Seeking retribution for being betrayed by prometheus, Zeus forms a cunning punishment for humanity. He orders ingenious Hephaestus to mix water and soil to form a maiden: Pandora, the first woman of the mortal race. The olympians impart gifts and attributes into her. From Athena, the skill of needlework and weaving, Aphrodite; “cruel longing and dares that weary the limbs.” Hermes; …”a shameless mind and deceitful nature.” Athena clothes her in a “silvery rainment” and an “embroidered veil,” the Charities offer necklaces of gold, and the Horai crown her head with spring flowers. Hephaestus forges a crown of gold for her head.
Zeus then orders Hermes to deliver Pandora carrying a jar as a wedding gift to Prometheus’ brother, Epimetheus, (who had already been warned by Prometheus never to accept gifts from Zeus.) But bewitched by her beauty and splendor, Epimetheus accepts. But Pandora’s curiosity gets the better of her and she opens the jar, releasing ills, toil, sickness, sorrow, and mischief into the world of humankind. She covers the jar before the final trait can escape: Hope. So it thus remains for mortals to use.
On one hand, this tale can certainly be a reflection of misogyny from a patriarchal society. On the other hand, this simplistic and sexist view clearly wasn’t universally reflected amongst all greek cultures and mythic literature, with the creation of powerful female heroines like Atalanta and Penthisilea who exercise real agency in their destinies, or goddesses like the mother goddess of Ephesian Artemis in Anatolia, or the war-like Aphrodite Areia of Sparta. Even more nuanced are the vengeful female antiheroes like Cyltemnestra or Medea, who lash back at the patriarchal suppression they face.
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What do you think about hesiods portrayal of pandora in his tale?
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Erinyes, also known as the Furies, the Erinyes were underworld goddesses of vengeance who hunted and persecuted criminals driving them mad, infecting them with disease, and even a town harboring a criminal may suffer hunger or plague. Although the Erinyes punished mortals for crimes like murder, crimes against elders or guest/host relations, they were particularly known for punishing blood killings between family members, as they were born from such a crime.
According to Hesiod, Cronus mutilated his father, Uranus, by cutting off his penis with a sickle, and tossing it to earth. While Aphrodite was born from the foam, The Erinyes were born from the blood. In contrast, the playwright Aeschylus says they were born from the goddess Nyx (night).
The three goddesses were known as Tisiphone (murder avenger), Megaera (grudge) and Alekto (unceasing anger). According to Aesychlus the Erinyes had gorgon like features, snakes entwined in their hair and arms. Later authors describe them with long black tunics, wings, blood dripping form their eyes, and brandishing snaky whips. They are also repeatedly mentioned as flaming, or with fire, and brandishing a torch.
The Erinyes had a particular function in the Underworld. Whereas pure, noble spirits were sent to Elysium, the sinners were punished in Tartarus, where the Erinyes oversaw the tortures in the dungeon fortress. Sinners like Sisyphus; ever pushing his boulder up the hill, and Tantalus, unable to satiate his thirst or hunger.
A famous portrayel of the Erinyes takes place in Aeschylus Oresteia trilogy. In the final play, The Euminides, the Erinyes have chased Orestes to Athens for the murder of his mother Clytemnestra. Here the playwright shows the modern Athenian court justice as superior to violent blood vengeance. Athena pardons Orestes and offers the Erinyes to become more kindly, worshipped and honored amongst the Athenians.
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Enter a world of magic, romance, and adventure quests in my first book, "Lockett Illustrated: Greek Gods and Heroes" Coming EARLY 2024
My time in the Bardic grade really brought this home to me. There is nothing wrong with a head in the clouds. There is nothing wrong with one foot perpetually in the other realms.
I find solace and understanding within tales of fantasy, romance, heroism, space odysseys from different genres.
I'm one of those adults who never quite grow up fully. I stubbornly carry my childhood everywhere. I encase it with learned experience and wisdom, but I never diminish it.
Perhaps there was a time in my life when I tried. And those were the worst of times.
Today I live and breathe geek culture parallel to my druid practice. I bridge between hard science and belief, because that is true alchemy.
That's an idea anddd the way I've been making my blessed jars for the past 2 years.🫧 The first one is from last year and the one in the last picture is from 2021. can't wait to make this year's too🦌
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