e#)liarly (oisono)s an ass7kin*%
=% The se#ret o the Gordian knot seems to have been a reli*io)s one, (robably the ineable
name o ?ionys)s, a knotJ#y(her tied in the hide thon*% Gordi)m was the key to !sia 5!sia
Minor6 be#a)se its #itadel #ommanded the only (ra#ti#able trade ro)te rom Troy to !ntio#h2
an the lo#al (riestess or (riest will have #omm)ni#ated the se#ret to the Gin o "hry*ia alone,
as the &i*h7(riest alone was entr)sted with the ineable name o 9ehovah at 9er)salem%
!le:anderAs br)tal #)ttin* o the knot when he marshalled his army at Gordi)m or the
invasion o Greater !sia, ended an an#ient dis(ensation by (la#in* the (ower o the sword
above that o reli*io)s mystery% Gordi)s 5rom *r)8ein, Ito *r)ntA or I*r)mbleA6 was (erha(s
so named rom the m)tterin* at his ora#)lar shrine%
5% Why the story o the !tlanti# .ontinent sho)ld have been attrib)ted to the dr)nken +ilen)s
may be divined rom three in#idents re(orted by "l)tar#h 5-ie o +olon6% The irst is that
+olon travelled e:tensively in !sia Minor and ,*y(t2 the se#ond, that he believed the story o
!tlantis and t)rned it into an e(i# (oem2 the third that he E)arrelled with Thes(is the
dramatist who, in his (lays abo)t ?ionys)s, ()t l)di#ro)s s(ee#hes, a((arently )ll o to(i#al
all)sion into the mo)ths o satyrs% +olon asked1 I!re yo) not alarmed, Thes(is, to tell so
many lies to so lar*e an a)dien#eKA When Thes(is answered IWhat does it matter when the
whole (lay is a Hoke%A, +olon str)#k *ro)nd violently with his sta1 I,n#o)ra*e s)#h Hokes in
o)r theatre, an they will soon #ree( into o)r #ontra#ts and treatiesPA !elian, who E)oted
Theo(om()s as his a)thority, seems to have had a##ess at se#ond or third hand to a #omedy
by Thes(is, or his ()(il "ratinas, ridi#)lin* +olon or )to(ian lies told in the e(i# (oem, and
(resentin* him as +ilen)s, ootloose abo)t ,*y(t and !sia Minor% +ilen)s and +olon are not
dissimilar names and as +ilen)s was t)tor to ?ionys)s, so was t)tor to "eisistrat)s whoJ
(erha(s on his advi#eJ o)nded rites at !thens
6% $t is (ossible that +olon d)rin* his travels had (i#ked )( s#ra(s o whi#h he in#or(orated in
his e(i#, and whi#h lent them (arody1 s)#h as the Gaeli# le*end o a -and o Do)th ;#eanJ
where 3iamh o the Golden &air took ;isin, and when#e he ret)rned #ent)ries later on a visit
to $reland% ;isin, it is said, was dis*)sted o his own (eo(le #om(ared to 3iamhAs, and
bitterly re*retted havin* #ome ba#k% The )nnavi*able whirl(ool is the amo)s one, ass)med
by an#ient (hysi#ists, where the o#ean ret)rns and marks the end o the world into
nothin*ness% +olon seems to have heard *eo*ra(hers dis#)ssin* the (ossible e:isten#e o an
.ontinent o !tlantis1 ,ratosthenes, Mela, .i#ero, and +trabo s(e#)lated and +ene#a oretold
its dis#overy in the se#ond a#t o his MedeaJa whi#h is said to have made a dee( im(ression
on the yo)n* +olon%
.leobis !nd 4iton
.-,;4$+ and 4iton, two yo)n* !r*ives, were the sons o &eraAs (riestess at !r*os% When
the time #ame or her to (erorm the rites o the *oddess, and the white o:en whi#h were to
draw her sa#red #hariot led not yet arrived rom the (ast)re, .leobis and 4iton, harnessin* to
the #hariot, dra**ed it to the tem(le, a distan#e o nearly ive miles% "leased with their ilial
devotion, the (riestess (rayed that the *oddess wo)ld *rant them the best *it she #o)ld
bestow on mortals2 and when she had (erormed her rites, they went to slee( in the tem(le,
never to wake a*ain%
b% ! similar *it was *ranted to !*amedes and Tro(honi)s, sons o ,r*in)s% These twins had
b)ilt a stone threshold )(on o)ndations laid by !(ollo himsel or his tem(le at ?el(hi% &is
ora#le told them1 I-ive and ind)l*e yo)rselves in every (leas)re or si: days2 on the seventh
yo)r heartAs desire shall be *ranted%A ;n the seventh day both were o)nd dead, in their beds%
&en#e it is said1 Those whom *ods love die yo)n*%
#% Tro(honi)s, ater death, was awarded own ora#)lar shrine in 4oeotian -ebadea%
1% The myth o .leobis and 4iton a((arently reers to the h)man sa#rii#es oered when a
new tem(le was dedi#ated to the Moon7*oddess1 at !r*os, twin brothers were #hosen as
s)rro*ates or the #o7kin*s, and harnessed to a moon7#hariot in (la#e o the white b)lls, the
)s)al sa#rii#e% They will have been b)ried )nder the tem(le threshold to kee( away hostile
inl)en#es2 (erha(s this was why the twins .astor and "olyde)#es were sometimes #alled
;ebalides, whi#h may mean Isons o the tem(le thresholdA rather than Io the s(e#kled shee(7
skinA% The (riests o !(ollo evidently ado(ted this (ra#ti#e at ?el(hi, altho)*h they denied
the Moon7*oddess, to whom the sa#rii#e sho)ld have been made, any oothold in the tem(le%
0% The seventh day, whi#h was sa#red to the Titan .ron)s 5and to .ronian 9ehovah at
9er)salem6 had Ire(oseA as its (lanetary )n#tion2 b)t Ire(oseA si*niied death in the *oddessAs
hono)rJhen#e the hero7ora#le awarded to Tro(honi)s%
3ar#iss)s
3!R.$++/+ was a Thes(ian, the son o the bl)e 3ym(h -eirio(e, whom the River7*od
.e(his)s had on#e en#ir#led with the win*s o his streams, and ravished% The seer Teiresias
told -eirio(e, the irst (erson ever to #ons)lt him1 I3ar#iss)s will live to a ri(e old a*e,
(rovided that he never knows himsel%A !nyone mi*ht e:#)sably have allen in love with
3ar#iss)s, even as a #hild, and when he rea#hed the a*e o si:teen, his (ath was strewn with
heartlessly reHe#ted lovers o both se:es2 or he had a st)bborn (ride in his own bea)ty%
b% !mon* these lovers was the nym(h ,#ho, who #o)ld no lon*er )se her voi#e, e:#e(t in
oolish re(etition o anotherAs sho)t1 a ()nishment or havin* ke(t &era entertained with lon*
stories while @e)sAs #on#)bines, the mo)ntain nym(hs, evaded her Healo)s eye and made
*ood their es#a(e% ;ne day when 3ar#iss)s went o)t to net sta*s, ,#ho stealthily ollowed
him thro)*h the (athless orest, lon*in* to address him, b)t )nable to s(eak irst% !t last
3ar#iss)s, indin* that he had strayed rom his #om(anions, sho)ted1 I$s anyone hereKA
I&erePA ,#ho answered, whi#h s)r(rised 3ar#iss)s, sin#e no one was in si*ht%
I.omePA
I.omePA
IWhy do yo) avoid meKA
IWhy do yo) avoid meKA
I-et )s #ome to*ether herePA
I-et )s #ome to*ether herePA re(eated ,#ho, and Hoy)lly r)shed rom her hidin* (la#e to
embra#e 3ar#iss)s% Det he shook her o ro)*hly, and ran away% I$ will die beore yo) ever lie
with mePA he #ried%
I-ie with mePA ,#ho (leaded%
4)t 3ar#iss)s had *one, and she s(ent the rest o her lie in lonely *lens, (inin* away or
love and mortii#ation, )ntil only her voi#e remained%
#% ;ne day, 3ar#iss)s sent a sword to !meini)s, his most insistent s)itor, ater whom the river
!meini)s is named2 it is a trib)tary o the river &elisson, whi#h lows into the !l(hei)s%
!meini)s killed himsel on 3ar#iss)sAs threshold, #allin* on the *ods to aven*e his death%
d% !rtemis heard the (lea, and made 3ar#iss)s all in love, tho)*h denyin* him loveAs
#ons)mmation% !t ?ona#on in Thes(iae he #ame )(on a s(rin*, #lear as silver, and never yet
dist)rbed by #attle, birds, wild beasts, or even by bran#hes dro((in* o the trees that shaded
it2 and as he #ast himsel down, e:ha)sted, on the *rassy ver*e to slake his thirst, he ell in
love with his rele#tion% !t irst he tried to embra#e and kiss the bea)ti)l boy who #onronted
him, b)t (resently re#o*nised himsel, and lay *a8in* enra(t)red into the (ool, ho)r ater
ho)r% &ow #o)ld he end)re both to (ossess and yet not to (ossessK Grie was destroyin* him,
yet he reHoi#ed in his torments2 knowin* at least that his other sel wo)ld remain tr)e to him,
whatever ha((ened%
e% ,#ho, altho)*h she had not or*iven 3ar#iss)s, *rieved with him2 she sym(atheti#ally
e#hoed I!lasP !lasPA as he (l)n*ed a da**er in breast, and also the inal Iah, yo)th, beloved
in vain, arewellPA e:(ired% &is blood soaked the earth, and )( s(ran* the white nar#iss)s
lower with its red #orollary, rom whi#h an )n*)ent balm is now distilled at .haeronea% This
is re#ommended or ae#tions o the ear 5tho)*h a(t to *ive heada#hes6, and as a v)lnerary,
and or the #)re o rost7bite%
1% The Inar#iss)sA )sed in the an#ient wreath o ?emeter and "erse(hone 5+o(ho#les1
;edi()s at .olon)s6, and also #alled leirion was the three7(etalled bl)e le)r7de7lys or iris1
sa#red to the Tri(le7*oddess, and worn as a #ha(let when the Three +olemn ;nes, or
,rinnyes, were bein* (la#ated% $t lowers in late a)t)mn, shortly beore the I(oetAs nar#iss)sA,
whi#h is (erha(s why -eirio(e has been des#ribed as 3ar#iss)sAs mother% This an#i)l moral
taleJin#identally a##o)ntin* or the medi#inal (ro(erties o nar#iss)s7oil, a well7known
nar#oti#, as the irst syllable o I3ar#iss)sA im(liesJmay be ded)#ed rom an i#on whi#h
showed the des(airin* !l#maeon, or ;restes, lyin* #rowned with lilies, beside a (ool in
whi#h he has vainly tried to ()riy himsel ater m)rderin* his mother2 the ,rinnyes havin*
re)sed to be (la#ated% ,#ho, in this i#on, wo)ld re(resent the mo#kin* *host o his mother,
and !meini)s his m)rdered ather%
*% 4)tJiss)s, likeJinth)s, is a .retan termination, and both 3ar#iss)s and &ya#inth)s seem
to have been names or the .retan s(rin*lower7hero whose death the *oddess bewails on the
*old rin* rom the My#enaean !#ro(olis2 elsewhere he is #alled !nthe)s a s)rname o
?ionys)s% Moreover, the lily was the royal emblem o the .nossian kin*% $n a (ainted relie
o)nd amon* the "ala#e r)ins, he walks, s#e(tre in hand, thro)*h a lily7meadow, wearin* a
#rown and ne#kla#e o le)r7de7lys%
"hyllis !nd .arya
"&D--$+, a Thra#ian (rin#ess, was in love with !#amas, a son o These)s, who had *one to
i*ht at Troy% When Troy ell, and the !thenian leet ret)rned, "hyllis (aid reE)ent visits to
the shore, ho(in* to si*ht his shi(2 b)t this had been delayed by a leak, and she died o *rie
ater her ninth r)itless visit, at a (la#e #alled ,nneodos% +he was metamor(hosed by !thene
into an almond7tree, and !#amas, arrivin* on the ollowin* day, embra#ed only her ro)*h
bark% $n res(onse to his #aresses the bran#hes b)rst into lower instead o lea, whi#h has been
a (e#)liarity o almond7trees ever sin#e% ,very year, the !thenians dan#e in her hono)r, and
in his%
b% !nd .arya, da)*hter o a -a#onian kin*, was beloved o ?ionys)s, b)t died s)ddenly at
.aryae, and was metamor(hosed by him into a waln)t7tree% !rtemis bro)*ht the news to the
-a#onians, who there)(on b)ilt a tem(le to !rtemis .aryatis, rom whi#h .aryatidsJemale
stat)es )sed as #ol)mnsJ take their name% !t .aryae too, the -a#onian women dan#e
ann)ally in the *oddessAs hono)r, havin* been instr)#ted by the ?ios#)ri%
1% 4oth these myths are told to a##o)nt or the estal )se o almond or waln)t, in hono)r o
.ar, or .arya, otherwise known as Metis, the Titaness o Wisdom2 and are a((arently
ded)#ed rom an i#on whi#h showed a yo)n* (oet worshi((in* a n)t7tree in the *oddessAs
(resen#e, while nine yo)n* women (erormed a ro)nd dan#e% ,nneodos, whi#h o##)rs also in
the le*end o the Thra#ian "hyllis who drove ?emo(hon mad, means Inine Ho)rneysA, and the
n)mber nine was #onne#ted with n)ts by the $rish bards, and n)ts with (oeti# ins(iration2 and
in their tree7al(habet the letter #oll 5I#A6, meanin* Iha8elAJalso e:(ressed the n)mber nine%
!##ordin* to the $rish ?inns#hen#has, the o)ntain o ins(iration in the river 4oy7ne was
overh)n* by the nine ha8els o (oeti# art, and inhabited by s(otted ish whi#h san*% !nother
.aryae 5Iwaln)t7treesA6 in !r#adia, stood #lose to a stream re(orted by "a)sanias to #ontain
the same (e#)liar kind o ish 5"a)sanias6%
0% The *oddess .ar, who *ave her name to .aria, be#ame the $talian divinatory *oddess
.armenta, I.ar the WiseA, and the .aryatids are her n)t7nym(hsJas the Meliae are
ashnym(hs2 the MBliae, a((le7nym(hs2 and the ?ryads, oak7nym(hs% "liny has (reserved the
tradition that .ar invented a)*)ry 53at)ral &istory6% "hyllis 5IleayA6 may be a h)mble Greek
version o the "alestinian and Meso(otarnian Great Goddess 4elili2 in the ?emo(hon myth
she is asso#iated with Rhea%
!rion
!R$;3 o -esbos, a son o "oseidon and the 3ym(h ;neaea, was a master o the lyre, and
invented the dithyramb in ?ionys)sAs hono)r% ;ne day his (atron "eriander, tyrant o
.orinth, rel)#tantly *ave him (ermission to visit Taenar)s in +i#ily, where he had been
invited to #om(ete in a m)si#al estival% !rion won the (ri8e, and his admirers showered on
him so many ri#h *its that these e:#ited the *reed o the sailors en*a*ed to brin* him ba#k to
.orinth%
IWe m)#h re*ret, !rion, that yo) will have to die,A remarked the #a(tain o the shi(%
IWhat #rime have $ #ommittedKA asked !rion%
IDo) are too ri#h,A re(lied the #a(tain%
I+(are my lie, and $ will *ive yo) all my (ri8es,A !rion (leaded%
IDo) wo)ld only retra#t yo)r (romise on rea#hin* .orinth,A said the #a(tain, Iand so wo)ld $,
in yo)r (la#e% ! or#ed *it is no *it%A
ICery well,A #ried !rion resi*nedly% I4)t (ray allow me to sin* a last son*%A
When the #a(tain *ave his (ermission, !rion, dressed in his inest robe, mo)nted on the
(row, where he invoked the *ods with im(assioned strains, and then lea(ed overboard% The
shi( sailed on%
b% &owever, his son* had attra#ted a s#hool o m)si#7lovin* dol(hins, one o whi#h took
!rion on his ba#k, and that evenin* he overtook the shi( and rea#hed the (ort o .orinth
several days beore it #ast an#hor there% "eriander was overHoyed at his mira#)lo)s es#a(e,
and the dol(hin, lath to (art rom !rion, insisted on a##om(anyin* him to #o)rt, where it
soon s)##)mbed to a lie o l):)ry% !rion *ave it a s(lendid )neral%
When the shi( do#ked, "eriander sent or the #a(tain and #rew, whom he asked with
(retended an:iety or news o !rion%
I&e has been delayed at Taenar)s,A the #a(tain answered, Iby the lavish hos(itality o the
inhabitants%A
"eriander made them all swear at the dol(hinAs tomb that this was the tr)th, and then
s)ddenly #onronted them with !rion% /nable to deny their *)ilt, they were e:e#)ted on the
s(ot% !(ollo later set the ima*es o !rion and his lyre amon* the stars%
#% 3or was !rion the irst man to have been saved by a dol(hin% ! dol(hin res#)ed ,nables
when he lea(ed overboard to Hoin his sweetheart "honies who, in a##ordan#e with an ora#le,
had been #hosen by lot and thrown into the sea to a((ease !m(hitri#haJor this was the
e:(edition whi#h the sons o "entho)se were leadin* to -esbos as the islandAs irst #olonists
Jand the dol(hinAs mate res#)ed "honies% !nother dol(hin saved &elianth)s rom drownin*
in the .r)sta#ean +ea on his way to $taly% -ikewise .adies, the .retan brother o Da(s, when
shi(wre#ked on a voya*e to $taly, was *)ided by a dol(hin to ?el(hi and *ave the (la#e its
name2 or the dol(hin was !(ollo in dis*)ise%
1% 4oth !rion and "eriander are histori#al #hara#ters o the seventh, #ent)ry 4., and a
ra*ment o !rianAs &ymn to "oseidon s)rvives% The story is (erha(s based (artly on a
tradition that !rianAs son*s attra#ted a s#hool o dol(hins and th)s diss)aded some sailors
rom m)rderin* him or his money Jdol(hins and seals are notorio)sly s)s#e(tible to m)si#
J(artly on a misinter(retation o a stat)e whi#h showed the *od "alimony, lyre in hand,
arrivin* at .orinth on dol(hin7ba#k% Mythi# #olor is lent to the story by makin* !rion a son
o "oseidon, as was his namesake, the wild horse !rion, and by *ivin* his name to the -yre
#onstellation% "a)sanias, a level7headed and tr)th)l writer, do)bts &erodot)sAs hearsay story
abo)t !rion2 b)t re(orts that he has seen with his own eyes the dol(hin at "roselyte, whi#h
was ma)led by ishermen, b)t had its wo)nds dressed by a boy, #omin* in answer to the
boyAs #all and *rate)lly allowin* him to ride on its ba#k% This s)**ests that the rit)al advent
o the 3ew Dear .hild was dramati#ally (resented at .orinth with the aid o a tame dol(hin
trained by the +)n7(riests%
0% The myth o ,nables and "honies is (robably ded)#ed rom an i#on whi#h showed
!m(hitri#ha and Triton ridin* on dol(hins% ,nables is also asso#iated by "l)tar#h with an
o#to()s #)lt, and his name re#alls that o ;edi()s, the .orinthian 3ew Dear .hild, he will
have been at Mytilene, as &elianth)s was in $taly% Taras, a son o "oseidon by MinosAs
da)*hter +atyraea 5Io the satyrsA6, was the dol(hin7ridin* 3ew Dear .hild o Tarent)m,
whi#h he is said to have o)nded, and where he had a hero shrine 5"a)sanias62 &elianth)s, the
o)nder o ?orian Tarent)m in >08 4., took over the dol(hin #)lt rom the .retani8ed
+i#ilians whom he o)nd there%
<% $#adi)sAs name, whi#h means ItwentiethA, is #onne#ted (erha(s with the date o the month
on whi#h his advent was #elebrated%
Minos !nd &is 4rothers
W&,3 @e)s let ,)ro(e, ater havin* lathered Minos, Rhadamanthys, and +ar(edon on her
in .rete, she married !steri)s, the rei*nin* kin*, whose ather Te#tam)s son o ?or)s had
bro)*ht a mi:ed #olony o !eolian and "elas*ian settlers to the island and there married a
da)*hter o .rethe)s the !eolian%
b% This marria*e (rovin* #hildless, !steri)s ado(ted Minos, Rhadamanthys, and +ar(edon,
and made them his heirs% 4)t when the brothers *rew to manhood, they E)arrelled or the
love o a bea)ti)l boy named Milet)s, be*otten by !(ollo on the 3ym(h !reia, whom some
#all ?eione, and others, Theia% Milet)s havin* de#ided that he liked +ar(edon best, was
driven rom .rete by Minos, and sailed with a lar*e leet to .aria in !sia Minor, where he
o)nded the #ity and kin*dom o Milet)s% 'or the (revio)s two *enerations, this #o)ntry, then
#alled !na#toria, had been r)led by the *iant !na:, a son o /ran)s and Mother ,arth, and by
his eE)ally *i*anti# son !steri)s% The skeleton o !steri)s, whom Milet)s killed and
aterwards b)ried on an islet lyin* o -ade, has lately been disenterred2 it is at least ten
#)bits lon*% +ome, however, say that Minos s)s(e#ted Milet)s o (lottin* to overthrow him
and sei8e the kin*dom2 b)t that he eared !(ollo, and thereore rerained rom doin* more
than warn Milet)s, who led to .aria o his own a##ord% ;thers say that the boy who
o##asioned the E)arrel was not Milet)s b)t one !tymni)s, a son o @e)s and .assio(eia, or o
"hoeni:%
#% !ter !steri)sAs death, Minos #laimed the .retan throne and, (roo o his ri*ht to rei*n,
boasted that the *ods wo)ld answer whatever (rayer he oered them% 'irst dedi#atin* an altar
to "oseidon, and makin* all (re(arations or a sa#rii#e, he then (rayed that a b)ll mi*ht
emer*e rom the sea% !t on#e, a da88lin*ly7white b)ll swam ashore, b)t Minos was so str)#k
by its bea)ty that he sent it to Hoin his own herds, and sla)*htered another instead% MinosAs
#laim to the throne was a##e(ted by every .retan, e:#e(t +ar(edon who, still *rievin* or
Milet)s, de#lared that it had been !steri)sAs intention to divide the kin*dom eE)ally between
his three heirs2 and, indeed, Minos himsel had already divided the island into three (arts, and
#hosen a #a(ital or
d% ,:(elled rom .rete by Minos, +ar(edon led to .ili#ia in !sia Minor, where he allied
himsel with .ili: a*ainst the Milyans, #onE)ered them, and be#ame their kin*% @e)s *ranted
him the (rivile*e o livin* or three *enerations2 and when he inally died, the Milyan
kin*dom was #alled -y#ia, ater his s)##essor -y#)s, who had taken re)*e with him )(on
bein* banished rom !thens by !e*e)s%
e% Meanwhile, Minos had married "asi(haB, a da)*hter o &eli)s and the nym(h .rete,
otherwise known as "erseis% 4)t "oseidon, to aven*e the aront oered him by Minos, made
"asi(haB all in love with the white b)ll whi#h had been withheld rom sa#rii#e% +he
#onided her )nnat)ral (assion to ?aedal)s, the amo)s !thenian #ratsman, who now lived
m e:ile at .noss)s, deli*htin* Minos and his amily with the animated wooden dolls he
#arved or them% ?aedal)s (romised to hel( her, and b)ilt a hollow wooden #ow, whi#h he
)(holstered with a #owAs hide, set on wheels #on#ealed in its hooves, and ()shed into the
meadow near Gortys, where "oseidonAs b)ll was *ra8in* )nder the oaks amon* MinosAs
#ows% Then, havin* shown "asi(haB how to o(en the oldin* doors in the #owAs ba#k, and
sli( inside with her le*s thr)st down into its hindE)arters, he dis#reetly retired% +oon the
white b)ll ambled )( and mo)nted the #ow, so that "asi(haB had all her desire, and later *ave
birth to the Minota)r, a monster with a b)llAs head and a h)man body%
% 4)t some say that Minos, havin* ann)ally sa#rii#ed to "oseidon the best b)ll in his
(ossession, withheld his *it one year, and sa#rii#ed merely the ne:t best2 hen#e "oseidonAs
wrath2 others say that it was @e)s whom he oended2 others a*ain, that "asi(haB had ailed
or several years to (ro(itiate !(hrodite, who now ()nished her with this monstro)s l)st%
!terwards, the b)ll *rew sava*e and devastated the whole o .rete, )ntil &era#les #a(t)red
and bro)*ht it to Gree#e, where it was event)ally killed by These)s%
*% Minos #ons)lted an ora#le to know how he mi*ht best avoid s#andal and #on#eal
"asi(haBAs dis*ra#e% The res(onse was1 I$nstr)#t ?aedal)s to b)ild yo) a retreat at .noss)sPA
This ?aedal)s did, and Minos s(ent the remainder o his lie in the ine:tri#able ma8e #alled
the -abyrinth, at the very heart o whi#h he #on#ealed "asi(haB and the Minota)r%
h% Rhadamanthys, wiser than +ar(edon, remained in .rete2 he lived at (ea#e with Minos, and
was awarded a third (art o !steri)sAs dominions% Renowned as a H)st and )(ri*ht law7*iver,
ine:orable in ()nishment o evildoers, he le*islated both or the .retans and or the islanders
o !sia Minor, many o whom vol)ntarily ado(ted H)di#ial #ode% ,very ninth year, he wo)ld
visit @e)sAs #ave and brin* ba#k a hew set o laws, a #)stom aterwards ollowed by his
brother Minos% 4)t some deny that Rhadamanthys was MinosAs brother, and #all him a son o
&e(haest)s2 as others deny that Minos was @e)sAs son, makin* him the son o -y#ast)s and
the nym(h o $da% &e beE)eathed land in .rete to his son Gortys, ater whom the .retan #ity
is named, altho)*h the Te*eans insist that Gortys was an !r#adian, the son o Te*eates%
Rhadamanthys also beE)eathed land in !sia Minor to his son ,rythr)s2 and the island o
.hios to ;eno(ion, the son o !riadne, whom ?ionys)s irst ta)*ht how to make wine2 and
-emnos to Thoas, another o !riadneAs sons2 and .o)rnos to ,ny)es2 and "e(arethos to
+ta(hyl)s2 and Maroneia to ,)anthes2 and "aros to !l#ae)s2 and ?elos to !ni)s2 and !ndros
to !ndr)s%
i% Rhadamanthys event)ally led to 4oeotia be#a)se he had killed kinsman, and lived there in
e:ile at ;#aleae, where he married !l#mene, &era#lesAs mother, ater the death o
!m(hitryon% &is tomb, and that o !l#mene, are shown at &aliart)s, #lose to a (lantation o
the to)*h #anes bro)*ht rom .rete, rom whi#h Havelins and l)tes are #)t% 4)t some say that
!l#mene was married to Rhadamanthys in the ,lysian 'ields, ater her death% 'or @e)s had
a((ointed him one o the three 9)d*es o the ?ead2 his #ollea*)es were Minos and !ea#)s,
and he resided in the ,lysian 'ields%
1% +ir !rth)r ,vansAs #lassii#ation o s)##essive (eriods o (re7.lassi#al .retan .)lt)re as
Minoan $, $$, and $$$, s)**ests that the r)ler o .rete was already #alled Minos in the early
third millenni)m 4.2 b)t this is misleadin*% Minos seems to have been the royal title o an
&elleni# dynasty whi#h r)led .rete early in the se#ond millenni)m, ea#h kin* rit)ally
marryin* the Moon7(riestess o .noss)s and takin* his title o IMoon7bein*A rom her% Minos
is ana#hronisti#ally made the s)##essor o !steri)s, the *randson o ?or)s, whereas the
?orians did not invade .rete )ntil the #lose o the se#ond millenni)m% $t is more likely that
the !eolians and "elas*ians 5(erha(s in#l)din* I$onians rom !tti#aA6 bro)*ht in by Te#tam)s
5I#ratsmanA6Ja name whi#h identiies him with ?aedal)s, and with &e(haest)s,
RhadamanthysAs alle*ed atherJwere MinosAs ori*inal #om(anions2 and that !steri)s
5IstarryA6 is a mas#)lini8ation o !steriB, the *oddess as M)een o &eaven and #reatri: o the
(lanetary (owers% .rete itsel is a Greek word, a orm o #rateia, Istron*, or r)lin*,
*oddessAJhen#e .rete)s, and .rethe)s% Messrs M% Centris and 9% .hadwi#kAs re#ent
resear#hes into the hitherto )nde#i(hered -inear +#ri(t 4, e:am(les o whi#h have been
o)nd at "yl)s, Thebes, and My#enae, as well as amon* the r)ins o the .nossian (ala#e
sa#ked in 1=00 4%.%, show that the oi#ial lan*)a*e at .noss)s in the middle o the se#ond
millenni)m was an early orm o !eoli# Greek% The s#ri(t seems to have been ori*inally
invented or )se with a non7!ryan lan*)a*e and ada(ted to Greek with some dii#)lty%
5Whether ins#ri(tions in -inear +#ri(t ! are written in Greek or .retan has not yet been
established, *reat n)mber o names rom Greek mytholo*y o##)r in both .retan and
mainland tablets, amon* them1
!#hilles, $domene)s, These)s, .rethe)s, 3estor, ,(hialtes, Z)th)s, !Ha:, Gla)#)s, and
!eol)sJwhi#h s)**ests that many o these myths date ba#k beyond the 'all o Troy%
0% +in#e Milet)s is a mas#)line name, the amiliar myth o two brothers who E)arrel or the
avo)rs o a woman was *iven a homose:)al t)rn% The tr)th seems to be that, d)rin* a (eriod
o disorder ollowin* the !#haean sa#k o .noss)s in abo)t 1=00 4., n)mero)s Greek7
s(eakin* .retan aristo#rats o !eolo7"elas*ian or $onian sto#k, or whom the Moon7*oddess
was the s)(reme deity, mi*rated with their native de(endants to !sia Minor, es(e#ially to
.aria, -y#ia, and -ydia2 or, disre*ardin* the tradition o +ar(edonAs dynasty in -y#ia,
&erodot)s re#ords that the -y#ians o his time still re#koned by matrilineal des#ent
5&erodot)s2 +trabo6, like the .arians% Miletos may be a native .retan word, or a
transliteration o milteios, Ithe #olo)r o red o#hre, or red leadA2 and thereore a synonym or
,rythr)s, or "hoeni:, both o whi#h mean IredA% .retan #om(le:ions were redder than
&elleni# ones, and the -y#ians and .arians #ame o (artly .retan sto#k2 as did the ")resati
5"hilistines6, whose name also means Ired menA%
<% The *i*anti# r)lers o !na#toria re#all the !nakim o Genesis, *iants 59osh)a6 o)sted by
.aleb rom the ora#)lar shrine whi#h had on#e belon*ed to ,(hron the son o &eth 5TethysK6%
,(hron *ave his name to &ebron 5Genesis6, and may be identiied with "horone)s% These
!nakim seem to have #ome rom Gree#e, as members o the +ea7(eo(lesA #onederation
whi#h #a)sed the ,*y(tians so m)#h tro)ble in the o)rteenth #ent)ry 4.% -ade, the b)rial
(la#e o !na:As son !steri)s, was (robably so #alled in hono)r o the *oddess -at, -eto, or
-atona, and that this !steri)s bears the same name as MinosAs ather s)**ests that the
Milesians bro)*ht it with them rom the .retan Milet)s% !##ordin* to a (la)sible tradition in,
the $rish 4ook $nvasions, the $rish Milesians ori*inated in .rete, led to +yria by way !sia
Minor, and then#e sailed west in the thirteenth #ent)ry 4. to Gaet)lia in 3orth !ri#a, and
inally rea#hed $reland by way o 4ri*anti)m 5.om(ostela, in 3orth7western +(ain6%
=% Milet)sAs #laim to be !(olloAs son s)**ests that the Milesian kin*s were *iven solar
attrib)tes, like those o .orinth%
5% The tri)m(h o Minos, son o @e)s, over his brothers reers to the ?oriansA event)al
mastery o .rete, b)t it was "oseidon to whom Minos sa#rii#ed the b)ll, whi#h a*ain
s)**ests that the earlier holders o the title IMinosA were !eolians% .rete had or #ent)ries
been a very ri#h #o)ntry and, in the late ei*hth #ent)ry 4., was shared between the
!#haeans, ?orians, "elas*ians, .ydonians 5!eolians6, and in the ar west o the island, Itr)e
.retansA 5;dyssey6% ?iodor)s +i#)l)s tried to distin*)ish Minos son o @e)s rom his
*randson, Minos son o -y#ast)s2 b)t two or three Minos dynasties may have s)##essively
rei*ned in .noss)s%
6% +ar(edonAs name 5IreHoi#in* in a wooden arkA6 s)**ests that he bro)*ht with him to -y#ia
the rit)al o the +)n7hero who, at 3ew Dear, makes his ann)al rea((earan#e as a #hild
loatin* in an arkJlike Moses, "erse)s, !ni)s, and others% ! .retan #onne#tion with the
"erse)s myth is (rovided by "asi(haBAs mother "erseis% @e)sAs #on#ession to +ar(edon, that
he sho)ld live or three *enerations, means (erha(s that instead o the )s)al ei*ht yearsJa
Great Dear7whi#h was the len*th o MinosAs rei*n, he was allowed to kee( his throne )ntil the
nineteenth year, when a #loser syn#hroni8ation o solar and l)nar time o##)rred than at the
end o ei*ht2 and th)s broke into the third Great Dear%
>% +in#e I"asi(haBA, a##ordin* to "a)sanias, is a title o the Moon2 and I$toneA, her other
name, a title o !thene as rain7maker 5"a)sanias6, the myth o "asi(haB and the b)ll (oints to
a rit)al marria*e )nder an oak between the Moon7(riestess, wearin* #owAs horns, and the
Minos7kin*, wearin* a b)llAs mask% !##ordin* to &esy#hi)s 5s)b .arten6, IGortysA stands or
.arten, the .retan word or a #ow2 and the marria*e seems to have been )nderstood as one
between +)n and Moon, sin#e there was a herd o #attle sa#red to the +)n in Gortys 5+ervi)s
on Cir*ilAs ,#lo*)es6% ?aedal)sAs dis#reet retirement rom the meadow s)**ests that this was
not #ons)mmated ()bli#ly in the "i#tish or Moesynoe#hian style% Many later Greeks disliked
the "asi(haB myth, and (reerred to believe that she had an aair not with a b)ll, b)t with a
man #alled Ta)r)s 5"l)tar#h1 These)s2 "alae(hat)s6% White b)lls, whi#h were (e#)liarly
sa#red to the Moon, i*)red in the ann)al sa#rii#e on the !lban mo)nt at Rome, in the #)lt o
Thra#ian ?ionys)s, in the mistletoe7and7oak rit)al o the Galli# ?r)ids and, a##ordin* to the
4ook o the ?)n .ow, in the divinatory rites whi#h (re#eded an an#ient $rish #oronation%
8% MinosAs (ala#e at .noss)s was a #om(le: o rooms, ante7rooms, halls, and #orridors in
whi#h a #o)ntry visitor mi*ht easily lose his way% +ir !rth)r ,vans s)**ests that this was the
-abyrinth, so #alled rom the labrys, or do)ble7headed a:e2 a amiliar emblem o .retan
soverei*nty sha(ed like a wa:in* and a wanin* moon Hoined to*ether ba#k to ba#k, and
symboli8in* the #reative as well as the destr)#tive (ower o the *oddess% 4)t the ma8e at
.noss)s had a se(arate e:isten#e rom the (ala#e1 it was a tr)e ma8e, in the &am(ton .o)rt
sense, and seems to have been marked o)t in mosai# on a (avement as a rit)al dan#in*
(attern Ja (attern whi#h o##)rs in (la#es as ar a(art as Wales and 3orth7eastern R)ssia, or
)se in the ,aster ma8e7dan#e% This dan#e was (erormed in $taly 5"liny1 3at)ral &istory6, and
in Troy 5+#holiast on ,)ri(idesAs !ndroma#he6, and seems to have been introd)#ed into
4ritain, towards the end o the third millenni)m 4., by 3eolithi# immi*rant rom 3orth
!ri#a% &omer des#ribes the .noss)s ma8e 5$liad61 I?aedal)s in .noss)s on#e #ontrived a
dan#in*7loor or air7haired !riadneA2 and -)#ian reers to (o()lar dan#es in .rete
#onne#ted with !riadne and the -abyrinth 5;n the ?an#e6%
9% The #)lt o Rhadamanthys may have been bro)*ht rom 4oeotia to .rete, and not
#ontrariwise% &aliart)s, where he had a hero7shrine, was a((arently sa#red to the IWhite
Goddess o 4readA, namely ?emeter, or &alia, Io the seaA, was a title o the Moon as
-e)#othea, Ithe White GoddessA 5?iodor)s +i#)l)s6, and artos means IbreadA% !l#mene
5Istron* in wrathA6 is another Moon7title% Tho)*h said to be .retan word, Rhadamanthys may
stand or Rhabdomantis, Idivinin* with wandA, a name taken rom the reed7bed at &aliart)s,
where his s(irits stirred the to(s ora#)larly% $ so, the tradition o his havin* le*islated or all
.rete and the islands o !sia Minor will mean that similar ora#le in .rete was #ons)lted at
the be*innin* o ea#h new rei*n, and that its (rono)n#ements #arried a)thority wherever
.retan wei*hts, meas)res, and tradin* #onventions were a##e(ted% &e is #alled a son o @e)s,
rather than o &e(haest)s, do)btless be#a)se the Rhadamanthine ora#les #ame rom the
?i#taean .ave, sa#red to @e)s%
10% !t "etsoa in .rete a hoard o h)man heads and limbs, o #lay, have been o)nd, ea#h
with a hole thro)*h whi#h a strin* #o)ld be (assed% $ on#e i:ed to wooden tr)nks, they may
have ormed (art o ?aedal)sAs Hointed dolls, and re(resented the 'ertility7*oddess% Their )se
was (erha(s to han* rom a r)it7tree, with their limbs movin* abo)t in the wind, to ens)re
*ood #ro(s% +)#h a doll is shown han*in* rom a r)it7tree in the amo)s *old rin* rom the
!#ro(olis Treas)re at My#enae% Tree worshi( is the s)bHe#t o several Minoan works o art,
and !riadne, the .retan *oddess, is said to have han*ed hersel, as the !tti# ,ri*one did%
!rtemis the &an*ed ;ne, who had a san#t)ary at .ondyleia in !r#adia 5"a)sanias6, and
&elen o the Trees, who had a san#t)ary at Rhodes and is said to have been han*ed by "oly:o
5"a)sanias6, may be variants o the same *oddess%
The -oves ; Minos
M$3;+ lay with the nym(h "aria, whose sons #oloni8ed "aros anti were later killed by
&era#les2 also with !ndro*eneia, the mother o the senior !steri)s, as well as many others2
b)t es(e#ially he ()rs)ed 4ritomartis o Gortyna, a da)*hter o -eto% +he invented h)ntin*7
nets and was a #lose #om(anion to !rtemis, whose ho)nds she ke(t on a leash%
b% 4ritomartis hid rom Minos )nder thi#k7leaved oak7sa(lin*s in the water meadows, and
then or nine months he ()rs)ed her over #ra**y mo)ntains and
level (lains )ntil, in des(eration, she threw hersel into the sea, and was ha)led to saety by
ishermen% !rtemis deiied 4ritomartis )nder the name o ?i#tynna2 b)t on !e*ina she is
worshi((ed as !(haea, be#a)se she vanished2 at +(arta as !rtemis, s)rnamed Ithe -ady o
the -akeA2 and on .e(hallonia as -a(hria2 the +amians, however, )se her tr)e name in their
invo#ations%
#% MinosAs many inidelities so enra*ed "asi(haB that she ()t a s(ell )(on him1 whenever he
lay with another woman, he dis#har*ed not seed, b)t a swarm o no:io)s ser(ents, s#or(ions,
and milli(edes, whi#h (reyed on her vitals% ;ne day "ro#ris, da)*hter o the !thenian Gin*
,re#hthe)s, whom her h)sband .e(hal)s had deserted, visited .rete% .e(hal)s was (rovoked
to this by ,os, who ell in love with him% When he (olitely re)sed her advan#es, on the
*ro)nd that he #o)ld not de#eive "ro#ris, with whom he had e:#han*ed vows o (er(et)al
aith)lness, ,os (rotested that "ro#ris, whom she knew better than he did, wo)ld readily
orswear hersel or *old% +in#e .e(hal)s indi*nantly denied this, ,os metamor(hosed him
into the likeness o one "teleon, and advised him to tem(t "ro#ris to his bed by oerin* her a
*olden #rown% &e did so, and, indin* that "ro#ris was easily sed)#ed, elt no #om()n#tion
abo)t lyin* with ,os, o whom she was (ain)lly Healo)s%
d% ,os bore .e(hal)s a son named "haBthon2 b)t !(hrodite stole him while still a #hild, to be
the ni*ht7wat#hman o her most sa#red shrines2 and the .retans #all him !dymn)s, by whi#h
they mean the mornin* and the evenin* star%
e% Meanwhile, "ro#ris #o)ld not bear to stay in !thens, her desertion bein* the s)bHe#t o
*eneral *ossi(, and thereore #ame to .rete, where Minos o)nd her no more dii#)lt to
sed)#e than had the s)((osed "teleon% &e bribed her with a ho)nd that never ailed to #at#h
his E)arry, and a dart that never missed its mark, both o whi#h had been *iven him by
!rtemis% "ro#ris, bein* an ardent h)ntress, *ladly a##e(ted these, b)t insisted that Minos
sho)ld take a (ro(hyla#ti# dra)*htJa de#o#tion o ma*i#al roots invented by the wit#h .ir#e
Jto (revent him rom illin* her with re(tiles and inse#ts% This dra)*ht had the desired
ee#t, b)t "ro#ris eared that "asi(haB mi*ht bewit#h her, and thereore ret)rned h)rriedly to
!thens, dis*)ised as a handsome boy, havin* irst #han*ed her name to "terelas% +he never
saw Minos a*ain%
% .e(hal)s, whom she now Hoined on a h)ntin* e:(edition, did not re#o*ni8e her and #oveted
-aela(s, her ho)nd, and the )nerrin* dart so m)#h, that he oered to b)y them, namin* a
h)*e s)m o silver% 4)t "ro#ris re)sed to (art with either, e:#e(t or love, and when he
a*reed to take her to his bed, tear)lly revealed hersel as his wie% Th)s they were re#on#iled
at last, and .e(hal)s enHoyed *reat s(ort with the and the dart% 4)t !rtemis was ve:ed that
her val)able *its sho)ld be bandied rom hand to hand by these mer#enary ad)lterers, and
(lotted reven*e% +he ()t it into "ro#risAs head to s)s(e#t that .e(hal)s was still visitin* ,os
when he rose two ho)rs ater midni*ht and went o to h)nt%
*% ;ne ni*ht "ro#ris, wearin* a dark t)ni#, #re(t o)t ater him in the hal li*ht% "resently he
heard a r)stle in a thi#ket behind him, -aela(s *rowled and stiened, .e(hal)s let ly with
the )nerrin* dart and transi:ed "ro#ris% $n d)e #o)rse the !reio(a*)s senten#ed him to
(er(et)al banishment or m)rder%
h% .e(hal)s retired to Thebes, where Gin* !m(hitryon, the s)((osed ather o &era#les,
borrowed -aela(s to h)nt the Te)messian vi:en whi#h was rava*in* .admeia% This vi:en,
divinely ated never to be #a)*ht, #o)ld be a((eased only by the monthly sa#rii#e o a #hild%
4)t, sin#e -aela(s was divinely ated to #at#h whatever he ()rs)ed, do)bt arose in &eaven as
to how this #ontradi#tion sho)ld be resolved1 in the end, @e)s an*rily settled it by t)rnin*
both -aela(s and vi:en into stone%
i% .e(hal)s ne:t assisted !m(hitryon in a s)##ess)l war a*ainst Teleboans and Ta(hians%
4eore it be*an, !m(hitryon made all his allies swear by !thene and !res not to hide any o
the s(oils2 only one, "ano(e)s, broke this oath and was ()nished by be*ettin* a #oward, the
notorio)s ,(ei)s% The Teleboan kin* was "terela)s, on whose head "oseidon, bein* his
*randather, had (lanted a *olden lo#k o immortality% &is da)*hter .omaetho ell in love
with !m(hitryon and, wishin* to *ain his ae#tions, (l)#ked o)t the *olden lo#k, so that
"terela)s died and !m(hitryon switly #onE)ered the Teleboans with the hel( o .e(hal)s2
b)t he senten#ed .omaetho to death or (arri#ide%
H% .e(hal)sAs share o the Teleboan dominions was the island o .e(hallenia, whi#h still bears
his name% &e never (ardoned Minos or havin* sed)#ed "ro#ris and *iven her the atal dart2
nor yet #o)ld he a#E)it himsel o res(onsibility% !ter all, he had been the irst to orswear
himsel, be#a)se "ro#risAs aair with the s)((osed "teleon #o)ld not be re#koned as a brea#h
o aith2 I3o, no,A he *rieved, I$ sho)ld never have bedded with ,osPA Tho)*h ()riied o his
*)ilt, he was ha)nted by "ro#risAs *host and, earin* to brin* misort)ne on his #om(anions,
went one day to .a(e -e)#as, where he had b)ilt a tem(le to !(ollo o the White Ro#k, and
(l)n*ed into the sea rom the #li to(% !s he ell he #alled alo)d on the name o "terelas2 or
it was )nder this name that "ro#ris had been most dear to him%
1% MinosAs sed)#tion o nym(hs in the style o @e)s do)btless re#ords the .nossian kin*As
rit)al marria*e to Moon7(riestesses o vario)s #ity states in his em(ire%
0% The Moon7*oddess was #alled 4ritomartis in ,astern .rete% &en#e the Greeks identiied
her with !rtemis 5?iodor)s +i#)l)s2 ,)ri(ides2 &esy#hi)s6, and with &e#ate 5,)ri(ides6% $n
Western .rete she was ?i#tynna, as Cir*il knew1 IThey #alled the Moon ?i#tynna ater yo)r
nameA% ?i#tynna is #onne#ted in the myth with di#tyon, whi#h means a net, o the sort )sed
or h)ntin* or ishin*2 and ?i#te is a((arently a worn7down orm Jdi#tynnaeon
JI?i#tynnaAs (la#eA% !ter the introd)#tion o the system a m)rdero)s #hase o the sa#red
kin* by the *oddess armed with a net was #onverted into a love #hase o the *oddess by the
sa#red kin*% 4oth #hases o##)r reE)ently in ,)ro(ean olklore% MinosAs ()rs)it o
4ritomartis, whi#h is (aralleled in "hilistia by Mo:)sAs, or Mo(s)sAs, #hase o ?er#eto,
be*ins when the oaks are in )ll leaJ(robably in the ?o* ?ays, whi#h was when +et
()rs)ed $sis and the .hild &or)s in the water meadows o the 3ile ?eltaJand ends nine
months later, on May ,ve% @e)sAs sed)#tion o ,)ro(e was also a May ,ve event%
<% To H)d*e rom the rit)al o the .elti# 3orth, where the *oddess is #alled Goda 5Ithe GoodA6
J3eanthes translates the syllable brito as I*oodA 5Greek &istori#al 'ra*ments6Jshe
ori*inally rode on a *oat, naked e:#e(t or a net, with an a((le in one hand, and a##om(anied
by a hare and a raven, to her ann)al love7east% The #arved miserere seat in .oventry
.athedral, where she was th)s (ortrayed, re#orded the .hristian May ,ve #eremonies at
+o)tham and .oventry, rom the le*end o -ady Godiva has been (io)sly evolved% $n .elti#
Germany, +#andinavia, and (robably ,n*land too, Goda had rit)al #onne#tion with the *oat,
or with a man dressed in *oat7skinsJthe sa#red kin* who later be#ame the ?evil o the wit#h
#)lt% &er a((le is a token o the kin a((roa#hin* death2 the hare symboli8es the #hase, d)rin*
whi#h she transorms hersel into a *reyho)nd2 her net will #at#h him when he be#omes a ish
the raven will *ive ora#les rom his tomb%
=% $t seems that, in .rete, the *oat7#)lt (re#eded the b)ll7#)lt, and that "asi(haB ori*inally
married a *oat7kin*% -a(hria 5Ishe who wins bootyA6, ?i#tynnaAs title in !e*ina, was also a
title o the *oat7*oddess !thene, who is said to have been assa)lted by the *oatish "allas,
whose skin she layed and #onverted into her ae*is6% I-a(hriaA s)**ests that the *oddess was
the ()rs)er, not the ()rs)ed% $ns#ri(tions rom !e*ina show that the *reat tem(le o !rtemis
belon*ed to !rtemis !(haea 5Inot darkA, to distin*)ish her rom &e#ate62 in the myth, !(haea
is taken to mean a(hanes, Idisa((earin*A%
5% The story o Minos and "ro#ris has (assed rom myth into ane#dote, and rom ane#dote
into street7#orner roman#e, re#allin* some o the tales in the Golden !ss% 4ein* linked with
MinosAs war a*ainst !thens, and the event)al downall o .noss)s, it re#ords (erha(s the
.retan kin*As demand or a rit)al marria*e with the &i*h7(riestess o !thens, whi#h the
!thenians resented% "teleon 5Ielm7*roveA6, the name o "ro#risAs sed)#er, may reer to the
vine7#)lt whi#h s(read rom .rete in the time o Minos, sin#e vines were trained on elms2 b)t
it may also be derived rom (telos, Iwild7boarA% $n that #ase, .e(hal)s and "teleon will have
ori*inally been the sa#red kin* and his tanist, dis*)ised as a wild boar% "asi(haBAs wit#h#rats
are #hara#teristi# o an an*ry Moon7*oddess2 and "ro#ris #o)nters them with the wit#h#rats
o .ir#e, another title o the same *oddess%
6% .e(hal)sAs lea( rom the white ro#k at .a(e -e)#as ri*htly reminds +trabo that the
-e)#adians )sed every year to lin* a man, (rovided with win*s to break his all, and even
with live birds #orded to his body, over the #li into the sea% The vi#tim, a (harma#os, or
s#a(e*oat, whose removal reed the island rom *)ilt, seems also to have #arried a white
s)nshade as a (ara#h)te% 4oats were waitin* to (i#k him )( i he s)rvived, and #onvey him to
some other island%
>% The myth o .omaetho and "terela)s reers to the #)ttin* o the solar kin*As hair beore his
death2 b)t the name "terela)s s)**ests that the win*ed (harma#os l)n* to his death was
ori*inally the kin*% The syllable elaos, or elaios, stands or the wild olive whi#h, like the
bir#h in $taly and 3orth7western ,)ro(e, was )sed or the e:()lsion o evil s(irits2 and in the
Rhodian diale#t elaios meant sim(ly (harma#os% 4)t the ates o "terela)s and .e(hal)s are
mythi#ally linked by "ro#risAs ado(tion o the name "terelas, and this s)**ests that she was
really the (riestess o !thene, who la)n#hed the leathered .e(hal)s to his death%
8% The o: was the emblem o Messene 5!(ollodor)s62 (robably be#a)se the !eolians
worshi((ed the Moon7*oddess as a vi:en2 and the myth o the Te)messian vi:en may re#ord
!eolian raids on .admeia in sear#h o #hild sa#rii#es, to whi#h the @e)s7worshi((in*
!#haeans ()t an end%
9% "haBthon and !dymn)s 5rom a7dyomenos, Ihe who does not setA6 are both alle*ori#al
names or the (lanet Cen)s% 4)t "haBthon, son o ,os and .e(hal)s, has been #on)sed by
3orm)s with "haBthon, son o &eli)s, who drove the s)n7#hariot and was drowned2 and with
!tymni)s 5rom atos and hymnos, Iinsatiate o heroi# (raiseA6, a s)n7hero worshi((ed by the
Milesians%
10% ,(ei)s, who b)ilt the wooden horse, a((ears in early le*ends as an o)tstandin*ly
#o)ra*eo)s warrior2 b)t his name was ironi#ally a((lied to boasters, )ntil it be#ame
synonymo)s with #owardi#e 5&esy#hi)s s)b ,(ei)s6%
he .hildren ; "asi(haB%
!M;3G "asi(haBAs #hildren by Minos were !#a#allis, !riadne, !ndro*e)s, .atre)s,
Gla)#)s, and "haedra% +he also bore .ydon to &ermes, and -ibyan !mmon to @e)s%
b% !riadne, beloved irst by These)s, and then by ?ionys)s, bore many amo)s #hildren%
.atre)s, who s)##eeded Minos on the throne, was killed in Rhodes by his own son% "haedra
married These)s and won notoriety or her )nort)nate love7aair with &i((olyt)s, her
ste(son% !#a#allis was !(olloAs irst love2 when he and his sister !rtemis #ame or
()rii#ation to Tarrha, rom !e*ialae on the mainland, he o)nd !#a#allis at the ho)se o
.armanor, a maternal relative, and sed)#ed her% Minos was ve:ed, and banished !#a#allis to
-ibya where, some say, she be#ame the mother o Garamas, tho)*h others #laim that he was
the irst man ever to be born%
#% Gla)#)s, while still a #hild, was (layin* ball one day in the (ala#e at .noss)s or, (erha(s,
#hasin* a mo)se, when he s)ddenly disa((eared% Minos and "asi(haB sear#hed hi*h and low
b)t, bein* )nable to ind him, had re#o)rse to the ?el(hi# ;ra#le% They were inormed that
whoever #o)ld *ive the best simile or a re#ent (ortento)s birth in .rete wo)ld ind what was
lost% Minos made enE)iries and learned that a heier7#al had been born amon* his herds
whi#h #han*ed its #olo)r thri#e a dayJrom white to red, and rom red to bla#k% &e
s)mmoned his soothsayers to the (ala#e, b)t none #o)ld think o a simile )ntil "olyeid)s the
!r*ive, a des#endant o Melam()s, said1 IThis #al resembles nothin* so m)#h as a ri(enin*
bla#kberry Wor m)lberryX%A Minos at on#e #ommanded him to *o in sear#h o Gla)#)s%
d% "olyeid)s wandered thro)*h the labyrinthine (ala#e, )ntil he #ame )(on an owl sittin* at
the entran#e to a #ellar, ri*htenin* away a swarm o bees, and took this or an omen% 4elow
in the #ellar he o)nd a *reat Har )sed or the storin* o honey, and Gla)#)s drowned in it,
head downwards% Minos, when this dis#overy was re(orted to him, #ons)lted with the
.)retes, and ollowed their advi#e by tellin* "olyeid)s1 I3ow that yo) have o)nd my sonAs
body, yo) m)st restore him to liePA "olyeid)s (rotested that, not bein* !s#le(i)s, he was
in#a(able o raisin* the dead% I!h, $ know better,A re(lied Minos% IDo) will be lo#ked in a
tomb with Gla)#)sAs body and a sword, and there yo) will remain )ntil my orders have been
obeyedPA
e% When "olyeid)s *rew a##)stomed to the darkness o the tomb he saw a ser(ent
a((roa#hin* the boyAs #or(se and, sei8in* his sword, killed it% "resently another ser(ent,
*lidin* )(, and indin* that its mate was dead, retired, b)t #ame ba#k shortly with a ma*i#
herb in its mo)th, whi#h it laid on the dead body% +lowly the ser(ent #ame to lie a*ain%
"olyeid)s was asto)nded, b)t had the (resen#e o mind to a((ly the same herb to the body o
Gla)#)s, and with the same ha((y res)lt% &e and Gla)#)s then sho)ted lo)dly or hel(, )ntil
a (asser7by heard them and ran to s)mmon Minos, who was overHoyed when he o(ened the
tomb and o)nd his son alive% &e loaded "olyeid)s with *its, b)t wo)ld not let him ret)rn to
!r*os )ntil he had ta)*ht Gla)#)s the art o divination% "olyeid)s )nwillin*ly obeyed, and
when he was abo)t to sail home, told Gla)#)s1 I4oy, s(it into my o(en mo)thPA Gla)#)s did
so, and immediately or*ot all that he had learned%
*% -ater, Gla)#)s led an e:(edition westward, and demanded a kin*dom rom the $talians2 b)t
they des(ised him or ailin* to be so *reat a man as his ather2 however, he introd)#ed the
.retan military *irdle and shield into $taly, and th)s earned the name -abi#)s, whi#h means
I*irdledA%
h% !ndro*e)s visited !thens, and won every #ontest in the !ll7!thenian Games% 4)t Gin*
!e*e)s knew o his riendshi( or the ity rebellio)s sons o "allas and earin* that he mi*ht
(ers)ade his ather Minos to s)((ort these in an o(en revolt, #ons(ired with the Me*areans to
have him amb)shed at ;enoB on the way to Thebes, where he was abo)t to #om(ete in
#ertain )neral *ames% !ndro*e)s deended himsel with #o)ra*e, and a ier#e battle ens)ed
in whi#h he was killed%
i% 3ews o !ndro*e)sAs death rea#hed Minos while he was sa#rii#in* to the Gra#es on the
island o "aros% &e threw down the *arlands and #ommanded the l)te7(layers to #ease, b)t
#om(leted the #eremony2 to this day they sa#rii#e to the Gra#es o "aros witho)t either
m)si# or lowers%
H% Gla)#)s son o Minos has sometimes been #on)sed with !nthedonian Gla)#)s, son o
!nthedon, or o "oseidon, who on#e observed the restorative (ro(erty o a #ertain *rass,
sown by .ron)s in the Golden !*e, when a dead ish 5or, some say, a hare6 was laid )(on it
and #ame to lie a*ain% &e tasted the herb and, be#omin* immortal, lea(ed into the sea, where
he is now a marine *od, amo)s or his amoro)s advent)res% &is )nderwater home lies o
the #oast o ?elos, and every year he visits all the (orts and islands o Gree#e, iss)in* ora#les
m)#h (ri8ed by sailors and ishermen7!(ollo himsel is des#ribed as Gla)#)sAs ()(il%
1% "asi(haB as the Moon has been #redited with n)mero)s sons1 .ydon, the e(onymo)s hero
o .ydon near Te*ea, and o the .ydonian #olony in .rete2 Gla)#)s, a .orinthian sea7hero2
!ndro*e)s, in whose hono)r ann)al *ames were #elebrated at .erami#)s, and whom the
!thenians worshi((ed as I,)ry*yesA 5Ibroad7#ir#lin*A6, to show that he was a s(irit o the
solar year 5&esy#hi)s s)b !ndro*e)s62 !mmon, the ora#)lar hero o the !mmon ;asis, later
eE)ated with @e)s2 and .atre)s, whose name seems to be a mas#)line orm o .atarrhoa, the
Moon as rain7maker% &er da)*hters !riadne and "haedra are re(rod)#tions o hersel2
!riadne, tho)*h read as aria*ne, Imost ()reA, a((ears to be a +)merian name, !r7ri7an7de,
Ihi*h r)it)l mother o the barleyA, and "haedra o##)rs in +o)th "alestinian ins#ri(tions as
"an%
0% The myth o !#a#allis 5I)nwalledA6 a((arently re#ords the #a(t)re, by invadin* &ellenes
rom !e*ialae, o the West .retan #ity o Tarrha whi#h, like other .retan #ities, was
)nwalled2 and the li*ht o the leadin* inhabitants to -ibya, where they be#ame the r)lers o
the )nwarlike Garamantians%
<% White, red, and bla#k, the #olo)rs o MinosAs heier, were also those o $o the Moon7#ow2
those o !)*eiasAs sa#red b)lls2 and on a .aeretan vase those o the Minos b)ll whi#h #arried
o ,)ro(e% Moreover, #lay or (laster tri(ods sa#red to the .retan *oddess o)nd at 3ino)
Ghani, and a similar tri(od o)nd at My#enae, were (ainted in white, red, and bla#k2 and
a##ordin* to .tesiasAs $ndi#a, these were the #olo)rs o the )ni#ornAs hornJthe )ni#orn, as a
#alendar symbol, re(resented the Moon7*oddessAs dominion over the ive seasons o the
;sirian year, ea#h o whi#h #ontrib)ted (art o an animal to its #om(osition% That Gla)#)s
was #hasin* a mo)se may (oint to a #onli#t between the !thenian worshi((ers o !thene,
who had an owl 5*la):6 or her amiliar, and the worshi((ers o !(ollo +minthe)s 5IMo)se
!(olloA62 or the ori*inal story may have been that Minos *ave him a mo)se #oated with
honey to swallowJa des(erate remedy (res#ribed or si#k #hildren in the an#ient ,astern
Mediterranean% &is manner o death may also reer to the )se o honey as an embalmin* l)id
Jmany Har7b)rials o #hildren o##)r in .retan ho)sesJand the owl was a bird o death% The
bees are (erha(s e:(lained by a misreadin* o #ertain #)t *ems 5Weiseler6, whi#h showed
&ermes s)mmonin* the dead rom b)rial Hars, while their so)ls hovered above in the orm o
bees%
=% "olyeid)s is both the sha(e7shitin* @a*re)s and the demi7*od !s#le(i)s, whose
re*enerative herb seems to have been mistletoe, or its ,astern7,)ro(ean #o)nter(art, the
loranth)s% The 4abylonian le*end o Gil*amesh (rovides a (arallel to the ser(entAs
revivii#ation% &is herb o eternal lie is stolen rom him by a ser(ent, whi#h there)(on #asts
its slo)*h and *rows yo)n* a*ain2 Gil*amesh, )nable to re#over the herb, resi*ns himsel to
death% $t is des#ribed as resemblin* b)#kthorn1 a (lant whi#h the Greeks took as a ()r*e
beore (erormin* their Mysteries%
5% Gla)#)sAs s(ittin* into the o(en mo)th o "olyeid)s re#alls a similar a#tion o !(ollo when
.assandra ailed to (ay him or the *it o (ro(he#y2 in .assandraAs #ase, however, the res)lt
was not that she lost the *it, b)t that no one believed her%
6% The *oddesses to whom Minos sa#rii#ed witho)t the #)stomary l)tes or lowers, when he
heard that his son had died, were the "ariae, or !n#ient ;nes, (res)mably the Three 'ates,
e)(hemisti#ally #alled the IGra#esA% Myth has here broken down into street7#orner ane#dote%
!ndro*e)sAs death is a devi#e )sed to a##o)nt or the .retan E)arrel with !thens, based,
(erha(s, on some irrelevant tradition o a m)rder done at ;enoB%
>% !nthedonian Gla)#)sAs ora#)lar *its, his name, and his love7aairs, one o whi#h was
with +#ylla s)**est that he was a (ersonii#ation o .retan sea7(ower% 4oth Minos 5who
re#eived his ora#les rom @e)s6 and "oseidon, (atron o the .retan #onedera#y, had enHoyed
+#ylla2 and !nthedon 5IreHoi#in* in lowersA6 was a((arently a title o the .retan +(rin*7
lower hero in#arnate in every late Minoan kin*% The Gin* o .noss)s seems to have been
#onne#ted by sa#red marria*es with all member states o his #onedera#y2 hen#e Gla)#)sAs
amatory re()tation% $t is (robable that a re(resentative rom .noss)s made an ann)al (ro*ress
aro)nd the .retan overseas de(enden#ies in the style o Talos, *ivin* o)t the latest ora#)lar
edi#ts% ?elos was a .retan island and (erha(s a distrib)tion #entre or ora#les bro)*ht rom
the ?i#taean .ave at .noss)s% 4)t this Gla)#)s also resembles "rote)s, the ora#)lar sea7*od
o .retan "haros, and Meli#ertes the sea7*od o .orinth, identiied with another Gla)#)s%
.ron)sAs *rass o the Golden !*e may have been the ma*i#al herbe dAor o the ?r)ids%
8% ! version o the Gla)#)s myth is E)oted rom the -ydian historian Zanth)s by "liny
53at)ral &istory6 and 3onn)s 5?ionysiaea6, and #ommemorated on a series o #oins rom
+ardis% When the hero Tylon, or Tyl)s 5IknotA or I(hall)sA6, was atally bitten in the heel by a
(oisono)s ser(ent, his sister Moera 5IateA6 a((ealed to the *iant ?amasen 5Is)bd)erA6, who
aven*ed him% !nother ser(ent then et#hed Ithe lower o @e)sA rom the woods, and laid it
on the li(s o its dead mate, whi#h #ame to lie a*ain2 Moera ollowed this e:am(le and
similarly restored Tyl)s%
+#ylla !nd 3is)s
M$3;+ was the irst kin* to #ontrol the Mediterranean +ea, whi#h he #leared o (irates, and
in .rete r)led over ninety #ities% When the !thenians had m)rdered his son !ndro*e)s, he
de#ided to take ven*ean#e on them, and sailed aro)nd the !e*ean #olle#tin* shi(s and armed
levies% +ome islanders a*reed to hel( him, some re)sed% +i(hnos yielded to him by the
"rin#ess !rne, whom he bribed with *old2 the *ods #han*ed her into a Ha#kdaw whi#h loves
*old and all thin*s that *litter% &e made an allian#e with the (eo(le o !na(he, b)t reb)ed
by Gin* !ea#)s o !e*ina and de(arted, swearin* reven*e% !ea#)s then answered an a((eal
rom .e(hal)s to Hoin the !thenians a*ainst Minos%
b% Meanwhile, Minos was (artyin* the $sthm)s o .orinth% &e laid sie*e to 3isa, r)led by
3is)s the ,*y(tian, who had a da)*hter name +#ylla% ! tower stood in the #ity, b)ilt by
!(ollo Wand "oseidonKX, an at its oot lay a m)si#al stone whi#h, i (ebbles were dro((ed
)(on rom above, ran* like a lyreJ be#a)se !(ollo had on#e rested his lyre there while he
was workin* as a mason% +#ylla )sed to s(end m)#h time at the to( o the tower, (layin*
t)nes on the stone with a la()l (ebbles2 and here she #limbed daily when the war be*an, to
wat#h
#% The sie*e o 3isa was (rotra#ted, and +#ylla soon #ame to know the name o every .retan
warrior% +tr)#k by the bea)ty o Minos, and by his ma*nii#ent #lothes and white #har*er, she
ell (erversely in love with him% +ome say that !(hrodite willed it so2 others blame &era%
d% ;ne ni*ht +#ylla #re(t into her atherAs #hamber, and #)t o the amo)s bri*ht lo#k on
whi#h his lie and throne de(ended2 then, takin* rom him the keys o the #ity *ate, she
o(ened it, and stole o)t% +he made strai*ht or MinosAs tent, and oered him the lo#k o hair
in e:#han*e or his love% I$t is a bar*ainPA #ried Minos2 and that same ni*ht, havin* entered
the #ity and sa#ked it, he d)ly lay with +#ylla2 b)t wo)ld not take her to .rete, be#a)se he
loathed the #rime o (arri#ide% +#ylla, however, swam ater his shi(, and #l)n* to the stem
)ntil her ather 3is)sAs so)l in the orm o a sea7ea*le swoo(ed
down )(on her with talons and hooked beak% The terriied +#ylla let *o and was drowned2 her
so)l lew o as a #irr)s7bird, whi#h is well known or its ()r(le breast and red le*s% 4)t some
say that Minos *ave orders or +#ylla to be drowned2 and others that her so)l be#ame the ish
#irr)s, not the bird o that name%
e% 3isa was aterwards #alled Me*ara, in hono)r o Me*are)s, a son o ;eno(e by
&i((omenes2 he had been 3is)sAs ally and married his da)*hter $(hinoB, and is said to have
s)##eeded him on the throne%
% This war dra**ed on )ntil Minos, indin* that he #o)ld not s)bd)e !thens, (rayed @e)s to
aven*e !ndro*e)sAs death2 and the whole o Gree#e was #onseE)ently ali#ted with
earthE)akes and amine% The kin*s o the vario)s #ity states assembled at ?el(hi to #ons)lt
the ;ra#le, and were instr)#ted to make !ea#)s oer )( (rayers on their behal% When this
had been done, the earthE)akes everywhere #eased, e:#e(t in !tti#a%
*% The !thenians there)(on so)*ht to redeem themselves rom the #)rse by sa#rii#in* to
"erse(hone the da)*hters o &ya#inth)s, namely !ntheis, !e*leis, -y#taea, and ;rthaea, on
the *rave o the .y#lo(s Geraest)s% These *irls had #ome to !thens rom +(arta% Det the
earthE)akes #ontin)ed and, when the !thenians a*ain #ons)lted the ?el(hi# ;ra#le, they
were told to *ive Minos whatever satisa#tion he mi*ht ask2 whi#h (roved to be a trib)te o
seven yo)ths and seven maidens, sent every nine years to .rete as a (rey or the Minota)r%
h% Minos then ret)rned to .noss)s, where he sa#rii#ed a he#atomb o b)lls in *ratit)de or
his s)##ess2 b)t his end #ame in the ninth year%
1% The histori#al settin* o the +#ylla myth is a((arently a dis()te between the !thenians and
their .retan overlords not lon* beore the sa#k o .noss)s in 1=00 4.% The myth itsel,
almost e:a#tly re(eated in the Ta(hian story o "terela)s and .omaetho, re#alls those o
+amson and ?elilah in "hilistia2 .)roi, 4lathnat, and .)#h)lain in $reland2 -lew -law,
4lode)wedd, and Gronw in Wales1 all variations on a sin*le (attern% $t #on#erns the rivalry
between the sa#red kin* and his tanist or the avo)r o the Moon7*oddess who, at
mids)mmer, #)ts o the kin*As hair and betrays him% The kin*As stren*th resides in his hair,
be#a)se he re(resents the +)n2 and his lon* yellow lo#ks are #om(ared to its rays% ?elilah
shears +amsonAs hair beore #allin* in the "hilistines2 4lathnat ties .)roiAs to a bed7(ost
beore s)mmonin* her lover .)#h)lain to kill him2 4lode)wedd ties -lew -lawAs to a tree
beore s)mmonin* her lover Gronw% -lew -lawAs so)l takes the orm o an ea*le, and
4lode)wedd 5Iair lower as(e#tA6, a woman ma*i#ally made o nine dierent lowers is
metamor(hosed into an owlJas +#ylla (erha(s also was in the ori*inal Greek le*end% !
#ollation o these ive myths shows that +#ylla7.omaetho74lode)wedd74lathnat7?elilah is
the Moon7*oddess in her s(rin* and s)mmer as(e#t as !(hrodite .omaetho 5Ibri*ht7hairedA62
it the a)t)mn she t)rns into an owl, or a #irr)s, and be#omes the ?eath *oddess !theneJwho
had many bird7e(i(hanies, in#l)din* the owlJor &era, or &e#ate% &er name +#ylla indi#ates
that the kin* was torn to (ie#es ater his head had been shaven% !s in the myth o -lew -law,
the ()nishment s)bseE)ently inli#ted on the traitress is a later moral addition%
0% ;vid 5!rt o -ove6 identiies this +#ylla with a namesake whom !m(hitrite t)rned into a
do*7monster be#a)se "oseidon had sed)#ed her, and says that she harbo)red wild do*s in her
womb and loins as a ()nishment or #)ttin* o 3is)sAs lo#k% ;vid is rarely mistaken in his
mytholo*y, and he may here be re#ordin* a le*end that "asi(haBAs #)rse )(on Minos made
him ill +#yllaAs womb with ()((ies, rather than with ser(ents, s#or(ions, and milli(edes%
"asi(haB and !m(hitrite are the same Moon7and7+ea7*oddess, and Minos, as the r)ler o the
Mediterranean, be#ame identiied with "oseidon%
<% The sa#rii#e o the da)*hters o &ya#inth)s on Geraest)sAs tomb may reer to the I*ardens
o !donisA (lanted in hono)r o the doomed kin*Jbein* #)t lowers, they withered in a ew
ho)rs% 4)t Geraest)s was one o (re7!#haean .y#lo(s, and a##ordin* to the ,tymolo*i#)m
Ma*n)m, his da)*hters n)rsed the inant @e)s at Gortys2 moreover, Geraestion was a #ity in
!r#adia where Rhea swaddled @e)s% The &ya#inthides, then, were (robably the n)rses, not
the da)*hters, o &ya#inth)s1 (riestesses o !rtemis who, at .nid)s, bore the title
I&ya#inthotro(hosA 5In)rse o &ya#inth)sA6, and identiiable with the Geraestides, sin#e the
ann)ally dyin* .retan @e)s was indistin*)ishable rom &ya#inth)s% "erha(s, thereore, the
myth #on#erns o)r dolls h)n* rom a blossomin* r)it7tree, to a#e the #ardinal (oints o the
#om(ass2 in a r)#tiyin* #eremony o the I&an*ed !rtemisA%
=% The seven !thenian yo)ths dedi#ated to the Minota)r were (robably s)rro*ates sa#rii#ed
ann)ally in (la#e o the .nossian kin*% $t will have been o)nd #onvenient to )se orei*n
vi#tims, rather than native .retans2 as ha((ened with the .anaanite rit)al o .r)#ii:ion or
whi#h, in the end, #a(tives and #riminals s)i#ed as Tamm)8As s)rro*ates% I,very ninth yearA
means Iat the end o every Great Dear o one h)ndred l)nationsA% !ter seven boys had been
sa#rii#ed or the sa#red kin*, he himsel died% The seven !thenian maidens were not
sa#rii#ed2 they be#ame attendants on the Moon7(riestess, and (erormed b)ll7i*hts, s)#h as
are shown in .retan works o art1 a dan*ero)s b)t not ne#essarily atal s(ort%
5% ! set o m)si#al stones may have e:isted at Me*ara on the model o a :ylo(hone2 it wo)ld
not have been dii#)lt to #onstr)#t% 4)t (erha(s there is a re#olle#tion here o MemnonAs
sin*in* stat)e in ,*y(t1 hollow, with an orii#e at the ba#k o the o(en mo)th, thro)*h whi#h
the hot air was *ettin* o)t at dawn when the s)n warmed the stone%
?!,?!-/+ !3? T!-;+
a% The (arenta*e o ?aedal)s is dis()ted% &is mother is named !l#i((e by some2 by others,
Mero(e2 by still others, $(hinoB2 and all *ive him a dierent ather, tho)*h it is *enerally
a*reed that he belon*ed to the royal ho)se o !thens, whi#h #laimed des#ent rom
,re#hthe)s% &e was a wonder)l smith, havin* been instr)#ted in his art by !thene hersel%
b% ;ne o his a((renti#es, Talos the son o his sister "oly#aste, or "erdi:, had already
s)r(assed him in #ratsmanshi( while only twelve years old% Talos ha((ened one day to (i#k
)( the Hawbone o a ser(ent or, some say, o a ishAs s(ine2 and, indin* that he #o)ld )se it to
#)t a sti#k in hal, #o(ied it in iron and thereby invented the saw% This, and other inventions o
his s)#h as the (otterAs wheel, and the #om(ass or markin* o)t #ir#les se#)red him a
*reat re()tation at !thens, and ?aedal)s, who #laimed himsel to have or*ed the irst saw,
soon *rew )nbearably Healo)s% -eadin* Talos )( to the roo o !theneAs tem(le on the
!#ro(olis, he (ointed o)t #ertain distant si*hts, and s)ddenly to((led him over the ed*e% Det,
or all his Healo)sy, he wo)ld have done Talos no harm had he not s)s(e#ted him o
in#est)o)s relations with his mother "oly#aste% ?aedal)s then h)rried down to the oot o the
!#ro(olis, and thr)st TalosAs #or(se into a ba*, (ro(osin* to b)ry it se#retly% When
#hallen*ed by (assersJby, he e:(lained that he had (io)sly taken )( a dead ser(ent, as the
law reE)ired whi#h was not alto*ether )ntr)e, Talos bein* an ,re#htheid b)t there were
bloodstains on the ba*, and his #rime did not es#a(e dete#tion, where)(on the !reio(a*)s
banished him or m)rder% !##ordin* to another a##o)nt he led beore the trial #o)ld take
(la#e%
#% 3ow, the so)l o Talos whom some #all .al)s, .ir#in)s, or Tantal)s lew o in the
orm o a (artrid*e, b)t his body was b)ried where it had allen% "oly#aste han*ed hersel
when she heard o his death, and the !thenians b)ilt a san#t)ary in her hono)r beside the
!#ro(olis%
d% ?aedal)s took re)*e in one o the !tti# demes, whose (eo(le are named ?aedalids ater
him2 and then in .retan .noss)s, where Gin* Minos deli*hted to wel#ome so skilled a
#ratsman% &e lived there or some time, at (ea#e and in hi*h avo)r, )ntil Minos, learnin*
that he had hel(ed "asi(haB to #o)(le with "oseidonAs white b)ll, lo#ked him )( or a while
in the -abyrinth, to*ether with his son $#ar)s, whose mother, 3a)#rate, was one o MinosAs
slaves2 b)t "asi(haB reed them both%
e% $t was not easy, however, to es#a(e rom .rete, sin#e Minos ke(t all his shi(s )nder
military *)ard, and now oered a lar*e reward or his a((rehension% 4)t ?aedal)s made a
(air o win*s or himsel, and another or $#ar)s, the E)ill eathers o whi#h were threaded
to*ether, b)t the smaller ones held in (la#e by wa:% &avin* tied on $#ar)sAs (air or him, he
said with tears in his eyes1 IMy son, be warnedP 3either soar too hi*h, lest the s)n melt the
wa:2 nor swoo( too low, lest the eathers be wetted by the sea%A Then he sli((ed his arms into
his own (air o win*s and they lew o% I'ollow me #losely,A he #ried, Ido not set yo)r own
#o)rsePA
% They had let 3a:os, ?elos, and "aros behind them on the let hand, and were leavin*
-ebynthos and .alymne behind on the ri*ht, when $#ar)s disobeyed his atherAs instr)#tions
and be*an soarin* towards the s)n, reHoi#ed by the lit o his *reat swee(in* win*s% "resently,
when ?aedal)s looked over his sho)lder, he #o)ld no lon*er see $#ar)s2 b)t s#attered eathers
loated on the waves below% The heat o the s)n had melted the wa:, and $#ar)s had allen
into the sea and drowned% ?aedal)s #ir#led aro)nd, )ntil the #or(se rose to the s)ra#e, and
then #arried it to the nearJby island now #alled $#aria, where he b)ried it% ! (artrid*e sat
(er#hed on a holmJoak and wat#hed him, #hatterin* or deli*ht the so)l o his sister
"oly#aste, at last aven*ed% This island has now *iven its name to the s)rro)ndin* sea%
*% 4)t some, disbelievin* the story, say that ?aedal)s led rom .rete in a boat (rovided by
"asi(haB2 and that, on their way to +i#ily, they were abo)t to disembark at a small island,
when $#ar)s ell into the sea and drowned% They add that it was &era#les who b)ried $#ar)s2
in *ratit)de or whi#h, ?aedal)s made so lielike a stat)e o him at "isa that &era#les mistook
it or a rival and elled it with a stone% ;thers say that ?aedal)s invented sails, not win*s, as a
means o o)tstri((in* MinosAs *alleys2 and that $#ar)s, steerin* #arelessly, was drowned
when their boat #a(si8ed%
h% ?aedal)s lew westward )ntil, ali*htin* at .)mae near 3a(les, he dedi#ated his win*s to
!(ollo there, and b)ilt him a *oldenJrooed tem(le% !terwards, he visited .ami#)s in
+i#ily, where he was hos(itably re#eived by Gin* .o#al)s, and lived amon* the +i#ilians,
enHoyin* *reat ame and ere#tin* many ine b)ildin*s%
i% Meanwhile, Minos had raised a #onsiderable leet, and set o)t in sear#h o ?aedal)s% &e
bro)*ht with him a Triton shell, and wherever he went (romised to reward anyone who #o)ld
(ass a linen thread thoro)*h it1 a (roblem whi#h, he knew, ?aedal)s alone wo)ld be able to
solve% !rrived at .ami#)s, he oered the shell to .o#al)s, who )ndertook to have it threaded2
and, s)re eno)*h, ?aedal)s o)nd o)t how to do this% 'astenin* a *ossamer thread to an ant,
he bored a hole at the (oint o the shell and l)red the ant )( the s(irals by smearin* honey on
the ed*es o the hole% Then he tied the linen thread to the other end o the *ossamer and drew
that thro)*h as well% .o#al)s ret)rned the threaded shell, #laimin* the reward, and Minos,
ass)red that he had at last o)nd ?aedal)sAs hidin*J(la#e, demanded his s)rrender% 4)t
.o#al)sAs da)*hters were loth to lose ?aedal)s, who made them s)#h bea)ti)l toys, and with
his hel( they #on#o#ted a (lot% ?aedal)s led a (i(e thro)*h the roo o the bathroom, down
whi#h they (o)red boilin* water or, some say, (it#h )(on Minos, while he l):)riated in a
warm bath% .o#al)s, who may well have been im(li#ated in the (lot, ret)rned the #or(se to
the .retans, sayin* that Minos had st)mbled over a r)* and allen into a #a)ldron o boilin*
water%
H% MinosAs ollowers b)ried him with *reat (om(, and @e)s made him a H)d*e o the dead in
Tartar)s, with his brother Rhadamanthys and his enemy !ea#)s as #ollea*)es% +in#e MinosAs
tomb o##)(ied the #entre o !(hroditeAs tem(le at .ami#)s, he was hono)red there or many
*enerations by *reat #rowds o +i#ilians who #ame to worshi( !(hrodite% $n the end, his
bones were ret)rned to .rete by Theron, the tyrant o !#ra*as%
k% !ter MinosAs death the .retans ell into #om(lete disorder, be#a)se their main leet was
b)rned by the +i#ilians% ; the #rews who were or#ed to remain overseas, some b)ilt the #ity
o Minoa, #lose to the bea#h where they had landed2 others, the #ity o &yria in Messa(ia2
still others, mar#hin* into the #entre o +i#ily, ortiied a hill whi#h be#ame the #ity o
,n*)os, so #alled rom a s(rin* whi#h lows #lose by% There they b)ilt a tem(le o the
Mothers, whom they #ontin)ed to hono)r *reatly, as in their native .rete%
l% 4)t ?aedal)s let +i#ily to Hoin $ola)s, the ne(hew and #harioteer o Tirynthian &era#les,
who led a body o !thenians and Thes(ians to +ardinia% Many o his works s)rvive to this
day in +ardinia2 they are #alled ?aedaleia Wor ?aidalaX%
m% 3ow, Talos was also the name o MinosAs b)ll7headed servant, *iven him by @e)s to *)ard
.rete% +ome say that he s)rvivor o the bra8en ra#e who s(ran* rom the ash7trees2 others,
that he was or*ed by &e(haest)s in +ardinia, and that he had only one vein, whi#h ran rom
his ne#k down to his ankles, where it was sto((ered by a bron8e (in% $t was his task to r)n
thri#e daily aro)nd the island o .rete and throw ro#ks at any orei*n shi(2 and also to *o
thri#e a year at a more leis)rely (a#e, thro)*h the villa*es o .rete, anno)n#in* MinosAs laws
ins#ribed on bra8en tablets% When the +ardinians tried to invade the island, Talos made
himsel red7hot in a ire and destroyed them in his b)rnin* embra#e, *rinnin* ier#ely2 hen#e
the e:(ression I+ardoni# *rinA% $n the end, Medea killed Talos by ()llin* o)t the vein and
lettin* his lie7blood es#a(e2 tho)*h some say that "oeas the transi:ed him with a (oisoned
arrow%
1% &e(haest)s is sometimes des#ribed as &eraAs son by Talos, and Talos as ?aedal)sAs yo)n*
ne(hew2 b)t ?aedal)s was a H)nior member o &o)se o ,re#hthe)s, whi#h was o)nded lon*
ater the birth o &e(haest)s% +)#h #hronolo*i#al dis#re(an#ies are the r)le in mytholo*y%
?aedal)s ^Ibri*htA or I#)nnin*ly wro)*htA6, Talos 5Is)ererA6, and &e(haest)s 5Ihe who
shines by dayA6, are shown by the similarity o attrib)tes to be merely dierent titles o the
same mythi#al #hara#ter% $#ar)s 5rom io7#arios, Idedi#ated to the Moon7*oddess .arA6 may
yet be another o his titles% 'or &e(haest)s the smith7*od married to !(hrodite, to whom the
(artrid*e was sa#red2 the sister o ?aedal)s the smith is #alled "erdi: 5I(artrid*eA62 the so)l
o Talos the smith lies o as a (artrid*e2 a (artrid*e a((eared at the b)rial o ?aedal)sAs son
$#ar)s% 4esides, &e(haest)s was l)n* rom ;lym()s2 Talos was l)n* rom the !#ro(olis%
&e(haest)s hobbled when he walked1 one o TalosAs names was Tantal)s 5Ihobblin*, or
l)r#hin*A62 a #o#k7(artrid*e hobbles in his love7dan#e, holdin* one heel ready to strike at
rivals% Moreover, the -atin *od C)l#an hobbled% &is #)lt had been introd)#ed rom .rete,
where he was #alled Cel#han)s and had a #o#k or his emblem, be#a)se the #o#k #rows at
dawn and was thereore a((ro(riate to a +)n7hero% 4)t the #o#k did not rea#h .rete )ntil the
si:th #ent)ry 4. and is likely to have dis(la#ed the (artrid*e as Cel#han)sAs bird%
0% $t seems that in the s(rin* an eroti# (artrid*e dan#e was (erormed in hono)r o the Moon7
*oddess, and that the male dan#ers hobbled and wore win*s% $n "alestine this #eremony,
#alled the "esa#h 5Ithe hobblin*A6 was, a##ordin* to 9erome, still (erormed at 4eth7&o*lah
5Ithe +hrine the &obblerA6, where the devotees dan#ed in a s(iral% 4eth7&o*lah is identiied
with Ithe threshin*7loor o !tadA, on whi#h mo)rnin* was made or the lame Gin* 9a#ob,
whose name may mean 9ah !#eb 5Ithe heel7*odA6% 9eremiah warns the 9ews not to take (art in
those or*iasti# .anaanite rites, E)otin*1 IThe (artrid*e *athereth yo)n* that she have not
bro)*ht orth%A !na(he, an island sit)ated to the north o .rete, with whi#h Minos made a
treaty, was amo)s in
antiE)ity as a restin*7(la#e or mi*rant (artrid*es%
<% The myth o ?aedal)s and Talos, like its variant, the myth ?aedal)s and $#ar)s, seems to
#ombine the rit)al o b)rnin* the solar kin*As s)rro*ate, who had ()t on ea*leAs win*s, in the
s(rin* bonireJwhen the "alestinian 3ew Dear be*anJwith the rit)als lin*in* the
(artrid*e7win*ed (harma#os, a similar s)rro*ate, over a ro#k into the sea, and o (ri#kin* the
kin* in the heel with a (oisoned arrow% 4)t the ishermenAs and (easantsA admiration o lyin*
?aedal)s is (robably borrowed rom an i#on o the win*ed "erse)s or Mard)k%
=% $n one sense the labyrinth rom whi#h ?aedal)s and $#ar)s es#a(ed was the mosai# loor
with the ma8e (attern, whi#h they had to ollow in the rit)al (artrid*e dan#e2 b)t ?aedal)sAs
es#a(e to +i#ily, .)mae, and +ardinia reers (erha(s to the li*ht o the native bron8e workers
rom .rete as the res)lt o s)##essive &elleni# invasions% ! r)se o the Triton shell, and
MinosAs b)rial in a shrine o !(hrodite to whom this shell was sa#red, s)**est that Minos
was also, in #onte:t, re*arded as &e(haest)s, the +ea7*oddessAs lover% &is death in bath is an
in#ident that has a((arently be#ome deta#hed rom the myth o 3is)s and +#ylla2 3is)sAs
.elti# #o)nter(art, -lew -law was killed in a bath by a tri#k2 and so was another sa#red Gin*,
!*amemnon o My#enae%
%5% The name 3a)#rate 5Isea7(owerA6 re#ords the histori#al #onseE)en#es o MinosAs deeat in
+i#ilyJthe (assin* o sea7(ower rom r)lin* .retan into Greek bands% That she was one o
MinosAs slaves s)**ests a (ala#e revol)tion o &elleni# mer#enaries at .noss)s%
6% $ "oly#aste, the other name o TalosAs mother "erdi:, means (oly#assitere, Im)#h tinA, it
belon*s to the myth o the bron8e man, TalosAs namesake% .retan s)(rema#y de(ended
lar*ely on (lenti)l s)((lies o tin, to mi: with .y(rian #o((er2 a##ordin* to "roessor
.hristo(her &awkes, the nearest so)r#e was the island o Mallor#a%
>% Talos is said by &esy#hi)s to be a name or the +)n2 ori*inally, thereore, Talos will have
#o)rsed only on#e a day aro)nd .rete% "erha(s, however, the harbo)rs o .rete were *)arded
a*ainst (irates by three #or(s o wat#hes whi#h sent o)t (atrols% !nd sin#e Talos the +)n was
also #alled Ta)r)s 5Ithe b)llA6, his thri#e7yearly visit to the villa*es was (robably a royal
(ro*ress o the +)n7kin*, wearin* his rit)al b)ll7maskJthe .retan year bein* divided into
three seasons% TalosAs red7hot embra#e may re#ord the h)man b)rnt sa#rii#es oered to
Molo#h, alias Melkarth, who was worshi((ed in .orinth as Meli#ertes, and (robably also
known in .rete% +in#e this Talos #ame rom +ardinia, where ?aedal)s was said to have led
when ()rs)ed by Minos, and was at the same time @e)sAs *it to Minos, the mytho*ra(hers
have sim(liied the story by *ivin* &e(haest)s, rather than ?aedal)s, #redit or its
#onstr)#tion2 &e(haest)s and ?aedal)s bein* the same #hara#ter% The sardoni#)s ris)s, or
ri#t)s, stienin* o the a#ial m)s#les, sym(tomati# o lo#kHaw, was (erha(s so #alled
be#a)se the sta*7man o early +ardinian bron8es wears the same *a(in* *rin%
8% TalosAs sin*le vein belon*s to the mystery o early bron8e #astin* by the #ire7(erd)e
method% 'irst, the smith made a beeswa: ima*e whi#h he #overed with a layer o #lay, and
laid in an oven% !s soon as the #lay had been well baked he (ier#ed the s(ot between heel and
ankle, so that the wa: ran o)t and det a mo)ld, into whi#h molten bron8e #o)ld be (o)red%
When he had illed this, and the metal inside had #ooled, he broke the #lay, leavin* a bron8e
ima*e o the same sha(e as the ori*inal wa: one% The .retans bro)*ht the #ire7(erd)e method
to +ardinia, to*ether with ?aedal)s #)lt% +in#e ?aedal)s learned his #rat rom !thene, who
was known as Medea at .orinth, the story o TalosAs death may have been a misreadin* o an
i#on whi#h showed !thene demonstratin* the #ire7(erd)e method% The tradition that melted
wa: #a)sed $#ar)sAs death seems to be reerrin* rather, to the myth o his #o)sin Talos2
be#a)se Talos the bron8e7man is #losely #onne#ted with his namesake, the worker in _bron8e
and the re()ted inventor o #om(asses%
9% .om(asses are (art o the bron8e7workerAs mystery, essential or a##)rate drawin* o
#on#entri# #ir#les when bowls, helmets, or masks have to be beaten o)t% &en#e Talos was
known as .ir#in)s, Ithe #ir#)larA, a title whi#h reerred both to the #o)rse o the s)n and to
the )se o #om(ass% &is invention o the saw has been ri*htly em(hasi8ed2 the .retans had
)sed do)ble7toothed t)rnin*7saws or ree workers whi#h they )sed with marvello)s
de:terity% Talos is the son o an ash nym(h, be#a)se ash7#har#oal yields a very hi*h heat or
smeltin*% This myth sheds li*ht also on "romethe)sAs #reation o man rom #lay, in &ebrew
le*end "romethe)sAs (art was (layed by the !r#han*el Mi#hael who worked )nder the eye o
9ehovah%
10% "oeasAs shootin* o Talos re#alls "arisAs shootin* o !#hilles in the heel, and the deaths o
the .enta)rs "hol)s and .heiron% These myths are #losely related% "hol)s and .heiron died
rom &era#lesAs (oisoned arrows% "oeas was the ather o "hilo#tetes and, when &era#les had
been (oisoned by another .enta)r, ordered him to kindle the (yre% !s a res)lt, "hilo#tetes
obtained the same arrows, one o whi#h (oisoned him% "aris then borrowed Thessalian
!(olloAs deadly arrows to kill !#hilles, .heironAs oster7son% 'inally, when "hilo#tetes
aven*ed !#hilles by shootin* "aris, he )sed another rom &era#lesAs E)iver% The Thessalian
sa#red kin* was, it seems, killed by an arrow smeared with vi(er venom, whi#h tanist drove
between his heel and ankle% $n the +anskrit Mahabharata, divine hero Grishna, whom
!le:anderAs Greeks identiied with &era#les was shot in the heel and killed by the h)nter 9ara
who, in some myths a((ears as his brother1 i%e% tanist%
11% $n .elti# myth the labyrinth #ame to mean the royal tomb 5White Goddess62 and that it
also did so amon* the early Greeks is s)**ested by its deinition in the ,tymolo*i#)m
Ma*n)m as Ia mo)ntain #aveA, and by ,)stathi)s 5;n &omerAs ;dyssey6 as Ia s)bterranean
#ave% ,tr)s#an -ars "orsena made one or his tomb 5Carro,6, and there were labyrinths in the
I.y#lo( #avesA, i%e% (re7&elleni#, #aves near 3a)(lia 5+trabo62 on +amos 5"liny62 and on
-emnos 5"liny6% To es#a(e rom the labyrinth, thereore, is to be rein#arnated%
10% !ltho)*h ?aedal)s ranks as an !thenian, be#a)se o the deme named in his hono)r, the
?aedali# #rats were introd)#ed !tti#a rom .rete, not #ontrariwise% The toys that he made
or da)*hters o .o#al)s are likely to have been dolls with movable limbs like those whi#h
(leased "asi(haB and her da)*hter !riadne, and whi#h seem to have been )sed in the !tti#
tree #)lt o ,ri*one% !t any rate, "oly#aste, ?aedal)sAs sister, han*ed hersel, as did two
,ri*one and !riadne hersel%
1<% The Messa(ians o &yria, later /ria, now ;ria, were known in .lassi#al times or their
.retan #)stomsJkiss7#)rl, lower7embroidered robes, do)ble7a:e, and so on2 and (ottery
o)nd there #an be dated ba#k rom 1=00 4%.%, whi#h bears o)t the story%
.atre)s !nd !lthaemenes
.!TR,/+, MinosAs eldest s)rvivin* son, had three da)*hters1 !ero(e, .lymene, and
!(emosyne2 and a son, !lthaemenes% When an ora#le (redi#ted that .atre)s wo)ld be killed
by one o his own #hildren, !lthaemenes and the swit7ooted !(emosyne (io)sly let .rete,
with a lar*e ollowin*, in the ho(e o es#a(in* the #)rse% They landed on the island o
Rhodes, and o)nded the #ity o .rethenia, namin* it in hono)r o their native island%
!lthaemenes aterwards settled at .ameir)s, where he was held in *reat hono)r by the
inhabitants, and raised an altar to @e)s on the near7by Mo)nt !tabyri)s, rom the s)mmit o
whi#h, on #lear days, he #o)ld *ain a distant view o his beloved .rete% !ro)nd this altar he
set bra8en b)lls, whi#h roared alo)d whenever dan*er threatened Rhodes%
b% ;ne day &ermes ell in love with !(emosyne, who reHe#ted his and led rom him% That
evenin* he s)r(rised her near a s(rin*% !*ain she t)rned to lee, b)t he had s(read sli((ery
hides on the one (ath o es#a(e, so that she ell lat on her a#e and he s)##eeded in ravishin*
her% When !(emosyne ret)rned to the (ala#e, and r)e)lly told !lthaemenes o this
misadvent)re, he #ried o)t I-iar and harlotPA and ()t her to death%
#% Meanwhile .atre)s, mistr)stin* !ero(e and .lymene, the other da)*hters, banished them
rom .rete, o whi#h he was now kin*% !ero(e, havin* been sed)#ed by Thyestes the
"elo(id, married "leisthenes, brother o !*amenmon and Menela)s2 and .lymene married
3a)(li)s, the #elebrated navi*ator% !t last, in lonely old a*e and, so ar as he knew, witho)t
an heir to his throne, .atre)s went sear#h o !lthaemenes, whom he loved dearly% -andin*
one ni*ht on Rhodes, he and his #om(anions were mistaken or (irates, and slain by the
.ameiran #owherds% .atre)s tried to e:(lain who he was and why he had #ome, b)t the
barkin* o do*s drowned his voi#e% !lthaemenes #ame rom the (ala#e to beat o the
s)((osed raid and, seein* his ather, killed him with a s(ear% When he learned that the ora#le
had been )lilled ater all, des(ite his lon*, sel7im(osed e:ile, he (rayed to be swallowed )(
by the earth% ! #hasm o(ened a##ordin*ly and he disa((eared, b)t is (aid heroi# hono)rs to
this day%
1% This artii#ial myth, whi#h re#ords a My#enaeo7Minoan o##)(ation o Rhodes in the
iteenth #ent)ry 4., is intended also to a##o)nt or libations (o)red down a #hasm to a
Rhodian hero, as well as or eroti# s(orts in the #o)rse o whi#h women dan#ed on the newly7
layed hide o sa#rii#ial beasts% The termination byrios, or b)riash, o##)rs in the royal title o
the Third 4abylonian ?ynasty, o)nded in 1>50 4.2 and deity o !tabyri)s in .rete, like that
o !tabyri)m 5Mo)nt Tabor6 in "alestine, amo)s or its *olden #al worshi(, was the &ittite
Tes)(, #attle7ownin* +)n7*od% Rhodes irst belon*ed to the +)merian Moon7*oddess ?am7
Gina, or ?anaB, b)t (assed into the (ossession o Tes)(2 and, on the breakdown o the &ittite
,m(ire, was #oloni8ed by Greek7s(eakin* .retans who retained the #)lt, b)t made !tabyri)s
a son o "roet)s 5Iirst manA6 and ,)rynome the .reatri:% $n ?orian times @e)s !tabyri)s
)s)r(ed Tes)(As Rhodian #)lt% The roar o b)lls will have been (rod)#ed by the whirlin* o
rhomboi, or b)ll7roarers, )sed to ri*hten away evil s(irits%
*% !(emosyneAs death at .ameir)s may reer to a br)tal re(ression, by the &ittite rather than
the .retan invaders, o a #olle*e o ;ra#)lar (riestesses at .ameir)s% The three da)*hters o
.atre)s, like the ?anaids, are the amiliar Moon7triad1 !(emosyne bein* the third (erson,
.ameiraAs #o)nter(art% .atre)s a##identally m)rdered by !lthaeamenes, -ai)s a##identally
m)rdered by his son ;edi()s, and ;dysse)s by his son Tele*on)s, will have been a
(rede#essor in sa#red kin*shi( rather than a ather2 b)t the story has been mistold, the son,
not the ather, sho)ld land rom the sea and h)rl the stin*7ray s(ear%
The +ons ; "andion
W&,3 ,re#hthe)s, Gin* o !thens, was killed by "oseidon, his son .e#ro(s, "andor)s,
Metion, and ;rne)s E)arrelled over the s)##ession and Z)th)s, by whose verdi#t .e#ro(s,
the eldest, be#ame kin*, had to leave !tti#a in haste%
b% .e#ro(s, whom Metion and ;rne)s threatened to kill, led irst to Me*ara and then to
,)boea, where "andor)s Hoined him and o)nded a #olony% The throne o !thens ell to
.e#ro(sAs son "andion, whose mother was Metiad)sa, da)*hter o ,)(alam)s% 4)t he did not
retain lon* his (ower, or tho)*h Metion died, his sons by !l#i((e, or $(hinoB, (roved to be
as Healo)s as himsel% These sons were named ?aedal)s, whom some, however, #all his
*randson2 ,)(alam)s, whom others #all his ather2 and +i#yon% +i#yon is also vario)sly
#alled the son o ,re#hthe)s, "elo(s, or Marathon, these *enealo*ies bein* in *reat
#on)sion%
#% When the sons o Metion e:(elled "andion rom !thens he led to the #o)rt o "ylas,
"ylos, or "ylon, a -ele*ian kin* o Me*ara, whose da)*hter "ylia he married% -ater, "ylas
killed his )n#le 4ias and, leavin* "andion to r)le Me*ara, took re)*e in Messenia, where he
o)nded the #ity o "yl)s% ?riven then#e by 3ele)s and the "elas*ians o $ol#)s, he entered
,lis, and there o)nded a se#ond "yl)s% "ylia bore "andion o)r sons at Me*ara1 !e*e)s,
"allas, 3is)s, and -y#)s, tho)*h !e*e)sAs Healo)s brothers s(read the r)mo)r that he was the
bastard son o +#yri)s% "andion never ret)rned to !thens% &e enHoys a hero7shrine in Me*ara,
where his tomb is still shown on the .li o !thene the diver7bird, in (roo that this territory
on#e belon*ed to !thens2 it was dis*)ised as this bird that !thene hid his ather .e#ro(s
)nder her ae*is, and #arried him in saety to Me*ara%
d% !ter "andionAs death his sons mar#hed a*ainst !thens, drove o)t the sons o Metion, and
divided !tti#a into o)r (arts, as their ather instr)#ted them to do% !e*e)s, bein* the eldest,
was awarded the soverei*nty o !thens, while his brothers drew lots or the remainder (arts
kin*dom1 3is)s won Me*ara and the s)rro)ndin* #o)ntry as ar east as .orinth2 -y#)s won
,)boea2 and "allas +o)thern !tti#a, where bred a r)**ed ra#e o *iants%
e% "ylasAs son +#iron, who married one o "andionAs da)*hters, disbarred 3is)sAs #laim to
Me*ara, and !ea#)s, #alled in to H)d*e the dis()te, awarded the kin*shi( to 3is)s and his
des#endants, b)t the #ommandment o its armies to +#iron% $n those days Me*ara was #alled
3isa, and 3is)s also *ave his name to the (ort o 3isaea, whi#h he o)nded% When Minos
killed 3is)s he was b)ried in !thens, where his tomb is still shown behind the -y#e)m% The
Me*arans, however, who do not admit that their #ity was ever #a(t)red by the .retans, #laim
that Me*are)s married 3is)sAs da)*hter $(hinoB and s)##eeded him%
% !e*e)s, like .e#ro(s and "andion, o)nd his lie #onstantly threatened by the (lots o his
kinsmen, amon* them -y#)s, whom is said to have e:iled rom ,)boea% -y#)s took re)*e
with +ar(edon, and *ave his name to -y#ia, ater irst visitin* !(hare)s at !rene, initiatin*
the royal ho)sehold into the Mysteries o the Great Goddess ?emeter and "erse(hone, and
also into those o !tthis, at the antiE)e Messenian #a(ital o !ndania% This !tthis, who *ave
!tti#a its name was one o the three da)*hters o .rana)s, the a)to#hthono)s kin* o !thens
rei*nin* at the time o the ?e)#alonian 'lood% The oak7#o(s at !ndania, where -y#)s
()riied the initiates, still bears his name% &e had been *ranted the (ower o (ro(he#y, and it
was his ora#le whi#h later de#lared that i the Messenians ke(t a #ertain se#ret thin* they
wo)ld one day re#over their (atrimony, b)t i not, they wo)ld oreit it or ever% -y#)s was
reerrin* to an a##o)nt o the Mysteries the Great Goddess en*raved on a sheet o tin, whi#h
the Messenians there)(on b)ried in a bra8en )rn between a yew and a myrtle, on s)mmit o
Mo)nt $thone2 ,(aminondas the Theban event)ally desinterred it when he restored the
Messenians to their ormer *lory%
*% The !thenian -y#e)m is also named in hono)r o -y#)s2 rom very earliest times it has
been sa#red to !(ollo who there irst re#eived the s)rname I-y#aeanA, and e:(elled wolves
rom !thens by the s#ent o his sa#rii#es%
1% Mythi#al *enealo*ies s)#h as these were E)oted whenever the soverei*nty o states or
hereditary (rivile*es #ame into dis()te% The division o Me*ara between the sa#red kin*, who
(erormed ne#essary sa#rii#es, and his tanist, who #ommanded the army, is (aralleled at
+(arta% !e*e)sAs name re#ords the *oat #)lt in !thens, and name o -y#)s the wol #)lt2 any
!thenian who killed a wol was obli*ed to mend it by ()bli# s)bs#ri(tion 5+#holiast on
!(olloni)s Rhodi)s% The diver7bird was sa#red to !thene as (rote#tress o shi(s and, sin#e
the .li o !thene overh)n* the sea, this may have been another o the #lis rom whi#h her
(riestess la)n#hed the eathered (harma#os% !tthis 5a#tes thea, I*oddess o the r)**ed #oastA6
seems to have been a title o the !tti# Tri(le7*oddess2 her sisters were named .ranaB
5IstonyA6 and .ranae#hme 5Iro#ky (oint62 and, sin#e "ro#ne and "hilomela, when t)rned into
birds, were Hointly #alled !tthis 5Martial6, she is likely to have been #onne#ted with the same
#li7to( rit)al% !tthis, as !thene, has several other bird e(i(hanies in &omer% The Mysteries
o the Great Goddesses, whi#h #on#erned res)rre#tion, had been b)ried between yew and
myrtle be#a)se these stood, res(e#tively, or the last vowel and the last #onsonant o the tree
al(habet, and were sa#red to the ?eath7*oddess%
The 4irth ; These)s
!,G,/+As irst wie was Melite, da)*hter o &o(les2 and his se#ond, .hal#io((e, da)*hter
o Rhe:enor2 b)t neither bore him any #hildren% !s#ribin* this, and the misort)nes o his
sisters "ro#ne and "hilomela, to !(hroditeAs an*er, he introd)#ed her worshi( into !thens,
and then went to #ons)lt the ?el(hi# ;ra#le% The ;ra#le warned him not to )ntie the mo)th
o his b)l*in* wine7skin )ntil he rea#hed the hi*hest (oint o !thens, lest he die one day o
*rie, a res(onse whi#h !e*e)s #o)ld not inter(ret%
b% ;n his way home he #alled at .orinth2 and here Medea made him swear a solemn oath that
he wo)ld shelter her rom all enemies i she ever so)*ht re)*e at !thens, and )ndertook in
ret)rn to (ro#)re him a son by ma*i#% 3e:t, he visited Troe8en, where his old #omrades
"itthe)s and Troe8en, sons o "elo(s, had re#ently #ome rom "isa to share a kin*dom with
Gin* !eti)s% !eti)s was the s)##essor o his ather !nthas, son o "oseidon and !l#yone
who, havin* o)nded the #ities !nthaea and &y(erea, had lately sailed o to o)nd
&ali#arnass in .aria% 4)t !eti)s seems to have enHoyed little (ower, be#a)se "itthe)s, ater
Troe8enAs death, )nited !nthaea and &y(erea into a sin*le #ity, whi#h he dedi#ated Hointly to
!thene and "oseidon, #allin* Troe8en%
#% "itthe)s was the most learned man o his a*e, and one o his most known a(othe*ms on
riendshi(, is oten E)oted1 I4last not the ho(e the riendshi( hath #on#eived2 b)t ill its
meas)re hi*hPA &e o)nded san#t)ary o ;ra#)lar !(ollo at Troe8en, whi#h is the oldest
s)rvivin* shrine in Gree#e2 and also dedi#ated an altar to the Tri(le7*oddess Themis% Three
white marble thrones, now (la#ed above his tomb behind the tem(le o !rtemis the +avio)r,
)sed to serve him and the others as H)d*ement seats% &e also ta)*ht the art o oratory in
M)sesA san#t)ary at Troe8enJwhi#h was o)nded by &e(haest)sAs son !rdal)s, the re()ted
inventor o the l)teJand a treatise on rhetori# by his hand is e:tant%
d% 3ow, while "itthe)s was still livin* at "isa, 4ellero(hon asked to marry his da)*hter
!ethra, b)t had been sent away to .aria in dis*ra#e beore the marria*e #o)ld be #elebrated2
tho)*h still attra#ted to 4ellero(hon, she had little ho(e o his ret)rn% "itthe)s, thereore,
*rievin* at her enor#ed vir*inity, and inl)en#ed by the s(ell whi#h Medea was #astin* on all
o them rom aar, made !e*e)s dr)nk and sent him to bed with !ethra% -ater in the same
ni*ht, "oseidon also enHoyed her% 'or, in obedien#e to a dream sent by !thene, she let the
dr)nken !e*e)s, and waded a#ross to the island o +(haeria, whi#h lies #lose to the mainland
o Troe8en, #arryin* libations to (o)r at the tomb o +(haer)s, "elo(sAs #harioteer% There,
with !theneAs *)idan#e, "oseidon over(owered her, and !ethra s)bseE)ently #han*ed the
name o the island rom +(haeria to &iera, and o)nded on tem(le o !(at)rian !thene,
establishin* a r)le that *irls sho)ld hen#eorth dedi#ate her *irdle to the *oddess beore
marria*e% "oseidon, however, *enero)sly #on#eded to !e*e)s the (arenta*e o any #hild born
to !ethra in the d)e time%
e% !e*e)s, when he awoke and o)nd himsel in !ethraAs bed, told her that i a son were born
to them he m)st not be e:(osed or sent away, b)t se#retly reared in Troe8en% Then he sailed
ba#k #elebrate the !ll7!thenian 'estival, ater hidin* his sword and sandals )nder a hollow
ro#k, known as !ltar o +tron* @e)s, that stood on the road rom Troe8en to &ermi)m% $,
when the boy is born, he #o)ld move this ro#k and re#over the tokens, he was to be sent with
them to !thens% Meanwhile, !ethra m)st kee( silen#e, lest !e*e)s ne(hews, the ity
#hildren o "allas, (lotted a*ainst her lie% The sword was an heirloom rom .e#ro(s%
% !t a (la#e now #alled Genethli)m, on the way rom the #ity to harbo)r o Troe8en, !ethra
*ave birth to a boy% +ome say that she at on#e named him These)s, be#a)se the tokens had
been de(osited or him, others that he aterwards won this name at !thens% &e was )( in
Troe8en, where his *)ardian "itthe)s dis#reetly s(read r)mo)r that "oseidon had been his
ather2 and one .onnidas, to the !thenians still sa#rii#e a ram on the day beore the Thesean
'easts, a#ted as his (eda*o*)e% 4)t some say that These)s *rew )( at Marathon%
*% ;ne day &era#les, dinin* at Troe8en with "itthe)s, removed his lion7skin and threw it
over a stool% When the (ala#e #hildren #ame in, they s#reamed and led, all e:#e(t seven7
year7old These)s, who ran to take a:e rom the wood(ile, and ret)rned boldly, (re(ared to
atta#k a real lion%
h% !t the a*e o si:teen years he visited ?el(hi, and oered his irst shaven hair7#li((in*s to
!(ollo% &e shaved, however, only the ore o his head, like the !rabians and Mysians, or like
the war7like ,)boeans, who thereby deny their enemies any advanta*e in #ombat% This kind
o tons)re, and the (re#in#t where he (erormed the #eremony, are both still #alled Thesean%
&e was now an intelli*ent and (r)dent yo)th2 and !ethra, leadin* him to the ro#k )nderneath
whi#h !e*e)s had hidden the sword and sandals, told story o his birth% &e had no dii#)lty
in movin* the ro#k, #alled the IRo#k o These)sA, and re#overed the tokens% Det, at "itthe)sAs
warnin*s and his motherAs entreaties, he wo)ld not visit !thens by the sae sea ro)te, b)t
insisted on travellin* over by oot, im(elled by a desire to em)late the eats o his #o)sin7
*erman &era#les, whom he *reatly admired%
1% "itthe)s is a mas#)line orm o "itthea% The names o the towns whi#h he )nited to orm
Troe8en s)**ests a matriar#hal #alendar7triad, #onsistin* o !nthea 5IloweryA6, the Goddess
o +(rin*, &y(erea 5Ibein* overheadA6, the Goddess o +)mmer, when the s)n is its 8enith2
and "itthea 5I(ine7*oddessA6, worshi((ed in a)t)mn when !ttis7!donis was sa#rii#ed on his
(ine% They may be identiied with the Tri(le7*oddess Themis, to whom "itthe)s raised an
altar, sin#e the name Troe8en is a((arently a worn7down orm o trion he8omenonJ IWthe
#ityX o the three sittersA, whi#h reers to the three white thrones whi#h served I"itthe)s and
two othersA as seats o H)sti#e%
0% These)s m)st ori*inally have had a twin, sin#e his mother lay with both a *od and a mortal
on the same ni*ht2 the myths o $das and -yn#e)s, .astor and "olyde)#es, &era#les and
$(hi#les, make this #ertain% Moreover, he wore the lion7skin, like &era#les, and thereore have
been the sa#red kin*, not the tanist% 4)t when, ater the "ersian Wars, These)s be#ame the
#hie national hero o !thens, (aternity at least had to be !thenian, be#a)se his mother #ame
rom Troe8en% The mytho*ra(hers then de#ided to have it both ways1 he was an !thenian, the
son o !e*e)s, a mortal2 b)t whenever he needed to #laim "oseidon as his ather, he #o)ld do
so% $n either #ase, his mother remained a Troe8enian2 !thens had im(ortant interests there% &e
was also allowed an honorary twin, "eiritho)s who, bein* mortal, #o)ld not es#a(e rom
Tartar)sJas &era#les, "olyde)#es, and These)s himsel did% 3o eorts were s(ared to
#onne#t These)s with &era#les, b)t the !thenians never *rew (ower)l eno)*h to make him
into an ;lym(ian *od%
<% There seem, however, to have been at least three mytholo*i#al #hara#ters #alled These)s1
one rom Troe8en, one rom Marathon in !tti#a, and the third rom -a(ith territory% These
were not )niied into a sin*le #hara#ter )ntil the si:th #ent)ry 4., when 5as "roessor Geor*e
Thomson s)**ests6 the 4)tads, a -a(ith #lan who had be#ome leadin* aristo#rats at !thens
and even )s)r(ed the native "elas*ian (riesthood o ,re#hthe)s, ()t orward the !thenian
These)s as a rival to ?orian &era#les% !*ain, "itthe)s was #learly both an ,lean and
Troe8enian titleJalso borne by the e(onymo)s hero o an !tti# deme belon*in* to the
.e#ro(ian tribe%
=% !ethraAs visit to +(haeria s)**ests that the an#ient #)stom o sa#ral (rostit)tion by
)nmarried *irls s)rvived in !theneAs tem(le or some time ater the (atriar#hal system had
been introd)#ed% $t #an hardly have been bro)*ht rom .rete, sin#e Troe8en is not a
My#enaean site2 b)t was (erha(s a .anaanite im(ortation, as at .orinth%
5% +andals and sword are an#ient symbols o royalty2 the drawin* o a sword rom a ro#k
seems to have ormed (art o the 4ron8e !*e #oronation rit)al% ;din, Galahad, and !rth)r
were all in t)rn reE)ired to (erorm a similar eat2 and an immense sword, lion7hilted and
(l)n*ed into a ro#k, i*)res in the sa#red marria*e s#ene #arved at &attas)s% +in#e !e*e)sAs
ro#k is #alled both the !ltar o +tron* @e)s and the Ro#k o These)s, it may be ass)med that
I@e)sA and IThese)sA were alternative titles o the sa#red kin* who was #rowned )(on it2 b)t
the *oddess armed him% The I!(olloA to whom These)s dedi#ated his hair will have been
Gar) 5Ison o the *oddess .arA6, otherwise known as .ar, or MAre, or .arys, the solar kin*
whose lo#ks were ann)ally shorn beore his death, like those o Tyrian +amson and Me*arean
3is)s% !t a east #alled the .omyria 5Ihair trimmin*A6, yo)n* men sa#rii#ed their orelo#ks
in yearly mo)rnin* or him, and were aterwards known as .)retes% This #)stom, (robably o
-ibyan ori*in 5&erodot)s6, had s(read to !sia Minor and Gree#e2 an inH)n#tion a*ainst it
o##)rs in -eviti#)s% 4)t, by "l)tar#hAs time, !(ollo was worshi((ed as the immortal +)n7*od
and, in (roo o this, ke(t his own hair ri*oro)sly )n7shorn%
6% !eti)sAs division o Troe8enia between Troe8en, "itthe)s, and himsel, re#alls the
arran*ement made by "roet)s with Melam()s and 4ias% The "itthe)s who ta)*ht rhetori# and
whose treatise s)rvived )ntil .lassi#al times m)st have been a late histori#al #hara#ter%
The -abo)rs ; These)s
T&,+,/+ set o)t to ree the bandit7ridden #oast road whi#h led rom Troe8en to !thens% &e
wo)ld (i#k no E)arrels b)t take ven*ean#e on all who dared to molest him, makin* the
()nishment it the #rime, as was &era#lesAs way% !t ,(ida)r)s, "eri(hetes the #ri((le waylaid
atta#ked him% "eri(hetes, whom some #all "oseidonAs son, and others the son o &e(haest)s
and !nti#leia, owned a h)*e bra8en #l)b, with whi#h he )sed to kill wayarers2 hen#e his
ni#kname .or)netes, or I#)d*el7manA%
These)s wren#hed the #l)b rom his hands and battered him to death% ?eli*hted with its si8e
and wei*ht, he (ro)dly #arried it abo)t ever aterwards2 and tho)*h he himsel had been able
to (arry its m)rdero)s swin*, in his hands it never ailed to kill%
b% !t the narrowest (oint o the $sthm)s, where both the .orinthian and +aroni# G)ls are
visible, lived +inis, the son o "emon2 or, some say, o "oly(emon and +ylea, da)*hter o
.orinth)s, who #laimed to be "oseidonAs bastard% &e had been ni#knamed "ityo#am(tes, or
I(inebenderA, be#a)se he was stron* eno)*h to bend down the to(s o (ine7trees )ntil they
to)#hed the earth, and wo)ld oten ask inno#ent (assers7by to hel( him with this task, b)t
then s)ddenly release his hold% !s the tree s(ran* )(ri*ht a*ain, they were h)rled hi*h into
the air, and killed by the all% ;r he wo)ld bend down the to(s o two nei*hbo)rin* trees )ntil
they met, and tie one o his vi#timAs arms to ea#h, so that he was torn as)nder when the trees
were released%
e% These)s wrestled with +inis, over(owered him, and served him as he had served others% !t
this, a bea)ti)l *irl ran to hide hersel in a thi#ket o r)shes and wild as(ara*)s% &e ollowed
her and, ater a lon* sear#h, o)nd her invokin* the (lants, (romisin* never to b)rn or destroy
them i they hid her saely% When These)s swore not to do her any violen#e, she #onsented to
emer*e, and (roved to be +inisAs da)*hter "eri*)ne% "eri*)ne ell in love with These)s at
si*ht, or*ivin* the m)rder o her hate)l ather and, in d)e #o)rse, bore him a son,
Melani(()s% !terwards he *ave her in marria*e to ?eione)s the ;e#halian% Melani(()sAs
son $o:)s emi*rated to .aria, where he be#ame the an#estor o the $o:ids, who b)rn neither
r)shes nor wild as(ara*)s, b)t venerate both%
d% +ome, however, say that These)s killed +inis many years later, and rededi#ated the
$sthmian Games to him, altho)*h they had been o)nded by +isy(h)s in hono)r o
Meli#ertes, the son o $no%
e% 3e:t, at .rommy)m, he h)nted and destroyed a ier#e and monstro)s wild sow, whi#h had
killed so many .rommyonians that they no lon*er dared (lo)*h their ields% This beast,
named ater the #rone who bred it, was said to be the #hild o Ty(hon and ,#hidne%
% 'ollowin* the #oast road, These)s #ame to the (re#i(ito)s #lis r)shin* sheer rom the sea,
whi#h had be#ome a stron*hold o the bandit +#iron2 some #all him a .orinthian, the son o
"elo(s, or o "oseidon2 others, the son o &enio#he and .aneth)s% +#iron )sed to seat himsel
)(on a ro#k and or#e (assin* travellers to wash his eet1 when they stoo(ed to the task he
wo)ld ki#k them over the #li into the sea, where a *iant t)rtle swam abo)t, waitin* to
devo)r them% 5T)rtles #losely resemble tortoises, e:#e(t that they are lar*er, and have li((ers
instead o eet%6 These)s, re)sin* to wash +#ironAs eet, lited him rom the ro#k and l)n*
him into the sea%
*% The Me*areans, however, say that the only +#iron with whom These)s #ame in #onli#t
was an honest and *enero)s (rin#e o Me*ara, the ather o ,ndeis, who married !ea#)s and
bore him "ele)s and Telamon2 they add, that These)s killed +#iron ater the #a(t)re o
,le)sis, many years later, and #elebrated the $sthmian Games in his hono)r )nder the
(atrona*e o "oseidon%
h% The #lis o +#iron rise #lose to the Mol)rian Ro#ks, and over them r)ns +#ironAs oot(ath,
made by him when he #ommanded the armies o Me*ara% ! violent north7western bree8e
whi#h blows seaward a#ross these hei*hts is #alled +#iron by the !thenians%
i% 3ow, s#iron means I(arasolA2 and the month o +#iro(horionis so #alled be#a)se at the
WomenAs 'estival o ?emeter and .ore, on the twelth day o +#iro(horionis, the (riest o
,re#hthe)s #arries a white (arasol, and a (riestess o !thene +#iras #arries another in solemn
(ro#ession rom the !#ro(olisJor on that o##asion the *oddessAs ima*e is da)bed with
s#iras, a sort o *y(s)m, to #ommemorate the white ima*e whi#h These)s made o her ater
he had destroyed the Minota)r%
H% .ontin)in* his Ho)rney to !thens, These)s met .er#yon the !r#adian, whom some #all the
son o 4ran#h)s and the nym(h !r*io(e2 others, the son o &e(haest)s, or "oseidon% &e
wo)ld #hallen*e (assers7by to wrestle with him and then #r)sh them to death in his (ower)l
embra#e2 b)t These)s lited him )( by the knees and, to the deli*ht o ?emeter, who
witnessed the str)**le, dashed him headlon* to the *ro)nd% .er#yonAs death was
instantaneo)s% These)s did not tr)st to stren*th so m)#h as to skill, or he had invented the art
o wrestlin*, the (rin#i(les o whi#h were not hitherto )nderstood% The Wrestlin*7*ro)nd o
.er#yon is still shown near ,le)sis, on the road to Me*ara, #lose to the *rave o his da)*hter
!lo(e, whom These)s is said to have ravished%
k% ;n rea#hin* !tti# .oridall)s, These)s slew +inisAs ather "oly(emon, s)rnamed
"ro#r)stes, who lived beside the road and had two beds in his ho)se, one small, the other
lar*e% ;erin* a ni*htAs lod*in* to travellers, he wo)ld lay the short men on the lar*e bed,
and ra#k them o)t, to it it2 b)t the tall men on the small bed, sawin* o as m)#h o their le*s
as (roHe#ted beyond it% +ome say, however, that he )sed only one bed, and len*thened or
shortened his lod*ers a##ordin* to its meas)re% $n either #ase, These)s served him as he had
served others%
1% The killin* o "eri(hetes has been invented to a##o)nt or These)sAs brass7bo)nd #l)b, like
the one #arried by &era#les% "eri(hetes is des#ribed as a #ri((le be#a)se he was the son o
?aedal)s the smith, and smiths were oten rit)ally lamed%
0% +in#e the 3orth Wind, whi#h bent the (ines, was held to ertili8e women, animals, and
(lants, I"ityo#am(tesA is des#ribed as the ather o "eri*)ne, a #ornield7*oddess% &er
des#endantsA atta#hment to wild as(ara*)s and r)shes s)**ests that the sa#red baskets #arried
in the Thesmo(horia 'estival were woven rom these, and thereore tabooed or ordinary )se%
The .rommyonian +ow, alias "haea, is the white +ow ?emeter, whose #)lt was early
s)((ressed in the "elo(onnese% That These)s went o)t o his way to kill a mere sow tro)bled
the mytho*ra(hers1 &y*in)s and ;vid, indeed, make her a boar, and "l)tar#h des#ribes her as
a woman bandit whose dis*)stin* behavio)r earned her the ni#kname o IsowA% 4)t she
a((ears in early Welsh myth as the ;ld White +ow, &en Wen, tended by the swineherd
ma*i#ian .oll a( .ollrewr, who introd)#ed wheat and bees into 4ritain2 and ?emeterAs
swineherd ma*i#ian ,)b)le)s was remembered in the Thesmo(horia 'estival at ,le)sis,
when live (i*s were l)n* down a #hasm in his hono)r% Their rottin* remains later served to
ertili8e the seed7#orn 5+#holiast on -)#ianAs ?ialo*)es 4etween Whores6%
<% The stories o +#iron and .er#yon are a((arently based on a series o i#ons whi#h
ill)strated the #eremony o h)rlin* a sa#red kin* as a (harma#os rom the White Ro#k% The
irst hero who had met his death here was Meli#ertes, namely &era#les Melkarth o Tyre who
seems to have been stri((ed o his royal tra((in*sJ#l)b, lion7skin, and b)skinsJand then
(rovided with win*s, live birds, and a (arasol to break his all % This is to s)**est that +#iron,
shown makin* ready to ki#k a traveller into the sea, is the (harma#os bein* (re(ared or his
ordeal at the +#iro(horia, whi#h was #elebrated in the last month o the year, namely at
mids)mmer2 and that a se#ond s#ene, e:(lained as These)sAs wrestlin* with .er#yon, shows
him bein* lited o his eet by his s)##essor 5as in the terra#otta o the Royal .olonnade at
!thensJ"a)sanias6, while the (riestess o the *oddess looks on deli*htedly% This is a
#ommon mytholo*i#al sit)ation1 &era#les, or instan#e, wrestled or a kin*dom with !ntae)s
in -ibya, and with ,ry: in +i#ily2 ;dysse)s with "hilomeleides on Tenedos% ! third s#ene,
taken or These)sAs reven*e on +#iron, shows the (harma#os h)rtlin* thro)*h the air, (arasol
in hand% $n a o)rth, he has rea#hed the sea, and his (arasol is loatin* on the wavesJthe
s)((osed t)rtle, waitin* to devo)r him, was s)rely the (arasol, sin#e there is no re#ord o an
!tti# t)rtle #)lt% The +e#ond Cati#an Mytho*ra(her makes ?aedal)s, not These)s, kill +#iron,
(robably be#a)se o ?aedal)sAs mythi# #onne#tion with the (harma#os rit)al o the (artrid*e
kin*%
=% !ll these eats o These)sAs seem to be interrelated% Grammarians asso#iate the white
(arasol with a *y(s)m ima*e o !thene% This re#alls the white (harma#os dolls, #alled
I!r*ivesA 5Iwhite menA6, thrown into r)nnin* water on#e a year at the May ()rii#ation o
tem(les2 also the white #akes sha(ed like (i*s, and made o lo)r mi:ed with *y(s)m 5"liny1
3at)ral &istory6, whi#h were )sed in the Thesmo(horia to re(la#e the (i* remains re#overed
rom ,)b)le)sAs #hasm Iin order not to dera)d his sa#red ser(entsA, e:(lains the s#holiast on
-)#ianAs ?ialo*)es 4etween Whores% The +#iro(horia 'estival ormed (art o the
Thesmo(horia% Thes has the same meanin* in Thesmo(horia as in These)s1 namely Itokens
de(ositedAJin the baskets woven o wild as(ara*)s and r)sh whi#h "eri*)ne san#tiied%
They were (halli# tokens, and the estival was an eroti# one1 this is H)stiied by These)sAs
sed)#tion o "eri*)ne, and also by &ermesAs sed)#tion o &erse% The (riest o ,re#hthe)s
#arried a (arasol, be#a)se he was the (resident o the ser(ent #)lt, and the sa#red )n#tions o
the an#ient kin*s rested with him ater the monar#hy had been abolished1 as they rested at
Rome with the "riest o @e)s%
5% .er#yonAs name #onne#ts him with the (i* #)lt% +o does his (arenta*e1 4ran#h)s reers to
the *r)ntin* o (i*s, and !r*io(e is a synonym or "haea% $t will have been "oseidonAs son
These)s who ravished !lo(e1 that is to say, s)((ressed the worshi( o the Me*arean Moon7
*oddess as Ci:en%
6% +inis and +#iron are both des#ribed as the hero in whose hono)r the $sthmian Games were
rededi#ated2 +inisAs ni#kname was "ityo#am(tes2 and +#iron, like "ityo#am(tes, was a north7
easterly wind% 4)t sin#e the $sthmian Games had ori*inally been o)nded in memory o
&era#les Melkarth, the destr)#tion o "ityo#am(tes seems to re#ord the s)((ression o the
4oreas #)lt in !thensJwhi#h was, however, revived ater the "ersian Wars% $n that #ase, the
$sthmian Games are analo*o)s to the "ythian Games, o)nded in memory o "ython, who
was both the ertili8in* 3orth Wind and the *host o the sa#red kin* killed by his rival
!(ollo% Moreover, I"ro#r)stesA, a##ordin* to ;vid and the s#holiast on ,)ri(idesAs
&i((olyt)s, was only another ni#kname or +inisJ"ityo#am(tes2 and "ro#r)stes seems to be
a i#tional #hara#ter, invented to a##o)nt or a amiliar i#on1 the hair o the old kin*J
+amson, "terela)s, 3is)s, .)roi, -lew -law, or whatever he may have been #alledJis tied to
the bed(ost by his trea#hero)s bride, while his rival, a:e in hand, is (re(arin* to destroy him%
IThese)sA and his &ellenes abolished the #)stom o throwin* the old kin* over the Mol)rian
Ro#k, and rededi#ated the Games to "oseidon at $noAs e:(ense, $no bein* one o !theneAs
earlier titles%
These)s !nd Medea
&!C$3G arrived in !tti#a, These)s was met beside the River .e(hiss)s by the sons o
"hytal)s, who ()riied him rom the blood he had s(illed, b)t es(e#ially rom that o +inis, a
maternal kinsman o his% The altar o Gra#io)s @e)s, where this #eremony was (erormed,
still stands by the riverside% !terwards, the "hytalids wel#omed These)s as their *)est,
whi#h was the irst tr)e hos(itality he had re#eived sin#e leavin* Troe8en% ?ressed in a lon*
*arment that rea#hed to his eet and with his hair neatly (laited, he entered !thens on the
ei*hth day o the month .ron)s, now #alled &e#atomboeon% !s he (assed the nearly7
#om(leted tem(le o !(ollo the ?ol(hin, a *ro)( o masons workin* on the roo mistook him
or a *irl, and im(ertinently asked why he was allowed to wander abo)t )nes#orted%
?isdainin* to re(ly, These)s )nyoked the o:en rom the masonsA #art and tossed one o them
into the air, hi*h above the tem(le roo%
b% 3ow, while These)s was *rowin* )( in Troe8en, !e*e)s had ke(t his (romise to Medea%
&e *ave her shelter in !thens when she led rom .orinth in the #elebrated #hariot drawn by
win*ed ser(ents, and married her, ri*htly #onident that her s(ells wo)ld enable him to be*et
an heir2 or he did not yet know that !ethra had borne him These)s%
#% Medea, however, re#o*ni8ed These)s as soon as he arrived in the #ity, and *rew Healo)s on
behal o Med)s, her son by !e*e)s, who was *enerally e:(e#ted to s)##eed him on the
!thenian throne% +he thereore (ers)aded !e*e)s that These)s #ame as a s(y or an assassin,
and had him invited to a east at the ?ol(hin Tem(le2 !e*e)s, who )sed the tem(le as his
residen#e, was then to oer him a #)( o wine already (re(ared by her% This #)( #ontained
wolsbane, a (oison whi#h she had bro)*ht rom 4ithynian !#her)sia, where it irst s(ran*
rom the deadly oam s#attered by .erber)s when &era#les dra**ed him o)t o Tartar)s2
be#a)se wolsbane lo)rishes on bare ro#ks, the (easants #all it Ia#oniteA%
d% +ome say that when the roast bee was served in the ?ol(hin Tem(le, These)s
ostentatio)sly drew his sword, as i to #arve, and th)s attra#ted his atherAs attention2 b)t
others, that he had )ns)s(e#tin*ly raised the #)( to his li(s beore !e*e)s noti#ed the
,re#htheid ser(ents #arved on the ivory sword7hilt and dashed the (oison to the loor% The
s(ot where the #)( ell is still shown, barred o rom the rest o the tem(le%
e% Then ollowed the *reatest reHoi#in* that !thens had ever known% !e*e)s embra#ed
These)s, s)mmoned a ()bli# assembly, and a#knowled*ed ham as his son% &e li*hted ires on
every altar and hea(ed the *odsA ima*es with *its2 he#atombs o *arlanded o:en were
sa#rii#ed and, thro)*ho)t the
(ala#e and the #ity, nobles and #ommoners easted to*ether, and san* o These)sAs *lorio)s
deeds that already o)tn)mbered the years o his lie%
% These)s then went in ven*e)l ()rs)it o Medea, who el)ded him by #astin* a ma*i# #lo)d
abo)t hersel2 and (resently let !thens with yo)n* Med)s, and an es#ort whi#h !e*e)s
*enero)sly (rovided% 4)t some say that she led with "oly:en)s, her son by 9ason%
*% "allas and his ity sons, who even beore this had de#lared !e*e)s was not a tr)e
,re#htheid and th)s had no ri*ht to the throne o !thens, broke into o(en revolt when this
ootloose stran*er threatened to ba)lk their ho(es o ever r)lin* !thens% They divided their
or#es1 "allas with twenty7ive o his sons and n)mero)s retainers mar#hed a*ainst the #ity
rom the dire#tion o +(hett)s, while the other twenty7ive lay in amb)sh at Gar*ett)s% 4)t
These)s, inormed o their (lan by a herald named -eos, o the !*nian #lan, s(ran* the
amb)sh destroyed and the entire or#e% "allas there)(on disbanded his #orners and s)ed or
(ea#e% The "allantids have never or*otten -eosAs trea#hery, and still will not intermarry with
the !*nians nor allow any herald to be*in a (ro#lamation with the words I!ko)ete leoiPA
5I&earken (eo(lePA6, be#a)se o the resemblan#e whi#h leoi bean to the name o -eos%
h% This -eos m)st be distin*)ished rom the other -eos, ;r(he)sAs son, and an#estor o the
!thenian -eontids% ;n#e, in a time o (la*)e, -eos obeyed the ?el(hi# ;ra#le by sa#rii#in*
his da)*hters Theo(e, "ra:ithea, and ,)b)le to save the #ity% The !thenians made )( the
-eo#ori)m in their hono)r%
1% This artii#ial roman#e with its theatri#al d`no)ement in the (oisonin* s#ene re#alls that o
$on2 and the in#ident o the o: thrown into the air seems merely a #r)de imitation o
&era#lesAs eats% The ImasonsA E)estion is ana#hronisti#, be#a)se in the heroi# a*e yo)n*
woman went abo)t )nes#orted2 neither #o)ld These)s have been mistaken or a *irl i he had
already dedi#ated his hair to !(ollo and be#ome one o the .)retes% De t the storyAs
weaknesses s)**est that it has been ded)#ed rom an an#ient i#on whi#h, sin#e the men on
the tem(le roo were re#o*ni8ably masons, will have shown a sa#rii#e (erormed on the day
when the tem(le was #om(leted% $t is likely that the i*)re, taken or These)s, who )nyokes
the sa#rii#ial white o: rom a #art, is a (riestess2 and that, be#a)se o its dol(hin de#orations,
the tem(le has been misread as !(olloAs, tho)*h the dol(hin was ori*inally an emblem o the
Moon7*oddess% The beast has not been tossed into the air% $t is the deity in whose hono)r the
sa#rii#e is bein* oered1 either a white moon7#ow, the *oddess hersel, or the white b)ll o
"oseidon, who shared a shrine on the !#ro(olis with !thene and to whom, as +ea7*od,
dol(hins were sa#red2 !(olloAs (riests, "l)tar#h not the least, were always 8ealo)s to enhan#e
his (ower and a)thority at the e:(ense o other deities% ! #om(anion i#on, rom whi#h the
story o the (oisoned #)( will have been ded)#edJa#onite was a well7known (aralysantJ
(robably showed a (riest or (riestess (o)rin* a libation to the *hosts o the men sa#rii#ed
when the o)ndations were laid, while "erse(hone and .erber)s stand by% "l)tar#h des#ribes
!e*e)s as livin* in the ?ol(hin Tem(le rather than a (rivate ho)se2 and this is #orre#t sin#e,
as sa#red kin*, he had a(artments in the M)eenAs (ala#e%
0% MedeaAs e:()lsion irst rom .orinth, and then rom !thens, reers to the &elleni#
s)((ression o the ,arth7*oddessAs #)ltJher ser(ent #hariot shows her to be a .orinthian
?emeter% These)sAs deeat o the "allantids similarly reers to the s)((ression o the ori*inal
!thene #)lt, with its #olle*e o ity (riestessesJ(allas #an mean either Iyo)thA or ImaidenA%
+till another version o the same story is the sa#rii#e o -eosAs three da)*hters, who are
really the *oddess in triad% The Maiden is Theo(e 5Idivine a#eA6, the 3ew Moon2 the 3ym(h
is "ra:ithea 5Ia#tive *oddessA6, the M)een7beeJ.e#ro(sAs mother bore the same name in
,)boea 5!(ollodor)s62 the .rone is ,)b)le 5I*ood #o)nselA6, the ora#)lar *oddess, whom
,)b)le)s the swineherd served at ,le)sis%
<% That "allantids and !*nians rerained rom inter7marria*e may have been a reli# o
e:o*amy, with its #om(le: system o *ro)(7marria*e between (hratries, ea#h (hratry or s)b7
(hratry #onsistin* o several totem #lans1 i so, "allantids and !*nians will have belon*ed to
the same s)b7(hratry, marria*e bein* (ermitted only between members o dierent ones% The
"allantid #lan (robably had a *oat or its totem, as the !*nians had a lamb, the -eontids a
lion, and the ,re#htheids a ser(ent% Many other totem #lans are hinted at in !tti# mytholo*y1
amon* them, #row, ni*htin*ale, hoo(oe, wol, bear, and owl%
=% To H)d*e rom the These)s and &era#les myths, both !theneAs #hie (riestess at !thens,
and &eraAs at !r*os, belon*ed to a lion #lan, into whi#h they ado(ted sa#red kin*s2 and a *old
rin* o)nd at Tiryns shows o)r lion7men oerin* libation vessels to a seated *oddess, who
m)st be &era, sin#e a #)#koo (er#hes behind her throne% ?es(ite the absen#e o lions in
.rete, they i*)red there too as the GoddessAs beasts% !thene was not asso#iated with the
#)#koo b)t had several other bird e(i(hanies, whi#h may be totemisti# by ori*in% $n &omer
she a((ears as a sea7ea*le 5;dyssey6 and a swallow2 in #om(any with !(ollo, as a v)lt)re
5$liad62 and in #om(any with &era, as a dove% ;n a small !thenian vase o 500 4. she is
shown as a lark2 and !thene the diver7bird, or *annet, had a shrine near Me*ara 5"a)sanias6%
4)t the wise owl was her (rin#i(al e(i(hany% The owl #lan (reserved their rit)al )ntil late
.lassi#al times1 initiates in owl7dis*)ise wo)ld (erorm a #eremony o #at#hin* their totem
bird 5!elian1 Caria &istoria2 "oll):2 !thenae)s6%
5% "l)tar#hAs story o !ko)ete leoi is (la)sible eno)*h1 it oten ha((ened in the (rimitive
reli*ions that words were banned be#a)se they so)nded like the name o a (erson, obHe#t, or
animal, whi#h #o)ld not be saely mentioned2 es(e#ially words s)**estin* the names o dead
kinsmen, even i they had #ome to a nat)ral end%
6% The "allantidsA denial that !e*e)s and These)s were tr)e ,re#htheids may rele#t a si:th7
#ent)ry (rotest at !thens a*ainst the )s)r(ation by the immi*rant 4)tadae 5who re)rbished
the These)s le*end6 o the native ,re#htheid (riesthood%
These)s $n .rete
$T is a matter o dis()te whether Medea (ers)aded !e*e)s to send These)s a*ainst
"oseidonAs ero#io)s white b)ll, or whether it was ater her e:()lsion rom !thens that he
)ndertook the destr)#tion o this ire7breathin* monster, ho(in* thereby to in*ratiate himsel
)rther with the !thenians% 4ro)*ht by &era#les rom .rete, let loose on the (lain o !r*os,
and driven then#e a#ross the $sthm)s to Marathon, the b)ll had killed men by the h)ndred
between the #ities o "robalinth)s and Tri#orynth)s, in#l)din* 5some say6 MinosAs son
!ndro*e)s% De t These)s boldly sei8ed those m)rdero)s horns and dra**ed the b)ll thro)*h
the streets o !thens, and )( the stee( slo(e o the !#ro(olis, where he sa#rii#ed it to !thene,
or to !(ollo%
b% !s he a((roa#hed Marathon, These)s had been hos(itably entertained by a needy old
s(inster named &e#ale, or &e#alene, who vowed ram to @e)s i he #ame ba#k saely% 4)t she
died beore his ret)rn, instit)ted the &e#alesian Rites, to hono)r her and @e)s &e#ali)s,
whi#h are still (erormed today% 4e#a)se These)s was no more than a #hild at this time,
&e#ale had #aressed him with #hildish endearment, and is thereore #ommonly known by the
dimin)tive &e#alene, as m)#h as &e#ale%
#% $n reE)ital or the death o !ndro*e)s, Minos *ave orders that the sho)ld send seven
yo)ths and seven maidens every ninth yearJat the #lose o every Great DearJto the .retan
-abyrinth, where the Minota)r waited to devo)r them% This Minota)r, whose name was
!steri)s, or !sterion, was the b)ll7headed monster "asi(haB had borne to the white b)ll%
+oon ater These)sAs !thens the trib)te ell d)e or the third time, and he so dee(ly moved by
the athers whose #hildren were indi#ated by lot, that oered himsel as one o the vi#tims,
des(ite !e*e)sAs earnest diss)asion% 4)t some say that the lot had allen on him% !##ordin* to
others, Gin* Minos #ame in (erson with a lar*e leet to ele#t vi#tims2 his eye li*hted on
These)s who, tho)*h a native to Troe8en not !thens, vol)nteered to #ome on the #ondition
that i he killed the Minota)r with his bare hands the trib)te wo)ld be ann)lled%
d% ;n the two (revio)s o##asions, the shi( whi#h #onveyed the vi#tims had #arried bla#k
sails, b)t These)s was #onident that the *ods were on his side, and !e*e)s thereore *ave
him a white sail as a si*nal o s)##essJtho)*h some say that it was a red in H)i#e o the kern7
oak berry%
e% When the lots had been #ast at the -aw .o)rts, These)s led his #om(anions to the shrine o
!(ollo the ?ol(hin, and on their behal, he oered a bran#h o #onse#rated olive, bo)nd with
white wool% The mothers bro)*ht (rovisions or the voya*e, and told their ables and heroi#
tales to hearten them% These)s, however, re(la#ed two o the maiden vi#tims with a (air o
eeminate yo)ths, o )n)s)al #o)ra*e and (resen#e o mind% These he ordered to take warm
baths, avoid the rays o the s)n, (er)me their heads and bodies with )n*)ent oils, and
(ra#tise how to talk, *est)re, and walk like women% &e was th)s able to de#eive Minos by
(assin* o as maidens%
% "haea:, the an#estor o "haea#ians, amon* whom he were #alled ;dysse)s, stood as (ilot
at the (row o the thirty7yard shi( in whi#h they sailed, be#a)se no !thenian as yet knew
anythin* abo)t navi*ation% +ome say that the helmsman was "here#l)s2 b)t those who name
3a)sithe)s are likely to be ri*ht, sin#e These)s on his ret)rn raised mon)ments to 3a)sithe)s
and "haea: at "haler)m, the (ort o de(art)re2 and initiated the 'estival o 3avi*ators, whi#h
is still #elebrated in their hono)r%
*% The ?el(hi# ;ra#le had advised These)s to take !(hrodite as his *)ide and #om(anion on
the voya*e% &e thereore sa#rii#ed to her on the strand2 and the vi#tim, a she7*oat, be#ame a
he7*oat death7throes% This (rodi*y won !(hrodite her title o ,(itra*ia%
h% These)s sailed on the si:th day o M)ny#hion W!(rilX% ,very year on this date the
!thenians still send vir*ins to the ?ol(hin Tem(le, to (ro(itiate !(ollo, be#a)se These)s
omitted to do so beore takin* his leave% The *odAs dis(leas)re was shown in a storm, whi#h
or#ed him to take shelter at ?el(hi and there oer belated sa#rii#e
i% When the shi( rea#hed .rete some days aterwards, Minos #ame down to the harbo)r to
#o)nt the vi#tims% 'allin* in love with one the !thenian maidens7whether it was "eriboea
5who be#ame mother o !Ha:6 or ,riboea, or "hereboea, is not a*reed, or these three bore
#on)sin*ly similar names Jhe wo)ld have ravished her then there, had These)s not
(rotested that it was his d)ty as "oseidonAs son to deend vir*ins a*ainst o)tra*e by tyrants%
Minos, la)*hin* lewdly re(lied that "oseidon had never been known to show deli#ate res(e#t
or any vir*ins who took his an#y%
I&aPA he #ried, I(rove yo)rsel a son o "oseidon, by retrievin* ba)ble or mePA +o sayin*, he
l)n* his *olden si*net rin* into the sea%
I'irst (rove that yo) are a son o @e)sA retorted These)s%
This Minos did% &is (rayer1 I'ather @e)s, hear mePA was at on#e answered by li*htnin* and a
ra( o th)nder% Witho)t more ado These)s dived into the sea, where a lar*e s#hool o
dol(hins es#orted him hono)rably down to the (ala#e o the 3ereids% +ome say that Thetis
the 3ereid then *ave him the Hewelled #rown, the weddin* *it rom !(hrodite, whi#h
aterwards !riadne wore2 others, that !m(hitrite the +ea7*oddess did so hersel, and that she
sent the 3ereids swimmin* in every dire#tion to ind the *olden rin*% !t all events, when
These)s emer*ed rom the sea, he was #arryin* both the rin* and the #rown, as Mi#on has
re#orded in his (aintin* on the third wall o These)sAs tem(le%
e% !(hrodite had indeed a##om(anied These)s1 or not only did "eriboea and "hereboea
invite the #hivalro)s These)s to their beds and were not s()rned, b)t MinosAs own da)*hter
!riadne ell in love with him at irst si*ht% I$ will hel( yo) to kill my hal7brother, the
Minota)r,A she se#retly (romised him, Ii $ may ret)rn to !thens with yo) as yo)r wie%A This
oer These)s *ladly a##e(ted, and married her% 3ow, beore ?aedal)s let .rete, he had
*iven her a ma*i# ball o thread, and instr)#ted her how to enter and -abyrinth% +he m)st
o(en the entran#e door and tie the loose thread to the lintel2 the ball wo)ld then roll alon*,
diminishin* as it went and makin*, with devio)s t)rns and twists, or the #orners where the
Minota)r was lod*ed% This ball !riadne *ave to These)s and instr)#ted him to ollow it )ntil
he rea#hed the slee(in* monster, whom he m)st sei8e by the hair and sa#rii#e to "oseidon%
&e then #an #ome ba#k by rollin* )( the thread into a ball a*ain%
1% That same ni*ht These)s did as he was told2 b)t whether he killed Minota)r with a sword
*iven him by !riadne, or with his bare hands, or with his #elebrated #l)b, is m)#h dis()ted% !
