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{{Short description|Greek deity of mercy and compassion}}
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{{more citations needed|date=February 2018}}
{{Greek myth (personified)}}


In [[ancient Athens]], '''Eleos''' ([[Ancient Greek]] {{lang|grc|Ἔλεος}} [[masculine gender|m.]]) was the Greek goddess of mercy, pity, compassion, and clemency, her Roman counterpart is Clementia. She is the child of Nyx and Erebus. Eleos' opposite was Anaideia (ruthlessness, shamelessness, and unforgiveness)
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>


== Mythology ==
Her altar was located in Athens, Greece and those who implored the assistance of the Athenians, had to give worship at her altar and honor her by cutting their hair and the undressing themselves of garments.
[[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".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://topostext.org/work/149 |title=Thebaid, 12.481 |author=Statius |access-date=2024-03-07 }}</ref>
Eleos sheltered the children of Heracles at her altar while they were being persecuted by Eurystheus and when he threatened the Athenians with war, the Athenians stood up to Eurystheus.

After the War of the Seven Against Thebes, Kreon succeeded the kingdom of Thebes and he cast out the Argive dead unburied and issued a proclamation that none should bury them, then set watchmen to ensure his order would be followed. Adrastos went to Athens and at the altar of Eleos, he prayed that the dead would be buried. The Athenians marched against Kreon, captured Thebes, and gave the dead to their kinfolk to bury

Statius, Thebaid 12. 481 ff (trans. Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.): "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; never lacked she a new suppliant, none did she condemn or refuse their prayers. All that ask are heard, night and day may one approach and win the heart of the goddess by complaints alone. No costly rites are hers; she accepts no incense flame, no blood deep-welling; tears flow upon her altar, sad offering of severed tresses hang above it, and raiment left when fortune changed. Around is a grove of gentle trees, marked by the cult of the venerable, wool-entwined laurel and the suppliant olive. No image is there, to no metal is the divine form entrusted, in hearts and minds does the goddess delight to dwell. The distressed are ever nigh her, her precinct ever swarms with needy folk, only to the prosperous her shrine is unknown. Fame says that the sons of Hercules, saved in battle after the death of their divine sire, set up this altar; but fame comes short of the truth; ‘tis right to believe that the heavenly ones themselves, to whom Athens was ever a welcoming land as once they gave laws and a new man [Triptolemos] and sacred ceremonies and the seeds that here descended upon the empty earth, so now sanctified in this spot common refuge for travailing souls, whence the wrath and threatenings of monarchs might be far removed, and Fortuna (Fortune) [Tykhe (Tyche)] depart from a shrine of righteousness. Already to countless races were those altars known; hither came flocking those defeated in war and exiled from their country, kings who had lost their realms and those guilty of grievous crime, and sought for peace; and later this abode of kindliness o’ercame the rage of Oedipus and sheltered the murder of Olynthus and defended hapless Orestes from his mother. Hither guided by the common folk comes the distressful band of Lerna [the widows of the army of the Seven Against Thebes seeking the aid of Athens], and the crowd of previous votaries give way before them. Scarce were they arrived, when their troubles were soothed and their hearts had rest."

== Literature Quotes ==
Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. 167 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :

"[The sons of Herakles (Heracles) sought refuge in Athens after the death of their father :] Eurystheus told them to give themselves up and even threatened them with war. They left Trakhis (Trachis) in fear and fled through Hellas, with him in pursuit. They reached Athens where they occupied the altar of Eleos (Mercy) and demanded help. Rather than surrender them, the Athenians stood up to Eurystheus."

Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 3. 7. 1 :

"[After the War of the Seven Against Thebes :] Having succeeded to the kingdom of Thebes, Kreon (Creon) cast out the Argive dead unburied, issued a proclamation that none should bury them, and set watchmen . . . Adrastos (Adrastus) fled to Athens and took refuge at the altar of Eleos (Mercy), and laying on it the suppliant's bough he prayed that they would bury the dead. And the Athenians marched with Theseus, captured Thebes, and gave the dead to their kinfolk to bury."

