Seers What I Know So Far
Over that the Kosmos Society we have spoken of “seers”much lately. In English the noun indicates a person who “sees” things the rest of us can’t; that is the second-sight. I will have to check the Greek but such people sees hear and know things the the rest of us mere mortals are clueless about. I have just started reviewing Maicar’s list of seers, but here is what I have so far
For the sake of conversation I have divided the Ancient Greek seers into five arbitrary groups.
Successful. Seers whose skills helped them to live life successfully like Polyidus and Melampus. Polyidus was the seer of Minos’ cattle and son fame. Melampus was the first mortal seer and ancestor of many more including Polyidus. I will have to look at the genealogy tables to see if living a safe and happy life as a seer means descent from Melampus.
Truth Tellers Who Suffered the Consequences. Seers ho announced the truth and were consequently cursed by men or gods. Laocoon along with his sons was devoured by a sea monster for his troubles. No one believed Cassandra she and her children were killed along with Agamemnon. And Chalchas who was threatened harshly. (John the Baptist lost his head.)
Turncoats. Seers who saw the handwriting on the wall and switched sides betraying their families. Chalchas, Helenus and maybe Prometheus
Immortals. Those seer attaining divine honors after death; Amphiaras and Aristaeus, so far
False Prophets. Seers who actually didn’t have the second sight. Like Tireasia. Really? If you had eyes at all and psychic ability wouldn’t you notice some family resemblance in Oedipus?
A quick review suggest that the only special knowledge he ever displayed was saying that one of the royal family had to leap from the walls to save the city during the War of the Seven AgainstThebes. .Really? That is such a literary cliche as to be only noticeable by it’s absence. The unique fact that it was A son of the royal house, just indicates that Creon had already marries off or flung all his daughters from the walls already.
Comments ?
Bill,
ReplyDeleteSo you think that mythological Greeks would resort to sacrificing a man only after running out of suitable women?
Maya,
DeleteTraditionally it is a princess who leaps from the walls to save her city. The case of a prince doing it is rare. I would have to think about cases of human sacrifice in general and gender. It is a little late right now for research
Bill
BTW, I like your characterization of Teiresias as a false prophet. Just see him in the Antigone - he doesn't say that Creon's new funeral rites will anger the immortals until the situation escalates practically to a point of no return. If I were a Theban, I'd view him with suspicion.
ReplyDeleteMaya,
ReplyDeleteI have been pondering your question about sacrificing men. I was thinking of actual ritual sacrifice rather than suicide. Happily I could think of none beside those nasty barbarians in Tauri. Well and the Athenians who sacrificed 7 youths to the Minotaur on a regular basis And the ten youths sacrificed on patroclus pyre. And Neoptolemus on the altar of Apollo at Delphi and Priam on the altar of Zeus (I think) in Troy and... I guess they did sacrifice me.
The pattern seems to be: our females, enemy males. Creon's son and Polyxena stand out as exceptions.
ReplyDeleteMaya,
ReplyDeleteMaybe, the Athenians sent 7 girls along with the 7 boys.