s#)l(t)red at !my#lae shows the Minota)r bo)nd and led in tri)m(h by These)s to !thens2
b)t this is not the *enerally7a##e(ted story%
m% When These)s emer*ed rom the -abyrinth, s(otted with blood, !riadne embra#ed him
(assionately, and *)ided the whole !thenian *ro)( to the harbo)r% 'or, in the meantime, the
two eeminate7lookin* yo)ths had killed the *)ards o the womenAs E)arters, and released
the vir*in vi#tims% They all stole aboard their shi(, where 3a)sithe)s and "haea: were
e:(e#tin* them, and rowed hastily away% 4)t altho)*h These)s broke in the h)lls o several
.retan shi(s, to (revent the (erse#)tion, alarm so)nded and he was or#ed to i*ht a sea7
battle in the (ort beore es#a(in*, ort)nately witho)t loss, )nder #over o darkness%
n% +ome days later, ater disembarkin* on the island then named ?ia, b)t now known as
3a:os, These)s let !riadne aslee( on the bea#h and sailed away% Why he did so m)st remain
a mystery% +ome say that he deserted her in avo)r o a new mistress, !e*le, da)*hter o
"ano(e)s2 others that, while wind7bo)nd on ?ia, he rele#ted on the s#andal at !thens wo)ld
#a)se% ;thers a*ain say that ?ionys)s, a((earin* to These)s in a dream, threatenin*ly
demanded !riadne or himsel, and that, when These)s noti#ed ?ionys)sAs leet bearin*
down on ?ia, he wei*hed an#hor in s)dden terror2 ?ionys)s havin* #ast a s(ell whi#h made
him or*et his (romise to !riadne and even her very e:isten#e%
o% Whatever the tr)th o the matter may be, ?ionys)sAs (riests in !thens airm that when
!riadne o)nd hersel alone on the deserted shore, she broke into bitter laments,
rememberin* how she has trembled while These)s set o)t to kill her monstro)s hal7brother,
how she had oered silent vows or his s)##ess2 and how, thro)*h her love o him, she had
deserted her (arents and motherland% +he now invoked the whole )niverse or ven*ean#e, and
'ather @e)s nodded in assent% Then, *ently and sweetly, ?ionys)s with his merry train o
satyrs and maenads #ame to !riadneAs res#)e% &e married her witho)t delay, settin* ThetisAs
#rown )(on her head, and she bore him many #hildren% ; these only Thoas and ;eno(ion
are sometimes #alled These)sAs sons% The #rown, whi#h ?ionys)s later set amon* the stars as
the .orona 4orealis, was made by &e(haest)s o iery *old and $ndian *ems, set in the
sha(e o roses%
(% The .retans, however, re)se to admit that the Minota)r ever e:isted, or that These)s won
!riadne by #landestine means% They des#ribe the -abyrinth as merely a well7*)arded (rison,
where !thenian yo)ths and maidens were ke(t in readiness or !ndro*e)s )neral *ames%
+ome were sa#rii#ed at his tomb2 others (resented to the (ri8ewinners as slaves% $t ha((ened
that MinosAs #r)el and arro*ant *eneral Ta)r)s had #arried all beore him, year ater
year1 winnin* every event in whi#h he #om(eted, m)#h to the dis*)st o his rivals% &e had
also oreited MinosAs #oniden#e be#a)se he was r)mo)red to be #arryin* on an ad)ltero)s
aair with "asi(haB, #onnived at by ?aedal)s, and one o her twin sons bore a #lose
resemblan#e to him% Minos thereore, *ladly *ranted These)sAs reE)est or the (rivile*e o
i*htin* a*ainst Ta)r)s% $n an#ient .rete, women as well as men attended the *ames, and
!riadne ell in love with These)s when, three time s)##ession, she saw him toss the ormer
#ham(ion over his head, (innin* his sho)lders to the *ro)nd% The si*ht aorded Minos
almost satisa#tion1 he awarded These)s the (ri8e, a##e(ted him as his son law, and remitted
the #r)el trib)te%
E% ! traditional 4oeotian son* #onirms this tradition that none o the vi#tims were ()t to
death% $t re#ords that the .retans sent an oerin* o their irst7born to ?el(hi, or the most
(art #hildren o .rethanised !thenian slaves% The ?el(hians, however, #o)ld not s)((ort
these rom the reso)r#es o their small #ity, and thereore (a#ked them o to o)nd a #olony
at $a(y*ia in $taly% -ater, they settled at 4oeotia in Thra#e, and the nostal*i# #ry raised by the
4oeotian maidens1 I;h, let )s ret)rn to !thensPA, *ives a #onstant render o their ori*in%
r% !n alto*ether dierent a##o)nt is *iven by the .y(riots and others% They say that Minos
and These)s a*reed on oath that no shi( e:#e(t the !r*o, #ommanded by 9ason, who had a
#ommission to #lear the sea o (iratesJmi*ht sail in Greek waters with a #rew lar*er than
ive% When ?aedal)s led rom .rete to !thens, Minos broke this (a#t by ()rs)in* him with
warshi(s, and th)s earned the an*er o "oseidon, who had witnessed the oath, and now raised
a storm whi#h drove him to his death in +i#ily% MinosAs son ?e)#alion, inheritin* the E)arrel,
threatened that )nless the !thenians s)rrendered ?aedal)s, he wo)ld ()t to death all the
hosta*es *iven him by These)s at the #on#l)sion o the (a#t% These)s re(lied that ?aedal)s
was his blood7relation, and enE)ired mildly whether some #om(romise #o)ld not be rea#hed%
&e e:#han*ed several letters on the s)bHe#t with ?e)#alion, b)t meanwhile se#retly b)ilt
warshi(s1 some at Thymoetidae, a (ort o the beaten tra#k, and others at Troe8en, where
"itthe)s had a naval yard abo)t whi#h the .retans knew nothin*% Within a month or two his
lotilla set sail, *)ided by ?aedal)s and other )*itives rom .rete2 and the .retans mistook
the a((roa#hin* shi(s or (art o MinosAs lost leet and *ave them a reso)ndin* wel#ome%
These)s thereore sei8ed the harbo)r witho)t o((osition, and made strai*ht or .noss)s,
where he #)t down ?e)#alionAs *)ards, and killed ?e)#alion himsel in an inner #hamber o
the (ala#e% The .retan throne then (assed to !riadne, with whom These)s *enero)sly #ame
to terms2 she s)rrendered the !thenian hosta*es, and a treaty o (er(et)al riendshi( was
#on#l)ded between the two nations, sealed by a )nion o the #rownsJin ee#t, she married
These)s%
s% !ter lon* eastin* they sailed to*ether or !thens, b)t were driven to .y(r)s by a storm%
There !riadne, already with #hild by These)s, and earin* that she mi*ht mis#arry rom sea7
si#kness, asked to be ()t ashore at !math)s% This was done, b)t hardly had These)s re*ained
his shi( when a violent wind or#ed the whole leet o)t to sea a*ain% The women o !math)s
treated !riadne kindly, #omortin* her with letters whi#h, they (retended, had H)st arrived
rom These)s, who was re(airin* his shi( on the shores o a nei*hbo)rin* island2 and when
she died in #hildbed, *ave her a lavish )neral% !riadneAs tomb is still shown at !math)s, in a
*rove sa#red to her as !ridela% These)s, on his event)al ret)rn rom the +yrian #oast, was
dee(ly *rieved to learn that she had died, and endowed her #)lt with a lar*e s)m o money%
The .y(riots still #elebrate !riadneAs estival on the se#ond day o +e(tember, when a yo)th
lies down in her *rove and imitates a travailin* woman2 and worshi( two small stat)es o her1
one in silver, the other in brass, whi#h These)s let them% They say that ?ionys)s, so ar rom
marryin* !riadne, was indi*nant that she and These)s had (roaned his 3aydan *rotto, and
#om(lained to !rtemis, who killed her in #hildbed with mer#iless shats2 b)t some say that
she han*ed hersel or ear o !rtemis%
t% To res)me the history o These)s1 rom 3a:os he sailed to ?elos, and there sa#rii#ed to
!(ollo, #elebratin* athleti# *ames in his hono)r% $t was then that he introd)#ed the novel
#)stom o #rownin* the vi#tor with (alm7leaves, and (la#in* a (alm7stem in his ri*ht hand%
&e also (r)dently dedi#ated to the *od a small wooden ima*e o !(hrodite, the work o
?aedal)s, whi#h !riadne had bro)*ht rom .rete and let aboard his shi(Jit mi*ht have
been the s)bHe#t o #yni#al #omment by the !thenians% This ima*e, still dis(layed at ?elos,
rests on a sE)are base instead o eet, and is (er(et)ally *arlanded%
)% ! horned altar stands beside the ro)nd lake o ?elos% !(ollo himsel b)ilt it, when he was
only o)r years o a*e, with the #losely #om(a#ted horns o #o)ntless she7*oats killed by
!rtemis on Mo)nt .ynth)sJhis irst ar#hite#t)ral eat% The o)ndations o the altar, and its
en#losin* walls, are also made entirely o horns2 all taken rom the same side o the vi#timsJ
b)t whether rom the let, or rom the ri*ht, is dis()ted% What makes the work rank amon*
the seven marvels o the world is that neither mortar nor any other #olli*ative has been )sed%
$t was aro)nd this altarJor, a##ordin* to another version, aro)nd an altar o !(hrodite, on
whi#h the ?aedali# ima*e had been setJthat These)s and his #om(anions dan#ed the .rane,
whi#h #onsists o labyrinthine evol)tions, trod with meas)red ste(s to the a##om(animent o
har(s% The ?elians still (erorm this dan#e, whi#h These)s introd)#ed rom .noss)s2
?aedal)s had b)ilt !riadne a dan#in*7loor there, marked with a ma8e (attern in white
marble relie, #o(ied rom the ,*y(tian -abyrinth% When These)s and his #om(anions
(erormed the .rane at .noss)s, this was the irst o##asion on whi#h men and women dan#ed
to*ether% ;ld7ashioned (eo(le, es(e#ially sailors, kee( )( m)#h the same dan#e in many
dierent #ities o Gree#e and !sia Minor2 so do #hildren in the $talian #o)ntryside, and it is
the o)ndation o the Troy Game%
v% !riadne was soon reven*ed on These)s% Whether in *rie or her loss, or in Hoy at the si*ht
o the !tti# #oast, rom whi#h he had been ke(t by (rolon*ed winds, he or*ot his (romise to
hoist the white sail% !e*e)s, who stood wat#hin* or him on the !#ro(olis, where the Tem(le
o the Win*less Ci#tory now stands, si*hted the bla#k sail, swooned, and ell headlon* to his
death into the valley below% 4)t some say that he deliberately #ast himsel into the sea, whi#h
was then#eorth named the !e*ean%
w% These)s was not inormed o this sorrow)l a##ident )ntil he had #om(leted the sa#rii#es
vowed to the *ods or his sae ret)rn2 he then b)ried !e*e)s, and hono)red him with a hero7
shrine% ;n the ei*hth day o "yane(sion W;#toberX, the date o the ret)rn rom .rete, loyal
!thenians lo#k down to the seashore, with #ookin*7(ots in whi#h they stew dierent kinds
o beansJto remind their #hildren how These)s, havin* been obli*ed to (la#e his #rew on
very short rations, #ooked his remainin* (rovisions in one (ot as soon as he landed, and illed
their em(ty bellies at last% !t this same estival a thanks*ivin* is s)n* or the end o h)n*er,
and an olive7bran#h, wreathed in white wool and h)n* with the seasonAs r)its, is #arried to
#ommemorate the one whi#h These)s dedi#ated beore settin* o)t% +in#e this was harvest
time, These)s also instit)ted the 'estival o Gra(e 4o)*hs, either in *ratit)de to !thene and
?ionys)s, both o whom a((eared to him on 3a:os, or in hono)r o ?ionys)s and !riadne%
The two bo)*h7bearers re(resent the yo)ths whom These)s had taken to .rete dis*)ised as
maidens, and who walked beside him in the tri)m(hal (ro#ession ater his ret)rn% 'o)rteen
women #arry (rovisions and take (art in this sa#rii#e2 they re(resent the mothers o the
res#)ed vi#tims, and their task is to tell ables and an#ient myths, as these mothers also did
beore the shi( sailed%
:% These)s dedi#ated a tem(le to +avio)r !rtemis in the market (la#e at Troe8en2 and his
ellow7#iti8ens hono)red him with a san#t)ary while he was still alive% +)#h amilies as had
been liable to the .retan trib)te trader took to s)((ly the need)l sa#rii#es2 and These)s
awarded his (riesthood to the "hytalids, in *ratit)de or their hos(itality% The vessel in whi#h
he sailed to .rete has made an ann)al voya*e to ?elos and ba#k ever sin#e2 b)t has been so
reE)ently over, ha)led and re)ted that (hiloso(hers #ite it as a sto#k instan#e, when
dis#)ssin* the (roblem o #ontin)o)s identity%
1% Gree#e was .retanised towards the #lose o the ei*hteenth #ent)ry 4., (robably by an
&elleni# aristo#ra#y whi#h had sei8ed (ower in .rete a *eneration or two earlier and there
initiated a new #)lt)re% The strai*htorward a##o)nt o These)sAs raid on .noss)s, E)oted by
"l)tar#h, makes
reasonable sense% $t des#ribes a revolt by the !thenians a*ainst a .retan overlord who had
taken hosta*es or their *ood behavio)r2 the se#ret b)ildin* o a lotilla2 the sa#k o the
)nwalled #ity o .noss)s d)rin* the absen#e o the main .retan leet in +i#ily2 and a
s)bseE)ent (ea#e treaty ratiied by the !thenian kin*As marria*e with !riadne, the .retan
heiress% These events, whi#h (oint to abo)t the year 1=00 4., are (aralleled by the mythi#al
a##o)nt1 a trib)te o yo)ths and maidens is demanded rom !thens in reE)ital or the m)rder
o a .retan (rin#e% These)s, by #ratily killin* the 4)ll o Minos, or deeatin* MinosAs
leadin* #ommander in a wrestlin* mat#h, relieves !thens o this trib)te2 marries !riadne, the
royal heiress2 and makes (ea#e with Minos himsel%
0% These)sAs killin* o the b)ll7headed !steri)s, #alled the Minota)r, or I4)ll o MinosA2 his
wrestlin* mat#h with Ta)r)s 5Ib)llA62 and his #a(t)re o the .retan b)ll, are all versions o the
same event% 4olynthos, whi#h *ave its name to !tti# "robalinth)s, was the .retan name or
Iwild b)llA% IMinosA was the title o a .nossian dynasty, whi#h had a skyb)ll or its emblem
JI!steri)sA #o)ld mean Io the s)nA or Io the skyA and it was in b)ll7orm that the kin*
seems to have #o)(led rit)ally with the .hie7(riestess as Moon7#ow% ;ne element in the
ormation o the -abyrinth myth may have been that the (ala#e at .noss)sJthe ho)se o the
labrys, or do)ble7a:eJwas a #om(le: o rooms and #orridors, and that the !thenian raiders
had dii#)lty in indin* and killin* the kin* when they #a(t)red it% 4)t this is not all% !n
o(en s(a#e in ront o the (ala#e was o##)(ied by a dan#e loor with a ma8e (attern )sed to
*)ide (erormers o an eroti# s(rin* dan#e% The ori*in o this (attern, now also #alled a
labyrinth, seems to have been the traditional br)shwood ma8e )sed to de#oy (artrid*es
towards one o their own #o#ks, #a*ed in a #entral en#los)re, whi#h )ttered ood7#alls,
love#alls, and #hallen*es2 and the s(rin* dan#ers will have imitated the e#stati# hobblin*
love7dan#e o the #o#k7(artrid*es, whose ate was to be kno#ked on the head by the h)nter
5,##lesiasti#)s6%
<% !n ,tr)s#an wine7Har rom Tra*liatella, showin* two mo)nted heroes, e:(lains the
reli*io)s theory o the (artrid*e7dan#e% The leader #arries a shield with a (artrid*e devi#e and
a death7demon (er#hes behind him2 the other hero #arries a lan#e, and a shield with a d)#k
devi#e% To their rear is a ma8e o a (attern o)nd not only on #ertain .nossian #oins, b)t in
the 4ritish t)r7#)t ma8es trodden by s#hool#hildren at ,aster )ntil the nineteenth #ent)ry%
-ove7Healo)sy l)red the kin* to his death, the i#ono*ra(her is e:(lainin*, like a (artrid*e in
the br)shwood ma8e, and he was s)##eeded by his tanist% ;nly the e:#e(tional heroJa
?aedal)s, or a These)sJret)rned alive2 and in this #onte:t the re#ent dis#overy near
4osinney in .ornwall o a .retan ma8e #)t on a ro#k7a#e is o *reat im(ortan#e% The ravine
where the ma8e was irst noti#ed by ?r Renton Green is one o the last ha)nts o the .ornish
#ho)*h2 and this bird ho)ses the so)l o Gin* !rth)rJwho harrowed &ell, and with whom
4osinney is #losely asso#iated in le*end% ! ma8e dan#e seems to have been bro)*ht to 4ritain
rom the eastern Mediterranean by 3eolithi# a*ri#)lt)rists o the third millenni)m 4., sin#e
ro)*h stone ma8es, similar to the 4ritish t)r7#)t ones, o##)r in the I4eaker 4A area o
+#andinavia and 3orth7eastern R)ssia2 and e##lesiasti# ma8es, on#e )sed or (enitential
()r(oses, are o)nd in +o)th7eastern ,)ro(e% ,n*lish t)r7ma8es are )s)ally known as ITroy7
townA, and so are the Welsh1 .aer7droia% The Romans (robably named them ater their own
Troy Game, a labyrinthine dan#e (erormed by yo)n* aristo#rats in hono)r o !)*)st)sAs
an#estor !eneas the TroHan2 tho)*h, a##ordin* to "liny, it was also dan#ed by #hildren in the
$talian #o)ntryside%
=% !t .noss)s the sky7b)ll #)lt s)##eeded the (artrid*e #)lt, and the #ir#lin* o the dan#ers
#ame to re(resent the ann)al #o)rses o the heavenly bodies% $, thereore, seven yo)ths and
maidens took (art, they may have re(resented the seven Titans and Titanesses o the s)n,
moon, and ive (lanets2 altho)*h no deinite eviden#e o the Titan #)lt has been o)nd in
.retan works o art% $t a((ears that the an#ient .rane ?an#e o ?elosJ#ranes, too, (erorm a
love dan#eJwas similarly ada(ted to a ma8e (attern% $n some ma8es the dan#ers held a #ord,
whi#h hel(ed them to kee( their (ro(er distan#e and e:e#)te the (attern a)ltlessly2 and this
may have *iven rise to the story o the ball o twine 5!% 4% .ook1 9o)rnal o &elleni#
+t)dies62 at !thens, as on Mo)nt +i(yl)s, the ro(e dan#e was #alled #orda: 5!risto(hanes1
.lo)ds6% The s(e#ta#le in the .retan b)ll rin* #onsisted o an a#robati# dis(lay by yo)n* men
and *irls who in t)rn sei8ed the horns o the #har*in* b)ll and t)rned ba#k7somersa)lts
between them over his sho)lders% This was evidently a reli*io)s rite1 (erha(s here also the
(erormers re(resented (lanets% $t #annot have been nearly so dan*ero)s a s(ort as most
writers on the s)bHe#t s)**est, to H)d*e rom the rarity o #as)alties amon* banderilleros in
the +(anish b)ll rin*2 and a .retan res#o shows that a #om(anion was at hand to #at#h the
somersa)lter as he or she #ame to earth%
5% I!riadneA, whi#h the Greeks )nderstood as I!ria*neA 5Ivery holyA6, will have been a title o
the Moon7*oddess hono)red in the dan#e, and in the b)ll rin*1 Ithe hi*h, r)it)l 4arley7
motherA, also #alled !ridela, Ithe very maniest oneA% The #arryin* o r)it7laden bo)*hs in
!riadneAs hono)r, and ?ionys)sAs, and her s)i#ide by han*in*, Ibe#a)se she eared !rtemisA,
s)**est that !riadne7dolls were atta#hed to these bo)*hs% ! bell7sha(ed 4oeotian *oddess7
doll h)n* in the -o)vre, her le*s dan*lin*, is !riadne, or ,ri*one, or &an*ed !rtemis2 and
bron8e dolls with deta#hable limbs have been o)nd in ?aedal)sAs +ardinia% !riadneAs #rown
made by &e(haest)s in the orm o a rose7wreath is not a an#y2 deli#ate *old wreaths with
*emmed lowers were o)nd in the Mo#hlos hoard%
6% These)sAs marria*e to the Moon7(riestess made him lord o .noss)s, and on one .nossian
#oin a new moon is set in the #entre o a ma8e% Matrilineal #)stom, however, de(rived an
heiress o all #laims to her lands i she a##om(anied a h)sband overseas2 and this e:(lains
why These)s did not brin* !riadne ba#k to !thens, or any arther than ?ia, a .retan island
within si*ht o .noss)s% .retan ?ionys)s, re(resented as a b)llJMinos, in a#t Jwas
!riadneAs ri*ht)l h)sband2 and wine, a .retan man)a#t)re, will have been served at her
or*ies% This mi*ht a##o)nt or ?ionys)sAs indi*nation, re(orted by &omer, that she and the
intr)der These)s had lain to*ether%
>% Many an#ient !thenian #)stoms o the My#enaean (eriod are e:(lained by "l)tar#h and
others in terms o These)sAs visit to .rete1 or instan#e, the rit)al (rostit)tion o *irls, and
rit)al sodomy 5#hara#teristi# o !nathaAs worshi( at 9er)salem, and the +yrian GoddessAs at
&iera(olis6, whi#h s)rvived vesti*ially amon* the !thenians in the (ro(itiation o !(ollo
with a *it o maidens, and in the #arryin* o harvest bran#hes by two male inverts% The r)it7
laden bo)*h re#alls the l)lab #arried at the 9er)salem 3ew Dear 'east o Taberna#les, also
#elebrated in the early a)t)mn% Taberna#les was a vinta*e estival, and #orres(onded with the
!thenian ;s#ho(horia, or I#arryin* o *ra(e d)stersA2 the (rin#i(al interest o whi#h lay in a
oot ra#e 5"ro#l)s1 .hrestornathia6% ;ri*inally, the winner be#ame the new sa#red kin*, as at
;lym(ia, and re#eived a iveold mi:t)re o Ioil, wine, honey, #ho((ed #heese, and mealAJ
the divine ne#tar and ambrosia o the *ods% "l)tar#h asso#iates These)s, the new kin*, with
this estival, by sayin* that he arrived a##identally while it was in (ro*ress, and e:#)l(ates
him rom any (art in the death o his (rede#essor !e*e)s% 4)t the new kin* really wrestled
a*ainst the old kin* and l)n* him, as a (harma#os, rom the White Ro#k into the sea % $n the
ill)strative i#on whi#h the mytho*ra(her has evidently misread, These)sAs bla#k7sailed shi(
m)st have been a boat standin* by to res#)e the (harma#os2 it has dark sails, be#a)se
Mediterranean ishermen )s)ally tan their nets and #anvas to (revent the salt water rom
rottin* them% The kern7berry, or #o#hineal, (rovided a s#arlet dye to stain the sa#red kin*As
a#e, and was thereore asso#iated with royalty% I&e#aleneA, the needy old s(inster, is
(robably a worn7down orm o I&e#ate +eleneA, Ithe ar7shootin* moonA, whi#h means
!rtemis%
8% 4ean7eatin* by men seems to have been (rohibited in (re7&elleni# timesJthe
"ytha*oreans #ontin)ed to abstain rom beans, on the *ro)nd that their an#estorsA so)ls #o)ld
well be resident in them and that, i a man 5as o((osed to a woman6 ate a bean, he mi*ht be
robbin* an an#estor o his or her #han#e to be reborn% The (o()lar bean7east thereore
s)**ests a deliberate &elleni# lo)tin* o the *oddess who im(osed the taboo2 so does
These)sAs *it o a male (riesthood to the "hytalids 5I*rowersA6, the eminine orm o whose
name is a reminder that i*7#)lt)re, like beans (lantin*, was at irst a mystery #onined to
women%
9% The .y(riots worshi((ed !riadne as the I4irth7*oddess o !math)sA, a title belon*in* to
!(hrodite% &er a)t)mn estival #elebrated the birth o the 3ew Dear2 and the yo)n* man who
sym(atheti#ally imitated her (an*s will have been her royal lover, ?ionys)s% This #)stom,
known as #o)vade, is o)nd in many (arts o ,)ro(e, in#l)din* some distri#ts o ,ast !n*lia%
10% !(olloAs horn tem(le on ?elos has re#ently been e:#avated% The altar and its o)ndations
are *one, and b)ll has s)##eeded *oat as the rit)al animal in the stone de#orationsJi it
indeed ever was a *oat2 a Minoan seal shows the *oddess standin* on an altar made entirely
o b)llsA horns%
11% Mi#onAs alle*ori#al m)ral o Thetis (resentin* a #rown and rin* to These)s, while Minos
*lowers in an*er on the shore, will have de(i#ted the (assin* o the thalasso#ra#y rom
.retan to !thenian hands% 4)t it may be that Minos had symboli#ally married the +ea7
*oddess by throwin* a rin* into the sea, as the ?o*es o Ceni#e did in the middle a*es%
10% ;eno(ion and Thoas are sometimes #alled These)sAs sonsA be#a)se these were the heroes
o .hios and -emnos, s)bHe#t allies o the !thenians%
The ederali8ation ; !tti#a
W&,3 These)s s)##eeded his ather !e*e)s on the throne o !thens, he reinor#ed his
soverei*nty by e:e#)tin* nearly all his o((onents, e:#e(t "allas and the remainder o his ity
sons% +ome years later he killed these too as a (re#a)tionary meas)re and, when #har*ed with
m)rder in the .o)rt o !(ollo the ?ol(hin, oered the )n(re#edented (lea o IH)stiiable
homi#ideA, whi#h se#)red his a#E)ittal% &e was ()riied o their blood at Troe8en, where his
son &i((olyt)s now rei*ned as kin*, and s(ent a whole year there% ;n his ret)rn, he
s)s(e#ted a hal7brother, also named "allas, o disae#tion, and banished him at on#e2 "allas
then o)nded "allanti)m in !r#adia, tho)*h some say that "allas son o -y#aon had done so
shortly ater the ?e)#alionian 'lood%
b% These)s (roved to be a law7abidin* r)ler, and initiated the (oli#y o ederali8ation, whi#h
was the basis o !thensA later well7bein*% &itherto, !tti#a had been divided into twelve
#omm)nities, ea#h mana*in* its own aairs witho)t #ons)ltin* the !thenian kin*, e:#e(t in
time o emer*en#y% The ,le)sinians had even de#lared war on ,re#hthe)s, and other
interne#ine E)arrels abo)nded% $ these #omm)nities were to relinE)ish their inde(enden#e,
These)s m)st a((roa#h ea#h #lan and amily in t)rn2 whi#h he did% &e o)nd the yeomen and
sers ready to obey him, and (ers)aded most o the lar*e landowners to a*ree with his s#heme
by (romisin* to abolish the monar#hy and s)bstit)te demo#ra#y or it, tho)*h remainin*
#ommander7in7#hie and s)(reme H)d*e% Those who remained )n#onvin#ed by the ar*)ments
he )sed res(e#ted his stren*th at least%
#% These)s was th)s em(owered to dissolve all lo#al *overnments, ater s)mmonin* their
dele*ates to !thens, where he (rovided these with a #ommon .o)n#il &all and -aw .o)rt,
both o whi#h stand to this day% 4)t he orbore to interere with the laws o (rivate (ro(erty%
3e:t, he )nited the s)b)rbs with the .ity (ro(er whi#h, )ntil then, had #onsisted o the
!#ro(olis and its immediate +o)thern de(enden#ies, ind)#tin* the an#ient Tem(les o
;lym(ian @e)s, "ythian !(ollo, Mother ,arth, ?ionys)s o the Marshes, and the !E)ed)#t
o 3ine +(rin*s% The !thenians still #all the !#ro(olis Ithe .ityA%
d% &e named the si:teenth day o &e#atomboeon W9)lyX I'ederation ?ayA, and made it a
()bli# estival in hono)r o !thene, when a bloodless sa#rii#e is also oered to "ea#e% 4y
renamin* the !thenian Games #elebrated on this day to I!ll7!thenianA, he o(ened it to the
whole !tti#a2 and also introd)#ed the worshi( o 'ederal !(hrodite and o "ers)asion% Then,
resi*nin* the throne, as he had (romised, he *ained !tti#a its new #onstit)tion, and )nder the
best o a)s(i#es1 or ?el(hi# ;ra#le (ro(hesied that !thens wo)ld now ride the stormy seas
as saely as a (i* s bladder%
e% To enlar*e the #ity still )rther, These)s invited all worthy stran*ers to be#ome his ellow7
#iti8ens% &is heralds, who went thro)*ho)t Gree#e, )sed a orm)la whi#h is still em(loyed,
namely1 I.ome hither, all ye (eo(lePA Great #rowds there)(on lo#ked into !thens, and he
divided the (o()lation o !tti#a into three #lasses1 the ,)(atrids, or Ithose who deserve well
o their atherlandA2 the Geor*es, or IarmersA2 and the ?emi)r*es, or Iartii#ersA% The
,)(atrids took #har*e o reli*io)s aairs, s)((lied ma*istrates, inter(reted the laws,
embodyin* the hi*hest di*nity o all2 the Geor*es tilled the soil and were the ba#kbone o the
state2 the ?emi)r*es, by ar the most n)mero)s #lass, )rnished s)#h vario)s artii#ers as
soothsayers, s)r*eons, heralds, #ar(enters, s#)l(tors, and #one#tioners% Th)s These)s
be#ame the irst kin* to o)nd a #ommonwealth, whi#h is why &omer, in the .atalo*)e o
+hi(s, styles only the !thenians a soverei*n (eo(leJand his #onstit)tion remained in or#e
)ntil the tyrants sei8ed (ower% +ome, however, deny the tr)th o this tradition1 they say that
These)s #ontin)ed to rei*n as beore and that, ater the death o Gin* Menesthe)s, who led
the !thenians a*ainst Troy, his dynasty (ersisted or three *enerations%
These)s, the irst !thenian kin* to mint money, stam(ed his #oins with the ima*e o a b)ll%
$t is not known whether this re(resented "oseidonAs b)ll, or MinosAs *eneral Ta)r)s2 or
whether he was merely en#o)ra*in* a*ri#)lt)re2 b)t his #oina*e #a)sed the standard o val)e
to be E)oted in terms o Iten o:enA, or Ione h)ndred o:enA, or a #onsiderable time% $n
em)lation o &era#les, who had a((ointed his ather @e)s (atron o the ;lym(i# Games,
These)s now a((ointed his ather "oseidon (atron o the $sthmian Games% &itherto the *od
th)s hono)red had been Meli#ertes son o $no, and the *ames, whi#h were held at ni*ht, had
been mysteries rather than a ()bli# s(e#ta#le% 3e:t, These)s made *ood the !thenian #laim to
the soverei*nty o Me*ara and s)mmoned "elo(onnesian dele*ates to the $sthm)s, )(on them
to settle a lon*7standin* rontier dis()te with nei*hbo)rin* $onians% !t a (la#e a*reed by both
(arties, he raised the amo)s #ol)mn with ins#ri(tion on its eastern side1 IThis is not the
"elo(onnese b)t $oniaPA, and on the western1 IThis is not $onia, b)t the "elo(onnesePA &e also
won .orinthian assent to the !theniansA takin* o hono)r at the $sthmian Games2 it #onsisted
o as m)#h ro)nd as was #overed by the mainsail o the shi( that had bro)*ht him%
1% The mythi#al element o the These)s story has here been s)bmer*ed in what ()r(orts to be
!thenian #onstit)tional history2 b)t the 'ederali8ation o !tti#a wo)ld have ha((ened years
too early2 and These)sAs (ro(a*anda o makin* demo#rati#al reorms was (robably invented
in the ith #ent)ry 4. or .leisthenes% -e*al reorms made d)rin* the late 9ewish monar#hy
were attrib)ted to Moses by the editors o the "entate)#h%
0% ;:en (rovided the standard o val)e in an#ient Gree#e, $taly, and $reland, as they still do
amon* ba#kward (astoral tribes o ,ast !ri#a, and the !thenians str)#k no #oins )ntil nearly
ive h)ndred years ater the TroHan War% 4)t it is tr)e that .retan #o((er in*ots o a i:ed
wei*ht were stam(ed with a b)llAs head or a re#)mbent #al 5+ir !rth)r ,vans1 Minoan
Wei*hts and Medi)ms o .)rren#y62 and the 4)tadae who seem to have been lar*ely
res(onsible or the develo(ment o the myth o These)s, have had this tradition in mind when
they str)#k money stam(ed with the o:7head, their #lan7devi#e%
<% The division o !tti#a into twelve #omm)nities is (aralleled by a similar ha((enin*s the
3ile ?elta and in ,tr)ria, and by the distrib)tin* .anaanite territory amon* the twelve tribes
o $srael2 the n)mber may in ea#h #ase have been #hosen to allow or a monthly (ro#ession o
a monar#h rom tribe to tribe% Greeks o the heroi# a*e did not distin*)ish between m)rder
and mansla)*hter2 in either #ase a blood (ri#e had to be (aid to the vi#timAs #lan, and the
killer then #han*ed his name and let the #ity or ever% Th)s Telamon and "ele)s #ontin)ed to
be hi*hly re*arded by the *ods ater their trea#hero)s
m)rder o "ho#)s2 and Medea killed !(syrt)s witho)t anta*oni8in* her new .orinthian
s)bHe#ts% !t !thens, however, in the .lassi#al (eriod, will)l m)rder 5(honos6 #arried the
death (enalty2 mansla)*hter 5ako)sia6, that o banishment2 and the #lan was bo)nd by law to
(rose#)te% "honos heko)sios 5H)stiiable homi#ide6 and (honos ako)sios 5e:#)sable
homi#ide6 were later reinements, whi#h ?ra#o (robably introd)#ed in the seventh #ent)ry
4.2 the latter alone demanded e:(iation by rit)al #leansin*% The mytho*ra(hers have not
)nderstood that These)s evaded (ermanent e:ile or the m)rder o the "allantids only by
e:terminatin* the entire #lan, as ?avid did with the I&o)se o +a)lA% ! yearAs absen#e at
Troe8en s)i#ed to rid the #ity o the (oll)tion #a)sed by the m)rder%
These)s !nd The !ma8ons
+;M, say that These)s took (art in &era#lesAs s)##ess)l e:(edition a*ainst the !ma8ons,
and re#eived as his share o the booty their E)een !ntio(e, also #alled Melani((e2 b)t that
this was not so )nha((y a ate or her as many tho)*ht, be#a)se she had betrayed the #ity o
Themis#yra on the river Thermodon to him, in (roo o the (assion he had already kindled in
her heart%
b% ;thers say that These)s visited their #o)ntry some years later, in the #om(any o "eiritho)s
and his #omrades2 and that the !ma8ons, deli*hted at the arrival o so many handsome
warriors, oered them no violen#e% !ntio(e #ame to *reet These)s with *its, b)t she had
hardly #limbed aboard his shi(, beore he wei*hed an#hor and abd)#ted her% ;thers a*ain say
that he stayed or some time in !ma8onia, and entertained !ntio(e as his *)est% They add that
amon* his #om(anions were three !thenian brothers, ,)ne)s, Thoas, and +oloFn, the last o
whom ell in love with !ntio(e b)t, not darin* to a((roa#h her dire#tly, asked ,)ne)s to
(lead his #a)se% !ntio(e reHe#ted these advan#es, tho)*h #ontin)in* to treat +oloFn no less
#ivilly than beore, and it was not )ntil he had thrown himsel into the river Thermodon and
drowned, that These)s reali8ed what had been aoot, and be#ame m)#h distressed%
Rememberin* a warnin* *iven him by the ?el(hi# ;ra#le that, i he sho)ld ever ind himsel
*reatly ali#ted in a stran*e #o)ntry, he m)st o)nd a #ity and leave behind some o his
#om(anions to *overn it, he b)ilt "ytho(olis, in hono)r o "ythian !(ollo, and named the
near7by river +oloFn% There he let ,)ne)s, Thoas, and one &erm)s, an !thenian noble,
whose ormer residen#e in "ytho(olis is now mistakenly #alled I&ermesAs &o)seA% &e then
sailed away with !ntio(e%
#% !ntio(eAs sister ;reithyia, mistaken by some or &i((olyte, whose *irdle &era#les won,
swore ven*ean#e on These)s% +he #on#l)ded an allian#e with the +#ythians, and led a lar*e
or#e o !ma8ons a#ross the i#e o the .immerian 4os(hor)s, then #rossed the ?an)be and
(assed thro)*h Thra#e, Thessaly, and 4oeotia% !t !thens she en#am(ed on the !reio(a*)s
and there sa#rii#ed to !res2 an event rom whi#h, some say, the hill won its name2 b)t irst
she ordered a deta#hment to invade -a#onia and dis#o)ra*e the "elo(onnesians rom
reinor#in* These)s by way o the $sthm)s%
d% The !thenian or#es were already marshalled, b)t neither side #ared to be*in hostilities% !t
last, on the advi#e o an ora#le, These)s sa#rii#ed to "hob)s, son o !res, and oered battle
on the seventh day o 4oedromion, the date on whi#h the 4oedromia is now #elebrated at
!thens2 tho)*h some say the estival had already been o)nded in hono)r o the vi#tory
whi#h Z)th)s won over ,)mol()s in the rei*n o ,re#hthe)s% The !ma8onsA battle7ront
stret#hed between what is now #alled the !ma8oni)m and the "ny: &ill near .hrysa%
These)sAs ri*ht win* moved down rom the M)se)m and ell )(on their let win*, b)t was
ro)ted and or#ed to retire as ar as the Tem(le o the ')ries% This in#ident is re#alled by a
stone raised to the lo#al #ommander .hal#odon, in a street lined with the tombs o those who
ell, and #alled ater him% The !thenian let win*, however, #har*ed rom the "alladi)m,
Mo)nt !rdett)s and the -y#e)m, and drove the !ma8on ri*ht win* ba#k to their #am(,
inli#tin* heavy #as)alties%
e% +ome say that the !ma8ons oered (ea#e terms only ater o)r months o hard i*htin*2
the armisti#e, sworn near the san#t)ary o These)s, is still #ommemorated in the !ma8onian
sa#rii#e on the eve o his estival% 4)t others say that !ntio(e, now These)sAs wie, o)*ht
heroi#ally at his side, )ntil shot dead by one Mol(adia, whom These)s then killed2 that
;reithyia with a ew ollowers es#a(ed to Me*ara, where she died o *rie and des(air2 and
that the remainin* !ma8ons, driven rom !tti#a by the vi#torio)s These)s, settled in +#ythia%
% This, at any rate, was the irst time that the !thenians re()lsed orei*n invaders% +ome o
the !ma8ons let wo)nded on the ield o battle were sent to .hal#is to be #)red% !ntio(e and
Mol(adia are b)ried near the tem(le o Mother ,arth, and an earthen (illar marks !ntio(eAs
*rave% ;thers lie in the !ma8oni)m% Those !ma8ons who ell while #rossin* Thessaly, lie
b)ried between +#ot)ssaea and .ynos#e(halae2 a ew more, near .haeronaea by the river
&aemon% $n the "yrrhi#han re*ion o -a#onia, shrines mark the (la#e where the !ma8ons
halted their advan#e and dedi#ated two wooden ima*es to !rtemis and !(ollo2 and at Troe8en
a tem(le o !res #ommemorates These)sAs vi#tory over this deta#hment when it attem(ted to
or#e the $sthm)s on its ret)rn%
*% !##ordin* to one a##o)nt, the !ma8ons entered Thra#e by way o "hry*ia, not +#ythia,
and o)nded the san#t)ary o ,(hesian !rtemis as they mar#hed alon* the #oast% !##ordin*
to another, they had taken re)*e in this san#t)ary on two earlier o##asions1 namely in their
li*ht rom ?ionys)s, and ater &era#lesAs deeat o M)een &i((olyte2 and its tr)e o)nders
were .res)s and ,(hes)s%
h% The tr)th abo)t !ntio(e seems to be that she s)rvived the battle, and that These)s was
event)ally #om(elled to kill her, as the ?el(hi# ;ra#le had oretold, when he entered into an
allian#e with Gin* ?e)#alion the .retan, and married his sister "haedra% The Healo)s !ntio(e,
who was not his le*al wie, interr)(ted the weddin* estivities by b)rstin* in, )lly armed,
and threatenin* to massa#re the *)ests% These)s and his #om(anions hastily #losed the doors,
and des(at#hed her in a *rim #ombat, tho)*h she had borne him &i((olyt)s, also #alled
?emo(hoFn, and never lain with another man%
1% I!ma8onsA, )s)ally derived rom a and ma8on, Iwitho)t breastsA, they were believed to
sear away one breast in order to shoot 5b)t this notion is antasti#6, seems to be an !rmenian
word, meanin* YMoon womenA% +in#e the (riestesses o the Moon7*oddess on the shores o
the 4la#k +ea bore arms, as they also did in the G)l o +irte, it a((ears that the a##o)nts o
them whi#h bro)*ht ba#k #on)sed the inter(retation o #ertain an#ient i#ons de(i#tin*
women warriors, and *ave rise to the !tti# able o an !ma8onian invasion rom the river
Thermodon% These whi#h were e:tant in .lassi#al times on the ootstool o @e)sAs ;lym(ia2
at !thens on the #entral wall o "ainted .olonnade 5"a)sanias6, on !theneAs shield, in the
tem(le o These)s, and elsewhere 5"a)sanias6, re(resented the i*ht between the (re7&elleni#
(riestesses o !thene or the &elleni# invasion o !tti#a and the resistan#e to them% There will
also have been armed (riestesses at ,(hes)sJMinoan #olony, as the name o the o)nder
.res)s 5I.retanA6 s)**estsJ and in all #ities where !ma8onsA *raves were shown% ;reithyia,
or &i((olyte, is s)((osed to have *one several h)ndred miles o)t o her way thro)*h +#ythia2
(robably be#a)se the .immerian 4os(hor)sJ.rimeaJwas the seat o !rtemisAs sava*e
Ta)rian #)lt, where the (riestesses dis(at#hed male vi#tims%
0% !ntio(eAs interr)(tion o "haedraAs weddin* may have been ded)#ed rom an i#on whi#h
showed the &elleni# #onE)eror abo)t to violate the &i*h7(riestess, ater he had killed her
#om(anions% !ntio(e was not These)sAs le*al wie, be#a)se she belon*ed to a so#iety whi#h
resisted mono*amy% The
names Melani((e and &i((olyt)s asso#iate the !ma8ons with the (re7&elleni# horse #)lt%
The name o +oloFn 5Ie**7sha(ed wei*htA6 may be derived rom a wei*ht7#arryin* event in
the )neral *ames #elebrated at the Greek #olony o "ytho(olis, so #alled ater the ora#)lar
ser(ent o its heroi# o)nder2 there seems to have been a (ra#ti#e here o throwin* h)man
vi#tims into the river Thermodon% The 4oedromia 5Ir)nnin* or hel(A6 was a estival o
!rtemis, abo)t whi#h little is known1 (erha(s armed (riestesses took (art in it, as in the
!r*ive estival o the &ybristi#a%
"haedra !nd &i((olyt)s
!'T,R marryin* "haedra, These)s sent his bastard son &i((olyt)s to "itthe)s, who ado(ted
him as heir to the throne o Troe8en% Th)s &i((olyt)s had no #a)se to dis()te the ri*ht o his
le*itimate brothers !#amas and ?emo(hoFn, "haedraAs sons, to rei*n over !thens%
b% &i((olyt)s, who had inherited his mother !ntio(eAs e:#l)sive devotion to #haste !rtemis,
raised a new tem(le to the *oddess at Troe8en, not ar rom the theatre% There)(on !(hrodite,
determined to ()nish him or what she took as an ins)lt to hersel, saw to it that when he
attended the ,le)sinian Mysteries, "haedra sho)ld all (assionately in love with him% &e
#ame dressed in white linen, his hair *arlanded, and tho)*h his eat)res wore a harsh
e:(ression, she tho)*ht them admirably severe%
#% +in#e at that time These)s was away in Thessaly with "eiritho)s, or it may have been in
Tartar)s, "haedra ollowed &i((olyt)s to Troe8en% There she b)ilt the Tem(le o "ee(in*
!(hrodite to overlook the *ymnasi)m, and wo)ld daily wat#h )nobserved while he ke(t
himsel it by r)nnin*, lea(in*, and wrestlin*, stark naked% !n an#ient myrtle7tree stands in
the Tem(le en#los)re2 "haedra wo)ld Hab at its leaves, in r)strated (assion, with a Hewelled
hair(in, and they are still m)#h (erorated% When, later, &i((olyt)s attended the !ll7!thenian
'estival and lod*ed in These)sAs (ala#e, she )sed the Tem(le o !(hrodite on the !#ro(olis
or the same ()r(ose%
d% "haedra dis#losed her in#est)o)s desire to no one, b)t ate little, sle(t badly, and *rew so
weak that her old n)rse *)essed the tr)th at last, and oi#io)sly im(lored her to send
&i((olyt)s a letter% This "haedra did1 #onessin* her love, and sayin* that she was now
#onverted by it to the #)lt o !rtemis, whose two wooden ima*es, bro)*ht rom .rete, she
had H)st rededi#ated to the *oddess% Wo)ld he not #ome h)ntin* one dayK IWe women o the
.retan Royal &o)se,A she wrote, Iare do)btless ated to be dishono)red in love1 witness my
*randmother ,)ro(e, my mother "asi(haB, and lastly my own sister !riadneP !h, wret#hed
!riadne, deserted by yo)r ather, the aithless These)s, who has sin#e m)rdered yo)r own
royal motherJwhy have the ')ries not ()nished yo) or showin* s)#h )nilial indieren#e
to her ateKJand m)st one day m)rder meP $ #o)nt on yo) to reven*e yo)rsel on him by
(ayin* homa*e to !(hrodite in my #om(any% .o)ld we not *o away and live to*ether, or
awhile at least, and make a h)ntin* e:(edition the e:#)seK Meanwhile, none #an s)s(e#t o)r
tr)e eelin*s or ea#h other% !lready we are lod*ed )nder the same roo, and o)r ae#tion will
be re*arded as inno#ent, and even (raiseworthy%A
e% &i((olyt)s b)rned this letter in horror, and #ame to "haedraAs #hamber, lo)d with
re(roa#hes2 b)t she tore her #lothes, threw o(en the #hamber doors, and #ried o)t1 I&el(,
hel(P $ am ravishedPA Then she han*ed hersel rom the lintel, and let a note a##)sin* him o
monstro)s #rimes%
% These)s, on re#eivin* the note, #)rsed &i((olyt)s, and *ave orders that he m)st E)it
!thens at on#e, never to ret)rn% -ater he remembered the three wishes *ranted him by his
ather "oseidon, and (rayed earnestly that &i((olyt)s mi*ht die that very day% I'ather,A he
(leaded, Isend a beast a#ross &i((olyt)sAs (ath2 as he makes or Troe8enPA
*% &i((olyt)s had set o)t rom !thens at )ll s(eed% !s he drove alon* the narrow (art o the
$sthm)s a h)*e wave, whi#h overto((ed even the Mol)rian Ro#k, rolled roarin* shoreward2
and rom its #rest s(ran* a *reat do*7seal 5or, some say, a white b)ll6, bellowin* and s(o)tin*
water% &i((olyt)sAs o)r horses swerved towards the #li, mad with terror, b)t bein* an
e:(ert #harioteer he restrained them rom (l)n*in* over the ed*e% The beast then *allo(ed
mena#in*ly behind the #hariot, and he ailed to kee( his team on a strai*ht #o)rse% 3ot ar
rom the san#t)ary o +aronian !rtemis, a wild olive is still shown, #alled the Twisted
Rha#hosJthe Troe8enian term or a barren olive7tree is rha#hosJand it was on a bran#h o
this tree that a loo( o &i((olyt)sAs reins #a)*ht% &is #hariot was l)n* sideways a*ainst a
(ile o ro#ks and broken into (ie#es% &i((olyt)s, entan*led in the reins, and thrown irst
a*ainst the tree7tr)nk, and then a*ainst the ro#ks, was dra**ed to death by his horses, while
the ()rs)er vanished%
h% +ome, however, relate im(robably that !rtemis then told These)s the tr)th, and ra(t him in
the twinklin* o an eye to Troe8en, where he arrived H)st in time to be re#on#iled to his dyin*
son2 and that she reven*ed hersel on !(hrodite by (ro#)rin* !donisAs death% 'or #ertain,
tho)*h, she #ommanded the Troe8enians to (ay &i((olyt)s divine hono)rs, and all
Troe8enian brides hen#eorth to #)t o a lo#k o their hair, and dedi#ate it to him% $t was
?iomedes who dedi#ated the an#ient tem(le and ima*e o &i((olyt)s at Troe8en, and who
irst oered him his ann)al sa#rii#e% 4oth "haedraAs and &i((olyt)s tombs, the latter a
mo)nd o earth, are shown in the en#los)re o the tem(le, near the myrtle7tree with the
(ri#ked leaves%
i% The Troe8enians themselves deny that &i((olyt)s was dra**ed death by horses, or even
that he lies b)ried in his tem(le2 nor will the reveal the whereabo)ts o his real tomb% Det they
de#lare that the *ods set him amon* the stars as the .harioteer%
H% The !thenians raised a barrow in &i((olyt)sAs memory, #lose to the Tem(le o Themis,
be#a)se his death had been bro)*ht abo)t by bad #)rses% +ome say that These)s, a##)sed o
his m)rder, was o)nd *)ilty, ostra#i8ed, and banished to +#yros, where he ended his lie in
shame and *rie% 4)t his downall is more *enerally believed to have been #a)se by an
attem(ted ra(e o "erse(hone%
k% &i((olyt)sAs *host des#ended to Tartar)s, and !rtemis, in bi* indi*nation, be**ed
!s#le(i)s to revive his #or(se% !s#le(i)s o(ened the doors o his ivory medi#ine #abinet and
took o)t the herb with whi#h .retan Gla)#)s had been revived% With it he thri#e to)#hed
&i((olyt)sAs breast, re(eatin* #ertain #harms, and at the third to)#h the dead man raised his
head rom the *ro)nd% 4)t &ades and the Three 'ates, s#andali8ed by this brea#h o (rivile*e,
(ers)aded @e)s kill !s#le(i)s with a th)nderbolt%
l% The -atins relate that !rtemis then wra((ed &i((olyt)s in a thi#k #lo)d, dis*)ised him as
an a*ed man, and #han*ed his eat)res% !ter hesitatin* between .rete and ?elos as s)itable
(la#es o #on#ealment, she bro)*ht him to her sa#red *rove at $talian !ri#ia% There with her
#onsent, he married the nym(h ,*eria, and he still lives beside the lake amon* dark oak7
woods, s)rro)nded by sheer (re#i(i#es% !s he sho)ld be reminded o his death, !rtemis
#han*ed his name Cirbi)s, whi#h means vir bis, or Itwi#e a manA2 and no horses are allowed
in the vi#inity% The (riesthood o !ri#ian !rtemis is only to r)naway slaves% $n her *rove
*rows an an#ient oak7tree, the bran#hes o whi#h may not be broken, b)t i a slave dares do
so the (riest, who has himsel killed his (rede#essor and thereore lives ho)rly ear o death,
m)st i*ht him, sword a*ainst sword, or (riesthood% The !ri#ians say that These)s be**ed
&i((olyt)s to remain with him at !thens, b)t he re)sed%
m% ! tablet in !s#le(i)sAs ,(ida)rian san#t)ary re#ords that &i((olyt)s dedi#ated twenty
horses to him, in *ratit)de or havin* been revived%
1% The in#ident o "haedraAs in#est)o)s love or &i((olyt)s, like that o "oti(harAs wie and
her ad)ltero)s love or 9ose(h, is borrowed either rom the ,*y(tian Tale o the Two
4rothers, or rom a #ommon .anaanite so)r#e% $ts seE)el has been based )(on the amiliar
i#on showin* the #hariot #rash at the end o a sa#red kin*As rei*n% $, as in an#ient $reland, a
(ro(heti# roarin* o the 3ovember sea warned the kin* that his ho)r was at hand, this
warnin* will have been (i#t)red as a b)ll, or seal, (oised o(en7mo)thed on the #rest o a
wave% &i((olyt)sAs reins m)st have #a)*ht in the myrtle, rather than in the sinister7lookin*
olive, later asso#iated with the #rash1 the myrtle, in a#t, whi#h *rew #lose to his hero shrine,
and was amo)s or its (erorated leaves% Myrtle symboli8ed the last month o the kin*As
rei*n2 as a((ears in the story o ;enoma)sAs #hariot #rash2 whereas wild olive symboli8ed the
irst month o his s)##essorAs rei*n% Cir bis is a alse derivation o Cirbi)s, whi#h seems to
re(resent the Greek hierobios, Iholy lieAJthe h oten be#omin* v1 as in &estia and Cesta, or
&es(eros and Ces(er% $n the Golden 4o)*h +ir 9ames 'ra8er has shown that the bran#h whi#h
the (riest *)arded so Healo)sly was mistletoe2 and it is likely that Gla)#)s son o Minos, who
has been #on)sed with Gla)#)s son o +isy(h)s, was revived by mistletoe% Tho)*h the (re7
&elleni# mistletoe and oak #)lt had been s)((ressed in Gree#e, a re)*ee (riesthood rom the
$sthm)s may well have bro)*ht it to !ri#ia% ,*eriaAs name shows that she was death7*oddess,
livin* *rove o bla#k (o(lars%
0% &i((olyt)sAs (erE)isite o the brideAs lo#k m)st be a (atriar#hal innovation, desi*ned
(erha(s to de(rive women o the ma*i#al (ower resident in their hair, as Mohammedan
women are shaved on marria*e%
<% The #on#ealment o &i((olyt)sAs tomb is (aralleled in the stories o +isy(h)s and 3ele)s,
whi#h s)**ests that he was b)ried at some strate*i# (oint o the $sthm)s%
-a(iths !nd .enta)rs
+;M, say that "eiritho)s the -a(ith was the son o $:ion and ?ia, da)*hter o ?ione)s2
others, that he was the son o @e)s who, dis*)ised as a stallion, #o)rsed aro)nd ?ia beore
sed)#in* her%
b% !lmost in#redible re(orts o These)sAs stren*th and valo)r had rea#hed "eiritho)s, who
r)led over the Ma*netes, at the mo)nd o the river "ene)s2 and one day he resolved to test
them by raidin* !tti#a and drivin* away a herd o #attle that were *ra8in* at Marathon% When
These)s at on#e went in ()rs)it, "eiritho)s boldly t)rned abo)t to a#e him2 b)t ea#h was
illed with s)#h admiration or the otherAs nobility o a((earan#e that the #attle were
or*otten, and they swore an oath o everlastin* riendshi(%
#% "eiritho)s married &i((odameia, or ?eidameia, da)*hter o 4)tesJor, some say, o
!drast)sJand invited all the ;lym(ians to his weddin*, e:#e(t !res and ,ris2 he
remembered the mis#hie whi#h ,ris had #a)sed at the marria*e o "ele)s and Thetis% +in#e
more *)ests #ame to "eiritho)sAs (ala#e than it #o)ld #ontain, his #o)sins the .enta)rs,
to*ether with 3estor, .aene)s, and other Thessalian (rin#es, were seated at tables in a vast,
tree7shaded #ave near by%
d% The .enta)rs, however, were )n)sed to wine and, when they smelled its ra*ran#e, ()shed
away the so)r milk whi#h was set beore them, and ran to ill their silver horns rom the
wine7skins% $n their i*noran#e they swilled the stron* liE)or )nmi:ed with water, be#omin*
so dr)nk that when the bride was es#orted into the #avern to *reet them, ,)ryt)s, or ,)rytion,
lea(ed rom his stool, overt)rned the table, and dra**ed her away by the hair% !t on#e the
other .enta)rs ollowed his dis*ra#e)l e:am(le, le#hero)sly straddlin* the nearest women
and boys%
e% "eiritho)s and his (aranym(h These)s s(ran* to &i((odameiaAs res#)e, #)t o ,)rytionAs
ears and nose and, with the hel( o the -a(iths, threw him o)t o the #avern% The ens)rin*
i*ht, in the #o)rse o whi#h .aene)s the -a(ith was killed, lasted )ntil ni*htall2 and th)s
be*an the lon* e)d between the .enta)rs and their -a(ith nei*hbo)rs, en*ineered by !res
and ,ris in reven*e or the sli*ht oered them%
% ;n this o##asion the .enta)rs s)ered a serio)s reverse, and These)s drove them rom
their an#ient h)ntin* *ro)nds on Mo)nt "elion to the land o the !ethi#es near Mo)nt "ind)s%
4)t it was not an easy task to s)bd)e the .enta)rs, who had already dis()ted $:ionAs
kin*dom with "eiritho)s, and who now, rallyin* their or#es, invaded -a(ith territory% They
s)r(rised and sla)*htered the main -a(ith army, and when the s)rvivors led to "holoB in
,lis, the ven*e)l .enta)rs e:()lsed them and #onverted "holoB into a bandit stron*hold o
their own% 'inally the -a(iths settled in Malea%
%=% $t was d)rin* These)sAs #am(ai*n a*ainst the .enta)rs that he met &era#les a*ain, or the
irst time sin#e his #hildhood2 and (resently initiated him into the Mysteries o ?emeter at
,le)sis%
1% 4oth -a(iths and .enta)rs #laimed des#ent rom $:ion, an oak7hero, and had a horse #)lt
in #ommon% They were (rimitive mo)ntain tribes in 3orthern Gree#e, o whose an#ient
rivalry the &ellenes took advanta*e by allyin* themselves irst with one, and then with the
other% .enta)r and -a(ith may be itali# words1 #ent)ria, Iwar7band o one h)ndredA and
la(i#idae, I"sint#hith(ersA% 5The )s)al .lassi#al etymolo*y is, res(e#tively, rom #entta)roi,
Ithose who s(ear b)llsA, and la(i8ein, Ito swa**erA%6 These mo)ntaineers seem to have had
eroti# or*ies, and th)s won a re()tation or (romis#)ity amon* the mono*amo)s &ellenes2
members o this 3eolithi# ra#e s)rvived in the !r#adian mo)ntains, and on Mo)nt "ind)s,
)ntil .lassi#al times, and vesti*es o their (re7&elleni# lan*)a*e are to be o)nd in modern
!lbania%
0% $t is, however, )nlikely that the battle between -a(iths and .enta)rs Jde(i#ted on the
*able o @e)sAs tem(le at ;lym(ia 5"a)sanias62 at !thens in the san#t)ary o These)s
5"a)sanias62 and on !theneAs ae*is 5"a)sanias6Jre#orded a mere str)**le between rontier
tribes% 4ein* #onne#ted with a royal weddin* east, divinely (atroni8ed, at whi#h These)s in
his lion7skin assisted, it will have de(i#ted a rit)al event o intimate #on#ern to all &ellenes%
-ion7skinned &era#les also o)*ht the .enta)rs on a similarly estive o##asion% &omer #alls
them Isha**y wild beastsA, and sin#e they are not dierentiated rom satyrs in early Greek
vase7(aintin*s, the i#on (robably shows a newly7installed kin*Jit does not matter whoJ
battlin* with dan#ers dis*)ised as animals1 an event whi#h !% .% &o#art in his Gin*shi(
(roves to have been an inte*ral (art o the an#ient #oronation #eremony% ,)rytion is (layin*
the #lassi#al (art o interlo(er%
<% Whether $:ion or @e)s was "eiritho)sAs ather de(ended on $:ionAs ri*ht to style himsel
@e)s% The myth o his (arenta*e has evidently been
ded)#ed rom an i#on whi#h showed a (riestess o ThetisJ?ia, da)*hter o ?ione)s, Ithe
divine da)*hter o the seashoreAJhalter in hand, en#o)ra*in* the #andidate or kin*shi( to
master the wild horse% &i((odameiaAs name 5Ihorse7tamerA6 reers to the same i#on% @e)s,
dis*)ised as stallion, I#o)rsed aro)ndA ?ia, be#a)se that is the meanin* o the name
"eiritho)s2 and $:ion, as the +)n7*od, s(read7ea*led to his wheel, #o)rsed aro)nd the
heavens%
These)s in Tartar)s
!'T,R &i((odameiaAs death "eiritho)s (ers)aded These)s, whose wie "haedra had
re#ently han*ed hersel, to visit +(arta in $ris #om(any and #arry away &elen, a sister o
.astor and "olyde)#es, the ?ios#)ri, with whom they were both ambitio)s to be #onne#ted
by marria*e% Where the san#t)ary o +era(is now stands at !thens, they swore to stand by
ea#h other in this (erilo)s enter(rise2 to draw lots or &elen when they had won her2 and then
to #arry o another o @e)sAs da)*hters or the loser, whatever the dan*er mi*ht be%
b% This de#ided, they led an army into -a#edaemon2 then, ridin* ahead o the main body,
sei8ed &elen while she was oerin* a sa#rii#e in the Tem(le o /(ri*ht !rtemis at +(arta,
and *allo(ed away with her% They soon o)tdistan#ed their ()rs)ers, shakin* them o at Te*ea
where, as had been a*reed, lots were drawn or &elen2 and These)s (roved the winner% &e
oresaw, however, that the !thenians wo)ld by no means a((rove o his havin* th)s (i#ked a
E)arrel with the redo)btable ?ios#)ri, and thereore sent &elen, who was not yet n)bileJ
bein* a twelve7year7old #hild or, some say, even yo)n*erJto the !tti# villa*e o !(hidnae,
where he #har*ed his riend !(hidn)s to *)ard her with the *reatest attention and se#re#y%
!ethra, These)sAs mother, a##om(anied &elen and #ared well or her% +ome try to e:#)l(ate
These)s by re#ordin* that it was $das and -yn#e)s who stole &elen, and then entr)sted her to
the (rote#tion o These)s, in reven*e or the ?ios#)riAs abd)#tion o the -e)#i((ides% ;thers
re#ord that &elenAs ather Tyndare)s himsel entr)sted her to These)s, on learnin* that his
ne(hew ,nare(hor)s, son o &i((o#oFn, was (lannin* to abd)#t her%
#% +ome years (assed and, when &elen was old eno)*h or These)s to marry her, "eiritho)s
reminded him o their (a#t% To*ether they #ons)lted an ora#le o @e)s, whom they had #alled
)(on to witness their oath, and his ironi#al res(onse was1 IWhy not visit Tartar)s and demand
"erse(hone, the wie o &ades, as a bride or "eiritho)sK +he is the noblest o my da)*hters%A
These)s was o)tra*ed when "eiritho)s, who took this s)**estion serio)sly, held him to his
oath2 b)t he dared not re)se to *o, and (resently they des#ended, sword in hand, to Tartar)s%
!voidin* the erry7(assa*e a#ross -ethe, they #hose the ba#k way, the entran#e to whi#h is in
a #avern o -a#onian Taenar)s, and were soon kno#kin* at the *ates o &adesAs (ala#e% &ades
listened #almly to their im()dent reE)est and, ei*nin* hos(itality, invited them to be seated%
/ns)s(e#tin*ly they took the settee he oered, whi#h (roved to be the .hair o 'or*et)lness
and at on#e be#ame (art o their lesh, so that they #o)ld not rise a*ain witho)t sel7
m)tilation% .oiled ser(ents hissed all abo)t them, and they were well lashed by the ')ries and
ma)led by .erber)sAs teeth, while &ades looked on, smilin* *rimly%
d% Th)s they remained in torment or o)r )ll years, )ntil &era#les, #omin* at ,)rysthe)sAs
#ommand to et#h )( .erber)s, re#o*ni8ed them as they m)tely stret#hed o)t their hands,
(leadin* or his hel(% "erse(hone re#eived &era#les like a brother, *ra#io)sly (ermittin* him
to release the evil7doers and take them ba#k to the )((er air, i he #o)ld% &era#les there)(on
*ras(ed These)s by both hands and heaved with *i*anti# stren*th )ntil, with a rendin* noise,
he was torn ree2 b)t a *reat (art o his lesh remained sti#kin* to the ro#k, whi#h is why
These)sAs !thenian des#endants are all so abs)rdly small7b)tto#ked% 3e:t, he sei8ed hold o
"eiritho)sAs hands, b)t the earth E)aked warnin*ly, and he desisted2 "eiritho)s had, ater all,
been the leadin* s(irit in this blas(hemo)s enter(rise%
e% !##ordin* to some a##o)nts, however, &era#les released "eiritho)s as well as These)s2
while, a##ordin* to others, he released neither, b)t let These)s #hained or ever to a iery
#hair, and "eiritho)s re#linin* beside $:ion on a *olden #o)#hJbeore their amished *a8e
rise ma*nii#ent banE)ets whi#h the ,ldest o the ')ries #onstantly snat#hes away% $t has
even been said that These)s and "eiritho)s never raided Tartar)s at all, b)t only a Thes(rotian
or Molossian #ity named .i#hyr)s, whose kin* !idone)s, indin* that "eiritho)s intended to
#arry o his wie, threw him to a (a#k o ho)nds, and #onined These)s in a d)n*eon, rom
whi#h &era#les event)ally res#)ed him%
1% -eadin* heroes in several mytholo*ies are said to have harrowed &ell1 These)s, &era#les,
?ionys)s, and ;r(he)s in Gree#e2 4el and Mard)k in 4abylonia2 !eneas in $taly2 .)#h)lain
in $reland2 !rth)r, Gwydion, and !mathaon in 4ritain2 ;*ier le ?anois in 4rittany% The ori*in
o the myth seems to be a tem(orary death whi#h the sa#red kin* (retended to )nder*o at the
#lose o rei*n, while a boy interre: took his (la#e or a sin*le day, #ir#)mventin* the law
whi#h orbade him to e:tend his term more then thirteen months o a solar year%
0% 4el, and his s)##essor Mard)k, s(ent their (eriod o demise in battle with the marine
monster Tiamat, an embodiment o the +ea7*oddess who sent the ?el)*e2 like an#ient $rish
kin*s, who are said to have *one o)t to do battle with the !tlanti# breakers, they seem to have
#eremonially drowned% !n ,tr)s#an vase shows the morib)nd kin*, whose name is *iven as
9ason, in the Haws o a sea7monsterJan i#on rom whi#h the moral ane#dote o 9onah and the
whale have a((arently been ded)#ed, 9onah bein* Mard)k%
<% !thenian mytho*ra(hers have s)##eeded in dis*)isin* the bitter rivalry between These)s
and his a#tin*7twin "eiritho)s or the avo)rs o the Goddess o ?eath7in7-ieJwho a((ears
in the myth as &elen and "erse(honeJby (resentin* them as a devoted riends like .astor
and "olyde)#es who made an amatory raid on a #ity, and one o whom was e:#)sed death
#laim thanks to alle*ed divine birth% $das and -yn#e)s, a similar (air o twins, have been
introd)#ed into the story to em(hasi8e this (oint% 4)t name o "eiritho)s, Ihe who t)rns
abo)tA, s)**ests that he was a sa#red in his own ri*ht, and on vase7(aintin*s rom -ower $taly
he is as#endin* to the )((er air and sayin* arewell to These)s, who meets the Goddess o
9)sti#e, as tho)*h These)s were merely tanist%
=% &elenAs abd)#tion d)rin* a sa#rii#e re#alls that o ;reithyia by 4oreas, and may have
been ded)#ed rom the same i#on, whi#h re(resents eroti# or*ies at the !thenian
Thesmo(horia% $t is (ossible tho)*h, that a shrine o the !tti# *oddess &elen at !(hidnae
#ontained an ima*e or other #)lt obHe#t stolen by the !thenians rom her -a#onian eE)ivalent
Ji the visit to Tartar)s is a do)blet o the story, they may made a sea7raid on Taenar)sJand
that this was s)bseE)ently retrieved the +(artans%
5% The o)r years o These)sAs stay in Tartar)s are the )s)al (eriod whi#h a sa#red kin* made
room or his tanist2 a new sa#red kin*, These)s rediviv)s, wo)ld then be installed% !n attem(t
was made by !thenians to elevate These)s to the stat)s o an ;lym(ian *od, by assertin* that
he had es#a(ed rom death, as ?ionys)s and &era#les, b)t their "elo(onnesian enemies
s)##ess)lly o((osed this #laim% +ome insist that he had never es#a(ed, b)t was ()nished
eternally or his insolen#e like $:ion and +isy(h)s% ;thers rationali8ed the story by sayin*
that he raided .i#hyr)s, not Tartar)s2 and took the tro)ble to e:(lain that "eiritho)s had not
been ma)led by .erber)s, b)t by Molosthenian do*Jlar*est and ier#est breed in Gree#e%
The most *enero)s #on#ession made to !thenian myth was that These)s, released ater a
h)miliatin* session in the .hair o 'or*et)lness,
a(olo*eti#ally transerred most o his tem(les and san#t)aries to &era#les the Res#)er, whose
-abo)rs and s)erin*s he imitated%
6% De t These)s was a hero o some im(ortan#e, and m)st be *iven the #redit o havin*
harrowed &ell, in the sense that he (enetrated to the #entre o the .retan ma8e, where ?eath
was waitin*, and #ame saely o)t a*ain% &ad the !thenians been as stron* on land as they
were at sea, he wo)ld do)btless have be#ome an ;lym(ian or, at least, a national demi7*od%
The #entral so)r#e o this hostility towards These)s was (robably ?el(hi, where !(olloAs
;ra#le was notorio)sly s)bservient to the +(artans in their str)**le a*ainst !thens%
The ?eath ; These)s
?/R$3G These)sAs absen#e in Tartar)s the ?ios#)ri assembled an army o -a#onians and
!r#adians, mar#hed a*ainst !thens, and demanded the ret)rn o &elen% When the !thenians
denied that they were shelterin* her, or had the least notion where she mi*ht be, the ?ios#)ri
(ro#eeded to rava*e !tti#a, )ntil the inhabitants o ?e#elia, who disa((roved o These)sAs
#ond)#t, *)ided them to !(hidnae, where they o)nd and res#)ed their sister% The ?ios#)ri
then ra8ed !(hidnae to the *ro)nd2 b)t the ?e#eleians are still imm)ne rom all +(artan ta:es
and entitled to seats o hono)r at +(artan estivals Jtheir lands alone were s(ared in the
"elo(onnesian War, when the invadin* +(artans laid !tti#a waste%
b% ;thers say that the revealer o &elenAs hidin*7(la#e was one !#adem)s, or ,#hedem)s, an
!r#adian, who had #ome to !tti#a on These)sAs invitation% The +(artans #ertainly treated him
with *reat hono)r while he was alive and, in their later invasions, s(ared his small estate on
the river .e(hiss)s, si: stadia distant rom !thens% This is now #alled the !#ademia1 a
bea)ti)l, well7watered *arden, where (hiloso(hers meet and e:(ress their irreli*io)s views
on the nat)re o the *ods%
#% Marath)s led the !r#adian #ontin*ent o the ?ios#)riAs army and, in obedien#e to an
ora#le, oered himsel or sa#rii#e at the head o his men% +ome say that it was he, not
Marathon the ather o +i#yon and .orinth)s, who *ave his name to the #ity o Marathon%
d% 3ow, "eteos son o ;rne)s and *randson o ,re#hthe)s had been banished by !e*e)s, and
the ?ios#)ri, to s(ite These)s, bro)*ht ba#k his son Menesthe)s rom e:ile, and made him
re*ent o !thens% This Menesthe)s was the irst dema*o*)e% ?)rin* These)sAs absen#e in
Tartar)s he in*ratiated himsel with the (eo(le by remindin* the nobles o the (ower whi#h
they had oreited thro)*h 'ederali8ation, and by tellin* the (oor that they were bein* robbed
o #o)ntry and reli*ion, and had be#ome s)bHe#t to an advent)rer o obs#)re ori*in who,
however, had now va#ated the throne and was r)mo)red dead%
e% When !(hidnae ell, and !thens was in dan*er, Menesthe)s (ers)aded the (eo(le to
wel#ome the ?ios#)ri into the #ity as their benea#tors and deliverers% They did indeed
behave most #orre#tly, and asked only to be admitted to the ,le)sinian Mysteries, as &era#les
had been% This reE)est was *ranted, and the ?ios#)ri be#ame honorary #iti8ens o !thens%
!(hidn)s was their ado(tive ather, as "yti)s had been &era#lesAs on a similar o##asion%
?ivine hono)rs were thereater (aid them at the risin* o their #onstellation, in *ratit)de or
the #lemen#y whi#h they had shown to the #ommon (eo(le2 and they #heer)lly bro)*ht
&elen ba#k to +(arta, with These)sAs mother !ethra and a sister o "eiritho)s as her bond7
woman% +ome say that they o)nd &elen still a vir*in2 others, that These)s had *ot her with
#hild and that at !r*os, on the way home, she *ave birth to a *irl, $(hi*eneia, and dedi#ated a
san#t)ary to !rtemis in *ratit)de or her sae delivery%
% These)s, who ret)rned rom Tartar)s soon aterwards, at on#e raised an altar to &era#les
the +avio)r, and re#onse#rated to him all b)t o)r o his own tem(les and *roves% &owever,
he had been *reatly weakened by his tort)res, and o)nd !thens so sadly #orr)(ted by a#tion
and sedition that he was no lon*er able to maintain order% 'irst sm)**lin* his #hildren o)t o
the #ity to ,)boea, where ,l(enor son o .hal#odon sheltered themJb)t some say that they
had led there beore his ret)rnJand then solemnly #)rsin* the (eo(le o !thens rom Mo)nt
Gar*ett)s, he sailed or .rete, where ?e)#alion had (romised to shelter him%
*% ! storm blew his shi( o her #o)rse, and his irst landall was the island o +#yros, near
,)boea, where Gin* -y#omedes, tho)*h a #lose riend o Menesthe)s, re#eived him with all
the s(lendo)r d)e to his ame and linea*e% These)s, who had inherited an estate on +#yros,
asked (ermission to settle there% 4)t -y#omedes had lon* re*arded this estate as his own and,
)nder the (reten#e o showin* These)s its bo)ndaries, invei*led him to the to( o a hi*h #li,
()shed him over, and then *ave o)t that he had allen a##identally while takin* a dr)nken,
(ost7(randial stroll%
h% Menesthe)s, now let in )ndist)rbed (ossession o the throne, was amon* &elenAs s)itors,
and led the !thenian or#es to Troy, where he won *reat ame as a strate*ist b)t was killed in
battle% The sons o These)s s)##eeded him%
i% These)s is said to have or#ibly abd)#ted !na:o o Troe8en2 and to have lain with $o(e,
da)*hter o Tirynthian $(hi#les% &is love7aairs #a)sed the !thenians s)#h reE)ent
embarrassment that they were slow to a((re#iate his tr)e worth even or several *enerations
ater he had died% !t the 4attle o Marathon, however, his s(irit rose rom the earth to hearten
them, bearin* down )lly armed )(on the "ersians2 and when vi#tory had been se#)red, the
?el(hi# ;ra#le *ave orders that his bones sho)ld be bro)*ht home% The (eo(le o !thens had
s)ered rom the +#yrians #ontin)ally or many years, and the ;ra#le anno)n#ed that this
wo)ld #ontin)e so lon* as they retained the bones% 4)t to re#over them was a dii#)lt task,
be#a)se the +#yrians were no less s)rly than ier#e and, when .imon #a(t)red the island,
wo)ld not reveal the whereabo)ts o These)sAs *rave% &owever, .imon observed a she7ea*le
on a hill7to(, tearin* )( the soil with her talons% !##laimin* this as a si*n rom &eaven, he
sei8ed a matto#k, hastened to the hole made by the ea*le, and be*an to enlar*e it% !lmost at
on#e the matto#k str)#k a stone #oin, inside whi#h he o)nd a tall skeleton, armed with a
bron8e lan#e and a sword2 it #o)ld only be that o These)s% The skeleton was reverently
bro)*ht to !thens, and re7interred amid *reat #eremony in These)sAs san#t)ary near the
Gymnasi)m%
H% These)s was a skilled lyre7(layer and has now be#ome Hoint (atron with &era#les and
&ermes o every *ymnasi)m and wrestlin* s#hool in Gree#e% &is resemblan#e to &era#les is
(roverbial% &e took (art in the .alydonian &)nt2 aven*ed the #ham(ions who ell at Thebes2
and only ailed to be one o the !r*ona)ts thro)*h bein* detained in Tartar)s when they
sailed or .ol#his% The irst war between the "elo(onnesians and the !thenians was #a)sed
by his abd)#tion o &elen, and the se#ond by his re)sal to s)rrender &era#lesAs sons to Gin*
,)rysthe)s% $ll7treated slaves and labo)rers, whose an#estors looked to him or (rote#tion
a*ainst their o((ressors, now seek re)*e in his san#t)ary, where sa#rii#es are oered to him
on the ei*hth day o every month% This day may have been #hosen be#a)se he irst arrived at
!thens rom Troe8en on the ei*hth o &e#atomboeon, and ret)rned rom .rete on the ei*hth
day o "yane(sion% ;r (erha(s be#a)se he was a son o "oseidon1 or "oseidonAs easts are
also observed on that day o the month, sin#e ei*ht, bein* the irst #)be o an even n)mber,
re(resents "oseidonAs )nshakeable (ower%
1% Menesthe)s the ,re#htheid, who is (raised in $liad or his o)tstandin* military skill, and
rei*ned at !thens d)rin* These)sAs o)r yearsA absen#e in Tartar)s, seems to have been his
mortal twin and #o7kin*, the !thenian #o)nter(art o "eiritho)s the -a(ith% &ere he a((ears
as a (rototy(e o the !thenian dema*o*)es who, thro)*ho)t the "elo(onnesian War, avo)red
(ea#e with +(arta at any (ri#e2 b)t the mytho*ra(her, while de(lorin* his ta#ti#s, is #are)l
not to oend the ?ios#)ri, to whom !thenian sailors (rayed or s)##o)r when overtaken by
storms%
0% The theme o the eathered (harma#os rea((ears in the names o Menesthe)sAs ather and
*randather, and in the death o These)s himsel% This took (la#e on the island o +#yros
5IstonyA6, also s(elled +#iros2 whi#h s)**ests that, in the i#on rom whi#h the story has been
ded)#ed, the word s#ir 5an abbreviated orm o +#iro(horia, e:(lainin* why the kin* is bein*
l)n* rom a #li6 has been mistaken or the name o the island% $ so, -y#omedes will have
been the vi#tim2 his was a #ommon !thenian name% ;ri*inally, it seems, sa#rii#es were
oered to the Moon7*oddess on the ei*hth day o ea#h l)nation, when she entered her se#ond
(hase, this bein* the ri*ht time o the month or (lantin*2 b)t when "oseidon married her, and
a((ro(riated her #)lt, the month be#ame a solar (eriod, no lon*er linked with the moon%
<% The mythi# im(ortan#e o Marath)s 5IennelA6 lay in the made o ennel stalks or #arryin*
the new sa#red ire rom a #entral hearth to (rivate ones, ater their ann)al e:tin#tion%
=% 4eore #losin* the story o These)s, let me here add a )rther note to the Tra*liatella vase
whi#h shows the sa#red kin* and his tanist es#a(in* rom a ma8e% $ have now seen the (i#t)re
on the other side o this vase, whi#h is o e:traordinary interest as the (rolo*)e to this es#a(e1
a s)nwise (ro#ession on oot led by the )narmed sa#red kin*% +even men es#ort him, ea#h
armed with three Havelins and a shield with a boar devi#e, the s(ear7armed tanist brin*in* )(
the rear% These seven men evidently re(resent the seven months r)led by the tanist, whi#h all
between the a((le harvest and ,asterJthe boar bein* his ho)sdaold bad*e% The s#ene takes
(la#e on the day o the kin*As rit)al death, and the Moon7E)een 5"asi(haB6 has #ome to meet
him1 a terrible robed i*)re with one arm threatenin*ly akimbo% With the o)tstret#hed other
arm she is oerin* him an a((le, whi#h is his (ass(ort to "aradise2 and the three s(ears that
ea#h man #arries s(ell death% Det tile kin* is bein* *)ided by a small emale i*)re robed like
the otherJwe may #all her the (rin#ess !riadne, who hel(ed These)s to es#a(e rom the
death7ma8e at .nossos% !nd he is boldly dis(layin*, as a #o)nter7#harm to the a((le, an
,aster7e**, the e** o res)rre#tions% ,aster was the season when the Troy7town dan#es were
(erormed in the t)r7#)t ma8es o 4ritain, and ,tr)ria too% !n ,tr)s#an sa#red e** o
(olished bla#k tra#hite, o)nd at "er)*ia, with an arrow in relie r)nnin* aro)nd it, is this
same holy e**%
;edi()s
-!$/+, son o -abda#)s, married $o#aste, and r)led over Thebes% Grieved by his (rolon*ed
#hildlessness, he se#retly #ons)lted the ?el(hi# ;ra#le, whi#h inormed him that this seemin*
misort)ne was a blessin*, be#a)se any #hild born to $o#aste wo)ld be#ome his m)rderer% &e
thereore ()t $o#aste away, tho)*h witho)t oerin* any reason or his de#ision, whi#h #a)sed
her s)#h ve:ation that, havin* made him drank, she invei*led him into her arms a*ain as soon
as ni*ht ell% When, nine months later, $o#aste was bro)*ht to bed o a son, -ai)s snat#hed
him rom the n)rseAs arms, (ier#ed his eet with a nail and, bindin* them to*ether, e:(osed
him on Mo)nt .ithaeron%
b% Det the 'ates had r)led that this boy sho)ld rea#h a *reen old a*e% ! .orinthian she(herd
o)nd him, named him ;edi()s be#a)se his eet were deormed by the nail7wo)nd, and
bro)*ht him to .orinth, where Gin* "olyb)s was rei*nin* at the time%
#% !##ordin* to another version o the story, -ai)s did not e:(ose ;edi()s on the mo)ntain,
b)t lo#ked him in a #hest, whi#h was lowered into the sea rom a shi(% This #hest drited
ashore at +i#yon, where "eriboea, "olyb)sAs E)een, ha((ened to be on the bea#h, s)(ervisin*
her royal la)ndry7women% +he (i#ked )( ;edi()s, retired to a thi#ket and (retended to have
been over#ome by the (an*s o labo)r% +in#e the la)ndry7women were too b)sy to noti#e
what she was abo)t, she de#eived them all into thinkin* that he had only H)st been born% 4)t
"eriboea told the tr)th to "olyb)s who, also bein* #hildless, was (leased to rear ;edi()s as
his own son%
;ne day, ta)nted by a .orinthian yo)th with not in the least resemblin* his s)((osed (arents,
;edi()s went to ask the ?el(hi# ;ra#le what )t)re lay in store or him% I!way rom the
shrine, wret#hPA the "ythoness #ried in dis*)st% IDo) will kill yo)r ather and marry yo)r
motherPA
d% +in#e ;edi()s loved "olyb)s and "eriboea, and shrank rom brin*in* disaster )(on them,
he at on#e de#ided a*ainst ret)rnin* to .orinth% 4)t in the narrow deile between ?el(hi and
?a)lis he ha((ened to meet -ai)s, who ordered him ro)*hly to ste( o the road and make
way or his betters2 -ai)s, it sho)ld be e:(lained, was in a #hariot and ;edi()s on oot%
;edi()s retorted that he a#knowled*ed no betters e:#e(t the *ods and his own (arents%
I+o m)#h the worse or yo)PA #ried -ai)s, and ordered his #harioteer "oly(hontes to drive on%
;ne o the wheels br)ised ;edi()sAs oot and, trans(orted by ra*e he killed "oly(hontes with
his s(ear% Then, lin*in* -ai)s on the road entan*led in the reins, and whi((in* )( the team,
he made them dra* him to death% $t was let to the kin* o "lataeae to b)ry both #or(ses
e% -ai)s had been on his way to ask the ;ra#le how he mi*ht rid Thebes o the +(hin:% This
monster was a da)*hter o Ty(hon an ,#hidne or, some say, o the do* ;rthr)s and the
.himaera, and had lown to Thebes rom the )ttermost (art o ,thio(ia% +he was easily
re#o*ni8ed by her womanAs head, lionAs body, ser(entAs tail, and ea*leAs win*s% &era had
re#ently sent the +(hin: to ()nish Thebes or -ai)s abd)#tion o the boy .hrysi(()s rom
"isa and, settlin* on Mo)nt "hi#i)m, #lose to the #ity, she now asked every Theban wayarer
riddle ta)*ht her by the Three M)ses1 IWhat bein*, with only one voi#e, has sometimes two
eet, sometimes three, sometimes o)r, an is weakest when it has the mostKA Those who #o)ld
not solve the riddle she throttled and devo)red on the s(ot, amon* whi#h )nort)nates was
$o#asteAs ne(hew &aemon, whom the +(hin: made haimon, or IbloodyA indeed%
;edi()s, a((roa#hin* Thebes resh rom the m)rder o -ai)s, *)essed the answer% IMan,A he
re(lied, Ibe#a)se he #rawls on all o)rs as an inant, stands irmly on his two eet in his
yo)th, and leans )(on sta in his old a*e%A The mortiied +(hin: lea(ed rom Mo)nt "hi#i)m
and dashed hersel to (ie#es in the valley below% !t this the *rate)l Thebans a##laimed
;edi()s kin*, and he married $o#aste, )naware that she was his mother%
% "la*)e then des#ended )(on Thebes, and the ?el(hi# ;ra#le, when #ons)lted on#e more,
re(lied1 I,:(el the m)rderer o -ai)sPA ;edi()s, not knowin* whom he had met in the deile,
(rono)n#ed #)rse on -ai)sAs m)rderer and senten#ed him to e:ile%
*% 4lind Teiresias, the most renowned seer in Gree#e at this time now demanded an a)dien#e
with ;edi()s% +ome say that !thene, who had blinded him or havin* inadvertently seen her
bathin*, was moved by his motherAs (lea and, takin* the ser(ent ,ri#hthoni)s rom her ae*is,
*ave the order1 I.leanse TeiresiasAs ears with yo)r ton*)e that he may )nderstand the
lan*)a*e o (ro(heti# birds%A
h% ;thers say that on#e, on Mo)nt .yllene, Teiresias had seen two ser(ents in the a#t o
#o)(lin*% When both atta#ked him, he str)#k at them with
his sta, killin* the emale% $mmediately he was t)rned into a woman, and be#ame a
#elebrated harlot2 b)t seven years later he ha((ened to see the same si*ht a*ain at the same
s(ot, and this time re*ained his manhood by killin* the male ser(ent% +till others say that
when !(hrodite and the three .harites, "asithea, .ale, and ,)(hrosyne, dis()ted as to whi#h
o the o)r was most bea)ti)l, Teiresias awarded .ale the (ri8e2 where)(on !(hrodite t)rned
him into an old woman% 4)t .ale took him with her to .rete and (resented him with a lovely
head o hair% +ome days later &era be*an re(roa#hin* @e)s or his n)mero)s inidelities% &e
deended them by ar*)in* that, at any rate, when he did share her #o)#h, she had the more
enHoyable time by ar%
IWomen, o #o)rse, derive ininitely *reater (leas)re rom the se:)al a#t than men,A he
bl)stered%
IWhat nonsensePA #ried &era% IThe e:a#t #ontrary is the #ase, and well yo) know it%A
Teiresias, s)mmoned to settle the dis()te rom his (ersonal e:(erien#e, answered2
I$ the (arts o loveJ(leas)re be #o)nted as ten,
Thri#e three *o to women, one only to men%A
&era was so e:as(erated by @e)sAs tri)m(hant *rin that she blinded Teiresias2 b)t @e)s
#om(ensated him with inward si*ht, and a lie e:tended to seven *enerations%
i% Teiresias now a((eared at ;edi()sAs #o)rt, leanin* on the #ornel7wood sta *iven him by
!thene, and revealed to ;edi()s the will o the *ods1 that the (la*)e wo)ld #ease only i a
+own Man died or the sake o the #ity% $o#asteAs ather Menoe#e)s, one o those who had
risen o)t o the earth when .adm)s sowed the ser(entAs teeth, at on#e lea(ed rom the walls,
and all Thebes (raised his #ivi# devotion%
Teiresias then anno)n#ed )rther1 IMenoe#e)s did well, and the (la*)e will now #ease% Det
the *ods had another o the +own Men in mind, one o the third *eneration1 or he has killed
his ather and married his mother% Gnow, M)een $o#aste, that it is yo)r h)sband ;edi()sPA
H% !t irst, none wo)ld believe Teiresias, b)t his words were soon #onirmed by a letter rom
"eriboea at .orinth% +he wrote that the s)dden death o Gin* "olyb)s now allowed her to
reveal the #ir#)mstan#es o ;edi()sAs ado(tion2 and this she did in damnin* details% $o#aste
then han*ed hersel or shame and *rie, while ;edi()s blinded himsel with a (in taken rom
her *arments%
k% +ome say that, altho)*h tormented by the ,rinnyes, who a##)se him o havin* bro)*ht
abo)t his motherAs death, ;edi()s #ontin)ed to rei*n over Thebes or awhile, )ntil he ell
*lorio)sly in battle% !##ordin* to others, however, $o#asteAs brother .reon e:(elled him, b)t
not beore he had #)rsed ,teo#les and "olynei#esJwho were at on#e his sons and his
brothersJwhen they insolently sent him the inerior (ortion o the sa#rii#ial beast, namely
ha)n#h instead o royal sho)lder% They thereore wat#hed dry7eyed as he let the #ity whi#h
he ha, delivered rom the +(hin:As (ower% !ter wanderin* or many years thro)*h #o)ntry
ater #o)ntry, *)ided by his aith)l da)*hter !nti*one, ;edi()s inally #ame to .olon)s in
!tti#a, where the ,rinnyes who have a *rove there, ho)nded him to death, and These)s
b)ried his body in the (re#in#t o the +olemn ;nes at !thens, lamentin* by !nti*oneAs side%
1% The story o -ai)s, $o#aste, and ;edi()s has been ded)#ed rom set o sa#red i#ons by a
deliberate (erversion o their meanin*% ! myth whi#h wo)ld e:(lain -abda#)sAs name 5Ihel(
with tor#hesA6 has been lost2 b)t it may reer to the tor#hli*ht arrival o a ?ivine .hild,
#arried by #attlemen or she(herds at the 3ew Dear #eremony, and a##laimed as a son o the
*oddess 4rimo 5Ira*in*A6% This ele)sis, or advent, was the most im(ortant in#ident in the
,le)sinian Mysteries, and (erha(s also the $sthmian, whi#h wo)ld e:(lain the myth o
;edi()sA arrival at the #o)rt o .orinth% +he(herds ostered or (aid homa*e to many other
le*endary or semi7le*endary inant (rin#es, s)#h as &i((otho)s, "elias, !m(hion, !e*isth)s,
Moses, Rom)l)s, and .yr)s, who were all either e:(osed on a mo)ntain or else #onsi*ned to
the waves in an ark, or both% Moses was o)nd by "haraohAs da)*hter when she went down to
the water with her women% $t is (ossible that ;edi()s, Iswollen ootA, was ori*inally
;edi(ais, Ison o the swellin* seaA, whi#h is the meanin* o the name *iven to the
#orres(ondin* Welsh hero, ?ylan2 and that the (ier#in* o ;edi()sAs eet with a nail belon*s
to the end, not to the be*innin*, o his story, as in the myth o Tal)s%
0% -ai)sAs m)rder is a re#ord o the solar kin*As rit)al death at the hands o his s)##essor1
thrown rom a #hariot and dra**ed by the horses% &is abd)#tion o .hrysi(()s (robably
reers to the sa#rii#e o a s)rro*ate when the irst year o his rei*n ended%
<% The ane#dote o the +(hin: has evidently been ded)#ed rom an i#on showin* the win*ed
Moon7*oddess o Thebes, whose #om(osite body re(resents the two (arts o the Theban year
Jlion or the wa:in* (art, ser(ent or the wanin* (artJand to whom the new kin* oers his
devotions beore marryin* her (riestess, the M)een% $t seems also that the riddle whi#h the
+(hin: learned rom the M)ses has been invented to e:(lain a (i#t)re o an inant, a warrior,
and an old man, all worshi((in* the Tri(le7*oddess1 ea#h (ays his res(e#ts to a dierent
(erson o the triad% 4)t the +(hin:, over#ome by ;edi()s, killed hersel, and so did her
(riestess $o#aste% Was ;edi()s a thirteenth7#ent)ry invader o Thebes, who s)((ressed the
old Minoan #)lt o the *oddess and reormed the #alendarK /nder the old system, the new
kin*, tho)*h a orei*ner, had theoreti#ally been a son o the old kin* whom he killed and
whose widow he married2 a #)stom that the (atriar#hal invaders misre(resented as (arri#ide
and in#est% The 're)dian theory that the I;edi()s #om(le:A is an instin#t #ommon to all men
was s)**ested by this (erverted ane#dote2 and while "l)tar#h re#ords 5;n $sis and ;siris6 that
the hi((o(otam)s Im)rdered his sire and or#ed his damA, he wo)ld never have s)**ested
that every man has a hi((o(otam)s #om(le:%
=% Tho)*h Theban (atriots, loth to admit that ;edi()s was a orei*ner who took their #ity by
storm, (reerred to make him the lost heir to the kin*dom, the tr)th is revealed by the death o
Menoe#e)s, a member o the (re7&elleni# ra#e that #elebrated the "eloria estival in memory
o ;(hion the ?emi)r*e, rom whose teeth they #laimed to have s(r)n*% &e lea(ed to his
death in the des(erate ho(e o (la#atin* the *oddess, like Mett)s .)rti)s, when a #hasm
o(ened in the Roman 'or)m 5-ivy62 and the same sa#rii#e was oered d)rin* the War o the
I+even !*ainst ThebesA% &owever, he died in vain2 otherwise the +(hin:, and her #hie
(riestess, wo)ld not have been obli*ed to #ommit s)i#ide% The story o $o#asteAs death by
han*in* is (robably an error2 &elen o the ;live7trees, like ,ri*one and !riadne o the vine
#)lt, was said to have died in this wayJ(erha(s to a##o)nt or i*)rines o the Moon7
*oddess whi#h dan*led rom the bo)*hs o or#hard trees, as a ertility #harm% +imilar
i*)rines were )sed at Thebes2 and when $o#aste #ommitted s)i#ide, she do)btless lea(ed
rom a ro#k, as the +(hin: did%
5% The o##)rren#e o ITeiresiasA, a #ommon title or soothsayers, thro)*ho)t Greek le*endary
history s)**ested that Teiresias had been *ranted a remarkably lon* lie by @e)s% To see
snakes #o)(lin* is still #onsidered )nl)#ky in +o)thern $ndia2 the theory bein* that the
witness will be ()nished with the Iemale diseaseA 5as &erodot)s #alls it6, namely
homose:)ality2 here the Greek ab)list has taken the tale a sta*e )rther in order to raise a
la)*h a*ainst women% .ornel, a divinatory tree sa#red to .ron)s, symboli8ed the o)rth
month, that o the +(rin* ,E)ino:2 Rome was o)nded at this season, on the s(ot where
Rom)l)sAs #ornelJwood Havelin str)#k the *ro)nd% &esiod t)rned the traditional two
.harites into three, #allin* them ,)(hrosyne, !*laia, and Thalia 5Theo*ony6J+osostrat)sAs
a##o)nt o the bea)ty #ontest makes (oor sense, be#a)se "asithea .ale ,)(hrosyne, Ithe
Goddess o 9oy who is bea)ti)l to allA, seems to have been !(hroditeAs own title% &e may
have borrowed it rom the 9)d*ement o "aris%
6% Two in#om(atible a##o)nts o ;edi()sAs end s)rvive% !##ordin* to &omer, he died
*lorio)sly in battle% !##ordin* to !(ollodor)s and &y*in)s, he was banished by $o#asteAs
brother, a member o the .admean royal ho)se, and wandered as a blind be**ar thro)*h the
#ities o Gree#e )ntil he #ame to .olon)s in !tti#a, where the ')ries ho)nded him to death%
;edi()sAs remorse)l sel7blindin* has been inter(reted by (sy#holo*ists to mean #astration2
b)t tho)*h the blindness o !#hillesAs t)tor "hoeni: was said by Greek *rammarians to be a
e)(hemism or im(oten#e, (rimitive myth is always downri*ht, and the #astration o /ran)s
and !ttis #ontin)ed to be re#orded )nbl)shin*ly in .lassi#al te:t books% ;edi()sAs blindin*,
thereore, reads like a theatri#al invention, rather than ori*inal myth% ')ries were
(ersonii#ations o #ons#ien#e, b)t #ons#ien#e in a very limited sense1 aro)sed only by the
brea#h o a maternal taboo%
>% !##ordin* to the non7&omeri# story, ;edi()sAs deian#e o the .ity7*oddess was ()nished
by e:ile, and he event)ally died a vi#tim o his own s)(erstitio)s ears% $t is (robable that his
innovations were re()diated by a body o Theban #onservatives2 and, #ertainly, his sonsA and
brothersA )nwillin*ness to award him the sho)lder o the sa#rii#ial vi#tim amo)nted to a
denial o his divine a)thority% The sho)lder7blade was the (riestly (erE)isite at 9er)salem
5-eviti#)s6 and Tantal)s set one beore the *oddess ?emeter at a amo)s banE)et o the *ods%
!mon* the !kan, the ri*ht sho)lder still *oes to the r)ler%
8% ?id ;edi()s, like +isy(h)s, try to s)bstit)te (atrilineal or matrilineal laws o s)##ession,
b)t *et banished by his s)bHe#tsK $t seems (robable% These)s o !thens, another (atriar#hal
revol)tionary rom the $sthm)s, who destroyed the an#ient !thenian #lan o "allantids, is
asso#iated by the !thenian dramatists with ;edi()sAs b)rial, and was likewise banished at the
#lose o his rei*n%
9% Teiresias here i*)res dramati#ally as the (ro(het o ;edi()sAs inal dis*ra#e, b)t the story,
as it s)rvives, seems to have been t)rned insideo)t% $t may on#e have r)n somethin* like this1
;edi()s o .orinth #onE)ered Thebes and be#ame kin* by marryin* $o#aste, a (riestess o
&era% !terwards he anno)n#ed that the kin*dom sho)ld hen#eorth be beE)eathed rom
ather to son in the male line, whi#h is a .orinthian #)stom, instead o remainin* the *it o
&era the Throttler% ;edi()s #onessed that he elt himsel dis*ra#ed as havin* let #hariot
horses dra* to death -ai)s, who was a##o)nted his ather, and as havin* married $o#aste, who
had enroyalled him by a #eremony o rebirth% 4)t when he tried to #han*e these #)stoms,
$o#aste #ommitted s)i#ide in (rotest, and Thebes was visited by a (la*)e% /(on the advi#e o
an ora#le, the Thebans then withheld rom ;edi()s the sa#red sho)lder7blade, and banished
him% &e died in a r)itless attem(t to re*ain his throne by warare%
The +even !*ainst Thebes
+; many (rin#es visited !r*os in the ho(e o marryin* either !e*eia, or ?ei(yla, the
da)*hters o Gin* !drast)s, that, earin* to make (ower)l enemies i he sin*led o)t any two
o them as his sons7in7law, he #ons)lted the ?el(hi# ;ra#le% !(olloAs res(onse was1 IDoke to
a two7wheeled #hariot the boar and lion whi#h i*ht in yo)r (ala#e%A
b% !mon* the less ort)nate o these s)itors were "olynei#es and Tyde)s% "olynei#es and his
twin ,teo#les had been ele#ted #o7kin*s o Thebes ater the banishment o ;edi()s, their
ather% They a*reed to rei*n or alternate years, b)t ,teo#les, to whom the irst term ell,
wo)ld not relinE)ish his throne at the end o the year, (leadin* the evil dis(osition shown by
"olynei#es, and banished him rom the #ity% Tyde)s, son o ;ene)s o .alydon, had killed his
brother Melani(()s when o)t h)ntin*2 tho)*h he #laimed that this was an a##ident, it had
been (ro(hesied that Melani(()s wo)ld kill him, and the .alydonians thereore s)s(e#ted
him o havin* tried to orestall his ate, and he was also banished%
#% 3ow, the emblem o Thebes is a lion, and the emblem o .alydon, a boar2 and the two
)*itive s)itors dis(layed these devi#es on their shields% That ni*ht, in !drast)sAs (ala#e, they
be*an to dis()te abo)t the ri#hes and *lories o their res(e#tive #ities, and m)rder mi*ht have
been done, had not !drast)s (arted and re#on#iled them% Then, mind)l o the (ro(he#y, he
married !e*eia to "olynei#es, and ?ei(yla to Tyde)s, with a (romise to restore both (rin#es
to their kin*doms2 b)t said that he wo)ld irst mar#h a*ainst Thebes, whi#h lay nearer%
d% !drast)s m)stered his !r*ive #hietains1 .a(ane)s, &i((omedon, his brother7in7law
!m(hiara)s the seer, and his !r#adian ally "artheno(ae)s, son o Melea*er and !talanta,
biddin* them arm themselves and set o)t eastward% ; these #ham(ions, only one was
rel)#tant to obey1 namely !m(hiara)s who, oreseein* that all e:#e(t !drast)s wo)ld die
i*htin* a*ainst Thebes, at irst re)sed to *o%
e% $t ha((ened that !drast)s had ormerly E)arrelled with !m(hiara)s abo)t !r*ive aairs o
state, and the two an*ry men mi*ht have killed ea#h other, b)t or !drast)sAs sister ,ri(hyle,
who was married to !m(hiara)s% +nat#hin* her dista, she l)n* hersel between them,
kno#ked )( their swords, and made them swear always to abide by her verdi#t in any )t)re
dis()te% !((rised o this oath, Tyde)s #alled "olynei#es and said1 I,ri(hyle ears that she is
losin* her looks2 now, i yo) were to oer her the ma*i# ne#kla#e whi#h was !(hroditeAs
weddin* *it to yo)r an#estress &armonia, .adm)sAs wie, she wo)ld soon settle the dis()te
between !m(hiara)s and !drast)s by #om(ellin* him to #ome with )s%A
% This was dis#reetly done, and the e:(edition set o)t, led by the seven #ham(ions1
"olynei#es, Tyde)s, and the ive !r*ives% 4)t some say that "olynei#es did not #o)nt as one
o the seven, and add the name o ,teo#l)s the !r*ive, a son o $(his%
*% Their mar#h took them thro)*h 3emea, where -y#)r*)s was kin*% When they asked leave
to water their troo(s in his #o)ntry, -y#)r*)s #onsented, and his bond7woman &y(si(yle
*)ided them to the nearest s(rin*% &y(si(yle was a -emnian (rin#ess, b)t when the women
o -emnos had sworn to m)rder all their men in reven*e or an inH)ry done them, she saved
the lie o her ather Thoas1 they thereore sold her into slavery, and here she was, a#tin* as
n)rsemaid to -y#)r*)sA son ;(heltes% +he set the boy down or a moment while she *)ided
the !r*ive army to the drinkin* (ool, where)(on a ser(ent writhed aro)nd his limbs and bit
him to death% !drast)s and his men ret)rned rom the s(rin* too late to do more than kill the
ser(ent and b)ry the boy%
h% When !m(hiara)s warned them that this was an omino)s si*n, they instit)ted the 3emean
Games in the boyAs hono)r, #allin* him !r#hemor)s, whi#h means Ithe be*inner o doomA2
and ea#h o the #ham(ions had the satisa#tion o winnin* one o the seven events% The
H)d*es at the 3emean Games, whi#h are #elebrated every o)r years, have ever sin#e worn
dark robes in mo)rnin* or ;(heltes, and the vi#torAs wreath is (laited o l)#kless (arsley%
i% !rrived at .ithaeron, !drast)s sent Tyde)s as his herald to the Thebans, with a demand that
,teo#les sho)ld resi*n the throne in avo)r o "olynei#es% When this was re)sed, Tyde)s
#hallen*ed their #hietains to sin*le #ombat, one ater another, and emer*ed vi#torio)s rom
every en#o)nter2 soon, no more Thebans dared #ome orward% The !r*ives then a((roa#hed
the #ity walls, and ea#h o the #ham(ions took )( his station a#in* one o the seven *ates%
H% Teiresias the seer, whom ,teo#les #ons)lted, (ro(hesied that the Thebans wo)ld be
vi#torio)s only i a (rin#e o the royal ho)se reely oered himsel as a sa#rii#e to !res2
where)(on Menoe#e)s, the son o .reon, killed himsel beore the *ates, m)#h as his
namesake and )n#le had lea(ed headlon* rom the walls on a (revio)s o##asion% TeiresiasAs
(ro(he#y was )lilled1 the Thebans were, indeed, deeated in a skirmish and withdrew into
the #ity2 b)t no sooner had .a(ane)s set a s#alin*7ladder a*ainst the wall and be*)n to mo)nt
it, than @e)s str)#k him dead with a th)nderbolt% !t this, the Thebans took #o)ra*e, made a
)rio)s sally, killin* three more o the seven #ham(ions2 and one o their n)mber, who
ha((ened to be named Melani(()s, wo)nded Tyde)s in the belly% !thene #herished an
ae#tion or Tyde)s and, (ityin* him as he lay hal7dead, hastened to be* an inallible eli:ir
rom her ather @e)s, whi#h wo)ld have soon set him )(on his eet a*ain% 4)t !m(hiara)s
hated Tyde)s or havin* or#ed the !r*ives to mar#h and, bein* shar(7witted, ran at
Melani(()s and #)t o his head% I&ere is reven*ePA he #ried, handin* the head to Tyde)s%
I+(lit o(en the sk)ll and *)l( his brainsPA Tyde)s did so, and !thene, arrivin* at that moment
with the eli:ir, s(ilt it on the *ro)nd and retired in dis*)st%
k% ;nly "olynei#es, !m(hiara)s, and !drast)s now remained o the seven #ham(ions2 and
"olynei#es, to save )rther sla)*hter, oered to de#ide the s)##ession o the throne by sin*le
#ombat with ,teo#les% ,teo#les a##e(ted the #hallen*e and, in the #o)rse o a bitter str)**le,
ea#h mortally wo)nded the other% .reon, their )n#le, then took #ommand o the Theban army
and ro)ted the dismayed !r*ives% !m(hiara)s led in his #hariot alon* the banks o the river
$smen)s, and was on the (oint o bein* thr)st between the sho)lders by a Theban ()rs)er,
when @e)s #let the earth with a th)nderbolt and he vanished rom si*ht, #hariot and all, and
now rei*ns alive amon* the dead% 4aton, his #harioteer, went with him%
l% +eein* that the day was lost, !drast)s mo)nted his win*ed horse !rion and es#a(ed2 b)t
when, later, he heard that .reon wo)ld not (ermit his dead enemies to be b)ried, visited
!thens as a s)((liant and (ers)aded These)s to mar#h a*ainst Thebes and ()nish .reonAs
im(iety% These)s took the #ity in a s)r(rise atta#k, im(risoned .reon, and *ave the dead
#ham(ionsA #or(ses to their kinsolk, who hea(ed a *reat (yre or them% 4)t ,vadne,
.a(ane)sAs wie, seein* that her h)sband had been heroised by @e)sAs th)nderbolt, wo)ld not
be (arted rom him% +in#e #)stom demanded that a
li*htnin*7str)#k man sho)ld be b)ried a(art rom the rest, and his *rave en#ed o, she l)n*
hersel on the *eneral (yre, and was #ons)med alive%
m% 3ow, beore These)sAs arrival at Thebes, !nti*one, sister o ,teo#les and "olynei#es, had
disobeyed .reonAs orders by se#retly b)ildin* a (yre and layin* "olynei#esAs #or(se )(on it%
-ookin* o)t o his (ala#e window, .reon noti#ed a distant *low whi#h seemed to (ro#eed
rom a b)rnin* (yre and, *oin* to investi*ate, s)r(rised !nti*one in her a#t o disobedien#e%
&e s)mmoned his son &aemon, to whom !nti*one had been aian#ed, and ordered him to
b)ry her alive in "olynei#esAs tomb% &aemon ei*ned readiness to do as he was told b)t,
instead, married !nti*one se#retly, and sent her away to live amon* his she(herds% +he bore
him a son who, many years later, #ame to Thebes, and took (art in #ertain )neral *ames2 b)t
.reon, who was still Gin* o Thebes, *)essed his identity by the ser(ent mark on his body,
borne by all des#endants o .adm)s, and senten#ed him to death% &era#les inter#eded or his
lie, b)t .reon (roved obd)rate2 where)(on &aemon killed both !nti*one and himsel%
1% !(olloAs lion7and7boar ora#le will have ori*inally #onveyed the wisdom o ormin* do)ble
kin*doms2 in order to (revent (oliti#al strie between the sa#red kin* and his tanist, s)#h as
bro)*ht abo)t the all o Thebes% 4)t the emblem o Thebes was a lion, be#a)se o the lion7
bodied +(hin:, its ormer *oddess2 and the emblem o .alydon was a boar, (robably be#a)se
!res, who had a shrine there, liked to ado(t this dis*)ise% The ora#le has thereore been
a((lied to a dierent sit)ation% +hields with animal devi#es were re*)larly )sed in early
.lassi#al times%
0% The mytho*ra(hers oten made (lay with the syllable eri in a name, (retendin* that it
meant eris, IstrieA, rather than I(lenti)lA% &en#e the myths o ,ri#hthoni)s and ,ri*one%
,ri(hyle ori*inally meant Imany leavesA, rather than Itribal strieA% &esiod 5Works and ?ays%6
says that @e)s wi(ed o)t two *enerations o heroes, the irst at Thebes in the war or
;edi()sAs shee(, the se#ond at Troy in the war o##asioned by air7haired &elen% I;edi()sAs
shee(A is not e:(lained2 b)t &esiod m)st be reerrin* to this war between ,teo#les and
"olynei#es, in whi#h the !r*ives s)((orted an )ns)##ess)l #andidate or the throne o
Thebes% The #a)se o a similar dis()te between brothers was the *olden lee#e, or whi#h
!tre)s and Thyestes #ontended2 its (ossession set the owner on the throne o My#enae% !lso,
@e)s had *olden7lee#ed rams on Mo)nt -a(hysti)m, whi#h seem to have been the royal
insi*nia o nei*hbo)rin* ;r#homen)s and whi#h #a)sed m)#h bloodshed%
<% &y(si(yle 5Ihi*h *ateA6 was (robably a title o the Moon7*oddessAs, whose #o)rse
des#ribes a hi*h ar#h a#ross the sky2 and the 3emean Games, like the ;lym(ian, will have
been #elebrated at the end o the sa#red kin*As term, when he had rei*ned his ity l)nar
months as the .hie7(riestessAs h)sband% The myth (reserves the tradition that boys were
sa#rii#ed ann)ally to the *oddess, as s)rro*ates or the kin*2 tho)*h the word ;(heltes,
whi#h means sim(ly Ibenea#torA, has here been *iven a or#ed sense1 Iwo)nd abo)t by a
ser(entA, as tho)*h it were derived rom o(his, Iser(entA and eilein, Ito (ress to*etherA%
3either does !r#hemor)s mean Ithe be*innin* o doomA, b)t rather Iori*inal olive sto#kA,
whi#h reers to #)ttin*s rom !theneAs sa#red olive, (res)mably those )sed in the Games as
#rowns or the vi#tors o the vario)s events% !ter the disasters o the "ersian War, the )se o
olive was dis#ontin)ed at the 3emean Games in avo)r o (arsley, a token o mo)rnin*
5+#holiast on "indarAs !r*)ment to the 3emean Games6% "arsley was )nl)#ky, (erha(s
be#a)se o its notoriety as an abortii#ientJthe ,n*lish (roverb has it1 I(arsley *rows rank in
#)#koldsA *ardens%A $t *rew rank in the death7island o ;*y*ia%
=% Tyde)sAs *)l(in* o Melani(()sAs brains is re(orted as a moral ane#dote% This old7
established means o im(rovin* oneAs i*htin* skill, introd)#ed by the &ellenes and still
(ra#tised by the +#ythians in .lassi#al times 5&erodot)s6, had #ome to be re*arded as
barbaro)s% 4)t the i#on rom whi#h the mytho*ra(hers ded)#ed their story (robably showed
!thene (o)rin* a libation to Melani(()sAs *host, in a((roval o Tyde)sAs a#tion% The lost e(i#
o the +even !*ainst Thebes m)st have #losely resembled the $ndian Mahabharata, whi#h
*loriies the Maryann) soldier7#aste1 the same theme o kinsman (itted a*ainst kinsman
o##)rs, the #ond)#t o the i*hters is nobler and more tra*i# than in the $liad, the *ods (lay no
mis#hievo)s (art, s)ttee is hono)red, and 4hishma, like Tyde)s, drinks his enemyAs blood%
5% !m(hiara)sAs end (rovides yet another e:am(le o the sa#red kin*As death in a #hariot
#rash% The des#ent o 4aton 5Ibla#kberryA6 to Tartar)s in his #om(any seems to be told to
a##o)nt or the wides(read ,)ro(ean taboo on the eatin* o bla#kberries, whi#h is asso#iated
with death%
6% ,vadneAs sel7immolation re#alls the myth o !l#estis% Reli#s o a royal #remation o)nd in
a bee7hive tomb at ?endra near My#enae s)**est that, in this (arti#)lar instan#e, the kin* and
E)een were b)ried at the same time2 and !% W% "ersson believes that the E)een died
vol)ntarily% 4)t they may both have been m)rdered, or died o the same illness, and no
similar My#enaean b)rial is re(orted elsewhere% +)ttee, in a#t, whi#h seems to have been a
&elleni# (ra#ti#e, soon went o)t o ashion % -i*htnin* was an eviden#e o @e)sAs (resen#e,
and sin#e IholyA and I)n#leanA mean m)#h the same in (rimitive reli*ionJthe tabooed
animals in -eviti#)s were )n#lean be#a)se they were holyJthe *rave o a man str)#k by
li*htnin* was en#ed o, like that o a #al that has died o anthra: on a modern arm, and he
was *iven heroi# rites% The *raveyard near ,le)sis where the #ham(ions are said by
"a)sanias to have been event)ally interred, has now been identiied and o(ened by "roessor
Mylonas% &e o)nd one do)ble b)rial s)rro)nded by a stone #ir#le, and ive sin*le b)rials2
the skeletons, as was #)stomary in the thirteenth #ent)ry 4., to whi#h the vase ra*ments are
attrib)table, showed no si*ns o #remation% ,arly *rave7robbers had evidently removed the
bron8e wea(ons and other metalli# obHe#ts, ori*inally b)ried with the bodies2 and it may have
been their indin* o two skeletons in the stone #ir#le, and the anomaly o the #ir#le itsel,
whi#h s)**ested to the (eo(le o ,le)sis that this was the *rave o .a(ane)s, str)#k by
li*htnin*, and o his aith)l wie ,vadne%
>% The myth o !nti*one, &aemon, and the she(herds seems to have been ded)#ed rom the
same i#on as those o !rne and !lo(e% We are denied the e:(e#ted end o the story1 that he
killed his *randather .reon with a dis#)s%
The ,(i*oni
T&, sons o the seven #ham(ions who had allen at Thebes swore to aven*e their athers%
They are known as the ,(i*oni% The ?el(hi# ;ra#le (romised them vi#tory i !l#maeon, son
o !m(hiara)s, took #ommand% 4)t he elt no desire to atta#k Thebes, and hotly dis()ted the
(ro(riety o the #am(ai*n with his brother !m(hilo#h)s% When they #o)ld not a*ree whether
to make war or no, the de#ision was reerred to their mother ,ri(hyle% Re#o*ni8in* the
sit)ation as a amiliar one, Thersander, the son o "olynei#es, ollowed his atherAs e:am(le1
he bribed ,ri(hyle with the ma*i# robe whi#h !thene had *iven his an#estress &armonia at
the same time as !(hrodite had *iven her the ma*i# ne#kla#e% ,ri(hyle de#ided or war, and
!l#maeon rel)#tantly ass)med #ommand%
b% $n a battle o)*ht beore the walls o Thebes, the ,(i*oni lost !e*iale)s, son o !drast)s,
and Teiresias the seer then warned the Thebans that their #ity wo)ld be sa#ked% The walls, he
anno)n#ed, were ated to stand only so lon* as one o the ori*inal seven #ham(ions remained
alive, and !drast)s, now the sole s)rvivor, wo)ld die o *rie when he heard o !e*iale)sAs
death% .onseE)ently, the ThebansA wisest #o)rse was to lee that very ni*ht% Teiresias added
that whether they took his advi#e or no made no odds to him2 he was destined to die as soon
as Thebes ell into !r*ive hands% /nder #over o darkness, thereore, the Thebans es#a(ed
northward with their wives, #hildren, wea(ons, and a ew belon*in*s, and when they had
travelled ar eno)*h, #alled a halt and o)nded the #ity o &estiaea% !t dawn, Teiresias, who
went with them, (a)sed to drink at the s(rin* o Til(h)ssa, and s)ddenly e:(ired%
#% That same day, whi#h was the very day on whi#h !drast)s heard o !e*iale)sAs death and
died o *rie, the !r*ives, indin* Thebes eva#)ated, broke
in, ra8ed the walls, and #olle#ted the booty% They sent the best o it to !(ollo at ?el(hi,
in#l)din* TeiresiasAs da)*hter Manto, or ?a(hne, who had stayed behind2 and she be#ame his
"ythoness%
d% 3or was this the end o the matter% Thersander ha((ened to boast in !l#maeonAs hearin*
that most o the #redit or the !r*ive vi#tory was d)e to himsel1 he had bribed ,ri(hyle, H)st
as his ather "olynei#es did beore him, to *ive the order to mar#h% !l#maeon th)s learned or
the irst time that ,ri(hyleAs vanity had #a)sed his atherAs death, and mi*ht well have #a)sed
his own% &e #ons)lted the ?el(hi# ;ra#le, and !(ollo re(lied that she deserved death%
!l#maeon mistook this or a dis(ensation to matri#ide and, on his ret)rn, he d)ly killed
,ri(hyle, some say with the aid o his brother !m(hilo#h)s% 4)t ,ri(hyle, as she lay dyin*,
#)rsed !l#maeon, and #ried o)r1 I-ands o Gree#e and !sia, and o all the world1 deny shelter
to my m)rderersPA The aven*in* ,rinnyes there)(on ()rs)ed him and drove him mad%
e% !l#maeon led irst to Thes(rotia where he was re)sed entry, and then to "so(his, where
Gin* "he*e)s ()riied him or !(olloAs sake% "he*e)s married him to his da)*hter !rsinoB,
to whom !l#maeon *ave the ne#kla#e and the robe, whi#h he had bro)*ht in his ba**a*e% 4)t
the ,rinnyes, disre*ardin* this ()rii#ation, #ontin)ed to (la*)e him, and the land o "so(his
*rew barren on his a##o)nt% The ?el(hi# ;ra#le then advised !l#maeon to a((roa#h the
River7*od !#helo)s, by whom he was on#e more ()riied2 he married !#helo)sAs da)*hter
.allirrhoB, and settled on land re#ently ormed by the silt o the river, whi#h had not been
in#l)ded in ,ri(hyleAs ban% There he lived at (ea#e or awhile%
! year later, .allirrhoB, earin* that she mi*ht lose her bea)ty, re)sed !l#maeon admittan#e
to her #o)#h )nless he *ave her the #elebrated robe and ne#kla#e% 'or love o .allirrhoB, he
dared to revisit "so(his, where he de#eived "he*e)s1 makin* no mention o his marria*e to
.allirrhoB, he invented a (redi#tion o the ?el(hi# ;ra#le, to the ee#t that he wo)ld never
be rid o the ,rinnyes )ntil he had dedi#ated both robe and ne#kla#e to !(olloAs shrine%
"he*e)s there)(on made !rsinoB s)rrender them, whi#h she was *lad to do, believin* that
!l#maeon wo)ld ret)rn to her as soon as the ,rinnyes let him2 or they were hard on his
tra#k a*ain% 4)t one o !l#maeonAs servants blabbed the tr)th abo)t .allirrhoB, and "he*e)s
*rew so an*ry that he ordered his sons to amb)sh and kill !l#maeon when he let the (ala#e%
!rsinoB witnessed the m)rder rom a window and, )naware o !l#maeonAs do)ble7dealin*,
lo)dly )(braided her ather and brothers or havin* violated *)est7ri*ht and made her a
widow% "he*e)s be**ed her to be silent and listen while he H)stiied himsel2 b)t !rsinoB
sto((ed her ears and wished violent death )(on him and her brothers beore the ne:t new
moon% $n retaliation, "he*e)s lo#ked her in a #hest and (resented her as a slave to the Gin* o
3emea2 at the same time tellin* his sons1 ITake this robe and this ne#kla#e to ?el(hi# !(ollo%
&e will see to it that they #a)se no )rther mis#hie%A
*% "he*e)sAs sons obeyed him2 b)t, meanwhile, .allirrhoB, inormed o what had ha((ened at
"so(his, (rayed that her inant sons by !l#maeon mi*ht be#ome )ll7*rown men in a day, and
aven*e his m)rder% @e)s heard her (lea, and they shot )( into manhood, took arms, and went
to 3emea where, they knew, the sons o "he*e)s had broken their rer)m Ho)rney rom ?el(hi
in the ho(e o (ers)adin* !rsinoB to retra#t her #)rse% They tried to tell her the tr)th abo)t
!l#maeon, b)t she wo)ld not listen to them either2 and .allirrhoBAs sons not only s)r(rised
and killed them b)t, hastenin* towards "so(his, killed "he*e)s too, beore the ne:t moon
a((eared in the sky% +in#e no kin* or river7*od in Gree#e wo)ld #onsent to ()riy them o
their #rimes, they travelled westward to ,(ir)s, and #oloni8ed !#arnania, whi#h was named
ater the elder o the two, !#arnan%
h% The robe and ne#kla#e were shown at ?el(hi )ntil the +a#red War Wo)rth #ent)ry 4.X,
when the "ho#ian bandit "hayllos #arried them o, and it is not known whether the amber
ne#kla#e set in *old whi#h the (eo(le o !math)s #laim to be ,ri(hyleAs is *en)ine or alse%
i% !nd some say that Teiresias had two da)*hters, ?a(hne and Manto% ?a(hne remained a
vir*in and be#ame a +ibyl, b)r !l#maeon be*ot !m(hilo#h)s and Tisi(hone on Manto beore
sendin* her to !(ollo at ?el(hi2 he entr)sted both #hildren to Gin* .reon o .orinth% Dears
later, .reonAs wie, Healo)s o Tisi(honeAs e:traordinary bea)ty, sold her as a slave2 and
!l#maeon, not knowin* who she was, bo)*ht her as his servin*7*irl b)t ort)nately abstained
rom in#est% !s or Manto1 !(ollo sent her to .olo(hon in $onia, where she married Rha#i)s,
Gin* o .aria2 their son was Mo(s)s, the amo)s soothsayer%
1% This is a (o()lar minstrel tale, #ontainin* ew mythi# elements, whi#h #o)ld be told either
in Thebes or !r*os witho)t #a)sin* oen#e2 whi#h wo)ld be o interest to the (eo(le o
"so(his, 3emea, and the !#helo)s valley2 whi#h ()r(osed to a##o)nt or the o)ndin* o
&estiaea, and the #oloni8ation o !#arnania2 and whi#h had a stron* moral lavo)r% $t ta)*ht
the instability o womenAs H)d*ement, the olly o men in h)mo)rin* their vanity or *reed, the
wisdom o listenin* to seers who are beyond s)s(i#ion, the dan*er o misinter(retin* ora#les,
and the ines#a(able #)rse that ell on any son who killed his mother, even in (la#ation o his
m)rdered atherAs *host%
0% ,ri(hyleAs #ontin)o)s (ower to de#ide between war and (ea#e is the most interestin*
eat)re o the story% The tr)e meanin* o her name, Ivery leayA, s)**ests that she was an
!r*ive (riestess o &era in #har*e o a tree7ora#le, like that o ?odona% $ so, this tree is
likely to have been a (ear, sa#red to &era% 4oth the IWar o the +even !*ainst ThebesA, whi#h
&esiod #alls the IWar o ;edi()sAs +hee(A, and its seE)el here re#o)nted, seem to have
(re#eded the !r*ona)ti# e:(edition and the TroHan War, and may be tentatively reerred to the
o)rteenth #ent)ry 4.%
Tantal)s
T&, (arenta*e and ori*in o Tantal)s are dis()ted% &is mother was "l)to, a da)*hter o
.ron)s and Rhea or, some say, o ;#ean)s and Tethys2 and his ather either @e)s, or Tmol)s,
the oak7#ha(leted deity o Mo)nt Tmol)s who, with his wie ;m(hale, r)led over the
kin*dom o -ydia and had H)d*ed the #ontest between "an and !(ollo% +ome, however, #all
Tantal)s a kin* o !r*os, or o .orinth2 and others say that he went northward rom +i(yl)s
in -ydia to rei*n in "a(hla*onia2 when#e, ater he had in#)rred the wrath o the *ods, he was
e:(elled by $l)s the "hry*ian, whose yo)n* brother Ganymedes he had abd)#ted and
sed)#ed%
b% 4y his wie ,)ryannassa, da)*hter o the River7*od "a#tol)s2 or by ,)rythemista, da)*hter
o the River7*od Zanth)s2 or by .lytia, da)*hter o !m(hidamantes2 or by the "leiad ?ione,
Tantal)s be#ame the ather o "elo(s, 3iobe, and 4roteas% Det some #all "elo(s a bastard, or
the son o !tlas and the nym(h -inos%
#% Tantal)s was the intimate riend o @e)s, who admitted him to ;lym(ian banE)ets o
ne#tar and ambrosia )ntil, *ood ort)ne t)rnin* his head, he betrayed @e)sAs se#rets and stole
the divine ood to share amon* his mortal riends% 4eore this #rime #o)ld be dis#overed, he
#ommitted a worse% &avin* #alled the ;lym(ians to a banE)et on Mo)nt +i(yl)s, or it may
have been at .orinth, Tantal)s o)nd that the ood in his larder was ins)i#ient or d)e
#om(any and, either to test @e)sAs omnis#ien#e, or merely to demonstrate his *ood will, #)t
)( his son "elo(s, and added the (ie#es to the stew (re(ared or them, as the sons o -y#aon
had done with their brother 3y#tim)s when they entertained @e)s in !r#adia% 3one o the
*ods riled to noti#e what was on their tren#hers, or to re#oil in horror, e:#e(t ?emeter who,
bein* da8ed by her loss o "erse(hone, ate the lesh rom the let sho)lder %
d% 'or these two #rimes Tantal)s was ()nished with the r)in o his kin*dom and, ater his
death by @e)sAs own hand, with eternal torment in the #om(any o $:ion, +isy(h)s, Tity)s,
the ?anaids, and others% 3ow he han*s, (erennially #ons)med by thirst and h)n*er, rom the
bo)*h o a r)it7tree whi#h leans over a marshy lake% $ts waves la( a*ainst his waist, and
sometimes rea#h his #hin, yet whenever he bends down to drink, they sli( away, and nothin*
remains b)t the bla#k m)d at his eet2 or, i he ever s)##eeds in s#oo(in* )( a hand)l o
water, it sli(s thro)*h his in*ers beore he #an do more than wet his #ra#ked li(s, leavin*
him thirstier than ever% The tree is laden with (ears, shinin* a((les, sweet i*s, ri(e olives and
(ome*ranates, whi#h dan*le a*ainst his sho)lders2 b)t whenever he rea#hes or the l)s#io)s
r)it, a *)st o wind whirls them o)t o his rea#h%
e% Moreover, an enormo)s stone, a #ra* rom Mo)nt +i(yl)s, overhan*s the tree and eternally
threatens to #r)sh Tantal)sAs sk)ll% This is his ()nishment or a third #rime1 namely thet,
a**ravated by (erH)ry% ;ne day, while @e)s was still an inant in .rete, bein* s)#kled by the
she7*oat !maltheia, &e(haest)s had made Rhea a *olden masti to wat#h over him2 whi#h
s)bseE)ently be#ame the *)ardian o his tem(le at ?i#te% 4)t "andare)s son o Mero(s, a
native o -ydian or, it may have been .retan, Milet)sJi, indeed, it was not ,(hes)sJdared
to steal the masti, and bro)*ht it to Tantal)s or sae kee(in* on Mo)nt +i(yl)s% !ter the
h)e and #ry had died down, "andare)s asked Tantal)s to ret)rn it to him, b)t Tantal)s swore
by @e)s that he had neither seen nor heard o a *olden do*% This oath #omin* to @e)sAs ears,
&ermes was *iven orders to investi*ate the matter2 and altho)*h Tantal)s #ontin)ed to
(erH)re himsel, &ermes re#overed the do* by or#e or by strata*em, and @e)s #r)shed
Tantal)s )nder a #ra* o Mo)nt +i(yl)s% The s(ot is still shown near the Tantalid -ake, a
ha)nt o white swan7ea*les% !terwards, "andare)s and his wie &armothoB led to !thens,
and then#e to +i#ily, where they (erished miserably%
% !##ordin* to others, however, it was Tantal)s who stole the *olden masti, and "andare)s
to whom he entr)sted it and who, on denyin* that he had ever re#eived it was destroyed,
to*ether with his wie, by the an*ry *ods, or t)rned into stone% 4)t "andare)sAs or(haned
da)*hters Mero(e and .leothera, whom some #all .ameiro and .lytiB, were reared by
!(hrodite on #)rds, honey, and sweet wine% &era endowed them with bea)ty and more than
h)man wisdom2 !rtemis made them *row tall and stron*2 !thene instr)#ted them in every
known handi#rat% $t is dii#)lt to )nderstand why these *oddesses showed s)#h soli#it)de,
or #hose !(hrodite to soten @e)sAs heart towards these or(hans and arran*e *ood marria*es
or themJ)nless, o #o)rse, they had themselves en#o)ra*ed "andare)s to #ommit the thet%
@e)s m)st have s)s(e#ted somethin*, be#a)se while !(hrodite was #loseted with him on
;lym()s, the &ar(ies snat#hed away the three *irls, with his #onsent, and handed them over
to the ,rinnyes, who made them s)er vi#ario)sly or their atherAs sin%
*% This "andare)s was also the ather o !Bdon, the wie o @eth)s, to whom she bore $tyl)s%
!Bdon was ra#ked with envy o her sister 3iobe, who reHoi#ed in the love o si: sons and si:
da)*hters and, when tryin* to m)rder +i(yl)s, the eldest o them, she killed $tyl)s by
mistake2 where)(on @e)s transormed her into the 3i*htin*ale who, in early s)mmer, ni*htly
laments her m)rdered #hild,
h% !ter ()nishin* Tantal)s, @e)s was (leased to revive "elo(s2 and thereore ordered &ermes
to #olle#t his limbs and boil them a*ain in the same #a)ldron, on whi#h he laid a s(ell% The
'ate .lotho then rearti#)lated them2 ?emeter *ave him a solid ivory sho)lder in (la#e o the
one she had (i#ked #lean2 and Rhea breathed lie into him2 while Goat7"an dan#ed or Hoy%
i% "elo(s emer*ed rom the ma*i# #a)ldron #lothed in s)#h radiant bea)ty that "oseidon ell
in love with him on the s(ot, and #arried him o to ;lym()s in a #hariot drawn by *olden
horses% There he a((ointed him his #)(7bearer and bed7ellow2 as @e)s later a((ointed
Ganymedes, and ed him on ambrosia% "elo(s irst noti#ed that his let sho)lder was o ivory
when he bared his breast in mo)rnin* or his sister 3iobe% !ll tr)e des#endants o "elo(s are
marked in this way and, ater his death, the ivory sho)lder7blade was laid )( at "isa%
H% "elo(sAs mother ,)ryannassa, meanwhile, made the most dili*ent sear#h or him, not
knowin* abo)t his as#ension to ;lym()s2 she learned rom the s#)llions that he had been
boiled and served to the *ods, who seemed to have eaten every last shred o his lesh% This
version o the story be#ame #)rrent thro)*ho)t -ydia2 many still #redit it and deny that the
"elo(s whom Tantal)s boiled in the #a)ldron was the same "elo(s who s)##eeded him%
k% Tantal)sAs )*ly son 4roteas #arved the oldest ima*e o the Mother o the Gods, whi#h still
stands on the .oddinian .ra*, to the north o Mo)nt +i(yl)s% &e was a amo)s h)nter, b)t
re)sed to hono)r !rtemis, who drove him mad2 #ryin* alo)d that no lame #o)ld b)rn him,
he threw himsel )(on a li*hted (yre and let the lames #ons)me him% 4)t some say that he
