Hysminai
In Greek mythology, the Hysminae or Hysminai (Ancient Greek: Ὑσμίνας or ὑσμῖναι; singular: ὑσμίνη from hysmine means 'battle, conflict, combat'[3]) are the personifications of fighting.[4]
| The Hysminae | |
|---|---|
Personifications of Fighting | |
| Member of the Family of Eris | |
| Abode | Underworld (possibly) |
| Personal information | |
| Parents | Eris[1] or Aether and Gaea[2] |
| Siblings | by Eris |
| Equivalents | |
| Roman equivalent | Pugna |
Family
Hesiod's account
The Hysminai are represented as the children of Eris, the goddess of strife.[5] They were siblings to Lethe, Limos, Horkos, Ponos and many other daemons.[6]
- And hateful Eris bore painful Ponos ("Hardship"),
- Lethe ("Forgetfulness") and Limos ("Starvation") and the tearful Algea ("Pains"),
- Hysminai ("Battles"), Makhai ("Wars"), Phonoi ("Murders"), and Androktasiai ("Manslaughters");
- Neikea ("Quarrels"), Pseudea ("Lies"), Logoi ("Stories"), Amphillogiai ("Disputes")
- Dysnomia ("Anarchy") and Ate ("Ruin"), near one another,
- and Horkos ("Oath"), who most afflicts men on earth,
- Then willing swears a false oath.[7][8]
Hyginus' account
In another account, Pugna/ Hysmine was called daughter of the primordial deities Aether and Gaia.[9]
- From Aether (Air) and Terra/ Gaia (Earth) [were born]: Dolor/ Algos (Pain), Dolus (Guile), Ira/ Lyssa (Anger), Luctus/ Penthus (Lamentation), Mendacium/ Pseudologoi (Lies), Jusjurandum/ Horcus (Oath), Ultio/ Poine (Vengeance), Intemperantia (Intemperance), Altercatio/ Amphillogiai (Altercation), Oblivio/ Lethe (Forgetfulness), Socordia/ Aergia (Sloth), Timor/ Phobos (Fear), Superbia (Arrogance), Incestum (Sacrilege), Pugna/ Hysminai (Combat).[10]
Mythology
Quintus Smyrnaeus depicted the Hysminae along with other daemons of war on the shield of Akhilleus.[11]
And there were man-devouring wars, and all horrors of fight: slain men were falling down mid horse-hoofs; and the likeness of a plain blood-drenched was on that shield invincible. Phobos (Panic) was there, and Deimos (Dread), and ghastly Enyo with limbs all gore-bespattered hideously, and deadly Eris (Strife), and the Erinyes (Avenging Spirits) fierce-hearted -- she, still goading warriors on to the onset they, outbreathing breath of fire. Around them hovered the relentless Keres (Fates); beside them Hysminai (Battle) incarnate onward pressed welling, and from their limbs streamed blood and sweat. There were the ruthless Gorgons: through their hair horribly serpents coiled with flickering tongues. A measureless marvel was that cunning work of things that made men shudder to behold seeming as though they verily lived and moved.[12][13]
See also
Notes
- Hesiod, Theogony 228
- Hyginus, Fabulae Preface
- "ὑσμίνη": Lexicon entry in LSJ
- Scull, Sarah Amelia (1880). Greek mythology systematized. Porter & Coates. p. 42. ISBN 9780524012987. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
- Hesiod, Theogony 228
- Grimal, Pierre; A. R. Maxwell-Hyslop (1996). The Dictionary of Classical Mythology. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. p. 152. ISBN 0-631-20102-5.
- Caldwell, p. 42 lines 226-232, with the meanings of the names (in parentheses), as given by Caldwell, p. 40 on lines 212–232.
- Hesiod, Theogony 226–232
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. - Hyginus, Fabulae Preface
- Hyginus, Fabulae Preface This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- Quintus Smyrnaeus, Posthomerica 5.36
- Quintus (Smyrnaeus) (1913). The fall of Troy. Translated, Arthur S. Way. W. Heinemann. p. 213. ISBN 9780434990191. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
- Quintus Smyrnaeus, Posthomerica 5.25–42 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
References
- Gaius Julius Hyginus, Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. Online version at the Topos Text Project.
- Hesiod, Theogony from The Homeric Hymns and Homerica with an English Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White, Cambridge, MA.,Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1914. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.
- Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy translated by Way. A. S. Loeb Classical Library Volume 19. London: William Heinemann, 1913. Online version at theio.com
- Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy. Arthur S. Way. London: William Heinemann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 1913. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.