TFBT: West's Hesiodic Catalogue

I am re-reading M.L. West’s The Hesiodic Catalogue of Women.  This must be a really good book because I just finished it and started all over again.  In case you are wondering about the title; Hesiod composed a sequel to the Theogony.  It is called The Catalogue of Women.  There is no intact copy of this five volume work by Hesiod.  There are many fragments, which West has tried to arrange in the correct order.   

Hermione’s Birth

Today I was reading West comments about the finale of this work;

“Menelaus is born; Helen is born (unexpectedly¹ ); everyone needed for the Trojan War is born…Menelaus got Helen, and she bore Hermione…The moment Hermione’s birth has been registered, there is an abrupt switch to the gods.  They were riven with dissension because of Zeus’ great plan to stir up a war, destroy large numbers of men and remove the sons of the gods to live apart in the paradise conditions they had enjoyed in the beginning.”

The fatal Oath of Tyndareus and the abduction of Helen, which would ignite the war, were separated by six plus year. I always assumed this was because; Homer/Zeus was waiting for Achilles to be old enough to enter the war or the sudden and coincidental death of Menelaus’ grandfather was the first chance Homer/Zeus had to arrange a romance. But this fragment (204.94ff) suggests that Hermione’s birth suddenly triggered Zeus’ Plan.  Why did Hermione’s birth stir up dissension? 

A Fundamental Change in the Conditions of Life

What follows are his comments about Book 5.201 (Fragment 240.95). 

“What follows is astonishing.  So far as we can understand it, it describes not the abduction of Helen and the consequent outbreak of the war, but a fundamental change in the condition of life.  Man was no longer to enjoy the easy abundance of hitherto.  He was to be forced to sail about the seas, to adopt a trading economy, Apollo observed with pleasure as people busied themselves to keep their children from starvation…Gales blew from the north, bending the forest and bringing down their leaves and fruits, making the seas crash on the shore with terrifying force, wearing down human strength and devastates the growing crops.”    

I have found no copy of Fragment 204 anywhere except for the discussion of Hermione’s Birth in Gonzalez’s article.  But, I think we can rely on West’s summary here.  Mythologically speaking we can blame the Theban and Trojan War for the “historical” Bronze Age Collapse and Hellenic Dark Ages.  But is Hesiod introducing a mini ice-age here? 

I will have to revisit an excellent lecture; 1177 BC: The Year Civilization Collapsed (Eric Cline, PhD) 

 

¹ Gonzalez says Hermione’s birth was “unexpected” whereas West tosses the word “abrupt” into the telling of the tale.  "Catalogue of Women" and the End of the Heroic Age (Hesiod fr. 204.94-103 M-W)  

 

 

TFBT: West’s Hesiodic Catalogue of Women

I have been pondering the “epic” of Nestor. It should include the cosmic battle between gods and men that destroyed sandy Pylos and decimated the royal family, young king Nestor ‘s desperate effort to save the remnant of his people, the war with the Moloines and battles with the Centaurs & Amazons.  As I poked around sources on the issue, I kept seeing references to “an Aetolian-Elean-Pylian cycle” with praise for M.L. West research on it.  His research can be found in  “The Hesiodic Catalogue of Women;  Its Nature, Structure and Origins” 1985

Hesiod is credited with writing a poem about mortal women who slept with immortal gods. They are the ancestresses of the royal families of Ancient Greece.  Alas the “Catalogue of Women” is lost and only fragments remain. West has done a brilliant and convincing job of aligning the fragments, extrapolating what was missing and reconstructing Hesiod’s lost masterpiece; its nature, structure and origins.  This is a wonderful and well written book!  

In untangling the fragments of cascading genealogical material he began to see clusters of stories and insights. We are familiar with two such clusters of myths; (4) The Trojan Cycle and (3) The Theban Wars.  He postulates two more (an Aetolian-Elean-Pylian cycle”1) An Iolkos cycle and (2) an Aetolian-Elean-Pylian cycle.  Each with their own style and motivation.  