#ommitted s)i#ide be#a)se everyone hated his )*liness% 4roteasAs son and heir was named
Tantal)s, ater his *randather%
1% !##ordin* to +trabo, Tantal)s, "elo(s, and 3iobe were "hry*ians2 and he E)otes ?emetri)s
o +#e(sis, and also .allisthenes, as sayin* that the amily derived their wealth rom the
mines o "hry*ia and Mo)nt +i(yl)s% Moreover, in !es#hyl)sAs 3iobe 5#ited by +trabo6 the
Tantalids are said to have had Ian altar o @e)s, their (aternal *od, on Mo)nt $daA2 and
+i(yl)s is lo#ated Iin the $daean landA% ?emo#les, whom +trabo E)oted at se#ond hand,
rationali8es the Tantal)s myth, sayin* that his rei*n was marked by violent earthE)akes in
-ydia and $onia, as ar as the Troad1 entire villa*es disa((eared, Mo)nt +i(yl)s was
overt)rned, marshes were #onverted into lakes, and Troy was s)bmer*ed 5+trabo6% !##ordin*
to "a)sanias, also, a #ity on Mo)nt +i(yl)s disa((eared into a #hasm, whi#h s)bseE)ently
illed with water and be#ame -ake +alon, or Tantalis% The r)ins o the #ity #o)ld be seen on
the lake bottom )ntil this was silted )( by a mo)ntain stream 5"a)sanias6% "liny a*rees that
Tantalis was destroyed by an earthE)ake 53at)ral &istory6, b)t re#ords that three s)##essive
#ities were b)ilt on its site beore this was inally looded 53at)ral &istory6%
0% +traboAs histori#al view, however, even i ar#haeolo*i#ally (la)sible, does not a##o)nt or
Tantal)sAs #onne#tion with !r*os, .orinth, and .retan Milet)s% The ro#k (oised over him in
Tartar)s, always abo)t to all, identiies him with +isy(h)s o .orinth, whose similarly
(er(et)al ()nishment was ded)#ed rom an i#on whi#h showed the +)n7Titan laborio)sly
()shin* the s)n7disk )( the slo(e o &eaven to its 8enith% The s#holiast on "indar was dimly
aware o this identii#ation, b)t e:(lained Tantal)sAs ()nishment rationalisti#ally, by
re#ordin* that1 Isome )nderstand the stone to re(resent the s)n, and Tantal)s, a (hysi#ist, to
be (ayin* the (enalty or havin* (roved that the s)n is a mass o white7hot metalA 5+#holiast
on "indarAs ;lym(ian ;des6% .on)sin*ly, this i#on o the +)n7Titan has been #ombined with
another1 that o a man (eerin* in a*ony thro)*h an interla#e o r)it7bearin* bo)*hs, and )(
to his #hin in waterJa ()nishment whi#h the rhetori#ians )sed as an alle*ory o the ate
meted o)t to the ri#h and *reedy 5+ervi)s on Cir*ilAs !eneid6% The a((les, (ears, i*s, and
s)#h7like, dan*lin* on Tantal)sAs sho)lders are #alled by ')l*enti)s I?ead +ea r)itA, o
whi#h Tert)llian writes that Ias soon as to)#hed with the in*er, the a((le t)rns into ashes%A
<% To make sense o this s#ene, it m)st be remembered that Tantal)sAs ather Tmol)s is
des#ribed as havin* been wreathed with oak, and that his son "elo(s, one o whose *randsons
was also #alled Tantal)s, enHoyed hero7rites at ;lym(ia, in whi#h I@e)sAs oresterA took (art%
+in#e, as is now *enerally a*reed, the #riminals in Tartar)s were *ods or heroes o the (re7
;lym(ian e(o#h, Tantal)s will have re(resented the ann)al +a#red Gin*, dressed in r)it7
h)n* bran#hes, like those #arried at the ;s#ho(horia, who was l)n* into a river as a
(harma#osJa #)stom s)rvivin* in the Green Geor*e rit)al o the 4alkan #o)ntryside,
des#ribed by 'ra8er% The verb tantali8e, derived rom this myth, has (revented s#holars rom
reali8in* that Tantal)sAs a*ony is #a)sed not by thirst, b)t by ear o drownin* or o
s)bseE)ent immolation on a (yre, whi#h was the ate o his )*ly son 4roteas%
=% "lato 5.ratyl)s6 may be ri*ht when he derives Tantal)s rom talan tatos, Imost wret#hedA,
ormed rom the same root, tla, as Is)erin*A, or Iend)rin*A, whi#h yields the names o !tlas
and Telamon, both oak7heroes% 4)t talante)ein means Ito wei*h o)t moneyA, and may be a
reeren#e to his ri#hes2 and talante)esthai #an mean Ito l)r#h rom side to sideA, whi#h is the
*ait o the sa#red kin* with the lame thi*h% $t seems, then, that Tantal)s is both a +)n7Titan
and a woodland kin*, whose worshi( was bro)*ht rom Gree#e to !sia Minor by way o
.rete J"andare)s is des#ribed as a .retanJin the mid7
se#ond millenni)m and reim(orted into Gree#e towards its #lose, when the #olla(se o the
&ittite ,m(ire or#ed wealthy Greek7s(eakin* #olonists o !sia Minor to abandon their #ities%
5% When the mytho*ra(hers re#orded that Tantal)s was a reE)ent *)est on ;lym()s, they
were admittin* that his #)lt had on#e been dominant in the "elo(onnese2 and, altho)*h the
banE)ets to whi#h the *ods invited Tantal)s are #are)lly distin*)ished rom the one to whi#h
he invited them, in every #ase the main dish will have been the same )mble so)( whi#h the
#annibalisti# !r#adian she(herds o the oak #)lt (re(ared or Wolish @e)s% $t is (erha(s no
#oin#iden#e that, in 3ormandy, the Green Geor*e vi#tim is #alled IGreen WolA, and was
ormerly thrown alive into the mids)mmer bonire% The eatin* o "elo(s, however, is not
dire#tly #onne#ted with the wol #)lt% "elo(sAs (osition as "oseidonAs mi*non, his name,
Im)ddy a#eA, and the le*end o his ivory sho)lder, (oint rather to a (or(oise #)lt on the
$sthm)sJIdol(hinA in Greek in#l)des the (or(oiseJand s)**ests that the "alladi)m, said to
have been made rom his bones, was a #)lt obHe#t o (or(oise ivory% This wo)ld e:(lain why,
a##ordin* to the s#holiast on "indarAs ;lym(ian ;des, Thetis the +ea7*oddess, and not
?emeter, ate "elo(sAs sho)lder% 4)t the an#ient seated stat)e o Mare7headed ?emeter at
"hi*alia held a dove in one hand, a dol(hin 5or (or(oise6 in the other2 and, as "a)sanias
dire#tly says1 IWhy the ima*e wa s th)s made is (lain to anyone o ordinary intelli*en#e wh o
has st)died mytholo*yA% &e means that she (resided over the horse #)lt, the oak #)lt, and the
(or(oise #)lt%
6% This an#ient myth distressed the later mytho*ra(hers% 3ot #ontent with e:#)l(atin*
?emeter rom the #har*e o deliberate man7eatin*, and indi*nantly denyin* that all the *ods
ate what was set beore them, to the last morsel, they invented an over7rationalisti#
e:(lanation o the myth% Tantal)s, they wrote, was a (riest who revealed @e)sAs se#rets to the
)ninitiated% Where)(on the *ods )nro#ked him, and ali#ted his son with a loathsome
disease2 b)t the s)r*eons #)t him abo)t and (at#hed him )( with bone7*ratin*s, leavin*
s#ars whi#h made him look as i he had been ha#ked in (ie#es and Hoined to*ether a*ain
5T8et8es1 ;n -y#o(hron6% "andare)sAs thet o the *olden masti sho)ld be read as a seE)el
to &era#lesAs thet o .erber)s, whi#h s)**ests the !#haeansA deian#e o the death #)rse,
symboli8ed by a do*, in their sei8)re o a #)lt obHe#t sa#red to the ,arth7*oddess Rhea
5Tantal)sAs *randmother6, and #onerrin* soverei*nty on its (ossessor% The ;lym(ian
*oddesses were #learly abettin* "andare)sAs thet, and the do*, tho)*h RheaAs (ro(erty, was
*)ardin* the san#t)ary o the ann)ally dyin* .retan @e)s2 th)s the myth (oints not to an
ori*inal !#haean violation o RheaAs shrine, b)t to a tem(orary re#overy o the #)lt obHe#t by
the *oddessAs devotees%
8% The nat)re o the stolen #)lt obHe#t is )n#ertain% $t may have been a *olden lamb, the
symbol o "elo(id soverei*nty2 or the #)#koo7ti((ed s#e(tre whi#h @e)s is known to have
stolen rom &era2 or the (or(oise7ivory "alladi)m2 or the ae*is ba* with its se#ret #ontents% $t
is )nlikely to have been a *olden do*, sin#e the do* was not the #)lt obHe#t, b)t its *)ardian2
)nless this is a version o the Welsh myth o !mathaon a( ?on who stole a do* rom !rawn
5IeloE)en#eA6 Gin* o !nnwm 5ITartar)s I6 and was by its means enabled to *)ess the se#ret
name o the *od 4ran 5White Goddess6%
9% The three da)*hters o "andare)s, one o whom, .ameiro, bears the same name as the
yo)n*est o the three Rhodian 'ates, are the Tri(le7*oddess, here h)miliated by @e)s or her
devoteesA rebellion% Tantal)sAs loyalty to the *oddess is shown in the stories o his son
4roteas, who #arved her ima*e on Mo)nt +i(yl)s, and o his da)*hter 3iobe, (riestess o the
White Goddess, who deied the ;lym(ians and whose bird was the white swan7ea*le o -ake
Tantalis% ;m(hale, the name o Tantal)sAs mother, s)**ests a (ro(heti# navel7shrine like that
at ?el(hi%
10% The ann)al (harma#os was #hosen or his e:treme )*liness, whi#h a##o)nts or 4roteas%
$t is re#orded that in !sia Minor, the (harma#os was irst beaten on the *enitals with sE)ill to
the so)nd o -ydian l)tes% Tantal)s 5"a)sanias6 and his ather Tmol)s 5;vid1
Metamor(hoses6 are both asso#iated in le*end with -ydian l)tes then b)rned on a (yre o
orest wood2 his ashes were aterwards thrown into the sea 5T8et8es6% $n ,)ro(e, the order
seems to have been reversed1 the Green Geor*e (harma#os was irst d)#ked, then beaten, and
inally b)rned%
"elo(s !nd ;enoma)s
",-;"+ inherited the "a(hla*onian throne rom his ather Tantal)s, and or awhile resided at
,nete, on the shores o the 4la#k +ea, when#e he also r)led over the -ydians and "hry*ians%
4)t he was e:(elled rom "a(hla*onia by the barbarians, and retired to -ydian Mo)nt
+i(yl)s, his an#estral seat% When $l)s, Gin* o Troy, wo)ld not leave him in (ea#e even there,
b)t ordered him to move on, "elo(s went with ab)lo)s treas)res a#ross the !e*ean +ea% &e
resolved to ind a new home or himsel and his *reat horde o ollowers, b)t beore he let,
he s)ed or the hand o &i((odameia, da)*hter o Gin* ;enoma)s, the !r#adian, who r)led
over "isa and ,lis%
b% +ome say that ;enoma)s had been be*otten by !res on &ar(ina, da)*hter o the River7*od
!so()s2 or on the "leiad !steria, or on !stero(e2 or on ,)rythoB, da)*hter o ?ana)s2 while
others #all him the son o !l:ion2 or o &y(ero#h)s%
#% 4y his wie +tero(e, or ,)arete, da)*hter o !#risi)s, ;enoma)s be#ame the ather o
-e)#i(()s, &i((odam)s, and ?ys(onte)s o ?ys(onti)m2 and o one da)*hter, &i((odameia%
;enoma)s was amo)s or his love o horses, and orbade his s)bHe#ts )nder the threat o a
#)rse ever to mate mares with asses% To this day, i ,leans need m)les, they m)st take their
mares abroad to mate them%
d% Whether he had been warned by an ora#le that his son7in7law wo)ld kill him, or whether he
had himsel allen in love with &i((odameia is dis()ted2 b)t ;enoma)s devised a new way
to (revent her rom ever *ettin* married% &e #hallen*ed ea#h o her s)itors in t)rn to a #hariot
ra#e, and laid o)t a lon* #o)rse rom "isa, whi#h lies beside the river !l(hei)s, o((osite
;lym(ia, )ntil "oseidonAs altar on the $sthm)s o .orinth% +ome say that the #hariots were
r)n by o)r horses2 others say, by two% ;enoma)s insisted that &i((odameia m)st ride beside
ea#h s)itor, th)s distra#tin* his attention o the horsesJb)t allowed him a start o hal an
ho)r or so earlier, beore he himsel sa#rii#ed a ram on the altar o Warlike @e)s at ;lym(ia%
The #hariots wo)ld then ra#e towards the $sthm)s and i the s)itor wo)ld be taken, he m)st
die2 b)t sho)ld he win the ra#e, &i((odameia wo)ld be his, and ;enoma)s m)st die% +in#e,
however, the wind7like mares, "sylla and &ar(irma, whi#h "elo(sAs ather !res have *iven
him, were immeas)rably the best in Gree#e, bein* switer even than 3orth Wind2 and sin#e
his #hariot, skil)lly driven by Myrtil)s, was es(e#ially desi*ned or ra#in*, he had never yet
ailed to rival and transi:ed him with his s(ear, another *it rom !res%
e% $n this manner ;enoma)s dis(osed o twelve or, some say thirteen (rin#es, whose beads
and limbs he nailed above the (ala#e, while their tr)nks were l)n* barbaro)sly in a hea( on
the *ro)nd% When he killed Marma:, the irst s)itor, he also b)t#hered his mares, "arthenia
and ,ri(ha, and b)ed them beside the river "arthenia, where their tomb is still shown% +ome
say that the se#ond s)itor, !l#atho)s, was b)ried near the &orse7s#arer in the hi((odrome at
;lym(ia, and that it is his s(ite)l *host whi#h ba)lks the #harioteers%
% Myrtil)s, ;enoma)sAs #harioteer, was the son o &ermes by Theob)le, or .leob)le2 or by
the ?anaid "haeth)sa2 b)t others say that he was the son o @e)s and .lymene% &e too had
allen in love with &i((odameia, b)t dared not enter the #ontest% Meanwhile, the ;lym(ians
had de#ided to intervene and ()t an end to the da)*hter, be#a)se ;enoma)s was boastin* that
he wo)ld one day b)ild a tem(le o sk)lls1 as ,ven)s, ?iomedes, and !ntae)s had done%
When thereore "elo(s, landin* in ,lis, be**ed his lover "oseidon, whom he invoked with a
sa#rii#e on the seashore, either to *ive him the switest #hariot in the world or his #o)rtshi(
o &i((odameia, or to stay the r)sh o ;enoma)sAs bra8en s(ear, "oseidon was deli*hted to
be o assistan#e% "elo(s soon o)nd himsel the owner o a win*ed *olden #hariot, whi#h
#o)ld ra#e over the sea witho)t wettin* the a:les, and was drawn by a team o tireless,
win*ed, immortal horses%
*% &avin* visited Mo)nt +i(yl)s and dedi#ated to Temnian !(hrodite an ima*e made o
*reen myrtle7wood, "elo(s tested his #hariot by drivin* it a#ross the !e*ean +ea% !lmost
beore he had time to *lan#e abo)t him, he had rea#hed -esbos, where his #harioteer .ill)s,
or .ellas, or .illas, died be#a)se o the switness o the li*ht% "elo(s s(ent the ni*ht on
-esbos and, in a dream, saw .ill)sAs *host lamentin* his ate, and (leadin* or heroi#
hono)rs% !t dawn, he b)rned his body, hea(ed a barrow over the ashes, and o)nded the
san#t)ary o .illaean !(ollo #lose by% Then he set o)t a*ain, drivin* the #hariot himsel%
h% ;n #omin* to "isa, "elo(s was alarmed to see the row o heads nailed above the (ala#e
*ates, and be*an to re*ret his ambition% &e thereore (romised Myrtil)s, i he betrayed his
master, hal the kin*dom and the (rivile*e o s(endin* the bridal ni*ht with &i((odameia
when she had been won%
i% 4eore enterin* the ra#eJthe s#ene is #arved on the ront *able o @e)sAs tem(le at
;lym(iaJ"elo(s sa#rii#ed to .ydonian !thene% +ome say that .ill)sAs *host a((eared and
)ndertook to hel( him2 others, that +(haer)s was his #harioteer2 b)t it is more *enerally
believed that he drove his own team, &i((odameia standin* beside him
H% Meanwhile, &i((odameia had allen in love with "elo(s and, rom hinderin* his (ro*ress,
had hersel oered to reward Myrtil)s *enero)sly, i her atherAs #o)rse #o)ld by some means
be #he#ked% Myrtil)s thereore removed the lyn#h7(ins rom the a:les o ;enoma)sAs #hariot,
and re(la#ed them with others made o wa:% !s #hariots rea#hed the ne#k o the $sthm)s and
;enoma)s, in hot ()rs)e was (oisin* his s(ear, abo)t to transi: "elo(sAs ba#k, the wheels o
#hariot lew o, he ell entan*led in the wre#ka*e and was dra**ed to death% &is *host still
ha)nts at the stat)e o &orse7s#arer at ;lym(ia% There are some, however, who say that the
switness o "oseidonAs win #hariot and horses easily enabled "elo(s to o)tdistan#e
;enoma)s and rea#h the $sthm)s irst2 where)(on ;enoma)s either killed himsel in des(air,
or was killed by "elo(s at the winnin*7(ost% !##ordin* to others, the #ontest took (la#e in the
&i((odrome at ;lym(ia, !m(hion *ave "elo(s a ma*i# obHe#t whi#h he b)ried by the &orse7
s#arer, so that ;enoma)sAs team bolted and wre#ked his #hariot% 4)t all a*ree that ;enoma)s,
beore he died, laid a #)rse on Myrtil)s, (ray that he mi*ht (erish at the hands o "elo(s%
k% "elo(s, &i((odameia, and Myrtil)s then set o)t or an even drive a#ross the sea% I!lasPA
#ried &i((odameia, I$ have dr)nk noth all day2 thirst (ar#hes me%A The s)n was settin* and
"elo(s #alled ashore at the desert island o &elene, whi#h lies not ar rom the island ,)boea,
and went )( the strand in sear#h o water% When he ret)rned with his helmet illed,
&i((odameia ran wee(in* towards him, #om(lainin* that Myrtil)s had tried to ravish her%
"elo(s severely reb)ked Myrtil)s, and str)#k him in the a#e, b)t he (rotested indi*nantly1
IThis is the bridal ni*ht, on whi#h yo) swore that $ sho)ld enHoy &i((odameia% Will yo)
break yo)r oathKA "elo(s made no re(ly, took the reins rom Myrtil)s and drove on% !s they
a((roa#hed .a(e Geraest)sJthe so)thernmost (romontory o ,)boea, now #rown with a
remarkable tem(le o "oseidonJ"elo(s dealt Myrtil)s a s)dden ki#k, whi#h sent him lyin*
headlon* into the sea2 and Myrtil)s, as sank, laid a #)rse on "elo(s and all his ho)se%
l% &ermes set Myrtil)sAs ima*e amon* the stars as the #onstellation o the .harioteer2 b)t his
#or(se was washed ashore on the #oast ,)boea and b)ried in !r#adian "hene)s, behind the
tem(le o &ermes2 on#e a year no#t)rnal sa#rii#es are oered him there as a hero% The
Myrtoan +ea, whi#h stret#hes rom ,)boea, (ast &elene, to the !e*ean +ea is *enerally
believed to take its name rom Myrtil)s rather than, as ,)boeans insist, rom the nym(h
Myrto%
m% "elo(s drove on, )ntil he rea#hed the western stream o ;#ean)s, where he was #leansed
o blood *)ilt by &e(haest)s2 aterwards he #ame ba#k to "isa, and s)##eeded to the throne
o ;enoma)s% &e soon s)bH)*ated nearly the whole o what was then known as !(ia, or
"elas*iotis, and renamed it the "elo(onnese, meanin* Ithe island o "elo(sA, ater himsel%
&is #o)ra*e, wisdom, wealth, and n)mero)s #hildren, earned him the envy and veneration o
all Gree#e
n% 'rom Gin* ,(ei)s, "elo(s took ;lym(ia, and added it to his kin*dom o "isa2 b)t bein*
)nable to deeat Gin* +tym(hal)s o !r#adia by or#e o arms, he invited him to a riendly
debate, #)t him into (ie#es, and s#attered his limbs ar and wide2 a #rime whi#h #a)sed a
amine thro)*ho)t Gree#e% 4)t his #elebration o the ;lym(ian Games in hono)r o @e)s,
abo)t a *eneration ater that o ,ndymion, was more s(lendid than any beore%
o% To atone or the m)rder o Myrtil)s, who was &ermesAs son, "elo(s b)ilt the irst tem(le o
&ermes in the "elo(onnese2 he also tried to a((ease Myrtil)sAs *host by b)ildin* a #enota(h
or him in the hi((odrome at ;lym(ia, and (ayin* him heroi# hono)rs% +ome say that neither
;enoma)s, nor the s(ite)l !l#atho)s, nor the ma*i# obHe#t whi#h "elo(s b)ried, is the tr)e
&orse7s#arer1 it is the *host o Myrtil)s%
(% ;ver the tomb o &i((odameiaAs )ns)##ess)l s)itors, on the arthest side o the river
!l(hei)s, "elo(s raised a tall barrow, (ayin* them heroi# hono)rs too2 and abo)t a )rlon*
away stands the san#t)ary o !rtemis .orda:, so #alled be#a)se "elo(sAs ollowers here
#elebrated his vi#tories by dan#in* the Ro(e ?an#e, whi#h they had bro)*ht rom -ydia%
E% "elo(sAs san#t)ary, where his bones are (reserved in a bra8en #hest, was dedi#ated by
Tirynthian &era#les, his *randson, when he #ame to #elebrate the ;lym(ian Games2 and the
,lean ma*istrates still oer "elo(s the ann)al sa#rii#e o a bla#k ram, roasted on a ire o
white (o(lar7wood% Those who (artake o this vi#tim are orbidden to enter @e)sAs tem(le
)ntil they have bathed, and the ne#k is the traditional (erE)isite o his orester% The san#t)ary
is thron*ed with visitors every year, when yo)n* men s#o)r*e themselves at "elo(sAs altar,
oerin* him a libation o their blood% &is #hariot is shown on the roo o the !na#tori)m in
&iasia2 the +i#yonians kee( his *old7hilted sword in their treas)ry at ;lym(ia2 and his s(ear7
sha(ed s#e(tre, at .haeronea, is (erha(s the only *en)ine work o &e(haest)s still e:tant%
@e)s sent it to "elo(s by the hand o &ermes, and "elo(s beE)eathed it to Gin* !tre)s%
r% "elo(s is also styled I.ronian ;neA, or I&orse7beaterA2 and the !#haeans #laim him as their
an#estor%
1% !##ordin* to "a)sanias and !(ollodor)s, Tantal)s never let !sia Minor2 b)t other
mytho*ra(hers reer to him and to "elo(s as native kin*s o Gree#e% This s)**ests that their
names were dynasti# titles taken by early Greek #olonists to !sia Minor, where they were
attested by hero7shrines2 and bro)*ht ba#k by emi*rants beore the !#haean invasion o the
"elo(onnese in the thirteenth #ent)ry 4.% $t is known rom &ittite ins#ri(tions that &elleni#
kin*s rei*ned in "am(hylia and -esbos as early as the o)rteenth #ent)ry 4.% "elo(o7
Tantalids seem to have o)sted the .retani8ed dynasty o I;enoma)sA rom the "elo(onnesian
&i*h Gin*shi(%
0% The horse, whi#h had been a sa#red animal in "elas*ian Gree#e lon* beore the #)lt o the
+)n7#hariot, was a native ,)ro(ean (ony dedi#ated to the Moon, not the +)n% The lar*er
Trans7.as(ian horse #ame to ,*y(t with the &yksos invaders in 1850 4.Jhorse #hariotry
dis(la#ed ass #hariotry in the ,*y(tian armed or#es abo)t the year 1500 4.Jand had
rea#hed .rete beore .noss)s ell a #ent)ry later% ;enoma)sAs reli*io)s ban on m)les sho)ld
(erha(s be asso#iated with the death o .ill)s1 in Gree#e, as at Rome, the ass #)lt was
s)((ressed when the s)n7#hariot be#ame the symbol o royalty% M)#h the same reli*io)s
reormation took (la#e at 9er)salem 5Gin*s6, where a tradition s)rvived in 9ose(h)sAs time o
an earlier ass #)lt 59ose(h)s1 !*ainst !(ion6% &eli)s o the +)n7#hariot, an !#haean deity,
was then identiied in dierent #ities with solar @e)s or solar "oseidon, b)t the ass be#ame
the beast o .ron)s, whom @e)s and "oseidon had dethroned, or o "an, +ilen)s, and other
old7ashioned "elas*ian *odlin*s% There was also a solar !(ollo2 sin#e his hatred o asses is
mentioned by "indar, it will have been .illaean !(ollo to whom he#atombs o asses were
oered by the &y(erboreans 5"indar1 "ythian ;des%6%
<% ;enoma)s, who re(resented @e)s as the in#arnate +)n, is thereore #alled a son o !steriB,
who r)led &eaven, rather than a similarly named "leiad2 and M)een &i((odameia, by
marria*e to whom he was enroyalled, re(resented &era as the in#arnate Moon% ?es#ent
remained matrilineal in the "elo(onnese, whi#h ass)red the *ood7will o the #onservative
(easantry% 3or mi*ht the Gin*As rei*n be (rolon*ed 4eyond a Great Dear o one h)ndred
months, in the last o whi#h the solar and l)nar #alendars #oin#ided2 he was then ated to be
destroyed by horses% !s a )rther #on#ession to the older #)lt at "isa, where @e)sAs
re(resentative had been killed by his tanist ea#h mid7s)mmer, ;enoma)s a*reed to die a
mo#k death at seven s)##essive midwinters, on ea#h o##asion a((ointin* a s)rro*ate to take
his (la#e or twenty7o)r ho)rs and ride in the s)n7#hariot beside the M)een% !t the #lose o
this day, the s)rro*ate was killed in a #hariot #rash, and the Gin* ste((ed o)t rom the tomb
where he had been l)rkin*, to res)me his rei*n% This e:(lains the myth o ;enoma)s and the
s)itors, another version o whi#h a((ears in that o ,ven)s% The mytho*ra(hers m)st be
mistaken when they mention Itwelve or thirteenA s)itors% These n)mbers (ro(erly reer to the
l)nationsJalternately twelve and thirteenJo a solar year, not to the s)rro*ates2 th)s in the
#hariot ra#e at ;lym(ia twelve #ir#)its o the stadi)m were made in hono)r o the Moon7
*oddess% "elo(s is a ty(e o l)#ky ei*hth (rin#e, s(ared the #hariot #rash and able to des(at#h
the old kin* with his own s#e(tre7s(ear%
=% This ann)al #hariot #rash was sta*ed in the &i((odrome% The s)rro*ate #o)ld *)ide his
horsesJwhi#h seem, rom the myth o Gla)#)s, to have been maddened by dr)*sJdown the
strai*ht witho)t #omin* to *rie, b)t where the #o)rse bent aro)nd a white marble stat)e,
#alled the Marmarana: 5Imarble kin*6, or the &orse7s#arer, the o)ter wheel lew o or want
o a lyn#h7(in, the #hariot #olla(sed, and the horses dra**ed the s)rro*ate to death% Myrtle
was the death7tree, that o the thirteenth month, at the #lose o whi#h the #hariot #rash took
(la#e1 hen#e Myrtil)s is said to have removed the metal lyn#h7(ins, and re(la#ed them with
wa: onesJthe meltin* o wa: also #a)sed the death o $#ar)s, the +)n7kin*As s)rro*ateJand
laid a #)rse )(on the &o)se o "elo(s%
5% $n the se#ond hal o the myth, Myrtil)s has been #on)sed with the s)rro*ate% !s interre:,
the s)rro*ate was entitled to ride beside the M)een in the s)n7#hariot, and to slee( with her
d)rin* the sin*le ni*ht o his rei*n2 b)t, at dawn on the ollowin* day, the old Gin* destroyed
him and, meta(hori#ally, rode on in his s)n7#hariot to the e:treme west, where he was
()riied in the ;#ean stream% Myrtil)sAs all rom the #hariot into the sea is a teles#o(in* o
myths1 a ew miles to the east o the &i((odrome, where the $sthmian Games took (la#e, the
s)rro*ate IMeli#ertesA, in whose hono)r they had been o)nded, was l)n* over a #li and an
identi#al #eremony was (robably (erormed at Geraest)s, where Myrtil)s died% &orse7s#arers
are also re(orted rom Thebes and $ol#)s, whi#h s)**ests that there, too, #hariot #rashes were
sta*ed in the hi((odromes% 4)t sin#e the ;lym(ian &i((odrome, sa#red to solar @e)s, and
the $sthmian &i((odrome, sa#red to solar "oseidon, were both asso#iated with the le*end o
"elo(s, the mytho*ra(hers have (resented the #ontest as a #ross7#o)ntry ra#e between them%
-esbos enters the story (erha(s be#a)se I;enoma)sA was a -esbian dynasti# title%
6% !m(hionAs entry into this myth, tho)*h a Theban, is e:(lained by his bein* also a native o
+i#yon on the $sthm)s% IMyrtoA will have been a title o the +ea7*oddess as destroyer, the irst
syllable standin* or IseaA, as in Myrtea, IseaJ*oddessA2 Myrtoessa, a lon*er orm o Myrto,
was one o !(hroditeAs titles% Th)s Myrtil)s may ori*inally mean I(hall)s o the seaA1 myr7
tylos%
>% "elo(s ha#ks +tym(hal)s in (ie#es, as he himsel is said to have been treated by Tantal)s2
this more an#ient orm o the royal sa#rii#e has been ri*htly re(orted rom !r#adia% The
"elo(ids a((ear indeed to have (atroni8ed several lo#al #)lts, beside that o the +)n7#hariot1
namely the !r#adian she(herd #)lt o oak and ram, attested by "elo(sAs #onne#tion with
Tantal)s and his sa#rii#e o a bla#k ram at ;lym(ia2 the (artrid*e #)lt o .rete, Troy, and
"alestine, attested by the #orda: dan#e2 the Titan #)lt, attested by "elo(sAs title o I.ronianA2
the (or(oise #)lt2 and the #)lt o the ass7*od, in so ar as .ill)sAs *host assisted him in the
ra#e%
8% The b)t#herin* o Marma:As mares may reer to ;enoma)sAs #oronation #eremony, whi#h
involved mare7sa#rii#e% ! I.ydonian a((leA, or E)in#e, will have been in the hand o the
?eath7*oddess !thene, to whom "elo(s sa#rii#ed, as his sae7#ond)#t to the ,lysian 'ields2
and the white (o(lar, )sed in his heroi# rites at ;lym(ia, symboli8ed the ho(e o
rein#arnation ater he had been ha#ked in (ie#esJbe#a)se those who went to ,lysi)m were
*ranted the (rero*ative o rebirth% ! #lose (arallel to the bloodshed at "elo(sAs ;lym(i# altar
is the s#o)r*in* o yo)n* +(artans who were bo)nd to the ima*e o /(ri*ht !rtemis% "elo(s
was, in a#t, the vi#tim, and s)ered in hono)r o the *oddess &i((odameia%
The .hildren ; "elo(s
$3 *ratit)de to &era or a#ilitatin* her marria*e with "elo(s, &i((odameia s)mmoned
si:teen matrons, one rom every #ity o ,lis, hel( her instit)te the &eraean Games% ,very
o)rth year, ever sin#e the +i:teen Matrons, their s)##essors, have woven a robe or &era and
#elebrated the Games2 whi#h #onsist o a sin*le ra#e between vir*ins o dierent a*es, the
#om(etitors bein* handi#a((ed a##ordin* to the years, with the yo)n*est (la#ed in ront%
They r)n #lad in t)ni#s o than knee len*th, their ri*ht breasts bared, their hair lyin* ree%
.hloris, 3iobeAs only s)rvivin* da)*hter, was the irst vi#tri: in these *ames, the #o)rse o
whi#h has been i:ed at ive7si:ths o the ;lym(i# #ir#le% The (ri8e is an olive wreath, and a
share o the #ow sa#rii#ed to &era, a vi#tri: may also dedi#ate a stat)e o hersel in her own
name%
b% The +i:teen Matrons on#e a#ted as (ea#e7makers between "isans and the ,leans% 3ow they
also or*ani8e two *ro)(s o dan#ers2 one in hono)r o &i((odameia, the other in hono)r o
"hys#oa, an ,lean% "hys#oa bore 3ar#ae)s to ?ionys)s, a renowned warrior, o)nded the
san#t)ary o !thene 3ar#aea and was the irst ,lean worshi( ?ionys)s% +in#e some o the
si:teen #ities no lon*er e:ist, +i:teen Matrons are now s)((lied by the ei*ht ,lean tribes, a
(air ea#h% -ike the arbiters, they ()riy themselves, beore the Games be*in, with the blood
o a s)itable (i* and with water drawn rom "ierian +(rin* whi#h one (asses on the road
between ;lym(ia ,lis%
#% The ollowin* are said to have been #hildren o "elo(s and &i((odameia1 "itthe)s o
Troe8en2 !tre)s and Thyestes2 !l#atho)s, not one killed by ;enoma)s2 the !r*ona)t
&i((al#)s, &i((alem)s, &i((al#im)s2 .o(re)s the herald2 +#iron the bandit2 ,(ida)r)s
!r*ive, sometimes #alled the son o !(ollo2 "leisthenes2 ?ias2 .ybos)r)s2 .orinthi)s2
&i((as)s2 .leon2 !r*ei)s2 !elin)s2 !stydameia, whom some #all the mother o !m(hitryon2
-ysidi#e, whose da)*hter &i((othoB was #arried o by "oseidon to the ,#hinadian $slands,
and there bore Ta(hi)s2 ,)rydi#e, whom some #all the mother o !l#mene2 3i#i((e2 !ntibia2
and lastly !r#hi((e, mother o ,)rysthe)s and !l#yone%
d% The Me*arians, in an attem(t to obliterate the memory o how Minos #a(t)red their #ity,
and to s)**est that Gin* 3is)s was (ea#eably s)##eeded by his son7in7law Me*are)s, and he
in t)rn by his son7in7law, !l#atho)s son o "elo(s, say that Me*are)s had two sons, the elder
o whom, Timal#)s, was killed at !(hidnae d)rin* the invasion o !tti#a by the ?ios#)ri2 and
that, when the yo)n*er, ,)i(()s, was killed by the lion o .ithaeron% Me*are)s (romised his
da)*hter ,)a#hme, and his throne, to whoever aven*ed ,)i(()s% 'orthwith, !l#atho)s killed
the lion and, be#omin* kin* o Me*ara, b)ilt a tem(le there to !(ollo the &)nter and !rtemis
the &)ntress% The tr)th is, however, that !l#atho)s #ame rom ,lis to Me*ara immediately
ater the death o 3is)s and the sa#k o the #ity2 that Me*are)s never rei*ned in Me*ara2 and
that !l#atho)s sa#rii#ed to !(ollo and "oseidon as I"revio)s 4)ildersA, and then reb)ilt the
#ity wall on new o)ndations, the #o)rse o the old wall havin* been obliterated by the
.retans%
e% !l#atho)s was the ather o $s#he(olis2 o .alli(olis2 o $(hinoB, who died a vir*in, and at
whose tomb, between the .o)n#il &all and the shrine o !l#atho)s, Me*arian brides (o)r
libationsJm)#h as the ?elian brides dedi#ate their hair to &e#aer*e and ;(is2 also o
!)tomed)sa, who bore $ola)s to $(hi#les2 and o "eriboea, who married Telamon, and whose
son !Ha: s)##eeded !l#atho)s as Gin* o Me*ara% !l#atho)sAs elder son, $s#he(olis, (erished
in the .alydonian &)nt2 and .alli(olis, the irst Me*arian to hear the sorrow)l news, r)shed
)( to the !#ro(olis, where !l#atho)s was oerin*
b)rnt sa#rii#es to !(ollo, and l)n* the a**ots rom the altar in token o mo)rnin*%
/naware o what had ha((ened, !l#atho)s ra*ed at his im(iety and str)#k him dead with a
a**ory
% $s#he(olis and ,)i(()s are b)ried in the -aw .o)rts2 Me*are)s on the ri*ht side o the
as#ent to the se#ond Me*arian !#ro(olis% !l#atho)sAs hero7shrine is now the ()bli# Re#ord
;i#e2 and that o Timal#)s, the .o)n#il &all%
*% .hrysi(()s also (assed as a son o "elo(s and &i((odameia2 b)t was, in a#t, a bastard,
whom "elo(s had be*otten on the nym(h !styo#he, a ?anaid% 3ow it ha((ened that -ai)s,
when banished rom Thebes, was hos(itably re#eived by "elo(s at "isa, b)t ell in love with
.hrysi(()s, to whom he ta)*ht the #harioteerAs art2 and, as soon as the senten#e o
banishment was ann)lled, #arried the boy o in his #hariot, rom the 3emean Games, and
bro)*ht him to Thebes as his #atamite% +ome say that .hrysi(()s killed himsel or shame2
others, that &i((odameia, to (revent "elo(s rom a((ointin* .hrysi(()s his s)##essor over
the heads o her own sons, #ame to Thebes, where she tried to (ers)ade !tre)s and Thyestes
to kill the boy by throwin* him to the well% When both re)sed to m)rder their atherAs *)est,
&i((odameia at dead o ni*ht, stole into -ai)sAs #hamber and, indin* him aslee( ()lled
down his sword rom the wall and (l)n*ed it into his bedellowAs belly% -ai)s was at on#e
a##)sed o the m)rder, b)t .hrysi(()s had visited &i((odameia as she led, and a##)sed her
with his last breath%
h% Meanwhile, "elo(s mar#hed a*ainst Thebes to re#over .hrysi(()s b)t, indin* that -ai)s
was already im(risoned by !tre)s and Thyestes, nobly (ardoned him, re#o*ni8in* that only
an ae#tionate love had (rom(ted this brea#h o hos(itality% +ome say that -ai)s, and not
Thamyris, or Minos, was the irst (ederast2 whi#h is why Thebans, ar rom #ondemnin* the
(ra#ti#e, maintain a re*iment, #alled the +a#red 4and, #om(osed entirely o boys and their
lovers%
i% &i((odameia led to !r*olis, and there killed hersel2 b)t in a##ordan#e with an ora#le, her
bones were bro)*ht ba#k to ;lym(ia, where women enter her walled san#t)ary on#e a year to
oer sa#rii#es% !t one o the t)rns o the &i((odrome stands &i((odameia bron8e stat)e,
holdin* a ribbon with whi#h to de#orate "elo(s ater his vi#tory%
1% The &eraean Games took (la#e on the day beore the ;lym(i# Games% They #onsisted o a
*irlsA oot ra#e, ori*inally or the oi#e o &i*h7(riestess to &era, and the vi#tri:, who wore
the olive as a symbol o (ea#e and ertility, be#ame one with the *oddess by (artakin* o her
sa#red #ow% The +i:teen Matrons may on#e have taken t)rns to oi#iate as the &i*h7
(riestessAs assistant d)rin* the si:teen seasons o the o)r7year ;lym(iadJea#h wheel o the
royal #hariot re(resented the solar yearJand had o)r s(okes, like a ire7wheel or swastika%
I3ar#ae)sA is #learly a ba#k7ormation rom !thene 3ar#aea 5Iben)mbin*A6, a death7*oddess%
The matrons who or*ani8ed the &eraean Games, whi#h had on#e involved h)man sa#rii#e,
(ro(itiated the *oddess with (i*As blood, and then washed themselves in r)nnin* water%
&i((odameiaAs many #hildren attest the stren*th o the #onederation (resided over by the
"elo(id dynastyJall their names are asso#iated with the "elo(onnese or the $sthm)s%
0% !l#atho)sAs m)rder o his son .alli(olis at the altar o !(ollo has (robably been ded)#ed
rom an i#on whi#h showed him oerin* his son as a b)rnt sa#rii#e to the I(revio)s b)ilderA,
the #ity7*od Meli#ertes, or Molo#h, when he reo)nded Me*araJas a kin* o Moab also did
59osh)a6% Moreover, like +amson and ?avid, he had killed a lion in rit)al #ombat% .orinthian
mytholo*y has many #lose ainities with "alestinian%
<% The myth o .hrysi(()s s)rvives in de*enerate orm only% That he was a bea)ti)l "isan
boy who drove a #hariot, was #arried o like Ganymedes, or "elo(s himsel 5tho)*h not,
indeed, to ;lym()s6, and killed by &i((odameia, s)**ests that, ori*inally, he was one o the
royal s)rro*ates who died in the #hariot #rash2 b)t his myth has be#ome #on)sed with a
H)stii#ation o Theban (ederasty, and with the le*end o a dis()te abo)t the 3emean Games
between Thebes and "isa% &i((odameia, Ihorse7tamerA, was a title o the Moon7*oddess,
whose mare7headed stat)e at "hi*alia held a "elo(id (or(oise in her hand2 o)r o "elo(sAs
sons and da)*hters bear horse7names%
!tre)s !nd Thyestes
+;M, say that !tre)s, who led rom ,lis ater the death o .hrysi(()s, in whi#h he may
have been more dee(ly im(li#ated than "elo(s knew, took re)*e in My#enae% There ort)ne
avo)red him% &is ne(hew ,)rysthe)s, who was H)st abo)t to mar#h a*ainst the sons o
&era#les, a((ointed him re*ent in his absen#e2 and, when (resently news #ame o
,)rysthe)sAs deeat and death, the My#enaean notables #hose !tre)s as their kin*, be#a)se he
seemed a likely warrior to (rote#t them a*ainst the &era#lids and had already won the
ae#tion o the #ommons% Th)s the royal ho)se o "elo(s be#ame more amo)s even than
that o "erse)s%
b% 4)t others say, with *reater a)thority, that ,)rysthe)sAs ather +thenel)s, havin* banished
!m(hitryon, and sei8ed the throne o My#enae, sent or !tre)s and Thyestes, his brothers7in7
law, and installed them at near7by Midea% ! ew years later, when +thenel)s and ,)rysthe)s
were both dead, an ora#le advised the My#enaeans to #hoose a (rin#e o the "elo(id ho)se to
r)le over them% They there)(on s)mmoned !tre)s and Thyestes rom Midea and debated
whi#h o these two 5who were ated to be always at odds6 sho)ld be #rowned kin*%
#% 3ow, !tre)s had on#e vowed to sa#rii#e the inest o his lo#ks to !rtemis2 and &ermes,
an:io)s to aven*e the death o Myrtil)s on the "elo(ids, #ons)lted his old riend Goat7"an,
who made a horned lamb with a *olden lee#e a((ear amon* the !#arnanian lo#k whi#h
"elo(s had let to his sons !tre)s and Thyestes% &e oresaw that !tre)s wo)ld #laim it as his
own and, rom his rel)#tan#e to *ive !rtemis the hono)r d)e to her, wo)ld be#ome involved
in ratri#idal war with Thyestes% +ome, however, say that it was !rtemis hersel who sent the
lamb, to try him% !tre)s ke(t his vow, in (art at least, by sa#rii#in* the lambAs lesh2 b)t he
st)ed and mo)nted the lee#e and lo#ked it in a #hest% &e *rew so (ro)d o his lie7like
treas)re that he #o)ld not rerain rom boastin* abo)t it in the market (la#e, and the Healo)s
Thyestes, or whom !tre)sAs newly7married wie !ero(e had #on#eived a (assion a*reed to
be her lover i she *ave him the lamb, whi#h, he said, has been stolen by !tre)sAs she(herds
rom his own hal o the lo#k% 'or !rtemis had laid a #)rse )(on it, and this was her doin*%
d% $n a debate at the .o)n#il &all, !tre)s #laimed the throne o My#enae by ri*ht o
(rimo*enit)re, and also as (ossessor o the lamb Thyestes asked him1 I?o yo) then ()bli#ly
de#lare that its owner sho)ld be kin*KA I$ do,A !tre)s re(lied% I!nd $ #on#)r,A said Thyestes
smilin* *rimly% ! herald then s)mmoned the (eo(le o My#enae to a##laim their new kin*2
the tem(les were h)n* with *old, and their doors thrown o(en2 i:es bla8ed on every altar
thro)*ho)t the #ity and son*s were s)n* in (raise o the horned lamb with the *olden lee#e%
4)t Thyestes )ne:(e#tedly rose to )(braid !tre)s as a vain*lorio)s boaster, and led the
ma*istrates to his home, where he dis(layed the lamb, H)stiied his #laim to its ownershi(,
and was (rono)n#ed the ri*ht)l kin* o My#enae%
e% @e)s, however, avo)red !tre)s, and sent &ermes to him, sayin*1 I.all Thyestes, and ask
him whether, i the s)n *oes ba#kward on the dial, he will resi*n his #laim to the throne in
yo)r avo)rKA !tre)s did as he was told, and Thyestes a*reed to abdi#ate sho)ld s)#h a
(ortent o##)r% There)(on @e)s, aided by ,ris, reversed the laws o 3at)re, whi#h hitherto had
been imm)table% &eli)s, already in mid7#areer, wrested his #hariot abo)t and t)rned his
horsesA heads towards the #lam% The seven "leiades, and all the other stars, retra#ed their
#o)rses in sym(athy2 and that evenin*, or the irst and last
time, the s)n set in the east% ThyestesAs de#eit and *reed bein* th)s (lainly attested, !tre)s
s)##eeded to the throne o My#enae, and banished him% When, later, !tre)s dis#overed that
Thyestes had #ommitted ad)ltery with !ero(e, he #o)ld hardly #ontain his ra*e%
3evertheless, or awhile he ei*ned or*iveness%
% 3ow, this !ero(e, whom some #all ,)ro(e, was a .retan, the da)*hter o Gin* .atre)s%
;ne day, she had been s)r(rised by .atre)s while entertainin* a lover in the (ala#e, and was
on the (oint o bein* thrown to the ishes when, #o)ntermandin* his senten#e at the (lea o
3a)(li)s, he sold her, and his other da)*hter .lymene as well, whom he s)s(e#ted o (lottin*
a*ainst his lie, as slaves to 3a)(li)s or a nominal (ri#e2 only sti()latin* that neither o them
sho)ld ever ret)rn to .rete% 3a)(li)s then married .lymene, who bore him ;ea: and
"alamedes the inventor% 4)t !tre)s, whose wie .leola had died ater *ivin* birth to a weakly
son, "leisthenesJthis was !rtemisAs reven*e on him or his ail)re to kee( the vowJmarried
!ero(e, and be*ot on her !*amemnon, Menela)s, and !na:ibia% "leisthenes had also died1
the #)t7throats whom !tre)s sent to m)rder his namesake, ThyestesAs bastard son by !ero(e,
m)rdered him in errorJThyestes saw it%
*% !tre)s now sent a herald to l)re Thyestes ba#k to My#enae, with the oer o an amnesty
and a hal7share in the kin*dom2 b)t, as soon as Thyestes a##e(ted this, sla)*htered !*la)s,
;r#homen)s, and .allileon, ThyestesAs three sons by one o the 3aiads, on the very altar o
@e)s where they had taken re)*e2 and then so)*ht o)t and killed the inant "leisthenes the
+e#ond, and Tantal)s the +e#ond, his twin% &e ha#ked them all limb rom limb, and set
#hosen morsels o their meet to a dish boiled in a #a)ldron, beore Thyestes, to wel#ome him
on his rer)n When Thyestes had eaten heartily, !tre)s sent in their bloody heads and eet and
hands, laid o)t on another dish, to show him what was now inside his belly% Thyestes ell
ba#k, vomitin*, and laid an inevitable #)rse )(on the seed o !tre)s%
h% ,:iled on#e more, Thyestes led irst to Gin* Thes(rot)s in +i#yon, where his own
da)*hter "elo(ia, or "elo(eia, was a (riestess% 'or, desirin* reven*e at whatever #ost, he had
#ons)lted the ?el(hi# ;ra#le and been advised to be*et a son on his own da)*hter% Thyestes
o)nd "elo(ia sa#rii#in* by ni*ht to !thene .olo#asia and, bein* loth to (roane the rites,
#on#ealed himsel in a near7by *rove% "resently "elo(ia, who was leadin* the solemn dan#e,
sli((ed in a (ool o blood that had lowed rom the throat o a bla#k ewe, the vi#tim, and
stained her t)ni#% +he ran at on#e to the tem(le ish7(ond, removed her t)ni# and was
washin* o)t the stain, when Thyestes s(ran* rom the *rove and ravished her% "elo(ia did not
re#o*ni8e him, be#a)se he was wearin* a mask, b)t #ontrived to steal his sword and #arry it
ba#k to the tem(le, where she hid it )nder the (edestal o !theneAs ima*e2 and Thyestes,
indin* the s#abbard em(ty and earin* dete#tion, es#a(ed to -ydia, the land o his athers%
i% Meanwhile, earin* the #onseE)en#es o his #rime, !tre)s #ons)lted the ?el(hi# ;ra#le,
and was told1 IRe#all Thyestes rom +i#yon%A &e rea#hed +i#yon too late to meet Thyestes
and, allin* in love with "elo(ia, whom he ass)med to be Gin* Thes(rot)sAs da)*hter, asked
leave to make her his third wie2 havin* by this time e:e#)ted !ero(e% ,a*er or an allian#e
with so (ower)l a kin*, and wishin* at the same time to do "elo(ia a servi#e, Thes(rot)s did
not )nde#eive !tre)s, and the weddin* took (la#e at on#e% $n d)e #o)rse she bore the son
be*otten on her by Thyestes, whom she e:(osed on a mo)ntain2 b)t *oatherds res#)ed him
and *ave him to a she7*oat or s)#klin*Jhen#e his name !e*isth)s, or I*oat7stren*thA%
!tre)s believed that Thyestes had led rom +i#yon at news o his a((roa#h2 that the #hild
was his own2 and that "elo(ia had been ae#ted by the tem(orary madness whi#h some times
overtakes women ater #hildbirth% &e thereore re#overed !e*isth)s rom the *oatherds and
reared him as his heir%
H% ! s)##ession o bad harvests then (la*)ed My#enae, and !tre)s sent !*amemnon and
Menela)s to ?el(hi or news o Thyestes, whom they met by #han#e on his ret)rn rom a
)rther visit to the ;ra#le% They haled him ba#k to My#enae, where !tre)s, havin* thrown
him into (rison, ordered !e*isth)s, then seven years o a*e, to kill him as he de(t%
k% Thyestes awoke s)ddenly to ind !e*isth)s standin* over him, sword in hand2 he E)i#kly
rolled sideways and es#a(ed death% Then he rose, disarmed the boy with a shrewd ki#k at his
wrist, and s(ran* to re#over the sword% 4)t it was his own, lost years beore in +i#yonP &e
sei8ed !e*isth)s by the sho)lder and #ried1 Tell me instantly how this #ame into yo)r
(ossessionKA !e*isth)s stammered1 I!las, my mother "elo(ia *ave it me%A I$ will s(are yo)r
lie, boy,A said Thyestes, Ii yo) #arry o)t the three orders $ now *ive yo)%A I$ am yo)r servant
in all thin*s,A we(t !e*isth)s, who had e:(e#ted no mer#y% IMy irst order is to brin* yo)r
mother here,A Thyestes told him%
l% !e*isth)s there)(on bro)*ht "elo(ia to the d)n*eon and, re#o*ni8in* Thyestes, she we(t
on his ne#k, #alled him her dearest ather, and #ommiserated with his s)erin*s% I&ow did
yo) #ome by this sword, da)*hterKA Thyestes asked% I$ took it rom the s#abbard o an
)nknown stran*er who ravished me one ni*ht at +i#yon,A she re(lied% I$t is mine,A said
Thyestes% "elo(ia, stri#ken with horror, sei8ed the sword, and (l)n*ed it into her breast%
!e*isth)s stood a*hast, not )nderstandin* what had been said% I3ow take this sword to
!tre)s,A was ThyestesAs se#ond order, Iand tell him that yo) have #arried o)t yo)r
#ommission% Then ret)rnPA ?)mbly !e*isth)s took the bloody thin* to !tre)s, who went
Hoy)lly down to the seashore, where he oered a sa#rii#e o thanks*ivin* to @e)s,
#onvin#ed that he was rid o Thyestes at last%
m% When !e*isth)s ret)rned to the d)n*eon, Thyestes revealed himsel as his ather, and
iss)ed his third order1 IGill !tre)s, my son !e*isth)s, and this time do not alterPA !e*isth)s
did as he was told, and% Thyestes rei*ned on#e more in My#enae%
n% !nother *olden7lee#ed horned lamb then a((eared amon* ThyestesAs lo#ks and *rew to
be a ram and, aterwards, every new "elo(id kin* was th)s divinely #onirmed in (ossession
o his *olden s#e(tre2 these rams *ra8ed at ease in a (addo#k en#losed by )ns#aleable walls%
4)t some say that the token o royalty was not a livin* #reat)re, b)t a silver bowl, on the
bottom o whi#h a *olden lamb had been inlaid2 and others, that it #annot have been
!e*isth)s who killed !tre)s, be#a)se he was only an inant in swaddlin* #lothes when
!*amemnon drove his ather Thyestes rom My#enae, wrestin* the s#e(tre rom him%
o% Thyestes lies b)ried beside the road that leads rom My#enae to !r*os, near the shrine o
"erse)s% !bove his tomb stands the stone i*)re o a ram% The tomb o !tre)s, and his
)nder*ro)nd treas)ry, are still shown amon* the r)ins o My#enae%
(% Thyestes was not the last hero to have his own #hild served )( to him on a dish% This
ha((ened some years later to .lymen)s, the !r#adian son o +#hoen)s, who #on#eived an
in#est)o)s (assion or &ar(aly#e, his da)*hter by ,(i#aste% &avin* deba)#hed &ar(aly#e, he
married her to !lastor, b)t aterwards took her away a*ain% &ar(aly#e, to reven*e hersel,
m)rdered the son she bore himJwho was also her brotherJ#ooked the #or(se and laid it
beore .lymen)s% +he was transormed into a bird o (rey, and .lymen)s han*ed himsel%
1% The !tre)sJThyestes myth, whi#h s)rvives only in hi*hly theatri#al versions, seems to be
based on the rivalry between !r*ive #o7kin*s or s)(reme (ower, as in the myth o !#risi)s
and "roet)s% $t is a *ood deal older than the story o &era#lesAs +onsJthe ?orian invasion o
the "elo(onnese, abo)t the year 1050 4.Jwith whi#h Th)#ydides asso#iates it% !tre)sAs
*olden lamb, withheld rom sa#rii#e, re#alls "oseidonAs white b)ll, similarly withheld by
Minos2 b)t is o the same breed as the *olden7lee#ed rams sa#red to @e)s on Mo)nt
-a(hysti)m, and to "oseidon on the island o .r)missa% To (ossess this lee#e was a token o
royalty, be#a)se the kin* )sed it in an ann)al rain7makin* #eremony% The lamb is
meta(hori#ally *olden1 in Gree#e Iwater is *old,A and the lee#e ma*i#ally (rod)#ed rain%
This meta(hor may, however, have been reinor#ed by the )se o lee#es to #olle#t *old
d)st rom the rivers o !sia Minor2 and the o##asional a((earan#e, in the ,astern
Mediterranean, o lambs with *ilded teeth, s)((osedly des#endants o those that the yo)th)l
@e)s tended on Mo)nt $da% 5$n the ei*hteenth #ent)ry, -ady Mary Wortley Monta*)
investi*ated this (ersistent anomaly, b)t #o)ld not dis#over its ori*in%6 $t may also be that the
!r*ive royal s#e(tre was to((ed by a *olden ram% !(ollodor)s is va*)e abo)t the le*al
ba#k*ro)nd o the dis()te, b)t ThyestesAs #laim was (robably the same as that made by
Maeve or the dis()ted b)ll in the ratri#idal $rish War o the 4)lls1 that the lamb had been
stolen rom his own lo#ks at birth%
0% ,)ri(ides has introd)#ed ,ris at a wron* (oint in the story1 she will have (rovoked the
E)arrel between the brothers, rather than hel(ed @e)s to reverse the #o)rse o the s)nJa
(henomenon whi#h she was not em(owered to (rod)#e% .lassi#al *rammarians and
(hiloso(hers have e:(lained this in#ident in vario)s in*enio)s ways whi#h anti#i(ate the
attem(ts made by twentiethJ#ent)ry "rotestants to a##o)nt s#ientii#ally or the retro*rade
movement o the +)nAs shadow on Ithe dial o !ha8A 5Gin*s6% -)#ian and "olybi)s write that
when !tre)s and Thyestes E)arrelled over the s)##ession, the !r*ives were already habit)al
starJ*a8ers and a*reed that the best astronomer sho)ld be ele#ted kin*% $n the ens)in*
#ontest, Thyestes (ointed o)t that the s)n always rose in the Ram at the +(rin* 'estivalJ
hen#e the story o the *olden lambJb)t the soothsayer !tre)s did better1 he (roved that the
s)n and the earth travel in dierent dire#tions, and that what a((ear to be s)nsets are, in a#t,
settin*s o the earth% Where)(on the !r*ives made him kin*% &y*in)s and +ervi)s both a*ree
that !tre)s was an astronomer, b)t make him the irst to (redi#t an e#li(se o the s)n
mathemati#ally2 and say that, when the #al#)lation (roved #orre#t, his Healo)s brother
Thyestes let the #ity in #ha*rin 5&y*in)s1 'ab)la2 +ervi)s on Cir*ilAs !eneid6% +o#rates took
the myth more literally1 re*ardin* it as eviden#e o his theory that the )niverse winds and
)nwinds itsel in alternate #y#les o vast d)ration, the reversal o motion at the #lose o ea#h
#y#le bein* a##om(anied by *reat destr)#tion o animal lie 5"lato1 The +tatesman6%
<% To )nderstand the story, however, one m)st think not alle*ori#ally, nor (hiloso(hi#ally, b)t
mytholo*i#ally2 namely in terms o the ar#hai# #onli#t between the sa#red kin* and his
tanist% The kin* rei*ned )ntil the s)mmer solsti#e, when the s)n rea#hed its most northerly
(oint and stood still2 then the tanist killed him and took his (la#e, while the s)n daily
retreated so)thward towards the winter solsti#e% This m)t)al hatred, shar(ened by se:)al
Healo)sy, be#a)se the tanist married his rivalAs widow, was renewed between !r*ive #o7kin*s,
whose #ombined rei*ns e:tended or a Great Dear2 and they E)arrelled over !ero(e, as
!#risi)s and "roet)s had done over ?anaB% The myth o &e8ekiah, who was on the (oint o
death when, as a si*n o 9ehovahAs avo)r, the (ro(het $saiah added ten years to his rei*n by
t)rnin* ba#k the s)n ten de*rees on the dial o !ha8 5Gin*s and $saiah6, s)**ests a &ebrew,
or (erha(s a "hilistine, tradition o how the kin*, ater the #alendar reorm #a)sed by
ado(tion o the metoni# #y#le, was allowed to (rolon* his rei*n to the nineteenth year,
instead o dyin* in the ninth% !the)s, at My#enae, may have been *ranted a similar
dis(ensation%
=% The #annibalisti# east in hono)r o @e)s, whi#h a((ears in the myth o Tantal)s, has here
been #on)sed with the ann)al sa#rii#e o #hild s)rro*ates, and with .ron)sAs vomitin* )( o
his #hildren by Rhea% ThyestesAs ra(e o "elo(ia re#alls the myth o .inyras and +myrna, and
is best e:(lained as the kin*As attem(t to (rolon* his rei*n beyond the #)stomary limit by
marria*e with his ste(7da)*hter, the heiress% !ero(eAs res#)e rom the .retan ishes identiies
her with ?i#tynna74ritomartis, whom her *randather Minos had #hased into the sea%
!e*isth)s, s)#kled by a she7*oat, is the amiliar 3ew Dear #hild o the Mysteries%
5% The story o .lymen)s and &ar(aly#eJthere was another Thra#ian #hara#ter o the same
name, a sort o !talantaJ#ombines the myth o .inyras and +myrna with that o Tere)s and
"ro#ne% /nless this is an artii#ial #om(osition or the theatre, as .lymen)sAs )nmythi#al
s)i#ide by han*in* s)**ests, he will have tried to re*ain a title to the throne when his rei*n
ended, by marryin* the heiress, te#hni#ally his da)*hter, to an interre: and then killin* him
and takin* her himsel% !lastor means Iaven*erA, b)t his ven*ean#e does not a((ear in the
myth2 (erha(s the ori*inal version made !lastor the vi#tim o the h)man sa#rii#e%
!*amemnon !nd .lytaemnestra
+;M, say that !*amemnon and Menela)s were o an a*e to arrest Thyestes at ?el(hi2
others, that when !e*isth)s killed !tre)s, they were still inants, whom their n)rse had the
(resen#e o mind to res#)e% +nat#hin* them )(, one )nder ea#h arm, she led with them to
"oly(heides, the twenty7o)rth kin* o +i#yon, at whose instan#e they were s)bseE)ently
entr)sted to ;ene)s the !etolian% $t is a*reed, however, that ater they had s(ent some years
at ;ene)sAs #o)rt, Gin* Tyndare)s o +(arta restored their ort)nes% Mar#hin* a*ainst
My#enae, he e:a#ted an oath rom Thyestes, who had taken re)*e at the altar o &era, that
he wo)ld beE)eath the s#e(tre to !*amemnon, as !tre)sAs heir, and *o into e:ile, never to
ret)rn% Thyestes there)(on de(arted to .ythera, while !e*isth)s, earin* !*amemnonAs
ven*ean#e, led to Gin* .ylarabes, son o Gin* +thenel)s the !r*ive%
b% $t is said that @e)s *ave (ower to the &o)se o !ea#)s, wisdom to the &o)se o !mythaon,
b)t wealth to the &o)se o !tre)s% Wealthy indeed it was1 the kin*s o My#enae, .orinth,
.leonae, ;rneiae, !rathyrea, +i#yon, &y(eresia, Gonoessa, "ellene, !e*i)m, !e*ial)s, and
&eli#e, all (aid trib)te to !*amemnon, both on land and sea%
#% !*amemnon irst made war a*ainst Tantal)s, Gin* o "isa, the son o his )*ly )n#le
4roteas, killed him in battle and or#ibly married his widow .lytaenmestra, whom -eda had
borne to Gin* Tyndare)s o +(arta% The ?ios#)ri, .lytaenmestraAs brothers, there)(on
mar#hed on My#enae2 b)t !*amemnon had already *one as a s)((liant to his benea#tor
Tyndare)s, who or*ave him and let him kee( .lytaemnestra% !ter the death o the ?ios#)ri,
Menela)s married their sister &elen, and Tyndare)s abdi#ated in his avo)r%
d% .lytaenmestra bore !*amemnon one son, ;restes, and three da)*hters1 ,le#tra, or
-aodi#e2 $(hi*eneia, or $(hianassa2 and .hrysothemis2 tho)*h some say that $(hi*eneia was
.lytaemnestraAs nie#e, the da)*hter o These)s and &elen, whom she took (ity )(on and
ado(ted%
e% When "aris, the son o Gin* "riam o Troy, abd)#ted &elen and th)s (rovoked the TroHan
War, both !*amemnon and Menela)s were absent rom home or ten years2 b)t !e*isth)s did
not Hoin their e:(edition, (reerrin* to stay behind at !r*os and seek reven*e on the &o)se o
!tre)s%
% 3ow, 3a)(li)s, the h)sband o .lymene, havin* ailed to obtain reE)ital rom !*amemnon
and the other Greek leaders or the stonin* o his son "alamedes, had sailed away rom Troy
and #oasted aro)nd !tti#a and the "elo(onnese, in#itin* the lonely wives o his enemies to
ad)ltery% !e*isth)s, thereore, when he heard that .lytaemnestra was amon* those most
ea*er to be #onvin#ed by 3a)(li)s, (lanned not only to be#ome her lover, b)t to kill
!*amemnon, with her assistan#e, as soon as the TroHan War ended%
*% &ermes, sent to !e*isth)s by ;mnis#ient @e)s, warned him to abandon this (roHe#t, on the
*ro)nd that when ;restes had *rown to manhood, he wo)ld be bo)nd to aven*e his ather%
'or all his eloE)en#e, however, &ermes ailed to deter !e*isth)s, who went to My#enae with
ri#h *its in his hands, b)t hatred in his heart% !t irst, .lytaemnestra reHe#ted his advan#es,
be#a)se !*amemnon, a((rised o 3a)(li)sAs visit to My#enae, had instr)#ted his #o)rt bard
to kee( #lose wat#h on her and re(ort to him, in writin*, the least si*n o inidelity% 4)t
!e*isth)s sei8ed the old minstrel and marooned him witho)t ood on a lonely island, where
birds o (rey were soon (i#kin* his bones% .lytaemnestra then yielded to !e*isth)sAs
embra#es, and he #elebrated his )nho(ed or s)##ess with b)rnt oerin*s to !(hrodite, and
*its o ta(estries and *old to !rtemis, who was n)rsin* a *r)d*e a*ainst the &o)se o !tre)s%
h% .lytaemnestra had small #a)se to love !*amemnon1 ater killin* her ormer h)sband
Tantal)s, and the new7born #hild at her breast, he had married her by or#e, and then *one
away to a war whi#h (romised never to end2 he had also san#tioned the sa#rii#e o
$(hi*eneia at !)lisJand, this she o)nd even
harder to bearJwas said to be brin*in* ba#k "riamAs da)*hter .assandra, the (ro(hetess, as
his wie in all b)t name% $t is tr)e that .assandra had borne !*amemnon twin sons1
Teledam)s and "elo(s, b)t he does not seem to have intended any ins)lt to .lytaemnestra%
&er inormant had been 3a)(li)sAs s)rvivin* son ;ea: who, in ven*ean#e or his brotherAs
death, was mali#io)sly (rovokin* her to do m)rder%
i% .lytaemnestra thereore #ons(ired with !e*isth)s to kill both !*amemnon and .assandra%
'earin*, however, that they mi*ht arrive )ne:(e#tedly, she wrote !*amemnon a letter askin*
him to li*ht a bea#on on Mo)nt $da when Troy ell2 and hersel arran*ed or a #hain o ires
to relay his si*nal to !r*olis by way o .a(e &ermae)m on -emnos, and the mo)ntains o
!thos, Ma#isms, Messa(i)s, .ithaeron, !e*i(lan#t)s, and !ra#hne% ! wat#hman was also
stationed on the roo o the (ala#e at My#enae1 a aith)l servant o !*amemnonAs, who s(ent
one whole year, #ro)#hed on his elbows like a do*, *a8in* towards Mo)nt !ra#hne and illed
with *loomy orebodin*s% !t last, one dark ni*ht, he saw the distant bea#on bla8e and ran to
wake .lytaemnestra% +he #elebrated the news with sa#rii#es o thanks*ivin*2 tho)*h, indeed,
she wo)ld now have liked the sie*e o Troy to last orever% !e*isth)s there)(on (osted one o
his own men in a wat#htower near the sea, (romisin* him two *old talents or the irst news
o !*amemnonAs landin*%
H% &era had res#)ed !*amemnon rom the ier#e storm whi#h destroyed many o the ret)rnin*
Greek shi(s and drove Menela)s to ,*y(t2 and, at last, a air wind #arried him to 3a)(lia% 3o
sooner had he disembarked, than he bent down to kiss the soil, wee(in* or Hoy% Meanwhile
the wat#hman h)rried to My#enae to #olle#t his ee, and !e*isth)s #hose twenty o the
boldest warriors, (osted them in amb)sh inside the (ala#e, ordered a *reat banE)et and then,
mo)ntin* his #hariot, rode down to wel#ome !*amemnon%
k% .lytaemnestra *reeted her travel7worn h)sband with every a((earan#e o deli*ht, )nrolled
a ()r(le #ar(et or him, and led him to the bath7ho)se, where slave7*irls had (re(ared a warm
bath2 b)t .assandra remained o)tside the (ala#e, #a)*ht in a (ro(heti# tran#e, re)sin* to
enter, and #ryin* that she smelt blood, and that the #)rse o Thyestes was heavy )(on the
dinin*7hall% When !*amemnon had washed himsel and set one oot o)t o the bath, ea*er to
(artake o the ri#h banE)et now already set on the tables, .lytaemnestra #ame orward, as i
to wra( a towel abo)t him, b)t instead threw over his head a *arment o net, woven by
hersel, witho)t either ne#k or sleeve7holes% ,ntan*led in this, like a ish, !*amemnon
(erished at the hands o !e*isth)s, who str)#k him twi#e with a two7ed*ed sword% &e ell
hard, into the silver7sided bath, where .lytaemnestra aven*ed her wron*s by beheadin* him
with an a:e% +he then ran o)t to kill .assandra with the same wea(on, not tro)blin* irst to
#lose her h)sbandAs eyelids or mo)th2 b)t wi(ed o on his hair the blood whi#h had s(lashed
her, to si*niy that he had bro)*ht abo)t his own death%
l% ! ier#e battle was now ra*in* in the (ala#e, between !*amemnonAs body*)ard and
!e*isth)sAs s)((orters% Warriors were slain like swine or a ri#h manAs east, or lay wo)nded
and *roanin* beside the laden boards in a welter o blood2 b)t !e*isth)s won the day%
;)tside, .assandraAs head rolled to the *ro)nd, and !e*isth)s also had the satisa#tion o
killin* her twin sons by !*amemnon2 yet he ailed to do away with another o !*amemnonAs
bastards, by name &ales)s, or &alis#)s% &ales)s #ontrived to make his es#a(e and, ater lon*
wanderin* in e:ile, o)nded the $talian #ity o 'alerios, and ta)*ht its inhabitants the
Mysteries o &era, whi#h are still #elebrated there in the !r*ive manner% This massa#re took
(la#e on the thirteenth day o the month Gamelion W9an)aryX and, )naraid o divine
retrib)tion, .lytaemnestra de#reed the thirteenth day a monthly estival, #elebratin* it with
dan#in* and oerin*s o shee( to her *)ardian deities% +ome a((la)ded her resol)tion2 b)t
others hold that she bro)*ht eternal dis*ra#e )(on all women, even virt)o)s ones% !e*isth)s,
too, *ave thanks to the *oddess who had assisted him%
n% The +(artans #laim that !*amemnon is b)ried at !my#lae, no more than a small villa*e,
where are shown the tomb and stat)e o .lytaemnestra, also the san#t)ary and stat)e o
.assandra2 the inhabitants even believe that he was killed there% 4)t the tr)th is that
!*amemnonAs tomb stands amon* the r)ins o My#enae, #lose to those o his #harioteer, o
his #omrades m)rdered with him by !e*isth)s, and o .assandraAs twins%
o% Menela)s was later inormed o the #rime by "rote)s, the (ro(het o "haros and, havin*
oered he#atombs to his brotherAs *host, b)ilt a #enota(h in his hono)r beside the River o
,*y(t% Ret)rnin* to +(arta, ei*ht years later, he raised a tem(le to @e)s !*amemnon2 there
are other s)#h tem(les at -a(ersae in !tti#a and at .la8omene in $onia, altho)*h !*amemnon
never rei*ned in either o these (la#es%
1% The myth o !*amemnon, !e*isth)s, .lytaemnestra, and ;restes has s)rvived in so
styli8ed a dramati# orm that its ori*ins are almost obliterated% $n tra*edy o this sort, the #l)e
is )s)ally (rovided by the manner o the kin*As death1 whether he is l)n* over a #li like
These)s, b)rned alive like &era#les, wre#ked in a #hariot like ;enoma)s, devo)red by wild
horses like ?iomedes, drowned in a (ool like Tantal)s, or killed by li*htnin* like .a(ane)s%
!*amemnon dies in a (e#)liar manner1 with a net thrown over his head, with one oot still in
the bath, b)t the other on the loor, and in the bathho)se anne:Jthat is to say, Ineither
#lothed nor )n#lothed, neither in water nor on dry land, neither in his (ala#e nor o)tsideAJa
sit)ation re#allin* the mids)mmer death, in the Mabino*ion, o the sa#red kin* -lew -law, at
the hands o his trea#hero)s wie 4lode)wedd and her lover Gronw% ! similar story told by
+a:o Grammati#)s in his late twelth7#ent)ry &istory o ?enmark s)**ests that
.lytaemnestra may also have *iven !*amemnon an a((le to eat, and killed him as he set it to
his li(s1 so that he was Ineither astin*, nor eastin*A 5White Goddess6% 4asi#ally, then, this is
the amiliar myth o the sa#red kin* who dies at mids)mmer, the *oddess who betrays him,
the tanist who s)##eeds him, the son who aven*es him% .lytaemnestraAs a:e was the .retan
symbol o soverei*nty, and the myth has ainities with the m)rder o Minos, whi#h also took
(la#e in a bath% !e*isth)sAs mo)ntain bea#ons, one o whi#h !es#hyl)s re#ords to have been
b)ilt o heather, are the bonires o the mids)mmer sa#rii#e% The *oddess in whose hono)r
!*amemnon was sa#rii#ed a((ear in triad as his Ida)*htersA1 ,le#tra 5IamberA6, $(hi*eneia
5Imotherin* stron* ra#eA6, and .hrysothemis 5I*olden orderA6%
0% This an#ient story has been #ombined with the le*end o a dis()te between rival dynasties
in the "elo(onnese% .lytaemnestra was a +(arta royal heiress2 and the +(artansA #laim, that
their an#estor Tyndare)s raise !*amemnon to the throne o My#enae, s)**ests that they were
vi#torio)s in a war a*ainst the My#enaeans or the (ossession o !my#lae, where
!*amemnon and .lytaemnestra were both hono)red%
<% I @e)s !*amemnonA, Ivery resol)te @e)sA, will have been a divine title borne not only by
the My#enaean kin*s, b)t by those o -a(ersae and .la8omene2 and, (res)mably, also by the
kin*s o a ?anaan or !#haean settlement beside the River o ,*y(tJnot to be #on)sed wit
the 3ile% The River o ,*y(t is mentioned in 9osh)a as markin* the bo)ndary between
"alestine and ,*y(t2 arther rom the #oast, at !s#alon and near Tyre, there were other
?anaan or !#haean settlements%
=% The thirteenth day, also observed as a estal day in Rome, where it was #alled the $des, had
#orres(onded with the )ll moon at a time when the #alendar month was a sim(le l)nation% $t
seems that the sa#rii#e o the kin* always took (la#e at the )ll moon% !##ordin* to the
le*end, the Greek leet, ret)rnin* late in the year rom Troy, ran into winter stormJ
!*amemnon thereore died in 9an)ary, not in 9)ne%
The Cen*ean#e ; ;restes
;R,+T,+ was reared by his lovin* *rand(arents Tyndare)s and -eda, and, as a boy,
a##om(anied .lytaemnestra and $(hi*eneia to !)lis% 4)t some say that .lytaemnestra sent
him to "ho#is, shortly beore !*amemnonAs ret)rn2 and others that on the evenin* o the
m)rder, ;restes, then ten years o a*e, was res#)ed by his noble7hearted n)rse !rsinoB, or
-aodameia, or Geilissa who, havin* sent her own son to bed in the royal n)rsery, let
!e*isth)s kill him in ;restesAs (la#e% ;thers a*ain say that his sister ,le#tra, aided by her
atherAs an#ient t)tor, wra((ed him in a robe embroidered with
wild beasts, whi#h she hersel had woven, and sm)**led him o)t o the #ity%
b% !ter hidin* or awhile amon* the she(herds o the river Tan)s, whi#h divides !r*olis
rom -a#onia, the t)tor made his way with ;restes to the #o)rt o +tro(hi)s, a irm ally o the
&o)se o !tre)s, who r)led over .risa, at the oot o Mo)nt "arnass)s% This +tro(hi)s had
married !*amemnonAs sister !styo#hea, or !na:ibia, or .yndra*ora% !t .risa, ;restes o)nd
an advent)ro)s (laymate, namely +tro(hi)sAs son "ylades, who was somewhat yo)n*er than
himsel, and their riendshi( was destined to be#ome (roverbial% 'rom the old t)tor he
learned with *rie that !*amemnonAs body had been l)n* o)t o the ho)se and hastily b)ried
by .lytaemnestra, witho)t either libations or myrtle7bo)*hs2 and that the (eo(le o My#enae
had been orbidden to attend the )neral%
#% !e*isth)s rei*ned at My#enae or seven years, ridin* in !*amemnonAs #hariot, sittin* on
his throne, wieldin* his s#e(tre, wearin* his robes, slee(in* in his bed, and sE)anderin* his
ri#hes% Det des(ite all these tra((in*s o kin*shi(, he was little more than a slave to
.lytaemnestra, the tr)e r)ler o My#enae% When dr)nk, he wo)ld lea( on !*amemnonAs tomb
and (elt the head7stone with ro#ks, #ryin*1 I.ome, ;restes, #ome and deend yo)r ownPA The
tr)th was, however, that he lived in abHe#t ear o ven*ean#e, even while s)rro)nded by a
tr)sty orei*n body*)ard, never (assed a sin*le ni*ht in so)nd slee(, and had oered a
handsome reward in *old or ;restesAs assassination%
d% ,le#tra had been betrothed to her #o)sin .astor o +(arta, beore his death and demi7
deii#ation% Tho)*h the leadin* (rin#es o Gree#e now #ontended or her hand, !e*isth)s
eared that she mi*ht bear a son to aven*e !*amemnon, and thereore anno)n#ed that no
s)itor #o)ld be a##e(ted% &e wo)ld *ladly have destroyed ,le#tra, who showed him
im(la#able hatred, lest she lay se#retly with one o the "ala#e oi#ers and bore him a bastard2
b)t .lytaemnestra, eelin* no E)alms abo)t her (art in !*amemnonAs m)rder, and s#r)()lo)s
not to in#)r the dis(leas)re o the *ods, orbade him to do so% +he allowed him, however, to
marry ,le#tra to a My#enaean (easant who, bein* araid o ;restes and also #haste by nat)re,
never #ons)mmated their )neE)al )nion%
e% Th)s, ne*le#ted by .lytaenmestra, who had now borne !e*isth)s three #hildren, by name
,ri*one, !letes, and the se#ond &elen, ,le#tra lived in dis*ra#e)l (overty, and was ke(t
)nder #onstant #lose s)(ervision% $n the end it was de#ided that, )nless she wo)ld a##e(t her
ate, as her sister .hrysothemis had done, and rerain rom ()bli#ly #allin* !e*isth)s and
.lytaemnestra Im)rdero)s ad)lterersA, she wo)ld be banished to some distant #ity and there
#onined in a d)n*eon where the li*ht o the s)n never (enetrated% Det ,le#tra des(ised
.hrysothemis or her s)bservien#e and disloyalty to their dead ather, and se#retly sent
reE)ent reminders to ;restes o the ven*ean#e reE)ired rom him%
% ;restes, now *rown to manhood, visited the ?el(hi# ;ra#le, to enE)ire whether or not he
sho)ld destroy his atherAs m)rderers% !(olloAs answer, a)thori8ed by @e)s, was that i he
ne*le#ted to aven*e !*amemnon he wo)ld be#ome an o)t#ast rom so#iety, debarred rom
enterin* any shrine or tem(le, and ali#ted with a le(rosy that ate into his lesh, makin* it
s(ro)t white mo)ld% &e was re#ommended to (o)r libations beside !*amemnonAs tomb, lay a
rin*let o his hair )(on it and, )naided by any #om(any o s(earmen, #ratily e:a#t the d)e
()nishment rom the m)rderers% !t the same time the "ythoness observed that the ,rinnyes
wo)ld not readily or*ive a matri#ide, and thereore, on behal o !(ollo, she *ave ;restes a
bow o horn, with whi#h to re(el their atta#ks, sho)ld they be#ome ins)((ortable% !ter
)lillin* his orders, he m)st #ome a*ain to ?el(hi, where !(ollo wo)ld (rote#t him%
*% $n the ei*hth yearJor, a##ordin* to some, ater a (assa*e o twenty yearsJ;restes
se#retly ret)rned to My#enae, by way o !thens, determined to destroy both !e*isth)s and
his own mother% ;ne mornin*, with "ylades at his side, he visited !*amemnonAs tomb and
there, #)ttin* o a lo#k o his hair, he invoked $nernal &ermes, (atron o atherhood% When a
*ro)( o slave7women a((roa#hed, dirty and dishevelled or the ()r(oses o mo)rnin*, he
took shelter in a near7by thi#ket to wat#h them% 3ow, on the (revio)s ni*ht, .lytaemnestra
had dreamed that she *ave birth to a ser(ent, whi#h she wra((ed in swaddlin* #lothes and
s)#kled% +)ddenly she s#reamed in her slee(, and alarmed the whole "ala#e by #ryin* that the
ser(ent had drawn blood rom her breast, as well as milk% The o(inion o the soothsayers
whom she #ons)lted was that she had in#)rred the an*er o the dead2 and these mo)rnin*
slave7women #onseE)ently #ame on her behal to (o)r libations )(on !*amemnonAs tomb, in
the ho(e o a((easin* his *host% ,le#tra, who was one o the (arty, (o)red the libations in her
own name, not her motherAs2 oered (rayers to !*amemnon or ven*ean#e, instead o
(ardon2 and bade &ermes s)mmon Mother ,arth and the *ods o the /nderworld to hear her
(lea% 3oti#in* a rin*let o air hair )(on the tomb, she de#ided that it #o)ld belon* only to
;restes1 both be#a)se it #losely resembled her own in #olo)r and te:t)re, and be#a)se no one
else wo)ld have dared to make s)#h an oerin*%
h% Torn between ho(e and do)bt, she was meas)rin* her eet a*ainst ;restesAs oot7(rints in
the #lay beside the tomb, and indin* a amily resemblan#e, when he emer*ed rom his hidin*
(la#e, showed her that the rin*let was his own, and (rod)#ed the robe in whi#h he had
es#a(ed rom My#enae% ,le#tra wel#omed him with deli*ht, and to*ether they invoked their
an#estor, 'ather @e)s, whom they reminded that !*amemnon had always (aid him *reat
hono)r and that, were the &o)se o !tre)s to die o)t, no one wo)ld be let in My#enae to
oer him the #)stomary he#atombs1 or !e*isth)s worshi((ed other deities%
i% When the slave7women told ;restes o .lytaemnestraAs dream, he re#o*ni8ed the ser(ent as
himsel, and de#lared that he wo)ld indeed (lay the #)bin* ser(ent and draw blood rom her
alse body% Then he instr)#ted ,le#tra to enter the "ala#e and tell .lytaemnestra nothin*
abo)t their meetin*2 he and "ylades wo)ld ollow, ater an interval, and be* hos(itality at the
*ate, as stran*ers and s)((liants, (retendin* to be "ho#ians and )sin* the "arnassian diale#t%
$ the (orter re)sed them admittan#e, !e*isth)sAs inhos(itality wo)ld o)tra*e the #ity2 i he
*ranted it, they wo)ld not ail to take ven*ean#e% "resently ;restes kno#ked at the "ala#e
*ate, and asked or the master or mistress o the ho)se% .lytaemnestra hersel #ame o)t, b)t
did not re#o*ni8e ;restes% &e (retended to be an !eolian rom ?a)lis, bearin* sad news rom
one +tro(hi)s, whom he had met by #han#e on the road to !r*os1 namely, that her son
;restes was dead, and that his ashes were bein* ke(t in a bra8en )rn% +tro(hi)s wished to
know whether he sho)ld send these ba#k to My#enae, or b)ry them at .risa%
H% .lytaemnestra at on#e wel#omed ;restes inside and, #on#ealin* her Hoy rom the servants,
sent his old n)rse, Geilissa, to et#h !e*isth)s rom a nearby tem(le% 4)t Geilissa saw
thro)*h ;restesAs dis*)ise and, alterin* the messa*e, told !e*isth)s to reHoi#e be#a)se he
#o)ld now saely #ome alone and wea(onless to *reet the bearers o *lad tidin*s1 his enemy
was dead% /ns)s(e#tin*ly, !e*isth)s entered the "ala#e where, to #reate a )rther distra#tion,
"ylades had H)st arrived, #arryin* a bra8en )rn% &e told .lytaemnestra that it held ;restesAs
ashes, whi#h +tro(hi)s had now derided to send to My#enae% This seemin* #onirmation o
the irst messa*e ()t !e*isth)s #om(letely o his *)ard2 th)s ;restes had no dii#)lty in
drawin* his sword and #)ttin* him down% .lytaemnestra then re#o*ni8ed her son, and tried to
soten his heart by barin* her breast, and a((ealin* to his ilial d)ty2 ;restes, however,
beheaded her with a sin*le stroke o the same sword, and she ell beside the body o her
(aramo)r% +tandin* over the #or(ses, he addressed the "ala#e servants, holdin* alot the still
blood7stained net in whi#h !*amemnon had died, eloE)ently e:#)l(atin* himsel or the
m)rder o .lytaemnestra by this reminder o her trea#hery, and addin* that !e*isth)s had
s)ered the senten#e (res#ribed by law or ad)lterers%
k% 3ot #ontent with killin* !e*isth)s and .lytaemnestra, ;restes ne:t dis(osed o the se#ond
&elen, their da)*hter2 and "ylades beat o the sons o 3a)(li)s, who had #ome to
!e*isth)sAs res#)e%
l% +ome say, however, that these events took (la#e in !r*os, on the third day o &eraAs
'estival, when the vir*insA (ro#ession was abo)t to be*in% !e*isth)s had (re(ared a banE)et
or the 3ym(hs near the horse7meadows, beore sa#rii#in* a b)ll to &era, and was *atherin*
myrtle7bo)*hs to wreathe his head% $t is added that ,le#tra, meetin* ;restes by !*amemnonAs
tomb, wo)ld not believe at irst that he was her lon*7lost brother, des(ite the
similarity o their hair, and the robe he showed her% 'inally, a s#ar on his orehead #onvin#ed
her2 be#a)se on#e, when they were #hildren to*ether, #hasin* a deer, he had sli((ed and
allen, #)ttin* his head )(on a shar( ro#k%
m% ;beyin* her whis(ered instr)#tions, ;restes went at on#e to the altar where the b)ll had
now been sla)*htered and, as !e*isth)s bent to ins(e#t its entrails, str)#k o his head with
the sa#rii#ial a:e% Meanwhile, ,le#tra, to whom he (resented the head, enti#ed
.lytaemnestra rom the (ala#e by (retendin* that, ten days beore, she had borne a son to her
(easant h)sband2 and when .lytaemnestra, an:io)s to ins(e#t her irst *rand7#hild, visited the
#otta*e, ;restes was waitin* behind the door and killed her witho)t mer#y%
n% ;thers, tho)*h a*reein* that the m)rder took (la#e at !r*os, say that .lytaemnestra sent
.hrysothemis to !*amemnonAs tomb with the libations, havin* dreamed that !*amemnon,
restored to lie, snat#hed his s#e(tre rom !e*isth)sAs hands and (lanted it so irmly in the
*ro)nd that it b)dded and ()t orth bran#hes, whi#h overshadowed the entire land o
My#enae% !##ordin* to this a##o)nt, the news whi#h de#eived !e*isth)s and .lytaemnestra
was that ;restes had been a##identally killed while #om(etin* in the #hariot ra#e at the
"ythian Games2 and that ;restes showed ,le#tra neither a rin*let nor an embroidered robe,
nor a s#ar, in (roo o his identity, b)t !*amemnonAs own seal, whi#h was #arved rom a
(ie#e o "elo(sAs ivory sho)lder%
o% +till others, denyin* that ;restes killed .lytaemnestra with his own hands, say that he
#ommitted her or trial by the H)d*es, who #ondemned her to death, and that his one a)lt, i it
may be #alled a a)lt, was that he did not inter#ede on her behal%
1% This is a #r)#ial myth with n)mero)s variants% ;lym(ianism had been ormed as a reli*ion
o #om(romise between the (re7&elleni# matriar#hal (rin#i(le and the &elleni# (atriar#hal
(rin#i(le2 the divine amily #onsistin*, at irst, o si: *ods and si: *oddesses% !n )neasy
balan#e o (ower was ke(t )ntil !thene was reborn rom @e)sAs head, and ?ionys)s, reborn
rom his thi*h, took &estiaAs seat at the divine .o)n#il2 thereater male (re(onderan#e in any
divine debate was ass)redJa sit)ation rele#ted on earthJand the *oddessesA an#ient
(rero*atives #o)ld now be s)##ess)lly #hallen*ed%
0% Matrilineal inheritan#e was one o the a:ioms taken over rom the (re7&elleni# reli*ion%
+in#e every kin* m)st ne#essarily be a orei*ner, who r)led by virt)e o his marria*e to an
heiress, royal (rin#es learned to re*ard their mother as the main s)((ort o the kin*dom, and
matri#ide as an )nthinkable #rime% They were bro)*ht )( on myths o the earlier reli*ion,
a##ordin* to whi#h the sa#red kin* had always been betrayed by his *oddess7wie, killed by
his tanist, and aven*ed by his son2 they knew that the son never ()nished his ad)ltero)s
mother, who had a#ted with the )ll a)thority o the *oddess whom she served%
<% The antiE)ity o the ;restes myth is evident rom his riendshi( or "ylades, to whom he
stands in e:a#tly the same relation as These)s to "eiritho)s% $n the ar#hai# version, he was
do)btless a "ho#ian (rin#e who rit)ally killed !e*isth)s at the #lose o the ei*hth year o his
rei*n, and be#ame the new kin* by marria*e to .hrysothemis, .lytaemnestraAs da)*hter%
=% ;ther tell7tale tra#es o the ar#hai# version (ersistin* in !es#hyl)s, +o(ho#les, and
,)ri(ides% !e*isth)s is killed d)rin* the estival o the ?eath7*oddess &era, while #)ttin*
myrtle7bo)*hs2 and des(at#hed, like the Minos b)ll, with a sa#rii#ial a:e% GeilissaAs res#)e
o ;restes 5Imo)ntaineerA6 in a robe Iembroidered with wild beastsA, and the t)torAs stay
amon* the she(herds o Tan)s, to*ether re#all the amiliar tale o a royal (rin#e who is
wra((ed in a robe, let Ion a mo)ntainA to the mer#y o wild beasts, and #ared or by
she(herdsJthe robe bein* event)ally re#o*ni8ed, as in the &i((otho)s myth% GeilissaAs
s)bstit)tion o her own son or the royal vi#tim reers, (erha(s, to a sta*e in reli*io)s history
when the kin*As ann)al #hild7s)rro*ate was no lon*er a member o the royal #lan%
5% &ow ar, then, #an the main eat)res o the story, as *iven by the !tti# dramatists, be
a##e(tedK Tho)*h it is im(robable that the ,rinnyes have been wantonly introd)#ed into the
mythJwhi#h, like that o !l#maeon and ,ri(hyle, seems to have been a moral warnin*
a*ainst the least disobedien#e, inH)ry, or ins)lt that a son mi*ht oer his motherJyet it is
eE)ally im(robable that ;restes killed .lytaemnestra% &ad he done so, &omer wo)ld
#ertainly have mentioned the a#t, and rerained rom #allin* him I*od7likeA2 he re#ords only
that ;restes killed !e*isth)s, whose )neral east he #elebrated Hointly with that o his hate)l
mother 5;dyssey6% The "arian .hroni#le, similarly, makes no mention o matri#ide in
;restesAs indi#tment% $t is (robable thereore that +ervi)s has (reserved the tr)e a##o)nt1 how
;restes, havin* killed !e*isth)s, merely handed over .lytaemnestra to (o()lar H)sti#eJa
#o)rse si*nii#antly re#ommended by Tyndare)s in ,)ri(idesAs ;restes% De t to oend a
mother by a re)sal to #ham(ion her #a)se, however wi#kedly she had behaved, s)i#ed
)nder the old dis(ensation to set the ,rinnyes on his tra#k%
6% $t seems, then, that this myth, whi#h was o wide #)rren#y, had (la#ed the mother o a
ho)sehold in so stron* a (osition, when any amily dis()te arose, that the (riesthood o
!(ollo and o @e)s7born !thene 5a traitress to the old reli*ion6 de#ided to s)((ress it% They
did so by makin* ;restes not merely #ommit .lytaemnestra to trial, b)t kill her himsel, and
then se#)re an a#E)ittal in the most venerable #o)rt o Gree#e1 with @e)sAs s)((ort, and the
(ersonal intervention o !(ollo, who had similarly en#o)ra*ed !l#maeon to m)rder his
trea#hero)s mother ,ri(hyle% $t was the (riestsA intention, on#e and or all, to invalidate the
reli*io)s a:iom that motherhood is more divine than atherhood%
>% $n the revision (atrilo#al marria*e and (atrilineal des#ent are taken or *ranted, and the
,rinnyes are s)##ess)lly deied% ,le#tra, whose name, IamberA, s)**ests the (aternal #)lt o
&y(erborean !(ollo, is avo)rably #ontrasted with .hrysothemis, whose name is a reminder
that the an#ient #on#e(t o matriar#hal law was still *olden in most (arts o Gree#e, and
whose Is)bservien#eA to her mother had hitherto been re*arded as (io)s and noble% ,le#tra is
Iall or the atherA, like the @e)s7born !thene% Moreover, the ,rinnyes had always a#ted or
the mother only2 and !es#hyl)s is or#in* lan*)a*e when he s(eaks o ,rinnyes #har*ed with
aven*in* (aternal blood 5-ibation7bearers6% !(olloAs threat o le(rosy i ;restes did not kill
his mother, was a most darin* one1 to inli#t, or heal, le(rosy had lon* been the sole
(rero*ative o the White Goddess -e(rea, or !l(hito 5White Goddess6% $n the seE)el, not all
the ,rinnyes a##e(t !(olloAs ?el(hi# r)lin*, and ,)ri(ides a((eases his emale a)dien#e by
allowin* the ?ios#)ri to s)**est that !(olloAs inH)n#tions had been most )nwise 5,le#tra6%
8% The wide variations in the re#o*nition s#ene, and in the (lot by whi#h ;restes #ontrives to
kill !e*isth)s and .lytaemnestra, are o interest only as (rovin* that the .lassi#al dramatists
were not bo)nd by tradition% Theirs was a new version o an an#ient myth2 and both
+o(ho#les and ,)ri(ides tried to im(rove on !es#hyl)s, who irst orm)lated it, by makin*
the a#tion more (la)sible%
The Trial ; ;restes
T&, My#enaeans who had s)((orted ;restes in his )nheard7o a#tion wo)ld not allow the
bodies o .lytaemnestra and !e*isth)s to lie within their #ity, b)t b)ried them at some
distan#e beyond the walls% That ni*ht, ;restes and "ylades stood *)ard at .lytaemnestraAs
tomb, lest anyone sho)ld dare rob it2 b)t, d)rin* their vi*il, the ser(ent7haired, do*7headed,
bat7win*ed ,rinnyes a((eared, swin*in* their s#o)r*es% ?riven to distra#tion by these ier#e
atta#ks, a*ainst whi#h !(olloAs bow o horn was o little avail, ;restes ell (rostrate on a
#o)#h, where he lay or si: days, his head wra((ed in a #loakJre)sin* either to eat or to
wash%
b% ;ld Tyndare)s now arrived rom +(arta, and bro)*ht a #har*e o matri#ide a*ainst ;restes,
s)mmonin* the My#enaean #hietains to H)d*e his #ase% &e de#reed that, (endin* the trial,
none sho)ld s(eak either to ;restes or ,le#tra, and that both sho)ld be denied shelter, ire,
and water% Th)s ;restes was (revented even rom washin* his bloodstained hands% The
streets o My#enae were lined with #iti8ens in arms2 and ;ea:, son o 3a)(li)s, deli*hted in
this o((ort)nity to (erse#)te !*amemnonAs #hildren%
#% Meanwhile, Menela)s, laden with treas)re, landed at 3a)(lia, where a isherman told him
that !e*isth)s and .lytaemnestra had been m)rdered% &e sent &elen ahead to #onirm the
news at My#enae2 b)t by ni*ht, lest the kinsmen o those who had (erished at Troy sho)ld
stone her% &elen, eelin* ashamed to mo)rn in ()bli# or her sister .lytaenmestra, sin#e she
hersel had #a)sed even more bloodshed by her inidelities, asked ,le#tra, who was now
n)rsin* the ali#ted ;restes1 I"ray, nie#e, take oerin*s o my hair and lay them on
.lytaenmestraAs tomb, ater (o)rin* libations to her *host%A ,le#tra, when she saw that &elen
had been (revented by vanity rom #)ttin* o more than the very ti(s o her hair, re)sed to
do so% I+end yo)r da)*hter &ermione instead,A was her #)rt advi#e% &elen there)(on
s)mmoned &ermione rom the (ala#e% +he had been only a nine7year7old #hild when her
mother elo(ed with "aris, and Menela)s had #ommitted her to .lytaemnestraAs #har*e at the
o)tbreak o the TroHan War2 yet she re#o*ni8ed &elen at on#e and d)ti)lly went o to do as
she was told%
d% Menela)s then entered the (ala#e, where he was *reeted by his oster7ather Tyndare)s,
#lad in dee( mo)rnin*, and warned not to set oot on +(artan soil )ntil he had ()nished his
#riminal ne(hew and nie#e% Tyndare)s held that ;restes sho)ld have #ontented himsel with
allowin* his ellow7#iti8ens to banish .lytaemnestra% $ they had demanded her death he
sho)ld have inter#eded on her behal% !s matters now stood, they m)st be (ers)aded, willy7
nilly, that not only ;restes, b)t ,le#tra who had s()rred him on, sho)ld be stoned to death as
matri#ides%
e% 'earin* to oend Tyndare)s, Menela)s se#)red the desired verdi#t% 4)t at the eloE)ent (lea
o ;restes himsel, who was (resent in #o)rt and had the s)((ort o "ylades 5now disowned
by +tro(hi)s or his (art in the m)rder6, the H)d*es #omm)ted the senten#e to one o s)i#ide%
"ylades then led ;restes away, nobly re)sin* to desert either him or ,le#tra, to whom he was
betrothed2 and (ro(osed that, sin#e all three m)st die, they sho)ld irst ()nish Menela)sAs
#owardi#e and disloyalty by killin* &elen, the ori*inator o every misort)ne that had
beallen them% While, thereore, ,le#tra waited o)tside the walls to e:e#)te her own desi*nJ
that o inter#e(tin* &ermione on her ret)rn rom .lytaemnestraAs tomb and holdin* her as a
hosta*e or Menela)sAs *ood behavio)rJ;restes and "ylades entered the (ala#e, with
swords hidden beneath their #loaks, and took re)*e at the #entral altar, as tho)*h they were
s)((liants% &elen, who sat near by, s(innin* wool or a ()r(le robe to lay as a *it on
.lytaemnestraAs tomb, was de#eived by their lamentations, and a((roa#hed to wel#ome them%
Where)(on both drew their swords and, while "ylades #hased away &elenAs "hry*ian slaves,
;restes attem(ted to m)rder her% 4)t !(ollo, at @e)sAs #ommand, ra(t her in a #lo)d to
;lym()s, where she be#ame an immortal2 Hoinin* her brothers, the ?ios#)ri, as a *)ardian o
sailors in distress%
% Meanwhile, ,le#tra had se#)red &ermione, led her into the (ala#e, and barred the *ates%
Menela)s, seein* that death threatened his da)*hter, ordered an immediate res#)e% &is men
b)rst o(en the *ates, and ;restes was H)st abo)t to set the (ala#e ali*ht, kill &ermione, and
die himsel either by sword or ire, when !(ollo (rovidentially a((eared, wren#hed the tor#h
rom his hand, and drove ba#k Menela)sAs warriors% $n the awed h)sh #a)sed by his (resen#e,
!(ollo #ommanded Menela)s to take another wie, betroth &ermione to ;restes, and ret)rn
to r)le over +(arta2 .lytaemnestraAs m)rder need no lon*er #on#ern him, now that the *ods
had intervened%
*% With wool7wreathed la)rel7bran#h and #ha(let, to show that he was )nder !(olloAs
(rote#tion, ;restes then set o)t or ?el(hi, still ()rs)ed by the ,rinnyes% The "ythian
"riestess was terriied to see him #ro)#hed as a s)((liant on the marble navel7stoneJstained
by the blood rom his )nwashed handsJand the hideo)s troo( o bla#k ,rinnyes slee(in*
beside him% !(ollo, however, reass)red her by (romisin* to a#t as advo#ate or ;restes,
whom he ordered to a#e his ordeal with #o)ra*e% !ter a (eriod o e:ile, he m)st make his
way to !thens, and there embra#e the an#ient ima*e o !thene who, as the ?ios#)ri had
already (ro(hesied, wo)ld shield him with her Gor*on7a#ed ae*is, and ann)l the #)rse%
While the ,rinnyes were still ast aslee(, ;restes es#a(ed )nder the *)idan#e o &ermes2 b)t
.lytaemnestraAs *host soon entered the (re#in#t, rakin* them to task, and remindin* them
that they had oten re#eived libations o wine and *rim midni*ht banE)ets rom her hand%
They thereore set o in renewed ()rs)it, s#orn)l o !(olloAs an*ry threats to shoot them
down%
h% ;restesAs e:ile lasted or one yearJthe (eriod whi#h m)st ela(se beore a homi#ide may
a*ain move amon* his ellow7#iti8ens% &e wandered ar, over land and sea, ()rs)ed by the
tireless ,rinnyes and #onstantly ()riied both with the blood o (i*s and with r)nnin* water2
yet these rites never served to kee( his tormentors at bay or more than an ho)r or two, and he
soon lost his wits% To be*in with, &ermes es#orted him to Troe8en, where he was lod*ed in
what is now #alled the 4ooth o ;restes, whi#h a#es the +an#t)ary o !(ollo2 and (resently
nine Troe8enians ()riied him at the +a#red Ro#k, #lose to the Tem(le o Wolish !rtemis2
)sin* water rom the +(rin* o &i((o#rene, and the blood o sa#rii#ial vi#tims% !n an#ient
la)rel7tree marks the (la#e where the vi#tims were aterwards b)ried2 and the des#endants o
these nine men still dine ann)ally at the booth on a set day%
i% ;((osite the island o .ranaB, three )rlon*s rom Gythi)m, stands an )nwro)*ht stone,
named the stone o @e)s the Reliever, )(on whi#h ;restes sat and was tem(orarily relieved
o his madness% &e is said to have also been ()riied in seven streams near $talian Rhe*i)m,
where he b)ilt a tem(le2 in three trib)taries o the Thra#ian &ebr)s2 and in the ;rontes, whi#h
lows (ast !ntio#h%
H% +even )rlon*s down the hi*h road rom Me*alo(olis to Messene, on the let, is shown a
san#t)ary o the Mad Goddesses, a title o the ,rinnyes, who inli#ted a ra*in* it o madness
on ;restes2 also a small mo)nd, s)rmo)nted by a stone in*er and #alled the 'in*er Tomb%
This marks the (la#e where, in des(eration, he bit o a in*er to (la#ate these bla#k
*oddesses, and some o them, at least, #han*ed their h)e to white, so that his sanity was
restored% &e then shaved his head at a near7by san#t)ary #alled !#e, and made a sin7oerin*
to the bla#k *oddesses, also a thank7oerin* to the white% $t is now #)stomary to sa#rii#e to
the latter #onHointly with the Gra#es%
k% 3e:t, ;restes went to live amon* the !8anes and !r#adians o the "arrhasian "lain whi#h,
with the nei*hbo)rin* #ity ormerly #alled ;resthasi)m ater its o)nder ;resthe)s, son o
-y#aon, #han*ed its name to ;restei)m% +ome, however, say that ;restei)m was ormerly
#alled !8ania, and that he went to live there only ater a visit to !thens% ;thers, a*ain, say
that he s(ent his e:ile in ,(ir)s, where he o)nded the #ity o ;resti# !r*os and *ave his
name to the ;restae "aroraei, ,(irots who inhabit the r)**ed oothills o the $llyrian
mo)ntains%
l% When a year had (assed, ;restes visited !thens, whi#h was then *overned by his kinsman
"andion2 or, some say, by ?emo(hoFn% &e went at on#e to !theneAs tem(le on the !#ro(olis,
sat down, and embra#ed her ima*e% The 4la#k ,rinnyes soon arrived, o)t o breath, havin*
lost tra#k o him while he #rossed the $sthm)s% Tho)*h at his irst arrival none wished to
re#eive him, as bein* hated by the *ods, (resently some were emboldened to invite him into
their homes, where he sat at a se(arate table and drank rom a se(arate wine #)(%
m% The ,rinnyes, who had already be*)n to a##)se him to the !thenians, were soon Hoined by
Tyndare)s with his *rand7da)*hter ,ri*one, da)*hter o !e*isth)s and .lytaemnestra2 also,
some say, by .lytaenmestraAs #o)sin "erila)s, son o $#ari)s% 4)t !thene, havin* heard
;restesAs s)((li#ation rom +#amander, her newly7a#E)ired TroHan territory, h)rried to
!thens and, swearin*7in the noblest #iti8ens as H)d*es2 s)mmoned the !reio(a*)s to try what
was then only the se#ond #ase o homi#ide to #ome beore it%
n% $n d)e #o)rse the trial took (la#e, !(ollo a((earin* as #o)n#il or the deen#e, and the
eldest o the ,rinnyes as ()bli# (rose#)tri:% $n an elaborate s(ee#h, !(ollo denied the
im(ortan#e o motherhood, assertin* that a woman was no more than the inert )rrow in
whi#h the h)sband man #ast his seed2 and that ;restes had been ab)ndantly H)stiied in his
a#t, the ather bein* the one (arent worthy o the name% When the votin* (roved eE)al,
!thene #onessed hersel wholly on the atherNs side, and *ave her #astin* vote in avo)r o
;restes% Th)s hono)rably a#E)itted, he ret)rned in Hoy to !r*olis, swearin* to be a aith)l
ally o !thens so lon* as he lived% The ,rinnyes, however, lo)dly lamented this s)bversal o
the an#ient law by )(start *ods2 and ,ri*one han*ed hersel or mortii#ation
o% ; &elenAs end three other #ontradi#tory a##o)nts s)rvive% The irst1 that in )lilment o
"rote)sAs (ro(he#y, she ret)rned to +(arta and there lived with Menela)s in (ea#e, #omort,
and (ros(erity, )ntil they went hand in hand to the ,lysian 'ields% The se#ond1 that she
visited the Ta)rians with him, where)(on $(hi*eneia sa#rii#ed them both to !rtemis% The
third1 that "oly:o, widow o the Rhodian Gin* Tle(olem)s, aven*ed his death by sendin*
some o her servin* women, dis*)ised as ,rinnyes, to han* &elen%
1% The tradition that .lytaemnestraAs ,rinnyes drove ;restes mad #annot be dismissed as an
invention o the !tti# dramatists2 it was too early established, not only in Gree#e, b)t in
Greater Gree#e% Det, H)st as ;edi()sAs #rime, or whi#h the ,rinnyes ho)nded him to death,
was not that he killed his mother, b)t that he inadvertently #a)sed her s)i#ide2 so ;restesAs
m)rder seems also to have been in the se#ond de*ree only1 he had ailed in ilial d)ty by not
o((osin* the My#enaeansA death senten#e% The #o)rt was easily eno)*h swayed, as Menela)s
and Tyndare)s soon demonstrated when they se#)red a death senten#e a*ainst ;restes%
0% ,rinnyes were (ersoniied (an*s o #ons#ien#e, s)#h as are still #a(able, in (a*an
Melanesia, o killin* a man who has rashly or inadvertently broken a taboo% &e will either *o
mad and lea( rom a #o#on)t (alm, or wra( his head in a #loak, like ;restes, and re)se to eat
or drink )ntil he dies o starvation2 even i nobody else is inormed o his *)ilt% "a)l wo)ld
have s)ered a similar ate at ?amas#)s b)t or the timely arrival o !nanias% The #ommon
Greek method o ()r*in* ordinary blood *)ilt was or the homi#ide to sa#rii#e a (i* and,
while the *host o the vi#tim *reedily drank its blood, to wash in r)nnin* water, shave his
head in order to #han*e his a((earan#e, and *o into e:ile or one year, th)s throwin* the
ven*e)l *host o the s#ent% /ntil he had been ()riied in this manner, his nei*hbo)rs
sh)nned him as )nl)#ky, and wo)ld not allow him to enter their homes or share their ood,
or ear o themselves be#omin* involved in his tro)bles2 and he mi*ht still have to re#kon
with the vi#timAs amily, sho)ld the *host demand ven*ean#e rom them% ! motherAs blood,
however, #arried with it so (ower)l a #)rse, that #ommon means o ()rii#ation wo)ld not
serve1 and, short o s)i#ide, the most e:treme means was to bite o a in*er% This sel7
m)tilation seems to have been at least (artially s)##ess)l in ;restesAs #ase2 th)s also
&era#les, to (la#ate the a**rieved &era, will have bitten o the in*er whi#h he is said to
have lost while t)sslin* with the 3emean -ion% $n some re*ions o the +o)th +eas a in*er7
Hoint is always lo((ed o at the death o a #lose relative, even when he or she has died a
nat)ral death% $n the ,)menides !es#hyl)s is a((arently dis*)isin* a tradition that ;restes
led to the Troad and lived, )ntro)bled by the ,rinnyes, )nder !theneAs (rote#tion on silt land
wrested rom the +#amander and thereore ree rom the #)rse% Why else sho)ld the Troad be
mentionedK
<% Wine instead o blood libations, and oerin*s o small hair7sni((in*s instead o the whole
#ro(, were .lassi#al amendments on this rit)al o a((easement, the si*nii#an#e o whi#h was
or*otten2 as the (resent day #)stom o wearin* bla#k is no lon*er #ons#io)sly #onne#ted
with the an#ient habit o de#eivin* *hosts by alterin* oneAs normal a((earan#e%
=% ,)ri(idesAs ima*inative a##o)nt o what ha((ened when &elen and Menela)s ret)rned to
My#enae #ontains no mythi#al element, e:#e(t or &elenAs dramati# a(otheosis2 and &elen as
the Moon7*oddess had been a (atroness o sailors lon* beore the &eavenly Twins were
re#o*ni8ed as a #onstellation% -ike !es#hyl)s, ,)ri(ides was writin* reli*io)s (ro(a*anda1
;restesAs absol)tion re#ords the inal tri)m(h o (atriar#hy, and is sta*ed at !thens, where
!theneJormerly the -ibyan *oddess 3eith, or "alestinian !natha, a s)(reme matriar#h, b)t
now reborn rom @e)sAs head and a#knowled*in*, as !es#hyl)s insists, no divine motherJ
#onnives at matri#ide even in the irst de*ree% The !thenian dramatists knew that this
revol)tionary theme #o)ld not be a##e(ted elsewhere in Gree#e1 hen#e ,)ri(ides makes
Tyndare)s, as +(artaAs re(resentative, de#lare (assionately that ;restes m)st die2 and the
?ios#)ri vent)re to #ondemn !(ollo or havin* (rom(ted the #rime%
5% ;restesAs name, Imo)ntaineerA, has #onne#ted him with a wild, mo)ntaino)s distri#t in
!r#adia whi#h no Gin* o My#enae is likely to have visited%
6% These alternative versions o &elenAs death are *iven or dierent reasons% The irst
()r(orts to e:(lain the #)lt o &elen and Menela)s at Thera(ne2 the se#ond is a theatri#al
variation on the story o ;restesAs visit to the Ta)rians2 the third a##o)nts or the Rhodian #)lt
o &elena ?endritis, I&elen o the TreeA, who is the same #hara#ter as !riadne and the other
,ri*one% This ,ri*one was also han*ed%
The "a#ii#ation ; The ,rinnyes
$3 *ratit)de or his a#E)ittal, ;restes dedi#ated an altar to Warlike !thene2 b)t the ,rinnyes
threatened, i the H)d*ement were not reversed, to let all a dro( o their own heartsA blood
whi#h wo)ld brin* barrenness )(on the soil, bli*ht the #ro(s, and destroy all the os(rin* o
!thens% !thene nevertheless soothed their an*er by lattery1 a#knowled*in* them to be ar
wiser than hersel, she s)**ested that they sho)ld take )( residen#e in a *rotto at !thens,
where they wo)ld *ather s)#h thron*s o worshi((ers as they #o)ld never ho(e to ind
elsewhere% &earth7altars (ro(er to /nderworld deities sho)ld be theirs, as well as sober
sa#rii#es, tor#hli*ht libations, irst7r)its oered ater the #ons)mmation o marria*e or the
birth o #hildren, and even seats in the ,re#hthe)m% $ they a##e(ted this invitation she wo)ld
de#ree that no ho)se where worshi( was withheld rom them mi*ht (ros(er2 b)t they, in
ret)rn, m)st )ndertake to invoke air winds or her shi(s, ertility or her land, and r)it)l
marria*es or her (eo(leJalso rootin* o)t the im(io)s, so that she mi*ht see it to *rant
!thens vi#tory in war% The ,rinnyes, ater a short deliberation, *ra#io)sly a*reed to these
(ro(osals%
b% With e:(ressions o *ratit)de, *ood wishes, and #harms a*ainst witherin* winds, dro)*ht,
bli*ht, and sedition, the ,rinnyesJhen#eorth addressed as the +olemn ;nesJbade arewell
to !thene, and were #ond)#ted by her (eo(le in a tor#hli*ht (ro#ession o yo)ths, matrons,
and #rones 5dressed in ()r(le, and #arryin* the an#ient ima*e o !thene6 to the entran#e o a
dee( *rotto at the so)th7eastern an*le o the !reio(a*)s% !((ro(riate sa#rii#es were there
oered to them, and they des#ended into the *rotto, whi#h is now both an ora#)lar shrine
and, like the +an#t)ary o These)s, a (la#e o re)*e or s)((liants%
#% Det only three o the ,rinnyes had a##e(ted !theneAs *enero)s oer2 the remainder
#ontin)ed to ()rs)e ;restes2 and some (eo(le *o so ar as to deny that the +olemn ;nes were
ever ,rinnyes% The name I,)menidesA was irst *iven to the ,rinnyes by ;restes, in the
ollowin* year, ater his darin* advent)re in the Ta)ri# .hersonese, when he inally
s)##eeded in a((easin* their )ry at .arneia with the holo#a)st o a bla#k shee(% They are
#alled ,)menides also at .olon)s, where none may enter their andent *rove2 and at !#haean
.erynea where, towards the end o his lie, ;restes dedi#ated a new san#t)ary to them%
d% $n the *rotto o the +olemn ;nes at !thensJwhi#h is #losed only to the se#ond7ated, that
is to say, to men who have been (remat)rely mo)rned or deadJtheir three ima*es wear no
more terrible an as(e#t than do those o the /nderworld *ods standin* beside them, namely
&ades, &ermes, and Mother ,arth% &ere those who have been a#E)itted o m)rder by the
!reio(a*)s sa#rii#e a bla#k vi#tim2 n)mero)s other oerin*s are bro)*ht to the +olemn
;nes in a##ordan#e wit !theneAs (romise2 and one o the three ni*hts set aside every month
or the !reio(a*)s or the hearin* o m)rder trials is assi*ned to ea#h o them%
e% The rites o the +olemn ;nes are silently (erormed2 hen#e the (riesthood is hereditary in
the #lan o the &esy#hids, who oer the (reliminary sa#rii#e o a ram to their an#estor
&esy#h)s at his hero7shrine o)tside the 3ine Gates%
% ! hearth7altar has also been (rovided or the +olemn ;nes1 "hlya, a small !tti# townshi(2
and a *rove o ever*reen oaks is sa#red to them near Titane, on the arther bank o the river
!so()s% !t the "hlyan estival, #elebrated yearly, (re*nant shee( are sa#rii#ed, libations o
honey7water (o)red, and lowers worn instead o the )s)al myrtle wreaths% +imilar rites are
(erormed at the altar o the 'ate whi#h stands in the oak7*rove, )n(rote#ted rom the
weather%
1% The IheartsA bloodA o the ,rinnyes, with whi#h !tti#a was threatened, seems to be a
e)(hemism or menstr)al blood% !n immemorial #harm )sed by wit#hes who wish to #)rse a
ho)se, ield, or barn is to r)n naked aro)nd it, #o)nter7s)nwise, nine times, while in a
menstr)al #ondition% This #)rse is #onsidered most dan*ero)s to #ro(s, #attle, and #hildren
d)rin* an e#li(se o the moon2 and alto*ether )navoidable i the wit#h is a vir*in
menstr)atin* or the irst time%
0% "hilemon the .omedian did ri*ht to E)estion the !thenian identii#ation o the ,rinnyes
with the +olemn ;nes% !##ordin* to the more res(e#ted a)thorities, there were only three
,rinnyes1 Tisi(hone, !le#to and Me*aera, who lived (ermanently in ,reb)s, not at !thens%
They had do*sA heads, batsA win*s, and ser(ents or hair2 yet, as "a)sanias (oints o)t, the
+olemn ;nes were (ortrayed as a)*)st matrons% !theneAs oer, in a#t, was not what
!es#hyl)s has re#orded2 b)t an )ltimat)m rom the (riesthood o @e)s7born !thene to the
(riestesses o the +olemn ;nesJthe an#ient Tri(le7*oddess o !thensJthat, )nless they
a##e(ted the new view o atherhood as s)(erior to motherhood, and #onsented to share their
*rotto with s)#h male )nderworld deities as &ades and &ermes, they wo)ld oreit all
worshi( whatsoever, and with it their traditional (erE)isites o irst7r)its%
<% +e#ond7ated men were debarred rom enterin* the *rotto o the /nderworld *oddesses,
who mi*ht be e:(e#ted to take oen#e that their dedi#ated s)bHe#ts still wandered at lar*e in
the )((er world% ! similar embarrassment is elt in $ndia when men re#over rom a deathlike
tran#e on their way to the b)rnin* *hat1 in the last #ent)ry, a##ordin* to R)dyard Gi(lin*,
they )sed to be denied oi#ial e:isten#e and sm)**led away to a (rison #olony o the dead%
The ever*reen oak, also #alled the kern7oak, be#a)se it (rovides the kern7berries 5#o#hineal
inse#ts6 rom whi#h the Greeks e:tra#ted s#arlet dye, was the tree o the tanist who killed the
sa#red kin*, and thereore a((ro(riate or a *rove o the +olemn ;nes% +a#rii#es o (re*nant
shee(, honey, and lowers wo)ld en#o)ra*e these to s(are the remainder o the lo#k d)rin*
the lambin* season, avo)r the bees, and enri#h the (ast)re%
=% The ,rinnyesA #ontin)ed ()rs)it o ;restes, des(ite the intervention o !thene and !(ollo,
s)**ests that, in the ori*inal myth, he went to !thens and "ho#is or ()rii#ation, b)t witho)t
s)##ess2 as, in the myth o ,ri(hyle, !l#maeon went )ns)##ess)lly to "so(his and
Thes(rotia% +in#e ;restes is not re(orted to have o)nd (ea#e on the re#laimed silt o any
riverJ)nless (erha(s o the +#amanderJhe will have met his death in the Ta)ri#
.hersonese, or at 4ra)ron%
$(hi*eneia !mon* The Ta)rians
+T$-- ()rs)ed by s)#h an*er o the ,rinnyes as they had t)rned dea ears to !theneAs
eloE)ent s(ee#hes, ;restes went in des(air to ?el(hi, where he threw himsel on the tem(le
loor and threatened to take his own lie )nless !(ollo saved him rom their s#o)r*in*s% $n
re(ly, the "ythian (riestess ordered him to sail )( the 4os(hor)s and northward a#ross the
4la#k +ea2 his woes wo)ld end only when he had sei8ed an an#ient wooden ima*e o !rtemis
rom her tem(le in the Ta)ri# .hersonese, and bro)*ht it to !thens or 5some say6 to !r*olis%
b% 3ow, the kin* o the Ta)rians was the leet7ooted Thoas, a son o ?ionys)s and !riadne,
and ather o &y(si(yle2 and his (eo(le, so #alled be#a)se ;siris on#e yoked b)lls 5ta)roi6
and (lo)*hed their land, #ame o +#ythian sto#k% They still live by ra(ine, as in ThoasAs days2
and whenever one o their warriors takes a (risoner, he beheads him, #arries the head home,
and there im(ales it on a tall stake above the #himney, so that his ho)sehold may live )nder
the dead manAs (rote#tion% Moreover, every sailor who has been shi(wre#ked, or driven into
their (ort by ro)*h weather, is ()bli#ly sa#rii#ed to Ta)rian !rtemis% When they have
(erormed #ertain (re(aratory rites, they ell him with a #l)b and nail his severed head to a
#ross2 ater whi#h the body is either b)ried, or tossed into the sea rom the (re#i(i#e #rowned
by !rtemisAs tem(le% 4)t any (rin#ely stran*er who alls into their hands
is killed with a sword by the *oddessAs vir*in7(riestess2 and she throws his #or(se into the
sa#red ire, wellin* )( rom Tartar)s, whi#h b)rns in the divine (re#in#t% +ome, however, say
that the (riestess, tho)*h s)(ervisin* the rites, and (erormin* the (reliminary l)stration and
hair7#ro((in* o the vi#tim, does not hersel kill him% The an#ient ima*e o the *oddess,
whi#h ;restes was ordered to sei8e, had allen here rom &eaven% This tem(le is s)((orted by
vast #ol)mns, and a((roa#hed by orty ste(s2 its altar o white marble is (ermanently stained
with blood%
#% Ta)rian !rtemis has several Greek titles1 amon* them are !rtemis Ta)ro(ol)s, or
Ta)ro(ole2 !rtemis ?i#tynna2 !rtemis ;rthia2 Thoantea2 &e#ate2 and to the -atins she is
Trivia%
d% 3ow, $(hi*eneia had been res#)ed rom sa#rii#e at !)lis by !rtemis, wra((ed in a #lo)d,
and wated to the Ta)ri# .hersonese, where she was at on#e a((ointed .hie "riestess and
*ranted the sole ri*ht o handlin* the sa#red ima*e% The Ta)rians thereater addressed her as
!rtemis, or &e#ate, or ;rsilo#he% $(hi*eneia loathed h)man sa#rii#e, b)t (io)sly obeyed the
*oddess%
e% ;restes and "ylades knew nothin* o all this2 they still believed that $(hi*eneia had died
)nder the sa#rii#ial knie at !)lis% 3evertheless, they hastened to the land o the Ta)rians in
a ity7oared shi( whi#h, on arrival, they let at an#hor, *)arded by their oarsmen, while they
hid in a sea7#ave% $t was their intention to a((roa#h the tem(le at ni*htall, b)t they were
s)r(rised beorehand by some #red)lo)s herdsmen who, ass)min* them to be the ?ios#)ri, or
some other (air o immortals, ell down and adored them% !t this H)n#t)re ;restes went mad
on#e more, bellowin* like a #al and howlin* like a do*2 he mistook a herd o #alves or
,rinnyes, and r)shed rom the #ave, sword in hand, to sla)*hter them% The disill)sioned
herdsmen there)(on over(owered the two riends who, at ThoasAs orders, were mar#hed o
to the tem(le or immediate sa#rii#e%
% ?)rin* the (reliminary rites ;restes #onversed in Greek with $(hi*eneia2 soon they Hoy)lly
dis#overed ea#h otherAs identity, and on learnin* the nat)re o his mission, she be*an to lit
down the ima*e or him to #arry away% Thoas, however, s)ddenly a((eared, im(atient at the
slow (ro*ress o the sa#rii#e, and the reso)r#e)l $(hi*eneia (retended to be soothin* the
ima*e% +he e:(lained to Thoas that the *oddess had averted her *a8e rom the vi#tims whom
he had sent, be#a)se one was a matri#ide, and the other was abettin* him1 both were E)ite
)nit or sa#rii#e% +he m)st take them, to*ether with the ima*e, whi#h their (resen#e had
(oll)ted, to be #leansed in the sea, and oer the *oddess a tor#hli*ht sa#rii#e o yo)n*
lambs% Meanwhile, Thoas was to ()riy the tem(le with a tor#h, #over his head when the
stran*ers emer*ed, and order everyone to remain at home and th)s avoid (oll)tion%
*% Thoas, wholly de#eived, stood or a time lost in admiration o s)#h sa*a#ity, and then
be*an to ()riy the tem(le% "resently $(hi*eneia, ;restes, and "ylades #onveyed the ima*e
down to the shore by tor#hli*ht b)t, instead o bathin* it in the sea, hastily #arried it aboard
their shi(% The Ta)rian tem(le7servants, who had #ome with them, now s)s(e#ted trea#hery
and showed i*ht% They were s)bd)ed in a hard str)**le, ater whi#h ;restesAs oarsmen
rowed the shi( away% ! s)dden *ale, however, s(ran* )(, drivin* her ba#k towards the ro#ky
shore, and all wo)ld have (erished, had not "oseidon #almed the sea at !theneAs reE)est2 with
a avo)rin* bree8e, they made the $sland o +minthos%
h% This was the home o .hryses, the (riest o !(ollo, and his *randson o the same name,
whose mother .hryseis now (ro(osed to s)rrender the )*itives to Thoas% 'or, altho)*h some
hold that !thene had visited Thoas, who was mannin* a leet to sail in ()rs)it, and #aHoled
him so s)##ess)lly that he even #onsented to re(atriate $(hi*eneiaAs Greek slave7women, it is
#ertain that he #ame to +minthos with m)rdero)s intentions% Then .hryses the ,lder, learnin*
the identity o his *)ests, revealed to .hryses the Do)n*er that he was not, as .hryseis had
always (retended, !(olloAs son, b)t !*amemnonAs, and thereore hal7brother to ;restes and
$(hi*eneia% !t this, .hryses and ;restes r)shed sho)lder to sho)lder a*ainst Thoas, whom
they s)##eeded in killin*2 and ;restes, takin* )( the ima*e, sailed saely home to My#enae,
where the ,rinnyes at last abandoned their #hase%
i% 4)t some say that a storm drove ;restes to Rhodes where, in a##ordan#e with the &elian
;ra#le, he set )( the ima*e )(on a #ity wall% ;thers say that, sin#e !tti#a was the land to
whi#h he had been instr)#ted to brin* it, by !(olloAs orders, !thene visited him on +minthos
and s(e#iied the rontier #ity o 4ra)ron as its destination1 it m)st be ho)sed there in a
tem(le o !rtemis Ta)ro(ol)s, and (la#ated with blood drawn rom a manAs throat% +he
desi*nated $(hi*eneia as the (riestess o this tem(le, in whi#h she was destined to end her
days (ea#e)lly2 the (erE)isites wo)ld in#l)de the #lothes o ri#h women who had died in
#hildbed% !##ordin* to this a##o)nt, the shi( inally made (ort at 4ra)ron, where $(hi*eneia
de(osited the ima*e and then, while the tem(le was bein* b)ilt, went with ;restes to ?el(hi2
she met ,le#tra in the shrine and bro)*ht her ba#k to !thens or marria*e to "ylades%
H% What is #laimed to be the a)thenti# wooden ima*e o Ta)ri# !rtemis may still be seen at
4ra)ron% +ome, however, say that it is only a re(li#a, the ori*inal havin* been #a(t)red by
Zer:es in the #o)rse o his ill7ated e:(edition a*ainst Gree#e, and taken to +)sa2 aterwards,
they add, it was (resented by Gin* +ele)#)s o +yria to the -aodi#aeans, who worshi( it to
this day% ;thers, a*ain, loth to allow #redit to Zer:es, say that ;restes himsel, on his
homeward voya*e rom the Ta)ri# .hersonese, was driven by a storm to the re*ion now
named +ele)#eia, where he let the ima*e2 and that the natives renamed Mo)nt Melanti)s,
where the madness inally let him, Mo)nt !manon, that is Inot madA, in his memory% 4)t the
-ydians, who have a san#t)ary o !rtemis !naeitis, also #laim to (ossess the ima*e2 and so
do the (eo(le o .a((ado#ian .omana, whose #ity is said to take its name rom the mo)rnin*
tresses 5#omai6 whi#h ;restes de(osited there, when he bro)*ht the rites o !rtemis
Ta)ro(ol)s into .a((ado#ia%
k% ;thers, a*ain, say that ;restes #on#ealed the ima*e in a b)ndle o a**ots, and took it to
$talian !ri#ia, where he himsel died and was b)ried, his bones bein* later transerred to
Rome2 and that the ima*e was sent rom !ri#ia to +(arta, be#a)se the #r)elty o its rites
dis(leased the Romans2 and there (la#ed in the +an#t)ary o /(ri*ht !rtemis%
l% 4)t the +(artans #laim that the ima*e has been theirs sin#e lon* beore the o)ndation o
Rome, ;restes havin* bro)*ht it with him when he be#ame their kin*, and hidden it in a
willow thi#ket% 'or #ent)ries, they say, its whereabo)ts were or*otten2 )ntil, one day,
!strabae)s and !lo(e#)s, two (rin#es o the royal ho)se, enterin* the thi#ket by #han#e,
were driven mad at the si*ht o the *rim ima*e, whi#h was ke(t )(ri*ht by the willow7
bran#hes wreathed aro)nd itJhen#e its names, ;rthia and -y*odesma%
m% 3o sooner was the ima*e bro)*ht to +(arta, than an omino)s E)arrel arose between rival
devotees o !rtemis, who were sa#rii#in* to*ether at her altar1 many o them were killed in
the san#t)ary itsel, the remainder died o (la*)e shortly aterwards% When an ora#le advised
the +(artans to (ro(itiate the ima*e by dren#hin* the altar with h)man blood, they #ast lots
or a vi#tim and sa#rii#ed him2 and this #eremony was re(eated yearly )ntil Gin* -y#)r*)s,
who abhorred h)man sa#rii#e, orbade it, and instead ordered boys to be lo**ed at the altar
)ntil it reeked with blood% +(artan boys now #om(ete on#e a year as to who #an end)re the
most blows% !rtemisAs (riestess stands by, #arryin* the ima*e whi#h, altho)*h small and
li*ht, a#E)ired s)#h relish or blood in the days when h)man sa#rii#es were oered to it by
the Ta)rians that, even now, i the lo**ers lay on *ently, be#a)se the boy is o noble birth, or
e:#e(tionally handsome, it *rows almost too heavy or her to hold, and she #hides the
lo**ers1 I&arder, harderP Do) are wei*hin* me downPA
n% -ittle #reden#e sho)ld be *iven to the tale that &elen and Menela)s went in sear#h o
;restes and, arrivin* amon* the Ta)rians shortly ater he did, were both sa#rii#ed to the
*oddess by $(hi*eneia%
1% The mytho*ra(hersA an:iety to #on#eal #ertain barbaro)s traditions a((ears (lainly in this
story and its variants% !mon* the s)((ressed
elements are !rtemisAs ven*ean#e on !*amemnon or the m)rder o $(hi*eneia, and ;ea:As
ven*ean#e, also on !*amemnon, or the m)rder o his brother "alamedes% ;ri*inally, the
myth seems to have r)n somewhat as ollows1 !*amemnon was (revailed )(on, by his
ellow7#hietains, to e:e#)te his da)*hter $(hi*eneia as a wit#h when the Greek e:(edition
a*ainst Troy lay windbo)nd at !)lis% !rtemis, whom $(hi*eneia had served as (riestess,
made !*amemnon (ay or this ins)lt to her1 she hel(ed !e*isth)s to s)((lant and m)rder
him on his ret)rn% !t her ins(iration also, ;ea: oered to take ;restes on a voya*e to the
land re#laimed rom the river +#amander and th)s hel( him to es#a(e the ,rinnyes2 or
!thene wo)ld (rote#t him there% $nstead, ;ea: ()t in at 4ra)ron, where ;restes was
a##laimed as the ann)al (harma#os, a s#a(e*oat or the *)ilt o the (eo(le, and had his throat
slit by !rtemisAs vir*in7(riestess% ;ea:, in a#t, told ,le#tra the tr)th when they met at
?el(hi1 that ;restes had been sa#rii#ed by $(hi*eneia, whi#h seems to have been a title o
!rtemis%
0% "atriar#hal Greeks o a later era will have disliked this mythJa version o whi#h, makin*
Menela)s, not ;restes, the obHe#t o !rtemisAs ven*ean#e, has been (reserved by "hoti)s%
They e:#)l(ated !*amemnon o m)rder, and !rtemis o o((osin* the will o @e)s, by sayin*
that she do)btless res#)ed $(hi*eneia, and #arried her away to be a sa#rii#ial (riestessJnot
at 4ra)ron, b)t amon* the sava*e Ta)rians, or whose a#tions they dis#laimed res(onsibility%
!nd that she #ertainly did not kill ;restes 5or, or the matter o that, any Greek vi#tim6 b)t,
on the #ontrary, hel(ed him to take the Ta)ri# ima*e to Gree#e at !(olloAs orders%
<% This a#e7savin* story, inl)en#ed by the myth o 9asonAs e:(edition to the 4la#k +eaJin
+ervi)sAs version, ;restes steals the ima*e rom .ol#his, not the Ta)ri# .hersoneseJ
e:(lained the tradition o h)man throat7slittin* at 4ra)ron, now modiied to the e:tra#tion o
a dro( o blood rom a sli*ht #)t, and similar sa#rii#es at My#enae, !ri#ia, Rhodes, and
.ornaria% ITa)ro(ol)sA s)**ests the .retan b)ll sa#rii#e, whi#h s)rvived in the !thenian
4)(honia 5"a)sanias62 the ori*inal vi#tim is likely to have been the sa#red kin*%
=% The +(artan ertility rites, also said to have on#e involved h)man sa#rii#e, were held in
hono)r o /(ri*ht !rtemis% To H)d*e rom (rimitive (ra#ti#e elsewhere in the Mediterranean,
the vi#tim was bo)nd with willow7thon*s, )ll o l)nar ma*i#, to the ima*eJa sa#red tree7
st)m(, (erha(s o (ear7wood, and lo**ed )ntil the lashes ind)#ed an eroti# rea#tion and he
eHa#)lated, ertili8in* the land with semen and blood% !lo(e#)sAs name, and the well7known
le*end o the yo)th who allowed his vitals to be *nawed by a o: rather than #ry o)t, s)**est
that the Ci:en7*oddess o Te)mess)s was also worshi((ed at +(arta%
5% Meteorites were oten (aid divine hono)rs, and so were small rit)al obHe#ts o do)bt)l
ori*in whi#h #o)ld be e:(lained as havin* similarly allen rom heavenJs)#h as the
