TFBT: Notes on Callimachus’ Hymn to Athena

The Battle of the Lawless Giants

“Never did Athena wash her mighty arms before she drave the dust from the flanks of her horses – not even when, her armour all defiled with filth, she returned from the battle of the lawless Giants; but far first she loosed from the care her horses’ necks, and in the springs of Oceanus washed the flecks of sweat and from their mouths that champed the bit cleansed the clotted foam. “ 5-12

It seems to me that off-handed references to the Gigantomachy are rare.  Argeiphontes Hermes (Hom. Il. ii 103) and Pallas Athena (Apollodorus i. 6. § 2) get epithets for slaying “giants”, but I don’t recall any such accolades to giant-slayers during the little mentioned war, even Heracles, responsible for the gigantic deaths, got no honors.  Hmm.  

Lustral Water

“Today, ye water-carriers, dip not your pitchers – today, O Argos, drink ye from the fountains and not from the river” 45-46

Is the above prohibition on river water in ritual always true?  Or is this a general prohibition? Like the Alaskan proverb for not eating clams in months that have an “r” in them.

The Laws of Cronus

The children of Cronus are often referred to as Cronides or sometimes Cronion (Κρονίδης, Κρονίων). The patronym is used Either collectively as “children of-“ or individually as “son of -“ Cronus.  The reference is most frequently made of Zeus. So in the text here Callimachus is retelling the blinding of Teiresias when he catches sight of Athena (and his mother!) skinny dipping.  Athena states that it is divine law that requires this punishment for looking upon her nakedness.  (Acteon was torn apart and eaten by his own dogs for the same crime!). Pallas Athena says;

“Κρόνιοι δ᾽ ὧδε λέγοντι νόμοι: ὅς κε τιν᾽ ἀθανάτων, ὅκα μὴ θεὸς αὐτὸς ἕληται, ἀθρήσῃ, μισθῶ τοῦτον ἰδεῖν μεγάλω. 100-102

But, who is “Κρόνιοι”? Is this the genitive (possessive form) of Cronus? And these are his laws? Or is Cronioi the genitive of the son of Cronus? Hence Zeus’ Law.  Various translators translate it differently and the dictionaries at Perseus don’t seem to support the latter.   If this law (and others discussed at the end of Hippolytus, like avoiding Death and not crying over mortals) were Cronus’ and not Zeus’ that might explain why they are immutable. 

Heiress of Zeus

“So she spake and bowed her head; and that word is fulfilled over which Pallas bows; since to Athena only among his daughters hath Zeus granted that she should win all things that belong to her sire, “ 131-133

Athena brags in a Euripides’ Eumenides “I alone of the gods know the keys to the house where his thunderbolt is sealed.”  and I recall a story of her using one, but can’t find.