What I present here I hope is enough to entice you get a copy of the book yourself to better understand the concept of the 4 Cycles.  I also include some random notes I hope you will find interesting

West suggests the Greek myths fall more or less into 4 great story cycles;

“An Iolkos cycle, comprising the sory of Pelias, Jason, th Argo’s voayae, the Funral Games for Pelias, the sack of Iolkos by Peleus and the deeds of Achilles

An Aetolian-Elean-Pylian cycle, telling of Oineus’ slaughter of the sons of Prothaon, the Calydonian Boar Hunt, the war of the Kourets and Aetolians, the story of Meleagros, Heracles meeting with Meleagros I Hades and his subsequnt marriage to Deianeira, the sack of Oichalia and the war of the Pylians and Epeio.

A Theban Cycle, centring on the quarrel of Oedipus’ sons and the attacks on Thebes by the Seven and the Epigonoi.

A Troy Cycle, telling of the abduction of Helen, the gathering of a great army at Aulis the war at Troy, the murder of Agemon and Orestes’ revenge and other stories of the heroes homecomig. “

“the Aetolian and Elean kings were traced back to Aethlios” (page 141 and 174)

There seems that the sons of Demodike (daughter of Agenor) represent the peoples of the Pylian Cycle.  The boys are Evenus, Molos, Pylos and Thestios.  West refers to Molos’ grandsons (the Siamese twins that Nestor battled in his youth)  as “monstrous” and equates them with the giant Aloadi.  (pages 62, 63

“We know that the Theban cycle was established before the Iliad and before Hesiod.”  (page 154)  West’s argument here is based on votive offerings.Random Notes

"One recurring pattern which may have struck the reader is that of an  archetype-figure who has three sons standing for major divisions in the populations.” (page 27)

"The moment (Menelaus and Helen's daughter) Hermoine’s birth has been there registered there is an abrupt switch to the gods.They are riven with dissension because of Zeus’ great plan to stir up a war, destroy large numbers of men and to remove the sons of gods to live apart in the paradise conditions they had enjoyed in the beginning. What follows is astounding as far as we can follow it, it describes not the abduction of Helen and the conseqent outbreak of war, but a fundamental change in the conditions of life.  Man was no longer to enjoy the easy abundance of hitherto. He was to be forced to sail about the sea, to adopt a trade economy (page 119 on fragment 5.201)

"Besides begetting children in the customary way, Deucalion created a tribe of men by throwing stones Zeus put in his way. These were the Leleges."  52

West discussing the word "Hellenes"  says "Hellenes in this context do not represent the Greek nation as distinct from barbarian, but the Hellenes of  Iliad 2.684 who live in Phthia and the north shore of the gulf of Malis" (page 53)

"Hellen's wife is...a nymph of Mount Othrys." (page 57)  I find this interesting because this peak was the fortress of the Titans during the ten year Titanomachy

In the course of reading ML West it occurs to  me that the gods the turning mortals into birds pre-empts the penalty the Erinyes will enforce.

West is great at explaining every hero’s eponymic name or which town she or he founded.

Speaking of Hesiod “This is not to say that he (Hesiod) was never aware of chronological difficutlites.  In Fragment 141.20 he may have said that Zeus allowed Sarpedon to live for three gnerations.  Just what is needd to reconcile his pesence at troy with that of Minos’ grandson Idomeneus, since Minos and Sarpedon have been presented as brothers. “ (page 122)

“The (Iliadic?) Catalogue of Ships …starts from Boeotia where the expedition assembled and proceeds at first in a spiral, Phocis, Locris, Euboiea, Attica, Salamis Peloponnese, Kephallena Aetolia, then Crete, Rhodes, etc., then norther Greece.   The (Hesiodic ) Catalogue of  (Helen’s) Suitors to judge by the incomplete remains, began from the the Peloponnese where Tyndareos lived and again sprialled clockwise to the west, (the same as Il 2.631ff) and north and down to Athens.  In Homer Aias follows Menestheus immediately, but here two engries intervened, Salamis was followed by the larger islands, Euboea and Crete.” (page 117) “J.Schwartz indeed suggests that the catalogedaughter of Kleisthenes)” (page 133)