#are)lly worked 3eolithi# s(ear heads, identiied with @e)sAs th)nderbolts by the later
Greeks 5as lint arrows are #alled Iel shotsA in the ,n*lish #o)ntryside6, or the bron8e (estle
hidden in the head7dress worn by the ima*e o ,(hesian !rtemis% The ima*es themselves,
s)#h as the 4ra)ronian !rtemis and the olive7wood !thene in the ,re#hthe)m, were then
likewise said to have allen rom heaven, thro)*h a hole in the roo% $t is (ossible that the
ima*e at 4ra)ron #ontained an an#ient sa#rii#ial knie o obsidianJa vol#ani# *lass rom
the island o MelosJwith whi#h the vi#timsA throats were slit%
6% ;sirisAs (lo)*hin* o the Ta)ri# .hersonese 5the .rimea6, seems or#ed2 b)t &erodot)s
insists on a #lose link between .ol#his and ,*y(t, and .ol#his has here been #on)sed with
the land o the Ta)rians% ;siris, like Tri(tolem)s, is said to have introd)#ed a*ri#)lt)re into
many orei*n lands%
T&, R,$G3 ;' ;R,+T,+
!,G$+T&/+A+ son !letes now )s)r(ed the kin*dom o My#enae, believin* the mali#io)s
r)mo)r Ws(read by ;ea:X that ;restes and "ylades had been sa#rii#ed on the altar o Ta)ri#
!rtemis% 4)t ,le#tra, do)btin* its tr)th, went to #ons)lt the ?el(hi# ;ra#le% $(hi*eneia had
H)st arrived at ?el(hi, and W;ea:X (ointed her o)t to ,le#tra as ;restesAs m)rderess%
Reven*e)lly she sei8ed a irebrand rom the altar and, not re#o*ni8in* $(hi*eneia ater the
la(se o years, was abo)t to blind her with it, when ;restes himsel entered and e:(lained all%
The re)nited #hildren o !*amemnon then went Hoy)lly ba#k to My#enae, where ;restes
ended the e)d between the &o)se o !tre)s and the &o)se o Thyestes, by killin* !letes2
whose sister ,ri*one, it is said, wo)ld also have (erished by his hand, had not !rtemis
snat#hed her away to !tti#a% 4)t aterwards ;restes relented towards her%
b% +ome say that $(hi*eneia died either at 4ra)ron, or at Me*ara, where she now has a
san#t)ary2 others, that !rtemis immortali8ed her as the Do)n*er &e#ate% ,le#tra, married to
"ylades, bore him Medon and +tro(hi)s the +e#ond2 she lies b)ried at My#enae% ;restes
married his #o)sin &ermioneJ havin* been (resent at the sa#rii#ial m)rder o !#hillesAs son
3eo(tolem)s, to whom she was betrothed% 4y her he be#ame the ather o Tisamen)s, his heir
and s)##essor2 and by ,ri*one his se#ond wie, o "enthil)s%
#% When Menela)s died, the +(artans invited ;restes to be#ome their kin*, (reerrin* him, as
a *randson o Tyndare)s, to 3i#ostrat)s and Me*a(enthes, be*otten by Menela)s on a slave7
*irl% ;restes who, with the hel( o troo(s )rnished by his "ho#ian allies, had already added a
lar*e (art o !r#adia to his My#enaean domains, now made himsel master o !r*os as well2
or Gin* .ylarabes, *randson o .a(ane)s, let no iss)e% &e also s)bd)ed !#haea b)t, in
obedien#e to the ?el(hi# ;ra#le, inally emi*rated rom My#enae to !r#adia where, at the
a*e o seventy, he died o a snake bite at ;restei)m, or ;restia, the town whi#h he had
o)nded d)rin* his e:ile%
d% ;restes was b)ried at Te*ea, b)t in the rei*n o !na:andrides, #o7kin* with !risto, and the
only -a#onian who ever had two wives and o##)(ied two ho)ses at the same time, the
+(artans, in des(air be#a)se they had hitherto lost every battle o)*ht with the Te*eans, sent
to ?el(hi or advi#e, and were instr)#ted to (ossess themselves o ;restesAs bones% +in#e the
whereabo)ts o these were )nknown, they sent -i#has, one o +(artaAs benea#tors, to ask or
)rther enli*htenment% &e was *iven the ollowin* res(onse in he:ameters1
-evel and smooth the (lain o !r#adian Te*ea%
Go tho) Where two winds are ever, by stron* ne#essity, blowin*2
Where stroke rin*s )(on stroke, where evil lies )(on evil2
There allJteemin* earth doth en#lose the (rin#e whom tho) seekest%
4rin* tho) him to the, ho)se, and th)s be Te*eaAs masterP
4e#a)se o a tem(orary tr)#e between the two states, -i#has had no dii#)lty in visitin*
Te*ea2 where he #ame )(on a smith or*in* a sword o iron, instead o bron8e, and *a8ed
o(en7mo)thed at the novel si*ht% I?oes this work s)r(rise yo)KA #ried the Hovial smith% IWell,
$ have somethin* here to s)r(rise yo) even moreP $t is a #oin, seven #)bits lon*, #ontainin*
a #or(se o the same len*th, whi#h $ o)nd beneath the smithy loor while $ was di**in*
yonder well%A
e% -i#has *)essed that the winds mentioned in the verses m)st be those raised by the smithAs
bellows2 the strokes those o his hammer2 and the evil lyin* )(on evil, his hammerJhead
beatin* o)t the iron swordJor the $ron !*e bro)*ht in #r)el days% &e at on#e ret)rned with
the news to +(arta,
where the H)d*es, at his own s)**estion, (retended to #ondemn him or a #rime o violen#e2
then, leein* to Te*ea as i rom e:e#)tion, he (ers)aded the smith to hide him in the smithy%
!t midni*ht, he stole the bones o)t o the #oin and h)rried ba#k to +(arta, where he re7
interred them near the san#t)ary o the 'ates2 the tomb is still shown% +(artan armies have
ever sin#e been #onsistently vi#torio)s over the Te*eans%
% "elo(sAs s(ear7s#e(tre, whi#h his *randson ;restes also wielded, was dis#overed in "ho#is
abo)t this time1 lyin* b)ried with a hoard o *old on the rontier between .haeronea and
"hanote)s, where it had (robably been hidden by ,le#tra% When an inE)est was held on this
treas)re7trove, the "hanotians were #ontent with the *old2 b)t the .haeroneans took the
s#e(tre, and now worshi( it as their s)(reme deity% ,a#h (riest o the s(ear, a((ointed or one
year, kee(s it in his own ho)se, oerin* daily vi#tims to its divinity, beside tables lavishly
s(read with every kind o ood%
*% Det some deny that ;restes died in !r#adia% They say that ater his term o e:ile there, he
was ordered by an ora#le to visit -esbos and Tenedos and o)nd #olonies, with settlers
*athered rom vario)s #ities, in#l)din* !my#lae% &e did so, #allin* his new (eo(le !eolians
be#a)se !eol)s was their nearest #ommon an#estor, b)t died soon ater b)ildin* a #ity in
-esbos% This mi*ration took (la#e, they say, o)r *enerations beore the $onian% ;thers,
however, de#lare that ;restesAs son "enthil)s, not ;restes himsel, #onE)ered -esbos2 that his
*randson Gras, aided by the +(artans, o##)(ied the #o)ntry between $onia and Mysia, now
#alled !eolis2 and that another *randson, !r#hela)s, took !eolian settlers to the (resent #ity
o .y8i#ene, near ?as#yli)m, on the so)thern shores o the +ea o Marmara%
h% Tisamen)s meanwhile s)##eeded to his atherAs dominions, b)t was driven rom the #a(ital
#ities o +(arta, My#enae, and !r*os by the sons o &era#les, and took re)*e with his army
in !#haea% &is son .ometes emi*rated to !sia%
1% $(hi*eneia seems to have been a title o the earlier !rtemis, who was not merely maiden,
b)t also nym(hJI$(hi*eneiaA means Imotherin* a stron* ra#eAJand #rone, namely the
+olemn ;nes or Tri(le &e#ate% ;restes is said to have rei*ned in so many (la#es that his
name m)st also be re*arded as a title% &is death by snake bite at !r#adian ;resteia links him
with other (rimitive kin*s1 s)#h as !(esant)s son o !#risi)s, identiiable with ;(heltes o
3emea2 M)nit)s son o !thamas2 Mo(s)s the -a(ith, bitten by a -ibyan snake2 and ,*y(tian
Ra, an as(e#t o ;siris, also bitten by a -ibyan snake% These bites are always in the heel2 in
some #ases, amon* them those o .heiron and "hol)s the .enta)rs, Tal)s the .retan, !#hilles
the Myrmidon, and "hilo#tetes the ,)boean, the venom seems to have been #onveyed on an
arrow7(oint% The !r#adian ;restes was, in a#t, a "elas*ian with -ibyan #onne#tions%
0% !rtemisAs res#)e o ,ri*one rom ;restesN ven*ean#e is one more in#ident in the e)d
between the &o)se o Thyestes, assisted by !rtemis, and the &o)se o !tre)s, assisted by
@e)s% Tisamen)sAs name 5Iaven*in* stren*thA6 s)**ests that the e)d was beE)eathed to the
s)##eedin* *eneration1 be#a)se, a##ordin* to one o !(ollodor)sAs a##o)nts 5,(itome6, he
was ,ri*oneAs son, not &ermioneAs% Thro)*ho)t the story o this e)d it m)st be remembered
that the !rtemis who here meas)res her stren*th with @e)s is the earlier matriar#hal !rtemis,
rather than !(olloAs lovin* twin, the maiden h)ntress2 the mytho*ra(hers have done their best
to obs#)re !(olloAs a#tive (arti#i(ation, on @e)sAs side, in this divine E)arrel%
<% GiantsA bones, )s)ally identiied with those o a tribal an#estor, were re*arded as a ma*i#al
means o (rote#tin* a #ity2 th)s the !thenians, by ora#)lar ins(iration, re#overed what they
#laimed to be These)sAs bones rom +#yros and bro)*ht them ba#k to !thens6% These may
well have been )n)s)ally lar*e, be#a)se a ra#e o *iantsJo whi#h the &amiti# Wat)si who
live in ,E)atorial !ri#a are an oshootJlo)rished in 3eolithi# ,)ro(e, and their seven7
oot skeletons have o##asionally been o)nd even in 4ritain% The !nakim o "alestine and
.aria belon*ed to this ra#e% &owever, i ;restes was an !#haean o the TroHan War (eriod,
the !thenians #o)ld not have o)nd and meas)red his skeleton, sin#e the &omeri# nobles
(ra#tised #remation, not inh)mation in the 3eolithi# style%
=% I,vil lyin* )(on evilA is )s)ally inter(reted as the iron sword that was bein* or*ed on an
iron anvil2 b)t stone anvils were the r)le )ntil a #om(aratively late e(o#h, and the hammer7
head as it rests )(on the sword is the more likely e:(lanationJtho)*h, indeed, iron hammers
were also rare )ntil Roman times% $ron was too holy and inreE)ent a metal or #ommon )se
by the My#enaeansJnot bein* e:tra#ted rom ore, b)t #olle#ted in the orm o divinely7sent
meteoritesJand when event)ally iron wea(ons were im(orted into Gree#e rom Tibarene on
the 4la#k +ea, the smeltin* (ro#ess and man)a#t)re remained se#ret or some time%
4la#ksmiths #ontin)ed to be #alled Ibron8e workersA even in the &ellenisti# (eriod1 4)t as
soon as anyone mi*ht (ossess an iron wea(on or tool, the a*e o myth #ame to an end2 i only
be#a)se iron was not in#l)ded amon* the ive metals sa#red to the *oddess and linked with
her #alendar rites1 namely, silver, *old, #o((er, tin, and lead%
5% "elo(sAs s(ear7s#e(tre, token o soverei*nty, evidently belon*ed to the r)lin* (riestess2
th)s, a##ordin* to ,)ri(ides, the s(ear with whi#h ;enoma)s was killedJ(res)mably the
same instr)mentJwas hidden in $(hi*eneiaAs bedroom2 .lytaemnestra then #laims to (ossess
it 5+o(ho#les1 ,le#tra62 and ,le#tra is said by "a)sanias to have bro)*ht it to "ho#is% The
Greeks o !sia Minor were (leased to think that ;restes had o)nded the irst !eolian #olony
there1 his name bein* one o their royal titles% They may have been relyin* on a tradition that
#on#erned a new sta*e in the history o kin*shi(1 when the kin*As rei*n #ame to an end, he
was now s(ared death and allowed to sa#rii#e a s)rro*ateJan a#t o homi#ide that wo)ld
a##o)nt or ;restesAs se#ond e:ileJater whi#h he mi*ht lead a #olony overseas% The
mytho*ra(hers who e:(lained that the +(artans (reerred ;restes to Menela)sAs sons be#a)se
these were born o a slave7woman, did not reali8e that des#ent was still matrilineal% ;restes,
as a My#enaean, #o)ld rei*n by marria*e to the +(artan heiress &ermione2 her brothers m)st
seek kin*doms elsewhere% $n !r*olis a (rin#ess #o)ld have ree7born #hildren by a slave2 and
there was nothin* to (revent ,le#traAs (easant h)sband at My#enae rom raisin* #laimants or
the throne%
6% The (salmistAs tradition that Ithe days o a man are three s#ore and ten,A is o)nded not on
observation, b)t on reli*io)s theory1 seven was the n)mber o holiness, and ten o (ere#tion%
;restes similarly attained seventy years%
>% !na:andridesAs brea#h o the mono*ami# tradition may have been d)e to dynasti#
ne#essity2 (erha(s !risto, his #o7kin*, died too soon beore the end o his rei*n to warrant a
new #oronation and, sin#e he had r)led by virt)e o his marria*e to an heiress, !na:andrides
s)bstit)ted or him both as kin* and h)sband%
8% &ittite re#ords show that there was already an !#haean kin*dom in -esbos d)rin* the late
o)rteenth #ent)ry%
The 4irth ; &era#les
,-,.TRD;3, +on o "erse)s, &i*h Gin* o My#enae and h)sband o !na:o, mar#hed
ven*e)lly a*ainst the Ta(hians and Teleboans% They had Hoined in a s)##ess)l raid on his
#attle, (lanned by one "terela)s, a #laimant to the My#enaean throne2 whi#h had res)lted in
the death o ,le#tryonAs ei*ht sons% While he was away, his ne(hew Gin* !m(hitryon o
Troe8en a#ted as re*ent% IR)le well, and when $ ret)rn vi#torio)s, yo) shall marry my
da)*hter !l#mene,A ,le#tryon #ried in arewell% !m(hitryon, inormed by the Gin* o ,lis
that the stolen #attle were now in his (ossession, (aid the lar*e
ransom demanded, and re#alled ,le#tryon to identiy them% ,le#tryon, by no means (leased
to learn that !m(hitryon e:(e#ted him to re(ay this ransom, asked harshly what ri*ht had the
,leans to sell stolen (ro(erty, and why did !m(hitryon #ondone in a ra)dK ?isdainin* to
re(ly, !m(hitryon vented his annoyan#e by throwin* a #l)b at one o the #ows whi#h had
strayed rom the herd2 it str)#k her horns, rebo)nded, and killed ,le#tryon% There)(on
!m(hitryon was banished rom !r*olis by his )n#le +thenel)s2 who sei8ed My#enae and
Tiryns and entr)sted the remainder o the #o)ntry, with Midea or its #a(ital, to !tre)s and
Thyestes, the sons o "elo(s%
b% !m(hitryon, a##om(anied by !l#mene, led to Thebes, where Gin* .reon ()riied him
and *ave his sister "ealmede in marria*e to ,le#tryonAs only s)rvivin* son, -i#ynmi)s, a
bastard home by a "hry*ian woman named Midea% 4)t the (io)s !l#mene wo)ld not lie with
!m(hitryon )ntil he had aven*ed the death o her ei*ht brothers% .reon thereore *ave him
(ermission to raise a 4oeotian army or this ()r(ose, on #ondition that he reed Thebes o the
Te)messian vi:en2 whi#h he did by borrowin* the #elebrated ho)nd -aela(s rom .e(hal)s
the !thenian% Then, aided by !thenian, "ho#ian, !r*ive, and -o#rian #ontin*ents,
!m(hitryon over#ame the Teleboans and Ta(hians, and bestowed their islands on his allies,
amon* them his )n#le &elei)s%
#% Meanwhile, @e)s, takin* advanta*e o !m(hitryonAs absen#e, im(ersonated him and,
ass)rin* !l#mene that her brothers were now aven*edJsin#e !m(hitryon had indeed *ained
the reE)ired vi#tory that very mornin*Jlay with her all one ni*ht, to whi#h he *ave the
len*th o three% 'or &ermes, at @e)sAs #ommand, had ordered &eli)s to E)en#h the solar ires,
have the &o)rs )nyoke his team, and s(end the ollowin* day at home2 be#a)se the
(ro#reation o so *reat a #ham(ion as @e)s had in mind #o)ld not be a##om(lished in haste%
&eli)s obeyed, *r)mblin* abo)t the *ood old times, when day was day, and ni*ht was ni*ht2
and when .ron)s, the then !lmi*hty God, did not leave his law)l wie and *o o to Thebes
on love advent)res% &ermes ne:t ordered the Moon to *o slowly, and +lee( to make mankind
so drowsy that no one wo)ld noti#e what was ha((enin*% !l#mene, wholly de#eived, listened
deli*htedly to @e)sAs a##o)nt o the #r)shin* deeat inli#ted on "terela)s at ;e#halia, and
s(orted inno#ently with her s)((osed h)sband or the whole thirty7si: ho)rs% ;n the ne:t day,
when !m(hitryon ret)rned, eloE)ent o vi#tory and o his (assion or her, !l#m#ne did not
wel#ome him to the marria*e #o)#h so ra(t)ro)sly as he had ho(ed% IWe never sle(t a wink
last ni*ht,A she #om(lained% I!nd s)rely yo) do not e:(e#t me to listen twi#e to the story o
yo)r e:(loitsKA !m(hitryon, )nable to )nderstand these remarks, #ons)lted the seer Teiresias,
who told him that he had been #)#kolded by @e)s2 and thereater he never dared slee( with
!l#mene a*ain, or ear o in#)rrin* divine Healo)sy%
d% 3ine months later, on ;lym()s, @e)s ha((ened to boast that he had athered a son, now at
the (oint o birth, who wo)ld be #alled &era#les, whi#h means IGlory o &eraA, and r)le the
noble &o)se o "erse)s% &era there)(on made him (romise that any (rin#e born beore
ni*htell to the &o)se o "erse)s sho)ld be &i*h Gin*% When @e)s swore an )nbreakable
oath to this ee#t, &era went at on#e to My#enae, where she hastened the (an*s o 3i#i((e,
wie o Gin* +thenel)s% +he then h)rried to Thebes, and sE)atted #ross7le**ed at !l#meneAs
door, with her #lothin* tied into knots, and her in*ers lo#ked to*ether2 by whi#h means she
delayed the birth o &era#les, )ntil ,)rysthe)s, son o +thenel)s, a seven7months #hild,
already lay in his #radle% When &era#les a((eared, one ho)r too late, he was o)nd to have a
twin named $(hi#les, !m(hitryonAs son and the yo)n*er by a ni*ht% 4)t some say that
&era#les, not $(hi#les, was the yo)n*er by a ni*ht2 and others, that the twins were be*otten
on the same ni*ht, and born to*ether, and that 'ather @e)s divinely ill)mined the birth
#hamber% !t irst, &era#les was #alled !l#ae)s, or "alaemon%
e% When &era ret)rned to ;lym()s, and #almly boasted o her s)##ess in kee(in* ,ileithyia,
*oddess o #hildbirth, rom !l#meneAs door, @e)s ell into a towerin* ra*e2 sei8in* his eldest
da)*hter !te, who had blinded him to &eraAs de#eit, he took a mi*hty oath that she sho)ld
never visit ;lym()s a*ain% Whirled aro)nd his head by her *olden hair, !te was sent h)rtlin*
down to earth% Tho)*h @e)s #o)ld not *o ba#k on his word and allow &era#les to r)le the
&o)se o "erse)s, he (ers)aded &era to a*ree that, ater (erormin* whatever twelve labo)rs
,)rysthe)s mi*ht set him, his son sho)ld be#ome a *od%
% 3ow, )nlike @e)sAs ormer h)man loves, rom 3iobe onwards, !l#mene had been sele#ted
not so m)#h or his (leas)reJtho)*h she s)r(assed all other women o her day in bea)ty,
stateliness, and wisdomJas with a view to be*ettin* a son (ower)l eno)*h to (rote#t both
*ods and men a*ainst destr)#tion% !l#mene, si:teenth in des#ent rom the same 3iobe, was
the last mortal woman with whom @e)s lay, or he saw no (ros(e#t o be*ettin* a hero to
eE)al &era#les by any other2 and he hono)red !l#mene so hi*hly that, instead o ro)*hly
violatin* her, he took (ains to dis*)ise himsel as !m(hitryon and woo her with ae#tionate
words and #aresses% &e knew !l#mene to be in#orr)(tible and when, at dawn, he (resented
her with a .ar#hesian *oblet, she a##e(ted it witho)t E)estion as s(oil won in the vi#tory1
Teleb)sAs le*a#y rom his ather "oseidon%
*% +ome say that &era did not hersel hinder !l#meneAs travail, b)t sent wit#hes to do so, and
that &istoris, da)*hter o Teiresias, de#eived them by raisin* a #ry o Hoy rom the birth
#hamberJwhi#h is still shown at ThebesJso that they went away and allowed the #hild to
be born% !##ordin* to others, it was ,ileithyia who hindered the travail on &eraAs behal, and
a aith)l handmaiden o !l#meneAs, the yellow7haired Galanthis, or Galen, who let the birth
#hamber to anno)n#e, )ntr)ly, that !l#mene had been delivered% When ,ileithyia s(ran* )(
in s)r(rise, )n#las(in* her in*ers and )n#rossin* her knees, &era#les was born, and
Galanthis la)*hed at the s)##ess)l de#e(tionJwhi#h (rovoked ,ileithyia to sei8e her by the
hair and t)rn her into a weasel% Galanthis #ontin)ed to reE)ent !l#meneAs ho)se, b)t was
()nished by &era or havin* lied1 she was #ondemned in (er(et)ity to brin* orth her yo)n*
thro)*h the mo)th% When the Thebans (ay &era#les divine hono)rs, they still oer
(reliminary sa#rii#es to Galanthis, who is also #alled Galinthias and des#ribed as "roet)sAs
da)*hter2 sayin* that she was &era#lesAs n)rse and that he b)ilt her a san#t)ary%
h% This Theban a##o)nt is derided by the !thenians% They hold that Galanthis was a harlot,
t)rned weasel by &e#ate in ()nishment or (ra#tisin* )nnat)ral l)st, who when &era )nd)ly
(rolon*ed !l#meneAs labo)r, ha((ened to r)n (ast and ri*hten her into delivery%
i% &era#lesAs birthday is #elebrated on the o)rth day o every month2 b)t some hold that he
was born as the +)n entered the Tenth +i*n2 others that the Great 4ear, swin*in* westward at
midni*ht over ;rionJwhi#h it does as the +)n E)its the Twelth +i*nJlooked down on him
in his tenth month%
1% !l#mene ^Istron* in wrathA6 will have ori*inally been a My#enaean title o &era, whose
divine soverei*nty &era#les 5I*lory o &eraA6 (rote#ted a*ainst the en#roa#hments o her
!#haean enemy "erse)s 5IdestroyerA6% The !#haeans event)ally tri)m(hed, and their
des#endants #laimed &era#les as a member o the )s)r(in* &o)se o "erse)s% &eraAs
detestation o &era#les is likely to be a later invention2 he was worshi((ed by the ?orians
who overran ,lis and there h)mbled the (ower o &era%
0% ?iodor)s +i#)l)s writes o three heroes named &era#les1 an ,*y(tian2 a .retan ?a#tyl2 and
the son o !l#mene% .i#ero raises this n)mber to si: 5;n the 3at)re o the Gods62 Carro to
orty7o)r 5+ervi)s on Cir*ilAs !eneid6% &erodot)s says that when he asked or &era#lesAs
ori*inal home, the ,*y(tians reerred him to "hoeni#ia% !##ordin* to ?iodor)s +i#)l)s, the
,*y(tian &era#les, #alled +om, or .hon, lived ten tho)sand years beore the TroHan War, and
his Greek namesake inherited his e:(loits% The story o &era#les is, indeed, a (e* on whi#h a
*reat n)mber o related, )nrelated, and #ontradi#tory myths have been h)n*% $n the main,
however, he re(resents the ty(i#al sa#red kin* o early &elleni# Gree#e, #onsort o a tribal
nym(h, the Moon7*oddess in#arnate2 his twin $(hi#les a#ted as his tanist% This Moon7*oddess
has s#ores o names1 &era, !thene, !)*e, $ole, &ebe, and so orth% ;n an early Roman bron8e
mirror 9)((iter is shown #elebratin* a sa#red marria*e between I&er#eleA and I9)noA2
moreover, at Roman weddin*s the knot in the brideAs *irdle #onse#rated to 9)no was #alled
the I&er#)lean knotA, and the bride*room had to )ntie it 5'est)s6% The Romans derived this
tradition rom the ,tr)s#ans, whose 9)no was named I/nialA% $t may be ass)med that the
#entral story o &era#les was an early variant o the 4abylonian
Gil*amesh e(i# whi#h rea#hed Gree#e by way o "hoeni#ia% Gil*amesh has ,nkid) or his
beloved #omrade, &era#les has $ola)s% Gil*amesh is )ndone by his love or the *oddess
$shtar, &era#les by his love or ?eianeira% 4oth are o divine (arenta*e% 4oth harrow &ell%
4oth kill lions and over#ome divine b)lls2 and when sailin* to the Western $sle &era#les, like
Gil*amesh, )ses his *arment or a sail% &era#les inds the ma*i# herb o immortality as
Gil*amesh does, and is similarly #onne#ted with the (ro*ress o the s)n aro)nd the @odia#%
<% @e)s is made to im(ersonate !m(hitryon be#a)se when the sa#red kin* )nderwent a
rebirth at his #oronation, he be#ame tit)larly a son o @e)s, and dis#laimed his mortal
(arenta*e% Det #)stom reE)ired the mortal tanistJrather than the divinely7born kin*, the
elder o the twinsJto lead military e:(editions2 and the reversal o this r)le in &era#lesAs
#ase s)**ests that he was on#e the tanist, and $(hi#les the sa#red kin*% Theo#rit)s #ertainly
makes &era#les the yo)n*er o the twins, and &erodot)s, who #alls him a son o !m(hitryon,
s)rnames him I!l#idesAJater his *randather !l#ae)s, not I.ronidesA ater his *randather
.ron)s% Moreover, when $(hi#les married .reonAs yo)n*est da)*hter, &era#les married an
elder one2 altho)*h in matrilineal so#iety the yo)n*est was #ommonly the heiress, as a((ears
in all ,)ro(ean olktales% !##ordin* to &esiodAs +hield o &era#les6, $(hi#les h)mbled
himsel shame)lly beore ,)rysthe)s2 b)t the #ir#)mstan#es, whi#h mi*ht throw li*ht on this
#han*e o roles between the twins, are not e:(lained% 3o s)#h #omradeshi( as e:isted
between .astor and "olyde)#es, or $das and -yn#e)s, is re#orded between &era#les and
$(hi#les% &era#les )s)r(s his twinAs )n#tions and (rero*atives, leavin* him an inee#tive
and s(iritless shadow who soon ades away, )nmo)rned% "erha(s at Tiryns, the tanist )s)r(ed
all the royal (ower, as sometimes ha((ens in !siati# states where a reli*io)s kin* r)les
Hointly with a war7kin*, or +ho*)n%
=% &eraAs method o delayin* #hildbirth is still )sed by 3i*erian wit#hes2 the more
enli*htened now reinor#e the #harm by #on#ealin* im(orted (adlo#ks beneath their #lothes%
5% The observation that weasels, i dist)rbed, #arry their yo)n* rom (la#e to (la#e in their
mo)ths, like #ats, *ave rise to the le*end o their vivi(aro)s birth% !()lei)sAs a##o)nt o the
horrid (erorman#e o Thessalian wit#hes dis*)ised as weasels, &e#ateAs attendants, and
"a)saniasAs mention o h)man sa#rii#es oered to the Te)messia) Ci:en, re#all .erdo
5IweaselA or Ivi:enA6, wie o "horone)s, who is said to have introd)#ed &eraAs worshi( into
the "elo(onnese% The Theban #)lt o Galinthias is a reli# o (rimitive &era7worshi(, and
when the wit#hes delayed &era#lesAs birth they will have been dis*)ised as weasels% This
myth is more than )s)ally #on)sed2 tho)*h it a((ears that @e)sAs ;lym(ianism was resented
by #onservative reli*io)s o(inion in Thebes and !r*olis, and that the wit#hes made a
#on#erted atta#k on the &o)se o "erse)s%
6% To H)d*e rom ;vidAs remark abo)t the Tenth +i*n, and rom the story o the ,rymanthian
4oar, whi#h (resents &era#les as the .hild &or)s, he shared a midwinter birthday with @e)s,
!(ollo, and other #alendar *ods% The Theban year be*an at midwinter% $, as Theo#rit)s says,
&era#les was ten months old at the #lose o the twelth, then !l#mene bore him at the s(rin*
eE)ino:, when the $talians, 4abylonians, and others, #elebrated 3ew Dear% 3o wonder that
@e)s is said to have ill)mined the birth #hamber% The o)rth day o the month will have been
dedi#ated to &era#les be#a)se every o)rth year was his, as o)nder o the ;lym(i# Games%
The Do)th ; &era#les
!-.M,3,, earin* &eraAs Healo)sy, e:(osed her newly7born #hild in a ield o)tside the
walls o Thebes2 and here, at @e)sAs insti*ation, !thene took &era or a #as)al stroll% I-ook,
my dearP What a wonder)lly rob)st #hildPA said !thene, (retendin* s)r(rise as she sto((ed to
(i#k him )(% I&is mother m)st have been o)t o her mind to abandon him in a stony ieldP
.ome, yo) have milk% Give the (oor little #reat)re s)#kPA Tho)*htlessly &era took him and
bared her breast, at whi#h &era#les drew with s)#h or#e that she l)n* him down in (ain,
and a s()rt o milk lew a#ross the sky and be#ame the Milky Way% IThe yo)n* monsterPA
&era #ried% 4)t &era#les was now immortal, and !thene ret)rned him to !l#mene with a
smile, tellin* her to *)ard and rear him well% The Thebans still show the (la#e where this
tri#k was (layed on &era2 it is #alled IThe "lain o &era#lesA%
b% +ome, however, say that &ermes #arried the inant &era#les to ;lym()s2 that @e)s himsel
laid him at &eraAs breast while she sle(t2 and that the Milky Way was ormed when she
awoke and ()shed him away, or when he *reedily s)#ked more milk than his mo)th wo)ld
hold, and #o)*hed it )(% !t all events, &era was &era#lesAs oster mother, i only or a short
while2 and the Thebans thereore style him her son, and say that he had been !l#ae)s beore
she *ave him s)#k, b)t was renamed in her hono)r%
#% ;ne evenin*, when &era#les had rea#hed the a*e o ei*ht or ten months or, as others say,
one year, and was still )nweaned, !l#mene havin* washed and s)#kled her twins, laid them
to rest )nder a lamb7lee#e #overlet, on the broad bra8en shield whi#h !m(hitryon had won
rom "terela)s% !t midni*ht, &era sent two (rodi*io)s a8)re7s#aled ser(ents to !m(hitryonAs
ho)se, with stri#t orders to destroy &era#les% The *ates o(ened as they a((roa#hed2 they
*lided thro)*h, and over the marble loors to the n)rseryJtheir eyes shootin* lames, and
(oison dri((in* rom their an*s%
d% The twins awoke, to see the ser(ents writhed above them, with dartin*, orked ton*)es2 or
@e)s a*ain divinely ill)mined the #hamber% $(hi#les s#reamed, ki#ked o the #overlet and, in
an attem(t to es#a(e, rolled rom the shield to the loor% &is ri*htened #ries, and the stran*e
li*ht shinin* )nder the n)rsery door, ro)sed !l#mene% I/( with yo), !m(hitryonPA she #ried%
Witho)t waitin* to ()t on his sandals, !m(hitryon lea(ed rom the #edar7wood bed, sei8ed
his sword whi#h h)n* #lose by on the wall, and drew it rom its (olished sheath% !t that
moment the li*ht in the n)rsery went o)t% +ho)tin* to his drowsy slaves or lam(s and
tor#hes, !m(hitryon r)shed in2 and &era#les, who had not )ttered so m)#h as a whim(er,
(ro)dly dis(layed the ser(ents, whi#h he was in the a#t o stran*lin*, one in either hand% !s
they died, he la)*hed, bo)n#ed Hoy)lly )( and down, and threw them at !m(hitryonAs eet%
e% While !l#mene #omorted the terror7stri#ken $(hi#les, !m(hitryon s(read the #overlet over
&era#les a*ain, and ret)rned to bed% !t dawn, when the #o#k had #rowed three times,
!l#mene s)mmoned the a*ed Teiresias and told him o the (rodi*y% Teiresias, ater oretellin*
&era#lesAs )t)re *lories, advised her to strew a broad hearth with dry a**ots o *orse, thorn
and brambles, and b)rn the ser(ents )(on them at midni*ht% $n the mornin*, a maidservant
m)st #olle#t their ashes, take them to the ro#k where the +(hin: had (er#hed, s#atter them to
the winds, and r)n away witho)t lookin* ba#k% ;n her ret)rn, the (ala#e m)st be ()r*ed with
)mes o s)l(h)r and salted s(rin* water2 and its roo #rowned with wild olive% inally, a boar
m)st be sa#rii#ed at @e)sAs hi*h altar% !ll this !l#mene did% 4)t some hold that the ser(ents
were harmless, and (la#ed in the #radle by !m(hitryon himsel2 he had wished to dis#over
whi#h o the twins was his son, and now he knew
%% When &era#les #eased to be a #hild, !m(hitryon ta)*ht him how to drive a #hariot, and
how to t)rn #orners witho)t *ra8in* the *oal% .astor *ave him en#in* lessons, instr)#ted him
in wea(on drill, in #avalry and inantry ta#ti#s, and in the r)diments o strate*y% ;ne o
&ermesAs sons be#ame his bo:in* tea#herJit was either !)toly#)s, or else &ar(aly#)s, who
had so *rim a look when i*htin* that none dared a#e him% ,)ryt)s ta)*ht him ar#hery2 or it
may have been the +#ythian Te)tar)s, one o !m(hitryonAs herdsmen, or even !(ollo% 4)t
&era#les s)r(assed all ar#hers ever born, even his #om(anion !l#on, ather o "haler)s the
!r*ona)t, who #o)ld shoot thro)*h a s)##ession o rin*s set on the helmets o soldiers
standin* in ile, and #o)ld #leave arrows held )( on the (oints o swords or lan#es% ;n#e,
when !l#onAs son was atta#ked by a ser(ent, whi#h wo)nd its #oils abo)t him, !l#on shot
with s)#h skill as to wo)nd it mortally witho)t h)rtin* the boy%
*% ,)mol()s ta)*ht &era#les how to sin* and (lay the lyre2 while -in)s, son o the River7*od
$smeni)s, introd)#ed him to the st)dy o literat)re% ;n#e, when ,)mol()s was absent, -in)s
*ave the lyre lessons as well2 b)t &era#les, re)sin* to #han*e the (rin#i(les in whi#h he had
been *ro)nded by ,)mol()s, and bein* beaten or his st)bbornness, killed -in)s with a blow
o the lyre% !t his trial or m)rder, &era#les E)oted a law o Rhadamanthys,
whi#h H)stiied or#ible resistan#e to an a**ressor, and th)s se#)red his own a#E)ittal%
3evertheless !m(hitryon, earin* that the boy mi*ht #ommit )rther #rimes o violen#e, sent
him away to a #attle ran#h, where he remained )ntil his ei*hteenth year, o)tstri((in* his
#ontem(oraries in hei*ht, stren*th, and #o)ra*e% &ere he was #hosen to be a la)rel7bearer o
$smenian !(ollo2 and the Thebans still (reserve the tri(od whi#h !m(hitryon dedi#ated or
him on this o##asion% $t is not known who ta)*ht &era#les astronomy and (hiloso(hy, yet he
was learned in both these s)bHe#ts%
h% &is hei*ht is )s)ally *iven as o)r #)bits% +in#e, however, he ste((ed o)t the ;lym(ian
stadi)m, makin* it si: h)ndred eet lon*, and sin#e later Greek stadia are also nominally si:
h)ndred eet lon*, b)t #onsiderably shorter than the ;lym(i#, the sa*e "ytha*oras de#ided
that the len*th o &era#lesAs stride, and #onseE)ently his stat)re, m)st have been in the same
ratio to the stride and stat)re o other men, as the len*th o the ;lym(i# stadi)m is to that o
other stadia% This #al#)lation made him o)r #)bits and one oot hi*hJyet some hold that he
was not above avera*e stat)re%
i% &era#lesAs eyes lashed ire, and he had an )nerrin* aim, both with Havelin and arrow% &e
ate s(arin*ly at noon2 or s)((er his avo)rite ood was roast meat and ?ori# barley7#akes, o
whi#h he ate s)i#ient 5i that is #redible6 to have made a hired labo)rer *r)nt Ieno)*hPA &is
t)ni# was short7skirted and neat2 and he (reerred a ni*ht )nder the stars to one s(ent indoors%
! (roo)nd knowled*e o a)*)ry led him es(e#ially to wel#ome the a((earan#e o v)lt)res,
whenever he was abo)t to )ndertake a new -abo)r% IC)lt)resA, he wo)ld say, Iare the most
ri*hteo)s o birds1 they do not atta#k even the smallest livin* #reat)re%A
H% &era#les #laimed never to have (i#ked a E)arrel, b)t always to have *iven a**ressors the
same treatment as they intended or him% ;ne Termer)s )sed to kill travellers by #hallen*in*
them to a b)ttin* mat#h2 &era#lesAs sk)ll (roved the stron*er, and he #r)shed Termer)sAs
head as tho)*h it had been an e**% &era#les was, however, nat)rally #o)rteo)s, and the irst
mortal who reely ielded the enemy their dead or b)rial%
1% !##ordin* to another a##o)nt, the Milky Way was ormed when Rhea or#ibly weaned
@e)s% &eraAs s)#klin* o &era#les is a myth a((arently based on the sa#red kin*As rit)al
rebirth rom the E)een7mother%
0% !n an#ient i#on on whi#h the (ost7&omeri# story o the stran*led ser(ents is based, will
have shown &era#les #aressin* them while they #leansed his ears with their ton*)es, as
ha((ened to Melam()s, Teiresias, .assandra, and (robably the sons o -ao#oFn%% Witho)t
this kindly attention he wo)ld have been )nable to )nderstand the lan*)a*e o v)lt)res2 and
&era, had she really wanted to kill &era#les, wo)ld have sent a &ar(y to #arry him o% The
i#on has been misread by "indar, or his inormant, as an alle*ory o the 3ew Dear +olar
.hild, who destroys the (ower o Winter, symboli8ed by the ser(ents% !l#meneAs sa#rii#e o
a boar to @e)s is the an#ient midwinter one, s)llyin* in the .hristmas boarAs head o ;ld
,n*land% Wild olive in Gree#e, like bir#h in $taly and 3orth7western ,)ro(e, was the 3ew
Dear tree, symbol o in#e(tion, and )sed as a besom to e:(el evil s(irits2 &era#les had a wild
Jolive tree or his #l)b, and bro)*ht a sa(lin* to ;lym(ia rom the land o the
&y(erboreans% What Teiresias told !l#mene to li*ht was the .andlemas bonire, still li*hted
on 'ebr)ary 0nd in many (arts o ,)ro(e1 its obHe#t bein* to b)rn away the old s#r)b and
en#o)ra*e yo)n* shoots to *row%
<% The #ake7eatin* ?orian &era#les, as o((osed to his #)lt)red !eolian and !#haean
(rede#essors, was a sim(le #attle7kin*, endowed with the limited virt)es o his #ondition, b)t
makin* no (retensions to m)si#, (hiloso(hy, or astronomy% $n .lassi#al times, the
mytho*ra(hers, rememberin* the (rin#i(le o mens sana in #or(ore sano, or#ed a hi*her
ed)#ation )(on him, and inter(reted his m)rder o -in)s as a (rotest a*ainst tyranny, rather
than a*ainst eemina#y% De t he remained an embodiment o (hysi#al, not mental, health2
e:#e(t amon* the .elts, who hono)red him as the (atron o letters and all the bardi# arts%
They ollowed the tradition that &era#les, the $daean ?a#tyl whom they #alled ;*mi)s,
re(resented the irst #onsonant o the &y(erborean tree7al(habet, 4ir#h or Wild ;live, and
that Ion a swit#h o bir#h was #)t the irst messa*e ever sent, namely 4ir#h seven times
re(eatedA 5White Goddess6%
=% !l#onAs eat o shootin* the ser(ent s)**ests an ar#hery trial like that des#ribed in the
iteenth7#ent)ry Malle)s Malei#ar)m1 when the #andidate or initiation into the ar#hersA
*)ild was reE)ired to shoot at an obHe#t (la#ed on his own sonAs #a(Jeither an a((le or a
silver (enny% The brothers o -aodameia, #om(etin* or the sa#red kin*shi(, were asked to
shoot thro)*h a rin* (la#ed on a #hildAs breast2 b)t this myth m)st be misre(orted, sin#e
#hild7m)rder was not their obHe#t% $t seems that the ori*inal task o a #andidate or kin*shi(
had been to shoot thro)*h the #oil o a *olden ser(ent, symboli8in* immortality, set on a
head7dress worn by a royal #hild2 and that in some tribes this #)stom was #han*ed to the
#leavin* o an a((le, and in others to the shootin* between the re#)rred blades o a do)ble
a:e, or thro)*h the #rest7rin* o a helmet2 b)t later, as marksmanshi( im(roved, thro)*h
either a row o helmet7ro*s, the test set !l#on2 or a row o a:e7blades, the test set ;dysse)s%
Robin &oodAs merry men, like the German ar#hers, shot at silver (ennies, be#a)se these were
marked with a #ross2 the ar#her7*)ilds bein* deiantly anti7.hristian%
5% Greek and Roman ar#hers drew the bow7strin* ba#k to the #hest, as #hildren shoot, and
their ee#tive ran*e was so short that the Havelin remained the #hie missile wea(on o the
Roman armies )ntil the si:th #ent)ry !?, when 4elisari)s armed his #ata(hra#ts with heavy
bows, and ta)*ht them to draw the strin* ba#k to the ear, in +#ythian ashion% &era#lesAs
a##)rate marksmanshi( is thereore a##o)nted or by the le*end that his t)tor was Te)tar)s
the +#ythianJthe name is a((arently ormed rom te)taein, Ito (ra#tise assid)o)slyA, whi#h
the ordinary Greek ar#her does not seem to have done% $t may be be#a)se o the +#ythiansA
o)tstandin* skill with the bow that they were des#ribed as &era#lesAs des#endants1 and he
was said to have beE)eathed a bow to +#ythes, the only one o his sons who #o)ld bend it as
he did%
The ?a)*hters o Thes(i)s
$3 his ei*hteenth year, &era#les let the #attle ran#h and set o)t to destroy the lion o
.ithaeron, whi#h was havo#kin* the herds o !m(hitryon and his nei*hbo)r, Gin* Thes(i)s,
also #alled Thesti)s, the !thenian ,re#htheid% The lion had another lair on Mo)nt &eli#on, at
the oot o whi#h stands the #ity o Thes(iae% &eli#on has always been a *ay mo)ntain1 the
Thes(ians #elebrate an an#ient estival on its s)mmit in hono)r o the M)ses, and (lay
amoro)s *ames at its oot aro)nd the stat)e o ,ros, their (atron%
b% Gin* Thes(i)s had ity da)*hters by his wie Me*amede, da)*hter o !rne)s, as *ay as
any in Thes(iae% 'earin* that they mi*ht make )ns)itable mat#hes, he determined that every
one o them sho)ld have a #hild by &era#les, who was now en*a*ed all day in h)ntin* the
lion2 or &era#les lod*ed at Thes(iae or ity ni*hts r)nnin*% IDo) may have my eldest
da)*hter "ro#ris as yo)r bed7ellow,A Thes(i)s told him hos(itably% 4)t ea#h ni*ht another o
his da)*hters visited &era#les, )ntil he had lain with every one% +ome say, however, that he
enHoyed them all in a sin*le ni*ht, e:#e(t one, who de#lined his embra#es and remained a
vir*in )ntil her death, servin* as his (riestess in the shrine at Thes(iae1 or to this day the
Thes(ian (riestess is reE)ired to be #haste% 4)t he had be*otten ity7one sons on her sisters1
"ro#ris, the eldest, bearin* him the twins !ntileon and &i((e)s2 and the yo)n*est sister,
another (air%
#% &avin* at last tra#ked down the lion, and des(at#hed it with an )ntrimmed #l)b #)t rom a
wild7olive tree whi#h he )(rooted on &eli#on, &era#les dressed himsel in its (elt and wore
the *a(in* Haws or a helmet% +ome however say that he wore the (elt o the 3emean -ion2 or
o yet another beast, whi#h he killed at Te)mess)s near Thebes2 and that it was !l#atho)s
who a##o)nted or the lion o .ithaeron%
1% Thes(i)sAs ity da)*htersJlike the ity ?anaids, "allantids, and 3ereids, or the ity
maidens with whom the .elti# *od 4ran 5"horone)s6 lay in a sin*le ni*htJm)st have been a
#olle*e o (riestesses servin* the Moon7*oddess, to whom the lion7(elted sa#red kin* had
a##ess on#e a year d)rin* their eroti# or*ies aro)nd the stone (hall)s #alled ,ros 5Ieroti#
desireA6% Their n)mber #orres(onded with the l)nations whi#h ell between one ;lym(i#
'estival and the ne:t% IThesti)sA is (erha(s a mas#)lini8ation o thea hestia, Ithe *oddess
&estiaA2 b)t Thes(i)s 5Idivinely so)ndin*A6 is not an im(ossible name, the .hie7(riestess
havin* an ora#)lar )n#tion%
0% &y*in)s 5'ab)la6 mentions only twelve Thes(iads, (erha(s be#a)se this was the n)mber o
-atin Cestals who *)arded the (halli# "alladi)m and who seem to have #elebrated a similar
ann)al or*y on the !lban &ill, )nder the early Roman monar#hy%
<% 4oth the yo)n*est and the eldest o Thes(i)sAs da)*hters bore &era#les twins1 namely, a
sa#red kin* and his tanist% The mytho*ra(hers are #on)sed here, tryin* to re#on#ile the
earlier tradition that &era#les married the yo)n*est da)*hterJmatrilineal )ltimo*enit)reJ
with the (atrilineal ri*hts o (rimo*enit)re% &era#les, in .lassi#al le*end, is a (atrilineal
i*)re2 with the do)bt)l e:#e(tion o Ma#aria, he be*ets no da)*hters at all% &is vir*in7
(riestess at Thes(iae, like !(olloAs "ythoness at ?el(hi, theoreti#ally be#ame his bride when
the (ro(heti# (ower over#ame her, and #o)ld thereore be enHoyed by no mortal h)sband%
=% "a)sanias, dissatisied with the myth, writes that &era#les #o)ld neither have dis*ra#ed his
host by this wholesale sed)#tion o the Thes(iads, nor dedi#ated a tem(le to himselJas
tho)*h he were a *odJso early in his #areer2 and #onseE)ently re)ses to identiy the Gin*
o Thes(iae with the Thes(iadsA ather% The killin* o a lion was one o the marria*e tasks
im(osed on the #andidate or kin*shi(%
5% &era#les #)t his #l)b rom the wild7olive, the tree o the irst month, traditionally )sed or
the e:()lsion o evil s(irits%
,r*in)s
+;M, years beore these events, d)rin* "oseidonAs estival at ;n#hest)s, a trilin* in#ident
ve:ed the Thebans, where)(on Menoe#e)sAs #harioteer l)n* a stone whi#h mortally
wo)nded the Minyan Gin* .lymen)s% .lymen)s was #arried ba#k, dyin*, to ;r#homen)s
where, with his last breath, he #har*ed his sons to aven*e him% The eldest o these, ,r*in)s,
whose mother was the 4oeotian (rin#ess 4)deia, or 4)8y*e, m)stered an army, mar#hed
a*ainst the Thebans, and )tterly deeated them% 4y the terms o a treaty then #onirmed with
oaths, the Thebans wo)ld (ay ,r*in)s an ann)al trib)te o one h)ndred #attle or twenty
years in reE)ital or .lymen)sAs death%
b% &era#les, on his ret)rn rom &eli#on, ell in with the Minyan heralds as they went to
#olle#t the Theban trib)te% When he enE)ired their b)siness, they re(lied s#orn)lly that they
had #ome on#e more to remind the Thebans o ,r*in)sAs #lemen#y in not lo((in* o the ears,
nose, and hands o every man in the #ity% I?oes ,r*in)s indeed hanker or s)#h trib)teKA
&era#les asked an*rily% Then he maimed the heralds in the very manner that they had
des#ribed, and sent them ba#k to ;r#homen)s, with their bloody e:tremities tied on #ords
abo)t their ne#ks%
#% When ,r*in)s instr)#ted Gin* .reon at Thebes to s)rrender the a)thor o this o)tra*e, he
was willin* eno)*h to obey, be#a)se the Minyans had disarmed Thebes2 nor #o)ld he ho(e
or the riendly intervention o any nei*hbo)r, in so bad a #a)se% Det &era#les (ers)aded his
yo)th)l #omrades to strike a blow or reedom% Makin* a ro)nd o the #ity tem(les, he tore
down all the shields, helmets, breast(lates, *reaves, swords, and s(ears, whi#h had been
dedi#ated there as s(oils2 and !thene, *reatly admirin* s)#h resol)tion, *irded these on him
and on his riends% Th)s &era#les armed every Theban o i*htin* a*e, ta)*ht them the )se o
their wea(ons, and himsel ass)med #ommand% !n ora#le (romised him vi#tory i the
noblest7horn (erson in Thebes wo)ld take his own lie% !ll eyes t)rned e:(e#tantly towards
!nti(oen)s, a des#endant o the +own Men2 b)t, when he *r)d*ed dyin* or the #ommon
*ood, his da)*hters !ndro#leia and !l#is *ladly did so in his stead, and were aterwards
hono)red as heroines in the Tem(le o 'amo)s !rtemis%
d% "resently, the Minyans mar#hed a*ainst Thebes, b)t &era#les amb)shed them in a narrow
(ass, killin* ,r*in)s and the *reater n)mber o his #a(tains% This vi#tory, won almost sin*le7
handed, he e:(loited by makin* a s)dden des#ent on ;r#homen)s, where he battered down
the *ates, sa#ked the (ala#e, and #om(elled the Minyans to (ay a do)ble trib)te to Thebes%
&era#les had also blo#ked )( the two lar*e t)nnels b)ilt by the Minyans o old, thro)*h
whi#h the river .e(hiss)s em(tied into the sea2 th)s loodin* the ri#h #ornlands o the .o(ai#
"lain% &is obHe#t was to immobili8e the #avalry o the Minyans, their most ormidable arm,
and #arry war into the hills, where he #o)ld meet them on eE)al terms2 b)t, bein* a riend o
all mankind, he later )nblo#ked these t)nnels% The shrine o &era#les the &orsebinder at
Thebes #ommemorates an in#ident in this #am(ai*n1 &era#les #ame by ni*ht into the Minyan
#am( and, ater stealin* the #hariot horses, whi#h he bo)nd to trees a lon* way o, ()t the
slee(in* men to the sword% /nort)nately, !m(hitryon, his oster7ather, was killed in the
i*htin*%
e% ;n his ret)rn to Thebes, &era#les dedi#ated an altar to @e)s the "reserver2 a stone lion to
'amo)s !rtemis2 and two stone ima*es to !thene the Girder7on7o7!rms% +in#e the *ods had
not ()nished &era#les or his ill7treatment o ,r*in)sAs heralds, the Thebans dared to hono)r
him with a stat)e, #alled &era#les the 3ose7do#ker%
% !##ordin* to another a##o)nt, ,r*in)s s)rvived the Minyan deeat and was one o the
!r*ona)ts who bro)*ht ba#k the Golden 'lee#e rom .ol#his% !ter many years s(ent in
re#overin* his ormer (ros(erity, he o)nd himsel ri#h indeed, b)t old and #hildless% !n
ora#le advisin* him to ()t a new shoe on the battered (lo)*h #o)lter, he married a yo)n*
wie, who bore him Tro(honi)s and !*aineries, the renowned ar#hite#ts, and !8e)s too%
1% &era#lesAs treatment o the Minyan heralds is so vileJa heraldAs (erson bein* )niversally
held sa#rosan#t, with whatever insolen#e he mi*ht behaveJthat he m)st here re(resent the
?orian #onE)erors o 1050 4., who disre*arded all #ivili8ed #onventions%
0% !##ordin* to +trabo, #ertain nat)ral limestone #hannels whi#h drained the waters o the
.e(hiss)s were sometimes blo#ked and at other times reed by earthE)akes2 b)t event)ally
the whole .o(ai# "lain be#ame a marsh, des(ite the two h)*e t)nnels whi#h had been #)t by
the 4ron8e !*e MinyansJMinoani8ed "elas*iansJto make the nat)ral #hannels more
ee#tive% +ir 9ames 'ra8er, who visited the "lain abo)t ity years a*o, o)nd that three o the
#hannels had been artii#ially blo#ked with stones in an#ient times, (erha(s by the Thebans
who destroyed ;r#homen)s in <68 4., ()t all the male inhabitants to the sword, and sold the
women into slavery 5"a)sanias6% Re#ently a 4ritish #om(any has drained the marshland and
restored the (lain to a*ri#)lt)re%
<% When the #ity o Thebes was in dan*er, the Theban ;ra#le reE)ently demanded a royal
(harma#os2 b)t only in a )lly (atriar#hal so#iety wo)ld
!ndro#leia and !l#is have lea(ed to death% Their names, like those o ,re#hthe)sAs da)*hters,
said to have been sa#rii#ed in the same way, seem to be titles o ?emeter and "erse(hone,
who demanded male sa#rii#es% $t looks as i two (riestesses (aid the (enalty instead o the
sa#red kin*Jthereater renamed !nti(oen)sJwho re)sed to ollow Menoe#e)sAs e:am(le%
$n this sense the +(hin: lea(ed rom the #li and dashed hersel to (ie#es%
=% I&era#les the &orse7binderA may reer to his #a(t)re o ?iomedesAs wild mares, and all that
this eat im(lied%
5% !thene Girder7on7o7!rms was the earlier !thene, who distrib)ted arms to her #hosen
sons2 in .elti# and German myths, the *ivin* o arms is a matriar#hal (rero*ative, (ro(erly
e:er#ised at a sa#red marria*e%
Madness ; &era#les
&,R!.-,+A deeat o the Minyans made him the most amo)s o heroes2 and his reward
was to marry Gin* .reonAs eldest da)*hter Me*ara, or Me*era, and be a((ointed (rote#tor o
the #ity2 while $(hi#les married the yo)n*est da)*hter% +ome say that &era#les had two sons
by Me*ara2 others that he had three, o)r, or even ei*ht% They are known as the !l#aids%
b% &era#les ne:t vanE)ished "yrae#hm)s, Gin* o the ,)boeans, an ally o the Minyans,
when he mar#hed a*ainst Thebes2 and #reated terror thro)*ho)t Gree#e by orderin* his body
to be torn in two by #olts and e:(osed )nb)ried beside the river &era#lei)s, at a (la#e #alled
the .olts o "yrae#hm)s, whi#h *ives o)t a nei*hin* e#ho whenever horses drink there%
#% &era, ve:ed by &era#lesAs e:#esses, drove him mad% &e irst atta#ked his beloved ne(hew
$ola)s, $(hi#lesAs eldest son, who mana*ed to es#a(e his wild l)n*es2 and then, mistakin* si:
o his own #hildren or enemies, shot them down, and l)n* their bodies into a ire, to*ether
with two other sons o $(hi#les, by whose side they were (erormin* martial e:er#ises% The
Thebans #elebrate an ann)al estival in hono)r o these ei*ht mailJ#lad vi#tims% ;n the irst
day, sa#rii#es are oered and ires b)rn all ni*ht2 on the se#ond, )neral *ames are held and
the winner is #rowned with white myrtle% The #elebrants *rieve in memory o the brilliant
)t)res that had been (lanned or &era#lesNs sons% ;ne was to have r)led !r*os, o##)(yin*
,)rysthe)sAs (ala#e, and &era#les had thrown his lion (elt over his sho)lders2 another was to
have been kin* o Thebes, and in his ri*ht hand &era#les had set the ma#e o deen#e,
?aedal)sAs de#eit)l *it2 a third was (romised ;e#halia, whi#h &era#les aterwards laid
waste2 and the #hoi#est brides had been #hosen or them allJallian#es with !thens, Thebes,
and +(arta% +o dearly did &era#les love these sons that many deny now his *)ilt, (reerrin* to
believe that they were trea#hero)sly slain by his *)ests1 by -y#)s, (erha(s, or as +o#rates has
s)**ested, by !)*eias%
d% When &era#les re#overed his sanity, he sh)t himsel )( in a dark #hamber or some days,
avoidin* all h)man inter#o)rse and then, ater ()rii#ation by Gin* Thes(i)s, went to ?el(hi,
to enE)ire what he sho)ld do% The "ythoness, addressin* him or the irst time as &era#les,
rather than "alaemon, advised him to reside at Tiryns2 to serve ,)rysthe)s or twelve years2
and to (erorm whatever -abo)rs mi*ht be set him, in (ayment or whi#h he wo)ld be
rewarded with immortality% !t this, &era#les elt into dee( des(air, loathin* to serve a man
whom he knew to be ar inerior to himsel, yet araid to o((ose his ather @e)s% Many
riends #ame to sola#e him in his distress2 and, inally, when the (assa*e o time had
somewhat alleviated his (ain, he (la#ed himsel at ,)rysthe)sAs dis(osal%
e% +ome, however, hold that it was not )ntil his ret)rn rom Tartar)s that &era#les went mad
and killed the #hildren2 that he killed Me*ara too2 and that the "ythoness then told him1 IDo)
shall no lon*er be #alled "alaemonP "hoeb)s !(ollo names yo) &era#les, sin#e rom &era
yo) shall have )ndyin* ame amon* menPAJas tho)*h he had done &era a *reat servi#e%
;thers say that &era#les was ,)rysthe)sAs lover, and (erormed the Twelve -abo)rs or his
*ratii#ation2 others a*ain, that he )ndertook to (erorm them only i ,)rysthe)s wo)ld ann)l
the senten#e o banishment (assed on !m(hitryon%
% $t has been said that when &era#les set orth on his -abo)rs, &ermes *ave him a sword,
!(ollo a bow and smooth7shated arrows, leathered with ea*le eathers2 &e(haest)s a *olden
breast7(late2 and !thene a robe% ;r that !thene *ave him the breast7(late, b)t &e(haest)s
bron8e *reaves and an adamantine helmet% !thene and &e(haest)s, it is added, rivalised with
one another thro)*ho)t in beneitin* &era#les1 she *ave him enHoyment o (ea#e)l
(leas)res2 he, (rote#tion rom the dan*ers o war% The *it o "oseidon was a team o horses2
that o @e)s, a ma*nii#ent and )nbreakable shield% Many were the stories worked on this
shield in enamel, ivory, ele#tr)m, *old, and la(is la8)li2 moreover, twelve ser(entsA heads
#arved abo)t the boss dashed their Haws whenever &era#les went into battle, and terriied his
o((onents% The tr)th, however, is that &era#les s#orned armo)r and, ater his irst -abo)r,
seldom #arried even a s(ear, relyin* rather on his #l)b, bow and arrows% &e had little )se or
the bron8e7ti((ed #l)b whi#h &e(haest)s *ave him, (reerrin* to #)t his own rom wild7
olive1 irst on &eli#on, ne:t at 3emea% This se#ond #l)b he later re(la#ed with a third, also
#)t rom wild7olive, by the shores o the +aroni# +ea1 the #l)b whi#h, on his visit to Troe8en,
he leaned a*ainst the ima*e o &ermes% $t str)#k root, s(ro)ted, and is now a stately tree%
*% &is ne(hew $ola)s shared in the -abo)rs as his #harioteer, or shield7bearer%
1% Madness was the .lassi#al Greek e:#)se or #hild7sa#rii#e2 the tr)th bein* that the sa#red
kin*As boy7s)rro*ates were b)rned alive ater he had lain hidden or twenty o)r ho)rs in a
tomb, shammin* death, and then rea((eared to #laim the throne on#e more%
0% The death o "yrae#hm)s, torn in two by wild horses, is a amiliar one% &era#lesAs title
"alaemon identiies him with Meli#ertes o .orinth, who was deiied )nder that name2
Meli#ertes is Melkarth, the -ord o the .ity, the Tyrian &era#les% The ei*ht !l#aids seem to
have been members o a sword7dan#in* team whose (erorman#e, like that o the ei*ht
morris7dan#ers in the ,n*lish .hristmas "lay, ended in the vi#timAs res)rre#tion% Myrtle was
the tree o the thirteenth twenty7ei*ht day month, and symboli8ed de(art)re2 wild7olive, the
tree o the irst month, symboli8ed in#e(tion% ,le#tryonAs ei*ht sons may have ormed a
similar team at My#enae%
<% &era#lesAs homose:)al relations with &ylas, $ola)s, and ,)rysthe)s, and the a##o)nts o
his l)stro)s armo)r, are meant to H)stiy Theban military #)stom% $n the ori*inal myth, he will
have loved ,)rysthe)sAs da)*hter, not ,)rysthe)s himsel% &is twelve -abo)rs, +ervi)s
(oints o)t, were event)ally eE)ated with the Twelve +i*ns o the @odia#2 altho)*h &omer
and &esiod do not say that there were twelve o them, nor does the seE)en#e o -abo)rs
#orres(ond with that o the +i*ns% -ike the .elti# God o the Dear, #elebrated in the $rish
+on* o !mer*in, the "elas*ian &era#les seems to have made a (ro*ress thro)*h a thirteen7
month year% $n $rish and Welsh myth the s)##essive emblems were1 sta*, or b)ll2 lood2 wind2
dew7dro(2 hawk2 lower2 bonire2 s(ear2 salmon2 hill2 boar2 breaker2 sea7ser(ent% 4)t
Gil*ameshAs advent)res in the 4abylonian Gil*amesh e(i# are related to the si*ns o the
@odia#, and the Tyrian &era#les had m)#h in #ommon with him% ?es(ite &omer and &esiod,
the s#enes (i#t)red on an#ient shields seem not to have been da88lin* works o art, b)t ro)*h
(i#to*rams, indi#ative o the ownerAs ori*in and rank, s#rat#hed on the s(iral band whi#h
(lated ea#h shield%
=% The o##asion on whi#h the twelve ;lym(ians hea(ed *its on &era#les was do)btless his
sa#red marria*e, and they will have all been (resented to him by his (riestess7brideJ!thene,
!)*e, $ole, or whatever her name ha((ened to beJeither dire#tly, or by the hands o
attendants% &ere &era#les was bein* armed or his -abo)rs, that is to say, or his rit)al
#ombats and ma*i#al eats%
The 'irst -abo)r1 The 3emean -ion
T&, 'irst -abo)r whi#h ,)rysthe)s im(osed on &era#les, when he #ame to reside at Tiryns,
was to kill and lay the 3emean, or .leonaean lion, an enormo)s beast with a (elt (roo
a*ainst iron, bron8e, and stone%
b% !ltho)*h some #all this lion the os(rin* o Ty(hon, or o the .himaera and the ?o*
;rthr)s, others say that +elene bore it with a ear)l sh)dder and dro((ed it to earth on Mo)nt
Tret)s near 3emea, beside a two7mo)thed #ave2 and that, in ()nishment or an )n)lilled
sa#rii#e, she set it to (rey )(on her own (eo(le, the #hie s)erers bein* the 4ambinaea)s%
#% +till others say that, at &eraAs desire, +elene #reated the lion rom sea oam en#losed in a
lar*e ark2 and that $ris, bindin* it with her *irdle, #arried it to the 3emean mo)ntains% These
were named ater a da)*hter o !so()s, or o @e)s and +elene2 and the lionAs #ave is still
shown abo)t two miles rom the #ity o 3emea%
d% !rrivin* at .leonae, between .orinth and !r*os, &era#les lod*ed in the ho)se o a dayJ
labo)rer, or she(herd, named Molor#h)s, whose son the lion had killed% When Molor#h)s
was abo)t to oer a ram in (ro(itiation o &era, &era#les restrained him% IWait thirty days,A
he said% I$ $ ret)rn saely, sa#rii#e to +avio)r @e)s2 i $ do not, sa#rii#e to me as a hero%
e% &era#les rea#hed 3emea at midday, b)t sin#e the lion had de(o()lated the nei*hbo)rhood,
he o)nd no one to dire#t him2 nor were any tra#ks to be seen% &avin* irst sear#hed Mo)nt
!(esasJso #alled ater !(esant)s, a she(herd whom the lion had killed2 tho)*h some say
that !(esant)s was a son o !#risi)s, who died o a snake7bite in his heelJ&era#les visited
Mo)nt Tret)s, and (resently des#ried the lion #omin* ba#k to its lair, bes(attered with blood
rom the dayAs sla)*hter% &e shot a li*ht o arrows at it, b)t they rebo)nded harmlessly rom
the thi#k (elt, and the lion li#ked its #ho(s, yawnin*% 3e:t, he )sed his sword, whi#h bent as
tho)*h made o lead2 inally he heaved )( his #l)b and dealt the lion s)#h a blow on the
m)88le that it entered its do)ble7mo)thed #ave, shakin* its headJnot or (ain, however, b)t
be#a)se o the sin*in* in its ears% &era#les, with a r)e)l *lan#e at his shattered #l)b, then
netted one entran#e o the #ave, and went in by the other% !ware now that the monster was
(roo a*ainst all wea(ons, he be*an to wrestle with it% The lion bit o one o his in*ers2 b)t,
holdin* its head in #han#ery, &era#les sE)ee8ed hard )ntil it #hoked to death%
% .arryin* the #ar#ass on his sho)lders, &era#les ret)rned to .leonae, where he arrived on
the thirtieth day, and o)nd Molor#h)s on the (oint o oerin* him a heroi# sa#rii#e2 instead,
they sa#rii#ed to*ether to +avio)r @e)s% When this had been done, &era#les #)t himsel a
new #l)b and, ater makin* several alterations in the 3emean Games hitherto #elebrated in
hono)r o ;(heltes, and rededi#atin* them to @e)s, took the lionAs #ar#ass to My#enae%
,)rysthe)s, ama8ed and terriied, orbade him ever a*ain to enter the #ity2 in )t)re he was to
dis(lay the r)its o his -abo)rs o)tside the *ates%
*% 'or a while, &era#les was at a loss how to lay the lion, )ntil by divine ins(iration, he
tho)*ht o em(loyin* its own ra8or7shar( #laws, and soon #o)ld wear the inv)lnerable (elt as
armo)r, arid the head as a helmet% Meanwhile, ,)rysthe)s ordered his smiths to or*e him a
bra8en )rn, whi#h he b)ried beneath the earth% &en#eorth, whenever the a((roa#h o
&era#les was si*nalled, he took re)*e in it and sent his orders by a heraldJa son o "elo(s,
named .o(re)s, whom he had ()riied or m)rder%
h% The hono)rs re#eived by &era#les rom the #ity o 3emea in re#o*nition o this eat, he
later #eded to his devoted allies o .leonae, who o)*ht at his side in the ,lean War, and ell
to the n)mber o three h)ndred and si:ty% !s or Molor#h)s, he o)nded the near7by #ity o
Molor#hia, and (lanted the 3emean Wood, where the 3emean Games are now held%
i% &era#les was not the only man to stran*le a lion in those days% The same eat was
a##om(lished by his riend "hyli)s as the irst o three love7tasks im(osed on him by .yen)s,
a son o !(ollo by &yria% "hyli)s had also to #at#h alive several monstro)s man7eatin* birds,
not )nlike v)lt)res, and ater wrestlin* with a ier#e b)ll, lead it to the altar o @e)s% When all
three tasks had been a##om(lished, .yen)s )rther demanded an o: whi#h "hyli)s had won
as a (ri8e at #ertain )neral *ames% &era#les advised "hyli)s to re)se this and (ress or a
settlement o his #laim with .yen)s who, in des(eration, lea(ed into a lake2 thereater #alled
the .yenean lake% &is mother &yria ollowed him to his death, and both were transormed
into swans%
1% The sa#red kin*As rit)al #ombat with wild beasts ormed a re*)lar (art o the #oronation
rit)al in Gree#e, !sia Minor, 4abylonia, +yria2 ea#h beast re(resentin* one season o the
year% Their n)mber varied with the #alendar1 in a three7seasoned year, they #onsisted, like
.himaera, o lion, *oat, and ser(entJhen#e the statement the lion o .ithaeron was the
.himaeraAs #hild by ;rthr)s the ?o*2 or o b)ll, lion, and ser(ent, whi#h were ?ionys)sAs
seasonal #han*es, a##ordin* to ,)ri(idesAs 4a##hae2 or o lion, horse and do*, like &e#ateAs
heads% 4)t in a o)r7seasoned year, they have been b)ll, ram, lion, and ser(ent, like the heads
o "hanes 5see des#ribed in ;r(hi# 'ra*ment62 or b)ll, lion, ea*le, and sera(h, as in ,8ekielAs
vision 5,8ekieli62 or, more sim(ly, b)ll, lion, s#or(ion, water7snake, the o)r +i*ns o the
@odia# whi#h on#e ell at the eE)ino:es and solsti#es% These last o)r a((ear, rom the 'irst,
'o)rth, +eventh, ,leventh -abo)rs, to be the beasts whi#h &era#les o)*ht2 tho)*h boar has
dis(la#ed the s#or(ionJthe s#or(ion bein* retained only is story o ;rion, another &era#les,
who was oered a (rin#ess in marria*e i he killed #ertain wild beasts% The same sit)ation
re#)rs in the story o .yen)s and "hyli)sJwith its )n)s)al s)bstit)tion o v)lt)res or the
ser(entJtho)*h ;vid and !ntonin)s -iberalis have *iven homose:)al twist% Theoreti#ally,
by tamin* these beasts, the kin* rained dominion over the seasons o the year r)led by them%
!t Thebes, &era#lesAs native #ity, the +(hin:7*oddess r)led a two7seasoned year, she was a
win*ed lioness with a ser(entAs tail2 hen#e he wore a lion (elt and mask, rather than a b)llJ
mask like Minos% The lion was shown with the other #alendar beasts in the new moon ark, an
i#on whi#h, it seems, *ave rise both to the story o 3oah and the 'lood, and to that o
?ionys)s and the (irates2 +elene 5Ithe MoonA6 is said to have #reated it%
0% "hoti)s denies that &era#les lost his in*er in i*htin* the lion2 "tolemy &e(haestionos
says 53ova &istoria6, that he was (oisoned% 4)t it is more (robable that he bit it o to (la#ate
the *hosts o his #hildrenJas ;restes did when ()rs)ed by his motherAs ,rinnyes% !nother
two7mo)thed #ave is mentioned in#identally in ;dyssey, as one near whi#h ;dysse)s irst
sle(t on his ret)rn to $tha#a at the head o the 4ay o "hor#ys% $ts northern entran#e was or
men, the so)thern or *ods2 and it #ontained two7handled Hars )sed as hives, stone basins, and
(lenti)l s(rin*7water% There were also stone loomsJstala#titesKJon whi#h the 3aiads wove
()r(le *arments% $ "or(hyry 5;n the .are o the 3ym(hs6 was ri*ht in makin* this a #ave
where rites o death and divine rebirth were (ra#tised, the basins served or blood and the
s(rin*s or l)stration% The Hars wo)ld then be b)rial )rns over whi#h so)ls hovered like bees,
and the 3aiads 5da)*hters o the ?eath7*od "hor#ys, or ;r#)s6 wo)ld be 'ates weavin*
*arments with royal #lan7marks or the reborn to wear% The 3emean -ionAs #ave is two7
mo)thed be#a)se this 'irst -abo)r initiated &era#lesAs (assa*e towards his rit)al death, ater
whi#h he be#omes immortal and marries the *oddess &ebe%
<% The death o three h)ndred and si:ty .leonaeans s)**ests a #alendar mysteryJthis bein*
the n)mber o days in the sa#red ,*y(tian year, e:#l)sive o the ive set a(art in hono)r o
;siris, $sis, 3e(hthys, +et, and &or)s% &era#lesAs modii#ations o the 3emean Games may
have involved a #han*e in the lo#al #alendar%
=% $ the Gin* o My#enae, like ;rionAs enemy ;eno(ion o &yria, took re)*e in a bron8e
)rn )nder*ro)nd and emer*ed only ater the dan*er had (assed,
he will have made an ann)al (reten#e at dyin*, while his s)rro*ate rei*ned or a day, and then
rea((eared% &era#lesAs #hildren were amon* s)#h s)rro*ates%
5% !(esant)s was one o several early heroes bitten in the heel by a vi(er% &e may be
identiied with ;(heltes o 3emea, tho)*h what (art o ;(heltesAs body the ser(ent bit is not
related%
The +e#ond -abo)r1 The -ernaean &ydra
T&, +e#ond -abo)r ordered by ,)rysthe)s was the destr)#tion o the -ernaean &ydra, a
monster born to Ty(hon and ,#hidne, and reared by &era as a mena#e to &era#les%
b% -erna stands beside the sea, some ive miles rom the #ity o !r*os% To the west rises
Mo)nt "ontin)s, with its sa#red *rove o (lane7trees stret#hin* down to the sea% $n this *rove,
bo)nded on one lank by the river "ontin)sJbeside whi#h ?ana)s dedi#ated a shrine to
!theneJand on the other by the river !mymone, stand ima*es o ?emeter, ?ionys)s the
+avio)r, and "rosymne, one o &eraAs n)rses2 and, on the shore, a stone ima*e o !(hrodite,
dedi#ated by the ?anaids% ,very year, se#ret no#t)rnal rites are held at -erna in hono)r o
?ionys)s, who des#ended to Tartar)s at this (oint when he went to et#h +emele2 and, not ar
o, the Mysteries o -ernaean ?emeter are #elebrated in an en#los)re whi#h marks the (la#e
where &ades and "erse(hone also des#ended to Tartar)s%
#% This ertile and holy distri#t was on#e terrori8ed by the &ydra, whi#h had its lair beneath a
(lane7tree at the seven7old so)r#e o the river !mymone and ha)nted the )nathomable
-ernaean swam( near byJthe ,m(eror 3ero re#ently tried to so)nd it, and ailedJthe *rave
o many an in#a)tio)s traveller% The &ydra had a (rodi*io)s do*7like body, and ei*ht or nine
snaky heads, one o them immortal2 b)t some #redit it with ity, or one h)ndred, or even ten
tho)sand heads% !t all events, it was so venomo)s that its very breath, or the smell o its
tra#ks, #o)ld destroy lie%
d% !thene had (ondered how &era#les mi*ht best kill this monster and, when he rea#hed
-erna, driven there in his #hariot by $ola)s, she (ointed o)t the &ydraAs lair to him% ;n her
advi#e, he or#ed the &ydra to emer*e by (eltin* it with b)rnin* arrows, and then held his
breath while he #a)*ht hold o it% 4)t the monster twined aro)nd his eet, in an endeavo)r to
tri( him )(% $n vain did he batter at its heads with his #l)b1 no sooner was one #r)shed, than
two or three more *rew in its (la#e%
e% !n enormo)s #rab s#)ttered rom the swam( to aid the &ydra, and ni((ed &era#lesAs oot2
)rio)sly #r)shin* its shell, he sho)ted to $ola)s or assistan#e% $ola)s set one #orner o the
*rove ali*ht and then, to (revent the &ydra rom s(ro)tin* new heads, seared their roots with
bla8in* bran#hes2 th)s the low o blood was #he#ked%
% 3ow )sin* a sword, or a *olden al#hion, &era#les severed the immortal head, (art o
whi#h was o *old, and b)ried it, still hissin*, )nder a heavy ro#k beside the road to ,lae)s%
The #ar#ass he disembowelled, and di((ed his arrows in the *all% &en#eorth, the least wo)nd
rom one o them was invariably atal%
*% $n reward or the #rabAs servi#es, &era set its ima*e amon* the twelve si*ns o the @odia#2
and ,)rysthe)s wo)ld not #o)nt this -abo)r as d)ly a##om(lished, be#a)se $ola)s had
s)((lied the irebrands%
1% The -ernaean &ydra ()88led the .lassi#al mytho*ra(hers% "a)sanias held that it mi*ht
well have been a h)*e and venomo)s watersnake2 b)t that I"isander had irst #alled it many7
headed, wishin* to make it seem more terriyin* and, at the same time, add to the di*nity o
his own versesA% !##ordin* to the e)hemeristi# +ervi)s 5;n Cir*ilAs !eneid6, the &ydra was a
so)r#e o )nder*ro)nd rivers whi#h )sed to b)rst o)t and in)ndate the land1 i one o its
n)mero)s #hannels were blo#ked, the water broke thro)*h elsewhere, thereore &era#les irst
)sed ire to dry the *ro)nd, and then dosed the #hannels%
0% $n the earliest version o this myth, &era#les, as the as(irant or kin*shi(, is likely to have
wrestled in t)rn with a b)ll, a lion, a boar, or s#or(ion, and then dived into a lake to win *old
rom the water7monster livin* in its de(th% 9ason was set m)#h the same tasks, and the hel()l
(art (layed by Medea is here *iven to !theneJas &era#lesAs bride7to7be% Tho)*h the &ydra
re#alls the sea7ser(ent whi#h "erse)s killed with a *olden al#hion, or new7moon si#kle, it
was a resh7water monster, like most o those mentioned by $rish and Welsh mytho*ra(hersJ
(iastres or avan#sJand like the one re#orded in the &omeri# e(ithet or -a#edaemon,
namely #etoessa, Io the water7monsterA, do)btless ha)ntin* some dee( (ool o the ,)rotas%
The do*7like body is a reminis#en#e o the sea7monster +#ylla, and o a seven7headed
monster 5on a late 4abylonian #ylinder7seal6 whi#h the hero Gil*amesh kills% !strolo*ers
have bro)*ht the #rab into the story so as to make &era#lesAs Twelve -abo)rs #orres(ond
with the +i*ns o the @odia#2 b)t it sho)ld (ro(erly have i*)red in his str)**le with the
3emean lion, the ne:t +i*n%
<% This rit)al myth has be#ome atta#hed to that o the ?anaids, who were the an#ient water7
(riestesses o -erna% The n)mber o heads *iven the &ydra varies intelli*ibly1 as a #olle*e o
(riestesses it had ity heads2 as the sa#red #)ttle7ish, a dis*)ise ado(ted by ThetisJwho
also had a #olle*e o ity (riestessesJit had ei*ht shaky arms endin* in heads, and one head
on its tr)nk, to*ether makin* nine in hono)r o the Moon7*oddess2 one h)ndred heads
s)**est the #ent)riae, or war bands, whi#h raided !r*os rom -erna2 and ten tho)sand is a
ty(i#al embellishment by ,)ri(ides, who had little #ons#ien#e as a mytho*ra(her% ;n Greek
#oins, the &ydra )s)ally has seven heads1 do)btless a reeren#e to the seven o)tlets o the
river !mymone%
=% &era#lesAs destr)#tion o the &ydra seems to re#ord a histori#al event1 the attem(ted
s)((ression o the -ernaean ertility rites% 4)t new (riestesses always a((eared in the (lane7
tree *roveJthe (lane7tree s)**ests .retan reli*io)s inl)en#e, as does the #)ttle7ishJ)ntil
the !#haeans, or (erha(s the ?orians, b)rned it down% ;ri*inally, it is #lear, ?emeter ormed
a triad with &e#ate as .rone, here #alled "rosymne, Iaddressed with hymnsA, and "erse(hone
the Maiden2 b)t ?ionys)sAs +emele o)sted "erse(hone% There was a se(arate #)lt o
!(hrodite7Thetis by the seaside%
The Third -abo)r1 The .eryneian &ind
&,R!.-,+A Third -abo)r was to #a(t)re the .eryneian &ind, and brin* her alive rom
;enoe to My#enae% This swit, da((led #reat)re had bron8e hooves and *olden horns like a
sta*, so that some #all her a sta*% +he was sa#red to !rtemis who, when only a #hild, saw ive
hinds, lar*er than b)lls, *ra8in* on the banks o the dark7(ebbled Thessalian river !na)r)s at
the oot o the "arrhasian Mo)ntains2 the s)n twinkled on their horns% R)nnin* in ()rs)it, she
#a)*ht o)r o them, one ater the other, with her own hands, and harnessed them to her
#hariot2 the ith led a#ross the river .eladon to the .eryneian &ill, as &era intended, already
havin* &era#lesAs -abo)rs in mind% !##ordin* to another a##o)nt, this hind was a masterless
monster whi#h )sed to rava*e the ields, and whi#h &era#les, ater a severe str)**le,
sa#rii#ed to !rtemis on the s)mmit o Mo)nt !rtemisi)m%
b% -oth either to kill or wo)nd the hind, &era#les (erormed this -abo)r witho)t e:ertin* the
least or#e% &e h)nted her tirelessly or one whole year, his
#hase takin* him as ar as $stria and the -and o the &y(erboreans% When, e:ha)sted at last,
she took re)*e on Mo)nt !rtemisi)m, and then#e des#ended to the river -adon, &era#les
(inned her orele*s to*ether with an arrow, whi#h (assed between bone and sinew, drawin*
no blood% &e then #a)*ht her, laid her a#ross his sho)lders, and hastened thro)*h !r#adia to
My#enae% +ome, however, say that he )sed nets2 or ollowed the hindAs tra#k )ntil he o)nd
her aslee( )nderneath a tree% !rtemis #ame to meet &era#les, reb)kin* him or havin* ill7
)sed her holy beast, b)t he (leaded ne#essity, and ()t the blame on ,)rysthe)s% &er an*er
was th)s a((eased, and she let him #arry the hind alive to My#enae%
#% !nother version o the story is that this hind was one whi#h Tay*ete the "leiad, !l#yoneAs
sister, had dedi#ated to !rtemis in *ratit)de or bein* tem(orarily dis*)ised as a hind and
th)s enabled to el)de @e)sAs embra#es% 3evertheless, @e)s #o)ld not lon* be de#eived, and
be*ot -a#edaemon on her2 where)(on she han*ed hersel on the s)mmit o Mo)nt
!my#lae)s, thereater #alled Mo)nt Tay*et)s% Tay*eteAs nie#e and namesake married
-a#edaemon and bore him &imer)s, whom !(hrodite #a)sed to delower his sister .leodi#e
)nwittin*ly, on a ni*ht o (romis#)o)s revel% 3e:t day, learnin* what he had done, &imer)s
lea(ed into the river, now sometimes known by his name, and was seen no more2 b)t otener
it is #alled the ,)rotas, be#a)se -a#edaemonAs (rede#essor, Gin* ,)rotas, havin* s)ered an
i*nominio)s deeat at the hands o the !theniansJhe wo)ld not wait or the )ll moon beore
*ivin* battleJdrowned himsel in its waters% ,)rotas, son o Myles, the inventor o water
mills, was !my#lasAs ather, and *randather both o &ya#inth)s and o ,)rydi#e, who
married !#risi)s%
1% This Third -abo)r is o a dierent order rom most o the others% &istori#ally it may re#ord
the !#haean #a(t)re o a shrine where !rtemis was worshi((ed as ,la(hios 5Ihind7likeA62 her
o)r #hariot7sta*s re(resent the years o the ;lym(iad, and at the #lose o ea#h a vi#tim
dressed in deer7skins was h)nted to death% ,la(hios, at any rate, is said to have been
!rtemisAs n)rse, whi#h means !rtemis hersel 5"a)sanias6% Mythi#ally, however, the -abo)r
seems to #on#ern &era#les the ?a#tyl, identiied by the Ga)ls with ;*mi)s 5-)#ian1
&era#les6, who invented the ;*ham al(habet and all bardi# lore% The #hase o the hind, or
roe, symboli8ed the ()rs)it o Wisdom, and she is o)nd, a##ordin* to the $rish mysti#al
tradition, harbo)red )nder a wild7a((le tree 5White Goddess6% This wo)ld e:(lain why
&era#les is not said by anyone, e:#e(t the ill7inormed ,)ri(ides, to have done the roe any
harm1 instead he ()rs)ed her indeati*ably witho)t #ease, or an entire year, to the -and o
the &y(erboreans, e:(erts in these very mysteries% !##ordin* to "oll):, &era#les was #alled
Melon 5Io a((lesA6, be#a)se a((les were oered to him, (res)mably in re#o*nition o his
wisdom2 b)t s)#h wisdom #ame only with death, and his ()rs)it o the hind, like his visit to
the Garden o the &es(erides, was really a Ho)rney to the .elti# "aradise% @e)s had similarly
#hased Tay*ete, who was a da)*hter o !tlas and thereore a non7&elleni# #hara#ter%
0% $n ,)ro(e, only reindeer does have horns, and re(orts o these may have #ome down rom
the 4alti# by the !mber Ro)te2 reindeer, )nlike other deer, #an o #o)rse be harnessed%
<% The drownin* o Tay*eteAs son &imer)s, and o her ather7in7law ,)rotas, s)**ests that
early kin*s o +(arta were habit)ally sa#rii#ed to the ,)rotas water7monster, by bein*
thrown, wra((ed in bran#hes, into a dee( (ool% +o, it seems, was Tantal)s, another son o
Tay*ete 5&y*in)s1 'ab)la6% -a#edaemon means Ilake demonA, and -a#onia is the domain o
-a#one 5Ilady o the lakeA6, whose ima*e was res#)ed rom the ?orian invaders by one
"re)*enes and bro)*ht to "atrae in !#haea 5"a)sanias6% The story behind Tay*eteAs
metamor(hosis seems to be that the !#haean #onE)erors o +(arta #alled themselves @e)s,
and their wives &era% When &era #ame to be worshi((ed as a #ow, the -ele*ian #)lt o
!rtemis the &ind was s)((ressed% ! rit)al marria*e between @e)s as b)ll and &era as #ow
may have been #elebrated, as in .rete%
=% 3i*hts o (romis#)o)s revel were held in vario)s Greek states, and d)rin* the !lban
&oliday at Rome1 a #on#ession to ar#hai# se:)al #)stoms whi#h (re#eded mono*amy%
The 'o)rth -abo)r1 The ,rymanthian 4oar
T&, 'o)rth -abo)r im(osed on &era#les was to #a(t)re alive the ,rymanthian 4oar1 a
ier#e, enormo)s beast whi#h ha)nted the #y(ress7#overed slo(es o Mo)nt ,rymanth)s, and
the thi#kets o !r#adian Mo)nt -am(eia2 and rava*ed the #o)ntry aro)nd "so(his% Mo)nt
,rymanth)s takes its name rom a son o !(ollo, whom !(hrodite blinded be#a)se he had
seen her bathin*2 !(ollo in reven*e t)rned himsel into a boar and killed her lover !donis%
Det the mo)ntain is sa#red to !rtemis%
b% &era#les, (assin* thro)*h "holoB on his way to ,rymanth)s where he killed one +a)r)s, a
#r)el banditJwas entertained by the .enta)r "hol)s, whom one o the ash7nym(hs bore to
+ilen)s% "hol)s set roast meat beore &era#les, b)t himsel (reerred the raw, and dared not
o(en the .enta)rsA #omm)nal wine Har )ntil &era#les reminded him that it was the very Har
whi#h, o)r *enerations earlier, ?ionys)s had let in the #ave a*ainst this very o##asion% The
.enta)rs *rew an*ry when they smelt the stron* wine% !rmed with *reat ro#ks, )(7rooted ir7
trees, irebrands, and b)t#hersA a:es, they made a r)sh at "hol)sAs #ave% While "hol)s bid in
terror, &era#les boldly re(elled !n#i)s and !*ri)s, his irst two assailants, with a volley o
irebrands% 3e(hele, the .enta)rsA #lo)dy *randmother, then (o)red down a smart shower o
rain, whi#h loosened &era#lesAs bow7strin* and made the *ro)nd sli((ery% &owever, he
showed himsel worthy o his ormer a#hievements, and killed several .enta)rs, amon* them
;re)s and &ylae)s% The rest led as ar as Malea, where they took re)*e with .heiron, their
kin*, who had been driven rom Mo)nt "elion by the -a(iths%
#% ! (artin* arrow rom &era#lesAs bow (assed thro)*h ,lat)sAs arm, and st)#k E)iverin* in
.heironAs knee% ?istressed at the a##ident to his old riend, &era#les drew o)t the arrow and
tho)*h .heiron himsel s)((lied the r)ineraries or dressin* the wo)nd, they were o no avail
and he retired howlin* in a*ony to his #ave2 yet #o)ld not die, be#a)se he was immortal%
"romethe)s later oered to a##e(t immortality in his stead, and @e)s a((roved this
arran*ement2 b)t some say that .heiron #hose death not so m)#h be#a)se o the (ain he
s)ered as be#a)se he had *rown weary o his lon* lie%
d% The .enta)rs now led in vario)s dire#tions1 some with ,)rythis to "holoB2 some with
3ess)s to the river ,ven)s2 some to Mo)nt Malea2 others to +i#ily, where the +irens
destroyed them% "oseidon re#eived the remainder at ,le)sis, and hid them in a mo)ntain%
!mon* those whom &era#les later killed was &omad)s the !r#adian, who tried to ra(e
,)rysthe)sAs sister !l#yone2 by th)s nobly aven*in* ins)lt oered to an enemy, &era#les won
*reat ame%
e% "hol)s, in the meantime, while b)ryin* his dead kinsmen, drew o)t one o &era#lesAs
arrows and e:amined it% I&ow #an so rob)st #reat)re have s)##)mbed to a mere s#rat#hKA he
wondered% 4)t the arrow sli((ed rom his in*ers and, (ier#in* his oot, killed him the and
then% &era#les broke o the ()rs)it and ret)rned to "holoB, where he b)ried "hol)s with
)n)s)al hono)rs at the oot o the mo)ntain whi#h has taken his name% $t was on this o##asion
that the river !ni*r)s a#E)ired the o)l smell whi#h now #lin*s to it rom its very so)r#e on
Mo)nt -a(ith)s1 be#a)se a .enta)r named "ylenor, whom &era#les had win*ed with an
arrow, led and washed his wo)nd there% +ome, however, hold that Melam()s had #a)sed the
sten#h some year beore, by throwin* into the !ni*r)s the o)l obHe#ts )sed or ()riyin* the
da)*hters o "roet)s%
% &era#les now set o to #hase the boar by the river ,rymanth)s% To take so sava*e a beast
alive was a task o )n)s)al dii#)lty2 b)t he dislod*ed it rom
a thi#ket with lo)d halloos, drove it into a dee( snow7drit, and s(ran* )(on its ba#k% &e
bo)nd it with #hains, and #arried alive on his sho)lders to My#enae2 b)t when he heard that
the !r*ona)ts were *atherin* or their voya*e to .ol#his, dro((ed the boar o)tside the
market (la#e and, instead o waitin* or )rther orders rom ,)rysthe)s, who was hidin* in
his bron8e Har, went o with &ylas to Hoin the e:(edition% $t is not known who des(at#hed the
#a(t)red boar, b)t its t)sks are (reserved in the tem(le o !(ollo at .)mae%
*% !##ordin* to some a##o)nts, .heiron was a##identally wo)nded by an arrow that (ier#ed
his let oot, while he and "hol)s and the yo)n* !#hilles were entertainin* &era#les on
Mo)nt "elion% !ter nine days, @e)s set .heironAs ima*e amon* the stars as the .enta)r% 4)t
others hold that the .enta)r is "hol)s, who was hono)red by @e)s in this way be#a)se he
e:#elled all men in the art o (ro(hesyin* rom entrails2 The 4owman in the @odia# is
likewise a .enta)r1 one .rot)s who lived on Mo)nt &eli#on, *reatly beloved by his oster7
sisters, the M)ses%
1% 4oars were sa#red to the Moon be#a)se o their #res#entJsha(ed t)sks, and it seems that
the tanist who killed and emas#)lated his twin, the sa#red kin*, wore boar7dis*)ise when he
did so% The snow drit in whi#h the ,rymanthian 4oar was over#ome indi#ates that this
-abo)r took (la#e at midwinter% &ere &era#les is the .hild &or)s and aven*es the death o
his ather ;siris on his )n#le +et who #omes dis*)ised as a boar2 the ,*y(tian taboo on
boarAs lesh was lited only at midwinter% The boarAs head D)letide #eremony has its ori*in in
this same tri)m(h o the new sa#red kin* over his rival% !donis is m)rdered to aven*e the
death o ,rymanth)s, the (revio)s yearAs tanist, whose name, Idivinin* by lotsA, s)**ests that
he was #hosen by lot to kill the sa#red kin*% Mo)nt ,rymanth)s bein* sa#red to !rtemis, not
!(hrodite, !rtemis m)st have been the *oddess who took her bath, and the sa#red kin*, not
his tanist, m)st have seen her doin* so%
0% $t is (robable that &era#lesAs battle with the .enta)rs, like the similar battle at "eiritho)sAs
weddin*, ori*inally re(resented the rit)al #ombat between a newly7installed kin* and
o((onents in beast dis*)ise% &is traditional wea(ons were arrows, one o whi#h, to establish
his soverei*nty, he shot to ea#h o the o)r E)arters o the sky, and a ith strai*ht )( into the
air% 'rontier wars between the &ellenes and the (re7&elleni# mo)ntaineers o 3orthern
Gree#e are also (erha(s re#orded this myth%
<% "oisoned arrows dro((ed )(on, or shot into, a knee or oot, #a)sed the death not only o
"hol)s and .heiron, b)t also o !#hilles, .heironAs ()(il1 all o them Ma*nesian sa#red
kin*s, whose so)ls the +irens nat)rally re#eived% The (resen#e o .enta)rs at Malea derives
rom a lo#al tradition that "hol)sAs ather +ilen)s was born there 5"a)sanias62 .enta)rs were
oten re(resented as hal *oat, rather than hal horse% Their (resen#e at ,le)sis, where
"oseidon hid them in a mo)ntain, s)**ests that when the initiate into the Mysteries #elebrated
a sa#red marria*e with the *oddess, hobby7horse dan#ers took (art in the (ro#eedin*s%
The 'ith -abo)r1 The +tables ; !)*eias
&,R!.-,+A+ 'ith -abo)r was to #leanse Gin* !)*eiasAs ilthy #attle yard in one day%
,)rysthe)s *lee)lly (i#t)red &era#lesAs dis*)st havin* to load the d)n* into baskets and
#arry these away on his sho)lders% !)*eias, Gin* o ,lis, was the son o &eli)s, or ,lei)s, by
3a)(iadame, a da)*hter o !m(hidamas2 or, some say, by $(hinoB% ;thers #all him the son o
"oseidon% $n lo#ks and herds he was the wealthiest man on earth1 or, by a divine
dis(ensation, his were imm)ne a*ainst disease and inimitably ertile, nor did they ever
mis#arry% !ltho)*h in almost every #ase they (rod)#ed emale os(rin*, he nevertheless had
three h)ndred white7le**ed bla#k b)lls and two h)ndred red st)dJb)lls2 besides twelve
o)tstandin* silvery7white b)lls1 sa#red to his ather &eli)s% These twelve h)ndreds deended
his herds a*ainst mara)din* wild beasts rom the wooded hills%
b% 3ow, the d)n* in !)*eiasAs #attle yard and shee(7olds had not been #leared away or
many years, and tho)*h its (oisono)s sten#h not ae#t the beasts themselves, it s(read a
(estilen#e a#ross the whole "elo(onnese% Moreover, the valley (ast)res were so dee( in d)n*
that they #o)ld no lon*er be (lo)*hed or *rain%
#% &era#les hailed !)*eias rom aar, and )ndertook to #leanse the yard beore ni*htall in
ret)rn or a tenth (art o the #attle% !)*eias la)*hed in#red)lo)sly, and #alled "hyle)s, his
eldest son, to witness &era#lesA oer% I+wear to a##om(lish the task beore ni*htall,A "hyle)s
demanded% The oath whi#h &era#les now took by his atherAs name the irst and last one he
ever swore% !)*eias likewise took an oath to kee( his side o the bar*ain% !t this moment,
"haBthon, the leader o the twelve white b)lls, #har*ed at &era#les, mistakin* him or a lion2
where)(on he sei8ed the b)llAs let horn, or#ed its ne#k downwards, and loored it by main
stren*th%
d% ;n the advi#e o Menedem)s the ,lean, and aided by $ola)s, &era#les irst brea#hed the
wall o the yard in two (la#es, and ne:t diverted the nei*hbo)rin* rivers !l(he)s and
"enei)s, or Meni)s, so that their streams r)shed thro)*h the yard, swe(t it #lean and then
went on to #leanse the shee(7olds and the valley (ast)res% Th)s &era#les a##om(lished this
-abo)r in one day, restorin* the land to health, and not soilin* so m)#h as his little in*er%
4)t !)*eias, on bein* inormed by .o(re)s that &era#les had already been )nder orders
rom ,)rysthe)s to #leanse the #attle yards, re)sed to (ay the reward and even dared deny
that he and &era#les had str)#k a bar*ain%
e% &era#les s)**ested that the #ase be s)bmitted to arbitration2 yet when the H)d*es were
seated, and "hyle)s, s)b(oenaed by &era#les, testiied to the tr)th, !)*eias s(ran* )( in a
ra*e and banished them both rom ,lis, assertin* that he had been tri#ked by &era#les, sin#e
the river7*ods, not he, had done the work% To make matters even worse, ,)rysthe)s re)sed to
#o)nt this -abo)r as one o the ten, be#a)se &era#les had been in !)*eiasAs hire%
% "hyle)s then went to ?)li#hi)m2 and &era#les to the #o)rt o ?e:amen)s, Gin* o ;len)s,
whose da)*hter Mnesima#he he later res#)ed rom the .enta)r ,)rytion%
1% This #on)sed myth seems to be o)nded on the le*end that &era#les, like 9ason, was
ordered to tame two b)lls, yoke them, #lean an over*rown hill, then (lo)*h, sow, and rea( it
in a sin*le dayJthe )s)al tasks set a #andidate or kin*shi(% &ere, the hill had to be #leared
not o trees and stones, as in the .elti# versions o the myth, b)t o d)n*J(robably be#a)se
the name o ,)rysthe)sAs herald, who delivered the order, was .o(re)s 5Id)n*7manA6% +ir
9ames 'ra8er #ommentin* on "a)sanias, E)otes a 3orse tale, IThe MasterV in whi#h a (rin#e
who wishes to win a *iantAs da)*hter m)st i: three stables% 'or ea#h (it#h7ork o d)n*
whi#h he tosses o)t, ten rea((ear% The (rin#ess then advises him to t)rn the (it#hork )(side7
down the handle% &e does so, and the stable is soon #leansed% 'ra8er s)**ests that, in the
ori*inal version, !thene may have *iven &era#les this advi#e2 more likely, however, the
3orse tale is a variant o this -abo)r% !)*eiasAs #attle are irrelevant to the story, e:#e(t to
a##o)nt or the mass o d)n* to be removed% .attle man)re, as the myth shows, wasnAt val)ed
by Greek armers% &esiod, in his Works and ?ays, does not mention it2 and &% Mit#hell
5,#onomi#s o !n#ient Gree#e6 shows that the #attle on allow land is (rohibited in several
an#ient leases% The do* !r*)s did, indeed, lie on a midden )sed or d)n*in* the land
5;dyssey6, b)t wherever the ;dyssey may have been writtenJand it #ertainly was not on the
Greek mainlandJthe reeren#es to a*ri#)lt)re and arbori#)lt)re s)**est a s)rvival o .retan
(ra#ti#e% !##ordin* to some mytho*ra(hers, !)*eias was the son o ,lei)s, whi#h means
more than IGin* o ,lisA2 a##ordin* to others, a son o "oseidon s)**ests that he was an
!eolian% 4)t ,lei)s has here been #on)sed with &eli)s, the .orinthian +)n7*od2
and !)*eias is thereore #redited a herd o sa#red #attle, like that owned by +isy(h)s% The o
n)mber o heads in s)#h herds was <50, re(resentin* twelve #om(lete l)nations less the
sa#red ive7day holiday o the ,*y(tian year2 that they were l)nar #attle was (roved by their
red, white, and bla#k #olo)rs2 and the white b)lls re(resent these twelve l)nations% +)#h
#attle were oten stolenJas by &era#les himsel in his Tenth -abo)rJand the seE)el to his
E)arrel with !)*eias was that he won these b)lls as well%
0% The 'ith -abo)r, whi#h (ro(erly #on#erns only (lo)*hin*, sowin* and rea(in* tasks has,
in a#t, been #on)sed with two others1 Tenth, namely the litin* o GeryonAs #attle2 and the
+eventh, namely the #a(t)re o "oseidonAs white .retan b)llJwhi#h was not )sed or
(lo)*hin*% $n the #)lt o "oseidon Jwho is also des#ribed as !)*eias atherJyo)n* men
wrestled with b)lls, and &era#lesAs str)**le "haBthon, like These)sAs a*ainst the Minota)r, is
best )nderstood as #oronation rite1 by ma*i#al #onta#t with the b)llAs horn, he was #a(able o
ertili8in* the land, and earned the title o "otidan, or "osidon, *iven to the Moon7*oddessAs
#hosen lover% +imilarly, in a love dis()te &era#les o)*ht the river !#helo)s, re(resented as a
b)ll7headed and broke o his #orn)#o(ia% The dele#tion o the !l(hei)s s)**ests that the
i#on rom whi#h this in#ident is ded)#ed shows &era#les twistin* the .retan 4)ll aro)nd by
the horns, beside the bank o a river, where n)mero)s #attle were *ra8in*% This b)ll was
mistaken or a river7*od, and the s#ene misread as meanin* that he had dele#ted the river in
order to #leanse the ield, or (lo)*hin*%
The +i:th -abo)r1 The +tym(halian 4irds
&,R!.-,+A+ +i:th -abo)r was to remove the #o)ntless bra8en7beaked, bra8en7#lawed,
bra8en7win*ed, man7eatin* birds, sa#red to !res whi#h, ri*htened by the wolves o WolvesA
Ravine on the ;r#homenan Road, had lo#ked to the +tym(halian Marsh% &ere they bred and
waded beside the river o the same name, o##asionally takin* to the air in *reat lo#ks, to kill
men and beasts by dis#har*in* a shower o bra8en eathers and at the same time m)tin* a
(oisono)s e:#rement, whi#h bli*hted the #ro(s%
b% ;n arrival at the marsh, whi#h lay s)rro)nded by dense woods, &era#les o)nd himsel
)nable to drive away the birds with his arrows2 they were too n)mero)s% Moreover, the marsh
seemed neither solid eno)*h to s)((ort a man walkin*, nor liE)id eno)*h or the )se o a
boat% !s &era#les (a)sed irresol)tely on the bank, !thene *ave him a (air o bra8en
#astanets, made by &e(haest)s2 or it may have been a rattle% +tandin* on a s()r o Mo)nt
.yllene, whi#h overlooks the marsh, &era#les #la#ked the #astanets, or shook the rattle,
raisin* s)#h a din that the birds soared )( in one *reat lo#k, mad with terror% &e shot down
s#ores o them as they lew o to the $sle o !res in the 4la#k +ea, where they were
aterwards o)nd by the !r*ona)ts2 some say that &era#les was with the !r*ona)ts at the
time, and killed many more o the birds%
#% +tym(halian birds are the si8e o #ranes, and #losely resemble ibises, e:#e(t that their
beaks #an (ier#e a metal breast7(late, and are not hooked% They also breed in the !rabian
?esert, and there #a)se more tro)ble even than lions or leo(ards by lyin* at travellersA
breasts and transi:in* them% !rabian h)nters have learned to wear (rote#tive #)irasses o
(laited bark, whi#h entan*le those deadly beaks and enable them to sei8e and wrin* the ne#ks
o their assailants% $t may be that a lo#k o these birds mi*rated rom !rabia to +tym(hal)s,
and *ave their name to the whole breed%
d% !##ordin* to some a##o)nts, the so7#alled +tym(halian 4irds were women1 da)*hters o
+tym(hal)s and ;rnis, whom &era#les killed be#a)se they re)sed him hos(itality% !t
+tym(hal)s, in the an#ient tem(le o +tym(halian !rtemis, ima*es o these birds are h)n*
rom the roo, and behind the b)ildin* stand stat)es o maidens with birdsA le*s% &ere also
Temen)s, a son o "elas*)s, o)nded three shrines in &eraAs hono)r1 in the irst she was
worshi((ed as .hild, be#a)se Temen)s had reared her2 in the se#ond as 4ride, be#a)se she
had married @e)s2 in the third as Widow, be#a)se she had re()diated @e)s and retired to
+tym(hal)s%
1% Tho)*h !thene #ontin)es to hel( &era#les, this -abo)r does not belon* to the marria*eJ
task seE)en#e b)t *loriies him as the healer who e:(els ever demons, identiied with marsh7
birds% The helmeted birds shown on +tym(halian #oins are s(oon7bills, #o)sins to the #ranes
whi#h a((ear in ,n*lish mediaeval #arvin*s as s)#kin* the breath o si#k men% They are, in
a#t, bird7le**ed +irens, (ersonii#ations o ever2 and #astanets, or rattles, were )sed in
an#ient times 5and still are amon* (rimitive (eo(les6 to drive away ever demons% !rtemis
was the *oddess who had (ower to inli#t or #)re ever with her Imer#i)l shatsA%
0% The +tym(halian marsh )sed to in#rease in si8e #onsiderably whenever the )nder*ro)nd
#hannel whi#h #arried away its waters be#ame lo#ked, as ha((ened in "a)saniasAs time2 and
$(hi#rat)s, when besie*in* the #ity, wo)ld have blo#ked it deliberately, had not a si*n rom
heaven (revented him 5+trabo6% $t may well be that in one version o the story &era#les
drained the marsh by reein* the #hannel2 as he had (revio)sly drained the "lain o Tem(e
5?iodor)s +i#)l)s6%
<% The myth, however, seems to have a histori#al, as well as a rit)al, meanin*% !((arently a
#olle*e o !r#adian (riestesses, who worshi((ed the Tri(le7*oddess as Maiden, 4ride, and
.rone, took re)*e at +tym(hal)s, ater havin* been driven rom WolvesA Ravine by invaders
who worshi((ed Wolish @e)s2 and Mnaseas has (la)sibly e:(lained the e:()lsion, or
massa#re, o the +tym(halian 4irds as the s)((ression o this wit#h7#olle*e by &era#lesJ
that is to say, by a tribe o !#haeans% The name +tym(hal)s s)**ests eroti# (ra#ti#es%
=% "a)saniasAs I stron*7beaked !rabian birdsA may have been s)n7stroke demons, ke(t at bay
by bark s(ine7(rote#tors, and #on)sed with the (ower)lly beaked ostri#hes, whi#h the !rabs
still h)nt% -e)#erodes, Iwhite heronA, is the Greek name or s(oon7bill2 an an#estor o &erod
the Great is said to have been a tem(le slave to Tyrian &era#les 5!ri#an)s, E)oted by
,)sebi)s1 ,##lesiasti#al &istory6, whi#h a##o)nts or the amily name% The s(oon7bill is
#losely related to the ibis, another marsh7bird, sa#red to the *od Thoth, inventor o writin*2
and Tyrian &era#les, like his .elti# #o)nter(art, was a (rote#tor o learnin*, whi#h made Tyre
amo)s 5,8ekiel6% $n &ebrew tradition, his (riest &iram o Tyre e:#han*ed riddles with
+olomon%
The +eventh -abo)r1 The .retan 4)ll
,/RD+T&,/+ ordered &era#les, as his +eventh -abo)r, to #a(t)re the .retan 4)ll2 b)t it is
m)#h dis()ted whether this was the b)ll sent by @e)s, whi#h erried ,)ro(e a#ross to .rete,
or the one, withheld by Minos rom sa#rii#e to "oseidon, whi#h sired the Minota)r on
"asi(haB% !t this time it was rava*in* .rete, es(e#ially the re*ion watered by the river
Tethris, rootin* )( #ro(s and levellin* or#hard walls%
b% When &era#les sailed to .rete, Minos oered him every assistan#e in his (ower, b)t he
(reerred to #a(t)re the b)ll sin*le7handed, tho)*h it bel#hed s#or#hin* lames% !ter a lon*
str)**le, he bro)*ht the monster a#ross to My#enae, where ,)rysthe)s, dedi#atin* it to &era,
set it ree% &era however, loathin* a *it whi#h redo)nded to &era#lesAs *lory, drove the b)ll
irst to +(arta, and then ba#k thro)*h !r#adia and a#ross the $sthm)s to !tti# Marathon,
when#e These)s later dra**ed it to !thens as a sa#rii#e to !thene%
#% 3evertheless, many still deny the identity o the .retan and Marathonian b)lls%
1% The #ombat with a b)ll, or a man in b)llAs dis*)iseJone o the rit)al tasks im(osed on the
#andidate or kin*shi(Jalso a((ears in the story o These)s and the Minota)r, and o 9ason
and the ire7breathin* b)lls o !eBtes% When the immortality im(li#it in the sa#red kin*shi(
was event)ally oered to every initiate o the ?ionysian Mysteries, the #a(t)re o a b)ll and
its dedi#ation to ?ionys)s "l)todotes 5I*iver o wealthA6 be#ame a #ommon rite both in
!r#adia 5"a)sanias6 and -ydia 5+trabo6, where ?ionys)s held the title o @e)s% &is (rin#i(al
theo(hany was as a b)ll, b)t he also a((eared in the orm o a lion and a ser(ent% .onta#t
with the b)llAs horn enabled the sa#red kin* to ertili8e the land in the name o the Moon7
*oddess by makin* rainJthe ma*i#al e:(lanation bein* that a b)llAs bellow (ortended
th)nderstorms, whi#h rhombi, or b)ll7roarers, were a##ordin*ly sw)n* to ind)#e% Tor#hes
were also l)n* to sim)late li*htnin* and #ame to s)**est the b)llAs iery breath%
0% ?ionys)s is #alled "l)todotes 5Iwealth7*iverA6 be#a)se o his #orn)#o(ia, torn rom a b)ll,
whi#h was (rimarily a water #harm2 he develo(ed rom .retan @a*re)s, and amon* @a*re)sAs
#han*es are lion, a horned ser(ent, a b)ll, and I.ron)s makin* rainA%
The ,i*hth -abo)r1 The Mares ; ?iomedes
,/RD+T&,/+ ordered &era#les, as his ,i*hth -abo)r, to #a(t)re the o)r sava*e mares o
Thra#ian Gin* ?iomedesJit is dis()ted whether he was the son o !res and .yrene, or born
o an in#est)o)s relationshi( between !steria and her ather !tlasJwho r)led the warlike
4istones, and whose stables, at the now vanished #ity o Tirida, were the terror o Thra#e%
?iomedes ke(t the mares tethered with iron #hains to bron8e man*ers, and ed them on the
lesh o his )ns)s(e#tin* *)ests% ;ne version o the story makes them stallions, not mares,
and names them "odar*)s, -am(on, Zanth)s, and ?ein)s%
b% With a n)mber o vol)nteers, &era#les set sail or Thra#e, visitin* his riend Gin* !dmet)s
o "herae on the way% !rrived at Tirida, he over(owered ?iomedesAs *rooms and drove the
mares down to the sea, where he let them on a knoll in #har*e o his mi*non !bder)s, and
then t)rned to re(el the 4istones as they r)shed in ()rs)it% &is (arty bein* o)tn)mbered, he
over#ame them by in*enio)sly #)ttin* a #hannel whi#h #a)sed the sea to lood the low7lyin*
(lain2 when they t)rned to r)n, he ()rs)ed them, st)nned ?iomedes with his #l)b, dra**ed
his body aro)nd the lake that had now ormed, and set it beore his own mares, whi#h tore at
the still livin* lesh% Their h)n*er bein* now )lly ass)a*edJor, while &era#les was away,
they had also devo)red !bder)sJhe mastered them witho)t m)#h tro)ble%
#% !##ordin* to another a##o)nt !bder)s, tho)*h a native o ;()s in -o#ris, was em(loyed
by ?iomedes% +ome #all him the son o &ermes2 and others the son o &era#lesAs riend,
;(ian Menoeti)s, and th)s brother to "atro#l)s who ell at Troy% !ter o)ndin* the #ity o
!bdera beside !bder)sAs tomb, &era#les took ?iomedesAs #hariot and harnessed the mares to
it, tho)*h hitherto they had never known bit or bridle% &e drove them s(eedily ba#k a#ross
the mo)ntains )ntil he rea#hed My#enae, where ,)rysthe)s dedi#ated them to &era and set
them ree on Mo)nt ;lym()s% They were event)ally destroyed by wild beasts2 yet it is
#laimed that their des#endants s)rvived )ntil the TroHan War and even )ntil the time o
!le:ander the Great% The r)ins o ?iomedesAs (ala#e are shown at .artera .ome, and at
!bdera athleti# *ames are still #elebrated in hono)r o !bder)sJthey in#l)de all the )s)al
#ontests, e:#e(t #hariot7ra#in*2 whi#h a##o)nts or the story that !bder)s was killed when the
man7eatin* mares wre#ked a #hariot to whi#h he had harnessed them%
1% The bridlin* o a wild horse, intended or a sa#rii#ial horse east, seems to have been a
#oronation rite in some re*ions o Gree#e% &era#lesAs mastery o !rionJa eat also
(erormed by ;n#)s and !drast)s 5"a)sanias6Jis (aralleled by 4ellero(honAs #a(t)re o
"e*as)s% This rit)al myth has here been #ombined with a le*end o how &era#les, (erha(s
re(resentin* the Teans who sei8ed !bdera rom the Thra#ians 5&erodot)s6, ann)lled the
#)stom by whi#h wild women in horse7masks )sed to #hase and eat the sa#red kin* at the end
o his rei*n2 instead he was killed in an or*ani8ed #hariot #rash% The omission o #hariot7
ra#in* rom the )neral *ames at !bdera (oints to a ban on this revised sa#rii#e% "odar*)s is
#alled ater "odar*e the &ar(y, mother o Zanth)s, an immortal horse *iven by "oseidon to
"ele)s as a weddin* (resent2 -am()s re#alls -am(on, one o ,osAs team% ?iodor)sAs
statement that these mares were let loose on ;lym()s may mean that the #annibalisti# horse
#)lt s)rvived there )ntil &ellenisti# times%
0% .anals, t)nnels, or nat)ral )nder*ro)nd #ond)its were oten des#ribed as the work o
&era#les%
The 3inth -abo)r1 &i((olyteAs Girdle
&,R!.-,+A+ 3inth -abo)r was to et#h or ,)rysthe)sAs da)*hter !dmete the *olden
*irdle o !res worn by the !ma8onian E)een &i((olyte% Takin* one shi( or, some say, nine,
and a #om(any o vol)nteers, amon* whom were $ola)s, Telamon o !e*ina, "ele)s o $ol#)s
and, a##ordin* to some a##o)nts, These)s o !thens, &era#les set sail or the river
Thermodon%
b% The !ma8ons were #hildren o !res by the 3aiad &armonia, born in the *lens o "hry*ian
!#monia2 b)t some #all their mother !(hrodite, or ;trere, da)*hter o !res% !t irst they
lived beside the river !ma8on, now named ater Tanais, a son o the !ma8on -ysi((e, who
oended !(hrodite by his s#orn o marria*e and his devotion to war% $n reven*e, !(hrodite
#a)sed Tanais to all in love with his mother2 b)t, rather than yield to an in#est)o)s (assion,
he l)n* himsel into the river and drowned% To es#a(e the re(roa#hes o his *host, -ysi((e
then led her da)*hters aro)nd the 4la#k +ea #oast, to a (lain by the river Thermodon, whi#h
rises in the loty !ma8onian mo)ntains% There they ormed three tribes, ea#h o whi#h
o)nded a #ity%
#% Then as now, the !ma8ons re#koned des#ent only thro)*h the mother, and -ysi((e had laid
it down that the men m)st (erorm all ho)sehold tasks, while the women o)*ht and
*overned% The arms and le*s o inant boys were thereore broken to in#a(a#itate them or
war or travel% These )nnat)ral women, whom the +#ythians #all ;eor(ata, showed no re*ard
or H)sti#e or de#en#y, b)t were amo)s warriors, bein* the irst to em(loy #avalry% They
#arried bra8en bows and short shields sha(ed like a hal moon2 their helmets, #lothes, and
*irdles were made rom the skins o wild beasts% -ysi((e, beore she ell in battle, b)ilt the
*reat #ity o Themis#yra, and deeated every tribe as ar as the river Tanais% With the s(oils o
her #am(ai*ns she raised tem(les to !res, and others to !rtemis Ta)ro(ol)s whose worshi(
she established% &er des#endants e:tended the !ma8onian em(ire westward a#ross the river
Tanais, to Thra#e2 and a*ain, on the so)thern #oast, westward a#ross the Thermodon to
"hry*ia% Three amo)s !ma8onian E)eens, Mar(esia, -am(ado, and &i((o, sei8ed a *reat
(art o !sia Minor and +yria, and o)nded the #ities o ,(hes)s, +myrna, .yrene, and
Myrine% ;ther !ma8onian o)ndations are Thiba and +ino(e%
d% !t ,(hes)s, they set )( an ima*e o !rtemis )nder a bee#h7tree, where &i((o oered
sa#rii#es2 ater whi#h her ollowers (erormed irst a shield dan#e, and then a ro)nd dan#e,
with rattlin* E)ivers, beatin* the *ro)nd in )nison, to the a##om(animent o (i(esJor
!thene had not yet invented the l)te% The tem(le o ,(hesian !rtemis, later b)ilt aro)nd this
ima*e and )nrivalled in ma*nii#en#e even by that o ?el(hi# !(ollo, is in#l)ded amon* the
seven wonders o the world2 two streams, both #alled +elen)s, and lowin* in o((osite
dire#tions, s)rro)nd it% $t was on this e:(edition that the !ma8ons #a(t)red Troy, "riam bein*
then still a #hild% 4)t while deta#hments o the !ma8onian army went home laden with vast
E)antities o s(oil, the
rest, stayin* to #onsolidate their (ower in !sia Minor, were driven o)t by an allian#e o
barbarian tribes, and lost their E)een Mar(esia%
e% 4y the time that &era#les #ame to visit the !ma8ons, they had all ret)rned to the river
Thermodon, and their three #ities were r)led by &i((olyte, !ntio(e, and Melani((e% ;n his
way, he ()t in at the island o "aros, amo)s or its marble, whi#h Gin* Rhadamanthys had
beE)eathed to one !l#ae)s, a son o !ndro*e)s2 b)t o)r o MinosAs sons, ,)rymedon,
.hryses, 3e(halion, and "hilola)s, had also settled there% When a #o)(le o &era#lesAs #rew,
landin* to et#h water, were m)rdered by MinosAs sons, he indi*nantly killed all o)r o them,
and (ressed the "arians so hard that they sent envoys oerin*, in reE)ital or the dead sailors,
any two men whom he mi*ht #hoose to be his slaves% +atisied by this (ro(osal, &era#les
raised the sie*e, Gin* !l#ae)s and his brother +thenel)s, whom he took aboard his shi(%
3e:t, he sailed thro)*h the &elles(ont and 4os(hor)s to Mariandyne in Mysia, where he was
entertained by Gin* -y#)s the "a(hla*onian, son o ?as#yl)s and *randson o Tantal)s% $n
ret)rn, he s)((orted -y#)s in a war with the 4ebry#ans, killin* many, in#l)din* their kin*
My*don, brother o !my#)s, and re#overed m)#h "a(hla*onian land rom the 4ebry#ans2
this he restored to -y#)s, who renamed it &era#leia in his hono)r% -ater, &era#leia was
#oloni8ed by Me*arians ant Tana*rans on the advi#e o the "ythoness at ?el(hi, who told
them to (lant a #olony beside the 4la#k +ea, in a re*ion dedi#ated to &era#les%
% !rrived at the mo)th o the river Thermodon, &era#les #ast an#hor in the harbo)r o
Themis#yra, where &i((olyte (aid him a visit and, attra#ted by his m)s#)lar body, oered
him !resAs *irdle as a love *it% 4)t &era had meanwhile *one abo)t, dis*)ised in !ma8on
dress, s(readin* a r)mo)r that these stran*ers (lanned to abd)#t &i((olyte2 where)(on the
in#ensed warrior7women mo)nted their horses and #har*ed down on the shi(% &era#les,
s)s(e#tin* trea#hery, killed &i((olyte o7hand, removed her *irdle, sei8ed her a:e and other
wea(ons, and (re(ared to deend himsel% &e killed ea#h o the !ma8on leaders in t)rn,
()ttin* their army to li*ht ater *reat sla)*hter%
*% +ome, however, say that Melani((e was amb)shed, and ransomed by &i((olyte at the
(ri#e o the *irdle2 or #ontrariwise% ;r that These)s #a(t)red &i((olyte, and (resented her
*irdle to &era#les who, in ret)rn, allowed him to make !ntio(e his slave% ;r that &i((olyte
re)sed to *ive &era#les the *irdle and that they o)*ht a (it#hed battle2 she was thrown o
her horse, and he stood over her, #l)b in hand, oerin* E)arter, b)t she #hose to die rather
than yield% $t is even said that the *irdle belon*ed to a da)*hter o 4riare)s the &)ndred7
handed ;ne%
h% ;n his ret)rn rom Themis#yra, &era#les #ame a*ain to Mariandyne, and #om(eted in the
)neral *ames o kin* -y#)sAs brother "riolas, who had been killed by the Mysians, and or
whom dir*es are still s)n*% &era#les bo:ed a*ainst the Mariandynian #ham(ion Titias,
kno#ked o)t all his teeth and killed him with a blow to the tem(le% $n (roo o his re*ret or
this a##ident, he s)bd)ed the Mysians and the "hry*ians on ?as#yl)sAs behal2 b)t he also
s)bd)ed the 4ithynians, as ar as the mo)th o the river Rhebas and the s)mmit o Mo)nt
.olone, and #laimed their kin*dom or himsel% "elo(sAs "a(hla*onians vol)ntarily
s)rrendered to him% &owever, no sooner had &era#les de(arted, than the 4ebry#ans, )nder
!my#)s, son o "oseidon, on#e more robbed -y#)s o his land, e:tendin* their rontier to the
river &y(i)s%
i% +ailin* then#e to Troy, &era#les res#)ed &esione rom a sea7monster2 and #ontin)ed his
voya*e to Thra#ian !en)s, where he was entertained by "oltys2 and, H)st as he was ()ttin* to
sea a*ain, shot and killed on the !enian bea#h "oltysAs insolent brother +ar(edon, a son o
"oseidon% 3e:t, he s)bH)*ated the Thra#ians who had settled in Thasos, and bestowed the
island on the sons o !ndro*e)s, whom he had #arried o rom "aros2 and at Torone was
#hallen*ed to a wrestlin* mat#h by "oly*on)s and Tele*on)s, sons o "rote)s, both o whom
he killed%
H% Ret)rnin* to My#enae at last, &era#les handed the *irdle to ,)rysthe)s, who *ave it to
!dmete% !s or the other s(oil taken rom the !ma8ons1 he (resented their ri#h robes to the
Tem(le o !(ollo at ?el(hi, and &i((olyteAs a:e to M)een ;m(hale, who in#l)ded it amon*
the sa#red re*alia o the -ydian kin*s% ,vent)ally it was taken to a .arian tem(le o
-abradian @e)s, and (la#ed in the hand o his divine ima*e%
k% !ma8ons are still to be o)nd in !lbania, near .ol#his, havin* been driven there rom
Themis#yra at the same time as their nei*hbo)rs, the Gar*arensians% When they rea#hed the
saety o the !lbanian mo)ntains, the two (eo(les se(arated1 the !ma8ons settlin* at the oot
o the .a)#asian Mo)ntains, aro)nd the river Mermodas, and the Gar*arensians immediately
to the north% ;n an a((ointed day every s(rin*, (arties o yo)n* !ma8ons and yo)n*
Gar*arensians meet at the s)mmit o the mo)ntain whi#h se(arates their territories and, ater
(erormin* a Hoint sa#rii#e, s(end two months to*ether, enHoyin* (romis#)o)s inter#o)rse
)nder the #over o ni*ht% !s soon as an !ma8on inds hersel (re*nant, she ret)rns home%
Whatever *irl7#hildren are born be#ome !ma8ons, and the boys are sent to the Gar*arensians
who, be#a)se they have no means o as#ertainin* their (aternity, distrib)te them by lot amon*
their h)ts% $n re#ent times, the !ma8on E)een Minythyia set o)t rom her !lbanian #o)rt to
meet !le:ander the Great in ti*er7ha)nted &yr#ania2 and there enHoyed his #om(any or
thirteen days, ho(in* to have os(rin* by himJb)t died #hildless soon aterwards%
l% These !ma8ons o the 4la#k +ea m)st be distin*)ished rom ?ionys)sAs -ibyan allies who
on#e inhabited &es(era, an island in -ake Tritonis whi#h was so ri#h in r)it7bearin* trees,
shee( and *oats, that they o)nd no need to *row #orn% !ter #a(t)rin* all the #ities in the
island, e:#e(t holy Mene, the home o the ,thio(ian ish7eaters 5who mine emeralds, r)bies,
to(a8es, and sard6 they deeated the nei*hbo)rin* -ibyans and nomads, and o)nded the *reat
#ity o .hersones)s, so #alled be#a)se it was b)ilt on a (enins)la% 'rom this base they
atta#ked the !tlantians, the most #ivili8ed nation west o the 3ile, whose #a(ital is on the
!tlanti# island o .erne% Myrine, the !ma8onian E)een, raised a or#e o thirty tho)sand
#avalry and three tho)sand inantry% !ll o them #arried bows with whi#h, when retreatin*,
they )sed to shoot a##)rately at their ()rs)ers, and were armo)red with the skins o the
almost )nbelievably lar*e -ibyan ser(ents%
m% $nvadin* the land o the !tlantians, Myrine deeated them de#isively and, #rossin* over to
.erne, #a(t)red the #ity2 she then ()t every man to the sword, enslaved the women and
#hildren, and ra8ed the #ity walls% When the remainin* !tlantians a*reed to s)rrender, she
treated them airly, made riends with them and, in #om(ensation or their loss o .erne, b)ilt
the new #ity o Myrine, where she settled the #a(tives and all others desiro)s o livin* there%
+in#e the !tlantians now oered to (ay her divine hono)rs, Myrine (rote#ted them a*ainst
the nei*hbo)rin* tribe o Gor*ons, o whom she killed a *reat many in a (it#hed battle,
besides takin* no less than three tho)sand (risoners% That ni*ht, however, while the !ma8ons
were holdin* a vi#tory banE)et, the (risoners stole their swords and, at a si*nal, the main
body o Gor*ons who had rallied and hidden in an oak7wood, (o)red down rom all sides to
massa#re MyrineAs ollowers%
n% Myrine #ontrived to es#a(eJher dead lie b)ed )nder three h)*e mo)nds, still #alled the
Mo)nds o the !ma8onsJand, ater traversin* most o -ibya, entered ,*y(t with a new
army, beriended Gin* &or)s, the son o $sis, and (assed on to the invasion o !rabia% +ome
hold that it was these -ibyan !ma8ons, not those rom the 4la#k +ea, who #onE)ered !sia
Minor2 and that Myrine, ater sele#tin* the most s)itable sites in her new em(ire, o)nded a
n)mber o #oastal #ities, in#l)din* Myrine, Gyme, "itane, "alerie, and others arther inland%
+he also s)bd)ed several o the !e*ean $slands, notably -esbos, where she b)ilt the #ity o
Mitylene, named ater a sister who had shared in the #am(ai*n% While Myrine was still
en*a*ed in #onE)erin* the islands, a storm overtook her leet2 b)t the Mother o the Gods
bore every shi( saely to +amothra#e, then )ninhabited, whi#h Myrine #onse#rated to her,
o)ndin* altars and oerin* s(lendid sa#rii#es%
o% Myrine then #rossed over to the Thra#ian mainland, where Gin* Mo(s)s and his ally, the
+#ythian +i(yl)s, worsted her in air i*ht, and she was killed% The !ma8on army never
re#overed rom this setba#k1 deeated by the Thra#ians in reE)ent en*a*ements, its remnants
inally retired to -ibya%
1% $ !dmete was the name o the (rin#ess or whose sake &era#les (erormed all these
marria*e tasks, the removal o her *irdle in the weddin* #hamber m)st have marked the end
o his -abo)rs% 4)t irst !dmete will have str)**led with him, as &i((olyte did, and as
"enthesileia str)**led with !#hilles, or Thetis with "ele)sJwhose introd)#tion into the story
is th)s e:(lained% $n that #ase, she will have *one thro)*h her )s)al transormations, whi#h
s)**ests the #)ttle7ishJlike &ydra was !dmeteJthe *old7*)ardin* ser(ent whi#h he
over#ame bein* -adonJand that she may also have t)rn into a #rab, a hind, a wild mare, and
#lo)d beore he #ontrived to win her maidenhead%
0% ! tradition o armed (riestesses still lin*ered at ,(hes)s and other #ities in !sia Minor2 b)t
the Greek mytho*ra(hers, havin* or*otten the ormer e:isten#e o similar #olle*es at !thens
and other #ities in Gree#e itsel, sent &era#les in sear#h o &i((olyteAs *irdle to the 4la#k
+ea, who matriar#hal tribes were still a#tive% ! three7tribe system is the *eneral r)le in
matriar#hal so#iety% That the *irdle belon*ed to a da)*hter o 4riare)s 5Istron*A6, one o the
&)ndred7handed ;nes, (oints to an#ient settin* o the marria*e7test story in 3orthern Gree#e%
<% !dmete is another name or !thene, who m)st have a((eared the i#ons standin* by, )nder
arms, wat#hin* &era#lesAs eats and hel(in* him when in dii#)lties% !thene was 3eith, the
-ove7and74attle *oddess o the -ibyans2 her #o)nter(art in !sia Minor was the *reat Moon7
*oddess Marian, Myrine, !y7Mari, Mariamne or Marienna, who *ave her name to
MariandyneJIMarianAs ?)neAJand to Myrine, the #ity o the *yno#rati# -emnians2 and
whom the TroHans worshi((ed as I-ea(in* MyrineA 5&omer1 $liad6% I+myrnaA is IMyrineA
a*ain, (re#eded by the deinite arti#le% Marienna, the +)merian orm, means I&i*h r)it)l
MotherA, and the ,(hesian !rtemis was ertility7*oddess%
=% Myrine is said to have been #a)*ht in a storm and saved by the Mother o the GodsJin
whose hono)r she o)nded altars at +amothra#eJ be#a)se she was hersel the Mother o the
Gods, and her rites save sailors rom shi(wre#k% M)#h the same mother7*oddess was
an#iently worshi((ed in Thra#e, the re*ion o the river Tanais 5?on6, !rmenia, and
thro)*ho)t !sia Minor and +yria% These)sAs e:(edition to !ma8onia, a myth modelled on
that o &era#les, #on)ses the iss)e and has tem(ted mytho*ra(hers to invent the i#titio)s
invasion o !thens by !ma8ons and +#ythians #ombined%
5% That the !ma8ons set )( an ima*e )nder an ,(hesian bee#h is a mistake made by
.allima#h)s who, bein* an ,*y(tian, was )naware that bee#hes did not *row so ar so)th2 it
m)st have been a date7(alm, symbol o ertility, and a reminder o the *oddessAs -ibyan
ori*in, sin#e her stat)e was h)n* with lar*e *olden dates, *enerally mistaken or breasts%
Mo(s)sAs deeat o the !ma8ons is the story o the &ittitesA deeat by the Mos#hians abo)t
1000 4.2 the &ittites had ori*inally been wholly (atriar#hal, b)t )nder the inl)en#e o the
matriar#hal so#ieties o !sia Minor and 4abylonia had a##e(ted *oddess7worshi(% !t
&att)sas, their #a(ital, a s#)l(t)ral relie o a battle7*oddess has re#ently been dis#overed by
Garstan*2 who re*ards the ,(hesian !rtemis #)lt as o &ittite ori*in% The vi#tories over the
!ma8ons se#)red by &era#les, These)s, ?ionys)s, Mo(s)s, and others, re#ord, in a#t,
setba#ks to the matriar#hal system in Gree#e, !sia Minor, Thra#e, and +yria%
6% +te(han)s o 4y8anti)m 5s)b "aros6 re#ords the tradition that "aros was a .retan #olony%
&era#lesAs e:(edition there reers to a &elleni# o##)(ation o the island% &is bestowal o
Thasos on the sons o !ndro*e)s is a reeren#e to its #a(t)re by a or#e o "arians mentioned
in Th)#ydides1 this took (la#e towards the #lose o the ei*hth #ent)ry ,)boeans #oloni8ed
Torone at abo)t the same time, re(resentin* Torone 5Ishrill E)eenA6 as a da)*hter o "rote)s
5+te(han)s o 4y8anti)m s)b Torone6% &i((olyteAs do)ble a:e 5labrys6 was not, however,
(la#ed in -abradean @e)sAs hand instead o a th)nderbolt2 it was itsel a th)nderbolt, and
@e)s #arried it by (ermission o the .retan *oddess who r)led in -ydia%
>% The Gar*arensians are the Go*arenians, whom ,8ekiel #alls Go* 5,8ekiel6%
8% $n his a##o)nt o Myrine, ?iodor)s +i#)l)s E)otes early -ibyan traditions whi#h had
already a#E)ired a airy7tale l)stre2 it is established, however, that in the third millenni)m 4.
