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{{Short description|Greek deity of mercy & compassion}}
{{Short description|Greek deity of mercy and compassion}}
{{refimprove|date=February 2018}}{{Infobox deity
{{more citations needed|date=February 2018}}
{{Greek myth (personified)}}
| type = Greek
| name = Eleos
| god_of = Personification of Mercy and compassion
| roman_equivalent = [[Clementia]], [[Misericordia (mythology)|Misericordia]]
| abode =
| parents = [[Nyx (mythology)|Nyx]] and [[Erebus]]<ref>[[Hyginus]], ''Fabulae'' Preface</ref>
| siblings = [[Moros]], [[Keres (mythology)|Keres]], [[Thanatos]], [[Hypnos]], [[Oneiroi]], [[Momus]], [[Oizys]], [[Hesperides]], [[Moirai]], [[Nemesis (mythology)|Nemesis]], [[Apate (deity)|Apate]], [[Geras]], [[Eris (mythology)|Eris]], [[Philotes]], [[Styx]], [[Dolos (mythology)|Dolos]], [[Ponos]], [[Euphrosyne]], [[Epiphron]], [[Sophrosyne|Continentia]], [[Hybris (mythology)|Petulantia]], [[Pertinacia]]
}}{{Greek myth (personified)}}


In [[ancient Athens]], '''Eleos''' ([[Ancient Greek]] {{lang|grc|Ἔλεος}} [[masculine gender|m.]]) or '''Elea''' was the personification of mercy, clemency, compassion and [[pity]]. —the counterpart of Roman goddess [[Clementia]]. Eleos was characteristically kind, compassionate and gentle. She gives succor to all who ask for it. She is described as “among all the gods [is] the most useful to human life in all its vicissitude. All those who wished to be an ally of Athens would pray and bring offerings to her altar.{{citation needed}}
In [[ancient Athens]], '''Eleos''' ([[Ancient Greek]] {{lang|grc|Ἔλεος}} [[masculine gender|m.]]) or '''Elea'''{{cn|date=September 2024}} was the personification of [[mercy]], clemency, compassion and [[pity]] – the counterpart of the Roman goddess [[Clementia]].{{cn|date=November 2023}} [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] described her as "among all the gods the most useful to human life in all its vicissitudes."<ref name="Pausanias-Theoi">''Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology''. Cited in {{cite web |url=https://www.theoi.com/Daimon/Eleos.html |title=Eleos |work=Theoi Project |publisher=Aaron J. Atsma}}</ref>

== Family ==
Eleos was the daughter of the [[Greek primordial deities|primodial gods]], [[Nyx]] (Night) and [[Erebus]] (Darkness)<ref name=":0">Hyginus, ''Fabulae'' Preface</ref>.<blockquote>"From [[Nyx|Nox]]/ Nyx (Night) and Erebus [were born]: [[Moros|Fatum]]/ Moros (Fate), [[Geras|Senectus]]/ Geras (Old Age), [[Thanatos|Mors]]/ Thanatos (Death), Letum (Dissolution), [[Continentia]] (Moderation), [[Somnus]]/ Hypnos (Sleep), [[Oneiros|Somnia]]/ Oneiroi (Dreams), [[Cupid|Amor]] (Love)--that is [[Lysimeles]], [[Epiphron]] (Prudence), [[Porphyrion (mythology)|Porphyrion]], [[Epaphus]], [[Eris (mythology)|Discordia]]/ Eris (Discord), [[Oizys|Miseria]]/ Oizys (Misery), [[Hybris (mythology)|Petulantia]]/ Hybris (Wantonness), [[Nemesis]] (Envy), [[Euphrosyne]] (Good Cheer), [[Philotes|Amicitia]]/ Philotes (Friendship), Misericordia/ Eleos (Compassion), [[Styx]] (Hatred); the three [[Parcae]]/ Moirai (Fates), namely [[Clotho]], [[Lachesis]] and [[Atropos]]; the [[Hesperides]]."<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>