“The Graikoi are perhaps to be located in the west, around or beyond (the River) Pindus.  It was presumably their prominence in Epirus at one time that led to their name being estabisihed in Latin for “Greeks” generally." (page 54)

“Why are Nelus and Pilias made twins, when they live at opposite ends of Greece, belonn gto different saga cyles and never hanything to do with one another?  The explanation must have something to with the fact the Poseidon made love to their mother in the water of th Enipeus (River).  There is an Enipeus right beside Salmone in Pisatis and another in Thesssaly (but close to Iolkos.)” (page 142)

“A vagrant cow led Kadmos to the site of Thebes and a vagrant bull led Europed quiete astray.” 146

“Most of the descendants of Lacedaion, son of Zeus and the mountain nymph Taygete had nothing to do with the Trojan War. “ (page 156)

“There is some reason to think that this patient porter of the earth and sky (Atlas) was once a Peloponnesian mountain god. “
“it is significant that the patronymic Aeacides, which occurs over two dozen times in the Homeric poems, always refers to Peleus or Achilles, never to Aias.” (page 162)

In the Arcadian genealogy, that is the descendants of Callisto and Zeus, “There are no unions between gods and mortal women.” (page 154)

TFBT; The Seven Wives of Zeus III

Zeus Co-opts Authorities, Powers and Dominions

There are many ways to interpret myths.  Many ways to interpret the Hesiodic version of the wives of Zeus.  Here are a few ways to look at it.  

·      “The myths about the gods’ seduction of nymphs refers to marriages between (newly-arrived) Hellenic chieftains and local Moon priestesses; bitterly opposed by ‘Hera’, which means by conservative religious feeling” [i]

 

·      The “Pan-Hellenic urge” forces Pan-Hellenic poets like Homer and Hesiod to deal with local myth and local versions on Pan-Hellenic myth; “The familiar Olympian system was then agreed upon as a compromise between Hellenic and pre-Hellenic views: a divine family of six gods and six goddesses, forming a Council of Gods in Babylonian style”  [ii]

·      “Zeus does not marry her, (Styx) but in a sense he co-opts or adopts her powerful children, (Rivalry, and sweet-stepping Victory, and also Strength and Force) children who could in fact become a threat to his sovereignty if not kept within his control.” [iii]

So by marrying;

1.   Metis; Zeus co-opts her Wisdom, daughter Athena, who is “all for the father” and the Athenian Empire

2. Themis;   Zeus attains a life-long counselor and control of his daughters’ authority over ; Eunomia (Order), Dike (Justice), and blooming Eirene (Peace) and by claiming fatherhood over  Clotho, and Lachesis, and Atropos who are Destiny itself. 

3) Eurynome; Zeus attains a foothold in the Orphic Mysteries and fatherhood of the three fair-cheeked social graces, Aglaea, and Euphrosyne, and lovely Thaleia,  

4) Demeter; Zeus attains a foothold in the Eleusinian Mysteries.  

5) Mnemosyne; Zeus can claim to be the father of the authorities on the arts and sciences, the nine gold-crowned Muses  

6)  Leto:  Zeus has another claim of dominion over Delphi (via Leto’s mother) and can enthrone his mouthpiece and son Apollo there.  In addition he can lay claim to Delos and the Ionians.  Artemis delighting in arrows enthroned most famously in Ephesus is now subject to Zeus

7)  Lastly, he made Hera his blooming wife, giving him dominion over the “islands” of Pelopennsia & Samos along with authority over Immortality (Hebe) and War (Ares) and (Childbirth) Eileithyia.