3eolithi# emi*rants went o)t rom -ibya in all dire#tions, (robably e:(elled by an in)ndation
o their ields% The 3ile ?elta was lar*ely (o()lated by -ibyans%
9% !##ordin* to !(olloni)s Rhodi)s, Titias was Y one o the only three $daean ?a#tyls
5Yin*ersV6 wh o dis(ense doomA% &e names another ?a#tyl I.ylleni)sA% $ have shown 5White
Goddess6 that in in*er7ma*i# Titias, the ?a#tyl, re(resented the middle in*er2 that
.ylleni)s, alias &era#les, was the th)mb2 and that ?as#yl)s, the third ?a#tyl, was the inde:7
in*er, as his name im(lies% These three raised, while the o)rth and little in*er are t)rned
down, made the I"hry*ian blessin*A% ;ri*inally *iven in MyrineAs name, it is now )sed by
.atholi# (riests in that o the .hristian Trinity%
10% Tity)s, whom !(ollo killed, may be a do)blet o Titias% MyrineAs #a(t)re o the island o
.erne seems a late and )na)thori8ed addition to the story% .erne has been identiied with
'edallah near 'e82 or with +anta .r)8 near .a(e Ghir, or 5most (la)sibly6 with !r*)in, a
little so)th o .abo 4lan#o% $t was dis#overed and #oloni8ed by the .artha*inian &armo, who
des#ribed it as lyin* as ar rom the "illars o &era#les as these lay rom .artha*e, and it
be#ame the *reat em(oria o West !ri#an trade%
11% +o m)#h or the mythi#al elements o the 3inth -abo)r% &era#lesAs e:(edition to the
Thermodon and his wars in Mysia a "hry*ia m)st not be dismissed as wholly )nhistori#al%
-ike the voya*e o the !r*o, they re#ord Greek tradin* vent)res in the 4la#k +ea (erha(s as
ar ba#k as the middle o the se#ond millenni)m 4.2 a the intr)sion o Minyans rom $ol#)s,
!ea#ans rom !e*ina, and !r*ives in these waters s)**ests that tho)*h &elen may have been
bea)ti)l, and may have elo(ed with "aris o Troy, it was not her a#e that la)n#hed tho)sand
o shi(s, b)t mer#antile interest% !#hilles the son o "ele)s, !Ha: the son o Telamon, and
?iomedes the !r*ive were amon* the Greek allies o !*amemnon who insisted that "riam
sho)ld allow them the ree (assa*e thro)*h the &elles(ont enHoyed by their athersJ)nless
wished his #ity to be sa#ked as -aomedonAs had been, and or the same reason% &en#e the
d)bio)s !thenian #laims to have been re(resented in &era#lesAs e:(edition by These)s, in the
voya*e o !r*o by "haler)s, and at Troy by Menesthe)s, ?emo(hon, and !#aman% These
were intended to H)stiy their event)al #ontrol o 4la#k +ea trade whi#h the destr)#tion o
Troy and the de#line o Rhodes had allow them to sei8e%
The Tenth -abo)r1 The .attle ; Geryon
&,R!.-,+As Tenth -abo)r was to et#h the amo)s #attle o Geryon rom ,rytheia, an
island near the ;#ean stream, witho)t either demand or (ayment% Geryon, a son o .hrysaor
and .allirrhoB, a da)*hter the Titan ;#ean)s, was the Gin* o Tartess)s in +(ain, and re()ted
the stron*est man alive% &e had been born with three heads, si: hands and three bodies Hoined
to*ether at the waist% GeryonAs shamblin* #attle, beasts o marvello)s bea)ty, were *)arded
by the herdsman ,)rytion, son o !res, and by the two7headed wat#hdo* ;rthr)s, ormerly
!tlasAs (ro(ertyJborn o Ty(hon and ,#hidne%
b% ?)rin* his (assa*e thro)*h ,)ro(e, &era#les destroyed many wild beasts and, when at last
he rea#hed Tartess)s, ere#ted a (air o (illars a#in* ea#h other a#ross the straits, one in
,)ro(e, one in !ri#a% +ome hold that the two #ontinents were ormerly Hoined to*ether, and
that he #)t a #hannel between them, or thr)st the #lis a(art2 others say that, on the #ontrary,
he narrowed the e:istin* straits to dis#o)ra*e the entry o whales and other sea7monsters%
#% &eli)s beamed down )(on &era#les who, indin* it im(ossible to work in s)#h heat, str)n*
his bow and let ly an arrow at the *od% I,no)*h o thatPA #ried &eli)s an*rily% &era#les
a(olo*i8ed or his ill7tem(er, and )nstr)n* his bow at on#e% 3ot to be o)tdone in #o)rtesy,
&eli)s lent &era#les his *olden
*oblet, sha(ed like a water7lily, in whi#h he sailed to ,rytheia2 b)t the Titan ;#ean)s, to try
him, made the *oblet (it#h violently )(on the waves% &era#les a*ain drew his bow, whi#h
ri*htened ;#ean)s into #almin* the sea% !nother a##o)nt is that &era#les sailed to ,rytheia
in a bra8en )rn, )sin* his lion (elt as a sail%
d% ;n his arrival, he as#ended Mo)nt !bas% The do* ;rthr)s r)shed at him, barkin*, b)t
&era#lesAs #l)b str)#k him lieless2 and ,)rytion, GeryonAs herdsman, h)rryin* to ;rthr)sAs
aid, lied in the same manner% &era#les then (ro#eeded to drive away the #attle% Menoetes,
who was (ast)rin* the #attle o &ades near byJb)t &era#les had let these )nto)#hedJtook
the news to Geryon% .hallen*ed to battle, &era#les ran to GeryonAs lank and shot him
sideways thro)*h all three bodies with a sin*le arrow2 b)t some say that he stood his *ro)nd
and let loose a li*ht o three arrows% !s &era hastened to GeryonAs assistan#e, &era#les
wo)nded her with an arrow in the ri*ht breast, and she led% Th)s he won the #attle, witho)t
either demand or (ayment, and embarked in the *olden *oblet, whi#h he then sailed a#ross to
Tartess)s and *rate)lly ret)rned to &eli)s% 'rom GeryonAs blood s(ran* a tree whi#h, at the
time o the "leiadesA risin*, bears stoneless #herry7like r)it% Geryon did not, however, die
witho)t iss)e1 his da)*hter ,rytheia be#ame by &ermes the mother o 3ora:, who led a
#olony to +ardinia, even beore the time o &yll)s, and there o)nded 3ora, the oldest #ity in
the island%
e% The whereabo)ts o ,rytheia, also #alled ,rythrea, or ,rythria, is dis()ted% Tho)*h some
des#ribe it as an island beyond the ;#ean stream, others (la#e it o the #oast o -)sitania%
+till others identiy it with the island o -eon, or with an islet near7by, on whi#h the earliest
#ity o Gades was b)ilt, and where the (ast)re is so ri#h that the milk yields no whey b)t only
#)rds, and the #attle m)st be #)((ed every ity days, lest they #hoke or e:#ess o blood%
This islet, sa#red to &era, is #alled either ,rytheia, or !(hrodisias% -eon, the island on whi#h
(resent #ity o Gades stands, )sed to be #alled .otin)sa, rom its olives, b)t the "hoeni#ians
renamed it Gadira, or I'en#ed .ityA% ;n western #a(e stands a tem(le o .ron)s, and the #ity
o Gades2 on eastern, a tem(le o &era#les, remarkable or a s(rin* whi#h ebbs at lood tide,
and lows at ebb tide2 and Geryon lies b)ried in the #ity, eE)ally amed or a se#ret tree that
takes diverse orms%
% !##ordin* to another a##o)nt, however, GeryonAs #attle were not (ast)red in any island,
b)t on the mo)ntain slo(es o the arther (art o +(ain, #onrontin* the ;#ean2 and IGeryonA
was a title o the renowned Gin* .hrysaor, who r)led over the whole land, and whose three
stron* and #o)ra*eo)s sons hel(ed him in the deen#e o his kin*dom, ea#h leadin* an army
re#r)ited rom warlike ra#es% To #onront these, &era#les assembled a lar*e e:(edition in
.rete, the birth(la#e o his ather @e)s% 4eore settin* o)t, he was s(lendidly hono)red by
.retans and, in ret)rn, rid their island o bears, wolves, ser(ents, other no:io)s #reat)res,
rom whi#h it is still imm)ne% 'irst, he sailed to -ibya, where he killed !ntae)s, sla)*htered
the wild beasts that inested the desert, and *ave the #o)ntry )ns)r(assed ertility% Then he
visited ,*y(t, where he killed 4)siris2 then he mar#hed westward a#ross 3orth !ri#a,
annihilatin* the Gor*ons and the -ibyan !ma8ones, as he went, o)nded the #ity o
&e#atom(yl)s, now .a(sa, in so)thern 3)midia, and rea#hed the ;#ean near Gades% There
he set )( (illar on either side o the straits and, erryin* his army a#ross to +(ain, o)*ht that
the sons o .hrysaor, with their three armies, were en#am(ed in some distan#e rom one
another% &e #onE)ered and killed them, in t)rn, and inally drove o GeryonAs amo)s herds,
leavin* *overnment o +(ain to the most worthy o the s)rvivin* inhabitants%
*% The "illars o &era#les are )s)ally identiied with Mo)nt .al(e in ,)ro(e, and !byle, or
!bily: in !ri#a% ;thers make them the islets near Gades, o whi#h the lar*er is sa#red to
&era% !ll +(aniards and -ibyans, however, take the word I"illarsA literally, and (la#e them in
Gades, where bra8en #ol)mns are #onse#rated to &era#les, ei*ht #)bits hi*h and ins#ribed
with the #ost o their b)ildin*2 here sailors #arry sa#rii#es whenever they ret)rn saely rom a
voya*e% !##ordin* to (eo(le o Gades themselves, the Gin* o Tyre was ordered by ora#le to
o)nd a #olony near the "illars o &era#les, and sent o)t three s)##essive (arties o
e:(loration% The irst (arty, thinkin* that the ora#le had reerred to !byle and .al(e, landed
inside the straits, where the #ity o ,:itani now stands2 the se#ond sailed abo)t two h)ndred
miles beyond the straits, to an island sa#red to &era#les, o((osite the +(anish #ity o ;noba2
b)t both were dis#o)ra*ed by )navo)rable omens when they oered sa#rii#es, and ret)rned
home% The third (arty rea#hed Gades, where they raised a tem(le to &era#les on the eastern
#a(e and s)##ess)lly o)nded the #ity o Gades on the western%
h% +ome, however, deny that it was &era#les who set )( these (illars, and assert that !byle
and .al(e were irst named IThe "illars o .ron)sA, and aterwards IThe "illars o 4riare)sA,
a *iant whose (ower e:tended th)s ar2 b)t that, the memory o 4riare)s 5also #alled
!e*aeon6 havin* aded, they were renamed in hono)r o &era#les, (erha(s be#a)se the #ity
o Tartess)s, whi#h stands only ive miles rom .al(e, was o)nded by him, and )sed to be
known as &era#leia% Cast an#ient walls and shi(7sheds are still shown there% 4)t it m)st be
remembered that the earliest &era#lides had also been #alled 4riare)s% The n)mber o
&era#lesAs "illars is )s)ally *iven as two2 b)t some s(eak o three, or o)r% +oJ#alled "illars
o &era#les are also re(orted rom the northern #oast o Germany2 rom the 4la#k +ea2 rom
the western e:tremity o Ga)l2 and rom $ndia%
i% ! tem(le o &era#les stands on the +a#red "romontory in -)sitania, the most westerly (oint
o the world% Cisitants are orbidden to enter the (re#in#t by ni*ht, the time when the *ods
take )( their abode in it% "erha(s when &era#les set )( his (illars to mark the )tmost limits o
le*itimate seaarin*, this was the site he #hose%
H% &ow he then drove the #attle to My#enae is m)#h dis()ted% +ome say that he or#ed !byle
and .al(e into tem(orary )nion and went a#ross the res)ltant brid*e into -ibya2 b)t,
a##ordin* to a more (robable a##o)nt he (assed thro)*h the territory o what is now !bdera,
a "hoeni#ian settlement, and then thro)*h +(ain, leavin* behind some o his ollowers as
#olonists% $n the "yrenees, he #o)rted and b)ried the 4ebry#an (rin#ess "yrene, rom whom
this mo)ntain ran*e takes its name2 the river ?an)be is said to have its so)r#e there, near a
#ity also named in her hono)r% &e then visited Ga)l, where he abolished a barbaro)s native
#)stom o killin* stran*ers, and won so many hearts by his *enero)s deeds that he was able to
o)nd a lar*e #ity, to whi#h he *ave the name !lesia, or IWanderin*A, in #ommemoration o
his travels% The Ga)ls to this day hono)r !lesia as the hearth and mother7#ity o their whole
landJit was )n#onE)ered )ntil .ali*)laAs rei*n and #laim des#ent rom &era#lesAs )nion
with a tall (rin#ess named Galata, who #hose him as her lover and bred that warlike (eo(le%
k% When &era#les was drivin* GeryonAs #attle thro)*h -i*)ria, two sons o "oseidon named
$alebion and ?er#yn)s tried to steal them rom him, and were both killed% !t one sta*e o his
battle with hostile -i*)rian or#es, &era#les ran o)t o arrows, and knelt down, in tears,
wo)nded and e:ha)sted% The *ro)nd bein* o sot mo)ld, he #o)ld ind no stones to throw at
the enemyJ-i*ys, the brother o $alebion, was their leaderJ)ntil @e)s, (ityin* his tears,
overshadowed the earth with a #lo)d, rom whi#h a shower o stones hailed down2 and with
these he ()t the -i*)rians to li*ht% @e)s set amon* the stars an ima*e o &era#les i*htin*
the -i*)rians, known as the #onstellation ,n*onasis% !nother memorial o this battle s)rvives
on earth1 namely the broad, #ir#)lar (lain lyin* between Marseilles and the mo)ths o the
river Rhodane, abo)t iteen miles rom the sea, #alled IThe +tony "lainA, be#a)se it is strewn
with stones the si8e o a manAs ist2 brine s(rin*s are also o)nd there%
l% $n his (assa*e over the -i*)rian !l(s, &era#les #arved a road it or his armies and ba**a*e
trains2 he also broke )( all robber bands that inested the (ass, beore enterin* what is now
.is7al(ine Ga)l and ,tr)ria% ;nly ater wanderin* down the whole #oast o $taly, and
#rossin* into +i#ily, did it o##)r to him1 I$ have taken the wron* roadPA The Romans say that,
on rea#hin* the !lb)laJaterwards #alled the TiberJhe was wel#omed by Gin* ,vander, an
e:ile rom !r#adia% !t evenin*, he swam a#ross, drivin* the #attle beore him, and lay down
to rest on a *rassy bed% $n a dee( #ave near by, lived a vast, hideo)s, three7headed she(herd
named .a#)s, a son o &e(haest)s and Med)sa, who was the dread and dis*ra#e o the
!ventine 'orest, and ()ed lames rom ea#h o his three mo)ths% &)man sk)lls and arms
h)n* nailed above the lintels o his #ave, and the *ro)nd inside *leamed white with the bones
o his vi#tims% While &era#les sle(t, .a#)s stole the two inest o his b)lls2 as well as o)r
heiers, whi#h he dra**ed ba#kwards by their tails into his lair%
m% !t the irst streak o dawn, &era#les awoke, and at on#e noti#ed that the #attle were
missin*% !ter sear#hin* or them in vain, he was abo)t to drive the remainder onward, when
one o the stolen heiers mewed h)n*rily% &era#les tra#ed the so)nd to the #ave, b)t o)nd the
entran#e barred by a ro#k whi#h ten yoke o o:en #o)ld hardly have moved2 nevertheless, he
heaved it aside as tho)*h it had been a (ebble and, )nda)nted by the smoky lames whi#h
.a#)s was now bel#hin*, *ra((led with him and battered his a#e to ()l(%
n% !ided by Gin* ,vander, &era#les then b)ilt an altar to @e)s, at whi#h he sa#rii#ed one o
the re#overed b)lls, and aterwards made arran*ements or his own worshi(% Det the Romans
tell this story in order to *loriy themselves2 the tr)th bein* that it was not &era#les who
killed .a#)s, and oered sa#rii#es to @e)s, b)t a *i*anti# herdsman named Garan)s, or
Re#aran)s, the ally o &era#les%
o% Gin* ,vander r)led rather by (ersonal as#endan#y than by or#e1 he was (arti#)larly
reveren#ed or the knowled*e o letters whi#h he had imbibed rom his (ro(heti# mother, the
!r#adian nym(h 3i#ostrate, or Themis2 she was a da)*hter o the river -adon, and tho)*h
already married to ,#hen)s, bore ,vander to &ermes% 3i#ostrate (ers)aded ,vander to
m)rder his s)((osed ather2 and, when the !r#adians banished them both, went with him to
$taly, a##om(anied by a body o "elas*ians% There, some si:ty years beore the TroHan War,
they o)nded the small #ity o "allanti)m, on the hill beside the river Tiber, later #alled
Mo)nt "alatine2 the site havin* been 3i#ostrateAs #hoi#e2 and soon there was no more
(ower)l kin* than ,vander in all $taly% 3i#ostrate, now #alled .armenta, ada(ted the
thirteen7#onsonant "elas*ian al(habet, whi#h .adm)s had bro)*ht ba#k rom ,*y(t, to orm
the iteen7#onsonant -atin one% 4)t some assert that it was &era#les who ta)*ht ,vanderAs
(eo(le the )se o letters, whi#h is why he shares an altar with the M)ses%
(% !##ordin* to the Romans, &era#les reed Gin* ,vander rom the trib)te owed to the
,tr)s#ans2 killed Gin* 'a)n)s, whose #)stom was to sa#rii#e stran*ers at the altar o his
ather &ermes2 and be*ot -atin)s, the an#estor o the -atins, on 'a)n)sAs widow, or da)*hter%
4)t the Greeks hold that -atin)s was a son o .ir#e by ;dysse)s% &era#les, at all events,
s)((ressed the ann)al .ronian sa#rii#e o two men, who were l)n* into the river Tiber, and
or#ed the Romans to )se ()((ets instead2 even now, in the month o May, when the moon is
)ll, the #hie Cestal Cir*in, standin* on the oaken7timbered "ons +)bli#i)s, throws
whitewashed ima*es o old men, (laited rom b)lr)shes, and #alled I!r*ivesA, into the yellow
stream% &era#les is also believed to have o)nded "om(eii and &er#)lane)m2 to have o)*ht
*iants on the "hle*raean "lain o .)mae2 and to have b)ilt a #a)seway one mile lon* a#ross
the -)#rine G)l, now #alled the &era#leian Road, down whi#h he drove GeryonAs #attle%
E% $t is )rther said that he lay down to rest near the rontier o Rhe*i)m and ,(i8e(hyrian
-o#ris and, bein* m)#h dist)rbed by #i#adas, be**ed the *ods to silen#e them% &is (rayer
was immediately *ranted2 and #i#adas have never been heard sin#e on the Rhe*ian side o the
river !le#e, altho)*h they sin* l)stily on the -o#rian side% ;ne day a b)ll broke away rom
the herd and, (l)n*in* into the sea, swam over to +i#ily% &era#les, *oin* in ()rs)it, o)nd it
#on#ealed amon* herds o ,ry:, Gin* o the ,lymnians, a son o !(hrodite by 4)tes% ,ry:,
who was a wrestler and a bo:er, #hallen*ed him to a i*htin* #ontest% &era#les a##e(ted the
#hallen*e, on #ondition that ,ry:A stake his kin*dom a*ainst the r)naway b)ll, and won the
irst events2 inally, in the wrestlin* mat#h, he lited ,ry: hi*h into the air and dashed him to
the *ro)nd and killed himJwhi#h ta)*ht the +i#ilians that not everyone born o a *oddess is
ne#essarily immortal% $n this manner, &era#les won ,ry:As kin*dom, whi#h he let the
inhabitants to enHoy )ntil one o his own des#endants sho)ld #ome to #laim it%
r% +ome say that ,ry:Jwhose wrestlin*7*ro)nd is still shownJhad a da)*hter named
"so(his, who bore &era#les two sons1 ,#he(hron and "roma#h)s% &avin* been reared in
,rymanth)s, they renamed it "so(his ater their mother2 and there b)ilt a shrine to ,ry#inian
!(hrodite, o whi#h today only the r)ins remain% The hero7shrines o ,#he(hron and
"roma#h)s have lon* sin#e lost their im(ortan#e, and "so(his is )s)ally re*arded as a
da)*hter o Zanth)s, the *randson o !r#as%
s% .ontin)in* on his way thro)*h +i#ily, &era#les #ame to a (lain where now stands the #ity
o +yra#)se2 there he oered sa#rii#e and instit)ted the ann)al estival beside the sa#red
#hasm o .yane, thro)*h whi#h &ades snat#hed .ore to the /nderworld% To those who
hono)red &era#les in the "lain o -eontini, he let )ndyin* memorial o his visit% .lose to the
#ity o !*yri)m, the hoo marks o his #attle has been o)nd im(rinted on a stony road, as
tho)*h in wa:2 and, re*arded as an intimation o his own immortality, &era#les a##e(ted
rom inhabitants those divine hono)rs whi#h he had hitherto #onsistently re)sed% Then, in
a#knowled*ement o their avo)rs, he d)* a lake o o)r )rlon*s in #ir#)meren#e o)tside
the #ity walls, and established san#t)aries o $ola)s and Geryon%
t% Ret)rnin* to $taly in sear#h o another ro)te to Gree#e, &e drove his #attle )( the eastern
#oast, to the -a#inian "romontory, where the r)ler, Gin* -a#ini)s, was aterwards able to
boast that he had ()t &era#les to li*ht2 this he did merely by b)ildin* a tem(le to &era, at the
si*ht o whi#h &era#les de(arted in dis*)st% +i: miles arther on, &era#les a##identally killed
one .roton, b)ried him with every hono)r, and (ro(hesied that, in time to #ome, a *reat #ity
wo)ld rise, #alled by his name% This (ro(he#y &era#les made *ood ater his deii#ation1 he
a((eared in a dream to one o his des#endants, the !r*ive Mys#el)s, threatenin* him with
terrible ()nishments i he did not lead a (arty o #olonists to +i#ily and o)nd the #ity2 and
when the !r*ives were abo)t to #ondemn Mys#el)s to death or deyin* their embar*o on
emi*ration, he mira#)lo)sly t)rned every bla#k votin*7(ebble into a white one%
)% &era#les then (ro(osed to drive GeryonAs #attle thro)*h $stria into ,(ir)s, and then#e to
the "elo(onnese by way o the $sthm)s% 4)t at the head o the !driati# G)l &era sent a
*adly, whi#h stam(eded the #ows, drivin* them a#ross Thra#e and into the +#ythian desert%
There &era#les ()rs)ed them, and one #old, stormy ni*ht drew the lion (elt abo)t him and
ell ast aslee( on a ro#ky hillside% When he awoke, he o)nd that his #hariot7mares, whi#h he
had )nharnessed and ()t o)t to *ra8e, were likewise missin*% &e wandered ar and wide in
sear#h o them )ntil he rea#hed the wooded distri#t #alled &ylaea, where a stran*e bein*, hal
woman, hal ser(ent, sho)ted at him rom a #ave% +he had his mares, she said, b)t wo)ld *ive
them ba#k to him only i he be#ame her lover% &era#les a*reed, tho)*h with a #ertain
rel)#tan#e, and kissed her thri#e2 where)(on the ser(ent7tailed woman embra#ed him
(assionately, and when, at last, he was ree to *o, asked him1 IWhat o the three sons whom $
now #arry in my wombK When they *row to manhood, shall $ settle them here where $ am
mistress, or shall $ send them to yo)KA
v% IWhen they *row )(, wat#h #are)llyPA &era#les re(lied% I!nd i ever one o them bends
this bowJth)s, as $ now bend itJand *irds himsel with this beltAJth)s, as $ now *ird
myselJ#hoose him as the r)ler o yo)r #o)ntry%A +o sayin*, he *ave her one o his two
bows, and his *irdle whi#h had a *olden *oblet han*in* rom its #las(2 then went on his way%
+he named her tri(lets !*athyrs)s, Gelon)s, and +#ythes% The eldest two were )neE)al to the
tasks that their ather had set, and she drove them away2 b)t +#ythes s)##eeded in both and
was allowed to remain, th)s be#omin* the an#estor o all royal +#ythian kin*s who, to this
day, wear *olden *oblets on their *irdles% ;thers, however, say that it was @e)s, not &era#les,
who lay with the ser(ent7tailed woman, and that, when his three sons by her were still r)lin*
the land, there ell rom the sky o)r *olden im(lements1 a (lo)*h, a yoke, a battle a:e, and a
#)(% !*athyrs)s irst ran to re#over them, b)t as he #ame #lose, the *old lamed )( and
b)rned his hands% Gelon)s was similarly reHe#ted% &owever, when +#ythes, the yo)n*est,
a((roa#hed, the ire died down at on#e2 where)(on he #arried home the o)r *olden treas)res
and the elder brothers a*reed to yield him the kin*dom%
w% &era#les, havin* re#overed his mares and most o the strayed #attle, drove them ba#k
a#ross the river +trymon, whi#h he #lammed with stones or the ()r(ose, and en#o)ntered no
)rther advent)res )ntil the *iant herdsman !l#yone)s, havin* taken (ossession o the
.orinthian $sthm)s, h)rled a ro#k at the army whi#h on#e more ollowed &era#les, #r)shin*
no less than twelve #hariots and do)ble that n)mber o horsemen% This was the same
!l#yone)s who twi#e stole &eli)sAs sa#red #attle1 rom ,rytheia, and rom the #itadel o
.orinth% &e now ran orward, (i#ked )( the ro#k a*ain, and this time h)rled it at &era#les,
who bandied it ba#k with his #l)b and so killed the *iant2 the very ro#k is still shown on the
$sthm)s%
1% The main theme o &era#lesAs -abo)rs is his (erorman#e o #ertain rit)al eats beore
bein* a##e(ted as #onsort to !dmete, or !)*e, or !thene, or &i((olyte, or whatever the
M)eenAs name was% This wild Tenth -abo)r may ori*inally have been relevant to the same
theme, i it re#ords the (atriar#hal &elleni# #)stom by whi#h the h)sband bo)*ht his bride
with the (ro#eeds o a #attle raid% $n &omeri# Gree#e, women were val)ed at so many #attle,
and still are in (arts o ,ast and .entral !ri#a% 4)t other irrelevant elements have be#ome
atta#hed to the myth, in#l)din* a visit to the Western $sland o ?eath, and his s)##ess)l
ret)rn, laden with s(oil2 the an#ient $rish (arallel is the story o .)#h)lain who harrowed &ell
J?)n +#aith, Ishadow #ityAJand bro)*ht ba#k three #ows and a ma*i# #a)ldron, des(ite
storms whi#h the *ods o the dead sent a*ainst him% The bron8e )rn in whi#h &era#les sailed
to ,rytheia was an a((ro(riate vessel or a visit to the $sland o ?eath, and has (erha(s been
#on)sed with the bron8e #a)ldron% $n the ,leventh Tablet o the 4abylonian Gil*amesh ,(i#,
Gil*amesh makes a similar Ho)rney to a se()l#hral island a#ross a sea o death, )sin* his
*arment or a sail% This in#ident #alls attention to many (oints o resemblan#e between the
&era#les and Gil*amesh myths2 the #ommon so)r#e is (robably +)merian% -ike &era#les,
Gil*amesh kills a monstro)s lion and wears its (elt2 sei8es a sky7b)ll by the horns and
over#omes it2 dis#overs a se#ret herb o inv)lnerability2 takes the same Ho)rney as the +)n2
and visits a Garden o the &es(erides where, ater killin* a dra*on #oiled abo)t a sa#red tree,
he is rewarded with two sa#red obHe#ts rom the /nderworld% The relations o Gil*amesh and
his #omrade ,nkid) #losely resemble those o These)s, the !thenian &era#les, and his
#omrade "eiritho)s who *oes down to Tartar)s and ails to ret)rn2 and Gil*ameshAs advent)re
with the +#or(ions has been awarded to the 4oeotian ;rion%
0% "re7"hoeni#ian Greek #olonies (lanted in +(ain, Ga)l, and $taly )nder &era#lesAs
(rote#tion have #ontrib)ted to the myth2 and, in the *eo*ra(hi#al sense, the "illars o
&era#lesJat whi#h one band o settlers arrived abo)t the year 1100 4.Jare .e)ta and
Gibraltar%
<% $n a mysti#al .elto7$berian sense, however, the "illars are al(habeti#al abstra#tions%
Marwnad ,r#wl , an an#ient Welsh (oem in the Red 4ook o &er*est, treats o the .elti#
&era#lesJwhom the $rish #alled I;*ma +)na#eA and -)#ian, I;*mi)sAJand re#ords how
,r#wl raised Io)r #ol)mns o eE)al hei*ht #a((ed with red *old,A a((arently the o)r
#ol)mns o ive letters ea#h, whi#h ormed the twenty7lettered 4ardi# al(habet known as the
4oibel7-oth 5White Goddess6% $t seems that, abo)t the year =00 4., this new al(habet, the
Greek letter7names o whi#h reerred to .elestial &era#lesAs Ho)rney in the s)n7*oblet, his
death on Mo)nt ;eta, and his (owers as #ity7o)nder and H)d*e 5White Goddess6, dis(la#ed
the 4eth7-)is73ion tree7al(habet, the letter7names o whi#h reerred to the m)rdero)s
sa#rii#e o .ron)s by the wild women 5White Goddess6% +in#e the Gor*ons had a *rove on
,rytheiaJARed $slandA, identiied by "here#ydes with the island o GadesJand sin#e ItreesA
in all .elti# lan*)a*es means IlettersA, $ read Ithe tree that takes diverse ormsA as meanin*
the 4eth7-)is73ion al(habet, whose se#ret the Gor*ons *)arded in their sa#red *rove )ntil
&era#les IannihilatedA them% $n this sense, &era#lesAs raid on ,rytheia, where he killed
Geryon and the do* ;rthr)sJthe ?o*7star +iri)sJreers to the s)((ression o the .ron)s7
al(habet by the &era#les7al(habet%
=% &esiod 5Theo*ony6 #alls Geryon tri#e(halon, Ithree7headedA2 another readin* o whi#h is
tri#arenon, meanin* the same thin*% ITri#arenonA re#alls Torvos Tri*aran)s, the .elti# *od
with two let hands, shown in the #om(any o #ranes and a b)ll on the "aris !ltar, ellin* a
willow7tree% Geryon, a meanin*less word in Greek, seems to be a worn7down orm o
Tri*aran)s% +in#e alike in Greek and $rish tradition #ranes are asso#iated with al(habeti#al
se#rets, and with (oets, Geryon a((ears to be the GoddessAs *)ardian o the earlier al(habet1
in a#t, .ron)s a##om(anied by the ?a#tyls% !t the se()l#hral island o ,rytheia, .ron)s7
Geryon, who was on#e a s)n7hero o the &era#les74riare)s ty(e, had be#ome a *od o the
dead, with ;rthr)s as his .erber)s2 and the Tenth -abo)r, thereore, has been #on)sed with
the Twelth, Menoetes i*)rin* in both% Tho)*h the Istoneless #herry7like r)itA s(r)n* rom
GeryonAs blood may have been arb)t)s7berries, native to +(ain, the story has been inl)en#ed
by the sa#redness to .ron)s7+at)rn o the early7r)itin* #ornel7#herry 5White Goddess6,
whi#h yields a red dye like the kern7berry% .hrysaorAs (art in the story is im(ortant% &is name
means I*olden al#hionA, the wea(on asso#iated with the .ron)s #)lt, and he was said to be
the Gor*on Med)saAs son%
5% 3ora:, GeryonAs *randson by ,rytheia and &ermesJ&ermes is re#orded to have bro)*ht
the tree7al(habet rom Gree#e to ,*y(t, and ba#k a*ainJ seems to be a miswritin* o
3oro(s, the Greek word or I+)n7a#eA% This *enealo*y has been t)rned inside7o)t by the
$rish mytho*ra(hers1 they re#ord that their own Geryon, whose three (ersons were known as
4rian, $)#har, and $)#harbaJa orm o Mitra, Car)na, and $ndraJhad ;*ma or a
*randather, not a *randson, and that his son was the .elt7$berian +)n7*od -)*h, -lew, or
-)*os% They also insisted that the al(habet had #ome to them rom Gree#e by way o +(ain%
.ron)sAs #row was sa#red to -)*os, a##ordin* to "l)tar#h who re#ords 5;n Ri#ers and
Mo)ntains6 that I-)*d)n)mAJ-yons, the ortress o -)*osJIwa s so #alled be#a)se an
a)s(i#e o #rows s)**ested the #hoi#e o its site2 l)* meanin* a #row in the !llobri*ian
diale#t%A
6% Cerri)s 'la##)s seems to have been misre(orted by +ervi)s2 he is more likely to have said
that IthreeJheaded Garan)s 5Geryon6, not .a#)s, wa s the name o &era#lesAs vi#tim, and
,vander aided &era#les%A This wo)ld it in with the a##o)nt o how ,vanderAs mother
.armenta s)((ressed the thirteen7#onsonant al(habet, .ron)sAs 4eth7-)is73ion, in avo)r o
&era#les7;*maAs iteen7#onsonant 4oibel7-oth 5White Goddess6% Gin* 9)ba, whom "l)tar#h
E)otes as sayin* that &era#les ta)*ht ,vanderAs (eo(le the )se o letters, was an honorary
ma*istrate o Gades, and m)st have known a *ood deal o lo#al al(habeti# lore% $n this
,vander story, &era#les is (lainly des#ribed as an enemy o the .ron)s #)lt, sin#e he
abolishes h)man sa#rii#e% &is #ir#)mamb)lation o $taly and +i#ily has been invented to
a##o)nt or the many tem(les there raised to him2 his ive7old #ontest with ,ry:, to H)stiy
the si:th #ent)ry #oloni8in* e:(editions whi#h "eniathl)s o .nidos, the &era#lid, and
?orie)s the +(artan, led to the ,ry: re*ion% The &era#les hono)red at !*yri)m, a +i#el #ity,
may have been an an#estor who led the +i#els a#ross the straits rom $taly abo)t the year
1050 4. 5Th)#ydides6% &e was also made to visit +#ythia2 the Greek #olonists on the western
and northern shores o the 4la#k +ea in#or(orated a +#ythian &era#les, an ar#her hero, in the
omni)m*ather)m Tenth -abo)r% &is bride, the ser(ent7tailed woman, was an ,arth7*oddess,
mother o the three (rin#i(al +#ythian tribes mentioned by &erodot)s2 in another version o
the myth, re(resented by the ,n*lish ballad o The -aidley Worm, when he has kissed her
three times, she t)rns into Ithe airest woman yo) ever did see%A
>% The !l#yone)s ane#dote seems to have be#ome deta#hed rom the myth o the GiantsA
assa)lt on ;lym()s and their deeat at &era#lesAs hands% 4)t !l#yone)sAs thet o &eli)sAs
#attle rom ,rytheia, and a*ain rom the #itadel o .orinth, is an older version o &era#lesAs
thet o GeryonAs #attle2 their owner bein* an a#tive solar #onsort o the Moon7*oddess, not a
banished and eneebled *od o the ?ead%
8% The arrow whi#h &era#les shot at the noon7day s)n will have been one dis#har*ed at the
8enith d)rin* his #oronation #eremony%
The ,leventh -abo)r1 The !((les ; The &es(erides
&,R!.-,+ had (erormed these Te n -abo)rs in the s(a#e o ei*ht years and one month2
b)t ,)rysthe)s, dis#o)ntin* the +e#ond and the 'ith, set him two more% The ,leventh
-abo)r was to et#h r)it rom the *olden a((le7tree, Mother ,arthAs weddin* *it to &era,
with whi#h she had been so deli*hted that she (lanted it in her own divine *arden% This
*arden lay on the slo(es o Mo)nt !tlas, where the (antin* #hariot7horses o the +)n
#om(lete their Ho)rney, and where !tlasAs shee( and #attle, one tho)sand herds o ea#h,
wander over their )ndis()ted (ast)res% When &era o)nd, one day, that !tlasAs da)*hters, the
&es(erides, to whom she had entr)sted the tree, were (ilerin* the a((les, she set the ever7
wat#h)l dra*on -adon to #oil aro)nd the tree as its *)ardian%
b% +ome say that -adon was the os(rin* o Ty(hon and ,#hidne2 others, that he was the
yo)n*est7born o .eto and "hor#ys2 others a*ain, that he was a (artho*eno)s son o Mother
,arth% &e had one h)ndred heads, and s(oke with diverse ton*)es%
#% $t is eE)ally dis()ted whether the &es(erides lived on Mo)nt !tlas in the -and o the
&y(erboreans2 or on Mo)nt !tlas in Ma)retania2 or somewhere beyond the ;#ean stream2 or
on two islands near the (romontory #alled the Western &orn, whi#h lies #lose to the
,thio(ian &es(eriae, on the borders o !ri#a% Tho)*h the a((les were &eraAs, !tlas took a
*ardenerAs (ride in them and, when Themis warned him1 I;ne day lon* hen#e, Titan, yo)r
tree shall be stri((ed o its *old by a son o @e)s,A !tlas, who had not then been ()nished
with his terrible task o s)((ortin* the #elestial *lobe )(on his sho)lders, b)ilt solid walls
aro)nd the or#hard, and e:(elled all stran*ers rom his land2 it may well have been he who
set -adon to *)ard the a((les%
d% &era#les, not knowin* in what dire#tion the Garden o the &es(erides lay, mar#hed
thro)*h $llyria to the river "o, the home o the ora#)lar sea7*od 3ere)s% ;n the way he
#rossed the ,#hedor)s, a small Ma#edonian stream, where .y#n)s, the son o !res and
"yrene, #hallen*ed him to a d)el% !res a#ted as .y#n)sAs se#ond, and manhailed the
#ombatants, b)t @e)s h)rled a th)nderbolt between them and they broke o the i*ht% When
at last &era#les #ame to the "o, the river7nym(hs, da)*hters o @e)s and Themis, showed him
3ere)s aslee(% &e sei8ed the hoary old sea7*od and, #lin*in* to him des(ite his many "rotean
#han*es, or#ed him to (ro(hesy how the *olden a((les #o)ld be won% +ome say, however,
that &era#les went to "romethe)s or this inormation%
e% 3ere)s had advised &era#les not to (l)#k the a((les himsel, b)t to em(loy !tlas as his
a*ent, meanwhile relievin* him o his antasti# b)rden2 thereore, on arrivin* at the Garden o
the &es(erides, he asked !tlas to do him this avo)r% !tlas wo)ld have )ndertaken almost any
task or the sake o an ho)rAs res(ite, b)t he eared -adon, whom &era#les there)(on killed
with an arrow shot over the *arden wall% &era#les now bent his ba#k to re#eive the wei*ht o
the #elestial *lobe, and !tlas walked away, ret)rnin* (resently with three a((les (l)#ked by
his da)*hters% &e o)nd the sense o reedom deli#io)s% I$ will take these a((les to
,)rysthe)s mysel witho)t ail,A he said, Ii yo) hold )( the heavens or a ew months
lon*er%A &era#les (retended to a*ree b)t, havin* been warned by 3ere)s not to a##e(t any
s)#h oer, be**ed !tlas to s)((ort the *lobe or only one moment more, while he ()t a (ad
on his head% !tlas, easily de#eived, laid the a((les on the *ro)nd and res)med his b)rden2
where)(on &era#les (i#ked them )( and went away with an ironi#al arewell%
% !ter some months &era#les bro)*ht the a((les to ,)rysthe)s, who handed them ba#k to
him2 he then *ave them to !thene, and she ret)rned them to the nym(hs, sin#e it was
)nlaw)l that &eraAs (ro(erty sho)ld (ass rom their hands% 'eelin* thirsty ater this -abo)r,
&era#les stam(ed his oot and made a stream o water *)sh o)t, whi#h later saved the lives o
the !r*ona)ts when they were #ast )( hi*h and dry on the -ibyan desert% Meanwhile &era,
wee(in* or -adon, set his ima*e amon* the stars as the #onstellation o the +er(ent%
*% &era#les did not ret)rn to My#enae by a dire#t ro)te% &e irst traversed -ibya, whose Gin*
!ntae)s, son o "oseidon and Mother ,arth, was in the habit o or#in* stran*ers to wrestle
with him )ntil they were e:ha)sted, where)(on he killed them2 or not only was he a stron*
and skil)l athlete, b)t whenever he to)#hed the earth, his stren*th revived% &e saved the
sk)lls o his vi#tims to roo a tem(le o "oseidon% $t is not known whether &era#les, who was
determined to end this barbaro)s (ra#ti#e, #hallen*ed !ntae)s, or was #hallen*ed by him%
!ntae)s, however, (roved no easy vi#tim, bein* a *iant who lived in a #ave beneath a
towerin* #li, where he easted on the lesh o lions, and sle(t on the bare *ro)nd in order to
#onserve and in#rease his already #olossal stren*th% Mother ,arth, not yet sterile ater her
birth o the Giants, had #on#eived !ntae)s in a -ibyan #ave, and o)nd more reason to boast
o him than even o her monstro)s elder #hildren, Ty(hon, Tity)s, and 4riare)s% $t wo)ld
have *one ill with the ;lym(ians i he had o)*ht a*ainst them on the "lains o "hle*ra%
h% $n (re(aration or the wrestlin* mat#h, both #ombatants #ast o their lion (elts, b)t while
&era#les r)bbed himsel with oil in the ;lym(i# ashion, !ntae)s (o)red hot sand over his
limbs lest #onta#t with the earth thro)*h the soles o his eet alone sho)ld (rove ins)i#ient%
&era#les (lanned to (reserve his stren*th and wear !ntae)s down, b)t ater tossin* him )ll
len*th on the *ro)nd, he was ama8ed to see the *iantAs m)s#les swell and a healthy l)sh
s))se his limbs as Mother ,arth revived him% The #ombatants *ra((led a*ain, and (resently
!ntae)s l)n* himsel down o his own a##ord, not waitin* to be thrown2 )(on whi#h,
&era#les, reali8in* what he was at, lited him hi*h into the air, then #ra#ked his ribs and,
des(ite the hollow *roans o Mother ,arth, held him alot )ntil he died%
i% +ome say that this #onli#t took (la#e at -i:)s, a small Ma)retanian #ity some ity miles
rom Tan*ier, near the sea, where a hillo#k is shown as !ntae)sAs tomb% $ a ew baskets)l o
soil are taken rom this hillo#k, the natives believe, rain will all and #ontin)e to all )ntil
they are re(la#ed% $t is also #laimed that the Gardens o the &es(erides were the near7by
island, on whi#h stands an altar o &era#les2 b)t, e:#e(t or a ew wild7olive trees, no tra#e o
the or#hard now remains% When +ertori)s took Tan*ier, he o(ened the tomb to see whether
!ntae)sAs skeleton were as lar*e as tradition des#ribed it% To his astonishment, it meas)red
si:ty #)bits, so he at on#e #losed )( the tomb and oered !ntae)s heroi# sa#rii#es% $t is said
lo#ally either that !ntae)s o)nded Tan*ier, ormerly #alled Tin*is2 or that +o(ha:, whom
Tin*a, !ntae)sAs widow, bore to &era#les, rei*ned over that #o)ntry, and *ave his motherAs
name to the #ity% +o(ha:As son ?iodor)s s)bd)ed many !ri#an nations with a Greek army
re#r)ited rom the My#enaean #olonists whom &era#les had settled there% The Ma)retanians
are o eastern ori*in and, like the "har)sii, des#ended rom #ertain "ersians who
a##om(anied &era#les to !ri#a2 b)t some hold that they are des#endants o those .anaanites
whom 9osh)a the $sraelite e:(elled rom their #o)ntry%
H% 3e:t, &era#les visited the ;ra#le at !mmon, where he asked or an interview with his
ather @e)s2 b)t @e)s was loth to reveal himsel and, when &era#les (ersisted, layed a ram,
()t on the lee#e, with the ramAs head hidin* his own, and iss)ed #ertain instr)#tions% &en#e
the ,*y(tians *ive their ima*es o @e)s !mmon a ramAs a#e% The Thebans sa#rii#e rams
only on#e a year when, at the end o @e)sAs estival, they slay a sin*le ram and )se its lee#e
to #over @e)sAs ima*e2 ater whi#h the worshi((ers beat their breasts in mo)rnin* or the
vi#tim, and b)ry it in a sa#red tomb%
k% &era#les then str)#k so)th, and o)nded a h)ndred7*ated #ity, named Thebes in hono)r o
his birth(la#e2 b)t some say that ;siris had already o)nded it% !ll this time, the Gin* o
,*y(t was !ntae)sAs brother 4)siris, a son o "oseidon by -ysianassa, the da)*hter o
,(a(h)s or, as others say, by !ni((e, a da)*hter o the river 3ile% 3ow, 4)sirisAs kin*dom
had on#e been visited with dro)*ht and amine or ei*ht or nine years, and he had sent or
Greek a)*)rs to *ive him advi#e% &is ne(hew, a learned .y(rian seer, named "hrasi)s,
Thrasi)s, or Thasi)s, son o "y*malion, anno)n#ed that the amine wo)ld #ease i every year
one stran*er were sa#rii#ed in hono)r o @e)s% 4)siris be*an with "hrasi)s himsel, and
aterwards sa#rii#ed to him #han#e *)ests, )ntil the arrival o &era#les, who let the (riests
hale him o to the altar% They bo)nd his hair with a illet, and 4)siris, #allin* )(on the *ods,
was abo)t to raise the sa#rii#ial a:e, when &era#les b)rst his bonds and slew 4)siris,
4)sirisAs son !m(hidamas, and all the (riestly attendants%
l% 3e:t, &era#les traversed !sia and ()t in at Thermydrae, the harbo)r o Rhodian -ind)s,
where he )nyoked one o the b)llo#ks rom a armerAs #art, sa#rii#ed it, and easted on its
lesh, while the owner stood )(on a #ertain mo)ntain and #)rsed him rom aar% &en#e the
-indians still )tter #)rses when they sa#rii#e to &era#les% 'inally he rea#hed the .a)#as)s
Mo)ntains, where "romethe)s had been lettered or thirty yearsJor one tho)sand, or thirty
tho)sand yearsJwhile every day a *rion7v)lt)re, born o Ty(hon and ,#hidne, tore at his
liver% @e)s had lon* re(ented o his ()nishment, be#a)se "romethe)s had sin#e sent him a
kindly warnin* not to marry Thetis, lest he mi*ht be*et one *reater than himsel2 and now,
when &era#les (leaded or "romethe)sAs (ardon, *ranted this witho)t dem)r% &avin* on#e,
however, #ondemned him to everlastin* ()nishment, @e)s sti()lated that, in order still to
a((ear a (risoner, he m)st wear a rin* made rom his #hains and set with .a)#asian stoneJ
and this was the irst rin* ever to #ontain a settin*% 4)t "romethe)sAs s)erin*s were destined
to last )ntil some immortal sho)ld vol)ntarily *o to Tartar)s in his stead2 so &era#les
reminded @e)s o .heiron,
who was lon*in* to resi*n the *it o immortality ever sin#e he had s)ered his in#)rable
wo)nd% Th)s no )rther im(ediment remained, and &era#les, invokin* &)nter !(ollo, shot
the *rion7v)lt)re thro)*h the heart and set "romethe)s ree%
m% Mankind now be*an to wear rin*s in "romethe)sAs hono)r, and also wreaths2 be#a)se
when released, "romethe)s was ordered to #rown himsel with a willow wreath, and
&era#les, to kee( him #om(any, ass)med one o wild7olive%
n% !lmi*hty @e)s set the arrow amon* the stars as the #onstellation +a*itta2 and to this day
the inhabitants o the .a)#as)s Mo)ntains re*ard the *rion7v)lt)re as the enemy o
mankind% They b)rn o)t its nests with lamin* darts, and set snares or it to aven*e
"romethe)sAs s)erin*%
$% The dierent lo#ations o the &es(erides re(resent dierent views o what #onstit)ted the
'arthest West% ;ne a##o)nt (la#ed the s#ene o this -abo)r at 4ereni#e, ormerly #alled the
#ity o the &es(erides 5"liny1 3at)ral &istory6, ,)s(erides 5&erodot)s6, or ,)es(erites
5&erodot)s6, b)t renamed ater the wie o "tolemy ,)er*etes% $t was b)ilt on "se)do(enias
5+trabo6, the western (romontory o the G)l o +irte% This #ity, washed by the river -athon,
or -ethon, had a sa#red *rove, known as the IGardens o the &es(eridesA% Moreover, the
-athon lowed into a &es(erian -ake2 and near by lay another, -ake Tritonis, en#losin* a
small island with a tem(le o !(hrodite 5+trabo2 "liny6, to whom the a((le7tree was
sometimes said to belon* 5+ervi)s on Cir*ilAs !eneid6% &erodot)s des#ribes this as one o the
ew ertile (arts o -ibya2 in the best years, the land bro)*ht orth one h)ndred7old%
0% 4esides these *eo*ra(hi#al dis()tes, there were vario)s rationali8ations o the myth% ;ne
view was that the a((les had really been bea)ti)l shee( 5melon means both Ishee(A and
Ia((leA6, or shee( with a (e#)liar red lee#e resemblin* *old, whi#h were *)arded by a
she(herd named ?ra*on to whom &es(er)sAs da)*hters, the &es(erides, )sed to brin* ood%
&era#les #arried o the shee( 5+ervi)s on Cir*ilAs !eneid2 ?iodor)s +i#)l)s6 and killed
5+ervi)s6 or abd)#ted, the she(herd 5"alae(hat)s6% "alae(hat)s makes &es(er)s a native o
.arian Milet)s, whi#h was still amo)s or its shee(, and says that tho)*h &es(er)s had lon*
been dead at the time o &era#lesAs raid, his two da)*hters s)rvived him%
<% !nother view was that &era#les res#)ed the da)*hters o !tlas, who had been abd)#ted
rom their amily or#hard by ,*y(tian (riests2 and !tlas, in *ratit)de, not only *ave him the
obHe#t o his -abo)r, b)t ta)*ht him astronomy into the bar*ain% 'or !tlas, the irst
astronomer, knew so m)#h that he #arried the #elestial *lobe )(on his sho)lders, as it were2
hen#e &era#les is said to have taken the *lobe rom him 5?iodor)s +i#)l)s6% &era#les did
indeed be#ome -ord o the @odia#, b)t the Titan astronomer whom he s)(erseded was .oe)s
5alias Thoth6, not !tlas%
=% The tr)e e:(lanation o this -abo)r is, however, to be o)nd in rit)al, rather than alle*ory%
$t will be shown that the #andidate or the kin*shi( had to over#ome a ser(ent and take his
*old2 and this &era#les did both here and in his battle with the &ydra% 4)t the *old whi#h he
took sho)ld not (ro(erly have been in the orm o *olden a((lesJthose were *iven him at
the #lose o his rei*n by the Tri(le7*oddess, as his (ass(ort to "aradise% !nd, in this )nerary
#onte:t, the +er(ent was not his enemy, b)t the orm that his own ora#)lar *host wo)ld
ass)me ater he had been sa#rii#ed% -adon was h)ndred7headed and s(oke with diverse
ton*)es be#a)se many ora#)lar heroes #o)ld #all themselves I&era#lesA1 that is to say, they
had been re(resentatives o @e)s, and dedi#ated to the servi#e o &era% The Garden o the
three &es(eridesJwhose names identiy them with the s)nsetJis (la#ed in the 'ar West
be#a)se the s)nset was a symbol o the sa#red kin*As death% &era#les re#eived the a((les at
the #lose o his rei*n, #orre#tly re#orded as a Great Dear o one h)ndred l)nations% &e had
taken over the b)rden o the sa#red kin*shi( rom his (rede#essor, and with it the title !tlas
JIthe lon*7s)erin* oneA% $t is likely that the b)rden was ori*inally not the *lobe, b)t the
s)n7disk%
5% 3ere)sAs behavio)r is modelled on that o "rote)s, whom Menela)s #ons)lted on "haros
5&omer1 ;dyssey6% &era#les is said to have as#ended the "o, be#a)se it led to the -and o the
&y(erboreans% We know that the straw7wra((ed *its rom the &y(erboreans to ?elos #ame
by this ro)te 5&erodot)s6% 4)t tho)*h their land was, in one sense, 4ritainJas the #entre o
the 4oreas #)ltJit was -ibya in another, and the .a)#as)s in another2 and the "aradise lay
either in the 'ar West, or at the ba#k o the 3orth Wind, the mysterio)s re*ion to whi#h the
wild *eese lew in s)mmertime% &era#lesAs wanderin*s ill)strate this d)biety% $ he was in
sear#h o the -ibyan "aradise, he wo)ld have #ons)lted "rote)s Gin* o "haros2 i o the
.a)#asian "aradise, "romethe)s 5whi#h is, indeed, !(ollodor)sAs version62 i o the 3orthern,
3ere)s, who lived near the so)r#es o the "o, and whose behavio)r resembled that o "rote)s%
6% !ntae)sAs bones were (robably those o a stranded whale, abo)t whi#h a le*end *rew at
Tan*ier1 IThis m)st have been a *iantJonly &era#les #o)ld have killed him% &era#les, who
()t )( those enormo)s (illars at .e)ta and GibraltarPA ! wrestlin* mat#h between the
#andidate or kin*shi( and lo#al #ham(ions was a widely observed #)stom1 the i*ht with
!ntae)s or the (ossession o the kin*dom, like These)sAs i*ht with +#iron, or ;dysse)sAs
with "hilomdeides, m)st be )nderstood in this #onte:t% "ra:iteles, the s#)l(tor o the
"arthenon, re*arded the overthrow o !ntae)s as a se(arate labo)r 5"a)sanias6%
>% !n an#ient reli*io)s asso#iation linked ?odona and !mmon2 and the @e)s worshi((ed in
ea#h was ori*inally a she(herd7kin*, ann)ally sa#rii#ed, as on Mo)nts "elion and
-a(hysti)s% &era#les did ri*ht to visit his ather @e)s when (assin* thro)*h -ibya2 "erse)s
had done so on his way to the ,ast, and !le:ander the Great ollowed s)it #ent)ries later%
8% The *od +et had reddish hair, and the 4)sirians thereore needed vi#tims with hair o that
#olo)r to oer ;siris, whom +et m)rdered2 redheads were rare in ,*y(t, b)t #ommon amon*
the &ellenes 5?iodor)s +i#)l)s2 "l)tar#h1 ;n $sis and ;siris 6J&era#lesAs killin* o 4)siris
may re#ord some ()nitive a#tion taken by the &ellenes, whose nationals had been waylaid
and killed2 there is eviden#e or an early &elleni# #olony at .hemmis%
9% .)rses )ttered d)rin* sa#rii#es to &era#les re#all the wellJestablished #)stom o #)rsin*
and ins)ltin* the kin* rom a near7by hill while he is bein* #rowned, in order to ward o
divine Healo)sy% Roman *enerals were similarly ins)lted at their tri)m(hs while they
im(ersonated Mars% 4)t sowers also #)rsed the seed as they s#attered it in the )rrows%
10% The release o "romethe)s seems to have been a moral able invented by !es#hyl)s, not a
*en)ine myth% &is wearin* o the willow7wreathJ #orroborated on an ,tr)s#an mirrorJ
s)**ests that he had been dedi#ated to the Moon7*oddess !natha, or 3eith, or !thene%
"erha(s he was ori*inally bo)nd with willow thon*s to the sa#rii#ial altar at her a)t)mn
estival%
$$% !##ordin* to one le*end, Ty(hon killed &era#les in -ibya, and $ola)s restored him to lie
by holdin* a E)ail to his nostrils 5,)do:)s o .nid)s1 .ir#)it o the ,arth, E)oted by
!thenae)s% 4)t it was the Tyrian &era#les Melkarth, whom the *od ,sm)n 5Ihe whom we
evokeA6, or !s#le(i)s, restored in this way2 the meanin* is that the year be*ins in Mar#h with
the arrival o the E)ails rom +inai, and that E)ail or*ies were then #elebrated in hono)r o the
*oddess%
The Twelth -abo)r1 The .a(t)re ; .erber)s
&,R!.-,+A+ last, and most dii#)lt, -abo)r was to brin* the do* .erber)s )( rom
Tartar)s% !s a (reliminary, he went to ,le)sis where he asked to (artake o the Mysteries and
wear the myrtle wreath% 3owadays, any Greek o *ood re()te may be initiated at ,le)sis, b)t
sin#e in &era#lesAs day !thenians alone were admitted, These)s s)**ested that a #ertain
"yli)s sho)ld ado(t him% This "yli)s did so and when &era#les had been ()riied or his
sla)*hter o the .enta)rs, be#a)se no one with blood7stained hands #o)ld view the Mysteries,
he was d)ly initiated by ;r(he)sAs son M)sae)s, These)s a#tin* as his s(onsor% &owever,
,)mol()s, the o)nder o the Greater Mysteries, had de#reed that no orei*ners sho)ld be
admitted, and thereore the ,le)sinians, loth to re)se &era#lesAs reE)est, yet do)bt)l
whether his ado(tion by "yli)s wo)ld E)aliy him as a tr)e !thenian, established the -esser
Mysteries on his a##o)nt2 others say that ?emeter hersel hono)red him by o)ndin* the
-esser Mysteries on this o##asion%
b% ,very year, two sets o ,le)sinian Mysteries are held1 the Greater in hono)r o ?emeter
and .ore, and the -esser in hono)r o .ore alone% These -esser Mysteries, a (re(aration or
the Greater, are a dramati# reminder o ?ionys)sAs ate, (erormed by the ,le)sinians at
!*rae on the river $liss)s in the month !nthesterion% The (rin#i(al rites are the sa#rii#e o a
sow, whi#h the initiates irst wash in the river .anthar)s, and their s)bseE)ent ()rii#ation by
a (riest who bears the name &ydran)s% They m)st then wait at least one year )ntil they may
(arti#i(ate in the Greater Mysteries, whi#h are held at ,le)sis itsel in the month
4oedromion2 and m)st also take an oath o se#re#y, administered by the mysta*o*)e, beore
bein* (re(ared or these% Meanwhile, they are re)sed admittan#e to the san#t)ary o
?emeter, and wait in the vestib)le thro)*ho)t the solemnities%
#% Th)s #leansed and (re(ared, &era#les des#ended to Tartar)s rom -a#onian Taenar)m2 or,
some say, rom the !#her)sian (enins)la near &era#leia on the 4la#k +ea, where marks o his
des#ent are still shown at a *reat de(th% &e was *)ided by !thene and &ermesJor
whenever, e:ha)sted by his -abo)rs, he #ried o)t in des(air to @e)s, !thene always #ame
hastenin* down to #omort him% Terriied by &era#lesAs s#owl, .haron ortied him a#ross the
river +ty: witho)t dem)r2 in ()nishment o whi#h irre*)larity he was lettered by &ades or
one entire year% !s &era#les ste((ed ashore rom the #ra8y boat, all the *hosts led, e:#e(t
Melea*er and the Gor*on Med)sa% !t si*ht o Med)sa he drew his sword, b)t &ermes
reass)red him that she was only a (hantom2 and when he aimed an arrow at Melea*er, who
was wearin* bri*ht armo)r, Melea*er la)*hed% IDo) have nothin* to ear rom the dead,A he
said, and they #hatted ami#ably or awhile, &era#les oerin* in the end to marry Melea*erAs
sister ?eianeira%
d% 3ear the *ates o Tartar)s, &era#les o)nd his riends These)s and "eiritho)s astened to
#r)el #hairs, and wren#hed These)s ree, b)t obli*ed to leave "eiritho)s behind2 ne:t, he
rolled away the stone )nder whi#h ?emeter had im(risoned !s#ala(h)s2 and then, wishin* to
*ratiy the *hosts with a *it o warm blood, sla)*htered one &adesAs #attle% Their herdsman,
Menoetes, or Menoet)s, the son .e)thonym)s, #hallen*ed him to a wrestlin* mat#h, b)t was
sei8ed aro)nd the middle and had his ribs #r)shed% !t this, "erse(hone, who #ame o)t rom
her (ala#e and *reeted &era#les like a brother, intervened and (leaded or MenoetesAs lie%
e% When &era#les demanded .erber)s, &ades, standin* by his wieAs side, re(lied *rimly1 I&e
is yo)rs, i yo) #an master him witho)t )sin* yo)r #l)b or yo)r arrows%A &era#les o)nd the
do* #hained to the *ate o !#heron, and resol)tely *ri((ed him by the throatJrom whi#h
rose three heads, ea#h maned with ser(ents% The barbed tail lew )( strike, b)t &era#les,
(rote#ted by the lion (elt, did not rela: his *ri( )ntil .erber)s #hoked and yielded%
% ;n his way ba#k rom Tartar)s, &era#les wove himsel a wreath rom the tree whi#h &ades
had (lanted in the ,lysian 'ields as a mere memorial to his mistress, the bea)ti)l nym(h
-e)#e% The o)ter leaves o the wreath remained bla#k, be#a)se that is the #olo)r o the
/nderworld, b)t those ne:t to &era#lesAs brow were blea#hed silver7white by his *lorio)s
sweat% &en#e the white (o(lar, or as(en, is sa#red to him1 #olo)r si*niyin* that he has
labo)red in both worlds%
*% With !theneAs assistan#e, &era#les re#rossed the river +ty: saely, and then hal7dra**ed,
hal7#arried .erber)s )( the #hasm in Troe8en, thro)*h whi#h ?ionys)s had #ond)#ted his
mother +emele% $n the tem(le o +avio)r !rtemis, b)ilt by These)s over the mo)th this
#hasm, altars now stand sa#red to the inernal deities% !t Troe8en also, a o)ntain dis#overed
by &era#les and #alled ater him is shown ront o &i((olyt)sAs ormer (ala#e%
h% !##ordin* to another a##o)nt, &era#les dra**ed .erber)s, born with adamantine #hains,
)( a s)bterrene (ath whi#h leads to the *loomy #ave o !#one, near Mariandyne on the 4la#k
+ea% !s .erber)s resisted avertin* his eyes rom the s)nli*ht, and barkin* )rio)sly with all
three mo)ths, his slaver lew a#ross the *reen ields and *ave birth to (oisono)s (lant
a#onite, also #alled he#ateis, be#a)se &e#ate was the irst to )se it% +till another a##o)nt is
that &era#les #ame ba#k to the )((er air thro)*h Taenar)m, amo)s or its #ave7like tem(le
with an ima*e o "oseidon standin* beore it2 b)t i a road ever led then#e to the /nderworld,
it has sin#e been blo#ked )(% 'inally, some say that reemer*ed rom the (re#in#t o
-a(hystian @e)s, on Mo)nt -a(hysti)s, where stands an ima*e o 4ri*ht7eyed &era#les%
i% De t all a*ree at least that, when &era#les bro)*ht .erber)s to My#enae, ,)rysthe)s, who
was oerin* a sa#rii#e, handed him a slaveAs (ortion, reservin* the best #)ts or his own
kinsmen2 and that &era#les showed his H)st resentment by killin* three o ,)rysthe)sAs sons1
"erimedes, ,)rybi)s, and ,)ry(il)s%
H% 4esides the a#onite, &era#les also dis#overed the ollowin* sim(les1 the all7heal hera#leon,
or Iwild ori*an)mA2 the +iderian hera#leon, with its thin stem, red lower, and leaves like the
#orianderAs, whi#h *rows near lakes and rivers, and is an e:#ellent remedy or all wo)nds
inli#ted by iron2 and the hyos#yamos, or henbane, whi#h #a)ses verti*o and insanity% The
3ym(haean hera#leon, whi#h has a #l)b7like root, was named ater a #ertain nym(h deserted
by &era#les, who died o Healo)sy2 it makes men im(otent or the s(a#e o twelve days%
1% This myth seems to have been ded)#ed rom an i#on whi#h showed &era#les des#endin* to
Tartar)s, where &e#ate the Goddess o the ?ead wel#omed him in the orm o a three7headed
monsterJ(erha(s with one head or ea#h o the seasonsJand, as a nat)ral seE)el to her *it
o the *olden a((les, led him away to the ,lysian 'ields% .erber)s, in a#t, was here #arryin*
o &era#les2 not #ontrariwise% The amiliar version is a lo*i#al res)lt o his elevation to
*odhead1 a hero m)st remain in the /nderworld, b)t a *od will es#a(e and take his Hailer with
him% Moreover, deii#ation o a hero in a so#iety whi#h ormerly worshi((ed only the
Goddess im(lies that the kin* has deied immemorial #)stom and re)sed to die or her sake%
Th)s the (ossession o a *olden do* was (roo o the !#haean &i*h Gin*As soverei*nty and
es#a(e rom matriar#hal t)tela*e% MenoetesAs (resen#e in Tartar)s, and &era#lesAs thet o
one o &adesAs #attle, shows that the Tenth -abo)r is another version o the Twelth1 a
harrowin* o &ell% To H)d*e rom the #orres(ondin* Welsh myth, MenoetesAs ather, tho)*h
()r(osely InamelessA, was the alder7*od 4ran, or "horone)s, or .ron)s2 whi#h a*rees with
the #onte:t o the Tenth -abo)r 5White Goddess6%
0% The Greater ,le)sinian Mysteries were o .retan ori*in, and held in 4oedromion 5Ir)nnin*
or hel(A6 whi#h, in .rete, was the irst month o the year, ro)*hly +e(tember, and so named,
a##ordin* to "l)tar#h 5These)s6, to #ommemorate These)sAs deeat o the !ma8ons, whi#h
means his s)((ression o the matriar#hal system% ;ri*inally, the Mysteries seem to have been
the sa#red kin*As (re(aration, at the a)t)mnal eE)ino:, or his a((roa#hin* death at
midwinterJhen#e the (remonitory myrtle wreathJin the orm o a sa#red drama, whi#h
advised him what to e:(e#t in the /nderworld% !ter the abolition o royal male sa#rii#es, a
eat)re o matriar#hy, the Mysteries were o(en to all H)d*ed worthy o initiation2 as in ,*y(t,
where the 4ook o the ?ead *ave similar advi#e, any man o *ood re()te #o)ld be#ome an
;siris by bein* ()riied o all )n#leanness and )nder*oin* a mo#k death% $n ,le)sis,
;siris was identiied with ?ionys)s% White (o(lar leaves were a +)merian symbol o
renas#en#e and, in the tree7#alendar, white (o(lar stood or the a)t)mnal eE)ino:%
<% The -esser Mysteries, whi#h be#ame a (re(aration or the Greater, seem to have been an
inde(endent "elas*ian estival, also based on the ho(e o rebirth, b)t takin* (la#e early in
'ebr)ary at .andlemas, when the trees irst leaJwhi#h is the meanin* o !nthesterion%
=% 3ow, sin#e ?ionys)s was identiied with ;siris, +emele m)st be $sis2 and we know that
;siris did not res#)e $sis rom the /nderworld, b)t she, him% Th)s the i#on at Troe8en will
have shown +emele restorin* ?ionys)s to the )((er air% The *oddess who similarly *)ides
&era#les is $sis a*ain2 and his res#)e o !l#estis was (robably ded)#ed rom the same i#onJ
he is led, not leadin*% &is emer*en#e in the (re#in#t o Mo)nt -a(hysti)s makes an
interestin* variant% 3o #avern e:ists on the s)mmit, and the myth m)st reer to the death and
res)rre#tion o the sa#red kin* whi#h was #elebrated thereJ a rite that hel(ed to orm the
le*end o the Golden 'lee#e%
5% !#onite, a (oison and (aralysant, was )sed by the Thessalian wit#hes in the man)a#t)re o
their lyin* ointment1 it h)mbed the eet and hands and *ave them a sensation o bein* o the
*ro)nd% 4)t sin#e it was also a ebri)*e, &era#les, who drove the ever7birds rom
+tym(hal)s, be#ame #redited with its dis#overy%
6% The seE)en#e o &era#lesAs eats varies #onsiderably% ?iodor)s +i#)l)s and &y*in)s
arran*e the Twelve -abo)rs in the same order as !(ollodor)s, e:#e(t that they both (la#e the
'o)rth beore the Third, and the +i:th beore the 'ith2 and that ?iodor)s (la#es the Twelth
beore the ,leventh% 3early all mytho*ra(hers a*ree that the killin* o the 3emean -ion was
the 'irst -abo)r, b)t in &y*in)sAs seE)en#e o Ithe Twelve -abo)rs o &era#les set by
,)rysthe)sA 5'ab)la6, it is (re#eded by the stran*lin* o the ser(ents% $n one (la#e, ?iodor)s
+i#)l)s asso#iates the killin* o !ntae)s and 4)siris with the Tenth -abo)r2 in another, with
the ,leventh% !nd while some writers make &era#les sail with the !r*ona)ts in his yo)th
5+ili)s $tali#)s62 others (la#e this advent)re ater the 'o)rth -abo)r 5!(olloni)s Rhodi)s62
and others ater the ,i*hth 5?iodor)s +i#)l)s6% 4)t some make him (erorm the 3inth
5Caleri)s 'la##)s1 !r*ona)ti#a6 and Twelth -abo)rs, and break the horns o both b)lls
beore he sailed with the !r*ona)ts2 and others deny that he sailed at all, on the *ro)nd that
he was then servin* as M)een ;m(haleAs slave 5&erodot)s, E)oted by !(ollodor)s6%
>% !##ordin* to -y#o(hron, &era#les was initiated into the ,le)sinian Mysteries beore
settin* o)t on the 3inth -abo)r2 b)t "hilo#hor)s 5E)oted by "l)tar#h1 These)s6 says that
These)s had him initiated in the #o)rse o its (erorman#e, and was res#)ed by him rom
Tartar)s d)rin* the Twelth -abo)r 5!(ollodor)s6% !##ordin* to "a)sanias, These)s was only
seven years old when &era#les #ame to Troe8en, wearin* the lion (elt2 and #leared the
$sthm)s o malea#tors on his way to !thens, at the time when &era#les was servin* ;m(hale
5!(ollodor)s6% ,)ri(ides believed that &era#les had o)*ht with !resAs son .y#n)s beore
settin* o)t on the ,i*hth -abo)r 5!l#estis62 "ro(erti)s, that he had already visited Tartar)s
when he killed .a#)s2 and ;vid 5'asti6, that .heiron died a##identally when &era#les had
almost #om(leted his -abo)rs, not d)rin* the 'o)rth%
8% !lbri#)s lists the ollowin* Twelve -abo)rs in this order, with alle*ori#al e:(lanations1
deeatin* the .enta)rs at a weddin*2 killin* the lion2 res#)in* !l#estis rom Tartar)s and
#hainin* .erber)s2 winnin* the a((les o the &es(erides2 destroyin* the &ydra2 wrestlin*
with !#helo)s2 killin* .a#)s2 winnin* the mares o ?iomedes2 deeatin* !ntae)s2 #a(t)rin*
the boar2 litin* the #attle o Geryon2 holdin* )( the heavens%
9% Cario)s -abo)rs and bye7works o &era#les were re(resented on !(olloAs throne at
!my#lae 5"a)sanias62 and in the bron8e shrine o !thene on the +(artan a#ro(olis
5"a)sanias6% "ra:itelesAs *able s#)l(t)res on the Theban shrine o &era#les showed most o
the Twelve -abo)rs, b)t the +tym(halian 4irds were missin*, and the wrestlin* mat#h with
!ntae)s re(la#ed the #leansin* o !)*eiasAs stables% The evident desire o so many #ities to
be asso#iated with &era#lesAs -abo)rs s)**ests that m)#h the same rit)al marria*e7task
drama, as a (reliminary to #oronation, was (erormed over a wide area%
T&, M/R?,R ; $"&$T/+
W&,3 &era#les ret)rned to Thebes ater his -abo)rs, he *ave Me*ara, his wie, now thirty7
three years old, in marria*e to his ne(hew and #harioteer $ola)s, who was only si:teen,
remarkin* that his own )nion with her had been ina)s(i#io)s% &e then looked abo)t or a
yo)n*er and more ort)nate wie2 and, hearin* that his riend ,)ryt)s, a son o Melani)s,
Gin* o ;e#halia, had oered to marry his da)*hter $ole to any ar#her who #o)ld o)tshoot
him and his o)r sons, took the road there% ,)ryt)s had been *iven a ine bow and ta)*ht its
)se by !(ollo himsel, whom he now #laimed to s)r(ass in marksmanshi(, yet &era#les
o)nd no dii#)lty in winnin* the #ontest% The res)lt dis(leased ,)ryt)s e:#essively and,
when he learned that &era#les had dis#arded Me*ara ater m)rderin* her #hildren, he re)sed
to *ive him $ole% &avin* dr)nk a *reat deal o wine to *ain #oniden#e, IDo) #o)ld never
#om(are with me and my sons as an ar#her,A he told &era#les, Iwere it not that yo) )nairly
)se ma*i# arrows, whi#h #annot miss their mark% This #ontest is void, and $ wo)ld not, in any
#ase, entr)st my beloved da)*hter to s)#h a r)ian as yo)rselP Moreover, yo) are
,)rysthe)sAs slave and, like a slave, deserve only blows rom a ree man%A +o sayin*, he
drove &era#les o)t o the "ala#e% &era#les did not retaliate at on#e, as he mi*ht well have
done2 b)t swore to take ven*ean#e%
b% Three o ,)ryt)sAs sons, namely ?idaeon, .lyti)s, and To:e)s, had s)((orted their ather
in his dishonest (retensions% The eldest, however, whose name was $(hit)s, de#lared that $ole
sho)ld in all airness have been *iven to &era#les2 and when, soon aterwards, twelve stron*7
hooved brood7mares and twelve st)rdy m)le7oals disa((eared rom ,)boea, he re)sed to
believe that &era#les was the thie% !s a matter o a#t, they had been stolen by the well7
known thie !)toly#)s, who ma*i#ally #han*ed their a((earan#e and sold them to the
)ns)s(e#tin* &era#les as i they were his own% $(hit)s ollowed the tra#ks o the mares and
oals and o)nd that they led towards Tiryns, whi#h made him s)s(e#t that &era#les was,
ater all, aven*in* the ins)lt oered him by ,)ryt)s% .omin* s)ddenly a#e to a#e with
&era#les, who had H)st ret)rned rom his res#)e o !l#estis, he #on#ealed his s)s(i#io)s and
merely asked or advi#e in the matter% &era#les did not re#o*ni8e the beasts rom $(hit)sAs
des#ri(tion as those sold to him by !)toly#)s, and with his )s)al heartiness (romised to
sear#h or them i $(hit)s wo)ld #onsent to be#ome his *)est% Det he now divined that he was
s)s(e#ted o thet, whi#h *alled his sensitive heart% !ter a *rand banE)et, he led $(hit)s to
the to( o the hi*hest tower in Tiryns%
I-ook abo)t yo)PA he demanded, Iand tell me whether yo)r mares are *ra8in* anywhere in
si*ht%A
I$ #annot see them,A $(hit)s admitted%
IThen yo) have alsely a##)sed me in yo)r heart o bein* a thiePA &era#les roared, distra)*ht
with an*er, and h)rled him to his death%
#% &era#les (resently went to 3ele)s, Gin* o "yl)s, and asked to be ()riied2 b)t 3ele)s
re)sed, be#a)se ,)ryt)s was his ally% 3or wo)ld any o his sons, e:#e(t the yo)n*est,
3estor, #onsent to re#eive &era#les, who event)ally (ers)aded ?ei(hob)s, the son o
&i((olyt)s, to ()riy him at !my#lae% &owever, he still s)ered rom evil dreams, and went
to ask the ?el(hi# ;ra#le how he mi*ht be rid o them% The "ythoness Zeno#lea re)sed to
answer this E)estion%
IDo) m)rdered yo)r *)est,A she said% I$ have no ora#les or s)#h as yo)PA
IThen $ shall be obli*ed to instit)te an ora#le o my ownPA #ried &era#les% With that, he
(l)ndered the shrine o its votive oerin*s and even ()lled away the tri(od on whi#h
Zeno#lea sat%
I&era#les o Tiryns is a very dierent man rom his .ano(i# namesake,A the "ythoness said
severely as he #arried the tri(od rom the shrine2 she meant that the ,*y(tian &era#les had
on#e #ome to ?el(hi and behaved with #o)rtesy reveren#e%
d% /( rose the indi*nant !(ollo, and o)*ht &era#les )ntil @e)s (arted the #ombatants with a
th)nderbolt, makin* them #las( hands in riendshi(% &era#les restored the sa#red tri(od, and
to*ether they o)nded the #ity o Gythi)m, where ima*es o !(ollo, &era#les, ?ionys)s now
stand side by side in the market (la#e% Zeno#lea then *ave &era#les the ollowin* ora#le1
ITo be rid o yo)r ali#tion yo) m)st be sold into slavery or one whole year and the (ri#e
yo) et#h m)st be oered to $(hit)sAs #hildren% @e)s is enra*ed that yo) hay violated the laws
o hos(itality, whatever the (rovo#ation%A
IWhose slave am $ to beKA asked &era#les h)mbly%
IM)een ;m(hale o -ydia will ()r#hase yo),A Zeno#lea re(lied%
I$ obey,A said &era#les, Ib)t on day $ shall enslave the man who has bro)*ht this s)erin*
)(on me and all his amily tooPA +ome, however, say that &era#les did not ret)rn the tri(od
and that, when one tho)sand years later, !(ollo heard that it had been taken to the #ity o
"hene)s, he ()nished the "heneans by blo#kin* the #hannel whi#h &era#les had d)* to #arry
the heavy rains, and looded their #ity%
e% !nother wholly dierent a##o)nt o these events is #)rrent a##ordin* to whi#h -y#)s the
,)boean, son o "oseidon and ?ir#e atta#ked Thebes d)rin* a time o sedition, killed Gin*
.reon, an, )s)r(ed the throne% 4elievin* .o(re)sAs re(ort that &era#les had died, -y#)s tried
to sed)#e Me*ara and, when she resisted him, wo)ld have killed her and the #hildren had
&era#les not ret)rned rom Tartar)s in time to e:a#t ven*ean#e% There)(on &era, whose
avo)rite -y#)s was, drove &era#les mad1 he killed Me*ara and his own sons, also the
!etolian +ti#hi)s% The Thebans, who show the #hildrenAs tomb, say that &era#les wo)ld have
killed his oster7ather !m(hitryon as well, i !thene had not kno#ked him insensible with a
h)* stone2 to whi#h they (oint, sayin*1 IWe ni#k7name it YThe .haste herV%A 4)t !m(hitryon
had, in a#t, died lon* beore, in the ;r#homenan #am(ai*n% The !thenians #laim that
These)s, *rate)l to &era#les or his res#)e rom Tartar)s, arrived at this H)n#t)re with
!thenian army, to hel( &era#les a*ainst -y#)s% &e stood a*hast at the m)rder, yet (romised
&era#les every hono)r or the rest o his lie, and ater his death as well, and bro)*ht him to
!thens, where Medea #)red his madness with medi#ines% +i#al)s then ()riied him on#e
more%
1% $n matrilineal so#iety, divor#e o a royal wie im(lies abandonment o the kin*dom whi#h
has been her marria*e (ortion2 and it seems likely that, on#e the an#ient #onventions were
rela:ed in Gree#e, a sa#red kin* #o)ld es#a(e death at the end o his rei*n by abandonin* his
kin*dom and marryin* the heiress o another% $ this is so, ,)ryt)sAs obHe#tion to &era#les as
a son7in7aw will not have been that he had killed his #hildrenJthe ann)al vi#tims sa#rii#ed
while he rei*ned at ThebesJb)t that he had evaded his royal d)ty o dyin*% The winnin* o a
bride by a eat o ar#hery was an $ndo7,)ro(ean #)stom1 in the Mahabharata, !rH)na wins
?ra)(adi th)s, and in the Ramayana, Rama bends +hivaAs (ower)l bow and wins +ita%
Moreover, the shootin* o one arrow towards ea#h #ardinal (oint o the #om(ass, and one
towards the 8enith, ormed (art o the royal marria*e rites in $ndia and ,*y(t% The mares as
s)rro*ate l)n* rom the Theban walls at the end o every year, or at any other time in
(la#ation o some an*ry deity%
0% &era#lesAs sei8)re o the ?el(hi# tri(od a((arently re#ords a ?orian #a(t)re o the shrine2
as the th)nderbolt thrown between !(ollo and &era#les re#ords a de#ision that !(ollo sho)ld
be allowed to kee( his ;ra#le, rather than yield it to &era#lesJ(rovided that he served the
?orian interests as (atron o the ?ymanes, a tribe belon*in* to the ?ori# -ea*)e% $t was
notorio)s that the +(artans, who were ?orians, #ontrolled the ?el(hi# ;ra#le in .lassi#al
times% ,)ri(ides omits the tri(od in#ident in his &era#les be#a)se, in =01 4., the !thenians
had been worsted by the Treaty o 3i#ias in their attem(t to maintain the "ho#iansA
soverei*nty over ?el(hi2 the +(artans insisted on makin* it a se(arate ()((et state whi#h
they themselves #ontrolled% $n the middle o the o)rth #ent)ry, when the dis()te broke o)t
a*ain, the "ho#ians sei8ed ?el(hi and a((ro(riated some o its treas)res to raise or#es in
their own deen#e2 b)t were badly beaten, and all their #ities destroyed%
<% The "ythonessAs re(roa#h seems to mean that the ?orians, who had #onE)ered the
"elo(onnese, #alled themselves I+ons o &era#lesA, and did not show her the same res(e#t as
their !#haean, !eolian, and $onian (rede#essors, whose reli*io)s ties were with the
a*ri#)lt)ral -ibyans o the ,*y(tian ?elta, rather than with the &elleni# #attle7kin*s2
Zeno#leaAs (rede#essor &ero(hile 5Idear to &eraA6, had been @e)sAs da)*hter by -amia and
#alled I+ibylA by the -ibyans over whom she r)led 5"a)sanias2 ,)ri(ides1 "rolo*)e to
-amia6% .i#ero #onirms this view when he denies that !l#meneAs son 5i%e% the (re7?orian
&era#les6 was the one who o)*ht !(ollo or the tri(od 5;n the 3at)re o the Gods6%
!ttem(ts were later made, in the name o reli*io)s de#en#y, to (at#h )( the E)arrel between
!(ollo the "ho#ian and &era#les the ?orian% Th)s "l)tar#h, a ?el(hi# (riest, s)**ests
5?ialo*)e on the , at ?el(hi6 that &era#les be#ame an e:(ert diviner and lo*i#ian, and
Iseemed to have sei8ed the tri(od in riendly rivalry with !(ollo%A When des#ribin* !(olloAs
ven*ean#e on the (eo(le o "hene)s, he ta#t)lly s)((resses the a#t that it was &era#les who
had d)* them the #hannel%
;m(hale
&,R!.-,+ was taken to !sia and oered or sale as a nameless slave by &ermes, (atron o
all im(ortant inan#ial transa#tions, who aterwards handed the ()r#hase money o three
silver talents to $(hit)sAs or(hans% 3evertheless, ,)ryt)s st)bbornly orbade his *rand#hildren
to a##e(t any monetary #om(ensation, sayin* that only blood wo)ld (ay or blood2 and what
ha((ened to the silver, &ermes alone knows% !s the "ythoness had oretold, &era#les was
bo)*ht by ;m(hale, M)een o -ydia, a woman with a *ood eye or a bar*ain2 and he served
her aith)lly either or one year, or or three, riddin* !sia Minor o the bandits who inested
it%
b% This ;m(hale, a da)*hter o 9ordanes and, a##ordin* to some a)thorities, the mother o
Tantal)s, had been beE)eathed the kin*dom by her )nort)nate h)sband Tmol)s, son o !res
and Theo*one% While o)t h)ntin* on Mo)nt .armanori)mJso #alled in hono)r o .armanor
son o ?ionys)s and !le:irrhoB, who was killed there by a wild boarJhe ell in love with a
h)ntress named !rrhi((e, a #haste attendant o !rtemis% !rrhi((e, dea to Tmol)sAs
entreaties, led to her mistressAs tem(le where, disre*ardin* its san#tity, he ravished her on
the *oddessAs own #o)#h% +he han*ed hersel rom a beam, ater invokin* !rtemis, who
there)(on let loose a mad b)ll2 Tmol)s was tossed into the air, ell on (ointed stakes and
shar( stones and died in torment% Theo#lymen)s, his son by ;m(hale, b)ried him where he
lay, renamin* the mo)ntain ITmol)sA2 a #ity o the same name, b)ilt )(on its slo(es, was
destroyed by a *reat earthE)ake in the rei*n o the ,m(eror Tiberi)s%
#% !mon* the many bye7works whi#h &era#les (erormed d)rin* this servit)de was his
#a(t)re o the two ,(hesian .er#o(es, who had #onstantly robbed him o his slee(% They
were twin brothers named either "assal)s and !#mon2 or ;i)s and ,)rybat)s2 or +ill)s and
Triball)sJsons o ;#ean)s by Theia, and the most a##om(lished #heats and liars known to
mankind, who roamed the world, #ontin)ally (ra#tisin* new de#e(tion% Theia had warned
them to
kee( #lear o &era#les and her words IMy little White7bottoms, yo) have yet to meet the
*reat 4la#k7bottomPA be#omin* (roverbial, Iwhite7bottomA now means I#owardly, or
las#ivio)sA% They wo)ld b)88 aro)nd &era#lesAs bed in the *)ise o bl)ebottles, )ntil one
ni*ht he *rabbed them, or#ed them to res)me their (ro(er sha(e, and bore them o, dan*lin*
head7downwards rom a (ole whi#h he #arried over his sho)lder% 3ow, &era#lesAs bottom,
whi#h the lionAs (elt did not #over, had been b)rned as bla#k as an old leather by e:(os)re to
s)n, and by the iery breaths o .a#)s and o the .retan b)ll2 and the .er#o(es b)rst into a it
o immoderate la)*hter to ind themselves s)s(ended )(side7down, starin* at it% Their
merriment s)r(rised &era#les, and when he learned its #a)se, he sat down )(on a ro#k and
la)*hed so heartily himsel that they (ers)aded him to release them% 4)t tho)*h we know o
an !sian #ity named .er#o(ia, the ha)nts o the .er#o(es and a ro#k #alled I4la#k 4ottomA
are shown at Thermo(ylae2 this in#ident thereore is likely to have taken (la#e on another
o##asion%
d% +ome say that the .er#o(es were event)ally t)rned to stone or tryin* to de#eive @e)s2
others, that he ()nished their ra)d)len#e by #han*in* them into a(es with lon* yellow hair,
and sendin* them to the $talian islands named "ithe#)sae%
e% $n a -ydian ravine lived one +yle)s, who )sed to sei8e (assin* stran*ers and or#e them to
di* his vineyard2 b)t &era#les tore )( the vines by their roots% !*ain, when -ydians rom
$tone be*an (l)nderin* ;m(haleAs #o)ntry, &era#les re#overed the s(oil and ra8ed their #ity%
!nd at .elaenae lived -ityerses the armer, a bastard son o Gin* Minos, who wo)ld oer
hos(itality to wayarers b)t or#e them to #om(ete with him in rea(in* his harvest% $ their
stren*th la**ed, he wo)ld whi( them and at evenin*, when he had won the #ontest, wo)ld
behead them and #on#eal their bodies in sheaves, #hantin* l)*)brio)sly as he did so% &era#les
visited .elaenae in order to res#)e the she(herd ?a(hnis, a son o &ermes who, ater
sear#hin* thro)*ho)t the world or his beloved "im(lea, #arried o by (irates, had at last
o)nd her amon* the slave7*irls o -ityerses% ?a(hnis was #hallen*ed to the rea(in* #ontest,
b)t &era#les takin* his (la#e o)trea(ed -ityerses, whom he de#a(itated with a si#kle,
throwin* the tr)nk into the river Maeander% 3ot only did ?a(hnis win ba#k his "im(lea, b)t
&era#les *ave her -ityersesAs (ala#e as a dowry% $n hono)r o -ityerses, "hry*ian rea(ers still
sin* a harvest dir*e #losely resemblin* that raised in hono)r o Maneros, son o the irst
,*y(tian kin*, who also died in the harvest ield%
% 'inally, beside the -ydian river +a*aris, &era#les shot dead a *i*anti# ser(ent whi#h was
destroyin* men and #ro(s2 and the *rate)l ;m(hale, havin* at last dis#overed his identity
and (arenta*e, released him and sent him ba#k to Tiryns, laden with *its2 while @e)s
#ontrived the #onstellation ;(hi)#h)s to #ommemorate the vi#tory% This river +a*aris, by the
way, was named ater a son o Myndon and !le:irrhoB who, driven mad by the Mother o the
Gods or sli*htin* her Mysteries and ins)ltin* her e)n)#h (riests, drowned himsel in its
waters%
*% ;m(hale had bo)*ht &era#les as a lover rather than a i*hter% &e athered on her three
sons, namely -am)s2 !*ela)s, an#estor o a amo)s Gin* .roes)s who tried to immolate
himsel on a (yre when the "ersians #a(t)red +ardis2 and -aomedon% +ome add a o)rth,
Tyrrhen)s, or Tyrsen)s, who invented the tr)m(et and led -ydian emi*rants to ,tr)ria, where
they took the name Tyrrhenians2 b)t it is more (robable that Tyrrhen)s was the son o Gin*
!tys, and a remote des#endant o &era#les and ;m(hale% 4y one o ;m(haleAs women,
named Malis, &era#les was already the ather o .leodae)s, or .leola)s2 and o !l#ae)s,
o)nder o the -ydian dynasty whi#h Gin* .roes)s o)sted rom the throne o +ardis%
h% Re(orts rea#hed Gree#e that &era#les had dis#arded his lion (elt and his as(en wreath, and
instead wore Hewelled ne#kla#es, *olden bra#elets, a womanAs t)rban, a ()r(le shawl, and a
Maeonian *irdle% There he satJthe story wentJs)rro)nded by wanton $onian *irls, teasin*
wool rom the (olished wool7basket, or s(innin* the thread2 tremblin*, as he did so, when his
mistress s#olded him% +he wo)ld strike him with her *olden sli((er i ever his #l)msy in*ers
#r)shed the s(indle, and make him re#o)nt his (ast a#hievements or her am)sement2 yet
a((arently he elt no shame% &en#e (ainters show &era#les wearin* a yellow (etti#oat, and
lettin* himsel be #ombed and mani#)red by ;m(haleAs maids, while she dresses )( in his
lion (elt, and wields his #l)b and bow%
i% What, however, had ha((ened was no more than this% ;ne day, when &era#les and
;m(hale were visitin* the vineyards o Tmol)s, she in a ()r(le, *old7embroidered *own,
with (er)med lo#ks, he *allantly holdin* a *olden (arasol over her head, "an #a)*ht si*ht o
them rom a hi*h hill% 'allin* in love with ;m(hale, he bade arewell to the mo)ntain7
*oddesses, #ryin*1 I&en#eorth she alone shall be my lovePA ;m(hale and &era#les rea#hed
their destination, a se#l)ded *rotto, where it am)sed them to e:#han*e #lothes% +he dressed
him in a net7work *irdle, abs)rdly small or his waist, and her ()r(le *own% Tho)*h she
)nla#ed this to the )llest e:tent, he s(lit the sleeves2 and the ties o her sandals were ar too
short to meet a#ross his inste(%
H% !ter dinner, they went to slee( on se(arate #o)#hes, havin* vowed a dawn sa#rii#e to
?ionys)s, who reE)ires marital ()rity rom his devotees on s)#h o##asions% !t midni*ht, "an
#re(t into the *rotto and, )mblin* abo)t in the darkness, o)nd what he tho)*ht was
;m(haleAs #o)#h, be#a)se the slee(er was #lad in silk% With tremblin* hands he )nt)#ked the
bed7#lothes rom the bottom, and wormed his way in2 b)t &era#les, wakin* and drawin* )(
one oot, ki#ked him a#ross the *rotto% &earin* a lo)d #rash and a howl, ;m(hale s(ran* )(
and #alled or li*hts, and when these #ame she and &era#les la)*hed )ntil they #ried to see
"an s(rawled in a #omer, n)rsin* his br)ises% +in#e that day, "an has abhorred #lothes, and
s)mmons his oi#ials naked to his rites2 it was he who reven*ed himsel on &era#les by
s(readin* the r)mo)r that his whimsi#al e:#han*e o *arments with ;m(hale was habit)al
and (erverse%
1% .armanor will have been a title o !donis, also killed by a boar% Tmol)sAs dese#ration o
the tem(le o !rtemis #annot be dated2 neither #an the order that &era#les sho)ld #om(ensate
,)ryt)s or his sonAs m)rder% 4oth events, however, seem to be histori#al in ori*in% $t is likely
that ;m(hale stands or the "ythoness, *)ardian o the ?el(hi# om(hal)s, who awarded the
#om(ensation, makin* &era#les a tem(le7slave )ntil it sho)ld be (aid, and that, I;m(haleA
bein* also the name o a -ydian E)een, the s#ene o his servit)de was #han*ed by the
mytho*ra(hers, to s)it another set o traditions%
0% The .er#o(es, as their vario)s (airs o names show, were #eres, or +(ites, #omin* in the
sha(e o del)sive and mis#hievo)s dreams, and #o)ld be oiled by an a((eal to &era#les who,
alone, had (ower over the 3i*htmare% Tho)*h re(resented at irst as sim(le *hosts, like
.e#ro(s 5whose name is another orm o #er#o(s6, in later works o art they i*)re as
#er#o(ithe#oi, Ia(esA, (erha(s be#a)se o &era#lesAs asso#iation with Gibraltar, one o his
"illars, rom whi#h .artha*inian mer#hants bro)*ht them as (ets or ri#h Greek and Roman
ladies% 3o a(es seem to have reE)ented $s#hia and "ro#ida, two islands to the north o the
4ay o 3a(les, whi#h the Greeks #alled "ithe#)sae2 their name really reers to the (ithoi, or
Hars, man)a#t)red there 5"liny1 3at)ral &istory6%
<% The vine7dressersA #)stom o sei8in* and killin* a stran*er at the vinta*e season, in hono)r
o the Cine7s(irit, was wides(read in +yria and !sia Minor2 and a similar harvest sa#rii#e
took (la#e both there and in ,)ro(e% +ir 9ames 'ra8er has dis#)ssed this s)bHe#t e:ha)stively
in his Golden 4o)*h% &era#les is here #redited with the abolition o h)man sa#rii#e1 a so#ial
reorm on whi#h the Greeks (rided themselves, even when their wars *rew more and more
sava*e and destr)#tive%
=% .lassi#al writers made &era#lesAs servit)de to ;m(hale an alle*ory o how easily a stron*
man be#omes enslaved by a le#hero)s and ambitio)s woman2 and that they re*arded the
navel as the seat o emale (assion s)i#iently e:(lains ;m(haleAs name in this sense% 4)t
the able reers, rather, to an early sta*e in the develo(ment o the sa#red kin*shi( rom
matriar#hy to (atriar#hy, when the kin*, as the M)eenAs #onsort, was (rivile*ed to de()ti8e
or her in #eremonies and sa#rii#esJb)t only i he wore her robes% Reveillo)t has shown
that this was the system at -a*ash in early +)merian times, and
in several .retan works o art men are shown wearin* emale *arments or sa#rii#ial
()r(osesJnot only the s(otted tro)ser7skirt, as on the &a*ia Triada sar#o(ha*)s, b)t even, as
on a (ala#e7res#o at .noss)s, the lo)n#ed skirt% &era#lesAs slavery is e:(lained by West
!ri#an matriar#hal native #)stoms1 in -oan*o, ?a)ra, and the !brons, as 4ria)lt has
(ointed o)t, the kin* is o servile birth and witho)t (ower2 in !*onna, -at)ka, /bemba, and
elsewhere, there is only a E)een, who does not marry b)t takes servile lovers% Moreover, a
similar system s)rvived )ntil .lassi#al times amon* the an#ient -o#rian nobility who had the
(rivile*e o sendin* (riestesses to TroHan !thene2 they were or#ed to emi*rate in 68< 4.
rom .entral Gree#e to ,(i8e(hyrian -o#ri, on the toe o $taly, Ibe#a)se o the s#andal #a)sed
by their noblewomenAs indis#riminate love aairs with slavesA% These -o#rians, who were o
non7&elleni# ori*in and made a virt)e o (ren)(tial (romis#)ity in the .retan, .arian, or
!morite style 5.lear#h)s6, insisted on stri#tly matrilineal s)##ession 5?ionysi)s1 ?es#ri(tion
o the ,arth2 "olybi)s6% The same #)stoms m)st have been *eneral in (re7&elleni# Gree#e
and $taly, b)t it is only at 4a*nara, near the r)ins o ,(i8e(hyrian -o#ri, that the matriar#hal
tradition is re#alled today% The 4a*narotte wear lon*, (leated skirts, and set o bareoot on
their #ommer#ial ro)nds whi#h last or several days, leavin* the men to mind the #hildren2
they #an #arry as m)#h as two E)intals on their heads% The men take holidays in the s(rin*
swordish season, when they show their skill with the har(oon2 and in the s)mmer, when they
*o to the hills and b)rn #har#oal% !ltho)*h the oi#ial (atron o 4a*nera is +t% 3i#holas, no
4a*narotte will a#knowled*e his e:isten#e2 and their (arish (riest #om(lains that they (ay ar
more attention to the Cir*in than even to the +onJthe Cir*in havin* s)##eeded .ore, the
Maid, or whose s(lendid tem(le -o#ri was amo)s m .lassi#al times%
&esione
!'T,R servin* as a slave to M)een ;m(hale, &era#les ret)rned to Tiryns, his sanity now
)lly restored, and at on#e (lanned an e:(edition a*ainst Troy% &is reasons were as ollows%
&e and Telamon, either on their way ba#k rom the #o)ntry o the !ma8ons, or when they
landed with the !r*ona)ts at +i*ei)m, had been astonished to ind -aomedonAs da)*hter
&esione, stark naked e:#e(t or her Hewels, #hained to a ro#k on the TroHan shore% $t a((eared
that "oseidon had sent a sea7monster to ()nish -aomedon or havin* ailed to (ay him and
!(ollo their sti()lated ee when they b)ilt the #ity walls and tended his lo#ks% +ome say that
he sho)ld have sa#rii#ed to them all the #attle born in his kin*dom that year2 others, that he
had (romised them only a low wa*e as day7labo)rers, b)t even so #heated them o more than
thirty TroHan dra#hmae% $n reven*e, !(ollo sent a (la*)e, and "oseidon ordered this monster
to (rey on the (lains olk and r)in their ields by s(ewin* sea water over them% !##ordin* to
another a##o)nt, -aomedon )lilled his obli*ations to !(ollo, b)t not to "oseidon, who
thereore sent the (la*)e as well as the monster%
b% -aomedon visited the ;ra#le o @e)s !mmon, and was advised by him to e:(ose &esione
on the seashore or the monster to devo)r% Det he obstinately re)sed to do so )nless the
TroHan nobles wo)ld irst let him sa#rii#e their own da)*hters% $n des(air, they #ons)lted
!(ollo who, bein* no less an*ry than "oseidon, *ave them little satisa#tion% Most (arents at
on#e sent their #hildren abroad or saety, b)t -aomedon tried to or#e a #ertain
"hoenodamas, who had ke(t his three da)*hters at home, to e:(ose one o them2 )(on whi#h
"hoenodamas haran*)ed the assembly, (leadin* that -aomedon was alone res(onsible or
their (resent distress, and sho)ld be made to s)er or it by sa#rii#in* his da)*hter% $n the
end, it was de#ided to #ast lots, and the lot ell )(on &esione, who was a##ordin*ly bo)nd to
the ro#k, where &era#les o)nd her%
#% &era#les now broke her bonds, went )( to the #ity, and oered to destroy the monster in
ret)rn or the two mat#hless, immortal, snow7white horses, or mares, whi#h #o)ld r)n over
water and standin* #orn like the wind, and whi#h @e)s had *iven -aomedon as #om(ensation
or the ra(e o Ganymedes% -aomedon readily a*reed to the bar*ain%
d% With !theneAs hel(, the TroHans then b)ilt &era#les a hi*h wall whi#h served to (rote#t him
rom the monster as it (oked its head o)t o the sea and advan#ed a#ross the (lain% ;n
rea#hin* the wall, it o(ened its *reat Haws and &era#les lea(ed )lly7armed down its throat%
&e s(ent three days in the monsterAs belly, and emer*ed vi#torio)s, altho)*h the str)**le had
#ost him every hair on his head%
e% What ha((ened ne:t is m)#h dis()ted% +ome say that -aomedon *ave &esione to &era#les
as his brideJat the same time (ers)adin* him to leave her, and the mares, at Troy, while he
went o with the !r*ona)tsJb)t that, ater the 'lee#e had been won, his #)(idity *ot the
better o him, and he re)sed to let &era#les have either &esione or the mares% ;thers say that
he had made this re)sal a month or two (revio)sly, when &era#les #ame to Troy in sear#h o
&ylas%
% The most #ir#)mstantial version, however, is that -aomedon #heated &era#les by
s)bstit)tin* mortal horses or the immortal ones2 where)(on &era#les threatened to make war
on Troy, and ()t to sea in a ra*e% 'irst he visited the island o "aros, where he raised an altar
to @e)s and !(ollo2 and then the $sthm)s o .orinth, where he (ro(hesied -aomedonAs
doom2 inally he re#r)ited soldiers in his own #ity o Tiryns%
% =% -aomedon, in the meantime, had killed "hoenodarnas and sold his three da)*hters to
+i#ilian mer#hants whi#h #ome to b)y vi#tims or the wild7beast shows2 b)t in +i#ily they
were res#)ed by !(hrodite, and the eldest, !e*esta, lay with the river .rimiss)s, who took
the orm o a do*Jand bore him a son, !e*estes, #alled !#estes by the -atins% This !e*estes,
aided by !n#hisesAs bastard son ,lym)s, whom he bro)*ht rom Troy, o)nded the #ities o
!e*esta, later #alled +e*esta ,ntella, whi#h he named ater his wie2 ,ry:2 and !sea% !e*esta
is said to have event)ally ret)rned to Troy and there married one .a(ys, to whom she be#ame
the mother o !n#hises%
h% $t is dis()ted whether &era#les embarked or Troy with ei*hteen lon* shi(s o ity oars
ea#h2 or with only si: small #rat and s#anty or#es% 4)t amon* his allies were $ola)s2
Telamon son o !ea#)s2 "ele)s2 the !r*ive ;ides2 and the 4oeotian ?eima#h)s%
i% &era#les had o)nd Telamon at +alamis eastin* with his riends% &e was at on#e oered
the *olden wine7bowl and invited to (o)r the irst libation to @e)s2 havin* done so, he
stret#hed o)t his hands to heaven and (rayed1 I; 'ather, send Telamon a ine son, with a skin
as to)*h as this lion (elt, and #o)ra*e to mat#hPA 'or he saw that "eriboea TelamonAs wie,
was on the (oint o *ivin* birth% @e)s sent down his ea*le in answer, and &era#les ass)red
Telamon that the (rayer wo)ld be *ranted2 and, indeed, as soon as the east was over,
"eriboea *ave birth to Great !Ha:, aro)nd whom &era#les threw the lion (elt, th)s makin*
him inv)lnerable, e:#e(t in his ne#k and arm(it, where the E)iver had inter(osed%
H% ;n disembarkin* near Troy, &era#les let ;ides to *)ard the shi(s, while he himsel led the
other #ham(ions in an assa)lt on the #ity% -aomedon, taken by s)r(rise, had no time to
marshal his army, b)t s)((lied the #ommon olk with swords and tor#hes and h)rried then
down to b)ild the leet% ;ides resisted him to the death, i*htin* a noble rear7*)ard a#tion,
while his #omrades la)n#hed the shi(s and es#a(ed -aomedon then h)rried ba#k to the #ity
and, ater a skirmish with &era#lesAs stra**lin* or#es, mana*ed to re7enter and bar the *ate
behind him%
k% &avin* no (atien#e or a lon* sie*e, &era#les ordered an immediate assa)lt% The irst to
brea#h the wall and enter was Telamon, who #hose the western #)rtain b)ilt by his ather
!ea#)s as the weakest s(ot, b)t &era#les #ame hard at his heels, mad with Healo)sy% Telamon,
s)ddenly aware that &era#lesAs drawn sword was intended or his own vitals, had the
(resen#e o mind to stoo( and #olle#t some lar*e stones dislod*ed rom the wall% XWhat are
yo) atKA roared &era#les% I4)ildin* an altar to &era#les the Ci#tor, &era#les the !verter o
$llnessPA answered the reso)r#e)l Telamon% I$ leave the sa#k o Troy to yo)%A &era#les
thanked him briely, and ra#ed on% &e then shot down -aomedon and all his sons, e:#e(t
"odar#es, who alone had maintained that &era#les sho)ld be *iven the immortal mares2 and
sa#ked the #ity% !ter *l)ttin* his ven*ean#e, he rewarded Telamon with the hand o &esione,
whom he *ave (ermission to ransom any one o her ellow #a(tives% +he #hose "odar#es%
ICery well,A said &era#les% I4)t irst he m)st be sold
as a slave%A +o "odar#es was ()t )( or sale, and &esione redeemed him with the *olden veil
whi#h bo)nd her head1 hen#e "odar#es won the name o "riam, whi#h means IredeemedA%
4)t some say that he was a mere inant at the time%
l% &avin* b)rned Troy and let its hi*hways desolate, &era#les set "riam on the throne, and
()t to sea% &esione a##om(anied Telamon to +alamis, where she bore him Te)#er2 whether in
wedlo#k or in bastardy is not a*reed% -ater she deserted Telamon, es#a(ed to !sia Minor, and
swam a#ross to Milet)s, where Gin* !rion o)nd her hidden in a wood% There she bore
Telamon a se#ond son, Trambel)s, whom !rion reared as his own, and a((ointed kin* o
TelamonAs !siati# kinsmen the -ele*ians or, some say, o the -esbians% When, in the #o)rse
o the TroHan War, !#hilles raided Milet)s, he killed Trambel)s, learnin* too late that he was
TelamonAs son, whi#h #a)sed him *reat *rie%
m% +ome say that ;ides did not all at Troy, b)t was still alive when ive ,rinnyes drove his
*randson !l#maeon mad% &is tomb is shown in !r#adia, near the Me*alo(olitan (re#in#t o
4oreas%
n% &era#les now sailed rom the Troad, takin* with him Gla)#ia, a da)*hter o the river
+#amander% ?)rin* the sie*e, she had been ?eima#h)sAs mistress, and when he ell in battle,
had a((lied to &era#les or (rote#tion% &era#les led her aboard his shi(, overHoyed that the
sto#k o so *allant a riend sho)ld s)rvive1 or Gla)#ia was (re*nant, and later *ave birth to a
son named +#amander%
o% 3ow, while +lee( l)lled @e)s into drowsiness, &era s)mmoned 4oreas to raise a storm,
whi#h drove &era#les ar o his #o)rse to the island o .os% @e)s awoke in a ra*e and
threatened to #ast +lee( down rom the )((er air into the *)l o ,reb)s2 b)t she led as a
s)((liant to 3i*ht, whom even @e)s dared not dis(lease% $n his r)stration he be*an tossin*
the *ods abo)t ;lym()s% +ome say that it was on this o##asion that he #hained &era by her
wrists to the raters, tyin* anvils to her ankles2 and h)rled &e(haest)s down to earth% &avin*
th)s vented his ill7tem(er to the )ll, he res#)ed &era#les rom .os and led him ba#k to
!r*os, where his advent)res are vario)sly des#ribed%
(% +ome say that the .oans mistook him or a (irate and tried to (revent his a((roa#h by
(eltin* his shi( with stones% 4)t he or#ed a landin*, took the #ity o !sty(alaea in a ni*ht
assa)lt, and killed the kin*, ,)ry(yl)s, a son o "oseidon and !sty(alaea% &e was himsel
wo)nded by .hal#odon, b)t res#)ed by @e)s when on the (oint o bein* des(at#hed% ;thers
say that he atta#ked .os be#a)se he had allen in love with .hal#io(e, ,)ry(yl)sAs da)*hter%
E% !##ordin* to still another a##o)nt, ive o &era#lesAs si: shi(s o)ndered in the storm% The
s)rvivin* one ran a*ro)nd at -a#eta on the island o .os, he and his shi(mates savin* only
their wea(ons rom the wre#k% !s they stood wrin*in* the sea water o)t o their #lothes, a
lo#k o shee( (assed by, and &era#les asked the Mero(ian she(herd, one !nta*oras, or the
*it o a ram2 where)(on !nta*oras, who was o (ower)l b)ild, #hallen*ed &era#les to
wrestle with him, oerin* the ram as a (ri8e% &era#les a##e(ted the #hallen*e b)t, when the
two #ham(ions #ame to *ri(s, !nta*orasAs Mero(ian riends ran to his assistan#e, and the
Greeks did the same or &era#les, so that a *eneral ro)*hwand7t)mble ens)ed% ,:ha)sted by
the storm and by the n)mber o his enemies, &era#les broke o the i*ht and led to the
ho)se o a sto)t Thra#ian matron, in whose #lothes he dis*)ised himsel, th)s #ontrivin* to
es#a(e%
r% -ater in the day, rereshed by ood and slee(, he o)*ht the Mero(ians a*ain and worsted
them2 ater whi#h he was ()riied o their blood and, still dressed in womenAs #lothes,
married .hal#io(e, by whom he be#ame the ather o Thessal)s% !nn)al sa#rii#es are now
oered to &era#les on the ield where this battle was o)*ht2 and .oan bride*rooms wear
womenAs #lothes when they wel#ome their brides homeJas the (riest o &era#les at
!ntima#heia also does beore he be*ins a sa#rii#e%
s% The women o !sty(alaea were oended at &era#les, and ab)sed him, where)(on &era
hono)red them with horns like #ows2 b)t some say that this was a ()nishment inli#ted on
them by !(hrodite or darin* to e:tol their bea)ty above hers%
t% &avin* laid waste .os, and all b)t annihilated the Mero(ians, &era#les was *)ided by
!thene to "hle*ra, where he hel(ed the *ods to win their battle a*ainst the *iants% Then#e he
#ame to 4oeotia where, at his insisten#e, +#amander was ele#ted kin*% +#amander renamed
the river $na#h)s ater himsel, and a near7by stream ater his mother Gla)#ia2 he also named
the s(rin* !#id)sa ater his wie, by whom he had three da)*hters, still hono)red lo#ally
)nder the name o IMaidensA%
1% This le*end #on#erns the sa#k o the ith, or (re7&omeri#, #ity o Troy1 (robably by
Minyans, that is to say !eolian Greeks, s)((orted by -ele*ians, when a timely earthE)ake
overthrew its massive walls% 'rom the le*end o the Golden 'lee#e we *ather that -aomedon
had o((osed -ele*ian as well as Minyan mer#antile vent)res at 4la#k +ea, and that the only
way to brin* him to reason was to destroy his #ity, whi#h #ommanded the &elles(ont and the
+#amander (lain where the ,ast7West air was ann)ally held% The 3inth -abo)r reers to
4la#k +ea enter(rises o the same sort% &era#lesAs task was assisted by an earthE)ake, dated
abo)t 1060 4.%
0% &era#lesAs res#)e o &esione, (aralleled by "erse)sAs res#)e o !ndromeda, is #learly
derived rom an i#on #ommon in +yria and !sia Minor1 Mard)kAs #onE)est o the +ea7
monster Tiamat, an emanation o the *oddess $shtar, whose (ower he ann)lled by #hainin*
her to a ro#k% &era#les is swallowed by Tiamat, and disa((ears or three days beore i*htin*
his way o)t% +o also, a##ordin* to a &ebrew moral tale a((arently based on the same i#on,
9onah s(ent three days in the WhaleAs belly2 and so Mard)kAs re(resentative, the Gin* o
4abylon, s(ent a (eriod in demise every year, d)rin* whi#h he was s)((osedly i*htin*
Tiamat% Mard)kAs or "erse)sAs white solar horse here be#omes the reward or &esioneAs
res#)e% &era#lesAs loss o hair em(hasi8es his solar #hara#ter1 shearin* o the sa#red kin*As
lo#ks when the year #ame to an end, si*niied the red)#tion o his ma*i#al stren*th, as in the
story o +amson% When he rea((eared, he had no more hair than an inant% &esioneAs ransom
o "odar#es may re(resent the M)eenJmother o +ehaAs 5+#amanderK6 intervention with the
&ittite Gin* M)rsilis on behal o her s#a(e*ra#e son Mana(adattas%
<% "hoenodamasAs three da)*hters re(resent the Moon7*oddess in triad, r)lin* the three7
#ornered island o +i#ily% The do* was sa#red to her as !rtemis, !(hrodite, and &e#ate%
Greek7s(eakin* +i#ilians were atta#hed to the &omeri# e(i#s, like the Romans, and eE)ally
an:io)s to #laim TroHan an#estry on however inse#)re *ro)nds% +#amanderAs three da)*hters
re(resent the same *oddess in 4oeotia% Gla)#iaAs bearin* o a #hild to +#amander was not
)n)s)al% !##ordin* to the (se)do7!es#hines 5?ialo*)es6, TroHan brides )sed to bathe in the
river, and #ry1 I+#amander, take my vir*inityPA2 whi#h (oints to an ar#hai# (eriod when it was
tho)*ht that river water wo)ld E)i#ken their wombs%
=% To what &elleni# #onE)est o the &elladi# island o .os &era#lesAs visit reers is )n#ertain,
b)t the s)bseE)ent wearin* o womenAs dress by the bride*room, when he wel#omed his
bride home, seems to be a #on#ession to the ormer matrilo#al #)stom by whi#h she
wel#omed him to her ho)se, not #ontrariwise% ! #ow7dan#e will have been (erormed on .os,
similar to the !r*ive rite hono)rin* the Moo7*oddess $o% !t !ntima#heia, the sa#red kin* was
still at the (rimitive sta*e o bein* the M)eenAs de()ty, and obli*ed thereore to wear emale
dress%
5% -aomedonAs mares were o the same breed as those sired at Troy by 4oreas%
6% The $na#h)s was an !r*ive river2 "l)tar#h seems to be the sole a)thority or a 4oeotian
$na#h)s, or +#amander%
The .onE)est ; ,lis
3;T lon* ater his ret)rn, &era#les #olle#ted a or#e o Tirynthians and !r#adians and, Hoined
by vol)nteers rom the noblest Greek amilies, mar#hed a*ainst !)*eias, Gin* o ,lis, whom
he owed a *r)d*e on a##o)nt o the 'ith -abo)r% !)*eias, however, oreseein* this atta#k,
had (re(ared to resist it by a((ointin* as his *enerals ,)ryt)s and .teat)s, the sons o his
brother !#tor and Molione, or Moline, a da)*hter o Mol)s2 and by *ivin* a share in the
,lean *overnment to the valiant !maryn#e)s, who is )s)ally des#ribed as a son o the
Thessalian immi*rant "ytti)s%
b% The sons o !#tor are #alled Moliones, or Molionides, ater their mother, to distin*)ish
them rom those o the other !#tor, who married !e*ina% They were twins, born rom a silver
e**, and s)r(assed all their #ontem(oraries in stren*th2 b)t, )nlike the ?ios#)ri, had been
Hoined to*ether at the waist rom birth% The Moliones married the twin da)*hters o
?e:amen)s the .enta)r and, one *eneration later, their sons rei*ned in ,lis Hointly with
!)*eiasAs *randson and !maryn#e)sAs son% ,a#h o these o)r #ommanded ten shi(s in the
e:(edition to Troy% !#tor already (ossessed a share o the kin*dom thro)*h his mother
&yrmine, a da)*hter o 3ele)s, whose name he *ave to the now vanished #ity o &yrmine%
#% &era#les did not #over himsel with *lory in this ,lean War% &e ell si#k, and when the
Moliones ro)ted his army, whi#h was en#am(ed% $n the heart o ,lis, the .orinthians
intervened by (ro#laimin* the $sthmian Tr)#e% !mon* those wo)nded by the Moliones was
&era#lesAs twin brother $(hi#les2 his riends #arried him aintin* to "hen#)s in !r#adia, where
he event)ally died and be#ame a hero% Three h)ndred and si:ty .leonensians also died
bravely, i*htin* at &era#lesAs side2 to them he #eded the hono)rs awarded him by the
3emeans ater he had killed the lion% &e now retired to ;len)s, the home o his riend
?e:amen)s, ather7in7law o the Moliones, whose yo)n*est da)*hter ?eianeira he
delowered, ater (romisin* to marry her% When &era#les had (assed on, the .enta)r
,)rytion asked or her hand, whi#h ?e:amen)s eared to re)se him2 b)t on the weddin* day
&era#les rea((eared witho)t warnin*, shot down ,)rytion and his brothers, and took
?eianeira away with him% +ome say, however, that &era#lesAs bride was named Mnesima#he,
or &i((olyte2 on the *ro)nd that ?eianeira is more )s)ally des#ribed as the da)*hter o
;ene)s% ?e:amen)s had been born at 4)ra, amo)s or its di#e7ora#le o &era#les%
d% When &era#les ret)rned to Tiryns, ,)rysthe)s a##)sed him o desi*ns on the hi*h kin*shi(
in whi#h he had himsel been #onirmed by @e)s, and banished him rom !r*olis% With his
mother !l#mene, and his ne(hew $ola)s, &era#les then reHoined $(hi#les at "hene)s, where
he took -aonome, da)*hter o G)ne)s, as his mistress% Thro)*h the middle o the "heneatian
"lain, he d)* a #hannel or the river !roani)s, some ity )rlon*s lon* and as m)#h as thirty
eet dee(2 b)t the river soon deserted this #hannel, whi#h has #aved in here and there, and
ret)rned to its ormer #o)rse% &e also d)* dee( #hasms at the oot o the "henean Mo)ntains
to #arry o lood water2 these have served their ()r(ose well, e:#e(t that on one o##asion,
ater a #lo)db)rst, the !roani)s rose and in)ndated the an#ient #ity o "hene)sJthe hi*h7
water marks o this lood are still shown on the mo)ntainside%
e% !terwards, hearin* that the ,leans were sendin* a (ro#ession to hono)r "oseidon at the
Third $sthmian 'estival, and that the Moliones wo)ld witness the *ames and take (art in the
sa#rii#es, &era#les amb)shed them rom a roadside thi#ket below .leonae, and shot both
dead2 and killed their #o)sin, the other ,)ryt)s, as well, a son o Gin* !)*eias%
% Molione soon learned who had m)rdered her sons, and made the ,leans demand
satisa#tion rom ,)rysthe)s, on the *ro)nd that &era#les was a native o Tiryns% When
,)rysthe)s dis#laimed res(onsibility or the misdeeds o &era#les, whom he had banished,
Molione asked the .orinthians to e:#l)de all !r*ives rom the $sthmian Games )ntil
satisa#tion had been *iven or the m)rder% This they de#lined to do, where)(on Molione laid
a #)rse on every ,lean who mi*ht take (art in the estival% &er #)rse is still res(e#ted1 no
,lean athlete will ever enter or the $sthmian Games%
*% &era#les now borrowed the bla#k7maned horse !rion rom ;n#)s, mastered him, raised a
new army in !r*os, Thebes, and !r#adia, and sa#ked the #ity o ,lis% +ome say that he killed
!)*eias and his sons, restored "hyle)s, the ri*ht)l kin*, and set him on the ,lean throne2
others, that he s(ared !)*eiasAs lie at least% When &era#les de#ided to re(eo(le ,lis by
orderin* the widows o the dead ,leans to lie with his soldiers, the widows oered a #ommon
(rayer to !thene that they mi*ht #on#eive at the irst embra#e% This (rayer was heard and, in
*ratit)de, they o)nded a san#t)ary o !thene the Mother% +o wides(read was the Hoy at this
ort)nate event that the (la#e where they had met their new h)sbands, and the stream lowin*
by it, was #alled 4ady, whi#h is the ,lean word or IsweetA% &era#les then *ave the horse
!rion to !drast)s, sayin* that, ater all, he (reerred to i*ht on oot%
h% !bo)t this time, &era#les won his title o 4)(ha*)s, or I;:7eaterA% $t ha((ened as ollows%
-e(re)s, the son o .a)#on and !stydameia, who o)nded the #ity o -e(re)s in !r#adia 5the
distri#t derived its name rom the le(rosy whi#h had atta#ked the earliest settlers6, had
oolishly advised Gin* !)*eias to etter &era#les when he asked to be (aid or havin*
#leansed the #attle7yards% &earin* that &era#les was on his way to the #ity, !stydameia
(ers)aded -e(re)s to re#eive him #o)rteo)sly and (lead or or*iveness% This &era#les
*ranted, b)t #hallen*ed -e(re)s to a tri(le #ontest1 o throwin* the dis#)s, drinkin* b)#ket
ater b)#ket o water, and eatin* an o:% Then, tho)*h &era#les won the dis#)s7throw and the
drinkin*7mat#h, -e(re)s ate the o: in less time than he% 'l)shed with s)##ess, he #hallen*ed
&era#les to a d)el, and was at on#e #l)bbed to death2 his tomb is shown at "hi*alia% The
-e(reans, who worshi( ?emeter and @e)s o the White "o(lar, have always been s)bHe#ts o
,lis2 and i one o them ever wins a (ri8e at ;lym(ia, the herald (ro#laims him an ,lean rom
-e(re)s% Gin* !)*eias is still hono)red as a hero by the ,leans, and it was only d)rin* the
rei*n o -y#)r*)s the +(artan that they were (ers)aded to or*et their enmity o &era#les and
sa#rii#e to him also2 by whi#h means they averted a (estilen#e%
i% !ter the #onE)est o ,lis, &era#les assembled his army at "isa, and )sed the s(oil to
establish the amo)s o)r7yearly ;lym(i# 'estival and Games in hono)r o his ather @e)s,
whi#h some #laim was only the ei*hth athleti# #ontest ever held% &avin* meas)red a (re#in#t
or @e)s, and en#ed o the +a#red Grove, he ste((ed o)t the stadi)m, named a nei*hbo)rin*
hillo#k IThe &ill o .ron)sA, and raised si: altars to the ;lym(ian *ods1 one or every (air o
them% $n sa#rii#in* to @e)s, he b)rnt the vi#timsA thi*hs )(on a ire o white (o(lar wood #)t
rom trees *rowin* by the Thes(rotian river !#heron2 he also orreded a sa#rii#ial hearth in
hono)r o his *reat7*randather "elo(s, and assi*ned him a shrine% 4ein* m)#h (la*)ed by
lies on this o##asion, he oered a se#ond sa#rii#e to @e)s the !verter o 'lies1 who sent
them b)88in* a#ross the river !l(hei)s% The ,leans still sa#rii#e to this @e)s, when they
e:(el the lies rom ;lym(ia%
H% 3ow, at the irst )ll moon ater the s)mmer solsti#e all was ready or the 'estival, e:#e(t
that the valley la#ked trees to shade it rom the s)n% &era#les thereore ret)rned to the -and
o the &y(erboreans, where he had admired the wild olives *rowin* at the so)r#e o the
?an)be, and (ers)aded !(olloAs (riests to *ive him one or (lantin* in @e)sAs (re#in#t%
Ret)rnin* to ;lym(ia, he ordained that the !etolian em(ire sho)ld #rown the vi#tors with its
leaves1 whi#h were to be their only reward, be#a)se he himsel had (erormed his -abo)rs
witho)t (ayment rom ,)rysthe)s% This tree, #alled IThe ;live o the 'air .rownA, still *rows
in the +a#red Grove behind @e)sAs tem(le% The bran#hes or the wreaths are lo((ed with a
*olden si#kle by a nobly7born boy, both o whose (arents m)st be alive%
k% +ome say that &era#les won all the events by dea)lt, be#a)se none dared #om(ete a*ainst
him2 b)t the tr)th is that every one was boldly dis()ted% 3o other #ontestants #o)ld, however,
be o)nd or the wrestlin* mat#h, )ntil @e)s, in dis*)ise, #ondes#ended to enter the rin*% The
mat#h was drawn, @e)s revealed himsel to his son &era#les, all the s(e#tators #heered, and
the )ll moon shone as bri*ht as day%
l% 4)t the more an#ient le*end is that the ;lym(i# Games were o)nded by &era#les the
?a#tyl, and that it was he who bro)*ht the wild olive rom the land o the &y(erboreans%
.harms and am)lets in hono)r o &era#les the ?a#tyl are m)#h )sed by sor#eresses, who
have little re*ard or &era#les son o !l#mene% @e)sAs altar, whi#h stands at an eE)al distan#e
between the shrine o "elo(s and the san#t)ary o &era, b)t in ront o both, is said to have
been b)ilt by this earlier &era#les, like the altar at "er*am)s, rom the ashes o the thi*h7
bones he sa#rii#ed to @e)s% ;n#e a year, on the nineteenth day o the ,lean month ,la(hi)s,
soothsayers et#h the ashes rom the .o)n#il &all, and ater moistenin* them with water rom
the river !l(hei)sJno other will serveJa((ly a resh #oat o this (laster to the altar%
m% This is not, however, to deny that &era#les the son o !l#mene reo)nded the Games1 or
an an#ient walled *ymnasi)m is shown at ,lis, where athletes train% Tall (lane7trees *row
between the r)nnin*7tra#ks, and the en#los)re is #alled Zyst)s be#a)se &era#les e:er#ised
himsel there by s#ra(in* )( thistles% 4)t .lymen)s the .retan, son o .ardis a des#endant o
the ?a#tyl, had #elebrated the 'estival, only ity years ater the ?e)#alionian 'lood2 and
s)bseE)ently ,ndymion had done the same, and "elo(s, and !mythaon son o .rethe)s, also
"elias and 3ele)s, and some say !)*eias%
n% The ;lym(i# 'estival is held at an interval alternately o orty7nine and ity months,
a##ordin* to the #alendar, and now lasts or ive days1 rom the eleventh to the iteenth o the
month in whi#h it ha((ens to all% &eralds (ro#laim an absol)te armisti#e thro)*ho)t Gree#e
or the whole o this month, and no athlete is (ermitted to attend who has been *)ilty o any
elony or oen#e a*ainst the *ods% ;ri*inally, the 'estival was mana*ed by the "isans2 b)t,
ater the inal ret)rn o the &era#lids, their !etolian allies settled in ,lis and were #har*ed
with the task%
o% ;n the northern side o the &ill o .ron)s, a ser(ent #alled +osi(olis is ho)sed in
,ileithyiaAs shrine2 a white7veiled vir*in7(riestess eeds it with honey7#akes and water% This
#)stom #ommemorates a mira#le whi#h drove away the !r#adians when they o)*ht a*ainst
the holy land o ,lis1 an )nknown woman #ame to the ,lean *enerals with a s)#klin* #hild
and *ave it to them as their #ham(ion% They believed her, and when she sat the #hild down
between the two armies, it #han*ed into a ser(ent2 the !r#adians led, ()rs)ed by the ,leans,
and s)ered ear)l losses% ,ileithyiaAs shrine marks the (la#e where the ser(ent disa((eared
into the &ill o .ron)s% ;n the s)mmit, sa#rii#es are oered to .ron)s at the s(rin* eE)ino:
in the month o ,la(hi)s, by (riestesses known as IM)eensA%
1% This myth a((arently re#ords an )ns)##ess)l !#haean invasion o the Western
"elo(onnese ollowed, at the #lose o the thirteenth #ent)ry 4., by a se#ond, s)##ess)l,
invasion whi#h has, however, been #on)sed with the ?orian invasion o the eleventh #ent)ry
4.J&era#les havin* also been a ?orian hero% The m)rder o ,)rytion may be ded)#ed rom
the same weddin*7i#on that showed the killin* o "hol)s% &era#lesAs di**in* o the !r#adian
#hannel is (aralleled by similar eats in ,lis, 4oeotia, and Thra#e2 and the hono)rs (aid to the
three h)ndred and si:ty .leonensians (robably reer to a #alendar mystery, sin#e three
h)ndred and si:ty are the n)mber o days in the ,*y(tian year, e:#l)sive o the ive sa#red to
;siris, &or)s, +et, $sis, and 3e(hthys%
0% The le(rosy asso#iated with -e(re)s was vitili*o, a skin disease #a)sed by o)l ood,
whi#h the Moon7*oddess o the white (o(lar #o)ld #)re 5White Goddess62 tr)e le(rosy did
not rea#h ,)ro(e )ntil the irst #ent)ry 4.%
<% &era#lesAs title o 4)(ha*)s ori*inally reerred to the eatin* o an o: by his worshi((ers%
=% +oso(olis m)st have been the *host o .ron)s ater whom the hillo#k was #alled, and
whose head was b)ried on its northern slo(es, to (rote#t the stadi)m whi#h lay behind it, near
the H)n#tion o the .lade)s and !l(hei)s% &is 4ritish #o)nter(art 4ran similarly *)arded
Tower &ill, #ommandin* -ondon% The s(rin* eE)ino:, when awns are dro((ed, o##)rs
d)rin* the alder7month o the tree7#alendar, also #alled ,la(hi)s 5Io the awnA6, and
(e#)liarly sa#red to .ron)s74ran 5White Goddess6% This s)**ests that, ori*inally, the ,lean
3ew Dear be*an at the s(rin* solsti#e, as in (arts o $taly, when the Gin* o the old year,
wearin* horns like !#taeon, was ()t to death by the wild women, or IM)eensA2 &era#les the
?a#tyl belon*s to this #)lt% The "elo(ians seem to have #han*ed the #alendar when they
arrived with their solar #hariot and (or(oise, makin* the )neral *ames #elebrate the
mids)mmer m)rder and s)((ression o @e)s, the sa#red kin*, by his tanistJas the kin*
reven*ed himsel on the tanist at midwinter% $n .lassi#al times, thereore, the ,lean 3ew Dear
was #elebrated in the s)mmer% The mention o "elo(s s)**ests that the kin* was sa#rii#ially
eaten and the ashes o his bones mi:ed with water to (laster the GoddessAs altar% &e was
#alled the Green @e)s, or !#hilles, as well as &era#les%
5% Wild olive, )sed in Gree#e to e:(el old7year demons and s(ites, who took the orm o lies,
was introd)#ed rom -ibya, where the #)lt o the 3orth Wind ori*inated, rather than the
3orth% !t ;lym(ia, it will have been mistletoe 5or loranth)s6, not wild7olive, whi#h the boy
lo((ed with a *olden si#kle2 wild7olive i*)red in the &y(erborean tree7#alendar% The *irlsA
ootra#e or the (osition o (riestess to &era was the earliest event2 b)t when the sin*le year
o the kin*As rei*n was (rolon*ed to a Great Dear o nominally a h)ndred monthsJto (ermit
a more e:a#t syn#hroni8ation o solar and l)nar timeJthe kin* rei*ned or one hal o this
(eriod, the tanist or the other% -ater, both r)led #on#)rrently )nder the title Moliones, and
were no less #losely )nited than the kin*s o +(arta% $t may be that a #ase o +iamese twins
had o##)rred in Gree#e reinor#e the meta(hor% 4)t !)*eiasAs division o ,lis, re(orted by
&omer, shows that at a still later sta*e, the sa#red kin* retained a third (art o his kin*dom
when he was d)e to retire2 as "roet)s did at !r*os% !maryn#e)sAs share was evidently *ained
by #onE)est%
6% Molione is (erha(s a title o the ,lean Moon7*oddess, the (atroness o the Games,
meanin* IM)een o the MolyA2 the moly bein* a herb whi#h elsewhere deied moon7ma*i#%
+he was also known as !*amede 5Ivery #)nnin*A62 and this is the name o !)*eiasAs
sor#eress da)*hter, who Iknew all the dr)*s that *row on earthA 5&omer1 $liad6% $n .lassi#al
Gree#e, I!thene the MotherA was a stran*e and inde#ent #on#e(t and had to be e:(lained
away, by the ,lean tradition s)**ests that eroti# or*ies had been #elebrated in her hono)r
beside the river 4ady%
>% The mastery o !rion, it seems, ormed (art o the #oronation rite in !r#adian ;n#)s
The .a(t)re ; "yllis
&,R!.-,+ ne:t sa#ked and b)rned the #ity o "yl)s, be#a)se the "ylians had *one to the
aid o ,lis% &e killed all 3ele)sAs sons, e:#e(t the yo)n*est, 3estor, who was away at
Gerania, b)t 3ele)s himsel es#a(ed with his lie%
b% !thene, #ham(ion o H)sti#e, o)*ht or &era#les2 and "yl)s was deended by &era,
"oseidon, &ades, and !res% While !thene en*a*ed !res, &era#les made or "oseidon, #l)b
a*ainst trident, and or#ed him to *ive way% 3e:t, he ran to assist !thene, s(ear in hand, and
his this way l)n*e7(ier#ed !resAs shield, dashin* him headlon* to the *ro)nd2 then with a
(ower)l thr)st at !resAs thi*h, he drove dee( into the divine lesh% !res led in an*)ish to
;lym()s, where !(ollo s(read soothin* )n*)ents on the wo)nd and healed it within the
ho)r2 so he renewed the i*ht, )ntil one o &era#lesAs arrows (ier#ed his shot7rider, and
or#ed him o the ield or *ood% Meanwhile, &era#les had also wo)nded &era in the ri*ht
breast with a three7barbed arrow%
e% 3ele)sAs eldest son, "eri#lymen)s the !r*ona)t, was *ited by "oseidon with bo)ndless
stren*th and the (ower o ass)min* whatever sha(e he
(leased, whether o bird, beast, or tree% ;n this o##asion he t)rned himsel irst into a lion,
then into a ser(ent and ater a while, to es#a(e s#r)tiny, (er#hed on the yokeJboss o
&era#lesAs horses in the orm o an ant, or ly, or bee% &era#les, n)d*ed by !thene,
re#o*ni8ed "eri#lymen)s and rea#hed or his #l)b, where)(on "eri#lymen)s be#ame an
ea*le, and tried to (e#k o)t his eyes, b)t a s)dden arrow rom &era#lesAs bow (ier#ed him
)nderneath his win*% &e t)mbled to earth, and the arrow was driven thro)*h his ne#k by the
all, killin* him% +ome say, however, that he lew away in saety2 and that &era#les had
atta#ked "oseidon on an earlier o##asion, ater the m)rder o $(hit)s, when 3ele)s re)sed to
()riy him2 and that the i*ht with &ades took (la#e at the other "yl)s, in ,lis, when &era#les
was #hallen*ed or #arryin* o .erber)s witho)t (ermission%
d% &era#les *ave the #ity o Messene to 3estor, in tr)st or his own des#endants,
rememberin* that 3estor had taken no (art in robbin* him o GeryonAs #attle2 and soon #ame
to love him more even than &ylas and $ola)s% $t was 3estor who irst swore an oath by
&era#les%
e% The ,leans, tho)*h they themselves reb)ilt "yl)s, took advanta*e o the "yliansA weakness
to o((ress them in (etty ways% 3ele)s ke(t his (atien#e )ntil one day, havin* sent a #hariot
and a (ri8e7winnin* team o o)r horses to #ontest or a tri(od in the ;lym(i# Games, he
learned that !)*eias had a((ro(riated them and sent the #harioteer home on oot% !t this, he
ordered 3estor to make a retaliatory raid on the ,lean "lain2 and 3estor mana*ed to drive
away ity herds o #attle, ity lo#ks o shee(, ity droves o swine, ity lo#ks o *oats,
and one h)ndred and ity #hestn)t mares, many with oal, beatin* o the ,leans who
o((osed him and bloodin* his s(ear in this his irst i*ht% 3ele)sAs heralds then #onvoked all
in "yl)s who were owed a debt by the ,leans, and when he had divided the booty amon* the
#laimants, kee(in* ba#k the lionAs share or 3estor, sa#rii#ed lavishly to the *ods% Three days
later, the ,leans advan#ed on "yl)s in )ll arrayJamon* them the two or(haned sons o the
Moliones, who had inherited their titleJand #rossed the "lain rom Thryoessa% 4)t !thene
#ame by ni*ht to warn and marshal the "ylians2 and when battle had been Hoined, 3estor, who
was on oot, str)#k down !maryn#e)s, the ,lean #ommander and, sei8in* his #hariot, r)shed
like a bla#k tem(est thro)*h the ,lean ranks, #a(t)rin* ity other #hariots and killin* a
h)ndred men% The Moliones wo)ld also have allen to his b)sy s(ear, had not "oseidon
wra((ed them in an im(enetrable mist and s(irited them away% The ,leans, hotly ()rs)ed by
3estorAs army, led as ar as the ;lenian Ro#k, where !thene #alled a halt%
% ! tr)#e bein* then a*reed )(on, !maryn#e)s was b)ried at 4)(rasi)m, and awarded
)neral *ames, in whi#h n)mero)s "ylians took (art% The Moliones won the #hariot ra#e by
#rowdin* 3estor at the t)rn, b)t he is said to have won all the other events1 the bo:in* and
the wrestlin* mat#h, the ootra#e and the Havelin7throw% ; these eats, it is only i*ht to add,
3estor himsel, in *arr)lo)s old a*e, was the (rin#i(al witness2 sin#e by the *ra#e o !(ollo,
who *ranted him the years o whi#h his maternal )n#les had been de(rived, he lived or three
#ent)ries, and no #ontem(orary s)rvived to *ainsay him%
1% The #a(t)re o "yl)s seems to be another in#ident in the thirteenth #ent)ry !#haean
invasion o the "elo(onnese% &era, "oseidon, &ades, and !res, the elder deities, are aidin*
,lis2 the yo)n*er ones, !thene reborn rom @e)sAs head, and &era#les as @e)sAs son, o((ose
them% &era#lesAs deeat o "eri#lymen)s, the sha(e7shiter, may mark the s)((ression o a
3ew Dear #hild7sa#rii#e2 and "eri#lymen)sAs (ower to take the sha(e o any tree reers,
a((arently, to the s)##ession o thirteen months thro)*h whi#h the interre: (assed in his
rit)al ballet, ea#h month havin* an emblemati# tree, rom wild7olive to myrtle% The wo)ndin*
o &ades (resents &era#les as the #ham(ion destined to #heat the *rave and be#ome
immortal2 moreover, a##ordin* to &omer 5$liad6, he wo)nded &adesA at "yl)s, amon* the
#or(sesAJwhi#h #o)ld eE)ally mean1 Iat the *ate, amon* the deadA2 the *ate bein* that o the
/nderworld, (erha(s in the 'ar 3orth% $ so, &ades is a s)bstit)te or .ron)s, whom &era#les
deeated in the se()l#hral island o ,rytheia, and the en#o)nter is a do)blet o the Twelth
-abo)r, when he harrowed &ell% &era#lesAs "ylian allies, si*nii#antly aided by !thene, are
des#ribed by &omer 5$liad6 as !#haeans, tho)*h 3ele)sA dynasty was, in a#t, !eolian%
0% &era#lesAs wo)ndin* o &era in the ri*ht breast with a three7barbed arrow seems to
alle*ori8e the ?orian invasion o the Western "elo(onnese when the three tribes, who #alled
themselves +ons o &era#les, h)mbled the (ower o the ,lean Goddess%
The +ons ; &i((o#oFn
&,R!.-,+ de#ided to atta#k +(arta and ()nish the sons o &i((o#oFn% They had not only
re)sed to ()riy him ater the death o $(hit)s, and o)*ht a*ainst him )nder 3ele)sAs
#ommand, b)t also m)rdered his riend, ;eon)s% $t ha((ened that ;eon)s son o -i#ymni)s,
who had a##om(anied &era#les to +(arta, was strollin* abo)t the #ity when, H)st o)tside
&i((o#oFnAs (ala#e, a h)*e Molossian ho)nd ran at him2 in sel7deen#e, he threw a stone
whi#h str)#k it on the m)88le% ;)t darted the sons o &i((o#oFn and beat him with #)d*els%
&era#les ran to ;eon)sAs res#)e rom the other end o the street, b)t arrived too late% ;eon)s
was #)d*elled to death, and &era#les, wo)nded in the hollow o his hand and in the thi*h,
led to the shrine o ,le)sinian ?emeter, near Mo)nt Tay*et)s2 where !s#le(i)s hid him and
healed his wo)nds%
b% &avin* m)stered a small army, &era#les now mar#hed to Te*ea in !r#adia and there
be**ed .e(he)s the son o !le)s to Hoin him with his twenty sons% !t irst, .e(he)s re)sed,
earin* or the saety o Te*ea i he let home% 4)t &era#les, whom !thene had *iven a lo#k
o the Gor*onAs hair in a bra8en Har, (resented it to .e(he)sAs da)*hter !ero(e1 sho)ld the
#ity be atta#ked, he said, she was to dis(lay the lo#k thri#e rom its walls, t)rnin* her ba#k to
the enemy, who wo)ld immediately lee% !s events (roved, however, !ero(e had no need o
#harm%
#% Th)s .e(he)s Hoined the e:(edition a*ainst +(arta, in whi#h, by ill orttree, he and
seventeen o his sons ell% +ome say that $(hi#les was also killed, b)t this is likely to have
been the !etolian !r*ona)t o that name, not !m(hitryonAs son% &era#lesAs army s)ered ew
other #as)alties, whereas the +(artans lost &i((o#oFn and all his twelve sons, with n)mero)s
other men o hi*h rank2 and their #ity was taken by storm% &era#les then restored Tyndare)s,
leavin* him the kin*dom in tr)st or his own des#endants%
d% +in#e &era, ine:(li#ably, had not thwarted him in this #am(ai*n, &era#les b)ilt her a
shrine at +(arta, and sa#rii#ed *oats, havin* no other vi#tims at his dis(osal% The +(artans
are th)s the only Greeks who s)rname &era IGoat7eatin*A, and oer *oats to her% &era#les
also raised a tem(le to !thene o the 9)st ?eserts2 and, on the road to Thera(ne, a shrine to
.otylaean !s#le(i)s whi#h #ommemorates the wo)nd in the hollow o his hand% ! shrine at
Te*ea, #alled IThe .ommon &earth o the !r#adiansA, is remarkable or its stat)e o &era#les
with the wo)nd in his thi*h%
1% &ere the &era#les myth is lost in sa*a2 and (se)do7myth is introd)#ed to e:(lain s)#h
anomalies as Goat7eatin* &era, &ollow7o7the7&and !s#le(i)s, &era#les o the Wo)nded
Thi*h, and Te*eaAs lon* imm)nity rom #a(t)re% 4)t &eraAs wild women had on#e eaten
@a*re)s, @e)s, and ?ionys)s in wild7*oat orm2 !s#le(i)sAs stat)e (robably held medi#ines
in the hollow o the hand2 the wo)nd in &era#lesAs thi*h will have been made by a boar2 and
the Te*eans may have dis(layed a Gor*onAs head on their *ates as a (ro(hyla#ti# #harm% To
assa)lt a #ity th)s (rote#ted was, as it were, to violate the maiden7*oddess !thene1 a
s)(erstition also ostered by the !thenians%
0% Whenever &era#les leaves an !#haean, !erolian, +i#ilian, or "elas*ian #ity in tr)st or his
des#endants, this is an attem(ted H)stii#ation o its later sei8)re by the ?orians%
!/G,
!-,/+, kin* o Te*ea, the son o !(heidas, married 3eaera, a da)*hter o "ere)s, who bore
him !)*e, .e(he)s, -y#)r*)s, and !(hidamas% !n an#ient shrine o !thene !lta, o)nded at
Te*ea by !le)s, still #ontains a sa#red #o)#h o the *oddess%
b% When, on a visit to ?el(hi, !le)s was warned by the ;ra#le that 3eaeraAs two brothers
wo)ld die by the hand o her da)*hterAs son, he h)rried home and a((ointed !)*e a (riestess
o !thene, threatenin* to kill her i she were )n#haste% Whether &era#les #ame to Te*ea on
his way to i*ht Gin* !)*eias, or on his ret)rn rom +(arta, is dis()ted2 at all events, !le)s
entertained him hos(itably in !theneAs tem(le% There, l)shed with wine, &era#les violated
the vir*in7(riestess beside a o)ntain whi#h is still shown to the north o the shrine2 sin#e,
however, !)*e made no o)t#ry, it is oten s)**ested that she #ame there by assi*nation%
#% &era#les #ontin)ed on his way, and at +tym(hal)s be*ot ,)res on "artheno(e, the da)*hter
o +tym(hal)s2 4)t meanwhile (estilen#e and amine #ame )(on Te*ea, and !le)s, inormed
by the "ythoness that a #rime had been #ommitted in !theneAs sa#red (re#in#t, visited it and
o)nd !)*e ar *one with #hild% Tho)*h she we(t and de#lared that &era#les had violated her
in a it o dr)nkenness, !le)s wo)ld not believe this, &e dra**ed her to the Te*ean market
(la#e, where she ell )(on her knees at the site o the (resent tem(le o ,ileithyia, amed or
its ima*e o I!)*e on her GneesA% !shamed to kill his da)*hter in ()bli#, !le)s en*a*ed
Gin* 3a)(li)s to drown her% 3a)(li)s a##ordin*ly set o)t with !)*e or 3a)(lia2 4)t on
Mo)nt "artheni)s she was overtaken by labo)r7(an*s, and made some e:#)se to t)rn aside
into a wood% There she *ave birth to a son and, hidin* him in a thi#ket, ret)rned to where
3a)(li)s was (atiently waitin* or her by the roadside% &owever, havin* no intention o
drownin* a (rin#ess when he #o)ld dis(ose o her at a hi*h (ri#e in the slave7market, he sold
!)*e to some .arian mer#hants who had H)st arrived at 3a)(lia and who, in t)rn, sold her to
Te)thras, kin* o Mysian Te)thrania%
d% !)*eAs son was s)#kled by a doe on Mo)nt "artheni)s 5where he now has a sa#red
(re#in#t6 and some #attle7men o)nd him, named him Tele(h)s, and took him to their master,
Gin* .oryth)s% !t the same time, by a #oin#iden#e, .oryth)sAs she(herds dis#overed
!talantaAs intent son, whom she had borne to Melea*er, e:(osed on the same hillside1 they
named him "artheno(ae)s, whi#h is Ison o a (ier#ed maidenheadA, be#a)se !talanta was
(retendin* to be still a vir*in%
e% When Tele(h)s *rew to manhood, he a((roa#hed the ?el(hi# ;ra#le or news o his
(arents% &e was told1 I+ail and seek Gin* Te)thras the Mysian%A $n Mysia he o)nd !)*e,
now married to Te)thras, rom whom he learned that she was his mother and &era#les his
ather2 and this he #o)ld well believe, or no woman had ever borne &era#les a son so like
himsel% Te)thras there)(on *ave Tele(h)s da)*hter !r*io(e in marria*e, and a((ointed him
heir to the kin*dom%
% ;thers say that Tele(h)s, ater havin* killed &i((otho)s and 3ere)s, his maternal )n#les,
went silent and s(ee#hless to Mysia in sear#h o his mother% IThe silen#e o Tele(h)sA be#ame
(roverbial2 b)t "artheno(ae)s #ame with him as s(okesman% $t ha((ened that the renowned
!r*ona)t $das, son o !(hare)s, was abo)t to sei8e the Mysian throne, and Te)thras in
des(eration (romised to resi*n it to Tele(h)s and *ive him his ado(ted da)*hter in marria*e,
i only $das were driven away% There)(on Tele(h)s, with "artheno(ae)sAs hel(, ro)ted $das in
a sin*le battle% 3ow, Te)thrasAs ado(ted da)*hter ha((ened to be !)*e, who did not
re#o*ni8e Tele(h)s, nor did he know that she was his mother% 'aith)l to &era#lesAs memory,
she took a sword into her bedroom on the weddin* ni*ht, and wo)ld have killed Tele(h)s
when he entered, had not the *ods sent a lar*e ser(ent between them% !)*e threw down the
sword in alarm and #onessed her m)rdero)s intentions% +he then a(ostro(hi8ed &era#les2
and Tele(h)s, who had been on the (oint o matri#ide, was ins(ired to #ry o)t1 I; mother,
motherPA They ell wee(in* into ea#h otherAs arms and, the ne:t day, ret)rned with Te)thrasAs
blessin* to their native land% !)*eAs tomb is shown at "er*am)s beside the river .ai#)s% The
"er*amenians #laim to be !r#adian emi*rants who #rossed to !sia with Tele(h)s, and oer
him heroi# sa#rii#es%
*% ;thers say that Tele(h)s married !styo#he, or -aodi#e, a da)*hter o TroHan "riam%
;thers, a*ain, that &era#les had lain with !)*e at Troy when he went there to et#h
-aomedonAs immortal horses% +till others, that !le)s lo#ked !)*e and her inant in an ark,
whi#h he #ommitted to the waves2 and that, )nder !theneAs wat#h)l #are, the #hest drited
towards !sia Minor and was #ast ashore at the mo)th o the river .ai#)s, where Gin*
Te)thras married !)*e and ado(ted Tele(h)s%
h% This Te)thras, h)ntin* on Mo)nt Te)thras, on#e ()rs)ed a monstro)s boar, whi#h led to
the tem(le o ;rthosian !rtemis% &e was abo)t to or#e his way in, when the boar #ried o)t1
I+(are me, my lordP $ am the GoddessAs n)rslin*PA Te)thras (aid no attention, and killed it,
thereby oendin* !rtemis so dee(ly that she restored the boar
1% ]% a sa#red kin* to ens)re *ood #ro(s% Reli#s o this #)stom were o)nd in &era#lesAs
tem(le at Rome, where his bride was #alled !##aJ #o)nter(art o the "elo(onnesian White
Goddess !##oJand at 9er)salem where beore the reli*io)s reorms o the ,:ile, a sa#red
marria*e seems to have been #elebrated every +e(tember between the &i*h7(riest, a
re(resentative o 9ehovah, and the *oddess !natha% "roessor Ra(hael "atai s)mmari8es the
eviden#e or the 9er)salem marria*e in his Man and Tem(le% The divine #hildren s)((osedly
born o s)#h )nions be#ame the .orn7s(irits o the #omin* year2 th)s !thene !lta was a #orn7
*oddess, (atroness o #orn7mills% The n)mero)s sons whom &era#les athered on nym(hs
witness to the (revalen#e o this reli*ion theory% &e is #redited with only one anomalo)s
da)*hter, Ma#aria 5IblessedA6% The !)*e myth has been told to a##o)nt or an !r#adian
emi*ration to Mysia, (robably )nder (ress)re rom the !#haeans2 also or Te*ean estivities
in hono)r o the 3ew Dear *od as awn whi#h, to H)d*e rom the &esiod ra*ment, had their
#o)nter(art in the Troad%
0% That !)*e and her #hild drived in an ark to the river .ai#)sJa s#ene ill)strated on the
altar o "er*am)s, and on "ermanen#e #oinsJmeans merely that the #)lt o !)*e and
Tele(h)s had been im(orted into Mysia by Te*ean #olonists, and that !)*e, as the Moon7
*oddess, was s)((osed to ride in her #res#ent boat to the 3ew Dear #elebrations% !theneAs
s)bseE)ent #han*e rom or*iasti# bride to #haste warrior7maiden has #on)sed the story1 in
some versions Te)thras be#omes !)*eAs bride*room, b)t in others he (io)sly ado(ts her%
&y*in)sAs version is based on some late and artii#ial drama%
<% The myth o the *olden boar reers (artly to the #)rative (ro(erties o the anti(athies stone
on Mo)nt Te)thras2 (artly, (erha(s, to a Mysian #)stom o aven*in* the death o !donis,
who had been killed by !(ollo in the orm o a boar% $t looks as i !donisAs re(resentative, a
man wearin* a boarAs hide with *olden t)sks, was now s(ared i he #o)ld take re)*e rom
his ()rs)ers in the san#t)ary o !(olloAs sister !rtemis% The kin*s o Te*ea, !)*eAs
birth(la#e, were, it seems, habit)ally killed by boars%
=% "hilAs advent)re with the Hay is an ane#dotal an#y, s)((osed to a##o)nt or the name o the
s(rin*, whi#h may ori*inally have been sa#red to a Hay
totem7#lan%
?eianeira
!'T,R s(endin* o)r years in "hene)s, &era#les de#ided to leave the "elo(onnese% !t the
head o a lar*e !r#adian or#e, he sailed a#ross to .layton in !eolian, where he took )( his
residen#e% &avin* now no le*itimate sons, and no wie, he #o)rted ?eianeira, the s)((osed
da)*hter o ;ene)s, th)s kee(in* his (romise to the *host o her brother Melea*er% 4)t
?eianeira was really the da)*hter o the *od ?ionys)s, by ;ene)sAs wie !lthaea, as had
be#ome a((arent when Melea*er died and !rtemis t)rned his lamentin* sisters into *)inea7
owl2 or ?ionys)s then (ers)aded !rtemis to let ?eianeira and her sister Gor*e retain their
h)man sha(es%
b% Many s)itors #ame to ;ene)sAs (ala#e in "le)ron, demandin* the hand o lovely ?eianeira,
who drove a #hariot and (ra#tised the art o war2 b)t all abandoned their #laims when they
o)nd themselves in rivalry with &era#les and the River7*od !#helo)s% $t is #ommon
knowled*e that immortal !#helo)s a((ears in three orms1 as a b)ll, as a s(e#kled ser(ent,
and as a b)ll7headed man% +treams o water low #ontin)ally rom his sha**y beard, and
?eianeira wo)ld rather have died than marry him%
#% &era#les, when s)mmoned by ;ene)s to (lead his s)it, boasted that i he married
?eianeira, she wo)ld not only have @e)s or a ather7in7law, b)t enHoy the rele#ted *lory o
his own Twelve -abo)rs% !#helo)s 5now in b)ll7headed orm6 s#oed at this, remarkin* that
he was a well7known (ersona*e, the ather o all Greek waters, not a ootloose stran*er like
&era#les, and that the ;ra#le o ?odona had instr)#ted all visitants to oer him sa#rii#es%
Then he ta)nted &era#les1 I,ither yo) are not @e)sAs son, or yo)r mother is an ad)lteressPA
&era#les s#owled% I$ am better at i*htin* than debatin*,A he said, Iand $ will not hear my
mother ins)ltedPA
d% !#helo)s #ast aside his *reen *arment, and wrestled with &era#les )ntil he was thrown on
his ba#k, where)(on he detly t)rned into a s(e#kled ser(ent and wri**led away% I$ stran*led
ser(ents in my #radlePA la)*hed &era#les, stoo(in* to *ri( his throat% 3e:t, !#helo)s be#ame
a b)ll and #har*ed2 &era#les nimbly ste((ed aside and, #at#hin* hold o both his horns,
h)rled him to the *ro)nd with s)#h or#e that the ri*ht horn sna((ed #lean o% !#helo)s
retired, miserably ashamed, and hid his inH)ry )nder a #ha(let o willow7bran#hes% +ome say
that &era#les ret)rned the broken horn to !#helo)s in e:#han*e or the horn o Goat
!maltheia2 and some, that it was #han*ed into !maltheiaAs by the 3aiads, and that &era#les
(resented it to ;ene)s as a bridal *it% ;thers say that in the #o)rse o his Twelth -abo)r, he
took the horn down to Tartar)s, illed by the &es(erides with *olden r)it and now #alled the
.orn)#o(ia, or "l)t)s, Ty#heAs assistant%
e% !ter marryin* ?eianeira, &era#les mar#hed with the .alydonians a*ainst the Thes(rotian
#ity o ,(hyraJlater .i#hyer)sJhe over#ame and killed Gin* "hyle)s% !mon* the #a(tives
was "hyle)sAs da)*hter !styo#he, by whom &era#les be#ame the ather o Tle(olem)s2
tho)*h some say that Tle(olem)sAs mother was !stidameia, da)*hter o !myntor, whom
&era#les abd)#ted in ,(hyra, a #ity amo)s or its (oisons%
% ;n the advi#e o an ;ra#le, &era#les now sent word to his riend Thes(i)s1 IGee( seven o
yo)r sons in Thes(iae, send three to Thebes and order the remainin* orty to #oloni8e the
island o +ardinia%A Thes(i)s obeyed% ?es#endants o those who went to Thebes are hono)red
there2 and des#endants o those who stayed behind in Thes(iae, the so7#alled ?em)#hi,
*overned the #ity )ntil re#ently% The or#es led to +ardinia by $ola)s in#l)ded Thes(ian and
!thenian #ontin*ents, this bein* the irst Greek #olonial e:(edition in whi#h kin*s #ame o
dierent sto#k rom the #ommon (eo(le% !ter deeatin* the +ardinians in battle, $ola)s
divided the island into (rovin#es, (lanted olive7trees, and made it so ertile that the
.artha*inians have sin#e been (re(ared to )nder*o immense tro)bles to #ome in its
(ossession% &e o)nded the #ity o ;lbia, and en#o)ra*ed the !thenians to o)nd that o
;*ryle% With the #onsent o the sons o Thes(i)s, who re*arded $ola)s as their se#ond ather,
he #alled the #olonists ater himsel, $olarians2 and they still sa#rii#e to 'ather $ola)s, as
"ersians do to 'ather .yr)s% $t has been said that $ola)s ret)rned to Gree#e, by way o +i#ily,
where some o his s)((orters settled and awarded him hero rites2 b)t a##ordin* to the
Thebans, who sho)ld know, none o the #olonists ever #ame ba#k%
*% !t a east three years later, &era#les *rew enra*ed with yo)n* kinsman o ;ene)s,
vario)sly named ,)nom)s, ,)rynom)s, ,)nom)s !r#hias, or .haerias, the son o !r#hiteles,
who was rel)#tant to (o)r water on &era#lesAs hands, and #l)msily s(lashed it on his le*s%
&era#les bo:ed the boyAs ears harder than he intended, and killed him% ,ven i or*iven by
!r#hiteles or this a##ident, &era#les de#ided d)e (enalty o e:ile, and went away with
?eianeira, ant &yll)s, to Tra#his, the home o !m(hitryonAs ne(hew .ey:%
h% ! similar a##ident had o##)rred at "hli)s, a #ity whi#h lies east o !r#adia, when &era#les
ret)rned rom the Garden o &es(erides% ?islikin* the drink set beore him, he str)#k
.yath)s, the #)(bearer, with one in*er only, b)t killed him none the less% ! #ha(el to
.yath)sAs memory has been b)ilt a*ainst !(olloAs "hlian tem(le%
i% +ome say that &era#les wrestled a*ainst !#helo)s beore the m)rder o $(hit)s, whi#h was
the #a)se o his removal to Tra#his2 others, that he went there when irst e:iled rom Tiryns%
!t all events, he #ame with ?eianeira to the river ,ven)s, then in )ll lood, where the
.enta)r 3ess)s, #laimin* that he was the *odsA a)thori8ed erryman and #hosen be#a)se o
his ri*hteo)sness, oered, or a small ee, to #arry ?eianeira dry7shod a#ross the water while
&era#les swam% &e a*reed, (aid 3ess)s the are, threw his #l)b and bow over the river, and
(l)n*ed in% 3ess)s, however, instead o kee(in* to his bar*ain, *allo(ed o in the o((osite
dire#tion with ?eianeira in his arms2 then threw her to the *ro)nd and tried to violate her% +he
s#reamed or hel(, and &era#les, E)i#kly re#overin* his bow, took #are)l aim and (ier#ed
3ess)s thro)*h the breast rom hal a mile away%
H% Wren#hin* o)t the arrow, 3ess)s told ?eianeira1 I$ yo) mi: the seed whi#h $ have s(ilt on
the *ro)nd with blood rom my wo)nd, add olive oil, and se#retly anoint &era#lesAs shirt with
the mi:t)re, yo) will never a*ain have #a)se to #om(lain o his )naith)lness%A ?eianeira
h)rriedly #olle#ted the in*redients in a Har, whi#h she sealed and ke(t by her witho)t sayin* a
word to &era#les on the s)bHe#t%
k% !nother version o the story is that 3ess)s oered ?eianeira wool soaked in his own
blood, and told her to weave it into a shirt or &era#les% ! third version is that he *ave her his
own blood7stained shirt as a love7#harm, and then led to a nei*hbo)rin* tribe o -o#rians,
where he died o the wo)nd2 b)t his body rotted )nb)ried, at the oot o Mo)nt Ta(hiass)s,
taintin* the #o)ntry with its noisome smellJhen#e these -o#rians are #alled ;8olian% The
s(rin* beside whi#h he died still smells oetid and #ontains dots o blood%
l% 4y ?eianeira, &era#les had already be#ome the ather o &yll)s, .tesi(()s, Glen)s, and
&odites2 also o Ma#aria, his only da)*hter%
1% The story o Melea*erAs sisters is told to a##o)nt or a *)inea7owl #)lt o !rtemis on
-eros%
0% ?eianeiraAs love o war reveals her as a re(resentative o the (re7;lym(ian 4attle7*oddess
!thene, with whose sa#red marria*es in dierent lo#alities this (art o the &era#les le*end is
#hiely #on#erned%
<% &era#lesAs #ontest with !#helo)s, like that o These)s with the Minota)r, sho)ld be read as
(art o the royal marria*e rit)al% 4)ll and +er(ent stood or the wa:in* and the wanin* year
J Ithe b)ll who is the ser(entAs ather, and the ser(ent whose son is the b)llAJover both o
whi#h the sa#red kin* won domination% ! b)llAs horn, re*arded rom earliest times as the seat
o ertility, enroyalled the #andidate or kin*shi( who laid hold o it when he wrestled either
with an a#t)al b)ll, or with a b)ll7masked o((onent% The 4abylonian hero ,nkid),
Gil*ameshAs mortal twin, and devotee o the M)een o &eaven, sei8ed the 4)ll o &eaven by
the horns and killed it with his sword2 and the winnin* o a #orn)#o(ia was a marria*e7task
im(osed on the Welsh hero "ered)r in the Mabino*ion% $n .rete, the b)ll #)lt had s)##eeded
that o the wild7*oat, whose horn was eE)ally (otent% 4)t it seems that the i#on whi#h
showed this rit)al #ontest was inter(reted by the Greeks as ill)stratin* &era#lesAs str)**le
with the River !#helo)s1 namely the dyin* and drainin* o the "ara#heloitis, a tra#t o land,
ormed o the silt bro)*ht down by the !#helo)s, whi#h had slowly been Hoinin* the
