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== Family ==
== Family ==
Eleos was the daughter of the [[Greek primordial deities|primordial 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), [[Sophrosyne|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>
Eleos was the daughter of the [[Greek primordial deities|primordial gods]], [[Nyx]] (Night) and [[Erebus]] (Darkness).<ref name=":0">Hyginus, ''Fabulae'' Preface</ref><blockquote>Nyx's and Erebus's children were: [[Moros|Fatum]]/ Moros (Fate), [[Geras|Senectus]]/ Geras (Old Age), [[Thanatos|Mors]]/ Thanatos (Death), Letum (Dissolution), [[Sophrosyne|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 ==

Revision as of 20:41, 10 October 2023

Eleos
Personification of Mercy and compassion
Genealogy
ParentsNyx and Erebus[1]
SiblingsMoros, Keres, Thanatos, Hypnos, Oneiroi, Momus, Oizys, Hesperides, Moirai, Nemesis, Apate, Geras, Eris, Philotes, Styx, Dolos, Ponos, Euphrosyne, Epiphron, Continentia, Petulantia, Pertinacia
Equivalents
RomanClementia, Misericordia

In ancient Athens, Eleos (Ancient Greek Ἔλεος m.) or Elea was the personification of mercy, clemency, compassion and pity – the counterpart of the Roman goddess Clementia. Pausanias described her as "among all the gods the most useful to human life in all its vicissitudes."[2]

Family

Eleos was the daughter of the primordial gods, Nyx (Night) and Erebus (Darkness).[3]

Nyx's and Erebus's children were: Fatum/ Moros (Fate), Senectus/ Geras (Old Age), Mors/ Thanatos (Death), Letum (Dissolution), Continentia (Moderation), Somnus/ Hypnos (Sleep), Somnia/ Oneiroi (Dreams), Amor (Love)--that is Lysimeles, Epiphron (Prudence), Porphyrion, Epaphus, Discordia/ Eris (Discord), Miseria/ Oizys (Misery), Petulantia/ Hybris (Wantonness), Nemesis (Envy), Euphrosyne (Good Cheer), Amicitia/ Philotes (Friendship), Misericordia/ Eleos (Compassion), Styx (Hatred); the three Parcae/ Moirai (Fates), namely Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos; the Hesperides."[3]

Mythology

Pausanias states that there was an altar in Athens dedicated to Eleos,[4][2] at which children of Heracles sought refuge from Eurystheus' prosecution.[5][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.[6][7]

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".[citation needed]

See also

Notes

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

References