Pausanias, Description of Greece 1. 17. 1 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :

"In the Athenian market-place among the objects not generally known is an altar to Eleos (Mercy), of all divinities the most useful in the life of mortals and in the vicissitudes of fortune, but honoured by the Athenians along among the Greeks."

Pseudo-Hyginus, Preface (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :

"From Nox (Night) and Erebus [were born] : Fatum (Fate), Senectus (Old Age), Mors (Death), Letum (Dissolution), Continentia (Moderation), Somnus (Sleep), Somnia (Dreams), Amor (Love)--that is Lysimeles, Epiphron (Prudence), Porphyrion, Epaphus, Discordia (Discord), Miseria (Misery), Petulantia (Wantonness), Nemesis (Envy), Euphrosyne (Good Cheer), Amicitia (Friendship), Misericordia (Compassion) [i.e. Eleos], Styx (Hatred); the three Parcae (Fates), namely Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos; the Hesperides." [N.B. Eleos is named Misericordia in this Latin text.]

Statius, Thebaid 12. 481 ff (trans. Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) :

"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; never lacked she a new suppliant, none did she condemn or refuse their prayers. All that ask are heard, night and day may one approach and win the heart of the goddess by complaints alone. No costly rites are hers; she accepts no incense flame, no blood deep-welling; tears flow upon her altar, sad offering of severed tresses hang above it, and raiment left when fortune changed. Around is a grove of gentle trees, marked by the cult of the venerable, wool-entwined laurel and the suppliant olive. No image is there, to no metal is the divine form entrusted, in hearts and minds does the goddess delight to dwell. The distressed are ever nigh her, her precinct ever swarms with needy folk, only to the prosperous her shrine is unknown. Fame says that the sons of Hercules, saved in battle after the death of their divine sire, set up this altar; but fame comes short of the truth; ‘tis right to believe that the heavenly ones themselves, to whom Athens was ever a welcoming land as once they gave laws and a new man [Triptolemos] and sacred ceremonies and the seeds that here descended upon the empty earth, so now sanctified in this spot common refuge for travailing souls, whence the wrath and threatenings of monarchs might be far removed, and Fortuna (Fortune) [Tykhe (Tyche)] depart from a shrine of righteousness. Already to countless races were those altars known; hither came flocking those defeated in war and exiled from their country, kings who had lost their realms and those guilty of grievous crime, and sought for peace; and later this abode of kindliness o’ercame the rage of Oedipus and sheltered the murder of Olynthus and defended hapless Orestes from his mother. Hither guided by the common folk comes the distressful band of Lerna [the widows of the army of the Seven Against Thebes seeking the aid of Athens], and the crowd of previous votaries give way before them. Scarce were they arrived, when their troubles were soothed and their hearts had rest."

Apuleius, The Golden Ass 11. 15 ff (trans. Walsh) (Roman novel C2nd A.D.) :

"Lucius, you have reached [in your spirit] the harbour of Quietis (Quiet) [Hesykhia] and the altar of Misericordia (Mercy) [Eleos]."


==See also==
==See also==
Line 45: Line 19:
** (''Redemption'') Eleos/[[Soteria (mythology)|Soteria]]/[[Clementia]], [[Zadkiel]]/[[Zachariel]] (the Angel of Mercy)
** (''Redemption'') Eleos/[[Soteria (mythology)|Soteria]]/[[Clementia]], [[Zadkiel]]/[[Zachariel]] (the Angel of Mercy)


==References==
==Notes==
{{reflist}}5 https://www.theoi.com/Daimon/Eleos.html
{{reflist}}

== References ==

* [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], ''The Library'' with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0022 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0021 Greek text available from the same website].
* [[Gaius Julius Hyginus]], ''Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus'' translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. [https://topostext.org/work/206 Online version at the Topos Text Project.]
*[[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].
*[[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}}

[[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:Children of Nyx]]

Latest revision as of 13:37, 30 September 2024

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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]
Look up Ἔλεος in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

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]
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