,#hina#han $sles to the mainland2 and the #onseE)ent re#overy o a lar*e area o armland%
&era#les was oten #redited with en*ineerin* eats s)#h as these 5+trabo2 ?iodor)s +i#)l)s6%
The sa#rii#e ordered by the ?odonian ;ra#le will hardly have been to the river !#helo)s2
more likely it was (res#ribed or !#helois, the Moon7*oddess Iwho drives away (ainA%
=% ,)nom)s and .yath)s will have been boy7vi#tims1 s)rro*ates or the sa#red kin* at the
#lose o his rei*n%
5% 3ess)sAs attem(ted ra(e o ?eianeira re#alls the disorderly s#enes at the weddin* o
"eiritho)s, when These)s 5the !thenian &era#les6 intervened to save &i((odameia rom
assa)lt by the .enta)r ,)rytion% +in#e the .enta)rs were ori*inally de(i#ted as *oat7men, the
i#on on whi#h the in#ident is based (robably showed the M)een ridin* on the *oat7kin*As
ba#k, as she did at the May ,ve #elebrations o 3orthern ,)ro(e, beore her sa#red marria*e2
,)rytion is the Iinterlo(erA, a sto#k7#hara#ter made amiliar by the #omedies o !risto(hanes,
who still a((ears at 3orthern Greek marria*e estivities% The earliest mythi#al e:am(le o the%
interlo(er is the same ,nkid)1 he interr)(ted Gil*ameshAs sa#red marria*e with the Goddess
o ,re#h, and #hallen*ed him to battle% !nother interlo(er is !*enor, who tried to take
!ndromeda rom "erse)s at his weddin* east%
6% The irst settlers in +ardinia, 3eolithi# -ibyans, mana*ed to s)rvive in the mo)ntaino)s
(arts2 s)bseE)ent immi*rantsJ.retans, Greeks, .artha*inians, Romans, and 9ewsJ
attem(ted to hold the #oastal distri#ts, b)t malaria always deeated them% ;nly d)rin* the last
ew years has the mortality been #he#ked by s(rayin* the (ools where the malarial mosE)ito
breeds%
>% I;8olianA 5IsmellyA6, a ni#kname *iven to the -o#rians settled near "ho#is, to distin*)ish
them rom their ;()ntian and ,(i8e(hyrian kinsolk, (robably reerred to their habit o
wearin* )ndressed *oat7skins whi#h had a oetid smell in dam( weather% The -o#rians
themselves (reerred to derive it rom o8oi, Ivine shootsA 5"a)sanias6, be#a)se o the irst
vinesto#k (lanted in their #o)ntry%
&era#les $n Tra#his
+T$-- a##om(anied by his !r#adian allies, &era#les #ame to Tra#his where he settled down
or awhile, )nder the (rote#tion o .ey:% ;n his way, he had (assed thro)*h the #o)ntry o
the ?ryo(ians, whi#h is overshadowed by Mo)nt "arnass)s, and o)nd their kin*
Theiodamas, the son o ?ryo(s, (lo)*hin* with a yoke o o:en% 4ein* h)n*ry and also ea*er
or a (rete:t to make war on the ?ryo(iansJwho, as everyone knew, had no ri*ht to the
#o)ntryJ&era#les demanded one o the o:en2 and, when Theiodamas re)sed, killed him%
!ter sla)*hterin* the o:, and eastin* on its lesh, he bore o TheiodamasAs inant son
&ylas, whose mother was the nym(h Menodi#e, ;rionAs da)*hter% 4)t some #all &ylasAs
ather .ey:, or ,)(hem)s, or Theiomenes2 and insist that Theiodamas was the Rhodian
(lo)*hman who #)rsed rom aar while &era#les sa#rii#ed one o his o:en%
b% $t seems that "hylas, TheiodamasAs s)##essor, violated !(olloAs tem(le at ?el(hi% ;)tra*ed
on !(olloAs behal, &era#les killed "hylas and #arried o his da)*hter Meda2 she bore him
!ntio#h)s, o)nder o the !thenian deme whi#h bears his name% &e then e:(elled the
?ryo(ians rom their #ity on Mo)nt "arnass)s, and *ave it to the Malians who had hel(ed in
its #onE)est% The leadin* ?ryo(ians he took to ?el(hi and dedi#ated them at the shrine as
slaves2 b)t, !(ollo havin* no )se or them, they were sent away to the "elo(onnese, where
they so)*ht the avo)r o ,)rysthe)s the &i*h Gin*% /nder his orders, and with the assistan#e
o other )*itive #om(atriots, they b)ilt three #ities, !sine, &ermione, and ,ion% ; the
remainin* ?ryo(ians, some led to ,)boea, others to .y(r)s and to the island o .ynthos%
4)t only the men o !sine still (ride themselves on bein* ?ryo(ians2 they have b)ilt a shrine
to their an#estor ?ryo(s, with an an#ient ima*e, and #elebrate mysteries in his hono)r every
se#ond year%
#% ?ryo(s was !(olloAs son by ?ia, a da)*hter o Gin* -y#aon, or ear o whom she hid the
inant in a hollow oak2 hen#e his name% +ome say that ?ryo(s himsel bro)*ht his (eo(le
rom the Thessalian river +(er#hei)s to !sine, and that he was a son o +(er#hei)s by the
nym(h "olydora%
d% ! bo)ndary dis()te had arisen between the ?orians o &estiaeotis, r)led by Gin*
!e*imi)s, and the -a(iths o Mo)nt ;lym()s, ormer allies o the ?ryo(ians, whose kin*
was .oron)s, a son o .aene)s% The ?orians, *reatly o)tn)mbered by the -a(iths, led to
&era#les and a((ealed or hel(, oerin* him in ret)rn a third share o their kin*dom2
where)(on &era#les and his !r#adian allies deeated the -a(iths, slew .oron)s and most o
his s)bHe#ts, and or#ed them to E)it the dis()ted land% +ome o them settled at .orinth%
!e*imi)s then held &era#lesAs third share in tr)st or his des#endants%
e% &era#les now #ame to $ton)s, a #ity o "hthiotis, where the an#ient tem(le o !thene
stands% &ere he met .y#n)s, a son o !res and "elo(ia, who was #onstantly oerin* val)able
(ri8es to *)ests who dared i*ht a #hariot d)el with him% The ever7vi#torio)s .y#n)s wo)ld
#)t o their heads and )se the sk)lls to de#orate the tem(le o his ather !res% This, by the
way, was not the .y#n)s whom !res had be*otten on "yrene and transormed into a swan
when he died%
!(ollo, *rowin* ve:ed with .y#n)s, be#a)se he waylaid and #arried o herds o #attle
whi#h were bein* sent or sa#rii#e to ?el(hi, in#ited &era#les to a##e(t .y#n)sAs #hallen*e%
$t was a*reed that &era#les sho)ld be s)((orted by his #harioteer $ola)s, and .y#n)s by his
ather !res% &era#les, tho)*h this was not his )s)al style o i*htin*, ()t on the (olished
bron8e *reaves whi#h &e(haest)s had made or him, the #)rio)sly wro)*ht *olden breast7
(late *iven him by !thene, and a (air o iron sho)lder7*)ards% !rmed with bow and arrows,
s(ear, helmet, and a sto)t shield whi#h @e)s had ordered &e(haest)s to s)((ly, he li*htly
mo)nted his #hariot%
*% !thene, des#endin* rom ;lym()s, now warned &era#les that, altho)*h em(owered by
@e)s to kill and des(oil .y#n)s, he m)st do no more than deend himsel a*ainst !res and,
even i vi#torio)s, not de(rive him o either his horses or his s(lendid armo)r% +he then
mo)nted beside &era#les and $ola)s, shakin* her ae*is, and Mother ,arth *roaned as the
#hariot whirled orward% .y#n)s drove to meet them at )ll s(eed, and both he and &era#les
were thrown to the *ro)nd by the sho#k o their en#o)nter, s(ear a*ainst shield% De t they
s(ran* to their eet and, ater a short #ombat, &era#les thr)st .y#n)s thro)*h the ne#k% &e
then boldly a#ed !res, who h)rled a s(ear at him2 and !thene, with an an*ry rown, t)rned it
aside% !res ran at &era#les sword in hand, only to be wo)nded in the thi*h or his (ains, and
&era#les wo)ld have dealt him a )rther blow as he lay on the *ro)nd, had not @e)s (arted
the #ombatants with a th)nderbolt% &era#les and $ola)s then des(oiled .y#n)sAs #or(se and
res)med their interr)(ted Ho)rney2 while !thene led the aintin* !res ba#k to ;lym()s%
.y#n)s was b)ried by .ey: in the valley o the !na)r)s b)t, at !(olloAs #ommand, the
swollen river washed away his headstone%
h% +ome, however, say that .y#n)s lived at !m(hanae, and that &era#les transi:ed him with
an arrow beside the river "enei)s, or at "e*asae%
i% "assin* thro)*h "elas*iotis, &era#les now #ame to ;rmeni)m, a small #ity at the oot o
Mo)nt "elion, where Gin* !myntor re)sed to *ive him his da)*hter !stydameia% IDo) are
married already,A he said, Iand have betrayed ar too many (rin#esses or me to tr)st yo) with
another%A &era#les atta#ked the #ity and, ater killin* !myntor, #arried o !stydameia, who
bore him .tesi(()s or, some say, Tle(olem)s%
1% &era#lesAs sa#rii#e o a (lo)*h o:, TheiodamasAs #)rsin*, and the a((earan#e o the inant
&ylas rom a )rrow, are all (arts o the (re7&elleni# sowin* rit)al% ;: blood (ro(itiates the
,arth7*oddess, #)rses avert divine an*er rom the s(ro)tin* seeds, the #hild re(resents the
#omin* #ro(Jnamely "l)t)s, whom ?emeter bore to $asi)s ater they had embra#ed in the
thri#e7(lo)*hed ield% Theiodamas is the s(irit o the old year, now destroyed% The ann)al
mo)rnin* or the doomed tree7s(irit &ylas has here been #on)sed with mo)rnin* or the
doomed #orn7s(irit%
0% &era#lesAs e:()lsion o the ?ryo(ians rom "arnass)s with ?orian assistan#e, and the
?ryo(ian emi*ration to +o)thern Gree#e, are likely to have taken (la#e in the twelth #ent)ry
4., beore the ?orian invasion o the "elo(onnese% &is #ombat with .y#n)s re#alls "elo(sAs
ra#e with ;enoma)s, another son o !res, and eE)ally notorio)s as a head7h)nter% $n both
#ases one o the #hariots #ontained a woman1 namely ;enoma)sAs da)*hter &i((odameia
5the s)bHe#t o his #ontention with "elo(s6 and !thene, who is a((arently, the same #hara#ter
Jnamely the new kin*As destined bride% .y#n)s, like +(artan "olyde)#es, is a kin* o the
swan #)lt whose so)l lies o to the ar northern otherworld%
<% !e*imi)sAs nameJi it means Ia#tin* the (art o a *oatAJs)**ests that he (erormed a
May ,ve *oatJmarria*e with the tribal E)een, and that in his war a*ainst the -a(iths o
3orthern Thessaly his ?orians o)*ht beside the .enta)rs, the -a(ithsA hereditary enemies
who, like the +atyrs, are de(i#ted in early works o art as *oat7men%
=% .y(sel)s the tyrant o .orinth, amo)s or his #arved #hest, #laimed des#ent rom the
-a(ith royal ho)se o .aene)s
$ole
!T Tra#his &era#les m)stered an army o !r#adians, Melians, and ,(ienemidian -o#rians,
and mar#hed a*ainst ;e#halia to reven*e himsel on Gin* ,)ryt)s, who re)sed to s)rrender
the (rin#ess $ole, airly won in an ar#hery #ontest2 b)t he told his allies no more than that
,)ryt)s had been )nH)stly e:a#tin* trib)te rom the ,)boeans% &e stormed the #ity, iddled
,)ryt)s and his son with arrows and, ater b)ryin* #ertain o his #omrades who had allen in
the battle, namely .ey:As son &i((as)s, and !r*ei)s and Melas, sons o -i#ymni)s, (illa*ed
;e#halia and took $ole #a(tive% Rather than yield to &era#les, $ole had allowed him to m)rder
her entire amily beore her very eyes, and then lea(ed rom the #ity wall2 yet she s)rvived,
be#a)se her skirts were billowed o)t by the wind and broke the all% 3ow &era#les sent her,
with other ;e#halian women, to ?eianeira at Tra#his, while he visited the ,)boean headland
o .enae)m% $t sho)ld be noted here that when takin* leave o ?eianeira, &era#les had
div)l*ed a (ro(he#y1 at the end o iteen months, he was ated either to die, or to s(end the
remainder o his lie in (ere#t tranE)illity% The news had been #onveyed to him by the twin
doves o the an#ient oak ora#le at ?odona%
b% $t is dis()ted whi#h #ity o ;e#halia was mentioned on this o##asion1 whether the
Mesennian, the Thessalian, the ,)boean, the Tra#hinian2 or the !etolian% Messenian ;e#halia
is the most (robable o these, sin#e ,)ryt)sAs ather Melane)s, Gin* o the ?ryo(esJskilled
ar#her, and hen#e #alled a son o !(olloJ#ame to Mesenne the rei*n o "erieres, son o
!eol)s, who *ave him ;e#halia as his residen#e% ;e#halia was #alled ater Melane)sAs wie%
&ere, in a sa#red *rove, heroi# sa#rii#es to ,)ryt)s, whose bones are (reserved in a bra8en
)rn, initiate the Great GoddessAs Mysteries% ;thers identiy ;e#halia with !ndania, a mile
rom the #y(ressJ*rove, where the Mysteries were ormerly held% ,)ryt)s was one o the
heroes who the Messenians invited to dwell amon* them when ,(aminondas restored their
"elo(onnesian (atrimony%
1% ,)ryt)s had re)sed to yield $ole on the *ro)nd that &era#les )sed to be a slave% Tho)*h
$oleAs s)i#idal lea( makes a (la)sible ableJ My#enaean skirts were bell7sha(ed, and my
ather on#e told a story o a Ci#torian s)i#ide saved by her vast #rinolineJit has most
(robably been ded)#ed rom a My#enaean (i#t)re o the *oddess hoverin* the army as it
assa)lted her #ity% The name ;e#halia, Iho)se o lo)rA, indi#ates that the *oddess in whose
hono)r the mysteries were held was ?emeter%
The !(otheosis ; &era#les
&!C$3G #onse#rated marble altars and a sa#red *rove to his ather @e)s on the .enaean
headland, &era#les (re(ared a thanks*ivin* sa#rii#e or the #a(t)re o ;e#halia% &e had
already sent -i#has ba#k to ask ?eianeira or a ine shirt and a #loak o the sort whi#h he
re*)larly wore on s)#h o##asions%
b% ?eianeira, #omortably installed at Tra#his, was by now resi*ned to &era#lesAs habit o
takin* mistresses2 and, when she re#o*ni8ed $ole as the latest o these, elt (ity rather than
resentment or the atal bea)ty whi#h had been ;e#haliaAs r)in% Det was it not intolerable that
&era#les e:(e#ted $ole and hersel to live to*ether )nder the same rooK +in#e she was no
lon*er yo)n*, ?eianeira de#ided to )se 3ess)sAs s)((osed love7#harm as a means o holdin*
her h)sbandAs ae#tion% &avin* woven him a new sa#rii#ial shirt a*ainst his sae ret)rn, she
#overtly )nsealed the Har, soaked a (ie#e o wool in the mi:t)re, and r)bbed the shirt with it%
When -i#has arrived she lo#ked the shirt in a #hest whi#h she *ave to him, sayin*1 I;n no
a##o)nt e:(ose the shirt to li*ht or heat )ntil &era#les is abo)t to wear it at the sa#rii#e%A
-i#has had already driven o at )ll s(eed in his #hariot when ?eianeira, *lan#in* at the
(ie#e o wool whi#h she had thrown down into the s)nlit #o)rtyard, was horriied to see it
b)rnin* away like saw7d)st, while red oam b)bbled )( rom the la*7stones% Reali8in* that
3ess)s had de#eived her, she sent a #o)rier (ostJhaste to re#all -i#has and, #)rsin* her
olly, swore that i &era#les died she wo)ld not s)rvive him%
#% The #o)rier arrived too late at the .enaean headland% &era#les had by now ()t on the shirt
and sa#rii#ed twelve imma#)late b)lls as the irst7r)its o his s(oils1 in all, he had bro)*ht
to the altar a mi:ed herd o one h)ndred #attle% &e was (o)rin* wine rom a bowl on the
altars and throwin* rank7in#ense on the lames when he let o)t a s)dden yell as i he had
been bitten by a ser(ent% The heat had melted the &ydraAs (oison in 3ess)sAs blood, whi#h
#o)rsed all over &era#lesAs limbs, #orrodin* his lesh% +oon the (ain was beyond end)ran#e
and, bellowin* in an*)ish, he overt)rned the altars% &e tried to ri( o the shirt, b)t it #l)n* to
him so ast that his lesh #ame away with it, layin* bare the bones% &is blood hissed and
b)bbled like s(rin* water when red7hot metal is bein* tem(ered% &e (l)n*ed headlon* into
the nearest stream, b)t the (oison b)rned only the ier#er2 these waters have been s#aldin* hot
ever sin#e and are #alled Thermo(ylae, or Ihot (assa*eA%
d% Ran*in* over the mo)ntain, tearin* )( trees as he went, &era#les #ame )(on the terriied
-i#has #ro)#hed in the hollow o a ro#k, his knees
#las(ed with his hands% $n vain did -i#has try to e:#)l(ate himsel1 &era#les sei8ed him,
whirled him thri#e abo)t his head and l)n* him into the ,)boean +ea% There he was
transormed1 he be#ame a ro#k o h)man a((earan#e, (roHe#tin* a short distan#e above the
waves, whi#h sailors still #all -i#has and on whi#h they are araid to tread, believin* it to be
sentient% The army, wat#hin* rom aar, raised a *reat sho)t o lamentation, b)t none dared
a((roa#h )ntil, writhin* in a*ony, &era#les s)mmoned &yll)s, and asked to be #arried away
to die in solit)de% &yll)s #onveyed him to the oot o Mo)nt ;eta in Tra#his 5a re*ion amo)s
or its white hellebore6, the ?el(hi# ;ra#le havin* already (ointed this o)t to -i#ymni)s and
$ola)s as the destined s#ene o their riendAs death%
e% !*hast at the news, ?eianeira han*ed hersel or, some say, stabbed hersel with a sword in
their marria*e bed% &era#lesAs one tho)*ht had been to ()nish her beore he died, b)t when
&yll)s ass)red him that she was inno#ent, as her s)i#ide (roved, he si*hed or*ivin*ly and
e:(ressed a wish that !l#mene and all his sons sho)ld assemble to hear his last words%
!l#mene, however, was at Tiryns with some o his #hildren, and most o the others had
settled at Thebes% Th)s he #o)ld reveal @e)sAs (ro(he#y, now )lilled, only to &yll)s1 I3o
man alive may ever kill &era#les2 a dead enemy shall be his downall%A &yll)s then asked or
instr)#tions, and was told1 I+wear by the head o @e)s that yo) will #onvey me to the hi*hest
(eak o this mo)ntain, and there b)rn me, witho)t lamentation, on a (yre o oak7bran#hes and
tr)nks o the male wild7olive% -ikewise swear to marry $ole as soon as yo) #ome o a*e%A
Tho)*h s#andali8ed by these reE)ests, &yll)s (romised to observe them%
% When all had been (re(ared, $ola)s and his #om(anions retired a short distan#e, while
&era#les mo)nted the (yre and *ave orders lot its kindlin*% 4)t none dared obey, )ntil a
(assin* !eolian she(herd named "oeas ordered "hilo#tetes, his son by ?emonassa, to do as
&era#les asked% $n *ratit)de, &era#les beE)eathed his E)iver, bow, and arrows to "hilo#tetes
and, when the lames be*an to li#k at the (yre, s(read his lion7(elt over the (latorm at the
s)mmit and lay down, with his #l)b or (illow, lookin* as bliss)l as a *arlanded *)est
s)rro)nded by wine7#)(s% Th)nderbolts then ell rom the sky and at on#e red)#ed the (yre to
ashes%
*% $n ;lym()s, @e)s #on*rat)lated himsel that his avo)rite son had behaved so nobly%
I&era#lesAs immortal (artA, he anno)n#ed, Iis sae rom death, and $ shall soon wel#ome him
to this blessed re*ion% 4)t i anyone here *rieves at his deii#ation, so ri#hly merited, that *od
or *oddess m)st nevertheless a((rove it willy7nillyPA !ll the ;lym(ians assented, and &era
de#ided to swallow the ins)lt, whi#h was #learly aimed at her, be#a)se she had already
arran*ed to ()nish "hilo#tetes, or his kindly a#t, by the bite o a -emnian vi(er%
h% The th)nderbolts had #ons)med &era#lesAs mortal (art% &e no lon*er bore any resemblan#e
to !l#mene b)t, like a snake that has #ast its skin, a((eared in all the maHesty o his divine
ather% ! #lo)d re#eived him rom his #om(anions si*ht as, amid (eals o th)nder, @e)s bore
him )( to heaven in his o)r7horse #hariot2 where !thene took him by the hand and solemnly
introd)#ed him to her ellow deities%
i% 3ow, @e)s had destined &era#les as one o the Twelve ;lym(ians, yet was loth to e:(el
any o the e:istin* #om(any o *ods in order to make room or him% &e thereore (ers)aded
&era to ado(t &era#les by a #eremony o rebirth1 namely, *oin* to bed, (retendin* to be in
labo)r, and then (rod)#in* him rom beneath her skirtJwhi#h is the ado(tion rit)al still in
)se amon* many barbarian tribes% &en#eorth, &era re*arded &era#les as her son and loved
him ne:t only to @e)s% !ll the immortals wel#omed his arrival2 and &era married him to her
(retty da)*hter &ebe, who bore him !le:iares and !ni#et)s% !nd, indeed, &era#les had
earned &eraAs tr)e *ratit)de in the revolt o the Giants by killin* "ronom)s, when he tried to
violate her%
H% &era#les be#ame the (orter o heaven, and never tires o standin* at the ;lym(ian *ates,
towards ni*htall, waitin* or !rtemisAs ret)rn rom the #hase% &e *reets her merrily, and
ha)ls the hea(s o (rey o)t o her #hariot, rownin* and wa**in* a in*er in disa((roval i he
inds only harmless *oats and hares% I+hoot wild boars,A he says, Ithat tram(le down #ro(s
and *ash or#hard7trees2 shoot man7killin* b)lls, and lions, and wolvesP 4)t what harm have
*oats and hares done )sKA Then he lays the #ar#asses, and vora#io)sly eats any titbits that
take his an#y% Det while the immortal &era#les banE)ets at the divine table, his mortal
(hantom stalks abo)t Tartar)s, amon* the twitterin* dead2 bow drawn, arrow itted to the
strin*% !#ross his sho)lder is sl)n* a *olden baldri#, terriyin*ly wro)*ht with lions, bears,
wild boars, and s#enes o battle and sla)*hter%
k% When $ola)s and his #om(anions ret)rned to Tra#his, Menoeti)s, the son o !#tor,
sa#rii#ed a ram, a b)ll, and a boar to &era#les, and instit)ted his hero7worshi( at -o#rian
;()s2 the Thebans soon ollowed s)it2 b)t the !thenians, led by the (eo(le o Marathon,
were the irst to worshi( him as a *od, and all mankind now ollows this *lorio)s e:am(le%
&era#lesAs son "haest)s orrod that the +i#yonia were oerin* his ather hero7rites, b)t
himsel insisted on sa#rii#in* him as a *od% To this day, thereore, the (eo(le o +i#yon, ater
killin* a lamb and b)rnin* its thi*hs on the altar to &era#les the *od, dedi#ate (art o its lesh
to &era#les the hero% !t ;eta, he is worshi((ed )nder the name o .orno(ion, be#a)se he
s#ared away the lo#)sts whi#h were abo)t to settle on the #ity2 b)t the $onians o ,rythrae
worshi( him &era#les $(o#ton)s, be#a)se he destroyed the i(es, whi#h are worms that atta#k
vines in almost every other re*ion%
l% ! Tyrian ima*e o &era#les, now in his shrine at ,rythrae, is said to re(resent &era#les the
?a#tyl% $t was o)nd loatin* on a rat in the $onian +ea o .a(e Mesate, e:a#tly halway
between the harbo)r ,rythrae and the island o .hios% The ,rythraeans on one side and the
.hians on the other, strained every nerve to tow the rat to their shoreJb)t witho)t s)##ess%
!t last an ,rythraean isherman named "hormio, who had lost his si*ht, dreamed that the
women o ,rythrae m)st (lait a ro(e rom their shorn tresses2 with this, the men wo)ld be
able to tow the rat home% The women o a Thra#ian #lan that has settled in ,rythrae
#om(lied, and the rat was towed ashore2 and only their des#endants are now (ermitted to
enter the shrine where the ro(e is laid )(% "hormio re#overed his si*ht, and ke(t it )ntil he
died%
1% 4eore sa#rii#in* and th)s immortali8in* the sa#red kin*Jas .aly(so (romised to
immortali8e ;dysse)sJthe M)een will have stri((ed him o his #lothes and re*alia% What
lo**in*s and m)tilations he s)ered )ntil he was laid on the (yre or immortali8ation, is not
s)**ested here, b)t the i#ons rom whi#h the a##o)nt seems to be ded)#ed (robably showed
him bleedin* and in a*ony, as he str)**led into the white linen shirt whi#h #onse#rated him
to the ?eath7*oddess%
0% ! tradition that &era#les died on the .enaean headland has been re#on#iled with another
that had him die on Mo)nt ;eta, where early ins#ri(tions and stat)ettes show that the sa#red
kin* #ontin)ed to be b)rned in ei*y or #ent)ries ater he #eased to be b)rned in the lesh%
;ak is the #orre#t wood or the mids)mmer bonire2 wild7olive is the wood o the 3ew Dear,
when the kin* be*an his rei*n by e:(ellin* the s(irits o the old year% "oeas, or "hilo#tetes,
who li*hted the (yre, is the kin*As tanist and s)##essor2 he inherits his arms and bedJ$oleAs
marria*e to &yll)s m)st be read in this wayJ and dies by snakeJbite at the end o the year%
<% 'ormerly, &era#lesAs so)l had *one to the Western "aradise o the &es(erides2 or to the
silver #astle, the .orona 4orealis, at the ba#k o the 3orth WindJa le*end whi#h "indar has
)n#om(rehendin*ly in#l)ded in a brie a##o)nt o the Third -abo)r% &is admission to the
;lym(ian &eavenJ where, however, he never se#)red a seat amon* the twelve, as ?ionys)s
didJis a late #on#e(tion% $t may be based on the misreadin* o the same sa#red i#on whi#h
a##o)nts or the marria*e o "ele)s and Thetis, or the so7#alled ra(e o Ganymedes, and or
the armin* o &era#les% This i#on will have shown !thene, or &ebe, the yo)th)l E)een and
bride, introd)#in* the kin* to twelve witnesses o the sa#red marria*e, ea#h re(resentin* a
#lan o a reli*io)s #onedera#y or a month o the sa#red year2 he has been rit)ally reborn
either rom a mare, or 5as here6 rom a woman% &era#les i*)res as a
heavenly (orter be#a)se he died at mids)mmerJthe year bein* likened to an oaken door
whi#h t)rned on a hin*e, o(ened to its widest e:tent at the mids)mmer solsti#e, then
*rad)ally #losed, as the days be*an to shorten 5White Goddess6% What ke(t him rom
be#omin* a )ll ;lym(ian seems to have been the a)thority o &omer1 the ;dyssey had
re#orded the (resen#e o his shade in Tartar)s%
=% $ the ,rythraean stat)e o &era#les was o Tyrian (rovenien#e, the ro(e in the tem(le will
have been woven not o womenAs hair b)t o hair shorn rom the sa#red kin* beore his death
at the winter solsti#eJas ?elilah shore that o +amson, a Tyrian s)n7hero% ! similar s)n7hero
had been sa#rii#ed by the Thra#ian women who ado(ted his #)lt% The stat)e was (robably
towed on a rat to avoid the harrowin* o a mer#hant vessel and its #onseE)ent withdrawal
rom trade% I$(o#ton)sA may have been a lo#al variant o &era#lesAs more )s)al title
;(hio#ton)s, Iser(ent7killin*A% &is renovation by death Ilike a snake that #asts its slo)*h,A
was a i*)re borrowed rom the ,*y(tian 4ook o the ?ead2 snakes were held to ()t o old
a*e by #astin* their slo)*h, Islo)*hA and Iold a*eA both bein* *eros in Greek% &e rides to
&eaven in a o)r7horse #hariot as a solar hero and (atron o the ;lym(i# Games2 ea#h horse
re(resentin* one o the o)r years between the Games, or one season o a year divided by
eE)ino:es and solsti#es% ! sE)are ima*e o the s)n, worshi((ed as &era#les the +avio)r,
stood in the Great GoddessAs (re#in#t at Me*alo(olis 5"a)sanias62 it was (robably an an#ient
altar, like several sE)are blo#ks o)nd in the (ala#e at .noss)s, and another o)nd in the West
.o)rt o the (ala#e at "haest)s%
5% &ebe, &era#lesAs bride, may not, (erha(s, be the *oddess as Do)th, b)t a deity mentioned
in the =8th and =9th ;r(hi# &ymns as &i(ta the ,arth7mother, to whom ?ionys)s was
delivered or sae7kee(in*% "ro#l)s says 5!*ainst Timae)s6 that she #arried him on her head
in a winnowin* basket% &i(ta is asso#iated with @e)s +aba8i)s in two early ins#ri(tions rom
Maeonia, then inhabited by a -ydo7"hry*ian tribe2 and "roessor Grets#hmer has identiied
her with the Mitannian *oddess &e(a, &e(it, or &ebe, mentioned in the te:ts rom 4o*ha87
Ge)i and a((arently bro)*ht to Maeonia rom Thra#e% $ &era#les married this &ebe, the
myth #on#erns the &era#les who did *reat deeds in "hry*ia, Mysia, and -ydia2 he #an be
identiied with @e)s +aba8i)s% &i(ta was well known thro)*ho)t the Middle ,ast% ! ro#k7
#arvin* at &att)sas in -y#aonia shows her mo)nted on a lion, abo)t to #elebrate a sa#red
marria*e with the &ittite +torm7*od% +he is there #alled &e(at), said to be a &)rrian word,
and "roessor 4% &ro8ny 5.ivili8ation o the &ittites and +)bareans6 eE)ates her with
&awwa, Ithe Mother o !ll -ivin*A, who a((ears in Genesis as ,ve% &ro8ny mentions the
.anaanite (rin#e o 9er)salem !bdihe(a2 and !dam, who married ,ve, was a t)telary hero o
9er)salem 59erome1 .ommentary on ,(hesians6
The .hildren ; &era#les
!-.M,3,, the mother o &era#les, had *one to Tiryns, takin* some o his sons with her2
others were still at Thebes and Tra#his% ,)rysthe)s now derided to e:(el them all rom
Gree#e, beore they #o)ld rea#h manhood and de(ose him% &e thereore sent a messa*e to
.ey:, demandin* the e:tradition not only o the &era#lids, b)t also o $ola)s, the whole
ho)se o -i#ymni)s, and &era#lesAs !r#adian allies% To o weak to o((ose ,)rysthe)s, they
let Tra#his in a bodyJ.ey: (leadin* that he was (owerless to hel( themJand visited most
o the *reat Greek #ites as s)((liants, be**in* or hos(itality% The !thenians )nder These)s
alone dared dey ,)rysthe)s1 their innate sense o H)sti#e (revailed when they saw the
&era#lids seated at the !ltar o Mer#y%
b% These)s settled the &era#lids and their #om(anions at Tri#oryth)s Ja #ity o the !tti#
tetra(olisJand wo)ld not s)rrender them to ,)rysthe)s, whi#h was the #a)se o the irst war
between !thens and the "elo(onnese% 'or, when all the &era#lids had *rown to manhood,
,)rysthe)s assembled an army and mar#hed a*ainst !thens2 $ola)s, These)s, and &yll)s
bein* a((ointed to #ommand the #ombined !thenians and &era#lids% 4)t some say that
These)s had now been s)##eeded by his son ?emo(hon% +in#e an ora#le anno)n#ed that the
!thenians m)st be deeated )nless one o &era#lesAs #hildren wo)ld die or the #ommon
*ood, Ma#aria, &era#lesAs only da)*hter, killed hersel at Marathon, and th)s *ave her name
to the Ma#arian s(rin*%
#% The !thenians, whose (rote#tion o the &era#lids is even today a so)r#e o #ivi# (ride, then
deeated ,)rysthe)s in a (it#hed battle and killed his sons !le:ander, $(himedon, ,)rybi)s,
Mentor, and "erimedes, besides many o his allies% ,)rysthe)s led in his #hariot, ()rs)ed by
&yll)s, who overtook him at the +#ironian Ro#ks and there #)t o his head, rom whi#h
!l#mene *o)*ed the eyes with weavin*7(ins2 his tomb is shown near by% 4)t some say that
he was #a(t)red by $ola)s at the +#ironian Ro#ks, and taken to !l#mene, who ordered his
e:e#)tion% The !thenians inter#eded or him, tho)*h in vain, and beore the senten#e was
#arried o)t, ,)rysthe)s shed tears o *ratit)de and de#lared that he wo)ld reveal himsel,
even in death, as their irm riend, and a sworn enemy to the &era#lids% IThese)s2A he #ried%
IDo) need not (o)r libations or blood on my tomb1 even witho)t s)#h oerin*s $ )ndertake to
drive all enemies rom the land o !tti#aPA Then he was e:e#)ted and b)ried in ront o
!theneAs san#t)ary at "ellene, midway between !thens and Marathon% ! very dierent
a##o)nt is that the !thenians assisted ,)rysthe)s in a battle whi#h he o)*ht a*ainst the
&era#lids at Marathon2 and that $ola)s, havin* #)t o his head beside the Ma#arian s(rin*,
#lose to the #hariot road, b)ried it at Tri#oryth)s, and sent the tr)nk to Gar*ett)s or b)rial%
d% Meanwhile, &yll)s and the &era#lids who had settled by the ,le#trian Gate at Thebes
invaded the "elo(onnese, #a(t)rin* all its #ities in a s)dden onset2 b)t when, ne:t year, a
(la*)e broke o)t and an ora#le anno)n#ed1 IThe &era#lids have ret)rned beore the d)e
timePA &yll)s withdrew to Marathon% ;beyin* his atherAs last wish, he had married $ole and
been ado(ted by !e*imi)s the ?orian2 he now went to ask the ?el(hi# ;ra#le when Ithe d)e
timeA wo)ld #ome, and was warned to Iwait or the third #ro(A% Takin* this to mean three
years, he rested )ntil these had (assed and then mar#hed a*ain% ;n the $sthm)s he was met by
!tre)s, who had meanwhile s)##eeded to the My#enaean throne and rode at the head o an
!#haean army%
e% To avoid needless sla)*hter &yll)s #hallen*ed any o((onent o rank to sin*le #ombat% I$ $
winA, he said, Ilet the throne and kin*dom be mine% $ $ lose, we sons o &era#les will not
ret)rn alon* this road or another ity years%A ,#hem)s, Gin* o Te*ea, a##e(ted the
#hallen*e, and the d)el took (la#e on the .orintho7Me*arian rontier% &yll)s ell, and was
b)ried in the #ity o Me*ara2 where)(on the &era#lids hono)red his )ndertakin* and on#e
more retired to Tri#oryth)s, and then#e to ?oris, where they #laimed rom !e*imi)s that
share o the kin*dom whi#h their ather had entr)sted to him% ;nly -i#ymni)s and his sons,
and &era#lesAs son Tle(olem)s, who was invited to settle at !r*os, remained in the
"elo(onnese% ?el(hi# !(ollo, whose seemin*ly )nso)nd advi#e had earned him many
re(roa#hes, e:(lained that by the Ithird #ro(A he meant the third *eneration%
% !l#mene went ba#k to Thebes and, when she died there at a *reat a*e, @e)s ordered
&ermes to (l)nder the #oin whi#h the &era#lids were #arryin* to the *rave2 and this he did,
adroitly s)bstit)tin* a stone or the body, whi#h he #arried o to the $slands o the 4lessed%
There, revived and reH)venated, !l#mene be#ame the wie o Rhadamanthys% Meanwhile,
indin* the #oin too heavy or their sho)lders, the &era#lids o(ened it, and dis#overed the
ra)d% They set )( the stone in a sa#red *rove at Thebes, where !l#mene is now worshi((ed
as a *oddess% 4)t some say that she married Rhadamanthys at ;#aleae, beore her death2 and
others, that she died in Me*ara, where her tomb is still shown, on a Ho)rney rom !r*os to
ThebesJthey add, that when a dis()te arose amon* the &era#lids, some wishin* to #onvey
her #or(se ba#k to !r*os, others to #ontin)e the Ho)rney, the ?el(hi# ;ra#le advised them to
b)ry her in Me*ara% !nother so7#alled tomb o !l#mene is shown at &aliart)s%
*% The Thebans awarded $ola)s a hero7shrine, #lose to !m(hitryonAs, where lovers (li*ht
their troths or &era#lesAs sake2 altho)*h it is *enerally admitted that $ola)s died in +ardinia%
h% !t !r*os, Tle(olem)s a##identally killed his beloved *rand7)n#le -i#ymni)s% &e was
#hastisin* a servant with an olive7wood #l)b when -i#ymni)s, now old and blind, st)mbled
between them and #a)*ht a blow on his sk)ll% Threatened with death by the other &era#lids,
Tle(olem)s b)ilt a leet, *athered a lar*e n)mber o #om(anions and, on !(olloAs advi#e, led
to Rhodes, where he settled ater lon* wanderin* and many hardshi(s% $n those days Rhodes
was inhabited by Greek settlers )nder Trio(s, a son o "horbas, with whose #onsent
Tle(olem)s divided the island into three (arts and is said to have
o)nded the #ities o -ind)s, $alys)s, and .ameir)s% &is (eo(le were avo)red and enri#hed
by @e)s% -ater, Tle(olem)s sailed to Troy with a leet o nine Rhodian shi(s%
i% &era#les be*ot another &yll)s on the water7nym(h Melite, da)*hter o the River7*od
!e*ae)s, in the land o the "haea#ians% &e had *one there ater the m)rder o his #hildren, in
the ho(e o bein* ()riied by Gin* 3a)sitho)s and by Ma#ris, the n)rse o ?ionys)s% This
was the &yll)s who emi*rated to the .ronian +ea with a n)mber o "haea#ian settlers, and
*ave his name to the &yllaeans%
H% The latest7born o all the &era#lids is said to have been the Thasian athlete Thea*enes,
whose mother was visited one ni*ht in the tem(le o &era#les by someone whom she took or
his (riest, her h)sband Timosthenes, b)t who (roved to be the *od himsel%
k% The &era#lids event)ally re#onE)ered the "elo(onnese in the o)rth *eneration )nder
Temen)s, .res(hontes, and the twins "roeles and ,)rysthenes, ater killin* the &i*h Gin*
Tisamenes o My#enae, a son o ;restes% They wo)ld have s)##eeded earlier, had not one o
their (rin#es m)rdered .arn)s, an !#arnanian (oet, as he #ame towards them #hantin*
(ro(heti# verses2 mistakin* him or a ma*i#ian sent a*ainst them by Tisamenes% $n
()nishment o this sa#rile*e the &era#lid leet was s)nk and amine #a)sed their army to
disband% The ?el(hi# ;ra#le now advised thorn Ito banish the slayer or ten years and take
Trio(s as a *)ide in his (la#e%A They were abo)t to et#h Trio(s son o "horbas rom Rhodes,
when Temen)s noti#ed an !etolian #hietain named ;:yl)s, who had H)st e:(iated some
m)rder or other with a yearAs e:ile in ,lis, ridin* by on a one7eyed horse% 3ow, Trio(s means
Ithree7eyedA, and Temen)s thereore en*a*ed him as *)ide and, landin* on the #oast o ,lis
with his &era#lid kinsmen, soon #onE)ered the whole "elo(onnese, and divided it by lot% The
lot marked with a toad meant !r*os and went to Temen)s2 that marked with a ser(ent meant
+(arta and went to the twins "roeles and ,)rysthenes2 that marked with a o: meant Messene
and went to .res(hontes%
1% The disastro)s invasion o the My#enaean "elo(onnese by )n#)lt)red (atriar#hal
mo)ntaineers rom .entral Gree#e whi#h, a##ordin* to "a)sanias and Th)#ydides, took (la#e
abo)t 1100 4., was #alled the ?orian be#a)se its leaders #ame rom the small state o ?oris%
Three tribes #om(osed this ?orian -ea*)e1 the &ylleids, who worshi((ed &era#les2 the
?ymanes 5IenterersA6, who worshi((ed !(ollo2 and the "am(hylloi 5Imen rom every tribeA6,
who worshi((ed ?emeter% !ter overr)nnin* +o)thern Thessaly, the ?orians seem to have
allied themselves with the !thenians beore they vent)red to atta#k the "elo(onnese% The irst
attem(t ailed, tho)*h My#enae was b)rned abo)t 1100 4., b)t a #ent)ry later they
#onE)ered the eastern and so)thern re*ions, havin* by now destroyed the entire an#ient
#)lt)re o !r*olis% This invasion, whi#h #a)sed emi*rations rom !r*olis to Rhodes, rom
!tti#a to the $onian #oast o !sia Minor, and a((arently also rom Thebes to +ardinia,
bro)*ht the ?ark !*es into Gree#e%
0% +trate*i# b)rial o a heroAs head is #ommon(la#e in myth1 th)s, a##ordin* to the
Mabino*ion, 4ranAs head was b)ried on Tower &ill to *)ard -ondon rom invasion by way o
the Thames1 and a##ordin* to !mbrose 5,(istle6, !damAs head was b)ried at Gol*otha, to
(rote#t 9er)salem rom the north% Moreover, ,)ri(ides 5Rhes)s6 makes &e#tor de#lare that
the *hosts even o stran*ers #o)ld serve as TroyAs *)ardian s(irits% 4oth Tri#oryth)s and
Gar*ett)s lie at narrow #leaves #ommandin* the a((roa#hes to !tti#a% $ola)sAs ()rs)it o
,)rysthe)s (ast the +#ironian Ro#ks seems to have been borrowed rom the same i#on that
s)**ested the myth o &i((olyt)s%
<% The land o the "haea#ians was .or#yra, or ?re(ane, now .or), o whi#h lay the sa#red
islet o Ma#ris2 the .ronian +ea was the G)l ; 'inland, when#e amber seems to have been
et#hed by .or#yrian enter(riseJ.or#yra is asso#iated with the !r*ona)t amber7e:(edition
to the head o the !driati#%
=% Trio(s, the Greek #olonist o Rhodes, is a mas#)lini8ation o the an#ient Tri(le7*oddess
?anaB, or ?amkina, ater whose three (ersons -ind)s, $alys)s, and .ameir)s were named%
!##ordin* to other a##o)nts, these #ities were o)nded by the Tel#hines, or by ?ana)s%
5% !l#mene bein* merely a rile o &eraAs, there was nothin* remarkable in the dedi#ation o
a tem(le to her%
6% "oly*not)s, in his amo)s (aintin* at ?el(hi, showed Menela)s with a ser(ent bad*e on
his shield 5"a)sanias6J(res)mably the water7ser(ent o +(arta% ! o: hel(ed the Messenian
hero !ristomenes to es#a(e rom a (it into whi#h the +(artans had thrown him 5"a)sanias62
and the *oddess as vi:en was well known in Gree#e% The toad seems to have be#ome the
!r*ive emblem, not only be#a)se it had a re()tation o bein* dan*ero)s to handle, and o
#a)sin* a h)sh o awe amon* all who saw it 5"liny1 3at)ral &istory6, b)t be#a)se !r*os was
irst #alled "horoni#)m2 in the syllabary whi#h (re#eded the al(habet at !r*os, the radi#als
"&R3 #o)ld be e:(ressed by a toad, (hryne%
-in)s
T&, #hild -in)s o !r*os m)st be distin*)ished rom -in)s, the son o $smeni)s, whom
&era#les killed with a lyre% !##ordin* to the !r*ives, "samathe, the da)*hter o .roto()s,
bore the #hild -in)s to !(ollo and, earin* her atherAs wrath, e:(osed him on a mo)ntain%
&e was o)nd and reared by she(herds, b)t aterwards torn in (ie#es by .roto()sAs mastis%
+in#e "samathe #o)ld not dis*)ise her *rie, .roto()s soon *)essed that she was -in)sAs
mother, and #ondemned her to death% !(ollo ()nished the #ity o !r*os or this do)ble #rime
by sendin* a sort o &ar(y named "oene, who snat#hed yo)n* #hildren rom their (arents
)ntil one .oroeb)s took it )(on himsel to destroy her% ! (la*)e then des#ended on the #ity
and, when it showed no si*n o abatin*, the !r*ives #ons)lted the ?el(hi# ;ra#le, whi#h
advised them to (ro(itiate "samathe and -in)s% !##ordin*ly they oered sa#rii#es to their
*hosts, the women and maidens #hantin* dir*es, still #alled linoi2 and sin#e -in)s had been
reared amon* lambs, named the estival arnis, and the month in whi#h it was held arneios%
The (la*)e still ra*in*, at last .oroeb)s went to ?el(hi and #onessed to "oeneAs m)rder% The
"ythoness wo)ld not let him ret)rn to !r*os, b)t said1 I.arry my tri(od hen#e, and b)ild a
tem(le to !(ollo wherever it alls rom yo)r handsPA This ha((ened to him on Mo)nt
Geraneia, where he o)nded irst the tem(le and then the #ity o Tri(odis#i, and took )(
residen#e there% &is tomb is shown in the market (la#e at Me*ara2 s)rmo)nted by a *ro)( o
stat)ary, whi#h de(i#ts "oeneAs m)rderJthe most an#ient s#)l(t)res o that kind still
s)rvivin* in Gree#e% This se#ond -in)s is sometimes #alled ;etolin)s, and har(ists mo)rn
him at banE)ets%
b% ! third -in)s likewise lies b)ried at !r*os1 he was the (oet whom some des#ribe as a son
o ;ea*r)s and the M)se .allio(eJth)s makin* him ;r(he)sAs brother% ;thers #all him the
son o !(ollo and the M)se /rania, or !reth)sa, a da)*hter o "oseidon2 or o &ermes and
/rania2 others, a*ain, o !m(himar)s, "oseidon s son, and /rania2 still others, o Ma*nes
and the M)se .lio% -in)s was the *reatest m)si#ian who ever a((eared amon* mankind, and
Healo)s !(ollo killed him% &e had #om(osed ballads in hono)r o ?ionys)s and other an#ient
heroes, aterwards re#ordin* them in "elas*ian letters2 also an e(i# o the .reation% -in)s, in
a#t, invented rhythm and melody, was )niversally wise, and ta)*ht both Thamyris and
;r(he)s%
#% The lament or -in)s s(read all over the world and is the theme, or instan#e, o the
,*y(tian +on* o Maneros% ;n Mo)nt &eli#on, as one a((roa#hed the M)ses *rove, -in)sAs
(ortrait is #arved in the wall o a small *rotto, where ann)al sa#rii#es to him (re#ede those
oered to the M)ses% $t is #laimed that he lies b)ed at Thebes, and that "hili(, ather o
!le:ander the Great, ater deeatin* the Greeks at .haeronea, removed his bones to
Ma#edonia, in a##ordan#e with a dream2 b)t aterwards dreamed a*ain, and sent them ba#k%
1% "a)sanias #onne#ts the myth o the .hild -in)s with that o Maneros, the ,*y(tian .orn7
s(irit, or whom dir*es were #hanted at harvest time2 b)t -in)s seems to have been the s(irit
o the la:7(lant 5linos6, sown in s(rin* and harvested in s)mmer% &e had "samathe or
mother be#a)se, a##ordin* to "liny 53at)ral &istory6, Ithey sowed la: in sandy soil%A &is
*randather, and m)rderer, was .roto()s be#a)se Ja*ain a##ordin* to "linyJthe yellowin*
la:7stalks, ater havin* been (l)#ked o)t by the roots, and h)n* )( in the o(en air, were
br)ised with the I(o)ndin* eetA o tow7mallets% !nd !(ollo, whose (riests wore linen, and
who was (atron o all Greek m)si#, athered him% -in)sAs destr)#tion by do*s evidently reers
to the ma#eration o the la:7stems with iron hat#hets, a (ro#ess whi#h "liny des#ribes in the
same (assa*e% 'ra8er s)**ests, altho)*h witho)t s)((ortin* eviden#e, that -in)s is a Greek
mishearin* o the "hoeni#ian ai lan), Iwoe )(on )sA% ;etolin)s means Idoomed -in)sA%
0% The myth has, however, been red)#ed to the amiliar (attent o the #hild e:(osed or ear
o a Healo)s *randather and reared by she(herds2 whi#h s)**ests that the linen ind)stry in
!r*olis died o)t, owin* to the ?orian invasion or ,*y(tian )ndersellin*, or both, and was
re(la#ed by a woollen ind)stry2 yet the ann)al dir*es or the #hild -in)s #ontin)ed to be
#hanted% The la: ind)stry is likely to have been established by the .retans who #ivili8ed
!r*olis2 the Greek word or la:7ro(e is merinthos, and all IinthosA words are o .retan
ori*in%
<% .oroeb)s, when he killed "oene 5I()nishmentA6, (robably orbade #hild sa#rii#es at the
-in)s estival, and s)bstit)ted lambs, renamin* the month I-amb MonthA2 he has been
identiied with an ,lean o the same name who won the oot7ra#e at the 'irst ;lym(iad 5>>6
4.6% Tri(odis#)s seems to have no #onne#tion with tri(ods, b)t to be derived rom
tri(odi8ein, Ito etter thri#eA%
=% +in#e the la:7harvest was the o##asion o (laintive dir*es and rhythmi# (o)ndin*, and
sin#e at mids)mmerJto H)d*e rom the +wiss and +)abian e:am(les E)oted in 'ra8erAs
Golden 4o)*hJyo)n* (eo(le lea(ed aro)nd a bonire to make the la: *row hi*h, another
mysti#al -in)s was (res)med1 one who attained manhood and be#ame a amo)s m)si#ian,
the inventor o rhythm and melody% This -in)s had a M)se mother, and or his ather,
!r#adian &ermes, or Thra#ian ;ea*ri)s, or Ma*nes, the e(onymo)s an#estor o the
Ma*nesians2 he was, in a#t, not a &ellene, b)t *)ardian o the (re7&elleni# "elas*ian #)lt)re,
whi#h in#l)ded the tree7#alendar and .reation lore% !(ollo, who tolerated no rivals in m)si#
Jas he had shown in the #ase o MarsyasJis said to have killed him o7hand2 b)t this was
an in#orre#t a##o)nt, sin#e !(ollo ado(ted, rather than m)rdered, -in)s% -ater, his death was
more a((ro(riately laid at the door o &era#les, (atron o the )n#ivili8ed ?orian invaders%
5% -in)s is #alled ;r(he)sAs brother be#a)se o a similarity in their ate% $n the !)strian !l(s
5$ am inormed by Mar*arita +#hFn7Wels6 men are not admitted to the la:7harvest, or to the
(ro#ess o dryin*, beatin*, and ma#eratin*, or to the s(innin*7rooms% The r)lin* s(irit is the
&ar(ats#h1 a terriyin* ha*, whose hands and a#e are r)bbed with soot% !ny man who meets
her a##identally, is embra#ed, or#ed to dan#e, se:)ally assa)lted, and smeared with soot%
Moreover, the women who beat the la:, #alled 4e#hlerinnen, #hase and s)rro)nd any
stran*er who bl)nders to their midst% They make him lie down, ste( over him, tie his hands
and eet, wra( him in tow, s#o)r his a#e and hands with (ri#kly la:7waste, r)b him a*ainst
the ro)*h bark o a elled tree, and inally roll him downhill% 3ear 'eldkir#h, they only make
the tres(asser lie down and ste( over him2 b)t elsewhere they o(en his tro)ser7lies and st)
them with la:7waste, whi#h is so (ain)l that he has to es#a(e barele**ed% 3ear +al8b)r*, the
4e#hlerinnen )ntro)ser the tres(asser themselves, and threaten to #astrate him2 ater his
li*ht, they ()riy the (la#e by b)rnin* twi*s and #lashin* si#kles to*ether%
6% -ittle is known o what *oes on in the s(innin*7rooms, the women bein* so se#retive2
e:#e(t that they #hant a dir*e #alled the 'la#hses M)al 5I'la:As TormentA6, or -einen Gla*e
5I-inen -amentA6% $t seems likely, then, that at the la:7harvest women )sed to #at#h, se:)ally
assa)lt, and dismember a man who re(resented the la:7s(irit2 b)t sin#e this was also the ate
o ;r(he)s, who (rotested a*ainst h)man sa#rii#e and se:)al or*ies, -in)s has been
des#ribed as his brother% The &ar(ats#h is amiliar1 she is the #arline7wie o the #orn harvest,
re(resentative o the ,arth7*oddess% +i#kles are #lashed solely in hono)r o the moon2 they
are not )sed in the la: harvest% -in)s is #redited with the invention o m)si# be#a)se these
dir*es are ()t into the mo)th o the 'la:7s(irit himsel, and be#a)se some lyre7strin*s were
made rom la:en thread%
The !r*ona)ts !ssemble
!'T,R the death o Gin* .rethe)s the !eolian, "elias, son o "oseidon, already an old man,
sei8ed the $ol#an throne rom his hal7brother !eson, the ri*ht)l heir% !n ora#le (resently
warnin* him that he wo)ld be killed by a des#endant o !eol)s, "elias ()t to death every
(rominent !eolian he dared lay hands )(on, e:#e(t !eson, whom he s(ared or his mother
TyroAs sake, b)t ke(t a (risoner in the (ala#e2 or#in* him to reno)n#e his inheritan#e%
b% 3ow, !eson had married "olymele, also known as !m(hinome, "erimede, !l#imede,
"olymede, "oly(heme, +#ar(he, or !rne, who bore him one son, by name ?iomedes% "elias
wo)ld have destroyed the #hild witho)t mer#y, had not "olymele s)mmoned her kinswomen
to wee( over him, as tho)*h he were still7born, and then sm)**led him o)t o the #ity to
Mo)nt "elion2 where .heiron the .enta)r reared him, as he did beore, or aterwards, with
!s#le(i)s, !#hilles, !eneas, and other amo)s heroes%
#% ! se#ond ora#le warned "elias to beware a one7sandalled man and when, one day on the
seashore, a *ro)( o his (rin#ely allies Hoined him in a solemn sa#rii#e to "oseidon, his eye
ell )(on a tall, lon*7haired Ma*nesian yo)th, dressed in a #lose7ittin* leather t)ni# and a
leo(ard7skin% &e was armed with two broad7bladed s(ears, and wore only one sandal%
d% The other sandal he had lost in the m)ddy river !na)r)sJwhi#h some mis#all the ,ven)s,
or ,ni(e)sJby the #ontrivan#e o a #rone who, standin* on the arther bank, be**ed (assers7
by to #arry her a#ross% 3one took (ity on her, )ntil this yo)n* stran*er #o)rteo)sly oered
her his broad ba#k2 b)t he o)nd himsel sta**erin* )nder the wei*ht, sin#e she was none
other than the *oddess &era in dis*)ise% "elias had ve:ed &era by withholdin* her #)stomary
sa#rii#es, and she was determined to ()nish him or this ne*le#t%
e% When, thereore, "elias asked the stran*er ro)*hly1 IWho are yo), and what is yo)r atherAs
nameKA, he re(lied that .heiron, his oster7ather, #alled him 9ason, tho)*h he had ormerly
been known as ?iomedes, son o !eson% "elias *lared at him bale)lly%
AWhat wo)ld yo) do,A he enE)ired s)ddenly, Ii an ora#le anno)n#ed that one o yo)r ellow7
#iti8ens were destined to kill yo)KA
I$ sho)ld send him to et#h the *olden ramAs lee#e rom .ol#his,A 9ason re(lied, not knowin*
that &era had (la#ed those words in his mo)th% I!nd, (ray, whom have $ the hono)r o
addressin*KA
% When "elias revealed his identity, 9ason was )nabashed% &e boldly #laimed the throne
)s)r(ed by "elias, tho)*h not the lo#ks and herds whi#h had *one with it2 and sin#e he was
stron*ly s)((orted by his )n#le "heres, kin* o "herae, and !mathaon, kin* o "yl)s, who
had #ome to take (art in the sa#rii#e, "elias eared to deny him his birthri*ht% I4)t irst,A he
insisted, I$ reE)ire yo) to ree o)r beloved #o)ntry rom a #)rsePA
*% 9ason then learned that "elias was bein* ha)nted by the *host o "hri:)s, who had led
rom ;r#homen)s a *eneration beore, ridin* on the ba#k o a divine ram, to avoid bein*
sa#rii#ed% &e took re)*e in .ol#his where, on his death, he was denied (ro(er b)rial2 and,
a##ordin* to the ?el(hi# ;ra#le,
the land o $ol#)s, where many o 9asonAs Minyan relatives were settled, wo)ld never (ros(er
)nless his *host were bro)*ht home in a shi(, to*ether with the *olden ramAs lee#e% The
lee#e now h)n* rom a tree in the *rove o .ol#hian !res, *)arded ni*ht and day by an
)nslee(in* dra*on% ;n#e this (io)s eat had been a##om(lished, "elias de#lared, he wo)ld
*ladly resi*n the kin*shi(, whi#h was be#omin* b)rdensome or a man o his advan#ed
years%
h% 9ason #o)ld not deny "elias this servi#e, and thereore sent heralds to every #o)rt o
Gree#e, #allin* or vol)nteers who wo)ld sail with him% &e also (revailed )(on !r*)s the
Thes(ian to b)ild him a ity7oared shi(2 and this was done at "a*asae, with seasoned timber
rom Mo)nt "elion2 ater whi#h !thene hersel itted an ora#)lar beam into the !r*oAs (row,
#)t rom her ather @e)sAs oak at ?odona%
i% Many dierent m)ster7rolls o the !r*ona)tsJas 9asonAs #om(anions are #alledJhave
been #om(iled at vario)s times2 b)t the ollowin* names are those *iven by the most
tr)stworthy a)thorities1
!#ast)s, son o Gin* "elias
!#tor, son o ?eion the "ho#ian
!dmet)s, (rin#e o "herae
!m(hiara)s, the !r*ive seer
Great !n#ae)s o Te*ea, son o "oseidon
-ittle !n#ae)s, the -ele*ian o +amos
!r*)s the Thes(ian, b)ilder o the !r*o
!s#ala(h)s the ;r#homenan, son o !res
!steri)s, son o .ometes, a "elo(ian
!talanta o .alydon, the vir*in h)ntress
!)*eias, son o Gin* "horbas o ,lis
4)tes o !thens, the bee7master
.aene)s the -a(ith, who had on#e been a woman
.alais, the win*ed son o 4oreas
.anth)s the ,)boean
.astor, the +(artan wrestler, one o the ?ios#)ri
.e(he)s, son o !le)s the !r#adian
.oton)s the -a(ith, o Gyrton in Thessaly
,#hion, son o &ermes, the herald
,r*in)s o Milet)s
,)(hem)s o Taenar)m, the swimmer
,)ryal)s, son o Me#iste)s, one o the ,(i*oni
,)rydamas the ?olo(ian, rom -ake Zynias
&era#les o Tiryns, the stron*est man who ever lived, now a *od
&ylas the ?ryo(ian, sE)ire to &era#les
$das, son o !(hare)s o Messene
$smon the !r*ive, !(olloAs son
$(hi#les, son o Thesti)s the !etolian
$(hit)s, brother o Gin* ,)rysthe)s o My#enae
9ason, the #a(tain o the e:(edition
-aertes, son o !#risi)s the !r*ive
-yn#e)s, the look7o)t man, brother to $das
Melam()s o "yl)s, son o "oseidon
Melea*er o .alydon
Mo(s)s the -a(ith
3a)(li)s the !r*ive, son o "oseidon, a noted navi*ator
;ile)s the -o#rian, ather o !Ha:
;r(he)s, the Thra#ian (oet
"alaemon, son o &e(haest)s, an !etolian
"ele)s the Myrmidon
"eneleos, son o &i((al#im)s, the 4oeotian
"eridymen)s o "yl)s, the sha(e7shitin* son o "oseidon
"haler)s, the !thenian ar#her
"han)s, the .retan son o ?ionys)s
"oeas, son o Tha)ma#)s the Ma*nesian
"olyde)#es, the +(artan bo:er, one o the ?ios#)ri
"oly(hem)s, son o ,lat)s, the !r#adian
+ta(hyl)s, brother o "han)s
Ti(hys, the helmsman, o 4oeotian +i(hae
@etes, brother o .alais
Jand never beore or sin#e was so *allant a shi(As #om(any *athered to*ether%
H% The !r*ona)ts are oten known as Minyans, be#a)se they bro)*ht ba#k the *host o
"hri:)s, *randson o Minyas, and the lee#e o his ram2 and be#a)se many o them, in#l)din*
9ason himsel, s(ran* rom the blood o MinyasAs da)*hters% This Minyas, a son o .hryses,
had mi*rated rom Thessaly to ;r#homen)s in 4oeotia, where he o)nded a kin*dom, and
was the irst kin* ever to b)ild a treas)ry%
1% $n &omerAs day, a ballad #y#le abo)t the !r*oAs voya*e to the land o !eBtes 5Imi*htyA6
was Ion everyoneAs li(sA 5;dyssey6, and he (la#es the "lan#taeJthro)*h whi#h she had
(assed even beore ;dysse)s didJnear the $slands o the +irens, and not ar rom +#ylla and
.harybdis% !ll these (erils o##)r in the )ller a##o)nts o the !r*oAs ret)rn rom .ol#his%
0% !##ordin* to &esiod, 9ason, son o !eson, ater a##om(lishin* many *rievo)s tasks
im(osed by "elias, married !eBtesAs da)*hter who #ame with him to $ol#)s, where Ishe was
s)bHe#t to himA and bore his son Medei)s, whom .heiron ed)#ated% 4)t &esiod seems to have
been misinormed1 in heroi# times no (rin#ess was bro)*ht to her h)sbandAs homeJhe #ame
to hers% Th)s 9ason either married !eBtesAs da)*hter and settled at his #o)rt, or else he
married "eliasAs da)*hter and settled at $ol#)s% ,)mel)s 5ei*hth #ent)ry6 re(orts that when
.orinth)s died witho)t iss)e, Medea s)##ess)lly #laimed the va#ant throne o .orinth, bein*
a da)*hter o !eBtes who, not #ontent with his herita*e, had emi*rated then#e to .ol#his2 and
that 9ason, her h)sband, there)(on be#ame kin*%
<% 3either .ol#his, nor its #a(ital o !ea, are mentioned in these early a##o)nts, whi#h
des#ribe !eBtes as the son o &eli)s, and the brother o !eaean .ir#e% 3or m)st it be
s)((osed that the story known to &omer had m)#h in #ommon with the one told by
!(ollodor)s and !(olloni)s Rhodi)s2 the #o)rse, even, o the !r*oAs o)tward voya*e, let
alone her homeward one, was not yet i:ed by &erodot)sAs timeJor "indar, in his 'o)rth
"ythian ;de 5=60 4.%6, had (resented a version very dierent rom his%
=% The myth o "elias and ?iomedesJ9asonAs ori*inal nameJseems to have been abo)t a
(rin#e e:(osed on a mo)ntain, reared by horseherds, and set seemin*ly im(ossible tasks by
the kin* o a nei*hbo)rin* #ity, not ne#essarily a )s)r(er1 s)#h as the yokin* o ire7breathin*
b)lls, and the winnin* o a treas)re *)arded by a sea7monsterJ9ason, hal7dead in the sea7
monsterAs maw, is the s)bHe#t o ,tr)s#an works o art% &is reward will have been to marry
the royal heiress% +imilar myths are #ommon in .elti# mytholo*yJwitness the labo)rs
im(osed )(on Gilhwy#h, the Mabino*ion hero, when he wished to marry the sor#eress
;lwenJand a((arently reer to rit)al tests o a kin*As #o)ra*e beore his #oronation%
5% $t is indeed rom the Tale o Gilhwy#h and ;lwen, and rom the similar Tale o "ered)r
+on o ,vraw#, also in the Mabino*ion, that the most (la)sible *)esses #an be made at the
nat)re o ?iomedesAs tasks% Gilhwy#h, allin* in love with ;lwen, was ordered by her ather
to yoke a yellow and a brindled b)ll, to #lear a hill o thorns and s#r)b, sow this with #orn,
and then harvest the *rain in a sin*le day2 also to win a horn o(Penty, and a ma*i# $rish
#a)ldron% "ered)r, allin* in love with an )nknown maiden, had to kill a water7monster,
#alled the !van#, in a lake near the Mo)nd o Mo)rnin*J!eaea means Imo)rnin*A% ;n
#ondition that he swore aith with her, she *ave him a ma*i# stone, whi#h enabled him to
deeat the !van#, and win Iall the *old a man mi*ht desire%A The maiden (roved to be the
,m(ress o .ristinobyl, a sor#eress, who lived in *reat style Itowards $ndiaA2 and "ered)r
remained her lover or o)rteen years% +in#e the only other Welsh hero to deeat an !van#
was &) Gadarn the Mi*hty, an#estor o the .ymry, who by yokin* two b)lls to the monster,
dra**ed it o)t o the .onwy River 5Welsh Triads6, it seems likely that 9ason also ha)led his
monster rom the water, with the hel( o his ire7breathin* team%
6% The $rish #a)ldron et#hed by Gilhwy#h was a((arently the one mentioned in the Tale o
"ered)r1 a #a)ldron o re*eneration, like that s)bseE)ently )sed by MedeaJa *iant had
o)nd it at the bottom o an $rish lake% ?iomedes may have been reE)ired to et#h a similar
one or "elias% The s#ene o his labo)rs will have been some )n*eo*ra(hi#al #o)ntry Itowards
the risin* s)nA% 3o #orn)#o(ia is mentioned in the !r*ona)t le*end, b)t Medea, or no #lear
reason, reH)venates the nym(h Ma#ris and her sisters, ormerly the n)rses o ?ionys)s, when
she meets them on ?re(ane, or .or#yra% +in#e ?ionys)s had m)#h in #ommon with the
inant @e)s, whose n)rse, the *oat !maltheia, (rovided the ori*inal #orn)#o(ia, Medea may
have hel(ed ?iomedes to win another #orn)#o(ia rom the nym(hs by lendin* them her
servi#es% &era#lesAs -abo)rs 5like those o These)s and ;rion6 are best )nderstood as
marria*e tasks and in#l)ded Ithe breakin* o the horns o both b)llsA 5the .retan and the
!#heloan6%
>% This marria*e7task myth, one version o whi#h seems to have been #)rrent at $ol#)s, with
"elias as villain, and another at .orinth, with .orinth)s as villain, evidently be#ame linked to
the semi7histori#al le*end o a Minyan sea e:(edition sent o)t rom $ol#)s by the
;r#homenans% ;r#homen)s belon*ed to the an#ient am(hi#tyony, or lea*)e, o .ala)reia
5+trabo6, (resided over by the !eolian *od "oseidon, whi#h in#l)ded si: seaside states o
!r*os and !tti#a2 it was the only inland #ity o the seven and strate*i#ally (la#ed between the
G)l o .orinth and the Thessalian G)l% $ts (eo(le, like &esiodAs 4oeotians, may have been
armers in the winter and sailors in the s)mmer%
8% The s)((osed obHe#t o the e:(edition was to re#over a sa#red lee#e, whi#h had been
#arried away Ito the land o !eBtesA by Gin* "hri:)s, a *randson o Minyas, when abo)t to be
sa#rii#ed on Mo)nt -a(hysti)m, and to es#ort "hri:)sAs *host home to ;r#homen)s% $ts
leader will have been a MinyanJwhi#h ?iomedes son o !eson was notJ(erha(s .ytisor)s
5&erodot)s6, son o "hri:)s, whom !(olloni)s Rhodi)s brin*s (rominently into the story,
and who won the s)rname 9ason 5IhealerA6 at ;r#homen)s when he #he#ked the dro)*ht and
(la*)e #a)sed by "hri:)sAs es#a(e% 3evertheless, ?iomedes was a Minyan on his motherAs
side2 and des#ent is likely to have been matrilineal both at ;r#homen)s and "elas*ian $ol#)s%
9% $n this Minyan le*end, the land o !eBtes #annot have lain at the other end o the 4la#k
+ea2 all the early eviden#e (oints to the island o the !driati#% The !r*ona)ts are believed to
have navi*ated the river "o, near the mo)th o whi#h, a#ross the G)l, lay .ir#eAs $sland o
!eaea, now #alled -)ssin2 and to have been tra((ed by !eBtesAs .ol#hians at the mo)th o
the $sterJnot the ?an)be b)t, as ?iodor)s +i#)l)s s)**ests, the small river $str)s, whi#h
*ives $stria its name% Medea then killed her brother !(syrt)s, who was b)ried in the
nei*hbo)rin* !(syrtides2 and when she and 9ason took re)*e with !l#ino)s, Gin* o
?re(ane 5.or#yra6, a ew daysA sail to the so)thward, the .ol#hians, #heated o their
ven*ean#e, eared to in#)r !eBtesAs an*er by ret)rnin* em(ty7handed and thereore b)ilt the
#ity o "ola on the $strian mainland% Moreover, +irenAs land, the .lashin* Ro#ks, +#ylla and
.harybdis, all lie #lose to +i#ily, (ast whi#h the !r*o was then blown by the violent north7
easter wind% I.ol#hisA may, in a#t, be an error or I.oli#ariaA on the -ower "o, not ar rom
Mant)a, a((arently a station on the !mber Ro)te2 sin#e &eli)sAs da)*hters, who we(t amber
tears, are bro)*ht into the story as soon as the !r*o enters the "o% !mber was sa#red to the
+)n, and ,le#tra 5IamberA6, the island at whi#h the !r*o is said to have to)#hed, will hardly
have been +amothra#e, as the s#holiasts believe2 b)t Ithe land o !eBtesA, a tradin* (ost at the
termin)s o the !mber Ro)teJ(erha(s .orinthian, be#a)se !eBtes had bro)*ht his +)n #)lt
rom .orinth, b)t (erha(s "elas*ian, be#a)se a##ordin* to ?ionysi)sAs ?es#ri(tion o the
,arth a "elas*ian #olony, ori*inatin* rom ?odona, on#e maintained a (ower)l leet at one
o the mo)ths o the "o%
10% To the )n*eo*ra(hi#al myth o ?iomedes, now #ombined with the le*end o a Minyan
voya*e to the land o !eBtes, a third element was added1 the tradition o an early (irati#al raid
alon* the so)thern #oast o the 4la#k +ea, made at the orders o another Minyan kin*% The
si:th #ity o Troy, by its #ommand o the &elles(ont, enHoyed a mono(oly o the 4la#k +ea
trade, whi#h this raid will have been (lanned to #hallen*e% 3ow, the MinyansA s)((osed
obHe#tive on their !driati# voya*e was not a *olden, b)t, a##ordin* to +imonides 5E)oted by
s#holiast on !(olloni)s Rhodi)s6 a ()r(le lee#e whi#h the 'irst Cati#an Mytho*ra(her
des#ribes as that Iin whi#h @e)s )sed to as#end to &eaven%A $n other words, it was a bla#k
lee#e worn in a royal rain7makin* rite, like the one still (erormed every May ?ay on the
s)mmit o Mo)nt "elion1 where an old man in a bla#k shee(7skin mask is killed and bro)*ht
to lie a*ain by his #om(anions, who are dressed in white lee#es 5!nnals o the 4ritish
+#hool at !thens6% !##ordin* to ?i#ear#h)s, this rite was (erormed in .lassi#al times )nder
the a)s(i#es o @e)s !#tae)s, or !#rae)s 5Io the s)mmitA6% ;ri*inally the man in the bla#k
shee(skin mask will have been the kin*, @e)sAs re(resentative, who was sa#rii#ed at the
#lose o his rei*n% The )se o the same #eremony on Mo)nt "elion as on Mo)nt -a(hysti)m
will a##o)nt or the #ombinin* o the two $ol#an traditions, namely the myth o ?iomedes
and the le*end o the 4la#k +ea raid, with the tradition o a Minyan voya*e to )ndo the
mis#hie #a)sed by "hri:)s%
11% Det the MinyansA #ommission will hardly have been to brin* ba#k the lost -a(hystian
lee#e, whi#h was easily re(la#ed1 they are ar more likely to have *one in sear#h o amber,
with whi#h to (ro(itiate the inH)red deity, the Mo)ntain7*oddess% $t sho)ld be remembered
that the Minyans held I+andy "yl)sA on the western #oast o the "elo(onneseJ#a(t)red rom
the -ele*ians by 3ele)s with the hel( o $ol#an "elas*iansJand that, a##ordin* to !ristotle
5Mirabilia6, the "ylians bro)*ht amber rom the mo)th o the "o% ;n the site o this "yl)s
5now the villa*e o Gakovatos6 h)*e E)antities o amber have re#ently been )nearthed%
10% ;n the easterly voya*e this lee#e be#ame I*oldenA, be#a)se ?iomedesAs eat o winnin*
the sea7monster treas)re had to be in#l)ded2 and be#a)se, as +trabo (oints o)t, the !r*ona)ts
who broke into the 4la#k +ea went in sear#h o all)vial *old rom the .ol#hian "hasis 5now
the Rion6, #olle#ted by the natives in lee#es laid on the river bed% 3or was it only the
#on)sion o .ol#his with .oli#aria, o !ea 5IearthA6 with !eaea 5Iwailin*A6, and o the
"elionian bla#k lee#e with the -a(hystian, that made these dierent traditions #oales#e% The
dawn (ala#e o !eBtesAs ather &eli)s lay in .ol#his, the most easterly #o)ntry known to
&omer2 and 9asoni#a, shrines o &era#les the &ealer, were re(orted rom the ,astern G)l o
the 4la#k +ea, where the !eolians had established tradin* (osts% !##ordin* to some
a)thorities, &era#les led the 4la#k +ea e:(edition% Moreover, sin#e &omer had mentioned
9ason only as the ather o ,)ne)s, who (rovided the Greeks with wine d)rin* the sie*e o
Troy, and sin#e -emnos lay east o Thessaly, the !r*o was also tho)*ht to have headed east%
The Wanderin*, or .lashin*, Ro#ks, whi#h &omer (la#ed in +i#ilian waters, have th)s been
transerred to the 4os(hor)s%
1<% ,very #ity needed a re(resentative !r*ona)t to H)stiy its tradin* ri*hts in the 4la#k +ea,
and travellin* minstrels were willin* eno)*h to introd)#e another name or two into this
#om(osite ballad #y#le% +everal nominal rolls o !r*ona)ts thereore s)rvive, all
irre#on#ilable, b)t or the most (art based on the theory that they )sed a ity7oared vesselJ
not, indeed, an im(ossibility in My#enaean times2 T8et8es alone *ives a h)ndred names% Det
not even the most hardened s#e(ti# seems to have do)bted that the le*end was in the main
histori#al, or that the voya*e took (la#e beore the TroHan War, sometime in the thirteenth
#ent)ry 4.%
1=% 9asonAs sin*le sandal (roved him to be a i*htin* man% !etolian warriors were amo)s or
their habit o #am(ai*nin* with only the let oot shod 5Ma#robi)s2 +#holiast on "indarAs
"ythian ;des6, a devi#e also ado(ted d)rin* the "elo(onnesian War by the "lataeans, to *ain
better ()r#hase in the m)d 5Th)#ydides6% Why the oot on the shield side, rather than the
wea(on side, remained shod, may have been be#a)se it was advan#ed in a hand7to7hand
str)**le, and #o)ld be )sed or ki#kin* an o((onent in the *roin% Th)s the let was the hostile
oot, and never set on the threshold o a riendAs ho)se2 the tradition s)rvives in modern
,)ro(e, where soldiers invariably mar#h o to war with their let oot oremost%
15% &eraAs E)arrel with "elias, over the withholdin* o her sa#rii#e, s)**ests tension between
a "oseidon7worshi((in* !#haean dynasty at $ol#)s and the *oddess7worshi((in* !eolo7
Ma*nesians, their s)bHe#ts%
The -emnian Women !nd Gin* .y8i#)s
&,R!.-,+, ater #a(t)rin* the ,rymanthian 4oar, a((eared s)ddenly at "a*asae, and was
invited by a )nanimo)s vote to #a(tain the !r*o2 b)t *enero)sly a*reed to serve )nder 9ason
who, tho)*h a novi#e, had (lanned and (ro#laimed the e:(edition% !##ordin*ly, when the
shi( had been la)n#hed, and lots drawn or the ben#hes, two oars7men to ea#h ben#h, it was
9ason who sa#rii#ed a yoke o o:en to !(ollo o ,mbarkations% !s the smoke o his sa#rii#e
rose (ro(itio)sly to heaven in dark, swirlin* #ol)mns, the !r*ona)ts sat down to their are
banE)et, at whi#h ;r(he)s with his lyre a((eased #ertain dr)nk brawls% +ailin* then#e by the
irst li*ht o dawn, they sha(ed a #o)rse or -emnos%
b% !bo)t a year beore this, the -emnian men had E)arrelled with their wives, #om(lainin*
that they stank, and made #on#)bines o Thra#ian *irls
#a(t)red on raids% $n reven*e, the -emnian women m)rdered them all witho)t (ity, old and
yo)n* alike, e:#e(t Thoas, whose lie his da)*hter &y(si(yle se#retly s(ared, lettin* adrit in
an oarless boat% 3ow, when the !r*o hove in si*ht and the -emnian women mistook her or
an enemy shi( rom Thra#e, they took their dead h)sbandsA armo)r and ran boldly shoreward,
to re(el the threatened atta#k% The eloE)ent ,#hion, however, landin* sta hand as 9asonAs
herald, soon set their minds at rest2 and &y(si(yle #alled a #o)n#il at whi#h she (ro(osed to
send a *it o ood and wine to the !r*ona)ts, b)t not to admit them into her #ity o Myrine,
or ear o bein* #har*ed with the massa#re% "oly:o, &y(si(yleAs a*ed n)rse, then rose to
(lead that, witho)t men, the -emnian ra#e will (resently be#ome e:tin#t% IThe wisest #o)rseA,
she said, Iwo)ld be oer yo)rselves in love to those well7born advent)rers, and th)s not only
(la#e o)r island )nder stron* (rote#tion, b)t breed a new stalwart sto#k%A
#% This disinterested advi#e was lo)dly a##laimed, and the !r*ona)ts were wel#omed to
Myrine% &y(si(yle did not, o #o)rse, tell 9ason the whole tr)th b)t, stammerin* and
bl)shin*, e:(lained that ater ill7treatment at the hands o their h)sbands, her #om(anions had
risen in arms and or#ed them to emi*rate% The va#ant throne o -emnos, she said, was now
his or the askin*% 9ason, altho)*h *rate)lly a##e(tin* her oer, de#lared that beore settlin*
in ertile -emnos he m)st #om(lete his E)est o the Golden 'lee#e% 3evertheless, &y(si(yle
soon (ers)aded the !r*ona)ts to (ost(one their de(art)re2 or ea#h advent)rer was
s)rro)nded by n)mero)s yo)n* women, all it#hin* to bed with him% &y(si(yle #laimed 9ason
or hersel, and royally she entertained him2 it was then that he be*ot ,)ne)s, and his twin
3ebro(hon)s whom some #all ?ei(hil)s, or Thoas the Do)n*er% ,)ne)s event)al be#ame
kin* o -emnos and s)((lied the Greeks with wine d)rin* the TroHan War%
d% Many #hildren were be*otten on this o##asion by the other !r*ona)ts too and, had it not
been or &era#les, who was *)ardin* the !r*o and at last strode an*rily into Myrine, beatin*
)(on the ho)se doors with his #l)b and s)mmonin* his #omrades ba#k to d)ty, it is )nlikely
that the *olden lee#e wo)ld ever have let .ol#his% &e soon or#ed them down to the shore2
and that same ni*ht they sailed or +amothra#e, where they were d)ly initiated into the
mysteries o "erse(hone and her servants, the .abeiri, who save sailors rom shi(wre#k%
e% !terwards, when the -emnian women dis#overed that &y(si(yle, in brea#h o her oath,
had s(ared ThoasJhe was #ast ashore on the island o +i#inos, and later rei*ned over the
Ta)riansJthey sold her into slavery to Gin* -y#)r*)s o 3emea% 4)t some say that Thra#ian
(irates raided Myrine and #a(t)red her% ;n attainin* manhood, ,)ne)s ()riied the island o
blood *)ilt, and the rites he )sed are still re(eated at the ann)al estival o the .abeiri1 or the
s(a#e o nine days, all -emnian hearth7ires are e:tin*)ished, and oerin*s made to the dead,
ater whi#h new ire is bro)*ht by shi( rom !(olloAs altar at ?elos%
% The !r*ona)ts sailed on, leavin* $mbros to starboard and, sin#e it was well known that
Gin* -aomedon o Troy *)arded the entran#e to the &elles(ont and let no Greek shi( enter,
they sli((ed thro)*h the +traits by ni*ht, h)**in* the Thra#ian #oast, and rea#hed the +ea o
Marmara in saety% !((roa#hin* ?olionian territory, they landed at the ne#k o a r)**ed
(enins)la, named !r#ton, whi#h is #rowned by Mo)nt ?indym)m% &ere they were wel#omed
by Gin* .y8i#)s, the son o !ene)s, &era#lesAs ormer ally, who had H)st married .leite o
"hry*ian "er#ote and warmly invited them to share his weddin* banE)et% While the revelry
was still in (ro*ress, the !r*oAs *)ards were atta#ked with ro#ks and #l)bs by #ertain si:7
handed ,arth7born *iants rom the interior o the (enins)la, b)t beat them o%
*% !terwards, the !r*ona)ts dedi#ated their an#hor7stone to !thene, in whose tem(le it is
shown to this day, and, takin* aboard a heavier one, rowed away with #ordial arewells,
sha(in* a #o)rse or the 4os(hor)s% 4)t a north7easterly wind s)ddenly whirled down )(on
them, and soon they were makin* so little way that Ti(hys de#ided to abo)t shi(, and ran
ba#k to the lee o the (enins)la% &e was driven o his #o)rse2 and the !r*ona)ts, bea#hin*
their ski( at random in the (it#h7dark, were at on#e assailed by well7armed warriors% ;nly
when they had over#ome these in a ier#e battle, killin* some and ()ttin* the remainder to
li*ht, did 9ason dis#over that he had made the eastern shore o !r#ton, and that noble Gin*
.y8i#)s, who had mistaken the !r*ona)ts or (irates, lay dead at his eet% .leite, driven mad
by the news, han*ed hersel2 and the nym(hs o the *rove we(t so (iteo)sly that their tears
ormed the o)ntain whi#h now bears her name%
h% The !r*ona)ts held )neral *ames in .y8i#)sAs hono)r, b)t remained weather7bo)nd or
many days more, !t last a hal#yon tiered above 9asonAs head, and (er#hed twitterin* on the
(row o the !r*o2 where)(on Mo(s)s, who )nderstood the lan*)a*e o birds, e:(lained that
all wo)ld be well i they (la#ated the *oddess Rhea% +he had e:a#ted .y8i#)sAs death in
reE)ital or that o her sa#red lionAs, killed by him on Mo)nt ?indym)m, and was now ve:ed
with the !r*ona)ts or havin* #a)sed s)#h #arna*e amon* her si:7armed ,arth7born brothers%
They thereore raised an ima*e to the *oddess, #arved by !r*)s rom an an#ient vine7sto#k,
and dan#ed in )ll armo)r on the mo)ntain to(% Rhea a#knowled*ed their devotion1 she made
a s(rin*Jnow #alled the +(rin* o 9asonJ*)sh rom the nei*hbo)rin* ro#ks% 'air bree8e
then arose, and they #ontin)ed the voya*e% The ?olionians, however, (rolon*ed their
mo)rnin* to a )ll month, li*htin* no ires, and s)bsistin* on )n#ooked oods, a #)stom
whi#h is still observed d)rin* the ann)al .y8i#an Games%
1% 9ason is made to #all at -emnos be#a)se, a##ordin* to &omer, ,)ne)s, who rei*ned there
d)rin* the TroHan War, was his son2 and be#a)se ,)(hem)s, another !r*ona)t, be*ot
-e)#o(hanes 5Iwhite a((earan#eA6 on a -emnian woman 5T8et8es1 ;n -y#o(hron6, th)s
be#omin* the an#estor o a lon*lived .yrenean dynasty% The -emnian massa#re s)**ests that
the islanders retained the *yno#rati# orm o so#iety, s)((orted by armed (riestesses, whi#h
was noted amon* #ertain -ibyan tribes in &erodot)sAs time, and that visitin* &ellenes #o)ld
)nderstand this anomaly only in as a emale revol)tion% Myrine was the name o their
*oddess% "herha(s the -emnian women were said to have st)nk be#a)se they worked in woad
J)sed by their Thra#ian nei*hbo)rs or tattooin*Jwhi#h (lant has so na)seo)s and
lin*erin* a smell that 3orolk woad7makin* tribes have always been obli*ed to intermarry%
0% +amothra#e was a #entre o the &elladi# reli*ion, and initiates into Moon7*oddess
MysteriesJthe se#ret o whi#h has been well ke(tJwere entitled to wear a ()r(le am)let
5!(olloni)s Rhodi)s6, val)ed as a (rote#tion a*ainst dan*ers o all kinds, b)t es(e#ially
shi(wre#k% "hili( o Ma#edon and his wie ;lym(ias have were initiates 5!risto(hanes1
"ea#e62 Germani#)s .aesar was (revented rom takin* (art in the Mysteries only by an omen
and died soon ater 5Ta#it)s1 !nnals6% .ertain an#ient bron8e vessels laid )( in +amothra#e
were said to have been dedi#ated by the !r*ona)ts%
<% RheaAs brothers, the si:7armed ,arth7born o 4ear $sland, are (erha(s ded)#ed rom
(i#t)res o sha**y men, wearin* bear7skins with the (aws e:tended% The a##o)nt o
.y8i#)sAs death is #ir#)mstantial eno)*h to s)**est a *en)ine tradition o the 4la#k +ea raid,
tho)*h one as little #onne#ted with the ann)al e:tin#tion o ires at .y8i#)s, as was the
s)((osed -emnian massa#re with a similar #eremony at Myrine, d)rin* the nine7day estival
o the .abeiri% !t the #lose o the year, when the sa#red kin* was sa#rii#ed, ires were
habit)ally e:tin*)ished in many kin*doms, to be renewed aterwards as one o the rites in the
new kin*As installation%
=% The killin* o RheaAs lion (robably reers to the s)((ression o her worshi( at .y8i#)s in
avo)r o ;lym(ianism%
5% &al#yons were messen*ers o the +ea7*oddess !l#yone 5Ithe E)een who wards o
WstormsXA6%
&ylas, !my#)s, !nd "hine)s
!T &era#lesAs #hallen*e the !r*ona)ts now en*a*ed in a #ontest to see who #o)ld row the
lon*est% !ter many laborio)s ho)rs, relieved only by ;r(he)sAs lyre, 9ason, the ?ios#)ri, and
&era#les alone held o)t2 other #omrades havin* ea#h in t)rn #onessed themselves beaten%
.astorAs stren*th be*an to ebb, and "olyde)#es, who #o)ld not otherwise ind)#e him to
desist, shi((ed his own oar% 9ason and &era#les, however, #ontin)ed to )r*e the !r*o
orward, seated on o((osite sides o the shi(, )ntil (resently, as they rea#hed the mo)th o the
river .hi)s in Mysia, 9ason ainted% !lmost at on#e &era#lesAs oar sna((ed% &e *lared abo)t
him, in an*er and dis*)st2 and his weary #om(anions, thr)stin* their oars thro)*h the oar7
holes a*ain, bea#hed the !r*o by the riverside%
b% While they (re(ared the evenin* meal, &era#les went in sear#h o a tree whi#h wo)ld serve
to make him a new oar% &e )(rooted an enormo)s ir, b)t when he dra**ed it ba#k or
trimmin* beside the #anal ire, o)nd that his sE)ire &ylas had set o)t, an ho)r or two
(revio)sly to et#h water rom the nearby (ool o "e*ae, and not yet ret)rned% "oly(hem)s
was away, sear#hin* or him% &ylas had been &era#lesA mi*non and darlin* ever sin#e the
death o his ather, Theiodamas kin* o the ?ryo(ians, whom &era#les had killed when
re)sed the *it o a (lo)*h7o:% .ryin* I&ylasP &ylasPA, &era#les (l)n*ed ranti#ally into the
woods, and soon met "oly(hem)s, who re(orted1 I!las, $ heard &ylas sho)tin* or hel(2 and
ran towards his voi#e% 4)t when $ rea#hed "e*ae $ o)nd no si*ns o a str)**le either with
wild beasts or with other enemies% There was only his water7(it#her lyin* abandoned by the
(ool side%A &era#les and "oly(hem)s #ontin)ed their sear#h all ni*ht, and or#ed every
Mysian whom they met to Hoin in it, b)t to no avail2 the a#t bein* that ?ryo(e and her sister7
nym(hs o "e*ae had allen in love with &ylas, and enti#ed him to #ome and live with them
in an )nderwater *rotto%
#% !t dawn, a avo)rable bree8e s(ran* )( and, sin#e neither &era#les nor "oly(hem)s
a((eared, tho)*h everyone sho)ted their names )ntil the hillsides e#hoed, 9ason *ave orders
or the voya*e to be res)med% This de#ision was lo)dly #ontested and, as the !r*o drew
arther away rom the shore, several o the !r*ona)ts a##)sed him o havin* marooned
&era#les to aven*e his deeat at rowin*% They even tried to make Ti(hys t)rn the shi( abo)t2
b)t .alais and @etes inter(osed, whi#h is why &era#les later killed them in the island o
Tenos, where he set a totterin* lo*an7stone )(on their tomb%
d% !ter threatenin* to lay Mysia waste )nless the inhabitants #ontin)ed their sear#h or
&ylas, dead or alive, and then leadin* a s)##ess)l raid on Troy, &era#les res)med his
-abo)rs2 b)t "oly(hem)s settled near "e*ae and% b)ilt the #ity o .ri)s, where he rei*ned
)ntil the .halybians killed him in battle% 'or &era#lesAs sake, the Mysians still sa#rii#e on#e
a year to &ylas at "r)sa, near "e*ae2 their (riest thri#e #alls his name alo)d, and the devotees
(retend to sear#h or him in the woods%
e% &ylas, indeed, s)ered the same ate as 4orm)s, or 4orim)s, son o /(i)s, a
Mariandynian yo)th o e:traordinary bea)ty who on#e, at harvest time, went to a well to
et#h water or the rea(ers% &e too was drawn into the well by the nym(hs and never seen
a*ain% The #o)ntry (eo(le o 4ithynia #elebrate his memory every year at harvest time with
(laintive son*s to the a##om(animent o l)tes%
% +ome thereore deride the story o &ylas, sayin* that he was really 4orm)s, and that
&era#les had been abandoned at Ma*nesian !(hetae, #lose to "a*asae, when he went ashore
to draw water, soon ater the voya*e be*an2 the ora#)lar beam o the !r*o havin* anno)n#ed
that he wo)ld be too heavy or her to #arry% ;thers, on the #ontrary, say that he not only
rea#hed .ol#his, b)t #ommanded the e:(edition thro)*ho)t%
*% 3e:t, the !r*o to)#hed at the island o 4ebry#os, also in the +ea o Marmara, r)led by the
arro*ant Gin* !my#)s, a son o "oseidon% This !my#)s an#ied himsel as a bo:er, and )sed
to #hallen*e stran*ers to a mat#h, whi#h invariably (roved their )ndoin*2 b)t i they de#lined,
he l)n* them witho)t #eremony over a #li into the sea% &e now a((roa#hed the !r*ona)ts,
and re)sed them ood or water )nless one o their #ham(ions wo)ld meet him in the rin*%
"olyde)#es, who had won the bo:in* #ontest at the ;lym(i# Games, ste((ed orward
willin*ly, and drew on the raw7hide *loves whi#h !my#)s oered him%
h% !my#)s and "olyde)#es went at it, hammer and ton*s, in a lowery #ell, not ar rom the
bea#h% !my#)sAs *loves were st)dded with bra8en s(ikes, and the m)s#les on his sha**y
arms stood o)t like bo)lders #overed with seaweed% &e was by ar the heavier man, and the
yo)n*er by several years2 b)t "olyde)#es, i*htin* #a)tio)sly at irst, and avoidin* his b)ll7
like r)shes, soon dis#overed the weak (oints in his deen#e and, beore lon*, had him s(ittin*
blood rom a swollen mo)th% !ter a (rolon*ed bo)t, in whi#h neither showed the least si*n
o la**in*, "olyde)#es broke thro)*h !my#)sAs *)ard, lattened his nose with a strai*ht let7
handed ()n#h, and dealt )rther mer#iless ()nishment on either side o it, )sin* hooks and
Holts% $n (ain and des(eration, !my#)s *ras(ed "olyde)#esAs let ist and t)**ed at it with his
let hand, while he bro)*ht )( a (ower)l ri*ht swin*2 b)t "olyde)#es threw himsel in the
dire#tion o the t)*% The swin* wear wide, and he #o)ntered with a st)nnin* ri*ht7handed
hook to the ear, ollowed by so irresistible an )((er #)t that it broke the bones o !my#)sAs
tem(le and killed him instantly%
i% When they saw their kin* lyin* dead, the 4ebry#ans s(ran* to arms, b)t "olyde)#esAs
#heerin* #om(anions ro)ted them easily and sa#ked the royal (ala#e% To (la#ate "oseidon,
!my#)sAs ather, 9ason then oered a holo#a)st o twenty red b)lls, whi#h were o)nd amon*
the s(oils%
H% The !r*ona)ts ()t to sea a*ain on the ne:t day, and #ame to +almydess)s in ,astern
Thra#e, where "hine)s, the son o !*enor, rei*ned% &e had been blinded by the *ods or
(ro(hesyin* the )t)re too a##)rately, and was also (la*)ed by a (air o &ar(ies1 loathsome,
win*ed, emale #reat)res who, at every meal, lew into the (ala#e and snat#hed vi#t)als rom
his table, beo)lin* the rest, so that it stank and was inedible% ;ne &ar(y was #alled !ello()s,
and the other ;#y(ete% When 9ason asked "hine)s or advi#e on how to win the *olden
lee#e, he was told1 I'irst rid me o the &ar(iesPA "hine)sAs servants s(read the !r*ona)ts a
banE)et, )(on whi#h the &ar(ies immediately des#ended, (layin* their )s)al tri#ks% .alais
and @etes, however, the win*ed sons o 4oreas, arose sword in hand, and #hased them into
the air and ar a#ross the sea% +ome say that they #a)*ht )( with the &ar(ies at the +tro(hades
islands, b)t s(ared their lives when they t)rned ba#k and im(lored mer#y2 or $ris, &eraAs
messen*er, intervened, (romisin* that they wo)ld ret)rn to their #ave in .retan ?i#te and
never a*ain molest "hine)s% ;thers say that ;#y(ete made terms at these islands, b)t that
!ello()s lew on, only to be drowned in the "elo(onnesian river Ti*ris, now #alled &ar(ys
ater her%
k% "hine)s instr)#ted 9ason how to navi*ate the 4os(hor)s, and *ave him a detailed a##o)nt
o what weather, hos(itality, and ort)ne to e:(e#t on his way to .ol#his, a #o)ntry irst
#oloni8ed by the ,*y(tians, whi#h lies at the easternmost end o the 4la#k +ea, )nder the
shadow o the .a)#as)s Mo)ntains% &e added1 I!nd on#e yo) have rea#hed .ol#his, tr)st in
!(hroditePA
l% 3ow, "hine)s had married irst .leo(atra, sister to .alais and @etes and then, on her death,
$daea, a +#ythian (rin#ess% $daea was Healo)s o .leo(atraAs two sons, and s)borned alse
whimsies to a##)se them o all manner o wi#kedness% .alais and @etes, however, dete#tin*
the #ons(ira#y, reed their ne(hews rom (rison, where they were bein* daily lo**ed by
+#ythian *)ards, and "hine)s not only restored them to avo)r, b)t sent $daea ba#k to her
ather
m% !nd some say that "hine)s was blinded by the *ods ater the !r*ona)tsA visit, be#a)se he
had *iven them (ro(heti# advi#e%
1% $n the le*end o the $ol#ansA easterly voya*e to the 4la#k +eaJtho)*h not in that o the
MinyansA westerly voya*e to $striaJ&era#les may have
led the e:(edition% The story o &ylasAs disa((earan#e was invented to e:(lain the Mysian
rites, still (ra#tised at "r)sa, near "e*ae, in Roman times, o mo)rnin* or !donis o the
Woods% &ylasAs ate at the hands o ?ryo(e and her nym(hs will have been that o -e)#i(()s,
!#taeon, ;r(he)s, or any other sa#red kin*s o the oak #)lt1 namely, to be dismembered and
eaten by wild women, who then ()riied themselves in a s(rin* and anno)n#ed that he had
)na##o)ntably vanished% I?ryo(eA means Iwood(e#kerA 5literally1 Ioak7a#eA6, a bird whose
ta((in* on the oak7tr)nk s)**ested the sear#h or &ylas, a ?ryo(ian by birth, and was held to
(ortend wet weather2 the main obHe#t o this sa#rii#e bein* to brin* on the a)t)mn rains%
&era#les, as the new kin*, will have (retended to Hoin in the sear#h or his (rede#essor%
4orm)s, or 4orim)s, is (ossibly a variant o 4rimosAs son 4rim)s%
0% The story o !my#)s may be derived rom an i#on whi#h showed the )neral *ames
#elebrated ater the old kin* had been l)n* over a #li% 4o:in*, a .retan s(ort, mentioned in
the $liad and ;dyssey, seems to have been #lean eno)*h )ntil the #ivi# rivalry o the ;lym(i#
Games introd)#ed (roessionalism% Roman am(hitheatre ()*ilists )sed s(iked *loves and
kn)#kle7#l)sters, not the traditional raw7hide thon*s2 Theo#rit)s, in his e:(ert a##o)nt o the
"olyde)#es7!my#)s i*ht, is lamentin* the lost *lories o the rin*% &ar(ies were ori*inally
(ersonii#ations o the .retan ?eath7*oddess as a whirl7wind 5&omer1 ;dyssey6, b)t, in this
#onte:t, a((ear to have been sa#red birds, kites or sea7ea*les, or whi#h the Thra#ians
re*)larly set o)t ood% ?iodor)s +i#)l)s, when des#ribin* the !r*ona)tsA visit to "hine)sAs
#o)rt, st)dio)sly avoids any mention o the &ar(iesJor ear (erha(s o in#)rrin* their wrath
Jyet #ontrives to hint that blind "hine)sAs se#ond wie, a +#ythian, tri#ked him by
(retendin* that &ar(ies were snat#hin* away his ood, and beo)lin* what they let, whereas
his own servants were doin* this at her orders% "hine)s was slowly starvin* to death when
.alais and @etesJthe brothers o his irst wieJdete#ted her *)ilt and released their
ne(hews rom the (rison into whi#h she had (ers)aded "hine)s to #ast them%
<% The +tro(hades 5It)rnin*A6 islands were so #alled be#a)se shi(s #o)ld e:(e#t the wind to
t)rn as they a((roa#hed%
=% -o*an7stones, enormo)s bo)lders so #are)lly balan#ed that they will ro#k rom side to
side at the least im()lse, are )nerary mon)ments, a((arently set )( by aven)e7b)ildin*
emi*rants rom -ibya, towards the end o the third millenni)m% ! ew are still workin* in
.ornwall and ?evon, others have been dis(la#ed by the #on#erted eorts o idle soldiers or
to)rists% The dedi#ation o a Tenian lo*an7stone to .alais and @etes, the win*ed sons o
4oreas, s)**ests that s(irits o heroes were invoked to ro#k the bo)lder in the orm o winds,
and th)s #r)sh a live vi#tim laid )nderneath%
'rom The +ym(le*ades To .ol#his
"&$3,/+ had warned the !r*ona)ts o the terriyin* ro#ks, #alled +ym(le*ades, or
"lan#tae, or .yaneae whi#h, (er(et)ally shro)ded in sea mist, *)arded the entran#e to the
4os(hor)s% When a shi( attem(ted to (ass between them, they drove to*ether and #r)shed
her2 b)t, at "hine)sAs advi#e, ,)(hem)s let loose a dove or, some say, a heron, to ly ahead o
the !r*o% !s soon as the ro#ks had ni((ed o her tail eathers, and re#oiled a*ain, the
!r*ona)ts rowed thro)*h with all s(eed, aided by !thene and by ;r(he)sAs lyre, and lost
only their stern ornament% Thereater, in a##ordan#e with a (ro(he#y, the ro#ks remained
rooted, one on either side o the straits, and tho)*h the or#e o the #)rrent made the shi( all
b)t *o orward, the !r*ona)ts ()lled at their oars )ntil they bent like bows, and *ained the
4la#k +ea witho)t disaster%
b% .oastin* alon* the so)thern shore, they (resently to)#hed at the islet o Thynias, where
!(ollo dei*ned to a((ear beore them in a bla8e o divine *lory% ;r(he)s at on#e raised an
altar and sa#rii#ed a wild *oat to him as !(ollo o the ?awn% !t his instan#e, the !r*ona)ts
now swore never to desert one another in time o dan*er, an oath #ommemorated in the
Tem(le o &armonia sin#e b)ilt on this island%
#% Then#e they sailed to the #ity o MariandyneJamo)s or the near7by #hasm )( whi#h
&era#les dra**ed the do* .erber)s rom the /nderworldJand were warmly wel#omed by
Gin* -y#)s% 3ews that his enemy, Gin* !my#)s, was dead had already rea#hed -y#)s by
r)nner, and he *rate)lly oered the !r*ona)ts his son ?as#yl)s to *)ide them on their
Ho)rney alon* the #oast% The ollowin* day, as they were abo)t to embark, $dmon the seer was
atta#ked by a ero#io)s boar l)rkin* in the reed7beds o the river -y#)s, whi#h *ashed his
thi*h dee(ly with its *reat t)sks% $das s(ran* to $dmonAs assistan#e and, when the boar
#har*ed a*ain, im(aled it on his s(ear2 however, $dmon bled to death des(ite their #are, and
the !r*ona)ts mo)rned him or three days% Then Ti(hys si#kened and died, and his #omrades
were (l)n*ed in *rie as they raised a barrow over his ashes, beside the one that they had
raised or $dmon% Great !n#ae)s irst, and ater him ,r*in)s, 3a)(li)s and ,)(hem)s, all
oered to take Ti(hysAs (la#e as navi*ator2 b)t !n#ae)s was #hosen, and served them well%
d% 'rom Mariandyne they #ontin)ed eastward trader sail or many days, )ntil they rea#hed
+ino(e in "a(hla*onia, a #ity named ater the river !so()sAs da)*hter, to whom @e)s, allin*
in love with her, had (romised whatever *it she wished% +ino(e #ratily #hose vir*inity,
havin* her home here, and s(ent the remainder o her lie in ha((y solit)de% !t +ino(e, 9ason
o)nd re#r)its to ill three o the va#ant seats on his ben#hes1 namely the brothers ?eileon,
!)toly#)s, and "hlo*i)s, o Tri##a, who had a##om(anied &era#les on his e:(edition to the
!ma8ons b)t, bein* (arted rom him by a##ident, were now strand in this o)tlandish re*ion%
e% The !r*o then sailed (ast the #o)ntry o the !ma8ons2 and that the iron7workin*
.halybians, who neither till the soil, nor tend lo#ks b)t live wholly on the *ains o their
or*es2 and the #o)ntry o the Tibarenians, where it is the #)stom or h)sbands to *roan, as i
in #hild bed, while their wives are in labo)r2 and the #o)ntry o the Moesynoe#hians, who
live in wooden #astles, #o)(le (romis#)o)sly, and #arry immensely lon* s(ears and white
shields in the sha(e o ivy leaves%
% 3ear the islet o !res, *reat lo#ks o birds lew over the !r*o dro((in* bra8en (l)mes, one
o whi#h wo)nded ;ile)s in the sho)lder% !t this, the !r*ona)ts, re#allin* "hine)sAs
inH)n#tions, donned their helmets and sho)ted at the to( o their voi#es2 hal o them rowin*,
while the remainder (rote#ted them with shields, a*ainst whi#h they #lashed their swords%
"hine)s had also #o)nselled them to land on the islet, and this they now did, drivin* away
myriads o birds, )ntil no one was let% That ni*ht they (raised his wisdom, when a h)*e
storm arose and o)r !eolians #lin*in* to a ba)lk o timber were #ast ashore #lose to their
#am(2 these #astaways (roved to be .ytisor)s, !e*e)s, "hrontis, and Melanion, sons o
"hri:)s by .hal#io(e, da)*hter Gin* !eBtes o .ol#his, and th)s #losely related to many o
the (resent% They had been shi(wre#ked on a Ho)rney to Gree#e, when they were intendin* to
#laim the ;r#homenan kin*dom o their *randather !thamas% 9ason *reeted them warmly,
and all to*ether oered sober sa#rii#es on a bla#k stone in the tem(le o !res, where its
o)ndress, the !ma8on !ntio(e, had on#e sa#rii#ed horses% When 9ason e:(lained that his
mission was to brin* ba#k the so)l o "hri:)s Gree#e, and also re#over the lee#e o the
*olden ram on whi#h he has ridden, .ytisor)s and his brothers o)nd themselves in a
E)andary tho)*h owin* devotion to their atherAs memory, they eared to oer their
*randather by demandin* the lee#e% &owever, what #hoi#e has they b)t to make #ommon
#a)se with these #o)sins who had saved their livesK
*% The !r*o then #oasted (ast the island o "hilyra, where .ron)s on#e lay with "hilyra,
da)*hter o ;#ean)s, and was s)r(rised by Rhea in the a#t2 where)(on he had t)rned himsel
into a stallion, and *allo(ed o, leavin* "hilyra to bear her #hild, hal man, hal horseJ
whi#h (roved to be .heiron the learned .enta)r% -oathin* the monster she now had to s)#kle,
"hilyra (rayed to be#ome other than she was2 and was metamor(hosed into a linden7tree% 4)t
some say that this took (la#e in Thessaly, or Thra#e2 not on the island o "hilyra%
h% +oon the .a)#as)s Ran*e towered above the !r*ona)ts, and they entered the mo)th o the
broad "hasis river, whi#h waters .ol#his% 'irst (o)rin* a
libation o wine mi:ed with honey to the *ods o the land, 9ason #on#ealed the !r*o in a
sheltered ba#kwater, where he #alled a #o)n#il o war%
1% The .lashin*, Wanderin*, or 4l)e Ro#ks, shro)ded in sea mist, seem to have been i#e7
loes rom the R)ssian rivers adrit in the 4la#k +ea2 re(orts o these were #ombined with
dis#o)ra*in* a##o)nts o the 4os(hor)s, down whi#h the #)rrent, swollen by the thawin* o
the *reat R)ssian rivers, oten r)ns at ive knots% ;ther Wanderin* $slands in the 4alti# +ea
seem to have been known to the amber7mer#hants%
0% .enota(hs later raised by Greek #olonists to hono)r the heroes $dmon and Ti(hys may
a##o)nt or the story o their deaths d)rin* the voya*e% $dmon is said to have been killed by a
boar, like .retan @e)s, !n#ae)s, and !donisJall early sa#red kin*s% The name $dmon
5Iknowin*A6 s)**ests that his was an ora#)lar shrine and, indeed, !(olloni)s Rhodi)s
des#ribes him as a seer%
<% Mariandyne is named ater Ma7ri7enna 5+)merian or Ihi*h r)it)l mother o heavenA6,
alias Myrine, !y7mari, or Mariamne, a well7known *oddess o the ,astern Mediterranean%
.halybs was the Greek or IironA, and I.halybiansA seems to have been another name or the
Tibarenians, the irst iron workers o antiE)ity% $n Genesis their land is #alled T)bal 5T)bal7
Tibar6, and T)bal .ain stands or the Tibarenians who had #ome down rom !rmenia into
.anaan with the &yksos hordes% Modiied orms o the #o)vade (ra#tised by the Tibarenians
s)rvive in many (arts o ,)ro(e% The #)stoms o the Moesynoe#hians, des#ribed by
Zeno(honJwhose !nabasis !(olloni)s Rhodi)s had st)diedJare remarkably similar to
those o the +#ottish "i#ts and the $rish +idhe, tribes whi#h #ame to 4ritain in the early
4ron8e !*e rom the 4la#k +ea re*ion%
=% 9asonAs en#o)nter with the birds on the islet o !res, now ")*a $slet, near the Gessab river,
s)**ests that the !r*o arrived there at the be*innin* o May2 she will have navi*ated the
4os(hor)s beore the #)rrent *rew too (ower)l to stem, and rea#hed ")*a at the time o the
*reat s(rin* mi*ration o birds rom the +inai (enins)la% $t a((ears that a n)mber o
e:ha)sted birds, havin* lown a#ross the mo)ntains o !sia Minor, on their way to the Col*a,
o)nd their )s)al san#t)ary o ")*a islet over#rowded and ali*hted on the !r*o, ri*htenin*
the s)(erstitio)s #rew nearly o)t o their wits% !##ordin* to 3i#ollAs 4irds o ,*y(t, these
mi*rants in#l)de Ikestrels, larks, harriers, d)#ks and waders,A b)t sin#e the islet was dedi#ated
to !res, they are #redited by the mytho*ra(hers with bra8en eathers and hostile intentions%
&era#lesAs e:()lsion o the +tym(halian birds to an island in the ,astern 4la#k +ea is likely
to have been ded)#ed rom the !r*ona)tsA advent)re, rather than #ontrariwise as is )s)ally
s)((osed%
5% .heironAs ame as a do#tor, s#holar, and (ro(het won him the title +on o "hilyra
5IlindenA62 he is also #alled a des#endant o $:ion% -inden lowers were m)#h )sed in
.lassi#al times as a restorative, and still are2 moreover, the bast, or inner bark, o the linden
(rovided handy writin* tablets, and when torn into stri(s was )sed in divination 5&erodot)s6%
4)t "hilyra island will have derived its name rom a #l)m( o linden7trees whi#h *rew there,
rather than rom any histori#al ties with Thessaly or Thra#e% 3one o these #oastal islands is
more than a h)ndred yards lon*%
6% .ol#his is now known as Geor*ia, and the "hasis river as the Rion%
The +ei8)re ; The 'lee#e
$3 ;lym()s, &era and !thene were an:io)sly debatin* how their avo)rite, 9ason, mi*ht win
the *olden lee#e% !t last they de#ided to a((roa#h !(hrodite, who )ndertook that her
na)*hty little son ,ros wo)ld make Medea, Gin* !eBtesAs da)*hter, #on#eive a s)dden
(assion or him% !(hrodite o)nd ,ros rollin* di#e with Ganymedes, b)t #heatin* at every
throw, and be**ed him to let ly one o his arrows at MedeaAs heart% The (ayment she oered
was a *olden ball enamelled with bl)e rin*s, ormerly the inant @e)sAs (laythin*2 when
tossed into the air, it let a tra#k like a allin* star% ,ros ea*erly a##e(ted this bribe, and
!(hrodite (romised her ellow7*oddesses to kee( MedeaAs (assion *lowin* by means o a
novel #harm1 a live wryne#k, s(read7ea*led to a irewheel%
b% Meanwhile, at the #o)n#il o war held in the ba#kwater, 9ason (ro(osed *oin* with
"hri:)sAs sons to the near7by #ity o .ol#hian !ea, where !eBtes r)led, and demandin* the
lee#e as a avo)r2 only i this were denied wo)ld they resort to *)ile or or#e% !ll wel#omed
his s)**estion, and !)*eias, !eBtesAs hal7brother, Hoined the (arty% They a((roa#hed !ea by
way o .ir#eAs riverside #emetery, where male #or(ses wra((ed in )ntanned o:7hides were
e:(osed on the to(s o willow7trees or birds to eatJthe .ol#hians b)ry only emale #or(ses%
!ea shone s(lendidly down on them rom a hill, sa#red to &eli)s, !eBtesAs ather, who
stabled his white horses there% &e(haest)s had b)ilt the royal (ala#e in *ratit)de or &eli)sAs
res#)e o him when overwhelmed by the Giants d)rin* their assa)lt on ;lym()s%
#% Gin* !eBtesAs irst wie, the .a)#asian nym(h !sterodeia, mother o .hal#io(e, "hri:)sAs
widow, and o Medea, &e#ateAs wit#h7(riestess, was dead some years beore this2 and his
se#ond wie, ,idyia, had now borne him a son, !(syrt)s%
d% !s 9ason and his #om(anions a((roa#hed the (ala#e, they were met irst by .hal#io(e,
who was s)r(rised to see .ytisor)s and her other three sons ret)rnin* so soon and, when she
heard their story, showered thanks on 9ason or his res#)e o them% 3e:t #ame !eBtes,
a##om(anied by ,idyia and showin* *reat dis(leas)reJor -aomedon had )ndertaken to
(revent all Greeks rom enterin* the 4la#k +eaJand asked !e*e)s, his avo)rite *randson,
to e:(lain the intr)sion% !e*e)s re(lied that 9ason, to whom he and his brothers owed their
lives, had #ome to et#h away the *olden lee#e in a##ordan#e with an ora#le% +eein* that
!eBtesAs a#e wore a look o )ry, he added at on#e1 I$n ret)rn or whi#h avo)r, these noble
Greeks will *ladly s)bHe#t the +a)romatians to yo)r MaHestyAs r)le%A !eBtes *ave a
#ontem(t)o)s la)*h, then ordered 9asonJand !)*eias, whom he wo)ld not dei*n to
a#knowled*e as his brotherJto ret)rn when#e they #ame, beore he had their ton*)es #)t o)t
and their hands lo((ed o%
e% !t this (oint, the (rin#ess Medea emer*ed rom the (ala#e, when 9ason answered *ently
and #o)rteo)sly, !eBtes, ashamed o himsel, )ndertook to yield the lee#e, tho)*h on
seemin*ly im(ossible terms% 9ason m)st yoke two ire7breathin* bra8en7hooed b)lls,
#reations o &e(haest)s2 (lo)*h the 'ield o !res to e:tent o o)r (lo)*h *ates2 and then
sow it with the ser(entAs teeth *iven him by !thene, a ew let over rom .adm)sAs sowin* at
Thebes% 9ason stood st)(eied, wonderin* how to (erorm these )nheard7o eats, b)t ,ros
aimed one o his arrows at Medea, and drove it into her heart, )( to the eathers%
% .hal#io(e, visitin* MedeaAs bedroom that evenin*, to hel( on behal o .ytisor)s and his
brothers, o)nd that she had allen head over heels in love with 9ason% When .hal#io(e
oered hersel to *o7between, Medea ea*erly )ndertook to hel( him yoke the breathin* b)lls
and win the lee#e2 makin* it her sole #ondition that sho)ld sail ba#k in the !r*o as his wie%
*% 9ason was s)mmoned, and swore by all the *ods o ;lym()s to kee( aith with Medea or
ever% +he oered him a lask o lotion, blood7red H)i#e o the two7s)lked, saron7#olo)red
.a)#asian #ro#)s, whi#h wo)ld (rote#t him a*ainst the b)llsA iery breath2 this (otent irst
s(ran* rom the blood o the tort)red "romethe)s% 9ason *rate)lly a##e(ted the lask and,
ater a libation o honey, )nsto((ered it bathed his body, s(ear and shield in the #ontents% &e
was th)s able to s)bd)e the b)lls and harness them to a (lo)*h with an yoke% !ll day he
(lo)*hed, and at ni*htall sowed the teeth, whi#h armed men
immediately s(ro)ted% &e (rovoked these to i*ht one a*ainst another, as .adm)s had done
on a similar o##asion, throwin* a stone E)oits into their midst2 then des(at#hed the s)rvivors%
h% Gin* !eetes, however, had no intention o (artin* with his lee#e, and shamelessly
re()diated his bar*ain% &e threatened to b)rn the !r*o, whi#h was now moored o !ea, and
massa#re her #rew2 Medea, in whom he had )nwisely #onided, led 9ason and a (art o
!r*ona)ts to the (re#in#t o !res, some si: miles away% There lee#e h)n*, *)arded by a
loathsome and immortal dra*on o a million #oils, lar*er than the !r*o hersel, and born rom
the blood o the monster Ty(hon, destroyed by @e)s% +he soothed the hissin* dra*on with
in#antations and then, )sin* reshly7#)t s(ri*s o H)ni(er, s(rinkled so(orii# dro(s on his
eyelids% 9ason stealthily )nastened the lee#e rom the oak7tree, and to*ether they h)rried
down to the bea#h where the !r*o lay%
i% !n alarm had already been raised by the (riests o !res and, in a r)nnin* i*ht, the
.ol#hians wo)nded $(hit)s, Melea*er, !r*)s, !talanta, and 9ason% Det all o them #ontrived
to s#ramble aboard the waitin* !r*o, whi#h was rowed o in *reat haste, ()rs)ed by !eetesNs
*alleys% $(hit)s alone s)##)mbed to his wo)nds2 Medea soon healed the others with
r)ineraries o her own invention%
H% 3ow, the +a)romatians whom 9ason had )ndertaken to #onE)er were des#endants o three
shi(loads o !ma8ons #a(t)red by &era#les d)rin* his 3inth -abo)r2 they broke their etters
and killed the sailors set as *)ards over them, b)t knowin* nothin* o seamanshi(, drited
a#ross to the .immerian 4os(hor)s, where they landed at .renmi in the #o)ntry o the ree
+#ythians% There they #a(t)red a herd o wild horses, mo)nted them and be*an to rava*e the
land% "resently the +#ythians, dis#overin* rom some #or(ses whi#h ell into their hands that
the invaders were women, sent o)t a band o yo)n* men to oer the !ma8ons love rather
than battle% This did not (rove dii#)lt, b)t the !ma8ons #onsented to marry them only i
they wo)ld move to the eastern bank o the river Tanais2 where their des#endants, the
+a)romatians, still live and (reserve #ertain !ma8on #)stoms, s)#h as that every *irl m)st
have killed a man in battle beore she #an ind a h)sband%
1% This (art o the le*end embodies the (rimitive myth o the tasks im(osed on ?iomedes by
the kin* whose da)*hter he wished to marry%
0% !(hroditeNs love #harm, #are)lly des#ribed by Theo#rit)s, was )sed thro)*ho)t Gree#e,
in#l)din* +o#ratesNs #ir#le 5Zeno(hon1 Memorabilia6% 4e#a)se the wryne#k b)ilds in
willows, hisses like a snake and lays white e**s, it has always been sa#red to the moon2 lo
5NmoonN6 sent it as her messen*er to amoro)s @e)s% ;ne o its (o()lar names in ,)ro(e is
N#)#kooNs mateN, and the #)#koo a((ears in the story o how @e)s #o)rted the Moon7*oddess
&era% 'ire7kindlin* by ri#tion was sym(atheti# ma*i# to #a)se love as the ,n*lish word
()nk means both tinder and a harlot% ,ros with tor#h and arrows is (ost7&omeri# b)t, by the
time o !(olloni)s Rhodi)s, his na)*hty behavio)r and !(hroditeNs des(air had be#ome
literary Hoke whi#h !()lei)s took one sta*e )rther in .)(id and "sy#he%
<% The .ol#hian #)stom o wra((in* #or(ses in hides and e:(osin* them on the to(s o
willow7trees re#alls the "arsee #)stom o leavin* them on (latorms or the v)lt)res to eat, in
order not to dea#e the sa#red (rin#i(le o ire, the +)nNs holy *it, by the a#t o #remation%
!(olloni)s Rhodi)s mentions it, a((arently to em(hasi8e "eliasNs #on#ern or "hri:)sNs *host1
bein* a Greek, he #o)ld not #onsider it an adeE)ate )neral rite% !eetesNs ire7breathin* b)lls,
a*ain, re#all, those bra8en one in whi#h (risoners were roasted alive by "hiltres o
!r*)ment)mJRhodi)m #olonyJ(res)mably in hono)r o their *od &eli)s, whose symbol
was a bra8en b)ll 5"ander1 "ython ;des6, b)t the sown men with whom 9ason #ontended are
ina((ro(riate to the story% Tho)*h it was reasonable or .adm)s, a .anaanite stran*er, to
i*ht the "elas*ian a)to#hthons when he invaded 4o*ota, 9ason as a native7born #andidate or
the kin*shi( will rather have been set .olwi#hNs task o (lo)*hin*, sowin*, and rea(in* a
harvest in one dayJa rit)al a#t easily mimed at mids)mmerJthen wrestle with a b)ll and
o)*ht the #)stomary mo#k battle a*ainst men in beast dis*)ise% &is winnin* o the *olden
lee#e is (aralleled by &era#les winnin* o the *olden a((les, whi#h another )nslee(in*
dra*on *)arded% !t least o)r o &era#lesNs -abo)rs seem to have been im(osed on him as a
#andidate or the kin*shi(%
=% 9ason and &era#les are, in a#t, the same #hara#ter so ar as the marria*e7task myth is
#on#erned2 and the 'irst and +eventh -abo)rs s)rvive vesti*ial here in the killin* o the
Mariandynian 4oar and the .y8i#an -ion, with both o whi#h 9ason sho)ld have been
#redited% N9asonNwas, o #o)rse, a title o &era#les%
5% MedeaNs .ol#hian #ro#)s is the (oisono)s #ol#hi#ines, or meadow saron, )sed by the
an#ients as the most reliable s(e#ii# a*ainst *o)t, still remains% $ts dan*ero)s re()tation
#ontrib)ted to MedeaNs%
6% The +a)romatians were the mo)nted +#ythian bowmen o the ste((es2 no wonder !eetes
la)*hed at the notion that 9ason and his heavily armed inantry #o)ld s)bd)e them%
The M)rder ; !(syrt)s
M!3D dierent a##o)nts s)rvive o the !r*oNs ret)rn to Thessaly, tho)*h it is *enerally
a*reed that, ollowin* "hine)sNs advi#e, the !r*ona)ts sailed #o)nter s)nwise aro)nd the
4la#k +ea% +ome say that when !eetes overtook them, near the mo)th o the ?an)be, Medea
killed her yo)n* hal7brother !(syrt)s, whom she had bro)*ht aboard, and #)t him into
(ie#es, whi#h she #onsi*ned one by one to the swit #)rrent% This #r)el strata*em delayed the
()rs)it, be#a)se obli*in* !eetes to retrieve ea#h (ie#e in t)rn or s)bseE)ent b)rial at Tomi%
The tr)e name o MedeaNs hal7brother is said to have been !e*iale)s2 or N!(syrt)sN, meanin*
Nswe(t downN, merely re#ords what ha((ened to his man*led limbs ater he had died% ;thers
(la#e the #rime at !ea itsel, and say that 9ason also killed !eetes%
b% The most #ir#)mstantial and #oherent a##o)nt, however, is that !(syrt)s, sent by !eetes in
()rs)it o 9ason, tra((ed the !r*o at the mo)th o the ?an)be, where the !r*ona)ts a*reed to
set Medea ashore on a near7by island sa#red to !rtemis, leavin* her in #har*e o a (riestess
or a ew days2 meanwhile a kin* o the 4ry*ians wo)ld H)d*e the #ase and de#ide whether
she was to ret)rn home or ollow 9ason to Gree#e, and in whose (ossession the lee#e sho)ld
remain% 4)t Medea sent a (rivate messa*e to !(syrt)s, (retendin* that she had been or#ibly
abd)#ted, and be**in* him to res#)e her% That ni*ht, when he visited the island and thereby
broke the tr)#e, 9ason ollowed, lay in wait and str)#k him down rom behind% &e then #)t o
!(syrt)sNs e:tremities, and thri#e li#ked )( some o the allen blood, whi#h he s(at o)t a*ain
ea#h time, to (revent the *host rom ()rs)in* him% !s soon as Medea was on#e more aboard
the !r*o, the !r*ona)ts atta#ked the leaderless .ol#hians, s#attered their lotilla, and
es#a(ed%
#% +ome wo)ld have it that, ater !(syrt)sNs m)rder, the !r*o t)rned ba#k and sailed )( the
"hasis into the .as(ian +ea, and then#e into the $ndian ;#ean, re*ainin* the Mediterranean
by way o -ake Tritonis% ;thers, that she sailed )( the ?an)be and +ave, and then down the
"o, whi#h Hoins the +ave, into the !driati# +ea2 b)t was ()rs)ed by storms and driven aro)nd
the whole #oast o $taly, )ntil she rea#hed .ir#eNs island o !eaea% ;thers a*ain, that she
sailed )( the ?an)be, and then rea#hed .ir#eNs island by way o the "oand the eddyin* (ools
where is Hoined by the mi*hty Rhone%
d% +till others hold that the !r*ona)ts rowed rea#hed its so)r#e2 then dra**ed the !r*o to the
headwaters river whi#h r)ns north into the G)l o 'inland% ;r that rom the ?an)be they
dra**ed her to the so)r#e o the river ,lbe and, borne on its waters, rea#hed 9)tland% !nd that
they then sha(ed a westerly
#o)rse towards the ;#ean, (assin* by 4ritain and $reland, and rea#hed .ir#eNs island ater
sailin* between the "illars o &era#les and alon* the #oasts o +(ain and Ga)l%
e% These are not, however, easible ro)tes% The tr)th is that the !r*o ret)rned by the
4os(hor)s, the way she had #ome, and (assed thro)*h the &elles(ont insaety, be#a)se the
TroHans #o)ld no lon*er o((ose her (assa*e% 'or &era#les, on his ret)rn rom Mysia, had
#olle#ted a leet o si: shi(s Ws)((lied by the ?olionians and their "er#otean alliesX and,
sailin* )( the river +#amander )nder #over o darkness, s)r(rised and destroyed the TroHan
leet% &e then battered his way into Troy with his #l)b, and demanded rom Gin* -aomedon
the man7eatin* mares o Gin* ?iomedes, whi#h he had let in his #har*e some years
(revio)sly% When -aomedon denied any knowled*e o these, &era#les killed him and all his
sons, e:#e(t the inant "odar#es, or "riam, whom he a((ointed kin* in his stead%
% 9ason and Medea were no lon*er aboard the !r*o% &er ora#)lar beam had s(oken on#e
more, re)sin* to #arry either o them )ntil they had been ()riied o m)rder, and rom the
mo)th o the ?an)be they had set o)t overland or !eaea, the island home o MedeaNs a)nt1
.ir#e% This was not the .am(anian!#a#a where .ir#e later went to live, b)t her ormer
$strianseat2 and Medea led 9ason there by the ro)te down whi#h the straw7wra((ed *its o
the &y(erboreans are yearly bro)*ht to ?elos% .ir#e, to whom they #ame as s)((liants,
*r)d*in*ly ()riied them with the blood o a yo)n* sow%
*% 3ow, their .ol#hian ()rs)ers had been warned not to #ome ba#k witho)t Medea and the
lee#e and, *)essin* that she had *one to .ir#e or ()rii#ation, ollowed the !r*o a#ross the
!e*ean +ea, aro)nd the "elo(onnese, and )( the lllyrian #oast, ri*htly #on#l)din* that Medea
and 9ason had arran*ed to be et#hed rom !eaea%
h% +ome, however, saythat!(syrt)swas still #ommandin* the .ol#hian lotilla at this time,
and that Medea tra((ed and m)rdered him in one o the lllyrian islands now #alled the
!(syrtides%
1% The #ombination o the westerly with the easterly voya*e (assed a##e(ted )ntil Greek
*eo*ra(hi#al knowled*e in#reased and it be#ame the (rin#i(al elements in the story1 namely,
the winnin* o the lee#e rom the "hasis, and the ()rii#ation o Medea and 9ason by .ir#e,
who lived either in $stria or o the western #oast o $taly% Det, sin#e no historian #o)ld aord
to oend his ()bli# by reHe#tin* the voya*e as ab)lo)s, the !r*ona)ts were s)((osed, at
irst, to have ret)rned rom the 4la#k +ea by way o the ?an)be, the +ave, and the !driati#2
then, when e:(lorers o)nd that the +ave does not enter the !driati#, a H)n#tion was (res)med
between the ?an)be and the "o, down whi#h the !r*o #o)ld have sailed2 and when, later, the
?an)be (roved to be navi*able only )( to the $ron Gates, and not to Hoin the "o, she was said
to have (assed )( the "hasis into the .as(ian +ea, and th)s into the $ndian ;#ean 5where
another .ol#his stret#hed alon* the Malabar #oast J&e(haestionos6, and ba#k by way o the
N;#ean +treamN and -ake Tritonis%
0% The easibility o this third ro)te, too, bein* (resently denied, mytho*ra(hers s)**ested
that the !r*o had sailed )( the ?on, (res)med to take its so)r#e in the G)l o 'inland, rom
whi#h she #o)ld #ir#)mnavi*ate ,)ro(e, and ret)rn to Gree#e thro)*h the +traits o Gibraltar%
Told somehow to have rea#hed the ,lbe by way o the ?an)be and a lon* (orta*e, then sailed
down to its mo)th and so home, #oastin* (ast $reland and +(ain% ?iodor)s +i#)l)s, who had
the sense to see that the !r*o #o)ld have ret)rned only thro)*h the 4os(hor)s, as she #ame,
dis#)ssed the (roblem most realisti#ally, and made the ill)minatin* (oint that the $ster 5now
the ?an)be6 was oten #on)sed with the $str)s, a trilin* stream whi#h entered the !driati#
near Trieste% $ndeed, even in the time o !)*)st)s, the *eo*ra(her "om(oni)s Mela #o)ld
re(ort that the western bran#h o the ?an)be Nlows into the a t)rb)len#e and violen#e eE)al
to that o the "o%N The sei8)re o lee#e, the .ol#hiansN ()rs)it, and the death o !(syrt)s, will
ori*inally taken (la#e in the northern !driati#% ;vid (reerred to believe that !(syrt)s had
been m)rdered at the mo)th o the ?an)be and at Tomi be#a)se that was his own destined
death7(la#e%
<% !eaea is said to have belon*ed to ather o Minyas, and *reat7*randather o "hri:)s2 and
.hryses N*oldenN% $t may well have been his s(irit, rather than that whi#h the Minyans were
ordered toa((ease when they lee#e% !##ordin* to +trabo, "hri:)s enHoyed the 4la#k +ea,
Nwhere a ram is never sa#rii#edN2 this been a late o)ndation, (rom(ted by the ame o the
!r*oNs voya*e th)s the Romans also b)ilt tem(les to Greek heroes and heroines (io)sly
introd)#ed into their national history%
=% The name N!(syrt)sN, whi#h #ommemorates the remains downstream, was (erha(s a lo#al
title o ;r(he)s ater dismemberment by the Maenads%
5% Caleri)s 'la##)s and ?iodor)s +i#)l)s both re#ord that sa#ked Troy on the o)tward, not
the homeward, voya*e2 to be a mistake%
The !r*o Ret)rns To Gree#e
!RR$C$3G at .or#yra, whi#h was then named ?re(ane, o)nd the !r*o bea#hed o((osite
the islet o Ma#ris2 Hoy)lly #elebratin* the s)##ess)l o)t#ome o their .ol#hian leader now
visited Gin* !l#ino)s and M)een !rete, e:(lainin* on !eetesNs behal the s)rrender o Medea
and the lee#e% !rete, whom Medea had a((ealed or (rote#tion, ke(t !l#ino)s awake ni*ht
by #om(lainin* o the ill7treatment to whi#h athers too oten s)bHe#t their errant da)*hters1
or instan#e, o 3y#te)sNs #r)elty to !ntio(e, and o !#risi)sNs to ?anae% N,ven now,N she said,
Nthat (oor (rin#ess Meto(e lan*)ishes in an ,(eirot d)n*eon, at the orders o her o*reish
ather, Gin* ,#het)sP +he has been blinded with bra8en s(ikes, and set to *rind iron barley7
#orns in a heavy E)ern1 QWhen they are lo)r, $ will restore yo)r si*ht,Q he ta)nts the (oor
*irl% !eetes is #a(able o treatin* this #harmin* Medea with eE)al barbarity, i yo) *ive him
the #han#e%N
b% !rete inally (revailed )(on !l#ino)s to tell her what H)d*ement he wo)ld deliver ne:t
mornin*, namely1 N$ Medea is still a vir*in, she shall ret)rn to .ol#his2 i not, she is at liberty
to stay with 9ason%N -eavin* him so)nd aslee(, !rete sent her herald to warn 9ason what he
m)st e:(e#t2 and he married Medea witho)t delay in the .ave o Ma#ris, the da)*hter o
!ristae)s and sometime #alled ?ionys)sNs n)rse% The !r*ona)ts #elebrated the weddin* with
a s)m(t)o)s banE)et and s(read the *olden lee#e over the bridal #o)#h% 9)d*ement was d)ly
delivered in the mornin*, 9ason #laimed Medea as his wie, and the .ol#hians #o)ld neither
im(lement !eetesNs orders nor, or ear o his wrath, ret)rn home% +ome thereore settled in
.or#yra, and others o##)(ied those lllyrian islands, not ar rom .ir#eNs !eaea, whi#h are
now #alled the !(syrtides2 and aterwards b)ilt the #ity o "ola on the $strian mainland%
#% When, a year or two later, !eetes heard o these ha((enin*s, he nearly died o ra*e and
sent a herald to Gree#e demandin* the (erson o Medea and reE)ital or the inH)ries done
him2 b)t was inormed that no reE)ital had yet been made or loNs abd)#tion by men o
!eetesNs ra#e 5tho)*h the tr)th was that she led be#a)se a *adly ()rs)ed her6 and none
sho)ld thereore be *iven or the vol)ntary de(art)re o Medea%
d% 9ason now needed only to do)ble .a(e Malea, and ret)rn with the lee#e to lol#)s% &e
#r)ised in saety (ast the $slands o the +irens, where the ravishin* strains o these bird7
women were #o)ntered by the even lovelier strains o ;r(he)sNs lyre% 4)tes alone s(ran*
overboard in an attem(t to swim ashore, b)t !(hrodite res#)ed him2 she took him to Mo)nt
,ry:bywayo -ilybe)m, and there made him her lover% +ome say that the +irens, who had
alreadylosttheirwin*sasa res)lt o an )ns)##ess)l sin*in* #ontest with the M)ses, s(onsored
by &era, #ommitted s)i#ide be#a)se o their ail)re to o)t#harm ;r(he)s2 yet they were still
on their island when ;dysse)s #ame by a *eneration later%
e% The !r*ona)ts then sailed in ine weather alon* the #oast o ,astern +i#ily, where they
wat#hed the mat#hless white herds o &eli)s *ra8in* on the shore, b)t rerained rom stealin*
any o them% +)ddenly they were str)#k bya ri*ht)l 3orth Wind whi#h, in nine daysN time,
drove them to the )ttermost (arts o -ibya2 there, an enormo)s wave swe(t the !r*o over the
(erilo)s ro#ks whi#h line the #oast and retreated, leavin* her hi*h and dry a mile or more
inland% ! lieless desert stret#hed as ar as the eye #o)ld see, and the !r*ona)ts had already
(re(ared themselves or death, when the Tri(le7*oddess -ibya, #lad in *oat skins, a((eared to
9ason in a dream and *ave him reass)ran#e% !t this, they took heart, and settin* the !r*o on
rollers moved her by the or#e o their sho)lders to the salty -ake Tritonis, whi#h several
miles o, a task that o##)(ied twelve days% !ll wo)ld have died o thirst, b)t or a s(rin*
whi#h &era#les, on his way to et#h the *olden a((les o the &es(erides, had re#ently #a)sed
to *)sh rom the *ro)nd%
% .anth)s was now killed by .a(ha)r)s, a Garamantian she(herd whose lo#ks he was
drivin* o, b)t his #omrades aven*ed him% !s hardly had the two #or(ses been b)ried than
Mo(s)s trod )(on -ibyan ser(ent whi#h bit him in the heel2 a thi#k mist s(read over his eyes,
his hair ell o)t, and he died in a*ony% The !r*ona)ts, ater *ivin* him a heroNs b)rial, on#e
more be*an to des(air, bein* )nable to see any o)tlet to the -ake%
*% 9ason, however, beore he embarked on this voya*e, had #ons)lted the "ythoness at ?el(hi
who *ave him two massive bra8en tri(ods, with one o whi#h ;r(he)s now advised him to
(ro(itiate the deities o the land% When he did so, the *od Triton a((eared and took )( the
tri(od witho)t so m)#h as a word o thanks, b)t ,)(hem)s barred his way and asked him
(olitely1 N"ray, my lord, will yo) kindlydire#t )s to the Mediterranean +eaKN 'oranswer, Triton
merely (ointed towards the Ta#a(ae river b)t, as an atertho)*ht, handed him a #lod o earth,
whi#h *ave his des#endants soverei*nty over -ibya to this day% ,)(hem)s a#knowled*ed the
*it with the sa#rii#e o a shee(, and Triton #onsented to draw the !r*o alon* by her keel,
)ntil on#e more she entered the Mediterranean +ea, (redi#tin*, as he went, that when the
des#endant o a #ertain !r*ona)t sho)ld sei8e and #arry o the bra8en tri(od rom his tem(le,
a h)ndred Greek #ities wo)ld rise aro)nd -ake Tritonis% The -ibyan tro*lodytes, overhearin*
these words, at on#e hid the tri(od in the sand2 and the (ro(he#y has not yet been )lilled%
h% &eadin* northward, the !r*ona)ts rea#hed .rete, where they were (revented rom landin*
by Talos the bron8e sentinel, a #reation o &e(haest)s, who (elted the !r*o with ro#ks, as
was his #)stom% Medea #alled sweetly to this monster, (romisin* to make him immortal i he
drank a #ertain ma*i# (otion2 b)t it was a slee(in* dra)*ht and, while he sle(t, she removed
the bron8e nail whi#h sto((ored the sin*le vein r)nnin* rom his ne#k to his ankles% ;)t
r)shed the divine i#hor, a #olo)rless liE)id servin* him or blood, and he died% +ome,
however, say that, bewit#hed by MedeaNs eyes, Talos sta**ered abo)t, *ra8ed his heel a*ainst
a ro#k, and bled to death% ;thers, that "oeas shot him in the heel with an arrow%
i% ;n the ollowin* ni*ht, the !r*o was #a)*ht in a storm rom the so)th, b)t 9ason invoked
!(ollo, who sent a lash o li*ht, revealin* to starboard the island o!na(he, one o the
+(orades, where !n#ae)s mana*ed to bea#h the shi(% $n*ratit)de, 9ason raised an altar to
!(ollo2 and MedeaNs twelve "haea#ian bond7maidens, *iven her by M)een !rete, la)*hed
merrily when, or la#k o a vi#tim, he and his #omrades (o)red water libations )(on the
b)rnin* brands o the sa#rii#e% The !r*ona)ts ta)nted them in re(ly, and t)ssled amoro)sly
with themJa #)stom whi#h s)rvives to this day at the !)t)mn 'estival o !na(he%
H% +ailin* to !e*ina, they held a #ontest1 as to who #o)ld irst draw a (it#her o water and
#arry it ba#k to the shi(2 a ra#e still r)n by the !e*inetans% 'rom !e*ina it was a sim(le
voya*e to lol#)s, s)#h as s#ores o shi(s make every year, and they made it in air weather
witho)t dan*er%
k% +ome minstrels arran*e these events in a dierent order1 they say that the !r*ona)ts
re(o()lated -emnos on the homeward Ho)rney, not as they were sailin* or .ol#his2 others,
that their visit to -ibya took (la#e beore the voya*e to !ea be*an, when 9ason went in the
!r*o to #ons)lt the ?el(hi# ;ra#le and was driven o his #o)rse bya s)dden storm% ;thers
a*ain hold that they #r)ised down the western #oast o $taly and named a harbo)r in the
island o ,lba, where they landed, N!r*o)sN ater the !r*o, and that when they s#ra(ed o
their sweat on the bea#h, it t)rned into (ebbles o vario)s orms% ')rther, that they o)nded
the tem(le o !r*ive &era at -e)#ania2 that, like ;dysse)s, they sailed between +#ylla and
.harybdis2 and that Thetis with her 3ereids *)ided them (ast the lame7s(o)tin* "lan#tae, or
Wanderin* Ro#ks, whi#h are now irmly an#hored to the sea7bed%
$% +till others maintain that 9ason and his #om(anions e:(lored the #o)ntry abo)t .ol#hian
!ea, advan#in* as ar as Media2 that one o them, !rmen)s, a Thessalian rom -ake 4oebe,
settled in !rmenia, and *ave his name to the entire #o)ntry% This view they H)stiy by (ointin*
o)t that the heroi# mon)ments in hono)r o 9ason, whi#h !rmen)s ere#ted at the .as(ian
Gates, are m)#h revered by the barbarians2 and that the !rmenians still wear the an#ient
Thessalian dress%
1% The myth o Meto(e, *iven in )ll neither by &omer nor by !(olloni)s Rhodi)s, re#alls
those o !rne and !ntio(e% +he has, it seems, been ded)#ed rom an i#on showin* the 'ate7
*oddess seated in a tomb2 her E)ern bein* the world7mill aro)nd whi#h, a##ordin* to CarroNs
Treatise on R)sti# !airs, the #elestial system t)rns, and whi#h a((ears both in the 3orse
,dda, worked by the *iantesses 'enHa and MenHa, and in 9)d*es, worked by the blinded
Tyrian +)n7hero +amson% ?emeter, *oddess o #orn7mills, was an )nder*ro)nd deity%
0% &erodot)sNs a##o)nt o !eetesNs embassy to Gree#e makes little sense, )nless he held that
the !r*ive (rin#ess lo did not lee to .ol#his in a it o madness, dis*)ised as a heier, and
event)ally be#ome deiied by the ,*y(tians as $sis, b)t was taken in a raid by the .ol#hians
5whom he des#ribes as reli#s o "haraoh +esostrisNs army that invaded !sia6 and sold into
,*y(t%
<% The three +irensJ&omer makes them only twoJwere sin*in* da)*hters o ,arth, who
be*)iled sailors to the meadows o their island, where the bones o ormer vi#tims lay
mo)lderin* in hea(s 5;dyssey6% They were (i#t)red as bird7women, and have m)#h in
#ommon with the 4irds o Rhiannon in Welsh myth, who mo)rned or 4ran and other heroes2
Rhiannon was a mare7headed ?emeter% +iren7land is best )nderstood as the se()l#hral island
whi#h re#eives the dead kin*Ns *host, like !rth)rNs !valon2 the +irens were both the
(riestesses who mo)rned or him, and the birds that ha)nted the islandJservants o the
?eath7*oddess% !s s)#h, they belon*ed to a (re7;lym(ian #)ltJwhi#h is why they are said
to have been worsted in a #ontest with @e)sNs da)*hters, the M)ses% Their home is vario)sly
*iven as the +iren)sian $slands o "aest)m2 .a(ri2 and N#lose to +i#ilian .a(e "elor)sN
5+trabo6% "airs o +irens were still #arved on tombs in the time o ,)ri(ides 5&elen6, and their
name is )s)ally derived rom seira8ein, Nto bind with a #ordN2 b)t i, as is more likely, it #omes
rom the other seira8ein whi#h means Nto dry )(N, the two +irens will have re(resented twin
as(e#ts o the *oddess at mids)mmer when the Greek (ast)res dry )(1 !nte7vorta and "ost7
vortaJshe who looks (ro(heti#ally orward to the new kin*Ns rei*n and she who mo)rns the
old% The mermaid ty(e o +iren is (ost7.lassi#al%
=% &eli)sNs herd #onsisted o three h)ndred and ity head, the *it o his mother, the Moon7
*oddess% +everal #olonies rom .orinth and Rhodes, where his sky7b)ll was worshi((ed, had
been (lanted in +i#ily% ;dysse)s knew &eli)s as N&y(erionN%
5% -ake Tritonis, on#e an enormo)s inland sea that had overwhelmed the lands o the
3eolithi# !tlantians, has been slowly shrinkin* ever sin#e, and tho)*h still o res(e#table si8e
in .lassi#al timesJthe *eo*ra(her +tyla: re#koned it at some nine h)ndred sE)are milesJis
now red)#ed to a line
o sa#k marshes% 3eith, the skin7#lad Tri(le7*oddess o -ibya, anti#i(ated !thene with her
ae*is6%
6% Mo(s)s, whose death by snake7bite in the heel was a #ommon one a((ears also in the
myth o ?er#eto, the "hilistine ?i#tynna% !nother Mo(s)s, TeiresiasNs *randson, s)rvived the
TroHan War%
>% .a(ha)r)s is an odd name or a -ibyanJ#a(ha)ra bein* the !rabi# or N#am(horN, whi#h
does not *row in -ibyaJb)t the mytho*ra(hers had a (oor sense o *eo*ra(hy%
8% Talos the bron8e man is a #om(osite #hara#ter1 (artly sky7b)ll, (artly sa#red kin* with a
v)lnerable heel, (artly a demonstration o the #ire7(erd)e method o bron8e #astin*%
9% The water7sa#rii#e at !na(he re#alls that oered by the 9ews on the ?ay o Willows, the
#lima: o their estival o Taberna#les, when water was bro)*ht )( in solemn (ro#ession rom
the "ool o +iloam2 the !e*inetan water7ra#e will have been (art o a similar #eremony%
Taberna#les be*an as an a)t)mn ertility east and, a##ordin* to the Talm)d, the "harisees
o)nd it dii#)lt to #)rb the traditional Ili*ht7headednessA o the women%
10% I"ebbles o varie*ated ormA, iron #rystals, are still o)nd on the shores o ,lba%
11% Thetis *)ided the !r*o thro)*h the "lan#tae at the entran#e to the +traits o Messina, as
!thene *)ided her thro)*h the "lan#tae at the entran#e to the 4os(hor)s% ;dysse)s avoided
them by #hoosin* the (assa*e between +#ylla and .harybdis6% The western "lan#tae are the
vol#ani# -i(ari $slands%
10% !rmenia, meanin* !r7Minni, Ithe hi*h land o MinniAJMinni is s)mmoned by 9eremiah
to war a*ainst 4abylonJhas no histori#al #onne#tion with !rmen)s o -ake 4oebe% 4)t
Minni is a((arently the Minyas whom 9ose(h)s mentions 5!ntiE)ities6 when des#ribin*
3oahAs 'lood1 and the name o the Thessalian Minyas, an#estor o the Minyans, oered a
(la)sible link between !rmenia and Thessaly%
The ?eath ; "elias
;3, a)t)mn evenin*, the !r*ona)ts re*ained the well7remembered bea#h o "a*asae, b)t
o)nd no one there to *reet them% $ndeed, it was r)mo)red in Thessaly that all were dead2
"elias had thereore been emboldened to kill 9asonAs (arents, !eson and "olymele, and an
inant son, "roma#h)s, born to them sin#e the de(art)re o the !r*o% !eson, however, asked
(ermission to take his own lie and, his (lea bein* *ranted, drank b)llAs blood and th)s
e:(ired2 where)(on "olymele killed hersel with a da**er or, some say, a ro(e, ater #)rsin*
"elias, who mer#ilessly dashed o)t "roma#h)sAs brains on the (ala#e loor%
b% 9ason, hearin* this dole)l story rom a solitary boatman, orbade him to s(read the news
o the !r*oAs home#omin*, and s)mmoned a #o)n#il o war% !ll his #omrades were o the
o(tion that "elias served death, b)t when 9ason demanded an immediate assa)lt on $ol#)s,
!#ast)s remarked that he #o)ld hardly be e:(e#ted to o((ose his ather2 and the others
tho)*ht it wiser to dis(erse, ea#h to his own home and there, i ne#essary, raise #ontin*ents
or a war on 9asonAs behal% $ol#)s, indeed, seemed too stron*ly *arrisoned to be stormed by a
#om(any so small as theirs%
#% Medea, however, s(oke )( and )ndertook to red)#e the #ity sin*le7handed% +he instr)#ted
the !r*ona)ts to #on#eal their shi(, on some wooded and se#l)ded bea#h within si*ht o
$ol#)s% When they saw a tor#h waved rom the (ala#e roo, this wo)ld mean that "elias was
dead, the *ates o(en, and the #ity theirs or the takin*%
d% ?)rin* her visit to !na(he, Medea had o)nd a hollow ima*e o !rtemis and bro)*ht it
aboard the !r*o% +he now dressed her twelve "haea#ian bond7maidens in stran*e dis*)ises
and led them, ea#h in t)rn #arryin* the ima*e, towards $ol#)s% ;n rea#hin* the #ity *ates
Medea, who had *iven hersel the a((earan#e o a wrinkled #rone, ordered the sentinels to let
her (ass% +he #ried in a shrill voi#e that the *oddess !rtemis had #ome rom the o**y land o
the &y(erboreans, in a #hariot drawn by lyin* ser(ents, to brin* *ood ort)ne to $ol#)s% The
startled sentinels dared not disobey, and Medea with her bond7maidens, ra*in* thro)*h the
streets like maenads, ro)sed the inhabitants to reli*io)s ren8y%
e% !wakened rom slee(, "elias enE)ired in terror what the *oddess reE)ired o him% Medea
answered that !rtemis was abo)t to a#knowled*e his (iety by reH)venatin* him, and th)s
allowin* him to be*et heirs in (la#e o the )nilial !#ast)s, who had lately died in a
shi(wre#k o the -ibyan #oast% "elias do)bted this (romise, )ntil Medea, by removin* the
ill)sion o old a*e that she had #ast abo)t hersel, t)rned yo)n* a*ain beore his very eyes%
I+)#h is the (ower o !rtemisPA she #ried% &e then wat#hed while she #)t a bleary7eyed old
ram into thirteen (ie#es and boiled them in a #a)ldron% /sin* .ol#hian s(ells, whi#h he
mistook or &y(erborean ones, and solemnly #onH)rin* !rtemis to assist her, Medea then
(retended to reH)venate the dead ramJor a risky lamb was hidden, with other ma*i#al *ear,
inside the *oddessAs hollow ima*e% "elias, now wholly de#eived, #onsented to lie on a #o)#h,
where Medea soon #harmed him to slee(% +he then #ommanded his da)*hters, !l#estis,
,vadne, and !m(hinome, to #)t him )(, H)st as they had seen her do with the ram, and boil
the (ie#es in the same #a)ldron%
% !l#estis (io)sly re)sed to shed her atherAs blood in however *ood a #a)se2 b)t Medea, by
*ivin* )rther (roo o her ma*i# (owers, (ers)aded ,vadne and !m(hinome to wield their
knives with resol)tion% When the deed was done, she led them )( to the roo, ea#h #arryin* a
tor#h, and e:(lained that they m)st invoke the Moon while the #a)ldron was #omin* to a
boil% 'rom their amb)sh, the !r*ona)ts saw the distant *leam o tor#hes and, wel#omin* the
si*nal, r)shed into $ol#)s, where they met with no o((osition%
*% 9ason, however, earin* !#ast)sAs ven*ean#e, resi*ned the kin*dom to him, neither did he
dis()te the senten#e o banishment (assed on him by the $ol#an .o)n#il1 or he ho(ed to sit
)(on a ri#her throne elsewhere%
h% +ome deny that !eson was or#ed to take his own lie, and de#lare that, on the #ontrary,
Medea, ater irst drainin* the eete blood rom his body, restored his yo)th by a ma*i#
eli:ir, as she had also restored Ma#ris and her sister7nym(hs on .or#yra2 and (resented him,
stalwart and vi*oro)s, to "elias at the (ala#e *ates% &avin* th)s (ers)aded "elias to )nder*o
the same treatment, she de#eived him by omittin* the a((ro(riate s(ells, so that he died
miserably%
i% !t "eliasAs )neral *ames, #elebrated the ollowin* day, ,)(hem)s won the two7horse
#hariot ra#e2 "olyde)#es, the bo:in* #ontest2 Melea*er, the Havelin throw2 "ele)s, the
wrestlin* mat#h2 @etes, the shorter oot ra#e, and his brother .alais 5or, some say, $(hi#l)s6
the lon*er one2 and &era#les, now ret)rned rom his visit to the &es(erides, the all7in
i*htin*% 4)t d)rin* the o)r7horse #hariot ra#e, whi#h &era#lesAs #harioteer $ola)s won,
Gla)#)s, son o +isy(h)s, was devo)red by his horses whi#h the *oddess !(hrodite had
maddened with hi((omanes%
H% !s or "eliasAs da)*hters1 !l#estis married !dmet)s o "herae, to whom she had lon* been
ae#ted2 ,vadne and !m(hinome were banished by !#ast)s to Mantinea in !r#adia where,
ater ()rii#ation, they s)##eeded in makin* hono)rable marria*es%
1% The .retans and My#enaeans )sed b)llAs blood, (lenti)lly dil)ted with water, as a ma*i#
to ertili8e #ro(s and trees2 only the (riestess o Mother ,arth #o)ld drink it ()re witho)t
bein* (oisoned%
0% .lassi#al mytho*ra(hers ind it hard to de#ide how ar Medea was an ill)sionist or #heat,
and how ar her ma*i# was *en)ine% .a)ldrons o re*eneration are #ommon in .elti# myth2
hen#e Medea (retends to be a &y(erborean, that may mean a 4ritish, *oddess% The
)nderlyin* reli*io)s theory seems to have been that at mids)mmer the sa#red kin*, wearin* a
bla#k ramAs mask, was sla)*htered on a mo)ntain to( and his (ie#es stewed into a
so)(, or the (riestesses to eat2 his s(irit wo)ld then (ass into one o them, to be born a*ain as
a #hild in the ne:t lambin* season% "hri:)sAs avoidan#e o this ate had been the ori*inal
#a)se o the !r*ona)tsA e:(edition%
<% MedeaAs ser(ent7drawn #hariotJser(ents are )nderworld #reat)resJhad win*s be#a)se
she was both earth7*oddess and moon7*oddess% +he a((ears in triad here as "erse(honeJ
?emeterJ&e#ate1 the three da)*hters o "elias dismemberin* their ather% The theory that
the +)n7kin* marries the Moon7E)een, who then *ra#io)sly invites him to mo)nt her #hariot,
#han*ed as the (atriar#hal system hardened1 by .lassi#al times, the ser(ent7#hariot was
&eli)sAs )ndis()ted (ro(erty, and in the later myth o Medea and These)s he lent it to his
*randda)*hter Medea only be#a)se she stood in (eril o death% The $ndian ,arth7*oddess o
the Ramayana also rides in a ser(ent7#hariot%
=% .allima#h)s seems to #redit the h)ntress .yrene with winnin* the oot ra#e at "eliasAs
)neral *ames%
Medea !t ,(hyra
9!+;3 irst visited 4oeotian ;r#homen)s, where he h)n* )( the *olden lee#e in the tem(le
o -a(hystian @e)s2 ne:t, he bea#hed the !r*o on the $sthm)s o .orinth, and there dedi#ated
her to "oseidon%
b% 3ow, Medea was the only s)rvivin* #hild o !eBtes, the le*itimate kin* o .orinth, who
when he emi*rated to .ol#his had his re*ent a #ertain 4)n)s% The throne havin* allen
va#ant, witho)t iss)e o the )s)r(er .orinth)s, son o Marathon 5#allin* himsel I+on o
@e)sA6, Medea #laimed it, and the .orinthians ha((ily a##e(ted 9ason as their kin*% 4)t, ater
rei*nin* or ten (ros(ero)s years, he #ame to s)s(e#t that Medea had se#)red his s)##ession
by (oisonin* .orinth)s2 and (ro(osed to divor#e her in avo)r the Theban Gla)#e, da)*hter
o Gin* .reon%
#% Medea, while not denyin* her #rime, held 9ason to the oath he had sworn at !ea in the
name o all the *ods, and when he (rotested that a or#ed oath was invalid, (ointed o)t that he
also owed the throne o .orinth to her% &e answered1 ITr)e, b)t the .orinth learned to have
more res(e#t or me than or yo)%A +in#e he didnAt re#line, obd)rate Medea, ei*nin*
s)bmission, sent Gla)#e a weddin* *it by the hands o the royal (rin#essJor she had borne
9ason seven da)*htersJnamely, a *olden #rown and a lon* white t)ni#% 3o sooner had
Gla)#e ()t them on, than )nE)en#hable lame a((eared and #ons)med not only herJ
altho)*h she (l)n*ed headlon* to (ala#e o)ntainJb)t Gin* .reon, a #rowd o other
distin*)ished Theban *)ests, and everyone else assembled in the (ala#e e:#e(t o 9ason2 who
es#a(ed by lea(in* rom an )((er window%
d% !t this (oint @e)s, *reatly admirin* MedeaAs s(irit, ell in love with her, b)t she re()lsed
all his advan#es% &era was *rate)l, and she told her1 Y$ will make yo)r #hildren immortal,A
said she, Ii yo) lay them on sa#rii#ial altar in my tem(le%A Medea did so2 and then led in
drawn by win*ed ser(ents, a loan rom her *randather &eli)s, beE)eathin* the kin*dom to
+isy(h)s%
e% The name o only one o MedeaAs da)*hters by 9ason is remembered1 ,rio(is% &er eldest
son, Medei)s, or "oly:en)s, who was ed)#ated by .heiron on Mo)nt "elion, aterwards
r)led the Media2 b)t Medei)sAs ather is sometimes #alled !e*e)s% ;ther sons were
Mermer)s, "heres, or Thessal)s, !l#imedes, Tisander and !r*)s2 all o whom the
.orinthians, enra*ed by the m)rder o Gla)#e and .reon, sei8ed and stoned to death% 'or this
#rime they sin#e made e:(iation1 seven *irls and seven boys, wearin* white *arments and
with their heads shaven, s(end a whole year in the tem(le o &era on the &ei*hts, where the
m)rder was #ommitted% 4y order o the ?el(hi# ;ra#le, the dead #hildrenAs #or(ses were
b)ried2 their so)ls, however, be#ame immortal, as &era had (romised% There are those who
#har*e 9ason with #ondonin* this m)rder, b)t e:(lain that he was ve:ed beyond end)ran#e by
MedeaAs ambition on behal o his #hildren%
% ;thers a*ain, misled by the dramatist ,)ri(ides, whom the .orinthians bribed with iteen
talents o silver to absolve them o *)ilt, (retend that Medea killed two o her own #hildren2
and that the remainder (erished in the (ala#e whi#h she had set on ireJe:#e(t Thessal)s,
who es#a(ed and later rei*ned over $ol#)s, *ivin* his name to all Thessaly2 and "heres,
whose son Mermer)s inherited MedeaAs skill as a (oisoner%
1% Gla)#eAs death was (erha(s ded)#ed rom an i#on showin* the ann)al holo#a)st in the
Tem(le o &era, like that des#ribed by -)#ian at &iera(olis 5;n the +yrian Goddess6% 4)t
Gla)#e will have been the diademed (riestess who dire#ted the #onla*ration, not its vi#tim2
and the well, her rit)al bath% -)#ian e:(lains that the +yrian *oddess was, on the whole, &era2
tho)*h she also had some attrib)tes o !thene and the other *oddesses% &ere ,rio(is 5Ilar*e7
eyedA6 (oints to #ow7eyed &era, and Gla)#e 5IowlA6 to owl7eyed !thene% $n -)#ianAs time,
domesti# animals were h)n* rom the bran#hes o trees (iled in the tem(le #o)rt o
&iera(olis, and b)rned alive2 b)t the death o MedeaAs o)rteen #hildren, and the e:(iation
made or them, s)**est that h)man vi#tims were ori*inally oered% Meli#ertes, the .retan
*od who (resided over the $sthmian Games at .orinth, was Melkarth, I(rote#tor o the #ityA,
the "hoeni#ian &era#les, in whose name #hildren were #ertainly b)rned alive at 9er)salem
5-eviti#)s6% 'ire, bein* a sa#red element, immortali8ed the vi#tims, as it did &era#les himsel
when he as#ended his (yre on Mo)nt ;eta, lay down and was #ons)med%
<% Whether Medea, 9ason, or the .orinthians sa#rii#ed the #hildren be#ame an im(ortant
E)estion only later, when Medea had #eased to be identiied with $no, Meli#ertesAs mother,
and h)man sa#rii#e denoted barbarism% +in#e any drama whi#h won a (ri8e at the !thenian
easts in hono)r o ?ionys)s at on#e a#E)ired reli*io)s a)thority, it is very (robable that the
.orinthians re#om(ensed ,)ri(ides well or his *enero)s mani()lation o the now
dis#reditable myth%
=% @e)sAs love or Medea, like &eraAs or 9ason 5&omer1 ;dyssey2 !(olloni)s Rhodi)s6,
s)**ests that I@e)sA and I&eraA were titles o the .orinthian kin* and E)een% .orinth)s,
tho)*h the son o Marathon, was also styled Ison o @e)sA, and MarathonAs ather ,(o(e)s
5Ihe who sees allA6 had the same wie as @e)s 5"a)sanias6%
Medea $n ,:ile
M,?,! led irst to &era#les at Thebes, where he had (romised to shelter her sho)ld 9ason
ever (rove )naith)l, and #)red him o the madness that had made him kill his #hildren2
nevertheless, the Thebans wo)ld not (ermit her to take )( residen#e amon* them be#a)se
.reon, whom she had m)rdered, was their Gin*% +o she went to !thens, and Gin* !e*e)s
was *lad to marry her% 3e:t, banished rom !thens or her attem(ted (oisonin* o These)s,
she sailed to $taly and ta)*ht the Marr)bians the art o snake7#harmin*2 they still worshi( her
as the *oddess !n*itia% !ter a brie visit to Thessaly, where she )ns)##ess)lly #om(eted
with Thetis in a bea)ty #ontest H)d*ed by $domene)s the .retan, she married an !sian kin*
whose name has not s)rvived b)t who is said to have been Medei)sAs tr)e ather%
b% &earin*, inally, that !eBtesAs .ol#hian throne had been )s)r(ed by her )n#le "erses,
Medea went to .ol#his with Medei)s, who killed "erses, set !eBtes on his throne a*ain, and
enlar*ed the kin*dom o .ol#his to in#l)de Media% +ome (retend that she was by that time
re#on#iled to 9ason, and took him with her to .ol#his2 b)t the history o Medea has, o
#o)rse, been embellished and distorted by the e:trava*ant an#ies o many tra*i# dramatists%
The tr)th is that 9ason, havin* oreited the avo)r o the *ods, whose names he had taken in
vain when he broke aith with Medea, wandered homeless rom
#ity to #ity, hated o men% $n old a*e he #ame on#e more to .orinth, and sat down in the
shadow o the !r*o, rememberin* his (ast *lories, and *rievin* or the disasters that had
overwhelmed him% &e was abo)t to han* himsel rom the (row, when it s)ddenly to((led
orward and killed him% "oseidon then (la#ed the ima*e o the !r*oAs stem, whi#h was
inno#ent o homi#ide, amon* the stars%
#% Medea never died, b)t be#ame an immortal and rei*ned in the ,lysian 'ields where some
say that she, rather than &elen, married !#hilles%
d% !s or !thamas, whose ail)re to sa#rii#e "hri:)s had been the #a)se o the !r*ona)tsA
e:(edition, he was on the (oint o bein* himsel sa#rii#ed at ;r#homen)s, as the sin7oerin*
demanded by the ;ra#le o -a(hystian @e)s, when his *randson .ytisor)s ret)rned rom
!ea#a and res#)ed him% This ve:ed @e)s, who de#reed that, hen#eorth, the eldest son o the
!thamantids m)st avoid the .o)n#il &all in (er(et)ity, on (ain o death2 a de#ree whi#h has
been observed ever sin#e%
e% The home#omin*s o the !r*ona)ts yield many tales2 b)t that o Great !n#ae)s, the
helmsman, is the most instr)#tive% &avin* s)rvived so many hardshi(s and (erils, he ret)rned
to his (ala#e at Te*ea, where a seer had on#e warned him that he wo)ld never taste the wine
o a vineyard whi#h he had (lanted some years (revio)sly% ;n the day o his arrival, !n#ae)s
was inormed that his steward had harvested the irst *ra(es, and that the wine awaited him%