== Mythology ==
== Mythology ==
[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] states that there was an altar in Athens dedicated to Eleos,<ref>[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''Graeciae Descriptio'' 1.17.1</ref>{{not in citation|date=February 2018}} at which children of [[Heracles]] sought refuge from [[Eurystheus]]' prosecution.<ref>[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], 2.8.1</ref>{{not in citation|date=February 2018}} [[Adrastus]] also came to this altar after the defeat of the [[Seven against Thebes]], praying that those who died in the battle be buried.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} Eleos was only recognized in Athens, where she was honored by the cutting of hair and the undressing of garments at the altar.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Cj5OAwAAQBAJ&q=Eleos |title=Encyclopedia of Goddesses and Heroines |author=Patricia Monaghan, PhD |year=2014 |access-date=2019-02-27 |page=238|isbn=9781608682188 }}</ref><ref>Scholia to Sophocles's ''[[Oedipus at Colonus]]'', 258</ref>
[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] states that there was an altar in Athens dedicated to Eleos,<ref>[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''Graeciae Descriptio'' [[wikisource:Description of Greece (Jones)/Book 1#ATHENS 2|1.17.1]]</ref><ref name="Pausanias-Theoi"/> at which children of [[Heracles]] sought refuge from [[Eurystheus]]' prosecution.<ref>[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], 2.8.1</ref>{{failed verification|date=February 2018}} [[Adrastus]] also came to this altar after the defeat of the [[Seven against Thebes]], praying that those who died in the battle be buried.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} Eleos was only recognized in Athens, where she was honored by the cutting of hair and the undressing of garments at the altar.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Cj5OAwAAQBAJ&q=Eleos |title=Encyclopedia of Goddesses and Heroines |author=Patricia Monaghan, PhD |year=2014 |access-date=2019-02-27 |page=238|isbn=9781608682188 }}</ref><ref>Scholia to Sophocles's ''[[Oedipus at Colonus]]'', 258</ref>


[[Statius]] in ''[[Thebaid (Latin poem)|Thebaid]]'' (1st century) describes the altar to [[Clementia]] in Athens (treating Eleos as feminine based on the grammatical gender in Latin): "There was in the midst of the city [of Athens] an altar belonging to no god of power; gentle Clementia (Clemency) [Eleos] had there her seat, and the wretched made it sacred".{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}
[[Statius]] in ''[[Thebaid (Latin poem)|Thebaid]]'' (1st century) describes the altar to [[Clementia]] in Athens (treating Eleos as feminine based on the grammatical gender in Latin): "There was in the midst of the city [of Athens] an altar belonging to no god of power; gentle Clementia (Clemency) [Eleos] had there her seat, and the wretched made it sacred".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://topostext.org/work/149 |title=Thebaid, 12.481 |author=Statius |access-date=2024-03-07 }}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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*[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''Description of Greece'' with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918. {{ISBN|0-674-99328-4}}. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0160 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library]
*[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''Description of Greece'' with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918. {{ISBN|0-674-99328-4}}. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0160 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library]
* Pausanias, ''Graeciae Descriptio.'' ''3 vols''. Leipzig, Teubner. 1903. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0159 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
* Pausanias, ''Graeciae Descriptio.'' ''3 vols''. Leipzig, Teubner. 1903. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0159 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
*[[Statius]], ''Thebaid'' translated by John Henry Mozley. Loeb Classical Library. [https://topostext.org/work/149 Online version at the Topos Text Project.]

{{Greek mythology (deities)|state=collapsed}}


{{Greek mythology (deities)|state=collapsed}}{{Greek-deity-stub}}
[[Category:Greek gods]]
[[Category:Greek gods]]
[[Category:Justice goddesses]]
[[Category:Justice deities]]
[[Category:Personifications in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Personifications in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Women in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Women in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Characters in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Children of Nyx]]
[[Category:Children of Nyx]]

Latest revision as of 13:37, 30 September 2024

In ancient Athens, Eleos (Ancient Greek Ἔλεος m.) or Elea[citation needed] was the personification of mercy, clemency, compassion and pity – the counterpart of the Roman goddess Clementia.[citation needed] Pausanias described her as "among all the gods the most useful to human life in all its vicissitudes."[1]

Mythology

[edit]

Pausanias states that there was an altar in Athens dedicated to Eleos,[2][1] at which children of Heracles sought refuge from Eurystheus' prosecution.[3][failed verification] Adrastus also came to this altar after the defeat of the Seven against Thebes, praying that those who died in the battle be buried.[citation needed] Eleos was only recognized in Athens, where she was honored by the cutting of hair and the undressing of garments at the altar.[4][5]

Statius in Thebaid (1st century) describes the altar to Clementia in Athens (treating Eleos as feminine based on the grammatical gender in Latin): "There was in the midst of the city [of Athens] an altar belonging to no god of power; gentle Clementia (Clemency) [Eleos] had there her seat, and the wretched made it sacred".[6]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. Cited in "Eleos". Theoi Project. Aaron J. Atsma.
  2. ^ Pausanias, Graeciae Descriptio 1.17.1
  3. ^ Apollodorus, 2.8.1
  4. ^ Patricia Monaghan, PhD (2014). Encyclopedia of Goddesses and Heroines. p. 238. ISBN 9781608682188. Retrieved 2019-02-27.
  5. ^ Scholia to Sophocles's Oedipus at Colonus, 258
  6. ^ Statius. Thebaid, 12.481. Retrieved 2024-03-07.

References

[edit]