So whether “Zeus” is this myth represents invading Japhethic chieftains, the “Pan-Hellenic Urge“ or literally the “Father of gods and men” himself, by these marriage (and more) Zeus acquires Wisdom and Counsel, authority and dominion and finally control over immortality which for the gods is “life itself”.

---

[i] Robert Graves, The Greek Myths, Page 10 of the electronic version.

[ii] Robert Graves, The Greek Myths, Page 11 of the electronic version.

[iii] (Hesiod’s Cosmos, Jenny Strauss Clay, Page 23)

TFBT: The Seven Wives of Zeus

In Hesiod’s Theogony we read a list of seven goddesses. (886-923) Generally, referred to as the Seven Wives of Zeus.  Here it is; 

1.    886] Now Zeus, king of the gods, made Metis his wife first, and she was wisest among gods and mortal men. 

2.  901] Next he married bright Themis who bare the Horae (Hours), and Eunomia (Order), Dike (Justice), and blooming Eirene (Peace), who mind the works of mortal men, and the Moerae (Fates) to whom wise Zeus gave the greatest honour, Clotho, and Lachesis, and Atropos who give mortal men evil and good to have.

3) 907] And Eurynome, the daughter of Ocean, beautiful in form, bare him three fair-cheeked Charites (Graces), Aglaea, and Euphrosyne, and lovely Thaleia, from whose eyes as they glanced flowed love that unnerves the limbs: and beautiful is their glance beneath their brows.

4) [912] Also he came to the bed of all-nourishing Demeter, and she bare white-armed Persephone whom Aidoneus carried off from her mother; but wise Zeus gave her to him.

5) 915] And again, he loved Mnemosyne with the beautiful hair: and of her the nine gold-crowned Muses were born who delight in feasts and the pleasures of song.

6) [918] And Leto was joined in love with Zeus who holds the aegis, and bare Apollo and Artemis delighting in arrows, children lovely above all the sons of Heaven.

7)[921] Lastly, he made Hera his blooming wife: and she was joined in love with the king of gods and men, and brought forth Hebe and Ares and Eileithyia.

His possible eighth wife was the Nereid Thetis, but we will discuss her later.

As with everything else in Ancient Greek literature there must be some greater significance. Here are some thoughts;

Descending order of Threat from His Sons

I jokingly suggested over at the Kosmos Society that the list represents a descending order of affection for his wives;  based on Zeus and Hera’s notoriously rocky marriage.  But, I think we can see another descending order. 

 Zeus first hypothetical son would have hurled him from his throne.  (895-900). The next son on this list of legitimate spouses is Apollo, his heir-apparent and pretty viable threat;

 “I will remember and not be unmindful of Apollo who shoots afar. As he goes through the house of Zeus, the gods tremble before him and all spring up from their seats when he draws near, as he bends his bright bow. “. HH to Apollo

  

 The last of his legitimate sons from the seventh marriage were little threat. One was lame and the other “Arēs would have then perished had not fair Eeriboia…” (Iliad 5:389) Starving to death is a very ungodlike thing to do, neither of his final legitimate seems much of a threat to Zeus’ hegemony. 

So my first thought about the sequence of wives is that it represents an every decreasing level of threat to the security of Zeus' throne from his own sons.

Outline for the Seven Wives of Zeus 

Descending order of threat

Extinguishing Competing Lineages;

·      Explaining who they are based on Hesiod’s line up

·      Virginity within the Olympians article

·      Then discuss marriages

·      Hera’s Handmaidens

Co-opt Authorities, Powers and Dominions (per Graves)

Geo-political signifance?

Previous Husbands;

·      Eurynome and Ophion;

·      Hera and some Samoian river-god,

·      Thetis and Poros’ father

·      Themis and Prometheus’ father

*.  Demeter Iasion and Caramandor

Thetis

·      Part of Ring composition with Metis?  Or

·      Start of a new cycle as Hesiod suggests for the 5 Ages of Man