&e thereore illed a wine#)(, set it to his li(s and, #allin* the seer, re(roa#hed him or
(ro(hesyin* alsely% The seer answered1 I+ire, there is many a sli( Itwi:t the #)( and the
li(PA, and at that instant !n#ae)sAs servants ran )(, sho)tin*1 IMy lord, a wild boarP $t is
rava*in* yo)r vineyardPA &e set down the )ntasted #)(, *ras(ed his boar7s(ear, and h)rried
o)t2 b)t the boar lay #on#ealed behind a b)sh and, #har*in*, killed him%
1% !n !tti# #)lt o ?emeter as ,arth7*oddess has *iven rise to the story o MedeaAs stay at
!thens% +imilar #)lts a##o)nt or her visits to Thebes, Thessaly, and !sia Minor2 b)t the
Marr)bians may emi*rated to $taly rom -ibya, where the "syllians were ade(t in the art o
snake7#harmin* 5"liny1 3at)ral &istory6% MedeaAs rei*n in the ,lysian ields is
)nderstandable1 as the *oddess who (resided over #a)ldron o re*eneration, she #o)ld oer
heroes the #han#e o another lie on earth% &elen 5ImoonA6 will have been one o her titles%
0% $n the heroi# a*e, it seems, the kin* o ;r#homen)s, when his rei*n ended, was led or
sa#rii#e to the to( o Mo)nt -a(hysti)m% This kin* was also a (riest o -a(hystian @e)s, an
oi#e hereditary in the matrilineal Minyan #lan2 and at the time o the "ersian Wars,
a##ordin* to &erodot)s, the #lan #hie was still e:(e#ted to attend the .o)n#il &all when
s)mmoned or sa#rii#e% 3o one, however, or#ed him to obey the s)mmons, and he seems
rom &erodot)sAs a##o)nt to have been re(resented by a s)rro*ate e:#e(t on o##asions o
national disaster, s)#h as (la*)e or dro)*ht, when he wo)ld eel obli*ed to attend in (erson%
The deaths o 9ason and !n#ae)s are moral tales, em(hasi8in* dan*ers o e:#essive ame,
(ros(erity, or (ride% 4)t !n#ae)s dies royally in his own #ity, rom the *ash o a boarAs t)sk2
whereas 9ason like 4ellero(hon and ;edi()s, wanders rom #ity to #ity, hated o men, and is
event)ally killed by a##ident% $n the $sthm)s where 9ason had rei*ned, the #)stom was or the
royal (harma#os to be thrown over the #li, b)t res#)ed rom the sea by a waitin* boat and
banished to the lie o an anonymo)s be**ar, takin* his ill7l)#k with him%
<% +ir $saa# 3ewton was the irst, so ar as $ know, to (oint o)t the #onne#tion between the
@odia# and the !r*oAs voya*e2 and the le*er may well have been inl)en#ed at !le:andria by
the @odia#al +i*ns1 the Ram o "hri:)s, the 4)lls o !eBtes, the ?ios#)ri as the &eavenly
Twins, RheaAs -ion, the +#ales o !l#ino)s, the Water7#arriers o !e*inetan &era#les as
4owman, Medea as Cir*in, and the Goat, symbol o le#her to re#ord the love7makin* on
-emnos% When the ,*y(tian @odia#al +i*ns are )sed, the missin* elements a((ear1 +er(ent
or +#or(ion2 and +#arab, symbol o re*eneration, or .rab%
The 'o)ndation ; Troy
;3, story told abo)t the o)ndation o Troy is that, in time o amine, a third o the .retan
(eo(le, #ommanded by "rin#e +#amander, set o)t to o)nd a #olony% ;n rea#hin* "hry*ia,
they (it#hed their #am( beside the sea, not ar rom the #ity o &ama:it)s, below a hi*h
mo)ntain whi#h they named $da in hono)r o @e)sAs .retan home% 3ow, !(ollo had advised
them to settle wherever they sho)ld be atta#ked by earth7born enemies )nder #over o
darkness2 and that same ni*ht a horde o amished ield mi#e invaded the tents and nibbled at
bow7strin*s, leather shield7stra(s, and all other edible (arts o the .retansA war7*ear%
+#amander a##ordin*ly #alled a halt, dedi#ated a tem(le to +minthian !(ollo 5aro)nd whi#h
the #ity o +minthi)m soon *rew6 and married the nym(h $daea, who bore him a son, Te)#er%
With !(olloAs hel(, the .retans deeated their new nei*hbo)rs, the 4ebry#ians, b)t in the
#o)rse o the i*htin* +#amander had lea(ed into the river Zanth)s, whi#h there)(on took his
name% Te)#er, ater whom the settlers were #alled Te)#rians, s)##eeded him% De t some say
that Te)#er himsel led the .retan immi*rants, and was wel#omed to "hry*ia by ?ardan)s,
who *ave him his da)*hter in marria*e and #alled his own s)bHe#ts Te)#rians%
b% The !thenians tell a wholly dierent story% They deny that the Te)#rians #ame rom .rete,
and re#ord that a #ertain Te)#er, belon*in* to the deme o Troes, emi*rated rom !thens to
"hry*ia2 and that ?ardan)s, @e)sAs son by the "leiad ,le#tra, and a native o !r#adian
"hene)s, was wel#omed to "hry*ia by this Te)#er, not #ontrariwise% $n s)((ort o this
tradition it is )r*ed that ,ri#hthoni)s a((ears in the *enealo*y both o the !thenian and the
Te)#rian royal ho)ses% ?ardan)s, the !thenians *o on to say, married .hryse, the da)*hter o
"allas, who bore him two sons, $dae)s and ?eimas% These rei*ned or a while over the
!r#adian kin*dom o)nded by !tlas, b)t were (arted by the #alamities o the ?e)#alionian
'lood% ?eimas remained in !r#adia, b)t $dae)s went with his ather ?ardan)s to +amothra#e,
whi#h they #oloni8ed to*ether, the island bein* thereater #alled ?ardania% .hryse had
bro)*ht ?ardan)s as her dowry the sa#red ima*es o the Great ?eities whose (riestess she
was, and he now introd)#ed their #)lt into +amothra#e, tho)*h kee(in* their tr)e names a
se#ret% ?ardan)s also o)nded a #olle*e o +alian (riests to (erorm the ne#essary rites2
whi#h were the same as those (erormed by the .retan .)retes%
#% Grie at the death o his brother $asion drove ?ardan)s a#ross sea to the Troad% &e arrived
alone, (addlin* a rat made o an inlated skin whi#h he had ballasted with o)r stones%
Te)#er re#eived him hos(itably and, on #ondition that he hel(ed to s)bd)e #ertain
nei*hbo)rin* tribes, *ave him a share o the kin*dom and married him to the (rin#ess 4ateia%
+ome say that this 4ateia was Te)#erAs a)nt2 others, that she was his da)*hter%
d% ?ardan)s (ro(osed to o)nd a #ity on the small hill o !te, whi#h rises rom the (lain
where Troy, or $li)m, now stands2 b)t when an ora#le o "hry*ian !(ollo warned him that
misort)ne wo)ld always attend its inhabitants, he #hose a site on the lower slo(es o Mo)nt
$da, and named his #ity ?ardania% !ter Te)#erAs death, ?ardan)s s)##eeded to the remainder
o the kin*dom, *ivin* it his own name, and e:tended his r)le over many !siati# nations2 he
also sent o)t #olonists to Thra#e and beyond%
e% Meanwhile, ?ardan)sAs yo)n*est son $dae)s had ollowed him the Troad, brin*in* the
sa#red ima*es2 whi#h enabled ?ardan)s to tea#h his (eo(le the +amothra#ian Mysteries% !n
ora#le then ass)red him that the #ity whi#h he was abo)t to o)nd wo)ld remain invin#ible
only so lon* as his wieAs dowry #ontin)ed )nder !thene s (rote#tion% &is tomb is still shown
in that (art o Troy whi#h was #alled ?ardania beore it mer*ed with the villa*es o $le)m
and Taros into a sin*le #ity% $deas settled on the $dea Mo)ntains whi#h, some say, are #alled
ater him2 and there instit)ted the worshi( and Mysteries o the "hry*ian Mother o the Gods%
% !##ordin* to the -atin tradition, $asionAs ather was the Tyrrhenian (rin#e .oryth)s2 and
his twin, ?ardan)s, the son o @e)s by .oryth)sAs wie
,le#tra% 4oth emi*rated rom ,tr)ria, ater dividin* these sa#red ima*es between them1
$asion went to +amothra#e, and ?ardan)s to the Troad% While battlin* with the 4ebry#ians,
who tried to throw the Tyrrhenians ba#k into the sea, ?ardan)s lost his helmet and, altho)*h
his troo(s were in retreat, led them ba#k to re#over it% This time he was vi#torio)s, and
o)nded a #ity named .oryth)s on the battle7ield in memory o his helmet 5#orys6, as o his
ather%
*% $dae)s had two elder brothers, ,ri#hthoni)s and $l)s, or @a#ynthi)s and a da)*hter, $daea,
who be#ame "hine)sAs se#ond wie% When ,ri#hthoni)s s)##eeded to the kin*dom o
?ardan)s, he married !styo#he, the da)*hter o +imoeis, who bore him Tros% ,ri#hthoni)s,
des#ribed also as a kin* o .rete, was the most (ros(ero)s o men, in (ossession o the three
tho)sand mares with whi#h 4oreas ell in love% Tros s)##eeded his ather ,ri#hthoni)s, and
not only Troy b)t the whole Troad took his name% 4y his wie .allirrhoB, a da)*hter o
+#amander, he be#ame the ather o .leo(atra the Do)n*er, $l)s the Do)n*er, !sara#)s, and
Ganymedes%
i% Meanwhile, $l)s, the brother o ,ri#hthoni)s had *one to "hry*ia, enterin* or the *ames
whi#h he o)nd in (ro*ress, he was vi#torio)s in the wrestlin* mat#h and won ity yo)ths
and ity maidens as his (ri8e% The "hry*ian kin* 5whose name is now or*otten6 also *ave
him a da((led #ow, and advised him to o)nd a #ity wherever she irst lie down% $l)s ollowed
her2 she lay down on rea#hin* the hill o !te2 and there he b)ilt the #ity o $li)m tho)*h,
be#a)se o the warblin* ora#le delivered to his ather ?ardan)s, he raised no ortii#ations%
+ome, however, say that it was one o $l)sAs own Mysian #ows whi#h he ollowed, and that
his instr)#tions #ame rom !(ollo% 4)t others hold that $li)m was o)nded by -o#rian
immi*rants, and that they *ave the name o their mo)ntain "hri#onis to the TroHan mo)ntain
o .yme%
i% When the #ir#)it o the #ity bo)ndaries had been marked o)t, $l)s (rayed to !lmi*hty @e)s
or a si*n, and ne:t mornin* noti#ed a wooden obHe#t lyin* in ront o his tent, hal b)ried in
the earth, and over*rown with weeds% This was the "alladi)m, a le*less ima*e three #)bits
hi*h, made by !thene in memory o her dead -ibyan (laymate "allas% "allas, whose name
!thene added to her own, held a s(ear alot in the ri*ht hand, and a dista and s(indle in the
let2 aro)nd her breast was wra((ed the ae*is% !thene had irst set )( the ima*e on ;lym()s,
beside @e)sAs throne, where it re#eived *reat hono)r2 b)t, when $l)sAs *reat7*randmother, the
"leiad ,le#tra, was violated by @e)s and deiled it with her to)#h, !thene an*rily #ast her,
with the ima*e, down to earth%
H% !(ollo +minthe)s now advised $l)s1 I"reserve the Goddess who ell rom the skies, and
yo) will (reserve yo)r #ity1 or wherever she *oes, she #arries em(irePA !##ordin*ly he raised
a tem(le on the #itadel to ho)se the ima*e%
k% +ome say that the tem(le was already risin* when the ima*e des#ended rom heaven as the
*oddessAs *it% $t dro((ed thro)*h a dart o the roo whi#h had not yet been #om(leted, and
was o)nd standin* e:a#tly in its (ro(er (la#e% ;thers say that ,le#tra *ave the "alladi)m to
?ardan)s, her son by @e)s, and that it was #arded rom ?ardania to $li)m ater his death%
;thers, a*ain, say that it ell rom heaven at !thens, and that the !thenian Te)#er bro)*ht it
to the Troad% +till others believe that there were two "alladia, an !thenian and a TroHan, the
latter #arved rom the bones o "elo(s, H)st as the ima*e o @e)s at ;lym(ia was #arved rom
$ndian ivory2 or, that there were n)mero)s "alladia, all similarly #ast rom heaven, in#l)din*
the +amothra#ian ima*es bro)*ht to the Troad by $dae)s% The .olle*e o Cestals at Rome
now *)ard what is re()ted to be the *en)ine "alladi)m% 3o man may look at it with im()nity%
;n#e, while it was still in TroHan hands, $l)s r)shed to its res#)e at an alarm o ire, and was
blinded his (ains2 later, however, he #ontrived to (la#ate !thene and re*ained his si*ht%
l% ,)rydi#e, da)*hter o !drast)s, bore to $l)s -aomedon, Themiste who married the
"hry*ian .a(ys and, some say, the mother o !n#hises% 4y +trymo, a da)*hter o +#amander
and -e)#i((e, or @e):i((e, or ThoFsa, -aomedon had ive sons1 Tithon)s, -am()s, .lyti)s,
&i#etaon, and "odar#es2 as well as the da)*hters1 &esione, .illa, and !styo#he% &e also be*ot
bastard twins on the nym(h7she(herdess .alybe% $t was he who de#ided to b)ild amo)s
walls o Troy and was l)#ky eno)*h to se#)re the servi#es *ods !(ollo and "oseidon, then
)nder @e)sAs dis(leas)re or a riot they made a*ainst him and or#ed to serve as day7
labo)rers% "oseidon did the b)ildin*, while !(ollo (layed the lyre and ed -aomedonAs
lo#ks2 and !ea#)s the -ele*ian lent "oseidon a hand% 4)t -aomedon #heated the *ods o
their (ay and earned their bitter resentment% $t was the reason why he and all his sonsJ
e:#e(t "odar#es, now renamed "riamJ(erished in &era#lesAs sa#k o Troy%
m% "riam, to whom &era#les *enero)sly awarded the TroHan throne, s)rmised that the
#alamity whi#h had beallen Troy was d)e to its l)#kless site, rather than to the an*er o the
*ods% &e thereore sent on#e his ne(hews to ask the "ythoness at ?el(hi whether a #)rse still
lay on the hill o !te% 4)t the (riest o !(ollo, "antho)s the son o ;thrias, was so bea)ti)l
that "riamAs ne(hew, or*ettin* his #ommission, ell in love with him and #arried him ba#k to
Troy% Tho)*h ve:ed, "riam had not the heart to ()nish his ne(hew% $n #om(ensation or the
inH)ry done he a((ointed "antho)s (riest o !(ollo and, ashamed to #ons)lt the "ythoness
a*ain, reb)ilt Troy on the same o)ndations% "riamAs irst wie was !risbe, a da)*hter o
Mero(s, the seer% When she had borne him !esa#)s, he married her to &yrta#)s, by whom
she be#ame the mother o the &yrta#ides1 !si)s and 3is)s%
n% This !esa#)s, who learned the art o inter(retin* dreams rom his *randather Mero(s, is
amo)s or the *reat love he showed !stero(e, a da)*hter o the river .ebren1 when she died,
he tried re(eatedly to kill himsel by lea(in* rom a sea7#li )ntil, at last, the *ods took (ity
on his (li*ht% They t)rned !esa#)s into a divin* bird, th)s allowin* him to ind)l*e his
obsession with *reater de#en#y%
o% &e#abe, "riamAs se#ond wieJwhom the -atins #all &e#)ba J was a da)*hter o ?ymas
and the nym(h ,)noB2 or, some say, o .isse)s and Tele#leia2 or o the river +an*ari)s and
Meto(e2 or o Gla)#i((e, the da)*hter o Zanth)s% +he bore "riam nineteen o his ity sons,
the remainder bein* the #hildren o #on#)bines2 all ity o##)(ied adHa#ent bed7#hambers o
(olished stone% "riamAs twelve da)*hters sle(t with their h)sbands on the arther side o the
same #o)rtyard% &e#abeAs eldest son was &e#tor, whom some #all the son o !(ollo2 ne:t, she
bore "aris2 then .re)sa, -aodi#e, and "oly:ena2 then ?ei(hob)s, &elen)s, .assandra,
"ammon, "olites, !nti(h)s, &i((ono)s, and "olydor)s% 4)t Troil)s was #ertainly be*otten on
her by !(ollo%
(% !mon* &e#abeAs yo)n*er #hildren were the twins .assandra and &elen)s% !t their
birthday east, #elebrated in the san#t)ary o Thymbraean !(ollo, they *rew tired o (lay and
ell aslee( in a #orner, while their or*etrial (arents, who had dr)nk too m)#h wine, sta**ered
home witho)t them% When &e#abe ret)rned to the tem(le, she o)nd the sa#red ser(ents
li#kin* the #hildrenAs ears, and s#reamed or terror% The ser(ents at on#e disa((eared into a
(ile o la)rel bo)*hs, b)t rom that ho)r both .assandra and &elen)s (ossessed the *it o
(ro(he#y%
E% !nother a##o)nt o the matter is that one day .assandra ell aslee( in the tem(le, !(ollo
a((eared and (romised to tea#h her the art o (ro(he#y i she wo)ld lie with him% .assandra,
ater a##e(tin* his *it, went ba#k on the bar*ain2 b)t !(ollo be**ed her to *ive him one kiss
and, as she did so, s(at into her mo)th, th)s ens)rin* that none wo)ld ever believe what she
(ro(hesied%
r% When, ater several years o (r)dent *overnment, "riam had restored Troy to its ormer
wealth and (ower, he s)mmoned a .o)n#il to dis#)ss the #ase o his sister &esione, whom
Telamon the !#a#id had taken away to Gree#e% Tho)*h he himsel was in avo)r o or#e, the
.o)n#il re#ommended that (ers)asion sho)ld irst be tried% &is brother7in7law !nterior and
his #o)sin !n#hises thereore went to Gree#e and delivered the TroHan demands to the
assembled Greeks at TelamonAs #o)rt2 b)t were s#orn)lly sent abo)t their b)siness% The
in#ident was a main #a)se o the TroHan War, the *loomy end o whi#h .assandra was now
already (redi#tin*% To avoid s#andal, "riam lo#ked her )( in a (yramidal b)ildin* on the
#itadel2 the *)ardians #ared or her
had orders to kee( him inormed o all her (ro(hesised )tteran#es%
1% The sit)ation o Troy on a well7watered (lain at the entran#e to the &elles(ont, tho)*h
establishin* it as the main #entre o 4ron8e !*e trade between ,ast and West, (rovoked
reE)ent atta#ks rom all E)arters% Greek, .retan, and "hry*ian #laims to have o)nded the
#ity were not irre#on#ilable, sin#e by .lassi#al times it had been destroyed and reb)ilt oten
eno)*h1 there were ten Troys in all, the seventh bein* the &omeri# #ity% The Troy with whi#h
&omer is #on#erned seems to have been (eo(led by a ederation o three tribesJTroHans,
$lians, and ?ardaniansJa )s)al arran*ement in the 4ron8e !*e%
0% I +minthian !(olloA (oints to .rete, sminthos bein* the .retan word or Imo)seA, a sa#red
animal not only at .noss)s, b)t in "hilistia and "ho#is2 and ,ri#hthonins, the ertili8in* 3orth
Wind, was worshi((ed alike by the "elas*ians o !thens and the Thra#ians% 4)t the !thenian
#laim to have o)nded Troy may be dismissed as (oliti#al (ro(a*anda% The white mi#e ke(t
in !(olloAs tem(les were (ro(hyla#ti# both a*ainst (la*)e and a*ainst s)dden invasions o
mi#e s)#h as !elian 5&istory o !nimals6 and !ristotle 5&istory o !nimals6 mention%
?ardan)s may have been a Tyrrhenian rom -ydia or +amothra#e2 b)t +ervi)s errs in
re#ordin* that he #ame rom ,tr)ria, where the Tyrrhenians settled lon* ater the TroHan War%
I@a#inth)sA, a .retan word, i*)rin* in the TroHan royal (edi*ree, was the name o an island
belon*in* to ;dysse)sAs kin*dom2 and this s)**ests that he #laimed hereditary ri*hts at Troy%
<% The "alladi)m, whi#h the Cestal Cir*ins *)arded at Rome, as the l)#k o the #ity, held
immense im(ortan#e or $talian mytho*ra(hers2 they #laimed that it had been res#)ed rom
Troy by !eneas 5"a)sanias6 and bro)*ht to $taly% $t was (erha(s made o (or(oise7ivory%
I"alladi)mA means a stone or other #)lt7obHe#t aro)nd whi#h the *irls o a (arti#)lar #lan
dan#ed, as at Thes(iae, or yo)n* men lea(ed, (allas bein* )sed indis#riminately or both
se:es% The Roman .olle*e o +alios was a so#iety o lea(in* (riests% When s)#h #)lt7obHe#ts
be#ame identiied with tribal (ros(erity and were #are)lly *)arded a*ainst thet or
m)tilation, (alladio was read as meanin* (alta, Ithin*s h)rled rom heavenA% "alta mi*ht not
be hidden rom the sky2 th)s the sa#red th)nder7stone o Termin)s at Rome stood )nder a
hole in the roo o 9)((iterAs tem(leJwhi#h a##o)nts or the similar o(enin* at Troy%
=% Worshi( o meteorites was easily e:tended to an#ient monoliths, the )nerary ori*in o
whi#h had been or*otten2 then rom monolith to stone ima*e, and rom stone ima*e to
wooden or ivory ima*e is a short ste(% 4)t the allin* o a shield rom heavenJMarsAs an#ile
5;vid1 'asti6 is the best7known instan#eJneeds more e:(lanation% !t irst, meteorites, as the
only *en)ine (alta, were taken to be the ori*in o li*htnin*, whi#h s(lits orest trees% 3e:t,
3eolithi# stone a:es, s)#h as the one re#ently o)nd in the My#enaean san#t)ary o !sine,
and early 4ron8e !*e #elts or (estles, s)#h as .ybeleAs (estle at ,(hes)s, were mistaken or
th)nderbolts% 4)t the shield was also a th)nder instr)ment% "re7&elleni# rain7makers
s)mmoned storms by whirlin* b)ll7roarers to imitate the so)nd o risin* wind and, or
th)nder, beat on h)*e, ti*htly7stret#hed o:7hide shields, with do)ble7headed dr)m7sti#ks like
those #arried by the +olion (riests in the !na*ni relie% The only way to kee( a b)ll7roarer
so)ndin* #ontin)o)sly is to whirl it in a i*)re o ei*ht, as boys do with toy wind7mills, and
sin#e tor#hes, )sed to imitate li*htnin*, were, it seems, whirled in the same (attern, the rain7
makin* shield was #)t to orm a i*)re7o7ei*ht, and the do)ble dr)m7sti#k beat #ontin)o)sly
on both sides% This is why s)rvivin* .retan i#ons show the Th)nder7s(irit des#endin* as a
i*)re7o7ei*ht shield2 and why thereore an#ient shields were event)ally worshi((ed as (alta%
! (ainted limestone tablet rom the !#ro(olis at My#enae (roves, by the #olo)r o the lesh,
that the Th)nder7s(irit was a *oddess, rather than a *od2 on a *old rin* o)nd near by, the se:
o the des#endin* shield is not indi#ated%
5% .assandra and the ser(ents re#all the myth o Melam()s, and !(olloAs s(ittin* into her
mo)th that o Gla)#)s% &er (rison was (robably a beehive tomb rom whi#h she )ttered
(ro(he#ies in the name o the hero who lay b)ried there%
6% !esa#)s, the name o "riamAs (ro(heti# son, meant the myrtle7bran#h whi#h was (assed
aro)nd at Greek banE)ets as a #hallen*e to sin* or #om(ose% Myrtle bein* a death7tree, s)#h
(oems may ori*inally have been (ro(he#ies made at a hero7east% The divin* bird was sa#red
to !thene in !tti#a and asso#iated with the drownin* o the royal (harma#os6% +#amanderAs
lea(in* into the river Zanth)s m)st reer to a similar TroHan #)stom o drownin* the old kin*2
his *host s)((osedly im(re*nated *irls when they #ame there to bathe% Tantal)s, who a((ears
to have s)ered the same ate, married Zanth)sAs da)*hter%
>% "riam had ity sons, nineteen o whom were le*itimate2 this s)**ests that at Troy the
len*th o the kin*As rei*n was *overned by the nineteen7year metoni# #y#le, not the #y#le o
one h)ndred l)nations shared between kin* and tanist, as in .rete and !r#adia% &is twelve
da)*hters were (erha(s *)ardians o the months%
8% The im(ortan#e o !ea#)sAs share in b)ildin* the walls o Troy sho)ld not be overlooked1
!(ollo had (ro(hesied that his des#endants sho)ld be (resent at its #a(t)re both in the irst
and the o)rth *eneration, and only the (art b)ilt by !ea#)s #o)ld be brea#hed 5"indar1
"ythian ;des6% !ndroma#he reminded &e#tor that this (art was the #)rtain on the west side o
the wall Inear the i* tree,A where the #ity mi*ht be most easily assailed 5&omer1 $liad6, and
Iwhere the most valiant men who ollow the two !Ha:As have thri#e attem(ted to or#e an
entryJwhether some soothsayer has revealed the se#ret to them, or whether their own s(irit
)r*es them on%A ?or(eldAs e:#avations o Troy (roved that the wall was, )na##o)ntably,
weakest at this (oint2 b)t the !Ha:As or I!ea#ansA needed no soothsayer to inorm them o this
i, as "olybi)s s)**ests, I!ea#)sA #ame rom -ittle !Ha:As #ity o ;()ntian -o#ris% -o#ris,
whi#h seems to have (rovided the $lian element in &omeri# Troy, and enHoyed the (rivile*e
o nominatin* TroHan (riestesses, was a (re7&elleni# -ele*ian distri#t with matrilineal and
even matriar#hal instit)tions2 another tribe o -ele*ians, (erha(s o -o#rian des#ent, lived at
"edas)s in the Troad% ;ne o their (rin#esses, -aothoB, #ame to Troy and had a #hild by
"riam 5&omer1 $liad6% $t seems to have been the -o#rian (riestessesA readiness to sm)**le
away the "alladi)m to saety in -o#ris that a#ilitated the GreeksA #a(t)re o the #ity%
9% +in#e one Te)#er was +#amanderAs son, and another was !ea#)sAs *randson and son o
"riamAs sister &esione, the Te)#rian element at Troy may be identiied with the -ele*ian, or
!ea#an, or $lian2 the other two elements bein* the -ydian, or ?ardanian, or Tyrrhenian2 and
the TroHan, or "hry*ian%
"aris !nd &elen
W&,3 &elen, -edaAs bea)ti)l da)*hter, *rew to womanhood at +(arta in the (ala#e o her
oster7ather Tyndare)s, all the (rin#es o Gree#e #ame with ri#h *its as her s)itors, or sent
their kinsmen to re(resent them% ?iomedes, resh rom his vi#tory at Thebes, was there with
!Ha:, Te)#er, "hilo#tetes, $domene)s, "atro#l)s, Menesthe)s, and many others% ;dysse)s
#ame too, b)t em(ty7handed, be#a)se he had not the least #han#e o s)##essJor, even
tho)*h the ?ios#)ri, &elenAs brothers, wanted her to marry Menesthe)s o !thens, she wo)ld,
;dysse)s knew, be *iven to "rin#e Menela)s, the ri#hest o the !#haeans, re(resented by
Tyndare)sAs (ower)l son7in7law !*amemnon%
b% Tyndare)s sent no s)itor away, b)t wo)ld, on the other hand, a##e(t none o the (roered
*its2 earin* that his (artiality or any one (rin#e mi*ht set the others E)arrellin*% ;dysse)s
asked him one day1
I$ $ tell yo) how to avoid a E)arrel will yo), in ret)rn, hel( me to marry $#ari)sAs da)*hter
"enelo(eKA
I$t is a bar*ain,A #ried Tyndare)s%
IThen,A #ontin)ed ;dysse)s, Imy advi#e to yo) is1 insist that all &elenAs s)itors swear to
deend her #hosen h)sband a*ainst whoever resents his *ood ort)ne%A
Tyndare)s a*reed that this was a (r)dent #o)rse% !ter sa#rii#in* a horse, and Hointin* it, he
made the s)itors stand on its bloody (ie#es, and re(eat the oath whi#h ;dysse)s had
orm)lated2 the Hoints were then b)ried at a (la#e still #alled IThe &orseAs TombA%
#% $t is not known whether Tyndare)s himsel #hose &elenAs h)sband, or whether she de#lared
her own (reeren#e by #rownin* him with a wreath% !t all events, she married Menela)s, who
be#ame Gin* o +(arta ater the death o Tyndare)s and the deii#ation o the ?ios#)ri% De t
their marria*e was doomed to ail)re1 years beore, while sa#rii#in* to the *ods, Tyndare)s
had st)(idly overlooked !(hrodite, who took her reven*e by swearin* to make all three o
his da)*hters J .lytaemnestra, Timandra, and &elen J notorio)s or their ad)lteries%
d% Menela)s had one da)*hter by &elen, whom she named &ermione2 their sons were
!ethiolas, Mara(hi)sJrom whom the "ersian amily o the Mara(hions #laim des#entJand
"leisthenes% !n !etolian slave7*irl named "ieris later bore Menela)s twin bastards1
3i#ostrat)s and Me*a(enthes%
e% Why, it is asked, had @e)s and Themis (lanned the TroHan WarK Was it to make &elen
amo)s or havin* embroiled ,)ro(e and !siaK ;r to e:alt the ra#e o the demi7*ods, and at
the same time to thin o)t the (o()lo)s tribes that were o((ressin* the s)ra#e o Mother
,arthK Their reason m)st remain obs#)re, b)t the de#ision had already been taken when ,ris
threw down a *olden a((le ins#ribed I'or the 'airestA at the weddin* o "ele)s and Thetis%
!lmi*hty @e)s re)sed to de#ide the ens)in* dis()te between &era, !thene, and !(hrodite,
and let &ermes lead the *oddesses to Mo)nt $da, where "riamAs lost son "aris wo)ld a#t as
arbiter%
% 3ow, H)st beore the birth o "aris, &e#abe had dreamed that she bro)*ht orth a a**ot
rom whi#h wri**led #o)ntless iery ser(ents% +he awoke s#reamin* that the #ity o Troy and
the orests o Mo)nt $da were abla8e% "riam at on#e #ons)lted his son !esa#)s, the seer, who
anno)n#ed1 IThe #hild abo)t to be born will be the r)in o o)r #o)ntryP $ be* yo) to do away
with him%A
*% ! ew days later, !esa#)s made a )rther anno)n#ement1 IThe royal TroHan who brin*s
orth a #hild today m)st be destroyed, and so m)st her os(rin*PA "riam there)(on killed his
sister .illa, and her inant son M)ni(()s, born that mornin* rom a se#ret )nion with
Thymoetes, and b)ried them in the sa#red (re#in#t o Tros% 4)t &e#abe was delivered o a
son beore ni*htall, and "riam s(ared both their lives, altho)*h &ero(hile, (riestess o
!(ollo, and other seers, )r*ed &e#abe at least to kill the #hild% +he #o)ld not brin* hersel to
do so2 and in the end "riam was (revailed )(on to send or his #hie herdsman, one !*ela)s,
and entr)st him with the task% !*ela)s, bein* too sot7hearted to )se a ro(e or a sword,
e:(osed the inant on Mo)nt $da, where he was s)#kled by a she7bear% Ret)rnin* ater ive
days, !*ela)s was ama8ed at the (ortent, and bro)*ht the wai home in a wallet hen#e the
name I"arisAJto rear with his own new7born son2 and took a do*As ton*)e to "riam as
eviden#e that his #ommand had been obeyed% 4)t some say that &e#abe bribed !*ela)s to
s(are "aris and kee( the se#ret rom "riam%
h% "arisAs noble birth was soon dis#losed by his o)tstandin* behavio)r, intelli*en#e, and
stren*th1 when little more than a #hild, he ro)ted band o #attle7thieves and re#overed the
#ows they had stolen, th)s winnin* the s)rname !le:ander% Tho)*h rankin* no hi*her than a
slave at this time, "aris be#ame the #hosen lover o ;enone, da)*hter o the river ;ene)s, a
o)ntain7nym(h% +he had been ta)*ht the art o (ro(he#y by Rhea, and that o medi#ine by
!(ollo while he was servin* as -aomedonAs herdsman% "aris and ;enone )sed to herd their
#attle and h)nt to*ether2 he #arved her name in the bark o bee#h7trees and (o(lars% &is #hie
am)sement was settin* !*ela)sAs b)lls to i*ht one another2 he wo)ld #rown the vi#tor with
lowers, and the loser with straw% When one b)ll be*an to win #onsistently, "aris (itted it
a*ainst the #ham(ions o his nei*hbo)rsA herds, all o whi#h were deeated% !t last he oered
to set a *olden #rown )(on the horns o any b)ll that #o)ld over#ome his own2 so, or a Hest,
!res t)rned himsel into a b)ll, and won the (ri8e% "arisAs )nhesitatin* award o this #rown to
!res s)r(rised and (leased the *ods as they wat#hed rom ;lym()s2 whi#h is why @e)s
#hose him to arbitrate between the three *oddesses%
i% &e was herdin* his #attle on Mo)nt Gar*ar)s, the hi*hest (eak o $da, when &ermes,
a##om(anied by &era, !thene, and !(hrodite, delivered the *olden a((le and @e)sAs
messa*e1
I"aris, sin#e yo) are as handsome as yo) are wise in aairs o the heart, @e)s #ommands yo)
to H)d*e whi#h o these *oddesses is the airest%A
"aris a##e(ted the a((le do)bt)lly%
I&ow #an a sim(le #attle7man like mysel be#ome an arbiter o divine bea)tyKA he #ried% I$
shall divide this a((le between all three%A
I3o, no, yo) #annot disobey !lmi*hty @e)sPA &ermes re(lied h)rriedly% I3or am $ a)thori8ed
to *ive yo) advi#e% /se yo)r native intelli*en#ePA
I+o be it,A si*hed "aris% I4)t irst $ be* the losers not to be ve:ed with me% $ am only a h)man
bein*, liable to make the st)(idest mistakes%A The *oddesses all a*reed to abide by his
de#ision%
IWill it be eno)*h to H)d*e them as they areKA "aris asked &ermes, Ior sho)ld they be nakedKA
IThe r)les o the #ontest are or yo) to de#ide,A &ermes answered with a dis#reet smile%
I $n that #ase, will they kindly disrobeKA
&ermes told the *oddesses to do so, and (olitely t)rned his ba#k%
H% !(hrodite was soon ready, b)t !thene insisted that she sho)ld remove the amo)s ma*i#
*irdle, whi#h *ave her an )nair advanta*e by makin* everyone all in love with the wearer%
ICery well,A said !(hrodite s(ite)lly% I$ will, on #ondition that yo) remove yo)r helmet J
yo) look hideo)s witho)t it%A
I3ow, i yo) (lease, $ m)st H)d*e yo) one at a time,A anno)n#ed "aris, Ito avoid distra#tive
ar*)ments% .ome here, ?ivine &eraP Will yo) other two *oddesses be *ood eno)*h to leave
)s or awhileKA
I,:amine me #ons#ientio)sly,A said &era, t)rnin* slowly aro)nd, and dis(layin* her
ma*nii#ent i*)re, Iand remember that i yo) H)d*e me the airest, $ will make yo) lord o all
!sia, and the ri#hest man alive%A
I$ am not to be bribed, my -ady %%% Cery well, thank yo)% 3ow $ have seen all that $ need to
see% .ome, ?ivine !thenePA
k% I&ere $ am,A said !thene, stridin* ()r(ose)lly orward% I-isten, "aris, i yo) have eno)*h
#ommon sense to award me the (ri8e, $ will make yo) vi#torio)s in all yo)r battles, as well as
the handsomest and wisest man in the world%A
I$ am a h)mble herdsman, not a soldier,A said "aris% IDo) #an see or yo)rsel that (ea#e
rei*ns thro)*ho)t -ydia and "hry*ia, and that Gin* "riamAs soverei*nty is )n#ontested% 4)t $
(romise to #onsider airly yo)r #laim to the a((le% 3ow yo) are at liberty to ()t on yo)r
#lothes and helmet a*ain% $s !(hrodite readyKA
l% !(hrodite sidled )( to him, and "aris bl)shed be#a)se she #ame so #lose that they were
almost to)#hin*%
I-ook #are)lly, (lease, (ass nothin* over %%%% 4y the way, as soon as $ saw yo), $ said to
mysel1 Y/(on my word, there *oes the handsomest yo)n* man in "hry*iaP Why does he
waste himsel here in the wilderness herdin* st)(id #attleKV Well, why do yo), "arisK Why
not move into a #ity and lead a #ivili8ed lieK What have yo) to lose by marryin* someone
like &elen o +(arta, who is as bea)ti)l as $ am, and no less (assionateK $ am #onvin#ed that,
on#e yo) two have met, she wo)ld abandon her home, her amily, everythin*, to be#ome yo)r
mistress% +)rely yo) have heard o &elenKA
I3ever )ntil now, my -ady% $ sho)ld be most *rate)l i yo) des#ribe her%A
m% I&elen is o air and deli#ate #om(le:ion, havin* been born rom a swanAs e**% +he #an
#laim @e)s or a ather, loves h)ntin* and wrestlin*, #a)sed one war while she was still a
#hildJand, when she #ame o a*e, all the (rin#es o Gree#e were her s)itors% !t (resent she
is married to Menela)s, brother o the &i*h Gin* !*amemnon2 b)t that makes no oddsJyo)
#an have her i yo) like%A
I&ow is that (ossible, i she is already marriedKA
I&eavensP &ow inno#ent yo) areP &ave yo) never heard that it is my divine d)ty to arran*e
aairs o this sortK $ s)**est now that yo) to)r Gree#e with my son ,ros as yo)r *)ide% ;n#e
yo) rea#h +(arta, he and $ will see that &elen alls head over heels in love with yo)%A
IWo)ld yo) swear to thatKA "aris asked e:#itedly%
!(hrodite )ttered a solemn oath, and "aris, witho)t a se#ond tho)*ht, awarded her the *olden
a((le% 4y this H)d*ement he in#)rred the smothered hatred o both &era and !thene, who
went o arm7in7arm to (lot the destr)#tion o Troy2 while !(hrodite, with a na)*hty smile,
stood wonderin* how best to kee( her (romise%
n% +oon aterwards, "riam sent his servants to et#h a b)ll rom !*ela)sAs herd% $t was to be a
(ri8e at the )neral *ames now ann)ally #elebrated in hono)r o his dead son% When the
servants #hose the #ham(ion b)ll, "aris was sei8ed by a s)dden desire to attend the *ames,
and ran ater them% !*ela)s tried to restrain him1 IDo) have yo)r own (rivate b)ll i*hts,
what more do yo) wantKA 4)t "aris (ersisted and, in the end, !*ela)s a##om(anied him to
Troy%
o% $t was a TroHan #)stom that, at the #lose o the si:th la( o the #hariot ra#e, those who had
entered or the bo:in* mat#h sho)ld be*in i*htin* in ront o the throne% "aris de#ided to
#om(ete and, des(ite !*ela)sAs entreaties, s(ran* into the arena and won the #rown, by sheer
#o)ra*e rather than by skill% &e also #ame home irst in the ootra#e, whi#h so e:as(erated
"riamAs sons that they #hallen*ed him to another2 th)s he won his third #rown% !shamed at
this ()bli# deeat, they de#ided to kill him and set an armed *)ard at every e:it o the
stadi)m, while &e#tor and ?ei(hob)s atta#ked him with their swords% "aris lea(ed or the
(rote#tion o @e)sAs altar, and !*ela)s ran towards "riam, #ryin*1 IDo)r MaHesty, this yo)th
is yo)r lon*7lost sonPA "riam at on#e s)mmoned &e#abe who, when !*ela)s dis(layed a rattle
whi#h had been o)nd in "arisAs hands, #onirmed his identity% &e was taken tri)m(hantly to
the (ala#e, where "riam #elebrated his ret)rn with a h)*e banE)et and sa#rii#es to the *ods%
Det, as soon as the (riests o !(ollo heard the news, they anno)n#ed that "aris m)st be ()t to
death immediately, else Troy wo)ld (erish% This was re(orted to "riam, who answered1
I4etter that Troy sho)ld all, than that my wonder)l son sho)ld diePA
(% "arisAs married brothers (resently )r*ed him to take a wie2 b)t he told them that he tr)sted
!(hrodite to #hoose one or him, and )sed to oer her (rayers every day% When another
.o)n#il was #alled to dis#)ss the res#)e o &esione, (ea#e)l overt)res havin* ailed, "aris
vol)nteered to lead the e:(edition, i "riam wo)ld (rovide him with a lar*e, well7manned
leet% &e #)nnin*ly added that, sho)ld he ail to brin* &esione ba#k, he mi*ht (erha(s #arry
o a Greek (rin#ess o eE)al rank to hold in ransom or her% &is heart was, o #o)rse, se#retly
set on *oin* to +(arta to et#h ba#k &elen%
E% That very day, Menela)s arrived )ne:(e#tedly at Troy and enE)ired or the tombs o -y#)s
and .himaer)s, "romethe)sAs sons by .elaeno the !tlantid1 he e:(lained that the remedy
whi#h the ?el(hi# ;ra#le had (res#ribed him or a (la*)e now rava*in* +(arta was to oer
them heroi# sa#rii#es% "aris entertained Menela)s and be**ed, as a avo)r, to be ()riied by
him at +(arta, sin#e he had a##identally killed !ntenorAs yo)n* son !nthe)s with a toy
sword% When Menela)s a*reed, "aris, on !(hroditeAs advi#e, #ommissioned "here#l)s, the
son o Te#ton, to b)ild the leet whi#h "riam had (romised him2 the i*)rehead o his la*7
shi( was to be an !(hrodite holdin* a miniat)re ,ros% "arisAs #o)sin !eneas, !n#hisesAs son,
a*reed to a##om(any him% .assandra, her hair streamin* loose, oretold the #onla*ration that
the voya*e wo)ld #a)se, and &elen)s #on#)rred2 b)t "riam took no noti#e o either o his
(ro(heti# #hildren% ,ven ;enone ailed to diss)ade "aris rom the atal Ho)rney, altho)*h he
we(t when kissin* her *ood7bye% I.ome ba#k to me i ever yo) are wo)nded,A she said,
Ibe#a)se $ alone #an heal yo)%A
r% The leet ()t o)t to sea, !(hrodite sent a avo)rin* bree8e, and "aris soon rea#hed +(arta,
where Menela)s easted him or nine days% !t the banE)et, "aris (resented &elen with the
*its that he had bro)*ht rom Troy2 and his shameless *lan#es, lo)d si*hs and bold si*nals
#a)sed her #onsiderable embarrassment% "i#kin* )( her *oblet he wo)ld set his li(s to that
(art o the rim rom whi#h she had dr)nk2 and on#e she o)nd the words I$ love yo), &elenPA
tra#ed in wine on the table to(% +he *rew terriied that Menela)s mi*ht s)s(e#t her o
en#o)ra*in* "arisAs (assion2 b)t, bein* an )nobservant man, he #heer)lly sailed o to .rete,
where he had to attend the obseE)ies o his *randather .atre)s, leavin* her to entertain the
*)ests and r)le the kin*dom d)rin* his absen#eK
s% &elen elo(ed with "aris that very ni*ht, and *ave hersel to him in love at the irst (ort o
#all, whi#h was the island o .ranaB% ;n the mainland, o((osite .ranaB, stands a shrine o
!(hrodite the /niter, o)nded by "aris to #elebrate this o##asion% +ome re#ord )ntr)th)lly
that &elen reHe#ted his advan#es, and that he #arried her o by or#e while she was o)t
h)ntin*2 or by a s)dden raid on the #ity o +(arta2 or by dis*)isin* himsel, with !(hroditeAs
aid, as Menela)s% +he abandoned her da)*hter &ermione, then nine years o a*e, b)t took
away her son "leisthenes, the *reater (art o the (ala#e treas)res, and *old to the val)e o
three talents stolen rom !(olloAs tem(le2 as well as ive servin* women, amon* whom were
the two ormer E)eens, !ethra the mother o These)s, and Theisadie, "eirithotisAs sister%
t% !s they steered towards Troy, a *reat storm sent by &era or#ed "aris to to)#h at .y(r)s%
Then#e he sailed to +idon, and was entertained by the kin* whom, bein* now instr)#ted in
the ways o the Greek world, he trea#hero)sly m)rdered and robbed in his own banE)etin*
hall% While the ri#h booty was
bein* embarked, a #om(any o +idonians atta#ked him2 these he beat o, ater a bloody i*ht
and the loss o two shi(s, and #ame saely away% 'earin* ()rs)it by Menela)s, "aris delayed
or several months in "hoeni#ia, .y(r)s, and ,*y(t2 b)t, rea#hin* Troy at last, he #elebrated
his weddin* with &elen% The TroHans wel#omed her, entran#ed by s)#h divine bea)ty2 and
one day, indin* a stone on the TroHan #itadel, whi#h dri((ed blood when r)bbed a*ainst
another, she re#o*ni8ed this as a (ower)l a(hrodisia# and )sed it to kee( "arisAs (assion
abla8e% What was more, all Troy, not "aris only, ell in love with her2 and "riam took an oath
never to let her *o%
)% !n alto*ether dierent a##o)nt o the matter is that &ermes stole &elen at @e)sAs
#ommand, and entr)sted her to Gin* "rote)s o ,*y(t2 meanwhile, a (hantom &elen,
ashioned rom #lo)ds by &era 5or, some say, by "rote)s6 was sent to Troy at "arisAs side1
with the sole ()r(ose o (rovokin* strie%
v% ,*y(tian (riests re#ord, no less im(robably, that the TroHan leet blown o its #o)rse, and
that "aris landed at +alinas in the .ano(i# mo)th o the 3ile% There stands &era#lesAs tem(le,
a san#t)ary or r)naway slaves who, on arrival, dedi#ate themselves to the *od and re#eive
#ertain sa#red marks on their bodies% "arisAs servants led here and, ater se#)rin* the (riestsA
(rote#tion, a##)sed him o havin* abd)#ted &elen% The .ano(i# warden took #o*ni8an#e o
the matter and re(orted it to Gin* "rote)s at Mem(his, who had "aris arrested and bro)*ht
beore him, to*ether with &elen and the stolen treas)re% !ter a #lose interro*ation, "rote)s
banished "aris b)t detained &elen and the treas)re in ,*y(t, )ntil Menela)s sho)ld #ome to
re#over them% $n Mem(his stands a tem(le o !(hrodite the +tran*er, said to have been
dedi#ated by &elen hersel%
w% &elen bore "aris three sons, 4)nom)s, !*an)s, and $dae)s, all o them killed at Troy
while still inants by the #olla(se o a roo2 and one da)*hter, also #alled &elen% "aris had an
elder son by ;enone, named .oryth)s, whom, in Healo)sy o &elen, she sent to *)ide the
aven*in* Greeks to Troy%
1% +tesi#hor)s, the si:th7#ent)ry +i#ilian (oet, is #redited with the story that &elen never went
to Troy and that the war was o)*ht or Ionly a (hantomA% !ter writin* a (oem whi#h
(resented her in a most )navo)rable li*ht, he went blind, and aterwards learned that he lay
)nder her (osth)mo)s dis(leas)re% &en#e his (alinode be*innin*1
IThis tale is tr)e, tho) didst not *o aboard
The well7ben#hed shi(s, nor rea#h the towers o Troy,A
a ()bli# de#lamation o whi#h restored his si*ht 5"lato1 "haedr)s6% !nd, indeed, it is not #lear
in what sense "aris, or These)s beore him, had abd)#ted &elen% I&elenA was the name o the
+(artan Moon7*oddess, marria*e to whom, ater a horse7sa#rii#e, made Menela)s kin*2 yet
"aris did not )s)r( the throne% $t is o #o)rse (ossible that the TroHans raided +(arta, #arryin*
o the heiress and the (ala#e treas)res in retaliation or a Greek sa#k o Troy, whi#h
&esioneAs story im(lies% De t tho)*h These)sAs &elen was, (erha(s, lesh and blood, the
TroHan &elen is ar more likely to have been Ionly a (hantomA, as +tesi#hor)s #laimed%
0% This is to s)**est that the mnesteres tes &elenes, Is)itors o &elenA, were really mnesteres
to) &elles(onto), Ithose who were mind)l o the &elles(ontA, and that the solemn oath
whi#h these kin*s took on the bloody Hoints o the horse sa#red to "oseidon, the #hie (atron
o the e:(edition, was to s)((ort the ri*hts o any member o the #onedera#y to navi*ate the
&elles(ont, des(ite the TroHans and their !siati# allies% !ter all, the &elles(ont bore the name
o their own *oddess &elle% The &elen story #omes, in a#t, rom the /*arit e(i# Geret, in
whi#h GeretAs law)l wie &)ray is abd)#ted to /dm%
<% "arisAs birth ollows the mythi#al (attern o !eol)s, "elias, ;edi()s, 9ason, and the rest2 he
is the amiliar 3ew Dear #hild, with !*ela)sAs son or twin% &is deeat o the ity sons o
"riam in a oot7ra#e is no less amiliar% I;enoneA seems to have been a title o the (rin#ess
whom he won on this o##asion% &e did not, in a#t, award the a((le to the airest o the three
*oddesses% This tale is mistakenly ded)#ed rom the i#on whi#h showed &era#les bein* *iven
an a((le7bo)*h by the &es(eridesJthe naked 3ym(h7*oddess in triadJ!dan)s o &ebron
bein* immortali8ed by the .anaanite Mother o !ll -ivin*, or the vi#tor o the oot7ra#e at
;lym(ia re#eivin* his (ri8e2 as is (roved by the (resen#e o &ermes, .ond)#tor o +o)ls, his
*)ide to the ,lysian 'ields%
=% ?)rin* the o)rteenth #ent)ry 4., ,*y(t and "hoeni#ia s)ered rom reE)ent raids by the
Geti), or I(eo(les o the seaA, in whi#h the TroHans seem to have taken a leadin* (art%
!mon* the tribes that *ained a oothold in "alestine were the Gir*ashites 5Genesis6, namely
Te)#rians rom Ger*is, or Ger*ithi)m, in the Troad 5&omer1 $liad2 &erodot)s2 -ivy6% "riam
and !n#hise2 i*)re in the ;ld Testament as "iram and !#hish 59osh)a and +am)el62 and
"hare8, an an#estor o the ra#ially mi:ed tribe o 9)dah, who o)*ht with his twin inside their
motherAs womb 5Genesis6, seems to be "aris% &elenAs Ibleedin* stoneA, o)nd on the TroHan
#itadel, is e:(lained by the e:e#)tion there o "riamAs ne(hew M)ni(()s1 "aris remained the
E)eenAs #onsort at the (ri#e o ann)al #hild sa#rii#e% !nthe)s 5IloweryA6, is a similar vi#tim1
his name, a title o the +(rin* ?ionys)s, was *iven to other )nort)nate (rin#es, #)t down in
the lower o their lives2 amon* them the son o "oseidon, killed and rayed by .leomenes
5"hiloste(han)s1 'ra*ment62 and !nthe)s o &ali#arnass)s, drowned in a well by .leobis
5"artheni)s1 3arrations 1=6%
5% .illa, whose name means Ithe divinatory di#e made rom assAs boneA 5&esy#hi)s s)b
.illae6 m)st be !thene, the *oddess o the TroHan #itadel, who invented this art o
(ro*nosti#ation and (resided over the death o M)ni(()s%
The 'irst Gatherin* !t !)lis
W&,3 "aris de#ided to make &elen his wie, he did not e:(e#t to (ay or his o)tra*e o
Menela)sAs hos(itality% &ad the .retans been #alled to a##o)nt when, in the name o @e)s,
they stole ,)ro(e rom the "hoeni#iansK &ad the !r*ona)ts been asked to (ay or their
abd)#tion o Medea rom .ol#hisK ;r the !thenians or their abd)#tion o .retan !riadneK
;r the Thra#ians or that o !thenian ;reithyiaK This #ase, however, (roved to be dierent%
&era sent $ris lyin* to .rete with news o the elo(ement2 and Menela)s h)rried to My#enae,
where he be**ed his brother !*amemnon to raise levies at on#e and lead an army a*ainst
Troy%
b% !*amemnon #onsented to take this #o)rse only i the envoys whom he now sent to Troy,
demandin* &elenAs ret)rn and #om(ensation or the inH)ry done to Menela)s, #ame ba#k
em(ty7handed% When "riam denied all knowled*e o the matterJ"aris bein* still in +o)thern
watersJand asked what satisa#tion his own envoys had been oered or the ra(e o
&esione, heralds were sent by Menela)s to every (rin#e who had taken his oath on the bloody
Hoints o the horse, remindin* him that "arisAs a#t was an aront to the whole o Gree#e%
/nless the #rime were ()nished in an e:em(lary ashion, nobody #o)ld hen#eorth be s)re o
his wieAs saety% Menela)s now et#hed old 3estor rom "yl)s, and to*ether they travelled
over the Greek mainland, s)mmonin* the leaders o the e:(edition%
#% 3e:t, a##om(anied by Menela)s and "alamedes, the son o 3a)(li)s, !*amemnon visited
$tha#a, where he had the *reatest dii#)lty in (ers)adin* ;dysse)s to Hoin the e:(edition%
This ;dysse)s, tho)*h he (assed as the son o -aertes, had been se#retly be*otten by
+isy(h)s on !nti#leia, da)*hter o the amo)s thie !)toly#)s% 9)st ater the birth, !)toly#)s
#ame to $tha#a and on the irst ni*ht o his stay, when s)((er ended, took the inant on his
knee% I3ame him, ather,A said !nti#leia% !)toly#)s answered1 I$n the #o)rse o my lie $ have
anta*oni8ed many (rin#es, and $ shall thereore name this *randson ;dysse)s, meanin* The
!n*ry ;ne, be#a)se he will be the vi#tim o my enmities% Det i he ever #omes to Mo)nt
"arnass)s to re(roa#h me, $ shall *ive him a share o my (ossessions, and ass)a*e his an*er%A
!s soon as ;dysse)s #ame o a*e, he d)ly visited !)toly#)s b)t, while o)t h)ntin* with his
)n#les, was *ashed in the thi*h by a boar, and #arried the s#ar to his *rave% &owever,
!)toly#)s looked ater him well eno)*h, and he ret)rned to $tha#a laden with the (romised
*its%
d% ;dysse)s married "enelo(e, da)*hter o $#ari)s and the 3aiad "eriboea2 some say, at the
reE)est o $#ari)sAs brother Tyndare)s, who arran*ed or him to win a s)itorsA ra#e down the
+(artan street #alled I!(hetaA% "enelo(e, ormerly named !rnaea, or !rna#ia, had been l)n*
into the sea by 3a)(li)s at her atherAs order2 b)t a lo#k o ()r(le7stri(ed d)#ks b)oyed her
)(, ed her, and towed her ashore% $m(ressed by this (rodi*y, $#ari)s and "eriboea relented,
and !rnaea won the new name o "enelo(e, whi#h means Id)#kA%
e% !ter marryin* "enelo(e to ;dysse)s, $#ari)s be**ed him to remain at +(arta and, when he
re)sed, ollowed the #hariot in whi#h the bridal (air were drivin* away, entreatin* her to
stay behind% ;dysse)s, who had hitherto ke(t his (atien#e, t)rned and told "enelo(e1 I,ither
#ome to $tha#a o yo)r own ree will2 or, i yo) (reer yo)r ather, stay here witho)t meA%
"enelo(eAs only re(ly was to draw down her veil% $#ari)s, reali8in* that ;dysse)s was within
his ri*hts, let her *o, and raised an ima*e to Modesty, whi#h is still shown some o)r miles
rom the #ity o +(arta, at the (la#e where this in#ident ha((ened%
% 3ow, ;dysse)s had been warned by an ora#le1 I$ yo) *o to Troy, yo) will not ret)rn )ntil
the twentieth year, and then alone and destit)te%A &e thereore ei*ned madness, and
!*amemnon, Menela)s, and "alamedes o)nd him wearin* a (easantAs elt #a( sha(ed like a
halJe**, (lo)*hin* with an ass and an o: yoked to*ether, and lin*in* salt over his
sho)lder as he went% When he (retended not to re#o*ni8e his distin*)ished *)ests, "alamedes
snat#hed the inant Telema#h)s rom "enelo(eAs arms and set him on the *ro)nd beore the
advan#in* team% ;dysse)s hastily reined them in to avoid killin* his only son and, his sanity
havin* th)s been established, was obli*ed to Hoin the e:(edition%
*% Menela)s and ;dysse)s then travelled with !*amemnonAs herald Talthybi)s to .y(r)s,
where Gin* .inyras, another o &elenAs ormer s)itors, handed them a breast(late as a *it or
!*amemnon, and swore to #ontrib)te ity shi(s% &e ke(t his (romise, b)t sent only one real
shi( and ortyJme small earthenware ones, with dolls or #rews, whi#h the #a(tain la)n#hed
as he a((roa#hed the #oast o Gree#e% $nvoked by !*amemnon to aven*e this ra)d, !(ollo is
said to have killed .inyras, where)(on his ity da)*hters lea(t into the sea and be#ame
hal#yons2 the tr)th is, however, that .inyras killed himsel when he dis#overed that he had
#ommitted in#est with his da)*hter +myrne%
h% .al#has the (riest o !(ollo, a TroHan rene*ade, had oretold that Troy #o)ld not be taken
witho)t the aid o yo)n* !#hilles, the seventh son o "ele)s% !#hillesAs mother Thetis had
destroyed his other brothers by b)rnin* away their mortal (arts, and he wo)ld have (erished
in the same way, had not "ele)s snat#hed him rom the ire, re(la#in* his #harred ankle7bone
with one borrowed rom the disinterred skeleton o the *iant ?amys)s% 4)t some say that
Thetis di((ed him in the river +ty:, so that only the heel by whi#h she held him was not
immortali8ed%
i% When Thetis deserted "ele)s, he took the #hild to .heiron the .enta)r, who reared him on
Mo)nt "elion, eedin* him on the )mbles o lions and wild boars, and the marrow o bears, to
*ive him #o)ra*e2 or, a##ordin* to another a##o)nt, on honey7#omb, and awnsA marrow to
make him r)n switly% .heiron instr)#ted him in the arts o ridin*, h)ntin*, (i(e7(layin*, and
healin*2 the M)se .allio(e, also, ta)*ht him how to sin* at banE)ets% When only si: years o
a*e he killed his irst boar, and then#eorth was #onstantly dra**in* the (antin* bodies o
boars and lions ba#k to .heironAs #ave% !thene and !rtemis *a8ed in wonder at this *olden7
haired #hild, who was so swit o oot that he #o)ld overtake and kill sta*s witho)t the hel( o
ho)nds%
H% 3ow, Thetis knew that her son wo)ld never ret)rn rom Troy i he Hoined the e:(edition,
sin#e he was ated either to *ain *lory there and die early, or to live a lon* b)t in*lorio)s lie
at home% +he dis*)ised him as a *irl, and entr)sted him to -y#omedes, kin* o +#yros, in
whose (ala#e he lived )nder the name o .er#ysera, !issa, or "yrrha2 and had an intri*)e
with -y#omedesAs da)*hter ?eidameia, by whom he be#ame the ather o "yrrh)s, later
#alled 3eo(tolem)s% 4)t some say that 3eo(tolem)s was the son o !#hilles and $(hi*eneia%
k% ;dysse)s, 3estor, and !Ha: were sent to et#h !#hilles rom +#yros, where he was
r)mo)red to be hidden% -y#omedes let them sear#h the (ala#e, and they mi*ht never have
dete#ted !#hilles, had not ;dysse)s laid a (ile o *itsJor the most (art Hewels, *irdles,
embroidered dresses and s)#hJin the hall, and asked the #o)rt7ladies to take their #hoi#e%
Then ;dysse)s ordered a s)dden tr)m(et7blast and #lash o arms to so)nd o)tside the (ala#e
and, s)re eno)*h, one o the *irls stri((ed hersel to the waist and sei8ed the shield and s(ear
whi#h he had in#l)ded amon* the *its% $t was !#hilles, who now (romised to lead his
Myrmidons to Troy%
l% +ome a)thorities disdain this as a an#i)l tale and say that 3estor and ;dysse)s #ame on a
re#r)itin* to)r to "hthia, where they were entertained by "ele)s, who readily allowed
!#hilles, now iteen years o a*e, to *o o )nder the t)torshi( o "hoeni:, the son o
!myntor and .leob)le2 and that Thetis *ave him a bea)ti)l inlaid #hest, (a#ked with t)ni#s,
windJ(roo #loaks, and thi#k r)*s or the Ho)rneyK This "hoeni: had been a##)sed by
"hthia, his atherAs #on#)bine, o havin* violated her% !myntor blinded "hoeni:, at the same
time settin* a #)rse o #hildlessness on him2 and whether the a##)sation was tr)e or alse,
#hildless he remained% &owever, he led to "hthia, where "ele)s not only (ers)aded .heiron
to restore his si*ht, b)t a((ointed him kin* o the nei*hbo)rin* ?olo(ians% "hoeni: then
vol)nteered to be#ome the *)ardian o !#hilles who, in ret)rn, be#ame dee(ly atta#hed to
him% +ome, thereore, hold that "hoeni:As blindness was not tr)e loss o si*ht, b)t
meta(hori#al o im(oten#eJa #)rse whi#h "ele)s lited by makin* him a se#ond ather to
!#hilles%
m% !#hilles had an inse(arable #om(anion1 his #o)sin "atro#l)s, who was older than he,
tho)*h neither so stron*, nor so swit, nor so well7born% The name o "atro#l)sAs ather is
sometimes *iven as Menoeti)s o ;()s, and sometimes as !ea#)s2 and his mother is
vario)sly #alled +thenele, da)*hter o !#ast)s2 "erio(is, da)*hter o "heres2 "olymele,
da)*hter o "ele)s2 or "hilomele, da)*hter o !#tor% &e had led to "el#)sAs #o)rt ater killin*
!m(hidamasAs son .leitonym)s, or !eanes, in a E)arrel over a *ame o di#e%
n% When the Greek leet was already drawn )( at !)lis, a (rote#ted bea#h in the ,)boean
straits, .retan envoys #ame to anno)n#e that their Gin* $domene)s, son o ?e)#alion, wo)ld
brin* a h)ndred shi(s to Troy, i !*amemnon a*reed to share the s)(reme #ommand with
him2 and this #ondition was a##e(ted% $domene)s, a ormer s)itor o &elenAs, and amo)s or
his *ood looks, bro)*ht as his lie)tenant Meriones, son o Mol)s, re()tedly one o MinosAs
bastards% &e bore the i*)re o a #o#k on his shield, be#a)se he was des#ended rom &eli)s,
and wore a helmet *arnished with boarAs t)sks% Th)s the e:(edition be#ame a .reto7&ellene
enter(rise% The &elleni# land or#es were #ommanded by !*amemnon, with ;dysse)s,
"alamedes and ?iomedes as his lie)tenants2 and the &elleni# leet by !#hilles, with the
s)((ort o Great !Ha: and "hoeni:%
o% ; all his #o)nsellors, !*amemnon set most store by 3estor Gin* o "yl)s, whose wisdom
was )nrivalled, and whose eloE)en#e sweeter than honey% &e r)led over three *enerations o
men, b)t remained, des(ite his *reat a*e, a bold i*hter, and the one #ommander who
s)r(assed the !thenian kin* Menesthe)s in #avalry and inantry ta#ti#s% &is so)nd H)d*ement
was shared by ;dysse)s, and these two always advised the same #o)rse or the
s)##ess)l #ond)#t o the war%
(% Great !Ha:, son o Telamon and "eriboea, #ame rom +alamis% &e was se#ond only to
!#hilles in #o)ra*e, stren*th, and bea)ty, and stood head and sho)lders taller than his nearest
rival, #arryin* a shield o (roo made rom seven b)llsA hides% &is body was inv)lnerable
e:#e(t in the arm(it, and some say, at the ne#k, be#a)se o the #harm &era#les had laid )(on
him% !s he went aboard his vessel, Telamon *ave him this (artin* advi#e1 I+et yo)r mind on
#onE)est, b)t always with the hel( o the *ods%A !Ha: boasted1 IWith the hel( o the *ods, any
#oward or ool #an win *lory2 $ tr)st to do so even witho)t themPA 4y this boast, and others
like it, he in#)rred divine an*er% ;n one o##asion, when !thene #ame to )r*e him on in battle,
he sho)ted ba#k1 I4e o, Goddess, and en#o)ra*e my ellow7Greeks1 or, where $ am, no
enemy will ever break thro)*hPA !Ha:As hal7brother Te)#er, a bastard son o Telamon and
&esione, and the best ar#her in Gree#e, )sed to i*ht rom behind !Ha:As shield, ret)rnin* to
its shelter as a #hild r)ns to his mother%
E% -ittle !Ha: the -o#rian, son o ;ile)s and ,rio(is, tho)*h small, o)tdid all the Greeks in
s(ear7throwin* and, ne:t to !#hilles, ran the switest% &e was the third member o Great
!Ha:As team o i*hters, and #o)ld easily be re#o*ni8ed by his linen #orslet and the tame
ser(ent, lon*er than a man, whi#h ollowed him everywhere like a do*% &is hal7brother
Medon, a bastard son o ;ile)s and the nym(h Rhene, #ame rom "hyta#e, where he had
been banished or havin* slain ,rio(isAs brother%
r% ?iomedes, the son o Tyde)s and ?ei(yle, #ame rom !r*os, a##om(anied by two ellow7
,(i*oni, namely +thenel)s, son o .a(ane)s, and ,)ryal)s the !r*ona)t, son o Me#iste)s%
&e had been dee(ly in love with &elen, and took her abd)#tion by "aris as a (ersonal aront%
s% Tle(olem)s the !r*ive, a son o &era#les, bro)*ht nine shi(s rom Rhodes%
t% 4eore leavin* !)lis, the Greek leet re#eived s)((lies o #orn, wine, and other (rovisions
rom !ni)s, kin* o ?elos, whom !(ollo had se#retly be*otten on Rhoeo, da)*hter o
+ta(hyl)s and .hrysothemis% Rhoeo was lo#ked in a #hest and set adrit by her ather when
he o)nd her with #hild2 b)t, bein* washed ashore on the #oast o ,)boea, *ave birth to a boy
whom she named !ni)s, be#a)se o the tro)ble she had s)ered on his a##o)nt2 and !(ollo
made him his own (ro(heti# (riest7kin* at ?elos% +ome say, however, that RhoeoAs #hest
drited dire#tly to ?elos%
)% 4y his wie ?ori((e, !ni)s was the ather o three da)*hters1 ,lais, +(ermo, and ;eno,
who are #alled the Wine7*rowers2 and o a son, !ndron, kin* o !ndros, to whom !(ollo
ta)*ht the art o a)*)ry% 4ein* himsel a (riest o !(ollo, !ni)s dedi#ated the Wine7*rowers
to ?ionys)s, wishin* his amily to be )nder the (rote#tion o more than one *od% $n ret)rn,
?ionys)s *ranted that whatever ,lais to)#hed, ater invokin* his hel(, sho)ld be t)rned into
oil2 whatever +(ermo to)#hed, into #orn2 and whatever ;eno to)#hed, into wine% Th)s !ni)s
o)nd it easy eno)*h to (rovision the Greek leet% Det !*amemnon was not satisied1 he sent
Menela)s and ;dysse)s to ?elos, where they asked !ni)s whether they mi*ht take the Wine7
*rowers on the e:(edition% !ni)s re)sed this reE)est, tellin* Menela)s that it was the will o
the *ods that Troy sho)ld be taken only in the tenth year% IWhy not all remain here on ?elos
or the intervenin* (eriodKA he s)**ested hos(itably% IMy da)*hters will kee( yo) s)((lied
with ood and drink )ntil the tenth year, and they shall then a##om(any yo) to Troy, i
ne#essary%A 4)t, be#a)se !*amemnon had stri#tly ordered1 I4rin* them to me, whether !ni)s
#onsents or notPA, ;dysse)s bo)nd the Wine7*rowers, and or#ed them to embark in his
vessel% When they es#a(ed, two o them leein* to ,)boea and the other to !ndros,
!*amemnon sent shi(s in ()rs)it, and threatened war i they were not *iven )(% !ll three
s)rrendered, b)t #alled )(on ?ionys)s, who t)rned them into doves2 and to this day doves are
#losely (rote#ted on ?elos%
v% !t !)lis, while !*amemnon was sa#rii#in* to @e)s and !(ollo, a bl)e ser(ent with blood7
red markin*s on its ba#k darted rom beneath the altar, and made strai*ht or a ree (lane7tree
whi#h *rew near by% ;n the hi*hest bran#h lay a s(arrowAs nest, #ontainin* ei*ht yo)n* birds
and their mother1 the ser(ent devo)red them all and then, still #oiled aro)nd the bran#h, was
t)rned to stone by @e)s% .al#has e:(lained this (ortent as stren*thenin* !ni)sAs (ro(he#y1
nine years m)st (ass beore Troy #o)ld be taken, b)t taken it wo)ld be% @e)s )rther
heartened them all with a lash o li*htnin* on their ri*ht, as the leet set sail%
w% +ome say that the Greeks let !)lis a month ater !*amemnon had (ers)aded ;dysse)s to
Hoin them, and .al#has (iloted them to Troy by his se#ond Jsi*ht% ;thers, that ;enone sent
her son .oryth)s to *)ide them% 4)t, a##ordin* to a third, more *enerally a##e(ted a##o)nt,
they had no (ilot, and sailed in error to Mysia, where they disembarked and be*an to rava*e
the #o)ntry, mistakin* it or the Troad% Gin* Tele(h)s drove them ba#k to their shi(s and
killed the brave Thersander, son o Theban "olynei#es, who alone had stood his *ro)nd% Then
)( ran !#hilles and "atro#l)s, at si*ht o whom Tele(h)s t)rned and led alon* the banks o
the river .ai#)s% 3ow, the Greeks had sa#rii#ed to ?ionys)s at !)lis, whereas the Mysians
had ne*le#ted him2 as a ()nishment, thereore, Tele(h)s was tri((ed )( by a vine that s(ran*
)ne:(e#tedly rom the soil, and !#hilles wo)nded him in the thi*h with the amo)s s(ear
whi#h only he #o)ld wield, .heironAs *it to his ather "ele)s%
:% Thersander was b)ried at Mysian ,laea, where he now has a hero7shrine2 the #ommand o
his 4oeotians (assed irst to "eneleos and ne:t, when he was killed by Tele(h)sAs son
,)ry(yl)s, to ThersanderAs son Tisamen)s, who had not been o a*e at the time o his atherAs
death% 4)t some (retend that Thersander s)rvived, and was one o those who hid in the
Wooden &orse%
y% &avin* bathed their wo)nded in the hot $onian s(rin*s near +myrna, #alled IThe 4aths o
!*amenmonA, the Greeks ()t to sea on#e more b)t, their shi(s bein* s#attered by a violent
storm whi#h &era had raised, ea#h #a(tain steered or his own #o)ntry% $t was on this
o##asion that !#hilles landed at +#yros, and ormally married ?eidameia% +ome believe that
Troy ell twenty years ater the abd)#tion o &elen1 that the Greeks made this alse start in the
se#ond year2 and that ei*ht years ela(sed beore they embarked a*ain% 4)t it is ar more
(robable that their #o)n#il o war at +(artan &elleni)m was held in the same year as their
rerrement rom Mysia2 they were still, it is said, in *reat (er(le:ity be#a)se they had no
#om(etent (ilot to steer them to Troy%
8% Meanwhile, Tele(h)sAs wo)nd still estered, and !(ollo anno)n#ed that it #o)ld be healed
only by its #a)se% +o he visited !*amemnon at My#enae, #lad in ra*s like a s)((liant, and on
.lytaemnestraAs advi#e snat#hed the inant ;restes rom his #radle% I$ will kill yo)r son,A he
#ried, I)nless yo) #)re mePA 4)t !*amemnon, havin* been warned by an ora#le that the
Greeks #o)ld not take Troy witho)t Tele(h)sAs advi#e, *ladly )ndertook to aid him, i he
wo)ld *)ide the leet to Troy% When Tele(h)s a*reed, !#hilles, at !*amemnonAs reE)est,
s#ra(ed some r)st o his s(ear into the wo)nd and th)s healed it2 with the )rther hel( o the
herb a#hilleos, a v)lnerary whi#h he had himsel dis#overed% Tele(h)s later re)sed to Hoin
the e:(edition, on the *ro)nd that his wie, -aodi#e, also #alled &iera, or !styo#he, was
"riamAs da)*hter2 b)t he showed the Greeks what #o)rse to sha(e, and .al#has #onirmed the
a##)ra#y o his advi#e by divination%
1% !ter the all o .noss)s, abo)t the year 1=00 4., a #ontest or sea arose between the
(eo(les o the ,astern Mediterranean% This is de#ked in &erodot)sAs a##o)nt, whi#h 9ohn
Malalas s)((orts2 the raids (re#edin* &elenAs abd)#tion, and in !(ollodor)sAs re#ord o how
"aris raided +idon, and !*amemnonAs (eo(le, Mysia% ! TroHan #onedera#y oered the #hie
obsta#le to Greek mer#antile ambitions, )ntil the &i*h Gin* o My#enae *athered his allies,
in#l)din* the Greek overlords o .rete, or a #on#erted atta#k on Troy% The naval war,
s)((osed to the sie*e o Troy, may well have lasted or nine or ten years%
0% !mon* !*amemnonAs inde(endent allies were the islanders o +amos, ?)li#hi)m, and
@a#ynth)s led by ;dysse)s2 the +o)thern Thessalians led by
!#hilles2 and their !ea#an #o)sins rom -o#ris and led by the two !Ha:es% These #hietains
(roved an awkward to handle and !*amenmon #o)ld kee( them rom ea#h otherAs only by
intri*)e, with the loyal s)((ort o his "elo(onnesian hen#hmen Menela)s o +(arta,
?iomedes o !r*os, and 3estor o "yl)s% !Ha:As reHe#tion o the ;lym(ian *ods and his
aront to the @e)s7born !thene have been misre(resented as eviden#e o atheism2 they
re#ord, rather, his reli*io)s #onservatism% The !ea#ids were o -ele*ian sto#k and
worshi((ed the (re7&elleni# *oddess%
<% The Thebans and !thenians seem to have ke(t o)t o the war2 tho)*h !thenian or#es are
mentioned in the .atalo*)e o +hi(s, they (lay no memorable (art beore Troy% 4)t the
(resen#e o Gin* Menesthe)s has been em(hasi8ed to H)stiy later !thenian e:(ansion alon*
the 4la#k +ea #oast% ;dysse)s is a key7i*)re in Greek mytholo*y% ?es(ite his birth rom a
da)*hter o the .orinthian +)n7*od and his old7ashioned oot7ra#e winnin* o "enelo(e, he
breaks the an#ient matrilo#al r)le by insistin* that "enelo(e shall #ome to his kin*dom, rather
than he to hers% !lso, like his ather +isy(h)s, and .retan .inyras, he re)ses to die at the end
o his (ro(er termJwhi#h is the #entral alle*ory o the ;dyssey% ;dysse)s, moreover, is the
irst mythi#al #hara#ter #redited with an irrelevant (hysi#al (e#)liarity1 le*s short in
(ro(ortion to his body, so that he Ilooks nobler sittin* than standin*%A The s#arred thi*h,
however, sho)ld be read as a si*n that he es#a(ed the death in#)mbent on boar7#)lt kin*s%
=% ;dysse)sAs (retended madness, tho)*h #onsistent with his novel rel)#tan#e to a#t as
behoved a kin*, seems to be misre(orted% What he did was to demonstrate (ro(heti#ally the
)selessness o the war to whi#h he had been s)mmoned% Wearin* a #oni#al hat whi#h marked
the mysta*o*)e or seer, he (lo)*hed a ield )( and down% ;: and ass stood or @e)s and
.ron)s, or s)mmer and winter2 and ea#h )rrow, soaked with salt, or a wasted year%
"alamedes, who also had (ro(heti# (owers, then sei8ed Telema#h)s and halted the (lo)*h,
do)btless at the tenth )rrow, by settin* him in ront o the team1 he thereby showed that the
de#isive battle, whi#h is the meanin* o ITelema#h)sA, wo)ld take (la#e then%
5% !#hilles, a more #onservative #hara#ter, hides amon* women, as beits a solar hero 5White
Goddess6 and takes arms in the o)rth month, when the +)n has (assed the eE)ino: and so
es#a(es rom the t)tela*e o his mother, 3i*ht% .retan boys were #alled s#otioi, I#hildren o
darknessA, while #onined to the womenAs E)arters, not havin* yet been *iven arms and
liberty by the (riestess7mother% $n the Mabino*ion, ;dysse)sAs r)se or armin* !#hilles is
)sed by Gwydion 5the *od ;din, or Woden6 on a similar o##asion1 wishin* to release -lew
-law Gyes, another solar hero, rom the (ower o his mother !rianrhod, he #reates a noise
o battle o)tside the #astle and ri*htens her into *ivin* -lew -law sword and shield% The
Welsh is (robably the elder version o the myth, whi#h the !r*ives dramati8ed on the irst
day o the o)rth month by a i*ht between boys dressed in *irlsA #lothes and women dressed
in menAsJthe estival bein* #alled the &ybristi#a 5Ishame)l behavio)rA6% $ts histori#al
e:#)se was that, early in the ith #ent)ry, the (oetess Telesilla, with a #om(any o women,
had #ontrived to hold !r*os a*ainst Gin* .leomenes o +(arta, ater the total deeat o the
!r*ive army 5"l)tar#h1 ;n the Cirt)es o Women6% +in#e "atro#l)s bears an ina((ro(riately
(atriar#hal name 5I*lory o the atherA6, he may have on#e been "hoeni: 5Iblood redA6,
!#hillesAs twin and tanist )nder the matrilineal system%
6% !ll the Greek leaders beore Troy are sa#red kin*s% -ittle !Ha:As tame ser(ent #annot have
a##om(anied him into battle1 he did not have one )ntil he be#ame an ora#)lar hero%
$domene)sAs boarAs t)sk helmet, attested by inds in .rete and My#enaean Gree#e, was
ori*inally (erha(s worn by the tanist2 his #o#k, sa#red to the s)n, and re(resentin* @e)s
Cel#hanos, m)st be a late addition to &omer be#a)se the domesti# hen did not rea#h Gree#e
)ntil the si:th #ent)ry 4.% The ori*inal devi#e is likely to have been a #o#k (artrid*e% These
#)mbro)s shields #onsisted o b)llAs hides sewn to*ether, the e:tremities bein* ro)nded o,
and the waist ni((ed, in i*)re7o7ei*ht sha(e, or rit)al )se% They #overed the entire body
rom #hin to ankle% !#hilles 5Ili(lessA6 seems to have been a #ommon title o ora#)lar heroes,
sin#e there were !#hilles #)lts at +#yros, "hthia, and ,lis 5"a)sanias6%
>% Rhoeo, da)*hter o +ta(hyl)s and .hrysothemis 5I"ome*ranate, da)*hter o 4)n#h o
Gra(es and Golden ;rderA6 #ame to ?elos in a thest and is the amiliar ertility7*oddess with
her new7moon boat% +he also a((ears in triad as her *rand7da)*hters the Wine7*rowers,
whose names mean Iolive oilA, I*rainA and IwineA% Their mother is ?ori((e, or I*it mareA,
whi#h s)**ests that Rhoeo was the mare7headed ?emeter% &er #)lt s)rvives vesti*ially today
in the three7#)((ed kernos, a vessel )sed by Greek ;rthodo: (riests to hold the *its o oil,
*rain, and wine bro)*ht to #h)r#h or san#tii#ation% ! kernos o the same ty(e has been
o)nd in an early Minoan tomb at Go)masa2 and the Wine7*rowers, bein* *reat7
*rand#hildren o !riadne, m)st have #ome to ?elos rom .rete%
8% The GreeksA dii#)lty in indin* their way to Troy is #ontradi#ted by the ease with whi#h
Menela)s had sailed there2 (erha(s in the ori*inal le*end TroHan !(hrodite #ast a s(ell whi#h
o**ed their memory, as she aterwards dis(ersed the leets on the ret)rn voya*e%
9% !#hillesAs treatment o the s(ear wo)nd, based on the an#ient homeo(athi# (rin#i(le that
Ilike #)res likeA, re#alls Melam()sAs )se o r)st rom a *eldin*7knie to restore $(hi#l)s%
10% Maenads, in vase7(aintin*s, sometimes have their limbs tattooed with a woo7and7war(
(attern ormali8ed as a ladder% $ their a#es were on#e similarly tattooed as a #amo)la*e or
woodland revellin*, this mi*ht e:(lain the name "enelo(e 5Iwith a web over her a#eA6, as a
title o the or*iasti# mo)ntain7*oddess2 alternatively, she may have worn a net in her or*ies,
like ?i#tynna and the 4ritish *oddess Goda% "anAs alle*ed birth rom "enelo(e, ater she had
sle(t (romis#)o)sly with all her s)itors in ;dysse)sAs absen#e, re#ords a tradition o (re7
&elleni# se:)al or*ies2 the (enelo(e d)#k, like the swan, was (robably a totem7bird o +(arta%
11% 3o #ommentator has hitherto tro)bled to e:(lain (re#isely why .al#hasAs nest o birds
sho)ld have been set on a (lane7tree and devo)red by a ser(ent2 b)t the a#t is that ser(ents
#ast their slo)*h ea#h year and renew themselves, and so do (lane7treesJwhi#h makes them
both symbols o re*eneration% .al#has thereore knew that the birds whi#h were devo)red
stood or years, not months% Tho)*h later a((ro(riated by !(ollo, the (lane was the
GoddessAs sa#red tree in .rete and +(arta, be#a)se its lea resembled a *reen hand with the
in*ers stret#hed o)t to blessJa *est)re reE)ently o)nd in her ar#hai# stat)ettes% The bl)e
s(ots on the ser(ent showed that it was sent by @e)s, who wore a bl)e nimb)s as *od o the
sky% .inyrasAs toy shi(s (erha(s rele#t a .y(rian #)stom borrowed rom ,*y(t, o b)ryin*
terra#otta shi(s beside dead (rin#es or their voya*e to the ;therworld%
10% The ity da)*hters o .inyrasAs who t)rned into hal#yons will have been a #olle*e o
!(hroditeAs (riestesses% ;ne o her riles was I!l#yoneA, Ithe E)een who wards o WstormsXA,
and the hal#yons, or kin*7ishers, whi#h were sa#red to her, (ortended #alms%
The +e#ond Gatherin* !t !)lis
.!-.&!+, the brother o -e)#i((e and TheonoB, had learned the o (ro(he#y rom his
ather Thestor% ;ne day, TheonoB was walkin* on the seashore near Troy, when .arian (irates
bore her o, and she be#ame mistress to Gin* $#ar)s% Thestor at on#e set o)t in ()rs)it, b)t
was shi(wre#ked on the .arian #oast and im(risoned by $#ar)s% +ever years later, -e)#i((e,
who had been a mere #hild when these sad event took (la#e, went to ?el(hi or news o her
ather and sister% !dvised by the "ythoness to dis*)ise hersel as a (riest o !(ollo and *o to
.aria in sear#h o them, -e)#i((e obediently shaved her head and visited the #o)rt o Gin*
$#ar)s2 b)t TheonoB, not seein* thro)*h the dis*)ise, ell in love with her, and told one o the
*)ards1 I4rin* that yo)n* (riest to my bedroomPA -e)#i((e, ailin* to re#o*ni8e TheonoB,
and earin* to be ()t to death as an im(ostor, reb)ed her2 where)(on TheonoB, sin#e she
#o)ld not ask the (ala#e servants to #ommit sa#rile*e by killin* a (riest, *ave orders that one
o the orei*n (risoners
m)st do so, an sent a sword or his )se%
b% 3ow, the (risoner #hosen was Thestor, who went to the bedroom in whi#h -e)#i((e had
been lo#ked, dis(layed his sword, and des(airin*ly told her his story%
I$ will not kill yo), sir,A he said, Ibe#a)se $ too worshi( !(ollo, and (reer to kill myselP 4)t
let me irst reveal my name1 $ am Thestor, son o $dmon the !r*ona)t, a TroHan (riest%A &e
was abo)t to (l)n*e the sword into his own breast, when -e)#i((e snat#hed it away%
I'ather, atherPA she e:#laimed, I$ am -e)#i((e, yo)r da)*hterP ?o not t)rn this wea(on
a*ainst yo)rsel2 )se it to kill Gin* $#ar)sAs abominable #on#)bine% .ome, ollow mePA They
h)rried to TheonoBAs embroidery7#hamber%
I!h, l)st)l one,A #ried -e)#i((e, b)rstin* in and dra**in* Thestor ater her% I"re(are to die
by the hand o my ather, Thestor son o $dmonPA Then it was TheonoBAs t)rn to e:#laim1
I'ather, atherPA2 and when the three had we(t tears o Hoy, and *iven thanks to !(ollo, Gin*
$#ar)s *enero)sly sent them all home, laden with *its%
#% 3ow "riam, ater reHe#tin* !*amemnonAs demand or the ret)rn o &elen, sent ThestorAs
son .al#has, a (riest o !(ollo, to #ons)lt the ?el(hi# "ythoness% &avin* oretold the all o
Troy and the total r)in o "riamAs ho)se, she ordered .al#has to Hoin the Greeks and (revent
them rom raisin* the sie*e )ntil they were vi#torio)s% .al#has then swore an oath o
riendshi( with !#hilles, who lod*ed him in his own ho)se, and (resently bro)*ht him to
!*amemnon%
d% When the Greek leet assembled or the se#ond time at !)lis, b)t was wind7bo)nd there or
many days, .al#has (ro(hesied that they wo)ld be )nable to sail )nless !*amemnon
sa#rii#ed the most bea)ti)l o his da)*hters to !rtemis% Why !rtemis sho)ld have been
ve:ed is dis()ted% +ome say that, on shootin* a sta* at lon* ran*e, !*amemnon had boasted1
I!rtemis hersel #o)ld not have done betterPA2 or had killed her sa#red *oat2 or had vowed to
oer her the most bea)ti)l #reat)re born that year in his kin*dom, whi#h ha((ened to be
$(hi*eneia2 or that his ather !tre)s had withheld a *olden7lamb whi#h was her d)e% !t any
rate, !*amemnon re)sed to do as he was e:(e#ted, sayin* that .lytaemnestra wo)ld never
let $(hi*eneia *o% 4)t when the Greeks swore1 IWe shall transer o)r alle*ian#e to "alamedes
i he #ontin)es obd)rate,A and when ;dysse)s, ei*nin* an*er, (re(ared to sail home,
Menela)s #ame orward as (ea#e7maker% &e s)**ested that ;dysse)s and Talthybi)s sho)ld
et#h $(hi*eneia to !)lis, on the (rete:t o marryin* her to !#hilles as a reward or his datin*
eats in Mysia% To this r)se !*amemnon a*reed, and tho)*h he at on#e sent a se#ret messa*e,
warnin* .lytaemnestra not to believe ;dysse)s, Menela)s inter#e(ted this, and she was
tri#ked into brin*in* $(hi*eneia to !)lis%
e% When !#hilles o)nd that his name had been mis)sed, he )ndertook to (rote#t $(hi*eneia
rom inH)ry2 b)t she nobly #onsented to die or the *lory o Gree#e, and oered her ne#k to
the sa#rii#ial a:e witho)t a word o #om(laint% +ome say that, in the ni#k o time, !rtemis
#arried her o to the land o the Ta)rians, s)bstit)tin* a hind at the altar2 or a she7bear2 or an
old woman% ;thers, that a (eal o th)nder was heard and that, at !rtemisAs order and
.lytaemnestraAs (lea, !#hilles intervened, saved $(hi*eneia, and sent her to +#ythia2 or that
he married her, and that she, not ?eidameia, bore him 3eo(tolem)s%
% 4)t whether $(hi*eneia died or was s(ared, the north7easterly *ale dro((ed, and the leet
set sail at last% They irst to)#hed at -esbos, where ;dysse)s entered the rin* a*ainst Gin*
"hilomeleides, who always #om(elled his *)ests to wrestle with him2 and, amid the lo)d
#heers o every Greek (resent, threw him i*nominio)sly% 3e:t, they landed on Tenedos,
whi#h is visible rom Troy, and was then r)led by Tenes who, tho)*h re()tedly the son o
.y#n)s and "ro#leia o -aomedon, #o)ld #all !(ollo his ather%
*% This .y#n)s, a son o "oseidon and .aly#e, or &ar(ale, r)led in .olonae% &e had been
born in se#ret, and e:(osed on the seashore, where was o)nd by some ishermen who saw a
swan lyin* him% !ter the death o "ro#leia, he married "hilonome, da)*hter o Tra*as)s2
she ell in love with her ste(7son Tenes, ailed to sed)#e him, and ven*e)lly a##)sed him o
havin* tried to violate her% +he #alled the la)tist Mol()s as a witness2 and .y#n)s, believin*
them, #losed Tenes and his sister &emithea in a #hest and set them adrit on the sea% They
were washed ashore on the island o Tenedos, where Tenes was hitherto #alled -e)#o(hrys,
whi#h meansA white browA% -ater, when .y#n)s learned the tr)th, he had Mol()s stoned to
death, and "hilonome b)ried alive% ;n hearin* that Tenes s)rvived and was livin* on
Tenedos, hastened there to admit his error% 4)t Tenes, in an )nor*ivin* mood, #)t the #ables
o .y#n)sAs shi( with an a:e1 hen#e the (roverbial e:(ression or an an*ry re)salJA&e #)t
him with an a:e rom Tenedos%A 'inally, however, Tenes sotened, and .y#n)s settled near
him on Tenedos%
h% 3ow, Thetis had warned !#hilles that i ever he killed a son o !(ollo, he m)st himsel die
by !(olloAs hand2 and a servant named Mnemon a##om(anied him or the sole ()r(ose o
remindin* him o this% 4)t !#hilles, when he saw Tenes h)rlin* a h)*e ro#k rom a #li at
the Greek shi(s, swam ashore, and tho)*htlessly thr)st him thro)*h the heart% The Greeks
then landed and rava*ed Tenedos2 and reali8in* too late what he had done, !#hilles ()t
Mnemon to death be#a)se he had ailed to remind him o ThetisAs words% &e b)ried Tenes
where his shrine now stands1 no la)tist may enter there, nor may !#hillesAs name be
mentioned% !#hilles also killed .y#n)s with a blow on the head, only v)lnerable (art2 and
()rs)ed &emithea, who led rom him like a hind, b)t wo)ld have been overtaken and
violated, had not the earth swallowed her )(% $t was in Tenedos, too, that !#hilles irst
E)arrelled with !*amenmon, whom he a##)sed o havin* invited him to Hoin the e:(edition
only as an atertho)*ht%
i% "alamedes oered a he#atomb to !(ollo +minthe)s in *ratit)de or the Tenedan vi#tory
b)t, as he did so, a water7snake a((roa#hed the altar and bit "hilo#tetes, the amo)s ar#her, in
the oot2 3either )n*)ents nor omentations availed, and the wo)nd *rew so noisome, and
"hilo#tetesAs *roans so lo)d, that the army #o)ld no lon*er tolerate his #om(any% !*amemnon
thereore ordered ;dysse)s to ()t him ashore in a deserted distri#t o -emnos, where he
s)stained lie or several years by shootin* birds2 and Medon ass)med the #ommand o his
troo(s%
H% !##ordin* to another a##o)nt, the a##ident ha((ened on .hryse, an islet o -emnos, whi#h
has sin#e vanished beneath the sea% There either the nym(h .hryse ell in love with
"hilo#tetes and, when he reHe#ted her advan#es, (rovoked a vi(er to bite him while he was
#learin* away the earth rom a b)ried altar o !thene .hryse2 or else a ser(ent that *)arded
!theneAs tem(le bit him when he #ame too #lose%
k% !##ordin* to a third a##o)nt, "hilo#tetes was bitten in -emnos itsel by a ser(ent whi#h
&era sent as a ()nishment or his havin* dared to kindle &era#lesAs )neral (yre% &e was, at
the time, ra(tly *a8in* at the altar raised to !thene by 9ason, and (lannin* to raise another to
&era#les%
l% ! o)rth a##o)nt is that "hilo#tetes was bitten while admirin* Troil)sAs tomb in the tem(le
o Thymbraean !(ollo% ! ith, that he was wo)nded by one o &era#lesAs envenomed
arrows% &era#les, it is said, had made him swear never to div)l*e the whereabo)ts o his
b)ried ashes2 b)t when the Greeks learned that Troy #o)ld not be sa#ked witho)t the )se o
&era#lesAs arrows, they went in sear#h o "hilo#tetes% Tho)*h at irst denyin* all knowled*e
o &era#les, he ended by tellin* them e:a#tly what had ha((ened on Mo)nt ;eta2 so they
ea*erly asked him where they mi*ht ind the *rave% This E)estion he re)sed to answer, b)t
they be#ame so insistent that he went to the (la#e, and there wordlessly stam(ed on the
*ro)nd% -ater, as he (assed the *rave on his way to the TroHan War, one o &era#lesAs arrows
lea(ed rom the E)iver and (ier#ed his oot1 a warnin* that one m)st not reveal divine se#rets
even by a si*n or hint%
1% The lost (lay rom whi#h &y*in)s has taken the story o Thestor and his da)*hters shows
the Greek dramatists at their most theatri#al2 it has no mytholo*i#al val)e%
0% ! version o the I9e(hthahAs da)*hterA myth seems to have been #on)sed with
!*amemnonAs sa#rii#e o a (riestess at !)lis, on a #har*e o raisin* #ontrary winds by
wit#h#rat2 +i: 'ran#is ?rake on#e han*ed one o his sailors, a s(y in .e#ilAs (ay, on the
same #har*e% !*amemnonAs hi*h7handed a#tion, it seems, oended #onservative o(inion at
home, women bein* traditionally e:em(t rom sa#rii#e% The Ta)rians, to whom $(hi*eneia
was said to have been sent by !rtemis, lived in the .rimea and worshi((ed !rtemis as a man7
slayer2 !*amemnonAs son ;restes ell into their #l)t#hes%
<% ;dysse)sAs wrestlin* mat#h with Gin* "hilomeleides, whose name means Idear to the
a((le7nym(hsA, is (robably taken rom a amiliar i#on, showin* the rit)al #ontest in whi#h
the old kin* is deeated by the new and *iven an a((le7bo)*h%
=% !#hilles killed a se#ond .y#n)s2 &era#les killed a third, and was (revented by @e)s rom
killin* a o)rth% The name im(lied that swans #onveyed these royal so)ls to the 3orthern
"aradise% When !(ollo a((ears in an#ient works o art ridin* on swan ba#k, or in a #hariot
drawn by swans 5;verbe#k1 Grie#his#he G)nstmytholo*ie6 on a visit to the &y(erboreans,
this is a (olite way o de(i#tin* his re(resentativeAs ann)al death at mids)mmer% +in*in*
swans then ly north to their breedin* *ro)nds in the !r#ti# #ir#le, and )tter two tr)m(et7like
notes as they *o2 whi#h is why "a)sanias says that swans are versed in the M)sesA #rat%
I+wans sin* beore they dieA1 the sa#red kin*As so)l de(arts to the so)nd o m)si#%
5% "hilo#tetesAs wo)nd has been asso#iated with many dierent lo#alities be#a)se the i#on
rom whi#h his story derives was widely #)rrent% &e is the sa#red kin* o Tenedos, -emnos,
,)boea, or any other &elladi# state, re#eivin* the (ri#k o an envenomed arrow in his oot
beside the *oddessAs altar%
6% &era#les was not the only sa#red kin* whose *rave remained a se#ret2 this seems to have
been #ommon (ra#ti#e on the $sthm)s o .orinth, and amon* the (rimitive &ebrews
5?e)teronomy6%
>% Tenes h)rlin* ro#ks may be a misinter(retation o the amiliar i#on whi#h shows a s)n7
hero ()shin* the s)n7bo)lder )( to the 8enith, sin#e Talos, a .retan s)n7hero, also h)rled
ro#ks at a((roa#hin* shi(s% The shi(s in this i#on wo)ld merely indi#ate that .rete, or
Tenedos, was a naval (ower%
3ine Dears ; War
!T what (oint the Greeks sent "riam envoys to demand the ret)rn o &elen and o
Menela)sAs (ro(erty, is dis()ted% +ome say, soon ater the e:(edition had landed in the Troad2
others, beore the shi(s assembled at !)lis2 b)t it is #ommonly held that the embassy,
#onsistin* o Menela)s, ;dysse)s, and "alamedes, went ahead rom Tenedos% The TroHans,
however, bein* determined to kee( &elen, wo)ld have m)rdered them all had not !ntenor, in
whose ho)se they were lod*in*, orbidden the shame)l deed%
b% Ce:ed by this obd)ra#y, the Greeks sailed rom Tenedos and bea#hed their shi(s within
si*ht o Troy% The TroHans at on#e lo#ked down to the sea and tried to re(el the invaders with
showers o stones% Then, while all the others hesitatedJeven !#hilles, whom Thetis had
warned that the irst to land wo)ld be the irst to dieJ"rotesila)s lea(ed ashore, killed a
n)mber o TroHans, and was str)#k dead by &e#tor2 or it may have been ,)(horb)s2 or
!eneasAs riend !#hates%
#% This "rotesila)s, an )n#le o "hilo#tetes, and son o that $(hi#l)s whom Melam()s #)red o
im(oten#e, had been #alled $ola)s, b)t was renamed rom the #ir#)mstan#e o his death% &e
lies b)ried in the Thra#ian .hersonese, near the #ity o ,lae)s, where he is now *iven divine
hono)rs% Tall elm7trees, (lanted by nym(hs, stand within% his (re#in#t and overshadow the
tomb% The bo)*hs whi#h a#e Troy a#ross the sea b)rst early into lea, b)t (resently *o bare2
while those on the other side are still *reen in winter7time% When the elms *row so hi*h that
the walls o Troy #an be #learly dis#erned by a man (osted in their )((er bran#hes, they
wither2 sa(lin*s, however, s(rin* a*ain rom the roots%
d% "rotesila)sAs wie -aodameia, da)*hter o !#ast)s 5whom some #all "olydora da)*hter o
Melea*er6 missed him so sadly that as soon as he sailed or Troy she made a bra8en, or wa:,
stat)e o him and laid it in her bed% 4)t this was (oor #omort, and when news #ame o his
death, she be**ed the *ods to take (ity and let him revisit her, i only or three ho)rs%
!lmi*hty @e)s *ranted -aodameiaAs reE)est, and &ermes bro)*ht )( "rotesila)sAs *host rom
Tartar)s to animate the stat)e% +(eakin* with its mo)th, "rotesila)s then adH)red her not to
delay in ollowin* him, and the three ho)rs had no sooner ended than she stabbed hersel to
death in his embra#e% ;thers say that -aodameiaAs ather !#ast)s or#ed her to remarry, b)t
that she s(ent her ni*hts with "rotesila)sAs stat)e )ntil one day a servant, brin*in* a((les or
a day sa#rii#e, looked thro)*h a #ra#k in the bedroom7door and saw her embra#in* what he
took to be a lover% &e ran and told !#ast)s who b)rstin* into the room, dis#overed the tr)th%
Rather than lettin* her tort)re hersel by r)itless lon*in*, !#ast)s ordered the stat)e to be
b)rned2 b)t -aodameia threw hersel into the lames and (erished with it%
e% !##ordin* to another tradition, "rotesila)s s)rvived the TroHan War and set sail or home%
&e took ba#k, as his (risoner, "riamAs sister !ethylla% ;n the way he landed at the
Ma#edonian (enins)la o "ellene b)t, while he went ashore in sear#h o water, !ethylla
(ers)aded the other #a(tive womenA to b)rn the shi(s2 and "rotesila)s, th)s obli*ed to remain
on "ellene, o)nded the #ity o +#ione% This, however, is an error1 !ethylla, with !styo#he
and her ellow7#a(tives, set ire to the vessels beside the $talian river 3avaeth)s, whi#h
means Ib)rnin* o shi(sA2 and "rotesila)s did not i*)re amon* their #a(tors%
% !#hilles was the se#ond Greek to land on the TroHan shore, #losely ollowed by his
Myrmidons, and killed .y#n)s son o "oseidon with a well7l)n* stone% There)(on the
TroHans broke and led ba#k to their #ity, while the remainder o the Greeks disembarked and
(ressed m)rdero)sly on the ro)t% !##ordin* to another a##o)nt, !#hilles, mind)l o
"rotesila)sAs rite, was the very last to land, and then took s)#h a (rodi*io)s lea( rom his shi(
that a s(rin* *)shed o)t where his eet str)#k the shore% $n the ens)in* battle, it is said,
.y#n)s, who was inv)lnerable, killed Greeks by the h)ndred2 b)t !#hilles, ater tryin* sword
and s(ear a*ainst him in vain, battered )rio)sly at his a#e with the hilt o his sword, or#ed
him ba#kwards )ntil he tri((ed over a stone, then knelt on his breast and stran*led him with
the stra(s o his helmet2 however, "oseidon t)rned his s(irit into a swan, whi#h lew away%
The Greeks then laid sie*e to Troy and drew )( their stri(s behind a sto#kade%
*% 3ow, the #ity was ated not to all i Troil)s #o)ld attain the a*e o twenty% +ome say that
!#hilles ell in love with him as they o)*ht to*ether, and I$ will kill yo),A he said, I)nless
yo) yield to my #aressesPA Troil)s led and took re)*e in the san#t)ary in the tem(le o
Thymbraean !(ollo2 b)t !#hilles #ared nothin* or the *odAs wrath and sin#e Troil)s
remained #oy, beheaded him at the altar, the very (la#e where he himsel later (erished%
;thers say that !#hilles s(eared Troil)s while he was e:er#isin* his horses in the tem(le
(re#in#t2 or that he l)red him o)t by oerin* a *it o doves, and that Troil)s died with
#r)shed ribs and livid a#e, in s)#h bear7like ashion did !#hilles make love% ;thers, a*ain,
say that Troil)s sallied ven*e)lly rom Troy ater the death o Memnon and en#o)ntered
!#hilles, who killed himJor else he was taken (risoner and then ()bli#ly sla)*htered in #old
blood at !#hillesAs ordersJ and that, bein* then middle7a*ed, with a swarthy #om(le:ion
and a lowin* beard, he #an hardly have e:#ited !#hillesAs (assion% 4)t whatever the manner
o his death, !#hilles #a)sed it, and the TroHans mo)rned or him as *rievo)sly as or &e#tor%
h% Troil)s is said to have loved 4riseis, .al#hasAs bea)ti)l da)*hter, who had been let
behind in Troy by her ather and, sin#e she had (layed no (art in his dee#tion, #ontin)ed to
be treated there with #o)rtesy% .al#has, knowin* that Troy m)st all, (ers)aded !*amemnon
to ask "riam or her on his behal, lest she sho)ld be made a (risoner o war% "riam
*enero)sly *ave his assent and several o his sons es#orted 4riseis to the Greek #am(%
!ltho)*h she had sworn )ndyin* idelity to Troil)s, 4riseis soon transerred her ae#tions to
?iomedes the !r*ive, who ell (assionately in love with her and did his best to kill Troil)s
whenever he a((eared on the battle7ield%
i% ;n a ni*ht e:(edition, !#hilles #a(t)red -y#aon, s)r(risin* him in his ather "riamAs
or#hard, where he was #)ttin* i*7tree shoots or )se as #hariot7rails% "atro#l)s took -y#aon
to -emnos, and sold him to 9asonAs son, Gin* ,)ne)s, who s)((lied the Greek or#es with
wine2 the (ri#e bein* a silver "hoenidan mi:in*7bowl% 4)t ,Btion o $mbros ransomed him,
and he ret)rned to Troy, only to (erish at the hand o !#hilles twelve days later%
H% !#hilles now set o)t with a band o vol)nteers to rava*e the TroHan #o)ntryside% ;n Mo)nt
$da he #)t o !eneas the ?ardanian rom his #attle, #hased him down the wooded slo(es and,
ater killin* the #attlemen and "riamAs son Mestor, #a(t)red the herd and sa#ked the #ity o
-yrness)s, where !eneas had taken re)*e% Mynes and ,(istro(h)s, sons o Gin* ,ven)s,
died in the i*htin*2 b)t @e)s hel(ed !eneas to es#a(e% MynesAs wie, another 4riseis,
da)*hter o 4rise)s, was made #a(tive, and her ather han*ed himsel%
k% Tho)*h !eneas had #onnived at "arisAs abd)#tion o &elen, he remained ne)tral or the
irst ew years o the war2 bein* born o the *oddess !(hrodite by !n#hises, the *randson o
Tros, he resented the disdain shown him by his #o)sin "riam% Det !#hillesAs (rovo#ative raid
obli*ed the ?ardanians to Hoin or#es with the TroHans% !eneas (roved a skilled i*hter and
even !#hilles did not dis(at#h him1 or i &e#tor was the hand o the TroHans, !eneas was
their so)l% &is divine mother reE)ently hel(ed him in battle2 and on#e, when ?iomedes had
broken his hi( with the #ast o a stone, res#)ed him rom death2 and when ?iomedes had
wo)nded her too, with a s(ear7thr)st in the wrist, !(ollo #arried !eneas o the ield or -eto
and !rtemis to #)re% ;n another o##asion his lie was saved by "oseidon who, tho)*h hostile
to the TroHans, res(e#ted the de#rees o ate and knew that the royal line o !eneas m)st
event)ally r)le Troy%
l% Many #ities allied to Troy were now taken by !#hilles1 -esbos, "ho#aea, .olo(hon,
+myrna, .la8omenae, .yme, !e*ial)s, Tenos, !dramytti)m, ?ide, ,ndi)m, -innae)m,
.olone, -yrness)s, !ntandr)s, and several others, in#l)din* &y(o(la#ian Thebes, where
another ,Btion, ather o &e#torAs wie !ndroma#he, and his #omrade "odes, r)led over the
.ili#ians% !#hilles killed ,Btion, and seven o his sons besides, b)t did not des(oil his #or(se1
he b)rned it )lly armo)red and aro)nd the barrow whi#h he hea(ed, mo)ntain7nym(hs
(lanted a *rove o elm7trees% The #a(tives in#l)ded !stynome, or .hryseis, da)*hter o
.hryses, (riest o !(ollo in the island o +minthos% +ome #all !stynome ,BtionAs wie2 others
say that .hryses had sent her to -yrness)s or (rote#tion, or to attend a estival o !rtemis%
When the s(oils were distrib)ted, she ell to !*amenmon, as did 4riseis to !#hilles% 'rom
&y(o(la#ian Thebes, !#hilles also bro)*ht away the swit horse "odas)s, whom he yoked to
his immortal team%
m% Great !Ha: sailed to the Thra#ian .hersonese, where he #a(t)red -y#aonAs blood7brother
"olydor)sJtheir mother was -aothoBJand in Te)thrania killed Gin* Te)thras, and #arried
o *reat s(oils, amon* them the (rin#ess Te#messa, whom he made his #on#)bine%
n% !s the tenth year o the war a((roa#hed, the Greeks rerained rom raidin* the #oast o
!sia Minor, and #on#entrated their or#es beore Troy% The TroHans marshalled their allies
a*ainst themJ?ardanians, led by !eneas and the two sons or !ntenor2 Thra#ian .i#onians2
"aeonians2 "a(hla*onians2 Mysians2 "hry*ians2 Maeonians2 .arians2 -y#ians2 and so orth%
+ar(edon, whom 4ellero(honAs da)*hter -aodameia had borne to @e)s, led the -y#ians% This
is his story% When -aodameiaAs brother $sander and &i((olo#h)s were #ontendin* or the
kin*dom, it was (ro(osed that whi#hever o them mi*ht shoot an arrow thro)*h a *old rin*
h)n* )(on a #hildAs breast sho)ld be kin*% ,a#h hotly demanded the otherAs #hild as the
vi#tim, b)t -aodameia (revented them rom m)rderin* ea#h other by oerin* to tie the rin*
aro)nd the ne#k o her own son, +ar(edon% !sto)nded at s)#h noble )nselishness, they both
a*reed to resi*n their #laims to the kin*dom in avo)r o +ar(edon2 with whom Gla)#)s, the
son o &i((olo#h)s, was now rei*nin* as #o7kin*%
o% !*amemnon had sent ;dysse)s on a ora*in* e:(edition to Thra#e, and when he #ame
ba#k em(ty7handed, "alamedes son o 3a)(li)s )(braided him or his sloth and #owardi#e%
I$t was not my a)lt,A #ried ;dysse)s, Ithat no #orn #o)ld be o)nd% $ !*amemnon had sent
yo) in my stead, yo) wo)ld have had no *reater s)##ess%A Th)s #hallen*ed, "alamedes set sail
at on#e and (resently rea((eared with a shi(7load o *rain%
(% !ter days o tort)o)s tho)*ht, ;dysse)s at last hit )(on a (lan by whi#h he mi*ht be
reven*ed on "alamedes2 or his hono)r was wo)nded% &e sent word to !*amemnon1 IThe
*ods have warned me in a dream that trea#hery is aoot1 the #am( m)st be moved or a day
and a ni*ht%A When !*amemnon *ave immediate orders to have this done, ;dysse)s se#retly
b)ried a sa#k)l o *old at the (la#e where "alamedesAs tent had been (it#hed% &e then or#ed
a "hry*ian (risoner to write a letter, as i rom "riam to "alamedes, whi#h read1 IThe *old
that $ have sent is the (ri#e yo) asked or betrayin* the Greek #am(%A &avin* then ordered the
(risoner to hand "alamedes this letter, ;dysse)s had him killed H)st o)tside the #am(, beore
he #o)ld deliver it% 3e:t day, when the army ret)rned to the old site, someone o)nd the
(risonerAs #or(se and took the letter to !*ain#hinon% "alamedes was #o)rt7martialled and,
when he boldly denied havin* taken *old rom "riam or anyone else, ;dysse)s s)**ested
that his tent sho)ld sear#hed% The *old was dis#overed, and the whole army ordered
"alamedes to death as a traitor%
E% +ome say that !*amemnon, ;dysse)s, and ?iomedes were all (li#ated in this (lot, and
that they Hointly di#tated the alse letter to the "hry*ian and aterwards bribed a servant to
hide it with the *old )nder "alamedesAs bed% When "alamedes was led o to the (la#e o
stonin* he #ried alo)d1 ITr)th, $ mo)rn or yo), who have (rede#eased mePA
r% ;thers, a*ain, say that ;dysse)s and ?iomedes, (retendin* to have dis#overed a treas)re in
a dee( well, let "alamedes down into it by a ro(e, and then t)mbled lar*e stones on his head2
or that they drowned him on a ishin* e:#)rsion% still others say that "aris killed him with an
arrow% $t is not even a*reed whether his death took (la#e at TroHan .olonae, at Geraest)s, or
on Tenedos2 b)t he has a hero7shrine near -esbian Methymna%
s% "alamedes had deserved the *ratit)de o his #omrades by the invention o di#e, with whi#h
they whiled away their time beore Troy2 and the irst set o whi#h he dedi#ated in the tem(le
o Ty#he at !r*os% 4)t all envied him his s)(erior wisdom, be#a)se he had also invented
li*htho)ses, s#ales, meas)res, the dis#)s, the al(habet, and the art o (ostin* sentinels%
t% When 3a)(li)s heard o the m)rder, he sailed to Troy and #laimed satisa#tion2 yet this was
denied him by !*amemnon, had been ;dysse)sAs a##om(li#e and enHoyed the #oniden#e o
all the Greek leaders% +o 3a)(li)s ret)rned to Gree#e with his s)rvivin* son ;ea:, and
bro)*ht alse news to the wives o "alamedesAs m)rderers, sayin* to ea#h1 IDo)r h)sband is
brin*in* ba#k a TroHan #on#)bine as his new E)een%A +ome o these )nha((y wives there)(on
killed selves% ;thers #ommitted ad)ltery1 as did !*amemnonAs wie .lytaemnestra, with
!e*isth)s2 ?iomedesAs wie !e*ialeia, with .omethes son o +thenel)s2 and $domene)sAs
wie Meda, with one -e)#)s%
1% The $liad deals in seE)en#e only with the tenth year o the sie*e, and ea#h mytho*ra(her
has arran*ed the events o the (re#edin* in dierent order% !##ordin* to !(ollodor)s
5,(itome6, !#hilles kills Troil)s2 #a(t)res -y#aon2 raids !eneasAs #attle2 and takes many
#ities% !##ordin* to the .y(ria
5E)oted by "ro#l)s1 .hrestomathy6, the Greeks, ailin* to take Troy by assa)lt, lay waste the
#o)ntry an ro)nd abo)t2 !(hrodite and Thetis #ontrive a meetin* between !#hilles and
&elen2 the Greeks de#ide to *o home b)t are restrained by !#hilles, who then drives o
!eneasAs #attle, sa#ks many #ities, and kills Troil)s2 "atro#l)s sells -y#aon on -emnos2 the
s(oils are divided2 "alamedes is stoned to death%
0% !##ordin* to T8et8es 5;n -y#o(hron6, Troil)s o)tlives Mnemon and &e#tor% +imilarly,
a##ordin* to ?ares the "hry*ian, Troil)s s)##eeds &e#tor as #ommander o the TroHan or#es
5?ares6, )ntil one o his #hariot horses is wo)nded and !#hilles, drivin* )(, r)ns him with a
s(ear% !#hilles tries to dra* away the body, b)t is wo)nded by Memnon, who he kills2 the
TroHans take re)*e within the #ity and "riam *ives Troil)s and Memnon a ma*nii#ent
)neral 5?ares6%
<% The TroHan War is histori#al, and whatever the immediate reason may have been, it was a
trade war% Troy #ontrolled the val)able 4la#k +ea trade in *old, silver, iron, #innabar, shi(As
timber, linen, hem(, ish, oil, and .hinese Hade% When on#e Troy had allen, the Greeks were
able to (lant #olonies all alon* the eastern trade ro)te, whi#h *rew as those o !sia Minor and
+i#ily% $n the end, !thens, as the main maritime (ower, (roited most rom the 4la#k +ea
trade, es(e#ially its #hea( *rain2 and it was the loss o a leet *)ardin* the entran#e to
&elles(ont that r)ined her at !e*os(otam)s in =05 4.%, and ended the "elo(onnesian Wars%
"erha(s, thereore, the #onstant ne*otiations between !*amemnon and "riam did not #on#ern
the ret)rn o &elen, as m)#h as the restoration o the Greek ri*hts to enter the &elles(ont%
=% $t is (robable that the Greeks (re(ared or their inal assa)lt series o raids on the #oasts o
Thra#e and !sia Minor, to #ri((le the (ower o the TroHan allian#e2 and that they maintained a
#am( mo)th o the +#amander to (revent Mediterranean trade rom s)((lyin* Troy, or the
ann)al ,ast7West 'air rom bein* #elebrated% 4)t the $liad makes it #lear that Troy was not
besie*ed in the sense that her lines o #omm)ni#ation with the interior were #)t, and while
!#hilles was abo)t, the TroHans did not vent)re by day o the ?ardanian Gate, the one whi#h
led inland 5$liad v% >8962 and Greek la)ndresses eared to wash their #lothes at the s(rin* a
bow ly rom the walls 5$liad62 yet s)((lies and reinor#ements entered reely, and the TroHans
held +estos and !bydos, whi#h ke(t them in #lose to)#h with Thra#e% That the Greeks
boasted so lo)dly o a raid on the #attle o Mo)nt $da, and another on "riamAs i*7or#hard,
s)**ests that they seldom went ar inland% The i*7shoots )sed or the rail o -y#aonAs #hariot
were a((arently desi*ned to (la#e it )nder the (rote#tion o !(hrodite% $n the (re7TroHan7War
tablets o)nd at .noss)s, a n)mber o Ired7(ainted .ydonian #hariotsA are mentioned, Iwith
HoinerAs work #om(leteA, b)t only the wood o the rails is s(e#iied1 it is always i*% De t i*
was not nearly so s)itable a wood or the ()r(ose as many others available to the .retans and
TroHans%
5% !*amemnon had en*a*ed in a war o attrition, the s)##ess o whi#h &e#tor #onesses
5$liad6 when he s(eaks o the drain on TroHan reso)r#es #a)sed by the dryin* )( o trade, and
the need to s)bsidi8e allies% The "a(hla*onians, Thra#ians, and Mysians were (rod)#ers, not
mer#hants, and ready to have dire#t dealin*s with the Greeks% ;nly the mer#antile -y#ians,
who im(orted *oods rom the +o)th7east, seem to have been m)#h #on#erned abo)t the ate
o Troy, whi#h se#)red their northern trade ro)tes2 indeed, when Troy ell, the trade o !sia
Minor was mono(oli8ed by !*amemnonAs allies the Rhodians, and the -y#ians were r)ined%
6% The #old7blooded treatment o women, s)((liants, and allies serves as a reminder that the
$liad is not 4ron8e !*e myth% With the all o .noss)s and the #onseE)ent disa((earan#e o
the (a: .retensis, im(osed by the .retan +ea7*oddess )(on all #o)ntries within her s(here o
inl)en#e, a new $ron !*e morality emer*es1 that o the #onE)erin* tyrant, a (etty @e)s, who
a#knowled*es no divine restraint% $(hi*eneiaAs sa#rii#e, ;dysse)sAs hate)l reven*e on
"alamedes, the sellin* o -y#aon or a silver #)(, !#hillesAs shameless ()rs)it o Troil)s and
the or#ed #on#)bina*e o 4riseis and .hryseis are ty(i#al o barbaro)s sa*a% $t is (ro(er that
"alamedes sho)ld have been the inno#ent vi#tim o an )nholy allian#e between !*amemnon,
;dysse)s, and ?iomedes, sin#e he re(resents the .retan #)lt)re (lanted in !r*olisJthe
inventions with whi#h he is #redited bein* all o .retan ori*in% &is m)rder in a well may
have been s)**ested by ITr)th, $ mo)rn yo), who have (rede#eased me PA and by the amiliar
#onne#tion o tr)th with wells% "alamedes means Iardent wisdomA and, like &e(haest)s, his
-emnian #o)nter(art, he was an ora#)lar hero% &is inventions reveal him as Thoth or &ermes%
?i#e have the same history as #ards1 they were ora#)lar instr)ments beore bein* )sed or
*ames o #han#e%
>% The elm7tree, whi#h does not orm (art o the tree7#alendar, is mainly asso#iated with the
?ionys)s #)lt, sin#e the Greeks trained vines on elm7sa(lin*s2 b)t elms were (lanted by
nym(hs aro)nd the tombs o "rotesila)s and ,Btion, (res)mably be#a)se the leaves and the
bark served as r)ineraries 5"liny1 3at)ral &istory6, and (romised to be even more ei#a#io)s
i taken rom the *raves o (rin#es who had s)##)mbed to many wo)nds%
8% -aodameiaAs (erverse atta#hment to "rotesila)sAs stat)e may have been ded)#ed rom a
sa#red7weddin* i#on1 in some &ittite marria*e7seals, the (ro#)mbent kin* is #arved so stily
that he looks like a stat)e% The a((les bro)*ht by a servant, and !#ast)sAs s)dden entry,
s)**est that the s#ene re(resented a E)eenAs betrayal o a kin* to her lover the tanist, who
#)ts the atal a((le #ontainin* his so)lJas in the $rish le*end o .)#h)lain, ?e#htire, and
.)roi% 4riseis 5a##)sative #ase1 4riseida6 be#ame #on)sed with .hryses, or .hryseis,
da)*hter o .hryses, who had borne a bastard to !*amemnon2 and the mediaeval -atin
le*end o .riseis 5a##)sative #ase1 .riseida6 develo(ed vi*oro)sly )ntil &enryso)nAs
Testament o .resseis and +hakes(eareAs Troil)s and .ressida%
9% Te)thrania may have been so #alled ater the te)this, or o#to()s, sa#red to the .retan
Goddess, whose #hie (riestess was Te#messa 5Ishe who ordains26% Tho)*h the +ar(edon
myth is #on)sed, its elements are all amiliar% !((arently the kin*dom o -y#ia, o)nded by
another +ar(edon, )n#le o another Gla)#)sJGreek7s(eakin* .retans o !eolian or
"elas*ian sto#k, who were driven overseas by the !#haeansJwas a do)ble one, with
matrilineal s)##ession, the title o the Moon7(riestess bein* -aodameia 5Itamer o the
(eo(leA6% $ts sa#red kin* seems to have been rit)ally Iborn rom a mareAJhen#e his name,
&i((olo#h)s, and $sander 5Iim(artial manA6 a#ted as his tanist% +ar(edonAs name 5IreHoi#in* in
a wooden arkA6 reers a((arently to the ann)al arrival o the 3ew Dear .hild in a boat% &ere
the .hild is the interre:, to whom &i((olo#h)s resi*ns his kin*shi( or a sin*le day2 he m)st
then be s)o#ated by honey, like .retan Gla)#)s, or killed in a #hariot #rash, like the
$sthmian Gla)#)s, or transi:ed with an arrow by the revived &i((olo#h)s, like -ear#h)s son
o !thamas%
10% To shoot an a((le (oised )(on the head, or at a (enny set o oneAs own son was a test o
marksmanshi( (res#ribed to mediaeval ar#hers, whose *)ild 5as a((ears in the Malle)s
Malei#ar)m and in the -ittle Geste o Robin &ood6 belon*ed to the (a*an wit#h #)lt both in
,n*land and .elti# Germany% $n ,n*land this test was, it seems, desi*ned to #hoose a
I*)demanA or Maid Marian, by marria*e to whom he be#ame Robin &ood, -ord o the
Greenwood% +in#e the northern wit#h #)lt had m)#h in #ommon with 3eolithi# reli*ion o the
!e*ean, it may be that the -y#ians did not (la#e the rin* on a boyAs breast, b)t on is head,
and that it re(resented a *olden ser(ent2 or that it was the rin* o an a:e whi#h he held in his
hand, like those thro)*h whi#h ;dysse)s shot when he re#overed "enelo(e rom the s)itors%
The mytho*ra(her has (erha(s #on)sed the shootin* test demanded rom a new #andidate
or the kin*shi( with the sa#rii#e o an interre:%
11% !ethylla means Ikindlin* timberA, and the ann)al b)rnin* o a boat may have ori*inated
the +#ione le*end% "rotesila)s 5Iirst o the (eo(leA6 m)st have been so #ommon a royal title
that several #ities #laimed his tomb%
The Wrath ; !#hilles
W$3T,R now drew on, and sin#e this has never been a battle season amon* #ivili8ed
nations, the Greeks s(ent it enlar*in* their #am( arid (ra#tisin* ar#hery% +ometimes they
#ame a#ross TroHan notables in the tem(le o Thymbraean !(ollo, whi#h was ne)tral
territory2 and on#e, when &e#abe ha((ened to be sa#rii#in* there, !#hilles arrived on the
same errand and ell des(erately in love with her da)*hter "oly:ena% &e made no de#laration
at the time b)t, ret)rnin* to his h)t in torment, sent the kindly !)tomedon to ask &e#tor on
what terms he mi*ht marry "oly:ena% &e#tor re(lied1
I+he shall be his on the day that he betrays the Greek #am( to my ather "riam%A !#hilles
seemed willin* eno)*h to a##e(t &e#torAs #onditions, b)t drew ba#k s)llenly when inormed
that i he ailed to betray the #am(, he m)st swear instead to m)rder his #o)sin Great !Ha:
and the sons o !thenian "leisthenes%
b% +(rin* #ame and i*htin* was res)med% $n the irst en*a*ement o the season !#hilles
so)*ht o)t &e#tor, b)t the wat#h)l &elen)s (ier#ed his hand with an arrow shot rom an
ivory bow, !(olloAs love *it, and or#ed him to *ive *ro)nd% @e)s himsel *)ided the arrow7
head2 and as he did so de#ided to relieve the TroHans, whom the raids and the #onseE)ent
desertion o #ertain !siati# allies had *reatly dis#o)ra*ed, by (la*)in* the Greeks and
deta#hin* !#hilles rom his ellow7#hietains% When, thereore, .hryses #ame to ransom
.hryseis, @e)s (ers)aded !*amemnon to drive him away with o((robrio)s words2 and
!(ollo, invoked by .hryses, (osted himsel ven*e)lly near the shi(s, shootin* deadly
arrows amon* the Greeks day ater day% &)ndreds (erished, tho)*h 5as it ha((ened6 no kin*s
or (rin#es s)ered, and on the tenth day .al#has made known the (resen#e o the *od% !t his
instan#e, !*amemnon *r)d*in*ly sent .hryseis ba#k to her ather, with (ro(itiatory *its, b)t
re#o)(ed his loss by takin* 4riseis rom !#hilles, to whom she had been allotted2 where)(on
!#hilles, in a ra*e, anno)n#ed that he wo)ld take no )rther (art in the War2 and his mother
Thetis indi*nantly a((roa#hed @e)s, who missed her satisa#tion on his behal% 4)t some say
that !#hilles ke(t o)t o the i*htin* in order to show his *oodwill towards "riam as
"oly:enaAs ather%
#% When the TroHans be#ame aware that !#hilles and his Myrmidons had withdrawn rom the
ield, they took heart and made a vi*oro)s sortie% !*amemnon, in alarm, *ranted them a
tr)#e, d)rin* whi#h "aris and Menela)s were to i*ht a d)el or the (ossession o &elen and
the stolen treas)re% The d)el, however, (roved inde#isive, be#a)se when !(hrodite saw that
"aris was *ettin* the worst o it, she wra((ed him in a ma*i# mist and #arried him ba#k to
Troy% &era then sent !thene down to break the tr)#e by makin* "andar)s son o -y#aon
shoot an arrow at Menela)s, whi#h she did2 at the same time ins(ired ?iomedes to kill
"andar)s and wo)nd !eneas and his mother !(hrodite% Gla)#)s son o &i((olo#h)s now
o((osed ?iomedes, b)t both re#alled the #lose riendshi( that had bo)nd their athers,
#o)rteo)sly e:#han*ed arms%
d% &e#tor #hallen*ed !#hilles to sin*le #ombat2 and when !#hilles sent ba#k word that he had
retired rom the war, the Greeks sent Great !Ha: as his s)bstit)te% These two #ham(ions
o)*ht witho)t (a)se )ntil ni*htall, when heralds (arted them and ea#h (raised the otherAs
skill and #o)ra*e% !Ha: *ave &e#tor the brilliant ()r(le baldri# by whi#h he was later dra**ed
to his death2 and &e#tor *ave !Ha: the silver7st)dded sword with whi#h he was later to
#ommit s)i#ide%
e% !n armisti#e bein* a*reed )(on, the Greeks raised a lon* barrow over their dead, and
#rowned it with a wall beyond whi#h they d)* a dee(, (alisaded tren#h% 4)t they had omitted
to a((ease the deities s)((orted the TroHans and, when i*htin* was res)med, were driven
a#ross the tren#h and behind the wall% That ni*ht the TroHans en#am(ed #lose to the Greek
shi(s%
% $n des(air, !*amemnon sent "hoeni:, !Ha:, ;dysse)s and two heralds to (la#ate !#hilles,
oerin* him #o)ntless *its and 4riseis 5they were to swear that she was still a vir*in6 i only
he wo)ld i*ht a*ain% $t sho)ld be e:(lained that .hryses had meanwhile bro)*ht ba#k his
da)*hter, who (rotested that she had been very well treated by !*amemnon and wished to
remain with him2 she was (re*nant at the time and later *ave birth to .hryses the +e#ond, a
#hild o do)bt)l (aternity% !#hilles *reeted the de()tation with a (leasant smile, b)t re)sed
their oers, and anno)n#ed that he m)st sail home ne:t mornin*%
*% That same ni*ht abo)t the third wat#h when the moon was hi*h, ;dysse)s and ?iomedes,
en#o)ra*ed by a l)#ky a)s(i#e rom !theneJa heron on their ri*ht handJde#ided to raid the
TroHan lines% They ha((ened to st)mble over ?olon, son o ,)mel)s, who had been sent o)t
on (atrol by the enemy and, ater or#ibly e:tra#tin* inormation rom him, #)t his throat%
;dysse)s then hid ?olonAs erret7skin #a(, wol7skin #loak, bow and s(ear in a tamarisk b)sh
and h)rried with ?iomedes to the ri*ht lank o the TroHan line where, they now knew,
Rhes)s the Thra#ian was en#am(ed% &e is vario)sly des#ribed as the son o the M)se
,)ter(e, or .allio(e, by ,ione)s, or !res, or +trymon% &avin* stealthily assassinated Rhes)s
and twelve o his #om(anions in their slee(, they drove o his ma*nii#ent horses, white as
snow and switer than the wind, and re#overed the s(oils rom the tamarisk b)sh on their way
ba#k% The #a(t)re o Rhes)sAs horses was o the hi*hest im(ortan#e, sin#e an ora#le had
oretold that Troy wo)ld be#ome im(re*nable on#e they had eaten TroHan odder and dr)nken
rom the river +#amander, and this they had not yet done% When the s)rvivin* Thra#ians
awoke, to ind Gin* Rhes)s dead and his horses *one, they led in des(air2 the Greeks killed
nearly every one o them%
h% ;n the ollowin* day, however, ater a ier#e str)**le, in whi#h !*amemnon, ?iomedes,
;dysse)s, ,)ry(yl)s, and Ma#haon the s)r*eon were all wo)nded, the Greeks took to li*ht
and &e#tor brea#hed their wall% ,n#o)ra*ed by !(ollo, he ()shed on towards the shi(s and,
des(ite assistan#e lent by "oseidon to the two !Ha:es and $domene)s, broke thro)*h the
Greek line% !t this (oint &era, who hated the TroHans, borrowed !(hroditeAs *irdle and
(ers)aded @e)s to #ome and slee( with her2 a r)se whi#h allowed "oseidon to t)rn the battle
in the GreeksA avo)r% 4)t @e)s, soon dis#overin* that he had been d)(ed, revived &e#tor
5nearly killed by !Ha: with a h)*e stone6, ordered "oseidon o the ield, and restored the
TroHansA #o)ra*e% 'orward they went a*ain1 Medon killin* "eri(hetes son o .o(re)s, and
many other #ham(ions%
i% ,ven Great !Ha: was or#ed to yield *ro)nd2 and !#hilles, when he saw lames swirlin*
rom the stern o "rotesila)sAs shi(, set on the TroHans, so ar or*ot his *r)d*e as to marshal
the Myrmidons an h)rry them to "atro#l)sAs assistan#e% "atro#l)s had l)n* a s(ear into the
mass o TroHans *athered aro)nd "rotesila)sAs shi( and transi:ed "yrae#hmes, kin* o the
"aeonians, !t this the TroHans, mistakin* him or !#hilles, led2 and "atro#l)s e:tin*)ished
the ire, savin* the o the shi( at least, and #)t down +ar(edon% Tho)*h Gla)#)s tried to rally
his -y#ians and so (rote#t +ar(edonAs body rom des(oilin*, @e)s let "atro#l)s #hase the
whole TroHan army towards the #ity, &e#tor bein* the irst to retire, wo)nded severely by
!Ha:%
H% The Greeks stri((ed +ar(edon o his armo)r, b)t at @e)sAs order !(ollo res#)ed the body,
whi#h he (re(ared or b)rial, where)(on +lee( and ?eath bore it away to -y#ia% "atro#l)s
meanwhile (ressed the ro)te, and wo)ld have taken Troy sin*le7handed, had not !(ollo
hastily mo)nted the wall, and thri#e thr)st him ba#k with a shield as he attem(ted to s#ale it%
'i*htin* #ontin)ed )ntil ni*htall, when !(ollo wra((ed in a thi#k mist, #ame )( behind
"atro#l)s and b)eted him smartly between the sho)lder blades% "atro#l)sAs eyes started rom
head2 his helmet lew o2 his s(ear was shattered into s(linters2 shield ell to the *ro)nd2 and
!(ollo *rimly )nla#ed his #orslet% ,)(horb)s son o "antho)s, observin* "atro#l)sAs (li*ht,
wo)nded him witho)t ear o retaliation, and as he sta**ered away, &e#tor, who had ret)rned
to the battle, des(at#hed him with a sin*le blow%
k% /( ran Menela)s and killed ,)(horb)sJwho is said, by the way to have been rein#arnate
#ent)ries later in the (hiloso(her "ytha*oras and str)tted o to his h)t with the s(oils2
leavin* &e#tor to stri( "atro#l)s o his borrowed armo)r% Menela)s and Great !Ha: then
rea((eared and to*ether deended "atro#l)sAs body )ntil d)sk, when they #ontrived to #arry it
ba#k to the shi(s% 4)t !#hilles, on hearin* news, rolled in the d)st, and yielded to an e#stasy
o *rie%
l% Thetis entered her sonAs h)t #arryin* a new s)it o armo)r, whi#h in#l)ded a (air o
val)able tin *reaves, h)rriedly or*ed by &e(haest)s% !#hilles ()t the s)it on, made (ea#e
with !*amemnon 5who delivered 4riseis to him inviolate, swearin* that he had taken her in
an*er, not in l)st6 and set o)t to aven*e "atro#l)s% 3one #o)ld stand a*ainst wrath% The
TroHans broke and led to the +#amander, where he divided them into two bodies, drivin* one
a#ross the (lain towards the #ity and (ennin* the other in a bend o the river% ')rio)sly, the
River7*od r)shed at him, b)t &e(haest)s took !#hillesAs (art and dried )( the waters with a
s#or#hin* lame% The TroHan s)rvivors re*ained the #ity, like a herd o ri*htened deer%
m% When !#hilles at last met &e#tor and en*a*ed him in sin*le #ombat, both sides drew ba#k
and stood wat#hin* ama8ed% &e#tor t)rned and be*an to r)n aro)nd the #ity walls% &e ho(ed
by this manoe)vre to weary !#hilles, who had lon* been ina#tive and sho)ld thereore have
been short o breath% 4)t he was mistaken% !#hilles #hased him thri#e aro)nd the walls, and
whenever he made or the shelter o a *ate, #o)ntin* on the hel( o his brothers, always
headed him o% 'inally &e#tor halted and stood his *ro)nd, b)t !#hilles ran him thro)*h the
breast, and re)sed his dyin* (lea that his body mi*ht be ransomed or b)rial% !ter
(ossessin* himsel o the armo)r, !#hilles slit the lesh behind the tendons o &e#torAs heels%
&e then (assed leather thon*s thro)*h the slits, se#)red them to his #hariot and, whi((in* )(
4ali)s, Zanth)s, and "edas)s, dra**ed the body towards the shi(s at an easy #anter% &e#torAs
head, its bla#k lo#ks streamin* on either side, #limbed )( a #lo)d o d)st behind him% 4)t
some say that !#hilles dra**ed the #or(se three times aro)nd the #ity walls, by the baldri#
whi#h !Ha: had *iven him%
n% !#hilles now b)ried "atro#l)s% 'ive Greek (rin#es were sent to Mo)nt $da in sear#h o
timber or the )neral (yre, )(on whi#h !#hilles sa#rii#ed not only horses, and two o
"atro#l)sAs own (a#k o nine ho)nds, b)t twelve noble TroHan #a(tives, several sons o "riam
amon* them, by #)ttin* their throats% &e even threatened to throw &e#torAs #or(se to the
remainin* ho)nds2 !(hrodite, however, restrained him% !t "atro#l)sAs )neral *ames
?iomedes won the #hariot ra#e, and ,(ei)s, des(ite his #owardi#e, the bo:in*7mat#h2 !Ha:
and ;dysse)s tied in the wrestlin* mat#h%
o% +till #ons)med by *rie, !#hilles rose every day at dawn to dra* &e#torAs body three times
aro)nd "atro#l)sAs tomb% Det !(ollo (rote#ted it rom #orr)(tion and la#eration and,
event)ally, at the #ommand o @e)s, &ermes led "riam to the Greek #am( )nder #over o
ni*ht, and (ers)aded !#hilles to a##e(t a ransom% ;n this o##asion "riam showed *reat
ma*nanimity towards !#hilles whom he had o)nd aslee( in his h)t and mi*ht easily have
m)rdered% The ransom a*reed )(on was &e#torAs wei*ht in *old% !##ordin*ly, the Greeks set
)( a (air o s#ales o)tside the #ity walls, laid the #or(se on one (an, and invited the TroHans
to hea( *old in the other% When "riamAs treas)ry had been ransa#ked o in*ots and Hewels,
and &e#torAs h)*e b)lk still de(ressed the (an, "oly:ena, wat#hin* rom the wall, threw
down her bra#elets to s)((ly the missin* wei*ht% ;ver#ome by admiration, !#hilles told
"riam1 I$ will #heer)lly barter &e#tor a*ainst "oly:ena% Gee( yo)r *old2 marry her to me2
and i yo) then restore &elen to Menela)s, $ )ndertake to make (ea#e between yo)r (eo(le
and o)rs%A "riam, or the moment, was #ontent to ransom &e#tor at the a*reed (ri#e in *old2
b)t (romised to *ive "oly:ena to !#hilles reely i he (ers)aded the Greeks to de(art witho)t
&elen% !#hilles re(lied that he wo)ld do what he #o)ld, and "riam then took away the #or(se
or b)rial% +o *reat an )(roar arose at &e#torAs )neralJthe TroHans lamentin*, the Greeks
tryin* to drown their dir*es with boos and #at7#allsJ that birds lyin* overhead ell down
st)nned by the noise%
(% !t the #ommand o an ora#le, &e#torAs bones were event)ally taken to 4oeotian Thebes,
where his *rave is still shown beside the lot7retain o ;edi()s% +ome E)ote the ;ra#le as
ollows1
&earken, ye men o Thebes, wh o d well in the #ity o .adm)s,
+ho)ld yo) desire yo)r land to be (ros(ero)s, wealthy and blameless,
.arry the bones o &e#tor, "riamAs son, to yo)r #ity%
!sia holds them now2 there @e)s will attend to his worshi(%A
;thers say that when a (la*)e rava*ed Gree#e, !(ollo ordered the reb)rial o &e#torAs bones
in a amo)s Greek #ity whi#h had taken (art in the TroHan War%
E% ! wholly dierent tradition makes &e#tor a son o !(ollo, who "enthesileia the !ma8on
killed%
1% !##ordin* to "ro#l)s 5.hrestomathys6, &omer)s means IblindA rather than Ihosta*eA,
whi#h is the )s)al translation2 minstrelsy was a nat)ral vo#ation or the blind, sin#e blindness
and ins(iration oten went to*ether% The identity o the ori*inal &omer has been debated or
some two tho)sand ive h)ndred years% $n the earliest tradition he is (la)sibly #alled an
$onian rom .hios% ! #lan o &omeridae, or I+ons o the 4lind ManA, who re#ited the
traditional &omeri# (oems and event)ally be#ame a *)ild 5+#holiast on "indarAs 3emean
;des6, had their headE)arters at ?elos, the #entre o the $onian world, where &omer himsel
was said to have re#ited 5&omeri# &ymn6% "arts o the $liad date rom the tenth #ent)ry 4.2
the s)bHe#t matter is three #ent)ries older% 4y the si:th #ent)ry )na)thori8ed re#itals o the
$liad were slowly #orr)(tin* the te:t2 "eisistrat)s, tyrant o !thens, thereore ordered an
oi#ial re#ension, whi#h he entr)sted to o)r leadin* s#holars% They seem to have done the
task well b)t, sin#e &omer had #ome to be re*arded as a (rime a)thority in dis()tes between
#ities, "eisistrat)sAs enemies a##)sed him o inter(olatin* verses or (oliti#al ends 5+trabo6%
0% The twenty7o)r books o the $liad have *rown o)t o a (oem #alled The Wrath o !#hilles
Jwhi#h #o)ld (erha(s have been re#ited in a sin*le ni*ht, and whi#h dealt with the E)arrel
between !#hilles and !*amemnon over the (ossession o a #a(t)red (rin#ess% $t is )nlikely
that the te:t o the #entral events has been radi#ally edited sin#e the irst $liad o abo)t >50
4.% Det the E)arrels are so )nediyin*, and all the Greek leaders behave so m)rdero)sly,
de#eit)lly, and shamelessly, while the TroHans by #ontrast behave so well, that it is obvio)s
on whose side the a)thorAs sym(athy lay% !s a le*atee o the Minoan #o)rt bards he o)nd his
s(irit)al home amon* the de(arted *lories o .noss)s and My#enae, not beside the #am(
ires o the barbaro)s invaders rom the 3orth% &omer aith)lly des#ribes the lives o his
new overlords, who have )s)r(ed an#ient reli*io)s titles by marryin* tribal heiresses and,
tho)*h #allin* them *odlike, wise, and noble, holds them in dee( dis*)st% They live by the
sword and (erish by the sword, disdainin* love, riendshi(, aith, or the arts o (ea#e% They
#are so little or the divine names by whi#h they swear that he dares Hest in their (resen#e
abo)t the *reedy, sly, E)arrelsome, le#hero)s, #owardly ;lym(ians who have t)rned the
world )(side down% ;ne wo)ld dismiss him as an irreli*io)s wret#h, were he not #learly a
se#ret worshi((er o the Great Goddess o !sia 5whom the Greeks had h)miliated in this
war62 and did not *lints o his warm and hono)rable nat)re a((ear whenever he is des#ribin*
amily lie in "riamAs (ala#e% &omer has drawn on the 4abylonian Gil*amesh e(i# or the
!#hilles story2 with !#hilles as Gil*amesh, Thetis as 3ins)n, "atro#l)s as ,nkid)%
<% !#hillesAs hysteri#al behavio)r when he heard that "atro#l)s was dead m)st have sho#ked
&omer, b)t he has #lothed the barbarities o the )neral in mo#k7heroi# lan*)a*e, #onident
that his overlords will not re#o*ni8e the shar(ness o the satireJ&omer may be said, in a
sense, to have anti#i(ated Goya, whose #ari#at)re7(ortraits o the +(anish royal amily were
so s(lendidly (ainted that they #o)ld be a##e(ted by the vi#tims as honest likenesses% 4)t the
(oint o the $liad as satire has been somewhat bl)nted by the &omeridaeAs need to (la#ate
their divine hosts at ?elos2 !(ollo and !rtemis m)st s)((ort the TroHans and dis(lay di*nity
and dis#retion, in #ontrast at least with the vi#io)s deities o the &elleni# #am(% ;ne res)lt o
the $liadAs a##e(tan#e by Greek #ity a)thorities as a national e(i# was that no one ever a*ain
took the ;lym(ian reli*ion serio)sly, and Greek morals always remained barbaro)sJe:#e(t
in (la#es where .retan mystery #)lts s)rvived and the mysta*o*)es reE)ired a *ood7#ond)#t
#ertii#ate rom their initiates% The Great Goddess, tho)*h now oi#ially s)bordinate to @e)s,
#ontin)ed to e:ert a stron* s(irit)al inl)en#e at ,le)sis, .orinth and +amothra#e, )ntil the
s)((ression o her mysteries by early 4y8antine em(erors% -)#ian, who loved his &omer and
s)##eeded him as the (rime satirist o the ;lym(ians, also worshi((ed the Goddess, to whom
he had sa#rii#ed his irst hair7#li((in*s at &iera(olis%
=% &e#torAs bones were said to have been bro)*ht to Thebes rom Troy, yet I&e#torA was a
title o the Theban sa#red kin* beore the TroHan War took (la#e2 and he s)ered the same
ate when his rei*n endedJwhi#h was to be dra**ed in the Iwre#k o a #ir#lin* #hariotA, like
Gla)#)s, &i((olyt)s, ;enoma)s, and !bder)s% +in#e I!#hillesA was also a title rather than a
name, the #ombat may have been borrowed rom the lost Theban sa*a o ;edi()sAs +hee(, in
whi#h #o7kin*s o)*ht or the throne%
The ?eath ; !#hilles
T&, !ma8on M)een "entheseleia, da)*hter o ;trere and !res, had so)*ht re)*e in Troy
rom the ,rinnyes o her sister &i((olyte 5also #alled Gla)#e or Melani((e6, whom she had
a##identally shot, either while o)t h)ntin* or, a##ordin* to the !thenians, in the i*ht whi#h
ollowed These)sNs marria*e to "haedra% ")riied by "riam, she *reatly distin*)ished hersel
in battle, a##o)ntin* or many Greeks, amon* them 5it is said6 Ma#haon, tho)*h the
#ommoner a##o)nt makes him all by the hand o ,)ry(yl)s, son o Tele(h)s% +he drove
!#hilles rom the ield on several o##asionsJsome even #laim that she killed him and that
@e)s, at the (lea o Thetis, restored him to lie b)t at last he ran her thro)*h, ell in love with
her dead body, and #ommitted ne#ro(hilia on it there and then% When he later #alled on
vol)nteers to b)ry "entheseleia, Thersites, a son o !etolian !*ri)s, and the )*liest Greek at
Troy, who had *o)*ed o)t her eyes with his s(ear as she lay dyin*, Heerin*ly a##)sed !#hilles
o ilthy and )nnat)ral l)st% !#hilles t)rned and str)#k Thersites so hard he broke every tooth
in his head and sent his *host s#)rryin* down to Tartar)s
b% This #a)sed hi*h indi*nation amon* the Greeks, and ?iomedes, who was a #o)sin o
Thersites and wished to show his disdain or !#hilles, dra**ed "enthesileiaAs body alon* by
the oot and threw it into the +#amander2 when#e, however, it was res#)ed and b)ried on the
bank with *reat hono)rJsome say by !#hilles2 others, by the TroHans% !#hilles then set sail
or -esbos, where he sa#rii#ed to !(ollo, !rtemis, and -eto2 and ;dysse)s, a sworn enemy
to Thersites, ()riied him o the m)rder% The dyin* "enthesileia, s)((orted by !#hilles, is
#arved on the throne o @e)s at ;lym(ia% &er n)rse, the !ma8on .lete, hearin* that she had
led to Troy ater the death o &i((olyte, set o)t to sear#h or her, b)t was driven by #ontrary
winds to $taly, where she settled and o)nded the #ity o .lete%
#% "riam had by now (ers)aded his hal7brother, Tithon)s o !ssyria, to send his son Memnon
the ,thio(ian to Troy2 the bribe he oered was a *olden vine% ! so7#alled (ala#e o Memnon
is shown in ,thio(ia, altho)*h when Tithon)s emi*rated to !ssyria and o)nded +)sa,
Memnon, then only a #hild, had *one with him% +)sa is now #ommonly known as the .ity o
Memnon2 and its inhabitants as .issians, ater MemnonAs mother .issia% &is (ala#e on the
!#ro(olis was standin* )ntil the time o the "ersians%
d% Tithon)s *overned the (rovin#e o "ersia or the !ssyrian kin* Te)tam)s, "riamAs
overlord, who ()t Memnon in #ommand o a tho)sand ,thio(ians, a tho)sand +)sians, and
two h)ndred #hariots% The "hry*ians still show the ro)*h, strai*ht road, with #am(7sites
every iteen miles or so, by whi#h Memnon, ater he had s)bH)*ated all the intervenin*
nations, mar#hed to Troy% &e was bla#k as ebony, b)t the handsomest man alive, and like
!#hilles wore armo)r or*ed by &e(haest)s% +ome say that he led a lar*e army o ,thio(ians
and $ndians to Troy by way o !rmenia, and that another e:(edition sailed rom "hoeni#ia at
his orders )nder a +idonian named "halas% -andin* on Rhodes, the inhabitants o whi#h
avo)red the Greek #a)se, "halas was asked in ()bli#1 I!re yo) not ashamed, sir, to assist
"aris the TroHan and other de#lared enemies o yo)r native #ityKA The "hoeni#ian sailors, who
now heard or the irst time where they were bo)nd, stoned "halas to death as a traitor and
settled in $alys)s and .ameir)s, ater dividin* amon* themselves the treas)re and m)nitions
o war whi#h "halas had bro)*ht with him%
e% Meanwhile, at Troy, Memnon killed several leadin* Greeks, in#l)din* !ntilo#h)s, son o
3estor, when he #ame to his atherAs res#)e1 or "aris had shot one o 3estorAs #hariot horses
and terror made its team7mate )nmana*eable% This !ntilo#h)s had been e:(osed as a #hild on
Mo)nt $da by his mother !na:ibia, or ,)rydi#e, and there s)#kled by a bit#h% Tho)*h too
yo)n* to sail rom !)lis at the be*innin* o the war, he ollowed some years later and be**ed
!#hilles to soothe 3estorAs an*er at his )ne:(e#ted arrival% !#hilles, deli*hted with
!ntilo#h)sAs warlike s(irit, )ndertook to mediate between them and, at his desire, 3estor
introd)#ed him to !*amemnon% !ntilo#h)s was one o the yo)n*est, handsomest, switest
and most #o)ra*eo)s Greeks who o)*ht at Troy and 3estor, havin* been warned by an
ora#le to (rote#t him a*ainst an ,thio(ian, a((ointed .alion as his *)ardian2 b)t in vain% The
bones o !ntilo#h)s were laid beside those o his riends, !#hilles and "atro#l)s, whose
*hosts he a##om(anied to the !s(hodel 'ields%
% That day, with the hel( o MemnonAs ,thio(ians, the TroHans nearly s)##eeded in b)rnin*
the Greek shi(s, b)t darkness ell and they retired% !ter b)ryin* their dead, the Greeks #hose
Great !Ha: to re(la#e Memnon2 and ne:t mornin* the sin*le #ombat had already be*)n, when
Thetis so)*ht o)t !#hilles, who was absent rom the #am(, and broke the news o
!ntilo#h)sAs death% !#hilles hastened ba#k to take ven*ean#e, and while @e)s, #allin* or a
(air o s#ales, wei*hed his ate a*ainst that o Memnon, he br)shed !Ha: aside and made the
#ombat his own% The (an #ontainin* MemnonAs ate sank in @e)sAs hand, !#hilles dealt the
death7blow, and (resently bla#k head and bri*ht armo)r #rowned the lamin* (yre o
!ntilo#h)s%
*% +ome, however, re(ort that Memnon was amb)shed by Thessalians2 and that his
,thio(ians, havin* b)rned his body, #arried the ashes to Tithon)s2 and that they now lie
b)ried on a hill overlookin* the mo)th o the river !ese()s, where a villa*e bears his name%
,os, who is des#ribed as MemnonAs mother, im(lored @e)s to #oner immortality )(on him
and some )rther hono)r as well% ! n)mber o (hantom hen7birds, #alled Memnonides, were
#onseE)ently ormed rom the embers and smoke o his (yre, and risin* into the air, lew
three times aro)nd it% !t the o)rth #ir#)it they divided into two lo#ks, o)*ht with #laws and
beaks, and ell down )(on his ashes as a )neral sa#rii#e% Memnonides still i*ht and all at
his tomb when the +)n has all the si*ns o the @odia#%
h% !##ordin* to another tradition, these birds are MemnonAs *irl #om(anions, who lamented
or him so e:#essively that the *ods, in (ity, metamor(hosed them into birds% They make an
ann)al visit to his tomb, where they wee( and la#erate themselves )ntil some o them all
dead% The &elles(ontines say that when the Memnonides visit MemnonAs *rave beside the
&elles(ont, they )se their win*s to s(rinkle it with water rom the river !ese()s2 and that ,os
still wee(s tears o dew or him every mornin*% "oly*not)s has (i#t)red Memnon a#in* his
rival +ar(edon and dressed in a #loak embroidered with these birds% The *ods are said to
observe the anniversaries o both their deaths as days o mo)rnin*%
i% ;thers believe that MemnonAs bones were taken to .y(rian "a(h)s, and then#e to Rhodes,
where his sister &imera, or &emera, #ame to et#h them away% The "hoeni#ians who had
rebelled a*ainst "halas allowed her to do so on #ondition that she did not (ress or the ret)rn
o their stolen treas)re% To this she a*reed, and bro)*ht the )rn to "hoeni#ia2 she b)ried it
there at "allio#his and then disa((eared% ;thers, a*ain, say that MemnonAs tomb is to be seen
near "alton in +yria, beside the river 4adas% &is bron8e sword han*s on the wall o
!s#le(i)sAs tem(le at 3i#omedeia2 and ,*y(tian Thebes is amo)s a #olossal bla#k stat)eJa
seated stone i*)reJwhi#h )tters a so)nd the breakin* o a lyre7strin* every day at s)nrise%
!ll GreekJs(eakin* (eo(le #all it Memnon2 not so the ,*y(tians%
H% !#hilles now ro)ted the TroHans and ()rs)ed them towards #ity, b)t his #o)rse, too, was
r)n% "oseidon and !(ollo, (led*ed to aven*e the deaths o .y#n)s and Troil)s, and to ()nish
#ertain insolent boasts that !#hilles had )ttered over &e#torAs #or(se, took #o)nsel to*ether%
Ceiled with #lo)d and standin* by the +#aean Gate, !(ollo so)*ht o)t "aris in the thi#k o
battle, t)rned his bow and *)ided atal shat% $t str)#k the one v)lnerable (art o !#hillesAs
body, the heel, and he died in a*ony% 4)t some say that !(ollo, ass)min* likeness o "aris,
himsel shot !#hilles2 and that this was the a#er whi#h 3eo(tolem)s, !#hillesAs son,
a##e(ted% ! ier#e battle ra*ed that day over the #or(se% Great !Ha: str)#k down Gla)#)s,
des(oiled o his armo)r, sent it ba#k to the #am( and, des(ite a shower o arrows #arried dead
!#hilles thro)*h the midst o the enemy, ;dysse)s brin* )( the rear% ! tem(est
sent by @e)s then ()t an end to the str)**le%
k% !##ordin* to another tradition, !#hilles was the vi#tim o a (lot% "riam had oered him
"oly:ena in marria*e on #ondition that sie*e o Troy was raised% 4)t "oly:ena, who #o)ld
not or*ive !#hilles or m)rderin* her brother Troil)s, made him dis#lose v)lnerability o his
heel, sin#e there is no se#ret that women #annot e:tra#t rom men in (roo o love% !t her
reE)est he #ame, bare and )narmed, to ratiy the a*reement by sa#rii#in* to Thymbraean
!(ollo2 then, while ?ei(hob)s #las(ed him to his breast in (retended riendshi(, "aris, hidin*
behind the *odAs ima*e, (ier#ed his heel with a (oisoned arrow or, some say, a sword% 4eore
dyin*, hoverin* !#hilles sei8ed irebrands rom the altar and laid abo)t him vi*oro)sly,
ellin* many TroHans and tem(le servants% Meanwhile, ;dysse)s, !Ha:, and ?iomedes,
s)s(e#tin* !#hilles o trea#hery, had ollowed him to the tem(le% "aris and ?ei(hob)s r)shed
(ast them thro)*h the doorway, they entered, and !#hilles, e:(irin* in their arms, be**ed
them, ater Troy ell, to sa#rii#e "oly:ena at his tomb% !Ha: #arried body o)t o the shrine on
his sho)lders2 the TroHans tried to #a(t)re them b)t the Greeks drove them o and #onveyed
it to the shi(s% +ome on the other hand, #laim that the TroHans won the t)ssle and did not
s)rrender !#hillesAs body )ntil the ransom whi#h "riam (aid or &e#tor been ret)rned%
l% The Greeks were dismayed by their loss% "oseidon, however, (romised Thetis to bestow on
!#hilles an island in the 4la#k +ea, where the #oastal tribes wo)ld oer him divine sa#rii#es
or all eternity% ! #om(any o 3ereids #ame to Troy to mo)rn with her and stood desolately
aro)nd his #or(se, while the nine M)ses #hanted the dir*e% Their mo)rnin* lasted seventeen
days and ni*hts, b)t tho)*h !*amemnon and his ellow7leaders shed many tears, none o the
#ommon soldiers *reatly re*retted the death o so notorio)s a traitor% ;n the ei*hteenth day,
!#hillesAs body was b)rned )(on a (yre and his ashes, mi:ed with those o "atro#l)s, were
laid in a *olden )rn made by &e(haest)s, ThetisAs weddin* *it rom ?ionys)s2 this was
b)ried on the headland o +i*ae)m, whi#h dominates the &elles(ont, and over it the Greeks
raised a loty #airn as a landmark% $n a nei*hbo)rin* villa*e #alled !#hille)m stands a tem(le
sa#red to !#hilles, and his stat)e wearin* a womanAs ear7rin*%
m% While the !#haeans were holdin* )neral *ames in his hono)rJ,)mel)s winnin* the
#hariot ra#e, ?iomedes the oot7ra#e, !Ha: the dis#)s7throw, and Te)#er the ar#hery #ontestJ
Thetis snat#hed !#hillesAs so)l rom the (yre and #onveyed it to -e)#e, an island abo)t
twenty )rlon*s in #ir#)meren#e, wooded and )ll o beasts, both wild and tame, whi#h lies
o((osite the mo)ths o the ?an)be, and is now sa#red to him% ;n#e, when a #ertain
.rotonian named -eonym)s, who had been severely wo)nded in the breast while i*htin* his
nei*hbo)rs, the ,(i8e(hyrian -o#rians, visited ?el(hi to enE)ire how he mi*ht be #)red, the
"ythoness told him1 I+ail to -e)#e% There -ittle !Ha:, whose *host yo)r enemies invoked to
i*ht or them, will a((ear and heal yo)r wo)nd%A &e ret)rned some months later, sae and
well, re(ortin* that he had seen !#hilles, "atro#l)s, !ntilo#h)s, Great !Ha:, and inally -ittle
!Ha:, who had healed him% &elen, now married to !#hilles, had said1 I"ray, -eonym)s, sail
to &imera, and tell the libeller o &elen that the loss o his si*ht is d)e to her dis(leas)re%A
+ailors on the northward r)n rom the 4os(hor)s to ;lbia reE)ently hear !#hilles #hantin*
&omerAs verses a#ross the water, the so)nd bein* a##om(anied by the #latter o horsesA
hooves, sho)ts o warriors, and #lash o arms%
n% !#hilles irst lay with &elen, not lon* beore his death, in a dream arran*ed by his mother
Thetis% This e:(erien#e aorded him s)#h (leas)re that he asked &elen to dis(lay hersel to
him in wakin* lie on the wall o Troy% +he did so, and he ell des(erately in love% +in#e he
was her ith h)sband, they #all him "em(t)s, meanin* IithA on .rete2 These)s, Menela)s,
"aris, and inally ?ei(hob)s, havin* been his (rede#essors%
o% 4)t others hold that !#hilles remains )nder the (ower o &ades, and #om(lains bitterly o
his lot as he strides abo)t the !s(hodel Meadows2 others, a*ain, that he married Medea and
lives royally in the ,lysian 'ields, or the $slands o the 4lessed%
(% 4y order o an ora#le, a #enota(h was set )( or !#hilles in the an#ient *ymnasi)m at
;lym(ia2 there, at the o(enin* o the estival, the s)n is sinkin*, the ,lean women hono)r
him with )neral rites% The Thessalians, at the #ommand o the ?odonian ;ra#le, also
sa#rii#e ann)ally to !#hilles2 and on the road whi#h leads northward rom +(arta stands a
san#t)ary b)ilt or him by "ra:, his *reat7*randson whi#h is #losed to the *eneral ()bli#2 b)t
the boys who are reE)ired to i*ht in a near7by (lane7tree *rove enter and sa#rii#e to him
beore%
1% "enthesileia was on o the !ma8ons deeated by These)s and &era#les1 that is to say, one
o !theneNs i*htin* (riestesses, deeated by the !eolian invaders o Gree#e% The in#ident has
been sta*ed at Troy be#a)se "riamNs #onedera#y is said to have #om(rised o all the tribes o
!sia Minor% "entheseleia does not a((ear in the $liad, b)t !#hillesNs o)tra*e o her #or(se is
#hara#teristi#ally &omeri#, and sin#e she is mentioned in so many .lassi#al te:ts, a (assa*e
abo)t her may well have been s)((ressed by "eisistrat)sNs editors% ?i#tys .retensis
moderni8es the story1 he says that she rode )( at the head o a lar*e army and, indin* &e#tor
dead, wo)ld have *one away a*ain, had not "aris bribed her to stay with *old and silver%
!#hilles s(eared "entheseleia in their irst en#o)nter, and dra**ed her rom the saddle by the
hair% !s she lay dyin* on the *ro)nd, the Greek soldiers #ried1 NThrow this vira*o to the do*s
as a ()nishment or e:#eedin* the nat)re o womankindPN Tho)*h !#hilles demanded an
hono)rable )neral, ?iomedes took the #or(se by its eet and dra**ed it into the +#amander%
;ld 3)rses in Greek le*end )s)ally stand or the Goddess as a .rone2 and "enthesileiaAs
n)rse .lete 5IinvokedA6 is no e:#e(tion%
0% .issia 5IivyA6 seems to be an early title o the vario)sly named Goddess who (resided over
the ivy and vine revels in Gree#e, Thra#e, !sia Minor, and +yria2 MemnonAs I.issiansA,
however, are variant o I+)siansA 5Ilily7menA6, so #alled in hono)r o the Goddess -irio,
+)sannah, or !starte% "riam (robably a((lied or hel( not to +yrians b)t to the &ittites, who
may well have sent reinor#ements by land, and also by sea, rom +yria% IMemnonA
5Iresol)teA6, a #ommon title o Greek kin*sJintensiied in I!*amemnonA 5Ivery resol)teA6J
has been #on)sed with Mnemon, a title o !rta:er:es the !ssyrian, and !meno(his, the
name o the "haraoh in whose hono)r sin*in* stat)e was #onstr)#ted at Thebes% The irst rays
o s)n all at the hollow stone, makin* the air inside e:(and and r)sh thro)*h narrow throat%
<% !#hilles in his birth, yo)th, and death is as the an#ient "elas*ian sa#red kin*, destined to
be#ome the Ili(lessA ora#)lar hero% &is mythi# o((onent bore vario)s names, as I&e#torA and
I"arisA and I!(olloA% &ere it is Memnon son o .issia% The d)el with Memnon, ea#h
s)((orted by his mother, was #arved on the .hest o .y(sel)s 5"a)sanias6, and on the throne
o !(ollo in !my#lae 5"a)sanias62 besides i*)rin* in a lar*e *ro)( by the -y#i)s, whi#h the
inhabitants o !(ollonia dedi#ated to him in ;lym(ia% These two re(resent sa#red kin* and
tanistJ!#hilles o the +ea7*oddess, bri*ht +(irit o the Wa:in* Dear1 Memnon, son o the
$vy7*oddess, dark +(irit o the Wanin* Dear, to whom the vine is sa#red% They kill ea#h other
alternately, at the solsti#es2 the kin* always s)##)mbs to a heel7wo)nd, his s)##essor
de#a(itates him with a sword% !#hilles, in this an#ient sense, )ntainted by behavio)r o the
!#haean and ?orian #hietains who )s)r(ed the name, was widely worshi((ed as a hero2 and
the non7&omeri# story o his betrayal by "oly:ena, who wormed rom him the se#ret o his
v)lnerable heel, (la#es him beside -lew -law, .)#h)lain, +amson, and other 4ron8e !*e
heroes o honest re()te% &is str)**le with "enthesileia likely to have been o the same sort as
his ather "ele)sAs Thetis% The re#i(ient o &elenAs messa*e rom -e)#eJwhi#h is now a
treeless Romanian (rison islandJwas the (oet +tesi#hor)s%
=% 4e#a)se Memnon #ame rom the ,ast to hel( "riam, he was styled Ithe son o ,osA
5IdawnA62 and be#a)se he needed a ather, ,osAs lover Tithon)s seemed the nat)ral #hoi#e% !
i*ht at the winter solsti#e between *irls in bird7dis*)ise, whi#h ;vid re#ords, is a more likely
e:(lanation o the Memnonides than that they are an#i)l embodiments o s(arks lyin* )(
rom a #or(se on the (yre2 the i*ht will ori*inally have been or the hi*h7
(riestess7shi(, in -ibyan style%
5% !#hilles as the sa#red kin* o ;lym(ia was mo)rned ater the s)mmer solsti#e, when the
;lym(i# )neral *ames were held in his hono)r2 his tanist, lo#ally #alled I.ron)sA, was
mo)rned ater the winter solsti#e% $n the 4ritish $sles these easts ell on -ammas and +t%
+te(henAs ?ay res(e#tively2 b)t tho)*h the #or(se o the *olden7#rested wren, the bird o
.ron)s, is still #arried in (ro#ession thro)*h #o)ntry distri#ts on +t% +te(henAs ?ay, the
4ritish Memnonides Iell a7si*hin* and a7sobbin*A only or the robin, not or his vi#tim, the
wren1 the tanist, not the sa#red kin*%
6% !#hillesAs hero7shrine in .rete m)st have been b)ilt by "elas*ian immi*rants2 b)t the (lane
is a .retan tree% +in#e the (lane7lea re(resented RheaAs *reen hand, !#hilles may have been
#alled "em(t)s 5IithA6 to identiy him with !#esidas, the ith o her ?a#tyls, namely the
ora#)lar little in*er, as &era#les was identiied with the irst, the virile th)mb%
>% "riamAs *olden vine, his bribe to Tithon)s or sendin* Memnon, seems to have been the
one *iven Tros by @e)s in #om(ensation or the ra(e o Ganymedes%
The Madness ; !Ha:
W&,3 Thetis de#ided to award the arms o !#hilles to the most #o)ra*eo)s Greek let alive
beore Troy, only !Ha: and ;dysse)s, who had boldly deended the #or(se to*ether, dared
#ome orward to #laim them% +ome say that !*amemnon, rom a dislike o the whole &o)se
o !ea#)s, reHe#ted !Ha:As (retensions and divided the arms between Menela)s and ;dysse)s,
whose *oodwill he val)ed ar more hi*hly2 others, that he avoided the odi)m o a de#ision by
reerrin* the #ase to the assembled Greek leaders, who settled it by a se#ret ballot2 or that he
reerred it to the .retans and other allies2 or that he or#ed his TroHan (risoners to de#lare
whi#h o the two #laimants had done them most harm% 4)t the tr)th is that, while !Ha: and
;dysse)s were still #om(etitively boastin* o their a#hievements, 3estor advised
!*amemnon to send s(ies by ni*ht to listen )nder the TroHan walls or the enemyAs )nbiased
o(inion on the matter% The s(ies overheard a (arty o yo)n* *irls #hatterin* to*ether2 and
when one (raised !Ha: or bearin* dead !#hilles rom the battleield thro)*h a storm o
missiles, another, at !theneAs insti*ation, re(lied1 I3onsenseP ,ven a slave7woman will do as
m)#h, on#e someone has set a #or(se on her sho)lders2 b)t thr)st wea(ons into her hand, and
she will be too ri*htened to )se them% ;dysse)s, not !Ha:, bore the br)nt o o)r atta#k%A
b% !*amemnon thereore awarded the arms to ;dysse)s% &e and Menela)s wo)ld never, o
#o)rse, have dared to ins)lt !Ha: in this manner had !#hilles still been alive1 or !#hilles
tho)*ht the world o his *allant #o)sin% $t was @e)s himsel who (rovoked the E)arrel%
#% $n a d)mb ra*e, !Ha: (lanned to reven*e himsel on his ellow Greeks that very ni*ht2
!thene, however, str)#k him with madness and t)rned him loose, sword in hand, amon* the
#attle and shee( whi#h had been lited rom TroHan arms to orm (art o the #ommon s(oil%
!ter immense sla)*hter, he #hained the s)rvivin* beasts to*ether, ha)led them ba#k to the
#am(, and there #ontin)ed his b)t#herAs worth% .hoosin* two white7looted rams, he lo((ed
o the head and ton*)e o one, whi#h he mistook or !*amemnon, or Menela)s2 and tied the
other )(ri*ht to a (illar, where he lo**ed it with a horseAs halter, s#reamin* ab)se and #allin*
it (eridio)s ;dysse)s%
d% !t last #omin* to his senses in )tter des(air, he s)mmoned ,)rysa#es, his son by Te#messa,
and *ave him the h)*e, sevenold shield ater whi#h he had been named% IThe rest o my
arms will be b)ried with me when $ die,A he said% !Ha:As hal7brother Te)#er, son o "riamAs
#a(tive sister &esione, ha((ened to be away in Mysia, b)t !Ha: let a messa*e a((ointin*
him *)ardian o ,)rysa#es, who was to be taken home to his *rand(arents Telamon and
,riboea o +alamis% Then, with a word to Te#messa that he wo)ld es#a(e !theneAs an*er by
bathin* in a sea (ool and indin* some )ntrodden (at#h o *ro)nd where the sword mi*ht be
se#)rely b)ried, he set o)t, determined on death%
e% &e i:ed the swordJthe very one whi#h &e#tor had e:#han*ed or the ()r(le baldri#J
)(ri*ht in the earth, and ater #allin* on @e)s to tell Te)#er where his #or(se mi*ht be o)nd2
on &ermes, to #ond)#t his so)l to the !s(hodel 'ields2 and on the ,rinnyes, or ven*ean#e,
threw himsel )(on it% The sword, loathin* its task, do)bled ba#k in the sha(e o a bow, and
dawn had broken beore he #ontrived to #ommit s)i#ide by drivin* the (oint )nderneath his
v)lnerable arm7(it%
% Meanwhile Te)#er, ret)rnin* rom Mysia, narrowly es#a(ed m)rder by the Greeks, who
were indi*nant at the sla)*hter o their livesto#k% .al#has, havin* been *ranted no (ro(heti#
warnin* o the s)i#ide, took Te)#er aside and advised him to #onine !Ha: to his h)t, as one
maddened by the wrath o !thene% "odaleiri)s son o !s#le(i)s a*reed2 he was as e:(ert a
(hysi#ian as his brother Ma#haon was a s)r*eon, and had been the irst to dia*nose !Ha:As
madness rom his lashin* eyes% 4)t Te)#er merely shook his head, havin* already been
#onirmed by @e)s o his brotherAs death, and went sadly o)t with Te#messa to ind the
#or(se%
*% There !Ha: lay in a (ool o blood, and dismay over#ame Te)#er% &ow #o)ld he ret)rn to
+alamis, and a#e his ather TelamonK !s he sto((ed, tearin* his hair, Menela)s strode )( and
orbade him to b)ry !Ha:, who m)st be let or the *reedy kites and (io)s v)lt)res% Te)#er
sent him abo)t his b)siness, and leavin* ,)rysa#es in s)((liantAs dress to dis(lay lo#ks o his
own, Te)#erAs, and Te#messaAs hair, and so *)ard !Ha:As #or(seJover whi#h Te#messa had
s(read her robeJhe #ame #ryin* beore !*amemnon% ;dysse)s intervened in the ens)in*
dis()te, and not only )r*ed !*amemnon to (ermit the )neral rites, b)t oered to hel( Te)#er
#arry them o)t% This servi#e Te)#er de#lined, while a#knowled*in* ;dysse)sAs #o)rtesy%
'inally !*amemnon, on .al#hasAs advi#e, allowed !Ha: to be b)ried in a s)i#ideAs #oin at
.a(e Rhoete)m, rather than b)rned on a (yre as i he had allen hono)rably in the battle%
h% +ome hold that the #a)se o the E)arrel between !Ha: and ;dysse)s was the (ossession o
the "alladi)m, and that it took (la#e ater Troy had allen% ;thers deny that !Ha: #ommitted
s)i#ide, and say that sin#e he was (roo a*ainst steel, the TroHans killed him with l)m(s o
#lay, havin* been advised to do so by an ora#le% 4)t this may have been another !Ha:%
i% !terwards, when ;dysse)s visited the !s(hodel 'ields, !Ha: was there only *host who
stood aloo rom him, reHe#tin* his e:#)ses that @e)s had been res(onsible or this
)nort)nate aair% ;dysse)s had by that time wisely (resented the arms to !#hillesAs son
3eo(tolem)s2 while the !eolians who later settled at Troy say that he lost them in a
shi(wre#k as he sailed home, where)(on by ThetisAs #ontrivan#e the waves de(osited them
beside !Ha:As tomb at Rhoete)m% ?)rin* the rei*n o the ,m(eror &adrian, hi*h seas washed
o(en the tomb and his bones were seen to be o *i*anti# si8e, the knee7#a(s alone bein* as
bi* as a dis#)s )sed by boys or (ra#tisin* or the (entathlon2 at the ,m(erorAs orders, they
were at on#e reinterred%
H% The +alaminians re(ort that a new lower a((eared in their island when !Ha: died1 white,
tin*ed with red, smaller than a lily and, like the hya#inth, bearin* letters whi#h s(ell !iP !iP
5Iwoe, woePA6% 4)t it is *enerally believed that the new lower s(ran* rom !Ha:As blood
where he ell, sin#e the letters also stand or !ias !ia#ides, I!Ha: the !ea#idA% $n the
+alaminian market (la#e stands a tem(le o !Ha:, with an ebony ima*e2 and not ar rom the
harbo)r a bo)lder is shown on whi#h Telamon sat *a8in* at the shi( whi#h bore his sons
away to !)lis%
k% Te)#er event)ally ret)rned to +alamis, b)t Telamon a##)sed him o ratri#ide in the se#ond
de*ree, sin#e he had not (ressed !Ha:As #laim to the dis()ted arms% 'orbidden to land, he
(leaded his #ase rom the sea while the H)d*es listened on the shore2 Telamon himsel had
been or#ed to do the same by his own ather !ea#)s, when a##)sed o m)rderin* his brother
"ho#)s% 4)t as Telamon had been o)nd *)ilty and banished, so also was Te)#er, on the
*ro)nd that he had bro)*ht ba#k neither !Ha:As bones, nor Te#messa, nor ,)rysa#es2 whi#h
(roved ne*le#t% &e set sail or .y(r)s, where with !(olloAs avo)r and the (ermission o
Gin* 4el)s the +idonian he o)nded the other +alamis%
l% The !thenians hono)r !Ha: as one o their e(onymo)s heroes, and insist that "hilae)s, the
son o ,)rysa#es, be#ame an !thenian #iti8en and s)rrendered the soverei*nty o +alamis to
them%
1% &ere the mytholo*i#al element is small% !Ha: was (erha(s shown on some .y(rian i#on
tyin* the ram to a (illar2 not be#a)se he had *one mad, b)t be#a)se this was a orm o
sa#rii#e introd)#ed into .y(r)s rom .rete%
0% &omerAs hya#inth is the bl)e larks()rJhya#inthos *ra(taJwhi#h has markin*s on the
base o its (etals resemblin* the early Greek letters !$2 it had also been sa#red to .retan
&ya#inth)s%
<% The bones o !Ha: reinterred by &adrian, like those o These)s, (robably belon*ed to some
ar more an#ient hero% "eisistrat)s made )se o !Ha:As alle*ed #onne#tion with !tti#a to #laim
soverei*nty over the island o +alamis, (revio)sly held by Me*ara, and is said to have
s)((orted his #laim by the insertion o or*ed verses into the &omeri# #anon 5$liad, !ristotle1
Rhetori#2 "l)tar#h1 +olon6% !ia is an old orm o *aia 5IearthA6, and aias 5I!Ha:A6 will have
meant I#o)ntrymanA%
=% To kill a man with l)m(s o #lay, rather than swords, was a (rimitive means o avoidin*
blood *)ilt2 and this other !Ha:As m)rder m)st thereore have been the work o his kinsmen,
not the TroHan enemy%
5% That ;dysse)s and !Ha: E)arrelled or the (ossession o the "alladi)m is histori#ally
im(ortant2 b)t +o(ho#les has #arelessly #on)sed Great !Ha: with -ittle !Ha:%
The ;ra#les ; Troy
!.&$--,+ was dead, and the Greeks had be*)n to des(air% .al#has now (ro(hesied that
Troy #o)ld not be taken e:#e(t with the hel( o &era#lesAs bow and arrows% ;dysse)s and
?iomedes were thereore de()ted to sail or -emnos and et#h them rom "hilo#tetes, their
(resent owner%
b% +ome say that Gin* !#torAs she(herd "hima#h)s, son o ?olo(hion, had sheltered
"hilo#tetes and dressed his noisome wo)nd or (ast ten years% ;thers re#ord that some o
"hilo#tetesAs troo(s settled beside him in -emnos, and that the !s#le(i)s #)red him, with
-emnian earth, beore the de()tation arrived2 or that "yli)s, or "eli)s, a son o &e(haest)s,
did so% "hilo#tetes is said then #onE)ered #ertain small islands o the TroHan #oast or the
kin* ,)ne)s, dis(ossessin* the .arian (o()lationJa kindness that ,)ne)s a#knowled*ed by
*ivin* him the -emnian distri#t o !#esa% Th)s, it is e:(lained, ;dysse)s and ?iomedes had
no need to tem(t "hilo#tetes with oers o medi#al treatment2 he #ame willin*ly #arryin* his
bow and arrows, to win the war or them and *lory himsel% !##ordin* to still another
a##o)nt, the de()tation o)nd him lon* dead o the wo)nd and (ers)aded his heirs to let them
borrow the bow%
#% The tr)th is, however, that "hilo#tetes stayed in -emnos (ain)lly, )ntil ;dysse)s tri#ked
him into handin* over the bow and arrows2 b)t ?iomedes 5not, as some mistakenly say,
3eo(tolem)s6 de#lined to be im(li#ated in the thet and advised "hilo#tetes to demand the
ret)rn o his (ro(erty% !t this, the *od &era#les intervened% IGo with them to Troy,
"hilo#tetes,A he said, Iand $ will send an !s#le(id there to #)re yo)2 or Troy m)st all a
se#ond time to my arrows% Do) shall be #hosen rom amon* the Greeks as the boldest i*hter
o allP Do) shall kill "aris, take (art in the sa#k o Troy, and send home ri#h s(oils, reservin*
the noblest (ri8e or yo)r ather "oeas% 4)t remember1 yo) #annot take Troy witho)t
3eo(tolem)s son o !#hilles, nor #an he do so witho)t yo)PA
d% "hilo#tetes obeyed, and on his arrival at the Greek #am( he bathed with resh water and
()t to slee( in !(olloAs tem(le2 and as he sle(t, Ma#haon the s)r*eon #)t away the de#ayin*
lesh rom the wo)nd, (o)red in wine, and a((lied healin* herbs and the ser(entine stone%
4)t some say that Ma#haonAs brother "odaleiri)s, the (hysi#ian, took #har*e o the #ase%
e% 3o sooner was "hilo#tetes abo)t a*ain, than he #hallen*ed "aris to a #ombat in ar#hery%
The irst arrow he shot went wide, the se#ond (ier#ed "arisAs bow7hand, the third blinded his
ri*ht eye, and the o)rth str)#k his ankle, wo)ndin* him mortally% ?es(ite Menela)s attem(t
to des(at#h "aris, he #ontrived to hobble rom the ield, and take re)*e in Troy% That ni*ht
the TroHans #arried him to Mo)nt $da, where he be**ed his ormer mistress, the nym(h
;enone, to heal him2 rom an inveterate hatred o &elen, however, she #r)elly shook her head
and he was bro)*ht ba#k to die% "resently ;enone relented, and ran to Troy with a basket)l
o healin* dr)*s, b)t o)nd him already dead% $n a ren8y o *rie she lea(ed rom the walls,
or han*ed hersel, or b)rned hersel to death on his (yreJno one remembers whi#h% +ome
e:#)se ;enone by sayin* that she wo)ld have healed "aris at on#e, had not her ather
(revented her2 she was obli*ed to wait )ntil he had let the ho)se beore brin*in* the sim(les,
and then it (roved too late%
% &elen)s and ?ei(hob)s now E)arrelled or &elenAs hand, and "riam s)((orted ?ei(hob)sAs
#laim on the *ro)nd that he had shown the *reater valo)r2 b)t, tho)*h her marria*e to "aris
had been divinely arran*ed, &elen #o)ld not or*et that she was still M)een o +(arta and
wie to Menela)s% ;ne ni*ht, a sentry #a)*ht her tyin* a ro(e to the battlements in an attem(t
to es#a(e% +he was led beore ?ei(hob)s, who married her by or#eJm)#h to the dis*)st o
the other TroHans% &elen)s immediately let the #ity and went to live with !risbe on the
slo(es o Mo)nt $da%
*% /(on hearin* rom .al#has that &elen)s alone knew the se#ret ora#les whi#h (rote#ted
Troy, !*amemnon sent ;dysse)s to waylay and dra* him to the Greek #am(% &elen)s
ha((ened to be stayin* as .hrysesAs *)est in the tem(le o Thymbraean !(ollo, when
;dysse)s #ame in sear#h o him, and (roved ready eno)*h to dis#lose the ora#les, on
#ondition that he wo)ld be *iven a se#)re home in some distant land% &e had deserted Troy,
he e:(lained, not be#a)se he eared death, b)t be#a)se neither he nor !eneas #o)ld overlook
"arisAs sa#rile*io)s m)rder o !#hilles in this very tem(le, or whi#h no amends had yet been
made to !(ollo%
h% I+o be it% &old nothin* ba#k, and $ will *)arantee yo)r lie and saety,A said ;dysse)s%
IThe ora#les are brie and #lear,A &elen)s answered% ITroy alls this s)mmer, i a #ertain bone
o "elo(s is bro)*ht to yo)r #am(2 i 3eo(tolem)s takes the ield2 and i !theneAs "alladi)m
is stolen rom the #itadelJbe#a)se the walls #annot be brea#hed while it remains there%
!*amemnon at on#e sent to "isa or "elo(sAs sho)lder7blade% Meanwhile, ;dysse)s, "hoeni:,
and ?iomedes sailed to +#yros, where they (ers)aded -y#omedes to let 3eo(tolem)s #ome
to TroyJsome say that he was then only twelve years old% The *host o !#hilles a((eared
beore him on his arrival, and he orthwith distin*)ished himsel both in #o)n#il and in war,
;dysse)s *ladly resi*nin* !#hillesAs arms to him%
i% ,)ry(yl)s son o Tele(h)s now reinor#ed the TroHans with an army o Mysians, and "riam,
who had oered his mother !styo#he a *olden vine i he #ame, betrothed him to .assandra%
,)ry(yl)s (roved a resol)te i*hter, and killed Ma#haon the s)r*eon2 whi#h is why, in
!s#le(i)sAs san#t)ary at "er*am)s, where every servi#e be*ins with a hymn #elebratin*
Tele(h)s, the name o his son ,)ry(yl)s may not be s(oken on any o##asion% Ma#haonAs
bones were taken ba#k to "yl)s by 3estor, and si#k (eo(le are healed in the san#t)ary at
Geraneia2 his *arlanded bron8e stat)e dominates the sa#red (la#e #alled IThe RoseA%
,)ry(yl)s himsel was killed by 3eo(tolem)s%
H% +hortly beore the all o Troy, the dissensions between "riamAs sons *rew so ier#e that he
a)thori8ed !ntenor to ne*otiate (ea#e with !*amemnon% ;n his arrival at the Greek #am(
!ntenor, o)t o hatred or ?ei(hob)s, a*reed to betray the "alladi)m and the #ity into
;dysse)sAs hands2 his (ri#e was the kin*shi( and hal o "riamAs treas)re% !eneas, he told
!*amemnon, #o)ld also be #o)nted )(on to hel(%
k% To*ether they #on#o#ted a (lan, in ()rs)an#e o whi#h ;dysse)s asked ?iomedes to lo*
him mer#ilessly2 then, bloodstained, ilthy, and dressed in ra*s, he *ained admittan#e into
Troy as a r)naway slave% &elen alone saw thro)*h his dis*)ise, b)t when she (rivately
E)estioned him, was obbed o with evasive answers% 3evertheless, he #o)ld not de#line an
invitation to her ho)se, where she bathed, anointed and #lothed him in ree robes2 and his
identity bein* th)s established beyond E)estion, swore a solemn oath that she wo)ld not
betray him to the TroHansJso ar she had #onided only in &e#abeJi he revealed all the
details o his (lan to her% &elen e:(lained that she was now ke(t a (risoner in Troy, and
lon*ed to *o home% !t this H)n#t)re, &e#abe entered% ;dysse)s at on#e threw himsel at her
eet, wee(in* or terror, and im(lored her not to deno)n#e him% +)r(risin*ly eno)*h, she
a*reed% &e then h)rried ba#k, *)ided by &e#abe, and rea#hed iris riends in saety with a
harvest o inormation2 #laimin* to have killed a n)mber o TroHans who wo)ld not o(en the
*ates or him%
l% +ome say that ;dysse)s stole the "alladi)m on this o##asion, sin*le7handed% ;thers say
that he and ?iomedes, as avo)rites o !thene, were #hosen to do so, and that they #limbed
)( to the #itadel by way o a narrow and m)ddy #ond)it, killed the slee(in* *)ards, and
to*ether took (ossession o the ima*e, whi#h the (riestess Theano, !ntenorAs wie, willin*ly
s)rrendered% The #ommon a##o)nt, however, is that ?iomedes s#aled the wall by #limbin*
)(on ;dysse)sAs sho)lders, be#a)se the ladder was short, and entered Troy alone% When he
rea((eared, #arryin* the "alladi)m in his arms, the two o them set o)t or the #am(, side by
side, )nder a )ll moon2 b)t ;dysse)s wanted all the *lory% &e dro((ed behind ?iomedes, to
whose sho)lders the ima*e was now stra((ed, and wo)ld have m)rdered him, had not the
shadow o his sword #a)*ht ?iomedesAs eye, the moon bein* still low in the heavens% &e
s()n abo)t, drew his own sword and, disarmin* ;dysse)s, twisted his hands and drove him
ba#k to the shi(s with re(eated ki#ks and blows% &en#e the (hrase I?iomedesAs #om()lsionA,
oten a((lied to those whose a#tions are #oer#ed%
m% The Romans (retend that ;dysse)s and ?iomedes #arried o a mere re(li#a o the
"alladi)m whi#h was on ()bli# dis(lay, and that !eneas, at the all o Troy, res#)ed the
a)thenti# ima*e, sm)**led it o)t with the remainder o his sa#red l)**a*e, and bro)*ht it sae
to $taly%
1% !ll this is idle roman#e, or drama, e:#e(t or the stealin* o the "alladi)m, &e#abeAs
mysterio)s re)sal to betray ;dysse)s, and the death o "aris rom a wo)nd in his ankle%
"elo(sAs sho)lder7blade was (robably o (or(oise7ivory% The a##o)nt whi#h makes
"hilo#tetes s)##)mb to (oison o &era#lesAs arrows di((ed in the &ydraAs blood seems to be
the earliest one%
0% "a)sanias re(orts1 IWhen the Greeks ret)rned rom Troy, the shi( that #arried the sho)lder7
blade o "elo(s wa s s)nk o ,)boea in a storm% Many years later an ,retrian isherman
named ?amarmen)s 5Ys)bd)er o sailsV6 drew )( a bone in his net, whi#h was o s)#h
astonishin* si8e that he hid it in the sand while he went to ask the ?el(hi# ;ra#le whose bone
it was, and what o)*ht to be done with it% !(ollo had arran*ed that an ,lean embassy sho)ld
arrive that same day reE)irin* a remedy or a (la*)e% The "ythoness answered the ,leans1
YRe#over the sho)lder7blade o "elo(s%V To ?amarmen)s she said1 YGive yo)r bone to those
ambassadors%V The ,leans rewarded him well, makin* the #)stodianshi( o the bone
hereditary in his ho)se% $t wa s no lon*er to be seen when $ visited ,lis1 do)btless a*e and the
a#tion o the sea7water in whi#h it had lain so lon* had mo)ldered it a wa y%A
The Wooden &orse
!T&,3, now ins(ired "rylis, son o &ermes, to s)**est that entry sho)ld be *ained into
Troy by means o a wooden horse2 and ,(ei)s, son o "ano(e)s, a "ho#ian rom "arnass)s,
vol)nteered to b)ild one )nder !theneAs s)(ervision% !terwards, o #o)rse, ;dysse)s
#laimed all the #redit or this strata*em%
b% ,(ei)s had bro)*ht thirty shi(s rom the .y#lades to Troy% &e held the oi#e o waterJ
bearer to the &o)se o !tre)s2 as a((ears in the rie8e o !(olloAs tem(le at .arthea, and
tho)*h a skilled bo:er and a #ons)mmate #ratsman, was born a #oward, in divine
()nishment or his atherAs brea#h o aithJ"ano(e)s had alsely sworn in !theneAs name
not to embe88le any (art o the Ta(hian booty won by !m(hitryon% ,(ei)sAs #owardi#e has
sin#e be#ome (roverbial%
#% &e b)ilt an enormo)s hollow horse o ir (lanks, with a tra(7door itted into one lank, and
lar*e letters #)t on the other whi#h #onse#rated it to !thene1 I$n thank)l anti#i(ation o a
sae ret)rn to their homes, the Greeks dedi#ate this oerin* to the Goddess%A ;dysse)s
(ers)aded the bravest o the Greeks to #limb )lly armed )( a ro(e7ladder and thro)*h the
tra(7door into the belly o the horse% Their n)mber is vario)sly *iven as twenty7three, thirty
or more, ity, and, abs)rdly eno)*h, three tho)sand% !mon* them were Menela)s, ;dysse)s,
?iomedes, +thenel)s, !#amas, Thoas, and 3eo(tolem)s% .oa:ed, threatened, and bribed,
,(ei)s himsel Hoined the (arty% &e #limbed )( last, drew the ladder in ater him and, sin#e he
alone knew how to work the tra(door, took his seat beside the lo#k%
d% !t ni*htall, the remainin* Greeks )nder !*amemnon ollowed ;dysse)sAs instr)#tions,
whi#h were to b)rn their #am(, ()t o)t to sea, and wait o Tenedos and the .alydnian $slands
)ntil the ollowin* evenin*% ;nly ;dysse)sAs irst #o)sin +inon, a *randson o !)toly#)s,
stayed behind to li*ht a si*nal bea#on or their ret)rn%
e% !t break o day, TroHan s#o)ts re(orted that the #am( lay in ashes and that the Greeks had
de(arted, leavin* a h)*e horse on the seashore% "riam and several o his sons went o)t to
view it and, as they stood starin* in wonder, Thymoetes was the irst to break the silen#e%
I+in#e this is a *it to !thene,A he said, I$ (ro(ose that we take it into Troy and ha)l it )( to
her #itadel%A I3o, noPA #ried .a(ys% I!thene avo)red the Greeks too lon*2 we m)st either
b)rn it at on#e or break it o(en to see what the belly #ontains%A 4)t "riam de#lared1
IThymoetes is ri*ht% We will et#h it in on rollers% -et nobody dese#rate !theneAs (ro(erty%A
The horse (roved too broad to be sE)ee8ed thro)*h the *ates% ,ven when the wall had been
brea#hed, it st)#k o)r times% With enormo)s eorts the TroHans then ha)led it )( to the
#itadel2 b)t at least took the (re#a)tion o re(airin* the brea#h behind them% !nother heated
ar*)ment ollowed
when .assandra anno)n#ed that the horse #ontained armed men, and was s)((orted in her
view by the seer -ao#oFn, son o !ntenor, whom some mistakenly #all the brother o
!n#hises% .ryin*1 IDo) ools, never tr)st a Greek even i he brin*s yo) *itsPA, he h)rled his
s(ear, whi#h st)#k E)iverin* in the horseAs lank and #a)sed the wea(ons inside to #lash
to*ether% .heers and sho)ts arose1 I4)rn itPA I&)rl it over the wallsPA 4)t, N-et it stay,A (leaded
"riamAs s)((orters%
% This ar*)ment was interr)(ted by the arrival o +inon, whom a #o)(le o TroHan soldiers
were mar#hin* )( in #hains% /nder interro*ation, he said that ;dysse)s had lon* been tryin*
to destroy him be#a)se he knew the se#ret o "alamedesAs m)rder% The Greeks, he went on,
were heartily si#k o the war, and wo)ld have sailed home months beore this, b)t that the
)ninterr)(ted bad weather (revented them% !(ollo had advised them to (la#ate the Winds
with blood, as when they were delayed at !)lis% IWhere)(on,A +inon #ontin)ed, I;dysse)s
dra**ed .al#has orward, and asked him to name the vi#tim% .al#has wo)ld not *ive an
immediate answer and went into retirement or ten days, at the end o whi#h time, do)btless
bribed by ;dysse)s, he entered the .o)n#il h)t and (ointed at me% !ll (resent wel#omed this
verdi#t, every man relieved at not bein* #hosen as the s#a(e*oat, and $ was ()t in etters2 b)t
a avo)rable wind s(ran* )(, my #om(anions h)rriedly la)n#hed their vessels, and in the
#on)sion $ made my es#a(e%A
*% Th)s "riam was tri#ked into a##e(tin* +inon as a s)((liant, and had his etters broken%
I3ow tell )s abo)t this horse,A he said kindly% +inon e:(lained that the Greeks had oreited
!theneAs s)((ort, on whi#h they de(ended, when ;dysse)s and ?iomedes stole the
"alladi)m rom her tem(le% 3o sooner had they bro)*ht it to their #am( than the ima*e was
three times envelo(ed by lames, and its limbs sweated in (roo o the *oddessAs wrath%
.al#has there)(on advised !*amemnon to sail or home and assemble a resh e:(edition in
Gree#e, )nder better a)s(i#es, leavin* the horse as a (la#atory *it to !thene% IWhy was it
b)ilt so bi*KA asked "riam% +inon, well #oa#hed by ;dysse)s, re(lied1 ITo (revent yo) rom
brin*in* it into the #ity% .al#has oretells that i yo) des(ise this sa#red ima*e, !thene will
r)in yo)2 b)t on#e it enters Troy, yo) shall be em(owered to marshal all the or#es o !sia,
invade Gree#e, and #onE)er My#enae%A
h% IThese are lies,A #ried -ao#oFn, Iand so)nd as i they were invented by ;dysse)s% ?o not
believe him, "riamPA &e added1 I"ray, my lord, *ive me leave to sa#rii#e a b)ll to "oseidon%
When $ #ome ba#k $ ho(e to see this wooden horse red)#ed to ashes%A $t sho)ld be e:(lained
that the TroHans, havin* stoned their (riest o "oseidon to death nine years beore, had
de#ided not to re(la#e him )ntil the war seemed to have ended% 3ow they #hose -ao#oFn by
lot to (ro(itiate "oseidon% &e was already the (riest o Thymbraean !(ollo, whom he had
an*ered by marryin* and be*ettin* #hildren, des(ite a vow o #eliba#y and, worse, by lyin*
with his wie !ntio(e in si*ht o the *odAs ima*e%
i% -ao#oFn retired to sele#t a vi#tim and (re(are the altar b)t, in warnin* o TroyAs
a((roa#hin* doom, !(ollo sent two *reat sea7ser(ents, named "or#es and .hariboea, or
.)rissia, or "eriboea, r)shin* towards Troy rom Tenedos and the .alydnian $slands% They
darted ashore and, #oilin* aro)nd the limbs o -ao#oFnAs twin sons !nti(has and
Thymbrae)s, whom some #all Melanth)s, #r)shed them to death% -ao#oFn ran to their res#)e,
b)t he too died miserably% The ser(ents then *lided )( to the #itadel and while one wo)nd
abo)t !theneAs eet, the other took re)*e behind her ae*is% +ome, however, say that only one
o -ao#oFnAs sons was killed and that he died in the tem(le o Thymbraean !(ollo, not beside
"oseidonAs altar2 and others that -ao#oFn himsel es#a(ed death%
H% This terrible (ortent served to #onvin#e the TroHans that +inon had s(oken the tr)th% "riam
mistakenly ass)med that -ao#oFn was bein* ()nished or h)rlin* his s(ear at the horse,
rather than or havin* ins)lted !(ollo% &e at on#e dedi#ated the horse to !thene and altho)*h
!eneasAs ollowers retired in alarm to their h)ts on Mo)nt $da, nearly all "riamAs TroHans
be*an to #elebrate the vi#tory with banE)ets and merry7makin*% The women *athered lowers
rom the river banks, *arlanded the horseAs mane, and s(read a #ar(et o roses aro)nd its
hooves%
k% Meanwhile, inside the horseAs belly, the Greeks had been tremblin* or terror, and ,(ei)s
we(t silently, in an e#stasy o ear% ;nly 3eo(tolem)s showed no emotion, even when the
(oint o -ao#oFnAs s(ear broke thro)*h the timbers #lose to his head% Time ater time he
n)d*ed ;dysse)s to order the assa)ltJor ;dysse)s was in #ommandJand #l)t#hed his
lan#e and sword7hilt mena#in*ly% 4)t ;dysse)s wo)ld not #onsent% $n the evenin* &elen
strolled rom the (ala#e and went aro)nd the horse three times, (attin* its lanks and, as i to
am)se ?ei(hob)s who was with her, teased the hidden Greeks by imitatin* the voi#e o ea#h
o their wives in t)rn% Menela)s and ?iomedes sE)attin* in the middle o the horse ne:t to
;dysse)s, were tem(ted to lea( o)t when they heard themselves #alled by name2 b)t he
restrained them and, seein* that !ntiel)s was on the (oint o answerin*, #la((ed hand over
his mo)th and, some say, stran*led him%
l% That ni*ht, e:ha)sted with eastin* and revelry, the TroHans sle(t so)ndly, and not even the
bark o a do* broke the stillness% 4)t &elen lay awake, and a bri*ht ro)nd li*ht bla8ed above
her #hamber as si*nal to the Greeks% !t midni*ht, H)st beore the )ll moon roseJthe seventh
o the yearJ+inon #re(t rom the #ity to kindle a bea#on o !#hillesAs tomb, and !nterior
waved a tor#h% !*amemnon answered these si*nals by li*htin* (ine7wood #hi(s in a #resset
on the de#k o his shi(, whi#h was now heavedJto a ew bow7shots rom the #oast2 and the
whole leet drove shorewards% !ntenor, #a)tio)sly a((roa#hin* the horse, re(orted in a low
voi#e that all was well, and ;dysse)s ordered ,(ei)s to )nlo#k the tra( door%
m% ,#hion, son o "orthe)s, lea(in* o)t irst, ell and broke his ne#k2 the rest des#ended by
,(ei)sAs ro(e7ladder% +ome ran to o(en the *ate or the landin* (arty, others #)t down drowsy
sentries *)ardin* the #itadel and (ala#e2 b)t Menela)s #o)ld think only o &elen, and r)n
strai*ht towards her ho)se%
1% .lassi#al #ommentators on &omer were dissatisied with the story o the wooden horse%
They s)**ested, vario)sly, that the Greeks )sed a horse7like en*ine or breakin* down the
wall, 5"a)sanias62 that !ntenor admitted the Greeks into Troy by a (ostern whi#h had a horse
(ointed on it2 or that the si*n o a horse was )sed to distin*)ish the Greeks rom their
enemies in the darkness and #on)sion2 or that when Troy had been betrayed, the ora#les
orbade the (l)nderin* o any ho)se marked with the si*n o a horseJhen#e those o !ntenor
and others were s(ared2 or that Troy ell as the res)lt o a #avalry a#tion2 or that the Greeks,
ater b)rnin* their #am(, #on#ealed themselves behind Mo)nt &i((i)s 5Io the horseA6%
0% Troy is E)ite likely to have been stormed by means o a wheeled wooden tower, a#ed with
wet horse hides as a (rote#tion a*ainst in#endiary darts, and ()shed towards the notorio)sly
weak (art o the deen#esJthe western #)rtain whi#h !ea#)s had b)ilt% 4)t this wo)ld
hardly a##o)nt or the le*end that the TroHan leaders were #on#ealed in the horseAs IbellyA%
"erha(s the &omeridae invented this to e:(lain a no lon*er intelli*ible i#on showin* a walled
#ity, a E)een, a solemn assembly, and the sa#red kin* in the a#t o rebirth, head irst, rom a
mare, whi#h was the sa#red animal both o the TroHans and o the !ea#ids% ! wooden mare
b)ilt o ir, the birth7tree, may have been )sed in this #eremony, as a wooden #ow a#ilitated
the sa#red marria*e o Minos and "asi(haB% Was the str)**le between ;dysse)s and !ntiel)s
ded)#ed (erha(s rom an i#on that showed twins E)arrellin* in the wombK
<% The story o -ao#oFnAs son, or sons, re#alls that o the two ser(ents stran*led by &era#les%
!##ordin* to some versions, their death o##)rred in !(olloAs shrine, and -ao#oFn himsel,
like !m(hitryon, es#a(ed )nharmed% The ser(ents will, in a#t, have merely been #leansin*
the boysA ears to *ive them (ro(heti# (owers% I!nti(hasA a((arently means I(ro(hetAJ Ione
who s(eaks instead o the *od%A
=% ;n the divine level this war was o)*ht between !(hrodite, the TroHan +ea7*oddess, and
the Greek +ea7*od "oseidonJhen#e "riamAs s)((ression o
"oseidonAs (riesthood%
5% +weatin* ima*es have been a re#)rrent (henomenon ever sin#e the 'all o Troy2 Roman
*ods later ado(ted this warnin* si*nal, and so did the .atholi# saints who took their (la#es%
6% $n early sa*a ,(ei)sAs re()tation or #o)ra*e was s)#h that his name be#ame ironi#ally
a((lied to a bra**art2 and rom bra**art to #oward is only a short ste(%
The +a#k ; Troy
;?D++,/+, it seems, had (romised &e#abe and &elen that all who oered no resistan#e
sho)ld be s(ared% De t now the Greeks (o)red silently thro)*h the moonlit streets, broke into
the )n*)arded ho)ses, and #)t the throats o the TroHans as they sle(t% &e#abe took re)*e
with her da)*hters beneath an an#ient la)rel7tree at the altar raised to @e)s o the .o)rtyard,
where she restrained "riam rom r)shin* into the thi#k o the i*ht% IRemain amon* )s, my
lord,A she (leaded, Iin this sae (la#e% Do ) are too old and eeble or battle%A "riam,
*r)mblin*, did as she asked )ntil their son "olites ran by, #losely ()rs)ed by the Greeks, and
ell transi:ed beore their eyes% .)rsin* 3eo(tolem)s, who had delivered the death blow,
"riam h)rled an inee#t)al s(ear at him2 where)(on he was h)stled away rom the altar
ste(s, now red with "olitesAs blood, and b)t#hered at the threshold o his own (ala#e% 4)t
3eo(tolem)s, rememberin* his ilial d)ty, dra**ed the body to !#hillesAs tomb on the
+i*aean (romontory, where he let it to rot, headless and )nb)ried%
b% Meanwhile ;dysse)s and Menela)s had made or ?ei(hob)sAs ho)se, and there en*a*ed in
the bloodiest o all their #ombats, emer*in* vi#torio)s only with !theneAs aid% Whi#h o the
two killed ?ei(hob)s is dis()ted% +ome even say that &elen hersel (l)n*ed a da**er into his
ba#k2 and that this a#tion, and the si*ht o her naked breasts, so weakened the resol)tion o
Menela)s, who had sworn I+he m)st diePA, that he threw away his sword and led her in saety
to the shi(s% ?ei(hob)sAs #or(se was atro#io)sly man*led, b)t !eneas later raised a
mon)ment to him on .a(e Rhoete)m% ;dysse)s saw Gla)#)s, one o !ntenorAs sons, leein*
down a street with a #om(any o Greeks in hot ()rs)it% &e intervened, and at the same time
res#)ed Gla)#)sAs brother &eli#aon, who had been serio)sly wo)nded% Menela)s then h)n* a
leo(ardAs skin over the door o !ntenorAs ho)se, as a si*n that it sho)ld be s(ared% !nterior,
his wie Theano, and his o)r sons, were allowed to *o ree, takin* all their *oods with them2
some days later they sailed away in Menela)sAs shi(, and settled irst at .yrene, ne:t in
Thra#e, and inally at &eneti#a on the !driati#% &eneti#a was so #alled be#a)se !ntenor took
#ommand o #ertain re)*ees rom "a(hla*onian ,nete, whose Gin* "ylaemenes had allen at
Troy, and led them in a s)##ess)l war a*ainst the ,)*anei o the 3orthern $talian (lain% The
(ort and distri#t where they disembarked was renamed I3ew TroyA, and they themselves are
now known as Cenetians% !ntenor is also said to have o)nded the #ity o "ad)a%
#% !##ordin* to the Romans, the only other TroHan amily s(ared by the Greeks was that o
!eneas who, like !nterior, had lately )r*ed the s)rrender o &elen and the #on#l)sion o a
H)st (ea#e2 !*amemnon, seein* him lit the venerable !n#hises )(on his sho)lders and #arry
him towards the ?ardanian Gate witho)t a sideways *lan#e, *ave orders that so (io)s a son
sho)ld not be molested% +ome, however, say that !eneas was absent in "hry*ia when the #ity
ell% ;thers, that he deended Troy to the last, then retired to the #itadel o "er*am)s and,
ater a se#ond bold stand, sent his (eo(le orward )nder #over o darkness to Mo)nt $da,
where he ollowed them as soon as he mi*ht with his amily, his treas)re, and the sa#red
ima*es2 and that, bein* oered hono)rable terms by the Greeks, he (assed over into Thra#ian
"ellene, and died either there or at !r#adian ;r#homen)s% 4)t the Romans say that he
wandered at last to -ati)m, o)nded the #ity o -avini)m and, allin* in battle, was #arried )(
to &eaven% !ll these are ables1 the tr)th is that 3eo(tolem)s led him away #a(tive on board
his shi(, the most hono)rable (ri8e won by any o the Greeks, and held him or ransom,
whi#h in d)e #o)rse the ?ardanians (aid%
d% &eli#aonAs wie -aodi#e 5whom some #all the wie o Tele(h)s6 had lain with !#amas the
!thenian, when he #ame to Troy in ?iomedesAs embassy ten years beore, and se#retly borne
him a son M)nit)s, whom &elenAs slave7woman !ethraJmother to These)s, and th)s the
inantAs *reat7*randmotherJ had reared or her% !t the all o Troy, as -aodi#e stood in the
san#t)ary o Tros, beside the tombs o .illa and M)ni(()s, the earth *a(ed and swallowed
her beore the eyes o all%
e% $n the #on)sion, !ethra led with M)nit)s to the Greek #am(, where !#amas and
?emo(hon re#o*ni8ed her as their lon*7lost *randmother, whom they had sworn either to
res#)e or to ransom% ?emo(hon at on#e a((roa#hed !*amemnon and demanded her
re(atriation, with that o her ellow7#a(tive, the sister o "eiritho)s% Menesthe)s o !thens
s)((orted their (lea, and sin#e &elen had oten shown her dislike o !ethra by settin* a oot
on her head and t)**in* at her hair, !*amemnon *ave his assent2 b)t obli*ed ?emo(hon and
!#amas to waive their #laims to any other TroHan s(oil% /nort)nately, when !#amas landed
in Thra#e on his homeward voya*e, M)nit)s, who was a##om(anyin* him, died o a ser(entAs
bite%
% 3o sooner had the massa#re be*)n in Troy than .assandra led to the tem(le o !thene and
#l)t#hed the wooden ima*e whi#h had re(la#ed the stolen "alladi)m% There -ittle !Ha: o)nd
her and tried to dra* her away, b)t she embra#ed the ima*e so ti*htly that he had to take it
with him when he #arried her o into #on#)bina*e2 whi#h was the #ommon ate o all TroHan
women% !*amemnon, however, #laimed .assandra as the (arti#)lar award o his own valo)r,
and ;dysse)s obli*in*ly ()t it abo)t that !Ha: had violated .assandra in the shrine2 whi#h
was why the ima*e ke(t its eyes )(t)rned to &eaven, as i horror7stri#ken% Th)s .assandra
be#ame !*amemnonAs (ri8e, while !Ha: earned the hatred o the whole army2 and, when the
Greeks were abo)t to sail, .al#has warned the .o)n#il that !thene m)st be (la#ated or the
ins)lt oered to her (riestess% To *ratiy !*amemnon, ;dysse)s then (ro(osed the stonin* o
!Ha:2 b)t he es#a(ed by takin* san#t)ary at !theneAs altar, where he swore a solemn oath that
;dysse)s was lyin* as )s)al2 nor did .assandra hersel s)((ort the #har*e o ra(e%
3evertheless, .al#hasAs (ro(he#y #o)ld hardly be disre*arded2 !Ha: thereore e:(ressed
sorrow or havin* or#ibly removed the ima*e, and oered to e:(iate his #rime% This he was
(revented rom doin* by death1 the shi( in whi#h he sailed home to Gree#e bein* wre#ked on
the Gyraean Ro#ks% When he s#rambled ashore, "oseidon s(lit the ro#ks with his trident and
drowned him2 or, some say, !thene killed him% Thetis b)ried his #or(se on the island
My#onos, whose inhabitants wore bla#k or a whole year, and now ann)ally la)n#h a bla#k7
sailed shi(, hea(ed with *its, and b)rn it in his hono)r%
*% !theneAs wrath then ell on the land o ;()ntian -o#ris, and the ?el(hi# ;ra#le warned
!Ha:As ormer s)bHe#ts that they wo)ld have no relie rom amine and (estilen#e )nless they
sent two *its to Troy every year or a tho)sand years% !##ordin*ly, the &)ndred &o)ses o
-o#ris have ever sin#e sho)ldered this b)rden in (roo o their nobility, they #hoose the *its
by lot, and land them at dead o ni*ht on the Rhoetean headland, ea#h time varyin* the
season2 with them *o kinsmen who know the #o)ntry and #an sm)**le them into the
san#t)ary o !thene% $ the TroHans #at#h these *irls, they are stoned to death, b)rned as a
deilement to the land, and their ashes s#attered on the sea2 b)t on#e inside the shrine, they
are sae% Their hair is then shorn, they are *iven the sin*le *arment o a slave, and s(end their
days in menial tem(le d)ties )ntil relieved by another (air% $t ha((ened many years a*o that
when the Trarians #a(t)red Troy and killed a -o#rian (riestess in the tem(le itsel, the
-o#rians de#ided that their lon* (enan#e m)st be over and thereore sent no more *its2 b)t,
amine and (estilen#e s)(ervenin*, they hastened to res)me their an#ient #)stom, the term o
whi#h is only now drawin* to an end% These *irls *ain !theneAs san#t)ary by way o an
)nder*ro)nd (assa*e, the se#ret entran#e to whi#h is at some distan#e rom the walls, and
whi#h leads to the m)ddy #)lvert )sed by ;dysse)s and ?iomedes when they stole the
"alladi)m% The TroHans have no notion how the *irls #ontrive to enter, and never know on
what ni*ht the relie is d)e to arrive, so that they seldom #at#h them, and then only by
a##ident%
h% !ter the massa#re, !*amemnonAs (eo(le (l)ndered and b)rned Troy, divided the s(oils,
ra8ed the walls, and sa#rii#ed holo#a)sts to their *ods% The .o)n#il had debated or awhile
what sho)ld be done with &e#torAs inant son !styana:, otherwise #alled +#amandri)s2 and
when ;dysse)s re#ommended the systemati# e:tir(ation o "riamAs des#endants, .al#has
settled the boyAs ate by (ro(hesyin* that, i allowed to s)rvive, he wo)ld aven*e his (arents
and his #ity% Tho)*h all other (rin#es shrank rom inanti#ide, ;dysse)s willin*ly h)rled
!styana: rom the battlements% 4)t some say that 3eo(tolem)s, to whom &e#torAs widow
!ndroma#he had allen as a (ri8e in the division o s(oil, snat#hed !styana: rom her, in
anti#i(ation o the .o)n#ilAs de#ree, whirled him aro)nd his head by one oot and l)n* him
)(on the ro#ks ar below% !nd others say that !styana: lea(ed to his death rom the wall,
while ;dysse)s was re#itin* .al#hasAs (ro(he#y and invokin* the *ods to a((rove the #r)el
rite%
i% The .o)n#il also debated "oly:enaAs ate% !s he lay dyin*, !#hilles had be**ed that she
sho)ld be sa#rii#ed )(on his tomb, and more re#ently had a((eared in dreams to
3eo(tolem)s and other #hietains, threatenin* to kee( the leet windbo)nd at Troy )ntil they
)lilled his demand% ! voi#e was also heard #om(lainin* rom the tomb1 I$t is )nH)st that
none o the s(oil has been awarded to mePA !nd a *host a((eared on the Rhoetean headland,
#lad in *olden armo)r, #ryin*1 IWhither away, GreeksK Wo)ld yo) leave my tomb
)nhono)redKA
H% .al#has now de#lared that "oly:ena m)st not be denied to !#hilles, who loved her%
!*amemnon dissented, ar*)in* that eno)*h blood was already shed, o old men and inants
as well as o warriors, to *l)t !#hillesAs ven*ean#e, and that dead men, however amo)s,
enHoyed no ri*hts over live women% 4)t ?emo(hon and !#amas, who had been dera)ded o
their air share in the s(oils, #lamo)red that !*amemnon was e:(ressin* this view only to
(lease "oly:enaAs sister .assandra and make her s)bmit more readily to his embra#es% They
asked1 IWhi#h deserves the *reater res(e#t, !#hillesAs sword or .assandraAs bedKA 'eelin* ran
hi*h and ;dysse)s, intervenin*, (ers)aded !*amemnon to *ive way%
k% The .o)n#il then instr)#ted ;dysse)s to et#h "oly:ena, and invited 3eo(tolem)s to
oi#iate as (riest% +he was sa#rii#ed on !#hillesAs tomb, in the si*ht o the whole army, who
hastened to *ive her hono)rable b)rial2 where)(on avo)rin* winds s(ran* )( at on#e% 4)t
some say that the Greek leet had already rea#hed Thra#e when the *host o !#hilles
a((eared, threatenin* them with #ontrary winds, and that "oly:ena was sa#rii#ed there%
;thers re#ord that she went o her own ree will to !#hillesAs tomb, beore Troy ell, and
threw hersel on the (oint o a sword, th)s e:(iatin* the wron* she had done him%
l% Tho)*h !#hilles had killed "olydor)s, "riamAs son by -aothoB, the yo)n*est and best7loved
o his #hildren, yet another (rin#e o the same name s)rvived% &e was "riamAs son by &e#abe
and had been sent or saety to the Thra#ian .hersonese, where his a)nt $liona, wie o Gin*
"olymnestor, reared him% $liona treated "olydor)s as tho)*h he were a tr)e brother to
?ei(hil)s, whom she had borne to "olymnestor% !*amemnon, ()rs)in* ;dysse)sAs (oli#y o
e:tir(ation, now sent messen*ers to "olymnestor (romisin* him ,le#tra or a wie and a
dowry o *old i he wo)ld do away with "olydor)s% "olymnestor a##e(ted the bribe, yet
#o)ld not brin* himsel to harm a #hild whom he had sworn to (rote#t, and instead killed his
own son ?ei(hil)s in the (resen#e o the messen*ers, who went ba#k de#eived% "olydor)s,
not knowin* the se#ret o his birth, b)t reali8in* that he was the #a)se o $lionaAs
estran*ement rom "olymnestor, went to ?el(hi and asked the "ythoness1 IWhat ails my
(arentsKA +he answered1 I$s it a small thin* that yo)r #ity is red)#ed to ashes, yo)r ather
b)t#hered and yo)r mother enslaved, that yo) sho)ld #ome to me with s)#h a E)estionKA &e
ret)rned to Thra#e in *reat an:iety, b)t o)nd nothin* #han*ed sin#e his de(art)re% I.an
!(ollo have been mistakenKA he wondered% $liona told him the tr)th and, indi*nant that
"olymnestor sho)ld have m)rdered his only #hild or *old and the (romise o another E)een,
he irst blinded and then stabbed him%
m% ;thers say that "olymnestor was threatened by the Greeks with relentless war )nless he
wo)ld *ive )( "olydor)s and that, when he yielded, they bro)*ht the boy to their #am( and
oered to e:#han*e him or &elen% +in#e "riam de#lined to dis#)ss the (ro(osal,
!*amemnon had "olydor)s stoned to death beneath the walls o Troy, aterwards sendin* his
body to &elen with the messa*e1 I+how "riam this, and ask him whether he re*rets his
de#ision%A $t was an a#t o wanton s(ite, be#a)se "riam had (led*ed his word never to
s)rrender &elen while she remained )nder !(hroditeAs (rote#tion, and was ready to ransom
"olydor)s with the ri#h #ity o !ntandr)s%
n% ;dysse)s won &e#abe as his (ri8e, and took her to the Thra#ian .hersonese, where she
)ttered s)#h hideo)s inve#tives a*ainst him and the other Greeks, or their barbarity and
brea#hes o aith, that they o)nd no alternative b)t to ()t her to death% &er s(irit took the
sha(e o one o those ear)l bla#k bit#hes that ollow &e#ate, lea(ed into the sea and swam
away towards the &elles(ont2 they #alled the (la#e o her b)rial IThe 4it#hAs TombA% !nother
version o the story is that ater the sa#rii#e o "oly:ena, &e#abe o)nd the dead body o
"olydor)s washed )( on the shore, her son7in7law "olymnestor havin* m)rdered him or the
*old with whi#h "riam was derayin* the e:(enses o his ed)#ation% +he s)mmoned
"olymnestor, (romisin* to let him into the se#ret o a treas)re #on#ealed amon* the r)ins o
Troy, and when he a((roa#hed with his two sons, drew a da**er rom her bosom, stabbed the
boys to death and tore o)t "olymnestorAs eyes2 a dis(lay o ill7tem(er whi#h !*amemnon
(ardoned be#a)se o her a*e and misort)nes% The Thra#ian nobles wo)ld have taken
ven*ean#e on &e#abe with darts and stones, b)t she transormed hersel into a bit#h named
Maera, and ran aro)nd howlin* dismally, so that they retired in #on)sion%
o% +ome say that !ntenor o)nded a new TroHan kin*dom )(on the r)ins o the old one%
;thers, that !styana: s)rvived and be#ame Gin* o Troy ater the de(art)re o the Greeks2
and that, when he was e:(elled by !ntenor and his allies, !eneas ()t him ba#k on the throne
to whi#h, however, !eneasAs son !s#ani)s event)ally s)##eeded, as had been (ro(hesied% 4e
that as it may, Troy has never sin#e been more than a shadow o its ormer sel%
1% ;dysse)sAs #onsiderate treatment o s)#h rene*ades as !ntenor and .al#has is #ontrasted
here with the trea#hery he showed to his honest #omrades "alamedes, Great !Ha:, -ittle !Ha:,
and ?iomedes, and with his sava*e handlin* o !styana:, "olydor)s, and "oly:ena2 b)t
be#a)se 9)li)s .aesar and !)*)st)s #laimed des#ent rom !eneasJanother traitor s(ared by
;dysse)s, and re*arded at Rome as a model o (iety theJsatiri# im(li#ations are lost on
modern readers% $t is a (ity that the e:a#t terms o &e#abeAs inve#tives a*ainst ;dysse)s and
his #omrades in dishono)r, whi#h m)st have e:(ressed &omerAs tr)e eelin*s, have not
s)rvived2 b)t her #onversion into the .retan &e#ate, Maera, or +#ylla the sea7bit#h, s)**ests
that he re*arded the #)rses as validJkin*doms o)nded on barbarity and ill7aith #o)ld never
(ros(er% Maera was +#yllaAs emblem in heaven, the -esser ?o*7star, and when it rose, h)man
sa#rii#es were oered at Marathon in !tti#a1 the most amo)s vi#tim bein* Gin* $#ari)s
whose da)*hter ;dysse)s had married and whose ate he will thereore have the ori*inal
myth%
0% The well7a)thenti#ated #ase o the -o#rian *irls is one o the most mysterio)s in Greek
history, sin#e -ittle !Ha:As alle*ed violation o .assandra is dismissed by re()table
mytho*ra(hers as an ;dyssean lie, and it is evident that the -o#rian *irls *ained entry into
Troy as a matter o #ivi# (ride, not o (enan#e% ! *en)ine attem(t was made by the TroHans to
kee( them o)t, i we #an tr)st !eneas Ta#ti#)sAs a##o)ntJhe is dis#)ssin* the dan*er o
b)ildin* #ities with se#ret entran#esJand that they deilement o the land i #a)*ht, and as
slaves i they mana*ed to *ain entry, is #onsistent with this view% -ittle !Ha: was the son o
-o#rian ;ile)s2 whose name, also borne by a TroHan warrior whom !*amenmon killed
5 $liad6, is an early orm o I$l)sA2 and "riamAs $li)m had, it seems, been (artly #oloni8ed by
-o#rians, a (re7&elleni# tribe o -ele*ians 5!ristotle2 ?ionysi)s o &ali#arnass)s2 +trabo6%
They *ave the name o the -o#rian mo)ntain "hri#ones to what was hitherto #alled .yme2
and enHoyed a hereditary ri*ht to s)((ly !thene with a E)ota o (riestesses% This ri*ht they
#ontin)ed to e:er#ise lon* ater the TroHan WarJwhen the #ity had lost its (oliti#al (ower
and be#ame merely a (la#e o sentimental (il*rima*eJm)#h to the dis*)st o the TroHans,
who re*arded the *irls as their nat)ral enemies%
<% The #)rse, ee#tive or a tho)sand years, ended abo)t 06= 4.Jwhi#h wo)ld #orres(ond
with the ?elian 5and th)s the &omeri#6 datin* o the TroHan
War, tho)*h ,ratosthenes re#koned it a h)ndred years later% ;dysse)sAs se#ret #ond)it has
been dis#overed in the r)ins o Troy and is des#ribed by Walter -ea in his Troy1 ! +t)dy in
&omeri# Geo*ra(hy% 4)t why did Theano t)rn traitress and s)rrender the "alladi)mK
"robably be#a)se bein* a -o#rianJTheano was also the name o the amo)s (oetess o
,(i8e(hyrian -o#riJshe either disa*reed with "riamAs anti7-o#rian trade (oli#y, or knew
that Troy m)st all and wanted the ima*e removed to saety, rather than #a(t)red by
!*amemnon% &omer makes her a da)*hter o Thra#ian .isse)s, and there was at least one
-o#rian #olony in Thra#e, namely !bdera% !s a -o#rian, however, Theano will have re#koned
des#ent matrilineally 5"olybi)s62 and was (robably s)rnamed .isseis, Iivy7womanA, in
hono)r o !thene whose #hie estival ell d)rin* the ivy7month%
=% +o(ho#les, in the !r*)ment to his !Ha:, mentions a E)arrel between ;dysse)s and !Ha:
over the "alladi)m ater the all o Troy2 b)t this m)st have been -ittle !Ha:, sin#e Great !Ha:
had already killed himsel% We may thereore s)((ose that -ittle !Ha:, rather than ?iomedes,
led ;dysse)s )( the #ond)it to et#h away the "alladi)m with the #onnivan#e o his
#om(atriot Theano2 that ;dysse)s a##)sed -ittle !Ha: o layin* violent hands on a non7
-o#rian (riestess who #l)n* to the ima*e whi#h Theano was hel(in* him to remove2 and that
aterwards !Ha:, while admittin* his error, e:(lained that he had been as *entle as (ossible in
the #ir#)mstan#es% +)#h an event wo)ld have H)stiied the TroHans o later #ent)ries in tryin*
to restrain the -o#rian *irls rom e:er#isin* their ri*hts as TroHan (riestesses2 in re(resentin*
their #ontin)ed arrival as a (enan#e d)e or !Ha:As #rime, even tho)*h !thene had s)mmarily
()nished him with a th)nderbolt2 and in treatin* them as menials% ;dysse)s may have
insisted )(on a##om(anyin* -ittle !Ha: into the #itadel, on the *ro)nd that @a#ynth)s,
e(onymo)s an#estor o his s)bHe#ts the @a#ynthians, i*)red in a list o early TroHan kin*s%
5% This, a*ain, wo)ld e:(lain &e#abeAs ail)re to deno)n#e ;dysse)s to the TroHans when he
entered the #ity as a s(y% +he too is des#ribed as a Ida)*hter o .isse)sA2 was she another
-o#rian rom Thra#e who #onnived at !Ha:As removal o the "alladi)mK &e#abe had no #a)se
to love ;dysse)s, and her reason or a#ilitatin* his es#a(e #an only have been to (revent him
rom deno)n#in* her to the TroHans% ;dysse)s do)btless sli((ed o)t E)ietly by the #)lvert
and not, as he boasted, by the *ate Iater killin* many TroHansA% "res)mably he demanded old
&e#abe as his share o the s(oil be#a)se she had been a material witness o the "alladi)m
in#ident and he wanted to sto( her mo)th% +he seems, however, that she have revealed
everythin* beore she died%
6% ;ne o the (rin#i(al #a)ses o the TroHan War was TelamonAs abd)#tion o "riamAs sister
&esione, the mother o Great !Ha: and th)s a kinswoman o -ittle !Ha:2 this (oints to lon*7
standin* ri#tion between "riam and the -o#rians o Gree#e% "atro#l)s, who #a)sed the
TroHans s)#h heavy losses, was yet another -o#rian, des#ribed as !bder)sAs brother% The
name !styana: 5Ikin* o the #ityA6, and the solemnity o the debate abo)t his death, s)**ests
that the i#on on whi#h the story is based re(resented the rit)al sa#rii#e o a #hild at the
dedi#ation o a new #ityJan an#ient #)stom in the ,astern Mediterranean 5Gin*s6%
>% !*amemnonAs allies did not lon* enHoy the r)its o their tri)m(h over Troy% 4etween 1100
and 1050 4., the ?orian invasion overwhelmed My#enaean #)lt)re in the "elo(onnese and
the ?ark !*es s)(ervened2 it was a #ent)ry or two beore the $onians, or#ed by the ?orians
to emi*rate to !sia Minor, be*an their #)lt)ral renas#en#e2 whi#h was based solidly on
&omer%
8% !eneasAs wanderin*s belon* to Roman, not Greek, mytholo*y2 and have thereore been
omitted here%
The Ret)rns
I-,T )s sail at on#e,A said Menela)s, Iwhile the bree8e holds%A I3o, noV re(lied !*amemnon,
Ilet )s irst sa#rii#e to !thene%A IWe Greeks owe !thene nothin*PA Menela)s told him% I+he
deended the TroHan #itadel too lon*%A The brothers (arted on ill terms and never saw ea#h
other a*ain, or whereas !*amemnon, ?iomedes, and 3estor enHoyed a (ros(ero)s
homeward voya*e, Menela)s was #a)*ht in a storm sent by !thene2 and lost all b)t ive
vessels% These were blown to .rete when#e he #rossed the sea to ,*y(t, and s(ent ei*ht years
in so)thern waters, )nable to ret)rn% &e visited .y(r)s, "hoeni#ia, ,thio(ia, an -ibya, the
(rin#es o whi#h re#eived him hos(itably and *ave him many ri#h *its% !t last he #ame to
"haros, where the nym(h ,idothea advised him to #a(t)re her (ro(heti# ather, "rote)s the
sea7*od, who alone #o)ld tell him how to break the adverse s(ell and se#)re so)therly bree8e%
Menela)s and three #om(anions a##ordin*ly dis*)ised themselves in stinkin* seal7skins and
lay waitin* on the shore, )ntil they were Hoined at midday by h)ndreds o seals, "rote)sAs
lo#k% "rote)s himsel then a((eared and went to slee( amon* the seals1 where)(on Menela)s
and his (arty sei8ed him, and tho)*h he t)rned s)##essively into lion, ser(ent, (anther, boar,
r)nnin* water, and leay tree, held him ast and or#ed him to (ro(hesy% &e anno)n#ed that
!*amemnon had been m)rdered, and that Menela)s m)st visit ,*y(t on#e more and
(ro(itiate the *ods with he#atombs% This he d)ly did, and no sooner had he raised a #enota(h
to !*amemnon, beside the River o ,*y(t, than the winds blew air at last% &e arrived at
+(arta, a##om(anied by &elen, on the very day that ;restes aven*ed !*amemnonAs m)rder%
b% ! *reat many shi(s, tho)*h #ontainin* no leaders o note, were wre#ked on the ,)boean
#oast, be#a)se 3a)(li)s had kindled a bea#on on Mo)nt .a(hare)s to l)re his enemies to
their death, as i *)idin* them into the shelter o the "a*asaean G)l2 b)t this #rime be#ame
known to @e)s, and it was by a alse bea#on that 3a)(li)s himsel met dead7end many years
later%
#% !m(hilo#h)s, .al#has, "odaleiri)s and a ew others travelled by land to .olo(hon, where
.al#has died, as had been (ro(hesied, on meetin* a wiser seer than himselJnone other than
Mo(s)s, the son o !(ollo and TeiresiasAs da)*hter Manto% ! wild i*7tree #overed with r)it
*rew at .olo(hon, and .al#has, wishin* to abash Mo(s)s, #hallen*ed him as ollows1 I.an
yo) (erha(s tell me, dear #ollea*)e, e:a#tly how many i*s will be harvested rom that treeKA
Mo(s)s, #losin* his eyes, as one who tr)sts to inner si*ht rather than v)l*ar #om()tation,
answered1
I.ertainly1 irst ten tho)sand i*s, then an !e*inetan b)shel o i*s, #are)lly wei*hedJyes,
and a sin*le i* let over%A .al#has la)*hed s#orn)lly at the sin*le i*, b)t when the tree had
been stri((ed, Mo(s)sAs int)ition (roved )nerrin*%
ITo des#end rom tho)sands to lesser E)antities, deer #ollea*)e,A Mo(s)s now said, with an
)n(leasant smile, Ihow many (i*lin*s, wo)ld yo) say, re(ose in the (a)n#h o that (re*nant
sow2 and how many o ea#h se: will she arrow2 and whenKA
I,i*ht (i*lin*s, all male, and she will arrow them within nine days,A .al#has answered at
random, ho(in* to be *one beore his *)ess #o)ld be dis(roved%
I$ am o a dierent o(inion,A said Mo(s)s, a*ain #losin* his eyes% IMy estimate is three
(i*lin*s, only one o them a boar2 and the time o their birth will be midday tomorrow, not a
min)te earlier or later%A Mo(s)s was ri*ht on#e more, and .al#has died o a broken heart% &is
#omrades b)ried him at 3othi)m%
d% The timoro)s "odaleiri)s, instead o askin* his (ro(heti# riends where he sho)ld settle,
(reerred to #ons)lt the ?el(hi# "ythoness, who advised him irritably to *o wherever he
wo)ld s)er no harm, even i the skies were to all% !ter m)#h tho)*ht, he #hose a (la#e in
.aria #alled +yrnos, rin*ed aro)nd with mo)ntains2 their s)mmits wo)ld, he ho(ed, #at#h and
s)((ort the bl)e irmament sho)ld !tlas ever let it sli( rom his sho)lders% The $talians b)ilt
"odaleiri)s a hero7shrine on Mo)nt ?ri)m in ?a)nia, at the s)mmit o whi#h the *host o
.al#has now maintains a dream ora#le%
e% ! dis()te arose between Mo(s)s and !m(hilo#h)s% They had Hointly o)nded the #ity o
Mall)s in .ili#ia, and when !m(hilo#h)s retired to his own #ity
o !m(hilo#hian !r*os, Mo(s)s be#ame sole to rei*n% !m(hilo#h)s, dissatisied with aairs
at !r*os, #ame ba#k ater twelve months to Mall)s, e:(e#tin* to res)me his ormer (owers,
b)t Mo(s)s *r)ntly told him to be *one% When the embarrassed Mallians s)**ested that this
dis()te sho)ld be de#ided by sin*le #ombat, the rivals o)*ht and ea#h killed the other% The
)neral (yres were so divided that Mo(s)s and !m(hilo#h)s #o)ld not e:#han*e )nseemly
s#owls d)rin* their #remation, yet the *hosts somehow be#ame so tenderly linked in
riendshi( that they set )( a #ommon ora#le2 whi#h has now earned a hi*her re()tation or
tr)th even than ?el(hi# !(olloAs% !ll E)estions are written on wa: tablets, and the res(onses
*iven in dreams, at the remarkably low (ri#e o two #o((ers a(ie#e%
% 3eo(tolem)s sailed homeward as soon as he had oered sa#rii#es1 to the *ods and to his
atherAs *host2 and es#a(ed the *reat tem(est whi#h #a)*ht Menela)s and $domene)s, by
takin* the (ro(heti# advi#e o his riend &elen)s and r)nnin* or Molossia% !ter killin* Gin*
"hoeni: and marryin* his own mother to &elen)s, who be#ame kin* o the Molossians and
o)nded a new #a(ital #ity, 3eo(tolem)s re*ained $ol#)s at last% There he s)##eeded to the
kin*dom o his *randather "ele)s, whom the sons o !#ast)s had e:(elled2 b)t on &elen)sAs
advi#e did not stay to enHoy it% &e b)rned his shi(s and mar#hed inland to -ake "ambrotis in
,(ir)s, near the ;ra#le o ?odona where he was wel#omed by a #ommand o his distant
kinsmen% They were bivo)a#kin* )nder blankets s)((orted by s(ear7b)tts, st)#k into the
*ro)nd% 3eo(tolem)s remembered the words o &elen)s1 IWhen yo) ind a ho)se with
o)ndations o iron, wooden walls, and a woollen roo, halt, sa#rii#e to the *ods, b)ild a
#ityPA &ere he be*ot two more sons on !ndroma#he, namely "iel)s and "er*am)s%
*% &is end was in*lorio)s% Goin* to ?el(hi, he demanded satisa#tion or the death o his
ather !#hilles whom !(ollo, dis*)ised as "aris, was said to have shot in his tem(le at Troy%
When the "ythoness #oldly denied him this, he (l)ndered and b)rned the shrine% 3e:t he
went to +(arta, and #laimed that Menela)s had betrothed &ermione to him beore Troy2 b)t
that her *randather Tyndare)s had instead *iven her to !*amemnonAs son ;restes% ;restes
now bein* ()rs)ed by the ,rinnyes, and )nder a divine #)rse, it was only H)st, he ar*)ed, that
&ermione sho)ld be#ome his wie% ?es(ite ;restesAs (rotests, the +(artans *ranted his (lea,
and the marria*e took (la#e at +(arta% &ermione, however, (rovin* barren, 3eo(tolem)s
ret)rned to ?el(hi and, enterin* the smoke7bla#kened san#t)ary, whi#h !(ollo had de#ided to
reb)ild, asked why this sho)ld be%
h% &e was ordered to oer (la#atory sa#rii#es to the *od and, while doin* so, met ;restes at
the altar% ;restes wo)ld have killed him then and there, had not !(ollo, oreseein* that
3eo(tolem)s m)st die by another hand that very day, (revented it% 3ow, the lesh o the
sa#rii#es oered to the *od at ?el(hi has always been a (erE)isite o the tem(le servants2 b)t
3eo(tolem)s, in his i*noran#e, #o)ld not bear to see the at #ar#asses o the o:en whi#h he
had sla)*htered bein* ha)led away beore his eyes, and tried to (revent it by or#e%
I-et )s be rid o this tro)blesome son o !#hillesPA said the "ythoness shortly2 where)(on one
Ma#haere)s, a "ho#ian, #)t down 3eo(tolem)s with his sa#rii#ial knie%
I4)ry him beneath the threshold o o)r new san#t)ary,A she #ommanded% I&e was a amo)s
warrior, and his *host will *)ard it a*ainst all atta#ks% !nd i he has tr)ly re(ented o his
ins)lt to !(ollo, let him (reside over (ro#essions and sa#rii#es in hono)r o heroes like
himsel%A 4)t some say that ;restes insti*ated the m)rder%
i% ?emo(hon the !thenian to)#hed at Thra#e on his ret)rn to !thens, and there "hyllis, a
4isaltian (rin#ess, ell in love with him% &e married her and be#ame kin*% When he tired o
Thra#e, and de#ided to res)me his travels, "hyllis #o)ld do nothin* to hold him%
I$ m)st visit !thens and *reet my mother, whom $ last saw eleven years a*o,A said
?emo(hon%
IDo) sho)ld have tho)*ht o that beore yo) a##e(ted the throne,A "hyllis answered, in tears%
I$t is not law)l to absent yo)rsel or more than a ew months at most%A
?emo(hon swore by every *od in ;lym()s that he wo)ld be ba#k within the year2 b)t "hyllis
knew that he was lyin*% +he a##om(anied him as ar as the (ort #alled ,nneodos, and there
*ave him a #asket%
IThis #ontains a #harm,A "hyllis said% I;(en it only when yo) have abandoned all ho(e o
ret)rnin* to me%A
H% ?emo(hon had no intention o *oin* to !thens% &e steered a so)th7easterly #o)rse or
.y(r)s, where he settled2 and when the year was done, "hyllis #)rsed him in Mother RheaAs
name, took (oison, and died% !t that very ho)r, #)riosity (rom(ted ?emo(hon to o(en the
#asket, and the si*ht o its #ontentsJwho knows what they wereJmade a l)nati# o him% &e
lea(ed on his horse and *allo(ed o in (ani#, belabo)rin* its head with the lat o his sword
)ntil it st)mbled and ell% The sword lew rom his hand, st)#k (oint )(wards in the *ro)nd,
and transi:ed him as he was l)n* over the horseAs head% ! story is told o another Thra#ian
(rin#ess named "hyllis, who had allen in love with ?emo(honAs brother !#amas and, when
storms, delayed his ret)rn rom Troy, died o sorrow and was metamor(hosed into an
almond7tree% These two (rin#esses have oten been #on)sed%
k% ?iomedes, like !*amemnon and others, e:(erien#ed !(hroditeAs bitter enmity% &e was
irst wre#ked on the -y#ian #oast, where Gin* -y#)s wo)ld have sa#rii#ed him to !res, had
not the (rin#ess .allirrhoB hel(ed him to es#a(e2 and, on rea#hin* !r*os, o)nd that his wie
!e*ialeia had been (ers)aded by 3a)(li)s to live in ad)ltery with .ometes or, some say,
with &i((olyt)s% Retirin* to .orinth, he learned there that his *randather ;ene)s needed
assistan#e a*ainst #ertain rebels2 so he sailed or !etolia and set him irmly on his throne
a*ain% 4)t some say that ?iomedes had been or#ed to leave !r*os lon* beore the TroHan
War, on his ret)rn rom the ,(i*oniAs s)##ess)l Theban #am(ai*n2 and that !*amemnon had
sin#e assisted him to win ba#k his kin*dom% &e s(ent the remainder o his lie in $talian
?a)nia, where he married ,)i((e, da)*hter o Gin* ?a)n)s2 and b)ilt many amo)s #ities,
in#l)din* 4r)ndisi)m, whi#h may have been why ?a)n)s Healo)sly m)rdered him when he
was an old man, and b)ried him in one o the islands now #alled the ?iomedans% !##ordin*
to another a##o)nt, however, he s)ddenly disa((eared by an a#t o divine ma*i#, and his
#omrades t)rned into *entle and virt)o)s birds, whi#h still nest on those islands% ?iomedesAs
*olden armo)r has been (reserved by the (riests o !thene at !()lian -)#eria, and he is
worshi((ed as a *od in Cenetia, and thro)*ho)t +o)thern $taly%
l% 3a)(li)s had also (ers)aded $domene)sAs wie Meda to be aithless% +he took one -e)#)s
or her lover, b)t he soon drove her and $domene)sAs da)*hter .leisithyra rom the (ala#e
and m)rdered them both in the tem(le where they had taken san#t)ary% -e)#)s then sed)#ed
ten #ities rom alle*ian#e to their ri*ht)l kin*, and )s)r(ed the throne% .a)*ht in a storm as
he sailed or .rete, $domene)s vowed to dedi#ate to "oseidon the irst (erson whom he met2
and this ha((ened to be his own son or, some say, another o his da)*hters% &e was on the
(oint o )lillin* his vow when a (estilen#e visited the #o)ntry and interr)(ted the sa#rii#e%
-e)#)s now had a *ood e:#)se or banishin* $domene)s, who emi*rated to the +allentine
re*ion o .alabria, and lived there )ntil his death%
m% 'ew o the other Greeks rea#hed home a*ain, and those who did o)nd only tro)ble
awaitin* them% "hilo#tetes was e:(elled by rebels rom his #ity o Meliboea in Thessaly, and
led to +o)thern $taly, where he o)nded "etelia, and .rimissa near .roton, and sent some o
his ollowers to hel( !e*estes ortiy +i#ilian !e*esta% &e dedi#ated his amo)s bow at
.rimissa, in the san#t)ary o ?istra)*ht !(ollo, and when he died was b)ried beside the river
+ybaris%
n% .ontrary winds or#ed G)ne)s to the .yni(s river in -ibya, and he made his home there%
"heidi(()s with his .oans went irst to !ndros and then#e to .y(r)s, where !*a(enor had
also settled% Menesthe)s did not res)me his rei*n at !thens, b)t a##e(ted the va#ant kin*shi(
o Melos2 some say, however, that he died at Troy% ,l(enorAs ollowers were wre#ked on the
shores o ,(ir)s, and o##)(ied !(ollonia2 those o "rotesili)s, near "ellene in the Thra#ian
.hersonese2 and Tle(olem)sAs Rhodians, on one o the $berian islands, when#e a (arty o
them sailed westward a*ain to $taly and were hel(ed by "hilo#tetes in their war a*ainst the
barbaro)s -)#anians% The tale o ;dysse)sAs wanderin*s is now &omeri# entertainment or
twenty7o)r ni*hts%
o% ;nly 3estor, who had always shown himsel H)st, (r)dent, *enero)s, #o)rteo)s, and
res(e#t)l to the *ods, ret)rned sae and so)nd to "yl)s, where he enHoyed a ha((y old a*e,
)ntro)bled by wars, and s)rro)nded by bold, intelli*ent sons% 'or so !lmi*hty @e)s de#reed%
1% The mytho*ra(hers make !(hrodite i*ht a*ainst the Greeks be#a)se, as -ove7*oddess,
she had ba#ked "arisAs abd)#tion o &elen% 4)t she was also the +ea7*oddess whom the
TroHans invoked to destroy the #ommer#ial #onedera#y (atroni8ed by "oseidonJand the
storms alle*edly raised by !thene or "oseidon to deny the vi#tors a sae ret)rn, m)st irst
have been as#ribed to her% This (rin#i(le o ven*ean#e enabled a *reat many #ities in $taly,
-ibya, .y(r)s, and elsewhere to #laim o)ndation by heroes shi(wre#ked on their way ba#k
rom Troy2 rather than by re)*ees rom the ?orian invasion o Gree#e%
0% To b)ry a yo)n* warrior )nder a tem(le threshold was #ommon (ra#ti#e, and sin#e
3eo(tolem)s had b)rned the old shrine at ?el(hi, the "ythoness nat)rally #hose him as her
vi#tim when a new b)ildin* was (lanted on its r)ins% The (revio)s *)ardians o the threshold
had been !*amedes and Tro(honi)s%
<% Rhea, who san#tiied the mysterio)s obHe#t in ?emo(honAs #asket, was also #alled
"andora, and this myth may thereore be an earlier version o how ,(imethe)sAs wie
"andora o(ened the bo: o s(ites1 a warnin* to men who (ry into womenAs mysteries, rather
than #ontrariwise% IMo(s)sA was an ei*hth #ent)ry 4. royal title in .ili#ia%
=% The birds into whi#h ?iomedesAs ollowers were transormed are des#ribed as Ivirt)o)sA
evidently to distin*)ish them rom their #r)el bird7nei*hbo)rs, the +irens%
5% ! vow like $domene)sAs was made by Maeander 5Isear#hin* or a manA6, when he vowed
to the M)een o &eaven the irst (erson who sho)ld #on*rat)late him on his storm o
"essin)s2 and this (roved to be his son !r#hela)s 5Ir)ler o the (eo(leA6% Maeander killed him
and then remorse)lly lea(ed into the river 5"l)tar#h1 ;n Rivers6% ! more amiliar version o
the same myth is o)nd in 9)d*es, where 9e(hthah vows his da)*hter as a b)rnt oerin* to
9ehovah i he is s)##ess)l in war% These variants s)**est that $domene)s vowed a male
sa#rii#e to !(hrodite, rather than to "oseidon2 as Maeander did to the M)een o &eaven, and
as 9e(hthah do)btless did to !natha, who reE)ired s)#h b)rnt oerin*s on her holy 9)daean
mo)ntains% $t looks, indeed, as i sa#rii#e o a royal (rin#e in *ratit)de or a s)##ess)l
#am(ai*n was on#e #ommon (ra#ti#eJ9onathan wo)ld have been sla)*htered by his ather,
Gin* +a)l, ater the vi#tory near Mi#hmash, had not the (eo(le (rotestedJand that the
interr)(tion o $domene)sAs sa#rii#e, like !brahamAs on Mo)nt Moriah, or !thamasAs on
Mo)nt -a(hysti)m was a warnin* that this #)stom no lon*er (leased &eaven% The
s)bstit)tion o a (rin#ess or a (rin#e, as in the story o 9e(hthah, or in the 'irst Cati#an
Mytho*ra(herAs a##o)nt o $domene)sAs vow, marks the anti7matriar#hal rea#tion
#hara#teristi# o heroi# sa*a%
6% Menela)sAs wanderin*s in the +o)thern Mediterranean reer to !#haean (ira#ies and
attem(ts at #oloni8ation% !##ordin* to Zanth)s, an early -ydian historian, the "hoeni#ian #ity
o !s#alon was o)nded by !s#al)s 5I)ntilledA6, brother o "elo(s, and thereore a #ollateral
an#estor o Menela)s% !*ain, when 9osh)a #onE)ered .anaan in the thirteenth #ent)ry 4.,
the men o Gibeon 5!*abon in one +e(t)a*int te:t, meanin* !st) !#haivon, Ithe #ity o the
!#haeansA6 #ame as s)((liants to 9osh)a in Greek ashion, (leadin* that they were not native
.anaanites, b)t &ivites, i%e% !#haeans, rom overseas% 9osh)a re#o*ni8ed their ri*hts as
oresters o the sa#red *roves and drawers o sa#red water 59osh)a6% $t seems rom verse 9
that they reminded 9osh)a o the an#ient maritime lea*)e o Geti) (resided over by Minos o
.noss)s, to whi#h the !#haeans and !brahamAs (eo(le both on#e belon*ed% !braham, who
#ame into the ?elta with the &yksos kin*s, had married his sister +arah to I"haraohA,
meanin* the .nossian r)ler o "harosJthen the #hie tradin* de(ot o the #onedera#y% 4)t
by the time o Menela)s, .noss)s lay in r)ins, the #onederates had t)rned (irates and been
deeated by the ,*y(tians at the 4attle o "iari 51009 4%.%6JA$ tra((ed them like wildowl ,
they were dra**ed, hemmed in, laid low on the bea#h, their shi(s and *oods were allen into
the seaAJand "haros, no lon*er the lar*est (ort in the an#ient world, be#ame a mere breedin*
(la#e or seals% ! s)bmarine disaster had overwhelmed its harbo)r works, and in early
.lassi#al times orei*n trade (assed thro)*h 3a)#ratis, the Milesian enter(rise%
>% Menela)sAs str)**le with "rote)s is a de*enerate version o a amiliar myth1 the +eal7
*oddess Thetis has been mas#)lini8ed into "rote)s, and Menela)s, instead o waitin* or the
seal7skin to be dis#arded, and then amoro)sly *ra((lin* with the deity, as "ele)s did, )ses a
seal7skin as a dis*)ise, #alls )(on three men to hel( him, and reE)ires no more rom his
#a(tive than an ora#)lar answer% "rote)s ra(idly transorms himsel, as Thetis did with
"ele)s, or as ?ionys)s7@a*re)s, who is asso#iated with "haros, did when threatened by the
Titans% The &omeri# list o his transormations is a m)ddied one1 two or three seasonal
seE)en#es have been teles#o(ed% -ion and boar are intelli*ible emblems o a two7season year2
so are b)ll, lion, and water7ser(ent, o a three7season year2 the (anther is sa#red to ?ionys)s2
and the Ileay treeA, (aralleled in the story o "eri#lymen)s, reers (erha(s to the sa#red trees
o the months% "rote)sAs #han*es make am)sin* i#tion, b)t are wholly ina((ro(riate to the
ora#)lar #onte:t, )nless the real story is that ater a rei*n o ei*ht years, and the ann)al killin*
o an interre: in .retan style, Menela)s be#ame the ora#)lar hero o a settlement o)nded
beside the River o ,*y(t%
;dysse)sAs Wanderin*s
;?D++,/+, settin* sail rom Troy in the s)re knowled*e that he m)st wander or another
ten years beore he #o)ld ho(e to re*ain $tha#a, to)#hed irst at .i#onian $smar)s and took it
by storm% $n the (illa*e he s(ared only Maro, !(olloAs (riest, who *rate)lly (resented him
with several Hars o sweet wine2 b)t the .i#onians o the interior saw the (all o smoke s(read
hi*h above the b)rned #ity, and #har*in* down on the Greeks as they drank by the seashore,
s#attered them in all dire#tions% When ;dysse)s had rallied and re7embarked his men with
heavy losses, a ier#e north7easterly *ale drove him a#ross the !e*ean +ea towards .ythera%
;n the o)rth day, d)rin* a tem(tin* l)ll, he tried to do)ble .a(e Malea and work )(
northward to $tha#a, b)t the wind rose a*ain more violently than beore% !ter nine days o
dan*er and misery, the -ibyan (romontory where the -ot)s7eaters live hove in si*ht% 3ow,
the lot)s is a stoneless, saron7#olo)red r)it abo)t the si8e o a bean, *rowin* in sweet and
wholesome #l)sters, tho)*h with the (ro(erty o makin* those who have tasted it lose all
memory o their own land2 some travellers, however, des#ribe it as a kind o a((le rom
whi#h a heavy #ider is brewed% ;dysse)s landed to draw water, and sent o)t a (atrol o three
men, who ate the lot)s oered them by the natives and so or*ot their mission% !ter a while
he went in sear#h o them at the head o a res#)e (arty, and tho)*h himsel tem(ted to taste
the lot)s, rerained% &e bro)*ht the deserters ba#k by or#e, #la((ed them in irons, and sailed
away witho)t more ado%
b% 3e:t he #ame to a ertile, well7wooded island, inhabited only by #ottadoss wild *oats, and
shot some o these or ood% There he bea#hed the whole leet, e:#e(t a sin*le shi( in whi#h
he set o)t to e:(lore the o((osite #oast% $t (roved to be the land o the ier#e and barbaro)s
.y#lo(es, so #alled
be#a)se o the lar*e, ro)nd eye that *lared rom the #entre o ea#h orehead% They have lost
the art o smith #rat known to their an#estors who worked or @e)s, and are now she(herds
witho)t laws, assemblies, shi(s, markets, or knowled*e o a*ri#)lt)re2 livin* s)llenly a(art
rom one another, in #averns hollowed rom the ro#ky hills% +eein* the hi*h, la)rel7h)n*
entran#e o s)#h a #avern, beyond a sto#k7yard walled with h)*e stones, ;dysse)s and his
#om(anions entered, )naware that the (ro(erty belon*ed to a .y#lo(s named "oly(hem)s, a
*i*anti# son o "oseidon and the nym(h ThoFsa, who loved to dine o h)man lesh% The
Greeks made themselves at home by li*htin* a lar*e ire2 then sla)*htered and roasted some
kids that they o)nd (enned at the ba#k o the #avern, hel(ed themselves to #heese rom
baskets h)n* on the walls, and easted #heer)lly% Towards evenin* "oly(hem)s a((eared% &e
drove his lo#k into the #avern and #losed the entran#e behind him with a slab o stone so
h)*e that twenty teams o o:en #o)ld s#ar#ely have stirred it2 then, not observin* that he had
*)ests, sat down to milk his ewes and *oats% 'inally he *lan#ed )( rom the (ail and saw
;dysse)s and his #omrades re#lined aro)nd the hearth% &e asked *r)ly what b)siness they
had in his #avern% ;dysse)s re(lied1 IGentle monster, we are Greeks on o)r way home ater
the sa#k o Troy2 (ray remember yo)r d)ty to the *ods and entertain )s hos(itably%A 'or
answer "oly(hem)s snorted, sei8ed two sailors by the eet, dashed o)t their brains on the
loor, and devo)red the #ar#asses raw, *rowlin* over the bones like any mo)ntain lion%
#% ;dysse)s wo)ld have taken bloody ven*ean#e beore dawn, b)t dared not, be#a)se
"oly(hem)s alone was stron* eno)*h to shit the stone rom the entran#e% &e (assed the
ni*ht, head #las(ed between hands, elaboratin* a (lan o es#a(e, while "oly(hem)s snored
dread)lly% 'or breakast, the monster brained and killed another two sailors, ater whi#h he
silently drove o)t his lo#k beore him and #losed #avern with the same slab o stone2 b)t
;dysse)s took a stake o *rey olive7wood, shar(ened and hardened one end in the ire, then
#on#ealed it )nder a hea( o d)n*% That evenin* the .y#lo(s ret)rned and ate two more o the
twelve sailors, where)(on ;dysse)s (olitely oered him an ivy7wood bowl o the heady
wine *iven him by Maro in .i#onian $smar)s2 ort)nately, he had bro)*ht a )ll wine7skin
ashore% "oly(hem)s drank *reedily, #alled or a se#ond bowl)l, never in his lie havin*
tasted any drink stron*er than b)ttermilk, and #ondes#ended to ask ;dysse)s his name% IMy
name is ;)deis,A ;dysse)s re(lied, Ior that is what everyone #alls me, or shortA% 3ow,
;)deis means I3obodyA% I$ will eat yo) last, riend ;)deis,A "oly(hem)s (romised%
d% !s soon as the .y#lo(s had allen into a dr)nken slee(, the wine havin* been )ntem(ered
with water, ;dysse)s and his remainin* #om(anions heated the stake in the embers o the
ire, then drove it into the sin*le eye and twisted it abo)t, ;dysse)s bearin* down heavily
rom above, as one drills a bolt hole in shi(As timber% The eye hissed, "oly(hem)s raised a
horrible yell, whi#h set all his nei*hbo)rs h)rryin* rom near and ar to learn what was amiss%
I$ am blinded and in ri*ht)l a*onyP $t is the a)lt o ;)deis,A he bellowed% I;)deis is to
blamePA
I"oor wret#hA they re(lied% I$, as yo) say, nobody is to blame, m)st be in a delirio)s ever%
"ray to o)r 'ather "oseidon or re#overy, and sto( makin* so m)#h noisePA
They went o *r)mblin*, and "oly(hem)s elt his way to the #avern mo)th, removed the
slab o stone and, *ro(in* e:(e#tantly with his hands, waited to #at#h the s)rvivin* Greeks as
they tried to es#a(e% 4)t ;dysse)s took withies and tied ea#h o his #omrades in t)rn )nder
the belly o a ram, the middle one o three, distrib)tin* the wei*ht evenly% &e himsel #hose
an enormo)s t)(, the leader o the lo#k, and (re(ared to #)rl )( )nderneath it, *ri((in* the
lee#e with his in*ers and toes%
e% !t dawn, "oly(hem)s let his lo#k o)t to (ast)re, *ently strokin* their ba#ks to make s)re
that no one was astride o them% &e lin*ered awhile talkin* sorrow)lly to the beast )nder
whi#h ;dysse)s lay #on#ealed, askin* it1 IWhy, dear ram, are yo) not to the ore, as )s)alK
?o yo) (ity me in my misort)neKA 4)t at last he allowed it to (ass%
% Th)s ;dysse)s #ontrived both to ree his #om(anions and to drive a lo#k o at rams down
to the shi(% M)i#kly she was la)n#hed, and as the men sei8ed their oars and be*an to row o,
;dysse)s #o)ld not rerain rom sho)tin* an ironi#al *oodbye% 'or answer, "oly(hem)s
h)rled a lar*e ro#k, whi#h ell hal a len*th ahead o the shi(2 its ba#kwash nearly et#hed her
ashore a*ain% ;dysse)s la)*hed, and #ried1 I+ho)ld anyone ask who blinded yo), answer that
it was not ;)deis, b)t ;dysse)s o $tha#aPA The enra*ed .y#lo(s (rayed alo)d to "oseidon1
IGrant, ather, that i my enemy ;dysse)s ever ret)rns home, he may arrive late, in evil
(li*ht, rom a orei*n shi(, havin* lost all his #omrades2 may he also ind a hea( o tro)bles
massed on the thresholdPA &e h)rled another, even lar*er, ro#k and this time it ell hal len*th
astern o the shi(2 so that the wave whi#h it raised #arried her switly to the island where
;dysse)sAs other ollowers were an:io)sly awaitin* him% 4)t "oseidon listened to
"oly(hem)s, and (romised the reE)ired ven*ean#e%
*% ;dysse)s now steered to the north, and (resently rea#hed the $sle o !eol)s, Warden o the
Winds, who entertained him nobly or an entire month and, on the last day, handed him a ba*
o winds, e:(lainin* that while its ne#k was se#)red with silver wire, all wo)ld be well% &e
had not, he said, im(risoned the *entle West Wind, whi#h wo)ld wat the leet steadily over
the $onian +ea towards $tha#a, b)t ;dysse)s mi*ht release the others one by one, i or any
reason he needed to alter his #o)rse% +moke #o)ld already be des#ried risin* rom the
#himneys o ;dysse)sAs (ala#e, when he ell aslee(, over#ome by e:ha)stion% &is men, who
had been wat#hin* or this moment, )ntied the ba*, whi#h (romised to #ontain wine% !t on#e
the Winds roared homeward, drivin* the shi( beore them2 and ;dysse)s soon o)nd himsel
on !eol)sAs island a*ain% With (ro)se a(olo*ies he asked or )rther hel(, b)t was told to be
*one and )se oars this time2 not a breath o West Wind sho)ld he be *iven% I$ #annot assist a
man whom the *ods o((ose,A #ried !eol)s, slammin* the door in his a#e%
h% !ter a seven daysA voya*e, ;dysse)s #ame to the land o the -aestry*ones, r)led over by
Gin* -am)s, whi#h is said by some to have lain in the northwestern (art o +i#ily% ;thers
(la#e it near 'ormiae in $taly, where the noble &o)se o -amia #laims des#ent rom Gin*
-am)s2 and this seems #redible, be#a)se who wo)ld admit des#ent rom #annibals, )nless it
were a matter o #ommon traditionK $n the land o the -aestry*ones, ni*ht and mornin* #ome
so #lose to*ether that she(herds leadin* home their lo#ks at s)nset hail those who drive
theirs o)t at dawn% ;dysse)sAs #a(tains boldly entered the harbo)r o Tele(yl)s whi#h, e:#e(t
or a narrow entran#e, is rin*ed by abr)(t #lis, and bea#hed their shi(s near a #art tra#k that
wo)nd )( a valley, ;dysse)s himsel, bein* more #a)tio)s, made his shi( ast to a ro#k
o)tside the harbo)r, ater sendin* three s#o)ts inland to re#onnoitre% They ollowed the tra#k
)ntil they o)nd a *irl drawin* water rom a s(rin*% +he (roved to be a da)*hter o
!nti(hates, a -aestry*onian #hietain, to whose ho)se she led them% There, however, they
were mer#ilessly set )(on by a horde o sava*es who sei8ed one o them and killed him or
the (ot2 the other two ran o at )ll s(eed, b)t the sava*es, instead o ()rs)in* them, made
or the #hions and stove in the shi(s with a #as#ade o bo)lders beore they #o)ld be
la)n#hed% Then, des#endin* to the bea#h, they massa#red and devo)red the #rew at their
leis)re% ;dysse)s es#a(ed by #)ttin* the hawser o his shi( a sword, and #allin* on his
#omrades to row or dear lie%
i% &e steered his sole remainin* vessel d)e east and, ater a lon* voya*e, rea#hed !eaea, the
$sland o ?awn, r)led over by the *oddess .ir#e, da)*hter o &eli)s and "erse, and th)s
sister to !eBtes, the bale)l kin* o .ol#his% .ir#e was skilled in all en#hantments, b)t had
little love or h)man7kind% When lots were #ast to de#ide who sho)ld stay to *)ard the shi(
and who sho)ld re#onnoitre the island, ;dysse)sAs mate ,)rylo#h)s was #hosen to *o ashore
with twenty7two others% &e o)nd !eaea ri#h in oaks and other orest trees, and at last #ame
)(on .ir#eAs (ala#e, b)ilt in a wide #learin* towards the #entre o the island% Wolves and
lions (rowled aro)nd b)t, instead o atta#kin* ,)rylo#h)s and his (arty, stood )(ri*ht on
their hind le*s and #aressed them% ;ne mi*ht have taken these beasts or h)man bein*s, and
so indeed they were, tho)*h th)s transormed by .ir#eAs s(ells%
H% .ir#e sat in her hall, sin*in* to her loom and, when ,)rylo#h)sAs (arty raised a halloo,
ste((ed o)t with a smile and invited them to dine at her table% !ll
entered *ladly, e:#e(t ,)rylo#h)s himsel who, s)s(e#tin* a tra(, stayed behind and (eered
an:io)sly in at the windows% The *oddess set a mess o #heese, barley, honey, and wine
beore the h)n*ry sailors2 b)t it was dr)**ed, and no sooner had they be*)n to eat than she
str)#k their sho)lders with her wand and transormed them into ho*s% Grimly then she
o(ened the wi#ket o a stable, s#attered a ew hand)ls o a#orns and #ornel7#herries on the
loor, and let them there to wallow%
k% ,)rylo#h)s #ame ba#k, wee(in*, and re(orted this misort)ne to ;dysse)s, who sei8ed his
sword and went o, bent on res#)e, tho)*h witho)t any settled (lan in his head% To his
s)r(rise he en#o)ntered the *od &ermes, who *reeted him (olitely and oered him a #harm
a*ainst .ir#eAs ma*i#1 a s#ented white lower with a bla#k root, #alled moly, whi#h only the
*ods #an re#o*ni8e and #)ll% ;dysse)s a##e(ted the *it *rate)lly and, #ontin)in* on his
way, was in d)e #o)rse entertained by .ir#e% When he had eaten his dr)**ed meal, she raised
her wand and str)#k him on the sho)lder% IGo Hoin yo)r #omrades in the stableA she
#ommanded% 4)t havin* s)rre(titio)sly smelt the moly lower, he remained )nen#hanted, and
lea(ed )(, sword in hand% .ir#e ell wee(in* at his eet% I+(are me,A she #ried, Iand yo) shall
share my #o)#h and rei*n in !eaea with mePA Well aware that wit#hes have (ower to enervate
and destroy their lovers, by se#retly drawin* o their blood in little bladders, ;dysse)s
e:a#ted a solemn oath rom .ir#e not to (lot any )rther mis#hie a*ainst him% This oath she
swore by the blessed *ods and, ater *ivin* him a deli#io)sly warm bath, wine in *olden
#)(s, and a tasty s)((er served by a staid ho)sekee(er, (re(ared to (ass the ni*ht with him in
a ()r(le7#overed bed% De t ;dysse)s wo)ld not res(ond to her amoro)s advan#es )ntil she
#onsented to ree not only his #omrades b)t all the other sailors en#hanted by her% ;n#e this
was done, he *ladly stayed in !eaea )ntil she had borne him three sons, !*ri)s, -atin)s, and
Tele*on)s%
l% ;dysse)s lon*ed to be on his way a*ain, and .ir#e #onsented to let him *o% 4)t he m)st
irst visit Tartar)s, and there seek o)t Teiresias the seer, who wo)ld (ro(hesy the ate
(re(ared or him in $tha#a, sho)ld he ever rea#h it, and aterwards% IR)n beore the 3orth
Wind,A .ir#e said, I)ntil yo) #ome to the ;#ean +tream and the Grove o "erse(hone,
remarkable or its bla#k (o(lars and a*ed willows% !t the (oint where the rivers "hle*ethon
and .o#yt)s low into the !#heron, di* a tren#h, and sa#rii#e a yo)n* ram and a bla#k ewe
Jwhi#h $ mysel will (rovideJto &ades and "erse(hone% -et the blood enter the tren#h, and
as yo) wait or Teiresias to arrive drive o all other *hosts with yo)r sword% !llow him to
drink as m)#h as he (leases and then listen #are)lly to his advi#e%A
m% ;dysse)s or#ed his men aboard, )nwillin* tho)*h they were to sail rom (leasant !eaea
to the land o &ades% .ir#e s)((lied a avo)rable bree8e, whi#h wated them switly to the
;#ean +tream and those lost rontiers o the world where the o*7bo)nd .immerians, #iti8ens
o "er(et)al ?)sk, are denied all view o the +)n% When they si*hted "erse(honeAs Grove,
;dysse)s landed, and did e:a#tly as .ir#e advised him% The irst *host to a((ear at the tren#h
was that o ,l(enor, one o his own #rew who, only a ew days (revio)sly, had dr)nken
himsel to slee( on the roo o .ir#eAs (ala#e, awoken in a da8e, to((led over the ed*e, and
killed himsel% ;dysse)s, havin* let !eaea so h)rriedly that ,l(enorAs absen#e had es#a(ed
his noti#e )ntil too late, now (romised him de#ent b)rial% ITo think that yo) #ame here on
oot E)i#ker than $ have #ome by shi(PA he e:#laimed% 4)t he denied ,l(enor the least si( o
the blood, however (iteo)sly he mi*ht (lead%
n% ! mi:ed #rowd o *hosts swarmed abo)t the tren#h, men and women o all dates and every
a*e, in#l)din* ;dysse)sAs mother !nti#leia2 b)t he wo)ld not let even her drink beore
Teiresias had done so% !t last Teiresias a((eared, la((ed the blood *rate)lly, and wanted
;dysse)s to kee( his men )nder stri#t #ontrol on#e they had si*hted +i#ily, their ne:t landall,
lest they be tem(ted to steal the #attle o the +)n Titan &y(erion% &e m)st e:(e#t *reat
tro)ble in $tha#a, and tho)*h he #o)ld ho(e to aven*e himsel on the s#o)ndrels who were
devo)rin* his s)bstan#e there, his travels wo)ld not yet have inished% &e m)st take an oar
and #arry it on his sho)lder )ntil he #ame to an inland re*ion where no man salted his meat,
and where the oar wo)ld be mistaken or a winnowin*7bat% $ he then sa#rii#ed to "oseidon,
he mi*ht re*ain $tha#a and enHoy a (ros(ero)s old a*e2 b)t in the end death wo)ld #ome to
him rom the sea%
o% &avin* thanked Teiresias and (romised him the blood o another bla#k ewe on his ret)rn to
$tha#a, ;dysse)s at last (ermitted his mother to E)en#h her thirst% +he *ave him )rther news
rom home, b)t ke(t a dis#reet silen#e abo)t her da)*hter7in7lawAs s)itors% When she had said
*oodbye, the *hosts o n)mero)s E)eens and (rin#esses troo(ed )( to la( the blood%
;dysse)s was deli*hted to meet s)#h well7known (ersona*es as !ntio(e, $o#aste, .hloris,
"ero, -eda, $(himedeia, "haedra, "ro#ris, !riadne, Maera, .lymene, and ,ri(hyle%
(% &e ne:t entertained a troo( o ormer #omrades1 !*amemnon, who advised him to land on
$tha#a in se#ret2 !#hilles, whom he #heered by re(ortin* 3eo(tolem)sAs mi*hty eats2 and
Great !Ha:, who had by no means yet or*iven him and strode s)lkily away% ;dysse)s also
saw Minos H)d*in*, ;rion h)ntin*, Tantal)s and +isy(h)s s)erin*, and &era#lesJor rather
his wraith, or &era#les himsel banE)ets at ease amon* the immortal *odsJwho
#ommiserated with him on his lon* ho)rs%
E% ;dysse)s sailed ba#k saely to !eaea, where he b)ried the body o ,l(enor and (lanted his
oar on the barrow as a memorial% .ir#e *reeted him merrily% IWhat hardihood to have visited
the land o &adesPA she #ried% I;ne death is eno)*h or most men2 b)t now yo) will have had
twoPA +he warned him that he m)st ne:t (ass the $sland o the +irens, whose bea)ti)l voi#es
en#hanted all who sailed near% These #hildren o !#helo)s or, some say, "hor#ys, by either
the M)se Ter(si#hore, or by +tero(e, "orthaonAs da)*hter, had *irlsA a#es b)t birdsA eet and
eathers, and many dierent stories are told to a##o)nt or this (e#)liarity1 s)#h as that they
had been (layin* with .ore when &ades abd)#ted her, and that ?emeter, ve:ed be#a)se they
had not #ome to her aid, *ave them win*s, sayin*1 I4e*one, and sear#h or my da)*hter all
over the worldPA ;r that !(hrodite t)rned them into birds be#a)se, or (ride, they wo)ld not
yield their maidenheads either to *ods or men% They no lon*er had the (ower o li*ht,
however, sin#e the M)ses had deeated them in a m)si#al #ontest and ()lled o)t their win*
eathers to make themselves #rowns% 3ow they sat and san* in a meadow amon* the hea(ed
bones o sailors whom they had drawn to their death% I"l)* yo)r menAs ears with bees7wa:,A
advised .ir#e, Iand i yo) are ea*er to hear their m)si#, have yo)r #rew bind yo) hand and
oot to the mast, and make them swear not to let yo) es#a(e, however harshly yo) may
threaten them%A .ir#e warned ;dysse)s o other (erils in store or him, when he #ame to say
*oodbye2 and he sailed o, on#e more #onveyed by a air bree8e%
r% !ter shi( a((roa#hed +iren -and, ;dysse)s took .ir#eAs advi#e, and the +irens san* so
sweetly, (romisin* him oreknowled*e o all )t)re ha((enin*s on earth, that he sho)ted to
his #om(anions, threatenin* them with death i they wo)ld not release him2 b)t, obeyin* his
earlier orders, they only lashed him ti*hter to the mast% Th)s the shi( sailed by in saety, and
the +irens #ommitted s)i#ide or ve:ation%
s% +ome believe that there were only two +irens2 others, that there were three, namely
"artheno(e, -e)#osia, and -i*eia2 or "eisinoB, !*lao(e, and Thel:e(eia2 or !*lao(honos,
Thel:io(e, and Mol(e% +till others name o)r1 Teles, Raidne, Thel:io(e, and Mol(e%
t% ;dysse)sAs ne:t dan*er lay in (assin* between two #lis, one o whi#h harbo)red +#ylla,
and the other .harybdis, her ellow7monster% .harybdis, da)*hter o Mother ,arth and
"oseidon, was a vora#io)s woman, who had been h)rled by @e)sAs th)nderbolt into the sea
and now, thri#e daily, s)#ked in a h)*e vol)me o water and (resently s(ewed it o)t a*ain%
+#ylla, the on#e bea)ti)l da)*hter o &e#ate .rataeis by "hor#ys, or "horbasJor o ,#hidne
by Ty(hon, Triton, or Tyrrheni)sJhad been #han*ed into a do*7like monster with si: ear)l
heads and twelve eet% This was done either by .ir#e when Healo)s o the sea7*od Gla)#)sAs
love or her, or by !m(hitrite, similarly Healo)s o "oseidonAs love% +he wo)ld sei8e sailors,
#ra#k their bones, and slowly swallow them% !lmost the stran*est thin* abo)t +#ylla was her
yel(1 no lo)der than the whim(er o a newly7born ()((y% Tryin* to es#a(e rom .harybdis,
;dysse)s steered a trile too near +#ylla who, leanin* over the *)n7wales, snat#hed si: o his
ablest sailors o the de#k, one in ea#h mo)th, and whisked them away to the ro#ks, where
she devo)red them at leis)re% They s#reamed and stret#hed o)t their hands to ;dysse)s, b)t
he dared not attem(t a
res#)e, and sailed on%
)% ;dysse)s took this #o)rse in order to avoid the Wanderin*, or .lashin*, Ro#ks, between
whi#h only the !r*o had ever s)##eeded in (assin*2 he was )naware that they were now
rooted to the sea7bed% +oon he si*hted +i#ily, where &y(erion the +)n7Titan, whom some #all
&eli)s, had seven herds o s(lendid #attle at (ast)re, ity to a herd, and lar*e lo#ks o st)rdy
shee( as well% ;dysse)s made his men swear a solemn oath to be #ontent with the (rovisions
whi#h .ir#e had s)((lied, and not steal a sin*le #ow% They then landed and bea#hed the shi(,
b)t the +o)th Wind blew or thirty days, ood *rew s#ar#e, and tho)*h the sailors h)nted or
ished every day, they had little s)##ess% !t last ,)rylo#h)s, des(erate with h)n*er, drew his
#omrades aside and (ers)aded them to sla)*hter some o the #attleJin #om(ensation or
whi#h, he hastened to add, they wo)ld b)ild &y(erion a s(lendid tem(le on their ret)rn to
$tha#a% They waited )ntil ;dysse)s had allen aslee(, #a)*ht several #ows, sla)*htered them,
sa#rii#ed the thi*hbones and at to the *ods, and roasted eno)*h *ood bee or a si: daysA
east%
v% ;dysse)s was horriied when he awoke to ind what had ha((ened2 and so was &y(erion
on hearin* the story rom -am(etia, his da)*hter and #hie herdswoman% &y(erion
#om(lained to @e)s who, seein* that ;dysse)sAs shi( had been la)n#hed a*ain, sent a s)dden
westerly storm to brin* the mast #rashin* down on the helmsmanAs sk)ll2 and then l)n* a
th)nderbolt on de#k% The shi( o)ndered, and all aboard were drowned, e:#e(t ;dysse)s% &e
#ontrived to lash the loatin* mast and keel to*ether with the raw7hide ba#k7stay, and dam(er
astride this makeshit vessel% 4)t a so)therly *ale s(ran* )(, and he o)nd himsel s)#ked
towards .harybdisAs whirl(ool% .l)t#hin* at the bole o a wild i*7tree whi#h *rew rom the
#li above, he h)n* on *rimly )ntil the mast and keel had been swallowed and re*)r*itated2
then mo)nted them on#e more and (addled away with his hands% !ter nine days he drited
ashore on the island o ;*y*ia, where lived .aly(so, the da)*hter o Thetis by ;#ean)s, or it
may have been 3ere)s, or !tlas%
w% Thi#kets o alder, bla#k (o(lar, and #y(ress, with horned owls, al#ons, and *arr)lo)s sea7
#rows roostin* in their bran#hes, sheltered .aly(soAs *reat #avern% ! *ra(e7vine twisted
a#ross the entran#e% "arsley and irises *rew thi#k in an adHoinin* meadow, whi#h was ed by
o)r #lear streams% &ere lovely .aly(so wel#omed ;dysse)s as he st)mbled ashore, and
oered him (lenti)l ood, heady drink, and a share o her sot bed% I$ yo) stay with me,A she
(leaded, Iyo) shall enHoy immortality and a*eless yo)th%A +ome say that it was .aly(so, not
.ir#e, who bore him -atin)s, besides the twins 3a)sitho)s and 3a)sino)s%
:% .aly(so detained ;dysse)s on ;*y*ia or seven yearsJor (erha(s only or iveJand
tried to make him or*et $tha#a2 b)t he had soon tired o her embra#es, and )sed to sit
des(ondently on the shore, starin* o)t to sea% !t last, takin* advanta*e o "oseidonAs absen#e,
@e)s sent &ermes to .aly(so with an order or ;dysse)sAs release% +he had no o(tion b)t to
obey, and thereore told him to b)ild a rat, whi#h she wo)ld vi#t)al s)i#iently1 (rovidin* a
sa#k o #orn, skins o wine and water, and dried meat% Tho)*h ;dysse)s s)s(e#ted a tra(,
.aly(so swore by the +ty: that she wo)ld not de#eive him, and lent him a:e, a)*ers, and all
other ne#essary *ear% &e needed no )r*in*, b)t im(ro:ed a rat rom a s#ore o tree7tr)nks
lashed to*ether2 la)n#hed it on rollers2 kissed .aly(so *oodbye, and set sail with a *entle
bree8e%
y% "oseidon had been visitin* his blameless riends the ,thio(ians, and as he drove home
a#ross the sea in his win*ed #hariot, s)ddenly saw the rat% !t on#e ;dysse)s was swe(t
overboard by a h)*e wave, and the ri#h robes whi#h he wore dra**ed him down to the sea7
de(ths )ntil his l)n*s seemed abo)t to b)rst% Det bein* a (ower)l swimmer, he mana*ed to
divest himsel o the robes, re*ain the s)ra#e, and s#rollable ba#k on the rat% The (iti)l
*oddess -e)#othea, ormerly $no, wie o !thamas, ali*hted beside him there, dis*)ised as a
sea7mew% $n her beak she #arried a veil, whi#h she told ;dysse)s to wind aro)nd his middle
beore (l)n*in* into the sea a*ain% This veil wo)ld save him, she (romised% &e hesitated to
obey b)t, when another wave shattered the rat, wo)nd the veil aro)nd him and swam o%
+in#e "oseidon had now ret)rned to his )nderwater (ala#e near ,)boea, !thene dared send a
wind to latten the waves in ;dysse)sAs (ath, and two days later he was #ast ashore, )tterly
e:ha)sted, on the island o ?re(ane then o##)(ied by the "haea#ians% &e lay down in the
shelter o a #o(se beside a stream, hea(ed dry leaves over himsel, and ell ast aslee(%
8% 3e:t mornin* the lovely 3a)si#aa, da)*hter o Gin* !l#ino)s and M)een !rBte, the royal
(air who had on#e shown s)#h kindness to 9ason and Medea, #ame to wash her linen in the
stream% When the work was done she (layed at ball with her women% Their ball ha((ened to
bo)n#e into the water, a sho)t o dismay ran* o)t, and ;dysse)s awoke in alarm% &e had no
#lothes, b)t )sed a leay olive7bran#h to #on#eal his nakedness and, #ree(in* orward,
addressed s)#h honeyed words to 3a)si#aa that she dis#reetly took him )nder her (rote#tion
and had him bro)*ht to the (ala#e% There !l#ino)s hea(ed *its on ;dysse)s and, ater
listenin* to his advent)res, sent him o to $tha#a in a ree shi(% &is es#ort knew the island
well% They #ast an#hor in the haven o "hor#ys, b)t de#ided not to dist)rb his so)nd slee(,
#arried him ashore and laid him *ently on the sand, sta#kin* !l#ino)sAs *its beneath a tree
not ar o% "oseidon, however, was so ve:ed by the "haea#iansA kindness to ;dysse)s that he
str)#k the shi( with the iat o his hand as she sailed home, and t)rned her into stone, #rew
and all% !l#ino)s at on#e sa#rii#ed twelve #hoi#e b)lls to "oseidon, who was now
threatenin* to de(rive the #ity o its two harbo)rs by dro((in* a *reat mo)ntain between2 and
some say that he was as *ood as his word% IThis will tea#h )s not to be hos(itable in )t)rePA
!l#ino)s told !rBte in bitter tones%
1% !(ollodor)s re#ords 5,(itome6 that Isome have taken the ;dyssey to be an a##o)nt o a
voya*e aro)nd +i#ily%A +am)el 4)tler #ame inde(endently to the same view and read
3a)si#aa as a sel7(ortrait o the a)thoressJa yo)n* and talented +i#ilian noblewoman o the
,ry: distri#t% $n his !)thoress o the ;dyssey, he add)#es the intimate knowled*e here shown
o domesti# lie at #o)rt, #ontrasted with the sket#hy knowled*e o seaarin* or (astoral
e#onomy, and em(hasi8es the I(re(onderan#e o emale interestA% &e (oints o)t that only a
woman #o)ld have made ;dysse)s interview the amo)s women o the (ast beore the
amo)s men and, in his arewell s(ee#h to the "haea#ians, ho(e that Ithey will #ontin)e to
(lease their wives and #hildren,A rather than the other way abo)t 5;dyssey62 or made &elen
(at the Wooden &orse and tease the men inside% $t is dii#)lt to disa*ree with 4)tler% The
li*ht, h)moro)s, naive, s(irited to)#h o the ;dyssey is almost #ertainly a womanAs% 4)t
3a)si#aa has #ombined, and lo#ali8ed in her native +i#ily, two dierent le*ends, neither o
them invented by her1 ;dysse)sAs semi7histori#al ret)rn rom Troy, and the alle*ori#al
advent)res another heroJlet )s #all him /lyssesJwho, like ;dysse)sAs *randather
+isy(h)s, wo)ld not die when his term o soverei*nty ended% The ;dysse)s le*end will have
in#l)ded the raid on $smar)s2 the tem(est whi#h drove him ar to the so)th7west2 the ret)rn by
way o +i#ily and $taly2 the shi(wre#k on ?re(ane 5.or)62 and his event)al ven*ean#e on the
s)itors% !ll, or nearly all, the other in#idents belon* to the /lysses story% -ot)s land, the
#avern o the .y#lo(s, the harbo)r o Tel#(yl)s, !eaea, "erse(honeAs Grove, +iren -and,
;*y*ia, +#ylla and .harybdis, the ?e(ths o the +ea, even the 4ay o "hor#ysJall are
dierent meta(hors or the death whi#h he evaded% To these evasions may be added his
e:e#)tion o old &e#abe, otherwise known as Maera the -esser ?o* +tar, to whom $#ari)sAs
s)##essor sho)ld have been sa#rii#ed%
0% 4oth +#yla: 5"eri(l)s6 and &erodot)s knew the -ot)s7eaters as a nation livin* in Western
-ibya near the matriar#hal Gindians% Their sta(le was the (alatable and no)rishin* #ordia
my:a, a sweet, sti#ky r)it *rowin* in *ra(e7like #l)sters whi#h, (ressed and mi:ed with
*rain 5"liny1 3at)ral &istory2 Theo(hrast)s1 &istory o "lants6, on#e ed an army mar#hin*
a*ainst .artha*e% .ordia my:a has been #on)sed with rhamn)s 8i8y(h)s, a sort o #rab7
a((le whi#h yields a ro)*h #ider and has a stone instead o (i(s% The or*et)lness ind)#ed by
lot)s7eatin* is sometimes e:(lained as d)e to the (oten#y o this drink1 b)t lot)s7eatin* is not
the same as lot)s7drinkin*% +in#e, thereore, the sa#red kin*As tastin* o an a((le *iven him
by the 4elle ?ame +ans Mer#i was tantamo)nt to a##e(tin* death at her hands% The #a)tio)s
/lysses, well aware that (ale kin*s and warriors lan*)ished in the /nderworld be#a)se o an
a((le, will have re)sed to taste the rhamn)s% $n a +#ottish wit#h7#)lt ballad, Thomas the
Rhymer is wanted to to)#h the a((les o "aradise shown him by the M)een o ,l(hame%
<% The #avern o the .y#lo(s is (lainly a (la#e o death, and ;dysse)sAs (arty #onsisted o
thirteen men1 the n)mber o months or whi#h the (rimitive kin* rei*ned% ;ne7eyed
"oly(hem)s, who sometimes has a wit#h7mother, o##)rs in olk7tale thro)*ho)t ,)ro(e, and
#an be tra#ed ba#k to the .a)#as)s2 b)t the twelve #om(anions i*)re only in the ;dyssey%
Whatever the meanin* o the .a)#asian tale may have been, !% 4% .ook in his @e)s shows
that the .y#lo(sAs eye was a Greek solar emblem% Det when ;dysse)s blinded "oly(hem)s,
to avoid bein* devo)red like his #om(anions, the +)n itsel #ontin)ed to shine, only the eye
o the *od 4aal, or Moo#h, or Tes)(, or "oly(hem)s 5Iamo)sA6, who demanded h)man
sa#rii#e, had been ()t o)t, and the kin* tri)m(hantly drove o his stolen rams% +in#e the
(astoral settin* o the .a)#asian tale was retained in the ;dyssey, and its o*re had a sin*le
eye, he #o)ld be mistaken or one o the (re7&elleni# .y#lo(es, amo)s metal7workers,
whose #)lt)re had s(read to +i#ily, and who (erha(s had an eye tattooed in the #entre o their
oreheads as a #lan mark%%
=% Tele(yl)s, whi#h means Ithe ar7o *ate Wo &ellXA, lies in the e:treme north o ,)ro(e, the
-and o the Midni*ht +)n, where the in#omin* she(herd hails the o)t*oin* she(herd% To this
#old re*ion, Iat the ba#k o the 3orth WindA, belon* the Wanderin*, or .lashin*, Ro#ks,
namely i#e7loes, and also the .immerians, whose darkness at noon #om(lemented their
midni*ht s)n in 9)ne% $t was (erha(s at Tele(yl)s that &era#les o)*ht &ades2 i so, the battle
will have taken (la#e d)rin* his visit to the &y(erboreans% The -aestry*ones 5Io a very harsh
ra#eA6 were (erha(s 3orwe*ian iordJ dwellers, whose barbaro)s behavio)r the amber
mer#hants were warned on their visits to 4ornholm and the +o)thern 4alti# #oast%
5% !eaea 5Iwailin*A6 is a ty(i#al death island where the amiliar ?eath7*oddess sin*s as she
s(ins% The !r*ona)ti# le*end (la#es it at the head o the !driati# G)l2 it may well be -)ssin
near "ola% .ir#e means Ial#onA, and she had a #emetery in .ol#his, (lanted with willows,
dedi#ated to &e#ate% The men transormed into beasts s)**est the do#trine o
metem(sy#hosis, b)t the (i* is (arti#)larly sa#red to the ?eath7*oddess, and she eeds them
on .ron)sAs #ornel7#herries, the red ood o the dead, so they are (erha(s sim(ly *hosts%
What &ermesAs moly was, the *rammarians #o)ld not de#ide% T8et8es 5;n -y#o(hron6 says
that the dr)**ists #all it Iwild r)eA2 b)t the des#ri(tion in the ;dyssey s)**ests the wild
#y#lamen, whi#h is dii#)lt to ind, thanks to bein* white7(etalled, dark7b)lbed and very
sweet7s#ented% -ate #lassi#al writers atta#hed the name ImolyA to a sort o *arli# with a
yellow lower whi#h was believed to *row 5as the onion, sE)ill, and tr)e *arli# did6 when the
moon waned, rather than when it wa:ed, and hen#e served as a #o)nter7#harm a*ainst
&e#ateAs moon ma*i#% Mard)k, the 4abilonian hero, snied at a divine herb as an antidote to
the no:io)s smell o the +ea7*oddess Tiamat, b)t its s(e#ies is not (arti#)lari8ed in the e(i#%
6% "erse(honeAs bla#k7(o(lar *rove lay in the ar7western Tartar)s, and ;dysse)s did not
Ides#endA into itJlike &era#les, !eneas and ?anteJtho)*h .ir#e ass)med that he had done
so% "hle*ethon, .o#yt)s, and !#heron belon* (ro(erly to the /nder*ro)nd &ell% &owever,
the a)thoress o the ;dyssey had little *eo*ra(hi#al knowled*e, and #alled )(on West, +o)th
or 3orth winds at random% ;dysse)s sho)ld have been taken by east winds to ;*y*ia and
"erse(honeAs Grove, and by so)th winds to Tele(yl)s and !eaea1 yet she had some
H)stii#ation or makin* ;dysse)s steer d)e ,ast to !eaea, as $sland o ?awn, where the
heroes ;rion and Tithon)s had met their deaths% The entran#es o My#enaean bee7hive tombs
a#e east2 and .ir#e, bein* &eli)sAs da)*hter, had ,os 5IdawnA6 or an a)nt%
>% +irens were #arved on )neral mon)ments as death7an*els #hantin* dir*es to lyre m)si#,
b)t also #redited with eroti# desi*ns on the heroes whom they mo)rned2 and, sin#e the so)l
was believed to ly o in the orm o a bird, were (i#t)red, like the &ar(ies, as birds o (rey
waitin* to #at#h and se#)re it% Tho)*h da)*hters o "hor#ys, or &ell, and thereore irst
#o)sins o the &ar(ies, they did not live )nder*ro)nd, or in #averns, b)t on a *reen se()l#hral
island resemblin* !eaea or ;*y*ia2 and (roved (arti#)larly dan*ero)s in windless weather at
midday, the time o s)nstroke and siesta7ni*htmares% +in#e they are also #alled da)*hters o
!#helo)s, their island may ori*inally o the ,#hinades, at the mo)th o the river !#helo)s%
+i#ilians (la#ed them near .a(e "elor)s 5now 'aro6 in +i#ily2 on the +iren)sian $slands near
3a(les, or on .a(ri 5+trabo6%
8% I;*y*iaA, the name o yet another se()l#hral island, same word as I;#ean)sA, and ;*en
bein* an intermediate orm2 and .aly(so 5IhiddenA or IhiderA6 is one more ?eath7*oddess, as
is shown by her #avern s)rro)nded with aldersJsa#red to the ?eath7*od .ron)s, 4ranJin
the bran#hes o whi#h (er#h his sea7#rows, or #ho)*hs, and her own horned owls and al#ons%
"arsley was an emblem o mo)rnin*, and the iris a death lower% +he (romised ;dysse)s
a*eless yo)th, b)t he wanted lie, not heroi# immortality%
9% +#ylla 5Ishe who rendsA6, da)*hter o "hor#ys, or &e#ate, and .harybdis 5Ithe s)#ker7down
I6, are titles o the destr)#tive +ea7*oddess% These names be#ame atta#hed to ro#ks and
#)rrents on either side o +traits o Messina, b)t m)st be )nderstood in a lar*er sense%
-e)#othea as a sea7mew was the +ea7*oddess #arin* over a shi(wre#k% +in#e the .retan +ea7
*oddess she is re(resented as an o#to()s, and +#ylla dra**ed the sailors rom ;dysse)sAs
shi(, it may be that .retans who traded with $ndia knew lar*e tro(i#al varieties, )nknown in
the Mediterranean with this dan*ero)s habit% The des#ri(tion o +#yllaAs yel( is o more
mytholo*i#al im(ortan#e than irst a((ears1 it identiies her with white, red7eared death7
ho)nds, the +(e#tral "a#k or 4it#hes o Gabriel rom a 4ritish le*end, whi#h ()rs)e the so)ls
o the damned% They were an#ient ,*y(tian h)ntin* do*s, sa#red to !n)bis and still bred in
the island o $bi8a, whi#h when in ()rs)it o their E)arry make a IE)estin* so)nd like the
whim(er o ()((ies or the m)si# o the mi*ratin* barna#le7*oose 5White Goddess6%
10% ;nly two in#idents allin* between ;dysse)sAs skirmish with the .i#onians and his
arrival at "haea#ia seem not to #on#ern the nineold reHe#tion o death1 namely his visit to the
$sland o !eol)s, and the thet o &y(erionAs #attle% 4)t the winds )nder !eol)sAs #har*e were
s(irits o the dead2 and &y(erionAs #attle are the herd stolen by &era#les on his Tenth -abo)r
Jessentially a harrowin* o &ell% That ;dysse)s #laimed to have taken no (art in the raid
means little2 neither did his maternal *randather !)toly#)s own )( to his litin* o s)n7
#attle%
11% ;dysse)s, whose name, meanin* Ian*ryA, stands or the red7a#ed sa#red kin*, is #alled
I/lyssesA or I/li:esA in -atinJa word (robably ormed rom o)los, Iwo)ndA and is#hes,
Ithi*hAJin reeren#e to the boarAs7t)sk wo)nd whi#h his old n)rse re#o*ni8ed when he #ame
ba#k to $tha#a% $t was a #ommon orm o royal death to have oneAs thi*h *ored by a boar, yet
;dysse)s had somehow s)rvived the wo)nd%
;dysse)sAs &ome#omin*
W&,3 ;dysse)s awoke he did not at irst re#o*ni8e his native island, over whi#h !thene
had #ast a distortin* *lamo)r% "resently she #ame by, dis*)ised as a she(herd boy, and
listened to his lon*, lyin* tale o how he was a .retan who, ater killin* $domene)sAs son, had
led northward in a +idonian shi(, and been ()t ashore here a*ainst his will% IWhat island is
thisKA he asked% !thene la)*hed and #aressed ;dysse)sAs #heek1 I! wonder)l liar yo) are,
indeedPA she said% I4)t or knowin* the tr)th $ mi*ht easily have been de#eived% What
s)r(rises me, tho)*h, is that yo) did not (enetrate my dis*)ise% $ am !thene2 the "haea#ians
landed yo) here at my instr)#tions% $ re*ret havin* taken so many years to et#h yo) home2
b)t $ did not dare oend my )n#le "oseidon by s)((ortin* yo) too o(enly%A +he hel(ed him to
stow away his "haea#ian #a)ldrons, tri(ods, ()r(le #loaks and *olden #)(s in the shelter o a
#ave, and then transormed him beyond re#o*nitionJwithered his skin, thinned and whitened
his red lo#ks, #lothed him in ilthy ra*s, and dire#ted him to the h)t o ,)mae)s, the aith)l
old (ala#e swineherd% !thene was H)st ba#k rom +(arta, where Telema#h)s had *one to ask
Menela)s, re#ently ret)rned rom ,*y(t, whether he #o)ld s)((ly any news o ;dysse)s%
3ow, it sho)ld be e:(lained that, (res)min* ;dysse)sAs death, no less than one h)ndred and
twelve insolent yo)n* (rin#es o the islands whi#h ormed the kin*domJ?)li#hi)m, +amos,
@a#ynth)s, and $tha#a itselJwere #o)rtin* his wie "enelo(e, ea#h ho(in* to marry her and
take the throne2 and had a*reed amon* themselves to kill Telema#h)s on his ret)rn rom
+(arta%
b% When they irst asked "enelo(e to de#ide between them, she de#lared that ;dysse)s m)st
#ertainly still be alive, sin#e his home7#omin* had been oretold by a reliable ora#le2 and
later, hard7(ressed, (romised a de#ision as whi#h she m)st weave a*ainst the death o old
-aertes, ather7in7law% 4)t she took three years over the task, weavin* it by day and
)nravellin* it by ni*ht, )ntil at last the s)itors dete#ted the r)se% !ll the time they were
dis(ortin* themselves in ;dysse)sAs (ala#e, drinkin* his wine, sla)*hterin* his (i*s, shee(,
and #attle, and sed)#in* maid7servants%
#% To ,)mae)s, who re#eived ;dysse)s kindly, he *ave another alse a##o)nt o himsel,
tho)*h de#larin* on oath that ;dysse)s was alive and on the way home% Telema#h)s now
landed )ne:(e#tedly, evadin* the s)itorsA (lots to m)rder him, and #ame strai*ht to
,)mae)sAs h)t2 !thene had sent him ba#k in haste rom +(arta% ;dysse)s however, did not
dis#lose his identity )ntil !thene has (ermitted it and ma*i#ally restored him to his tr)e
a((earan#e% ! to)#hin* s#ene o re#o*nition between ather and son ollowed% 4)t ,)mae)s
had not yet been taken into the se#ret, nor was Telema#h)s allowed to enli*hten "enelo(e%
d% ;n#e more dis*)ised as a be**ar, ;dysse)s went to s(y )(on the s)itors% ;n the way he
en#o)ntered his *oat7herd Melanthe)s, who railed inde#ently at him and ki#ked him on the
hi(2 yet ;dysse)s rerained rom immediate ven*ean#e% When he rea#hed the (ala#e #o)rt, he
o)nd old !r*)s, on#e a amo)s h)ntin* ho)nd, stret#hed a d)n*hill, man*y, de#re(it, and
tormented by leas% !r*)s wa**ed his raw st)m( o a tail and droo(ed his tattered ears in
re#o*nition o ;dysse)s, who #overtly br)shed away a tear as !r*)s e:(ired%
e% ,)mae)s led ;dysse)s into the banE)etin* hall, where Telema#h)s, (retendin* not to
know who he was, oered him hos(itality% !thene then a((eared, tho)*h ina)dible and
invisible to all b)t ;dysse)s, and s)**ested that he sho)ld make a ro)nd o the hall s#ra(s
rom the s)itors, and th)s learn what sort o men they were% This he did, and o)nd them no
less ni**ardly than ra(a#io)s% The most shameless o the entire #om(any, !ntino)s o $tha#a
5to whom he told a wholly dierent tale o his advent)res6 an*rily threw a ootstool at him%
;dysse)s, n)rsin* a br)ised sho)lder, a((ealed to the other s)itors, who a*reed that !ntino)s
sho)ld have shown more #o)rtesy2 and "enelo(e, when her maids re(orted the in#ident, was
s#andali8ed% +he sent or the s)((osed be**ar, ho(in* to have news rom him o her lost
h)sband% ;dysse)s (romised to visit the royal (arlo)r that evenin*, and tell her whatever she
wished to know%
% Meanwhile, a st)rdy $tha#an be**ar, ni#knamed I$r)sA be#a)se, like the *oddess $ris, he
was at everyoneAs be#k and #all, tried to #hase ;dysse)s rom the (or#h% When he wo)ld not
stir, $r)s #hallen*ed him to a bo:in* mat#h, and !ntino)s, la)*hin* heartily, oered the
winner a *oatAs ha**is and a seat at the s)itorsA mess% ;dysse)s hoisted his ra*s, t)#ked them
)nder the rayed belt whi#h he was wearin*, and sE)ared )( to $r)s% The r)ian shrank away
at si*ht o his b)l*in* m)s#les, b)t was ke(t rom (re#i(itate li*ht by the ta)nts o the
s)itors2 then ;dysse)s elled him with a sin*le blow, takin* #are not to attra#t too m)#h
noti#e by makin* it a mortal one% The s)itors a((la)ded, sneered, E)arrelled, settled to their
aternoonAs eastin*, toasted "enelo(e, who now #ame to e:tra#t bridal *its rom them all
5tho)*h with no intention o makin* a deinite #hoi#e6, and at ni*htall dis(ersed to their
vario)s lod*in*s%
*% ;dysse)s instr)#ted Telema#h)s to take down the s(ears whi#h h)n* on the walls o the
banE)etin* hall and store them in the armo)ry, while he went to visit "enelo(e% +he did not
know him, and he s()n her a lon*, #ir#)mstantial yarn, des#ribin* a re#ent en#o)nter with
;dysse)s2 who had, he said, *one to #ons)lt @e)sAs ;ra#le at ?odona, b)t sho)ld soon be
ba#k in $tha#a% "enelo(e listened attentively, and ordered ,)ry#leia, ;dysse)sAs a*ed n)rse,
to *ive him a oot7bath% ,)ry#leia (resently re#o*ni8ed the s#ar on his thi*h, and #ried o)t in
Hoy and s)r(rise2 so he *ri((ed her withered throat and hissed or silen#e% "enelo(e missed
the in#ident2 !thene had distra#ted her attention%
h% ;n the ollowin* day, at another banE)et2 !*ela)s o +amos, one o the s)itors, asked
Telema#h)s whether he #o)ld not (ers)ade his mother to make )( her mind% "enelo(e
there)(on anno)n#ed that she was ready to a##e(t any s)itor who wo)ld em)late ;dysse)sAs
eat o shootin* an arrow thro)*h twelve a:e7rin*s2 the a:es to be set in a strai*ht row with
their b)tts (lanted in a tren#h% +he showed them the bow whi#h they m)st )se1 one *iven to
;dysse)s by $(hit)s, twenty7ive years a*o, when he went to (rotest at Messene a*ainst the
thet rom $tha#a o three h)ndred shee( and their she(herds% $t on#e belon*ed to ,)ryt)s, the
ather o $(hit)s, whom !(ollo himsel had instr)#ted in ar#hery, b)t whom &era#les o)tshot
and killed% +ome o the s)itors now tried to strin* the (ower)l wea(on, and were )nable to
bend it, even ater sotenin* the wood with tallow2 it was thereore de#ided to (ost(one the
trial )ntil the ne:t day% Telema#h)s, who #ame nearest to a##om(lishin* the eat, laid down
the bow a*ain at a warnin* si*n rom ;dysse)s% Then ;dysse)s, des(ite (rotests and v)l*ar
ins)ltsJin the #o)rse o whi#h Telema#h)s was or#ed to order "enelo(e ba#k to her roomJ
sei8ed the bow, str)n* it easily, and twan*ed the str)n* melodio)sly or all to hear% Takin*
#are)l aim he shot an arrow thro)*h every one o the twelve a:e7rin*s% Meanwhile
Telema#h)s, who had h)rriedly sli((ed o)t, re7entered with sword and s(ear, and ;dysse)s
de#lared himsel at last by shootin* !ntino)s in the throat%
i% The s)itors s(ran* )( and r)shed to the walls, only to ind that the s(ears were no lon*er in
their )s)al (la#es% ,)ryma#h)s be**ed or mer#y, and when ;dysse)s re)sed it, drew sword
and l)n*ed at him, where)(on an arrow transi:ed his liver and he ell dyin*% ! ier#e i*ht
ens)ed between the des(erate s)itors armed with swords, and ;dysse)s, )narmed e:#e(t or
the bow b)t (osted beore the main entran#e to the hall% Telema#h)s ran ba#k to the armo)ry,
and bro)*ht shields, s(ears and helmets to arm his ather and ,)mae)s and "hiloeti)s, the
two aith)l servants who were standin* by him2 or tho)*h ;dysse)s had shot down the
s)itors in hea(s, his sto#k o arrows was nearly e:(ended% Melanthe)s, stealin* o by a side
door to et#h wea(ons or the s)itors, was #a)*ht and tr)ssed )( on his se#ond visit to the
armo)r, beore he had s)##eeded in armin* more than a ew o them% The sla)*hter then
#ontin)ed, and !thene in the *)ise o a swallow lew twitterin* aro)nd the hall )ntil every
one o the s)itors and their s)((orters lay dead, e:#e(t only Medon the herald, and "hemi)s
the bard2 these ;dysse)s s(ared, be#a)se they had not a#tively wron*ed him, and be#a)se
their (ersons were sa#rosan#t% &e now (a)sed to ask ,)ry#leia, who had lo#ked the (ala#e
women in their E)arters, how many o these had remained tr)e to his #a)se% +he answered1
I;nly twelve have dis*ra#ed themselves, my lord%A The *)ilty maid7servants were s)mmoned
and set to #leanse the hall o blood with s(on*es and water2 when they had done, ;dysse)s
han*ed them in a row% They ki#ked a little, b)t soon all was over% !terwards, ,)mae)s and
"hiloeti)s do#ked Melanthe)s o his e:tremitiesJnose, ears, hands, and *enitals, whi#h were
#ast to the do*s%
H% ;dysse)s, at last re)nited with "enelo(e, and with his ather -aertes, told them his vario)s
advent)res, this time kee(in* to the tr)th% ! or#e o $tha#an rebels a((roa#hed, the kinsmen
o !ntino)s and other dead s)itors, and seein* that ;dysse)s was o)tn)mbered, the a*ed
-aertes Hoined vi*oro)sly in the i*ht, whi#h was *oin* well eno)*h or them )ntil !thene
intervened and im(osed a tr)#e% The rebels then bro)*ht a #ombined le*al a#tion a*ainst
;dysse)s, a((ointin* as their H)d*e 3eo(tolem)s, Gin* o the ,(irot $slands% ;dysse)s
a*reed to a##e(t his verdi#t, and 3eo(tolem)s r)led that he sho)ld leave his kin*dom and not
ret)rn )ntil ten years had (assed, d)rin* whi#h time the heirs o the s)itors were ordered to
#om(ensate him or their de(redations, with (ayments made to Telema#h)s, now kin*%
k% "oseidon, however, still remained to be (la#ated2 and ;dysse)s set o)t on oot, as Teiresias
had instr)#ted, a#ross the mo)ntains o ,(ir)s, #arryin* an oar over his sho)lder% When he
rea#hed Thes(rotis, the #o)ntryolk #ried1 I+tran*er, why a winnowin*7bat in +(rin*timeKA
&e a##ordin*ly sa#rii#ed a ram, b)ll, and boar to "oseidon, and was or*iven% +in#e he #o)ld
not ret)rn to $tha#a even yet, he married .allidi#e, M)een o the Thes(rotians, and
#ommanded her army in a war a*ainst the 4ry*ians, )nder the leadershi( o !res2 b)t !(ollo
#alled or a tr)#e% 3ine years later, "oly(oetes, ;dysse)sAs son by .allidi#e, s)##eeded to the
Thes(rotian kin*dom, and ;dysse)s went home to $tha#a, whi#h "enelo(e was now r)lin* in
the name o their yo)n* son "oli(orthis2 Telema#h)s had been banished to .e(hallenia,
be#a)se an ora#le anno)n#ed1 I;dysse)s, yo)r own son shall kill yo)PA !t $tha#a, death #ame
to ;dysse)s rom the sea, as Teiresias had oretold% &is son by .ir#e, Tele*on)s, sailin* in
sear#h o him, raided $tha#a 5whi#h he mistook or .or#yra6 and ;dysse)s sallied o)t to re(el
the atta#k% Tele*on)s killed him on the seashore, and the atal wea(on was a s(ear armed
with the s(ine o a
stin*7ray% &avin* s(ent the reE)ired year in e:ile, Tele*on)s married "enelo(e% Telema#h)s
then married .ir#e2 th)s both bran#hes o the amily be#ame #losely )nited%
l% +ome deny that "enelo(e remained aith)l to ;dysse)s% They a##)se her o #om(anyin*
with !m(hinom)s o ?)li#hi)m, or with all the s)itors in t)rn, and say that the r)it o this
)nion was the monstro)s *od "anJat si*ht o whom ;dysse)s led or shame to !etolia,
ater sendin* "enelo(e away in dis*ra#e to her ather $#ari)s at Mantinea, where her tomb is
still shown, ;thers re#ord that she bore "an to &ermes, and that ;dysse)s married an
!etolian (rin#ess, the da)*hter o Gin* Thoas, be*ot on her his yo)n*est son -eonto(hon)s,
an died in (ros(ero)s old a*e%
1% ;dysse)sAs assassination o the s)itors belon*s to the /lysses alle*ory1 one more instan#e
o the sa#red kin*As re)sal to die at the #lose his rei*n% &e intervenes, that is to say, in the
ar#hery #ontest held de#ide his s)##essor, and destroys all the #andidates% ! (rimitive ar#hery
test o the #andidate or kin*shi( seems to have #onsisted in shootin* thro)*h a rin* (la#ed
on a boyAs head% The ;dyssey nowhere dire#tly s)**ests that "enelo(e has been )naith)l to
her h)sband d)rin* his lon* absen#e, tho)*h she bewit#hes the s)itors by her #oE)etry,
e:torts trib)te rom them, and shows a de#ided (reeren#e or !m(hinom)s o ?)li#hi)m%
4)t ;dysse)s does not tr)st her well eno)*h to reveal himsel )ntil he has killed his rivals2
and his mother !nti#leia shows that there is somethin* to #on#eal when she says not one
word him abo)t the s)itors% The ar#hai# a##o)nt that makes "enelo(e the mother o "an by
&ermes, or alternatively by all the s)itors reers, it seems, to the Goddess "enelo(e and her
(rimitive s(rin* or*ies% &er #)#koldin* o ;dysse)s and event)al ret)rn to Mantinea, another
ar#hai# story, are a reminder o his insolen#e in or#in* her to #ome with him to $tha#a,
a*ainst an#ient matrilo#al #)stom%
0% 4)t 3a)si#aa, the a)thoress, tells the story in her own way, white7washin* "enelo(e% +he
a##e(ts the (atriar#hal system into whi#h she has been born, and (reers *entle irony to the
bitter satire o)nd in the $liad% The *oddess is now dis(la#ed by !lmi*hty @e)s, kin*s are no
lon*er sa#rii#ed in her hono)r, and the a*e o myth has endedJvery wellP That need not
*reatly dist)rb 3a)si#aa, while she #an still Hoke and (lay ball with her *ood7nat)red servant
*irls, ()ll the hair o those who dis(lease her, listen to old ,)ry#leiaAs tales, and twist 'ather
!l#ino)s aro)nd one in*er%
<% +o the ;dyssey breaks o with -aertes, ;dysse)s, and Telema#h)s, (atriar#hal male triad
o heroes, s)((orted by @e)s7born !thene and tri)m(hin* over their oes2 while the servin*
wen#hes han* in a row or their la#k o dis#retion, to show that 3a)si#aa disa((roves o (re7
marital (romis#)ity as #hea(enin* the marria*e7market% The end has been (reserved by other
mytho*ra(hers% ;dysse)s is banished to Thes(rotia, and Telema#h)s to .e(hallenia, whereas
"enelo(e stays #ontentedly at the (ala#e, r)lin* in the name o her son "oli(orthis% TeiresiasAs
(ro(he#y remains, o #o)rse, to be )lilled1 ;dysse)s will not die #omortably o old a*e,
like the res(e#ted and *arr)lo)s 3estor% ?eath m)st strike him down in the traditional style
whi#h he tho)*ht to abolish1 the 3ew Dear .hild ridin* on dol(hin7ba#k will r)n him thro)*h
with a stin*7ray s(ear% M)#h the same ate overtook .atre)s o Rhodes1 his son !lthaemenes
a##identally s(eared him on the bea#h% +tin*7ray s(ears, also )sed by the "olynesians, #a)se
inlamed wo)nds, whi#h the Greeks and -atins held to be in#)rable2 the stin*7ray 5try*on
(astina#a6 is #ommon in the Mediterranean% &era#les is said to have been wo)nded by one%
=% Telema#h)sAs marria*e to .ir#e, and Tele*on)sAs to "enelo(e, are s)r(risin* at irst si*ht%
+ir 9ames 'ra8er #onne#ts these a((arently in#est)o)s )nions with the r)le by whi#h, in
(oly*amo)s so#ieties, a kin* inherited all his atherAs #on#)bines, e:#e(t his own mother% 4)t
(oly*amy never be#ame a Greek instit)tion, and neither Telema#h)s, nor Tele*on)s, nor
;edi()s, a 3ew Dear .hild, Iborn o the swellin* waveA, who killed his ather and married
the widowed $o#aste, nor &era#lesAs son &yll)s, who married his ste(7mother $ole, was
(oly*amo)s% ,a#h merely killed and s)##eeded the Gin* o the ;ld Dear in the an#ient
mythi# style, and was thereater #alled his son% This e:(lains why Telema#h)s (re(ares to
strin* the bowJwhi#h wo)ld have *iven him "enelo(e as his wieJb)t ;dysse)s rowns at
him, and he desists2 it is a detail s)t)rin* rom the /lysses story, )n#riti#ally ettled in the
;dyssay%
5% Who knows whether ;dysse)sAs red hair has any mythi# si*nii#an#e, or whether it is an
irrelevant (ersonal (e#)liarity, like his short le*s, belon*in* to some advent)rer in +i#ily
whom 3a)si#aa has (ortrayed as ;dysse)sK !)toly#)s, o #o)rse, named him Ithe an*ry oneA
at birth, and red hair is traditionally asso#iated with ill tem(er% 4)t tho)*h masE)eradin* as
an e(i#, the ;dyssey is the irst Greek novel2 and thereore wholly irres(onsible where myths
are #on#erned% $ have s)**ested the (ossible #ir#)mstan#es o its #om(osition in another
novel1 &omerAs ?a)*hter%