The Greek Myths, Volume2

by Robert Graves

  3. So the Odyssey breaks off with Laertes, Odysseus, and Telemachus, a patriarchal male triad of heroes, supported by Zeus-born Athene and triumphing over their foes; while the serving wenches hang in a row for their lack of discretion, to show that Nausicaa disapproves of pre-marital promiscuity as cheapening the marriage-market.

  The end has been preserved by other mythographers. Odysseus is banished to Thesprotia, and Telemachus to Cephallenia, whereas Penelope stays contentedly at the palace, ruling in the name of her son Poliporthis. Teiresias’s prophecy remains, of course, to be fulfilled: Odysseus will not die comfortably of old age, like the respected and garrulous Nestor. Death must strike him down in the traditional style which he thought to abolish: the New Year Child riding on dolphin-back will run him through with a sting-ray spear. Much the same fate overtook Catreus of Rhodes: his son Althaemenes accidentally speared him on the beach (see 93. 2). Sting-ray spears, also used by the Polynesians, cause inflamed wounds, which the Greeks and Latins held to be incurable (Aelian: Nature of Animals i. 56); the sting-ray (trygon pastinaca) is common in the Mediterranean. Heracles is said to have been wounded by one (see 123. 2).

  4. Telemachus’s marriage to Circe, and Telegonus’s to Penelope, are surprising at first sight. Sir James Frazer (Apollodorus ii. p. 303, Loeb) connects these apparently incestuous unions with the rule by which, in polygamous societies, a king inherited all his father’s concubines, except his own mother (2 Samuel xvi. 21 ff.). But polygamy never became a Greek institution, and neither Telemachus, nor Telegonus, nor Oedipus, a New Year Child, ‘born of the swelling wave’, who killed his father and married the widowed Iocaste (see 105. e), nor Heracles’s son Hyllus, who married his step-mother Iole (see 145. e), was polygamous. Each merely killed and succeeded the King of the Old Year in the ancient mythic style, and was thereafter called his son. This explains why Telemachus prepares to string the bow – which would have given him Penelope as his wife – but Odysseus frowns at him, and he desists; it is a detail surviving from the Ulysses story, uncritically retained in the Odyssey.

  5. Who knows whether Odysseus’s red hair has any mythic significance (see 133. 8), or whether it is an irrelevant personal peculiarity, like his short legs, belonging to some adventurer in Sicily whom Nausicaa has portrayed as Odysseus? Autolycus, of course, named him ‘the angry one’ at birth (see 160. c), and red hair is traditionally associated with ill temper. But though masquerading as an epic, the Odyssey is the first Greek novel; and therefore wholly irresponsible where myths are concerned. I have suggested the possible circumstances of its composition in another novel: Homer’s Daughter.*

  INDEX

  Many of the meanings are doubtful. Names in italics refer to characters in non-Hellenic mythology. References are to paragraph numbers, not page numbers.

  Abas – lizard, 24.e,9; 72.3; 73.a

  Abderus – ? son of battle, 71. 1; 130.b, c; 168.6

  Abraham, 169.5,6

  Acacallis – without walls, 90.a, b,2

  Academus – of a silent district, 104.b

  Acamas – unwearying, 86.a; 101.a; 131.11; 167.c; 168.d, e, j; 169.j

  Acarnan – thistle, 107.g

  Acastus – ? acatastatos, unstable, 80.b; 81 passim; 148.i; 155 passim; 162.d,8; 169.f

  Acca – she who fashions, 141.1

  Acco – she who fashions, 141.1

  Acesidas – averter from Mt Ida, 53.b; 164.6

  Achaeus – griever, 43.b,1; 44.a

  Achates – agate, 162.b

  Achelois – she who drives away pain, 142.3

  Achelous, R. – ? he who drives away grief, 7.4; 67.4; 107.e;127.2; 134.8; 142 passim; 170.q,7

  Achilles – lipless, 31.c; 81.r, s,1; 126.g,2; 138.4; 157.c; 160 passim; 162 passim; 163 passim; 164 passim; 165.a.b; 166.a, g; 168.j, k, l; 169.g; 170.p

  Achish, 159.4

  Acidusa – barbed being, 137.t

  Acmon – anvil, or pestle, 53.c; 136.c

  Acrisius – ill-judgement, 21.8; 38.8; 69.1; 72.g; 73 passim; 81.7; 109.c; 148.i

  Actaeon – shore dweller, 22.i,1; 28.2; 31.3; 32.1; 54.b; 82.e, j; 138.4

  Actaeus – of the coast, 25.d

  Actis – beam of light, 42.c,4

  Actor – leader, 81.f,8; 138.a, b; 148.i; 166.b

  Adam, 4.3; 28.6; 51.2; 145.5; 146.2

  Adanus – he of the acorns, 1.d; 159.3

  Admete – untamed, 131.a, j,1,3,

  Admetus – untamed, 10.b; 21.n,7; 69 passim; 80.c; 130.b; 148.i; 155.j

  Adonis – lord, 18.h, i, j,2,6,7; 25.5,11; 27.10; 58.d; 77.2; 101.g; 126.1; 132.4; 136.1; 141.3

  Adrasteia – inescapable, 7.b,3; 32.3

  Adrastus – he who stands his ground, 102.c; 106 passim; 107.b, c; 138.g; 158.l

  Adymnus – unsetting, 89.d,9

  Aeacus – bewailing, or earth-born, 31.b; 66 passim; 81.a, b, c,1; 88.i; 91.a, f; 92.j; 94.e; 96.g; 112.b; 158.l,8,9; 165.a, k; 167.2

  Aeanes – wearisome, 160.m

  Aechmagoras – warlike spirit of the market-place, 141.i

  Aëdon – nightingale, 108.g

  Aedos – shame, 32.1

  Aeëtes – mighty, or eagle, 70.l; 129.1; 148 passim; 152 passim; 153.a, b; 154 passim; 157.b; 170.i

  Aegaeon – goatish, 3.1; 132.h

  Aegaeus, R. – goatish, 146.i

  Aegeia – bright, 106.a, c

  Aegesta – pleasing goat, 137.g

  Aegestes, or Acestes – pleasing he-goat, 137.g; 169.m

  Aegeus – goatish, 88.d; 90.h; 94 passim; 95 passim; 97 passim; 98.a, d, v,7; 99.a; 152.d; 156.e; 157.a

  Aegialeia – of the seashore, 162.t; 169.k

  Aegialeius – of the seashore, 107.b, c

  Aegimius – ? aigiminos, acting the part of a he-goat, 78.a; 143.d,3; 146.d, e

  Aegina – goat strength, 66.b,1; 67.f; 138.b

  Aegisthus – goat strength, 111 passim; 113 passim; 114.a, c, m; 116.1; 117.a; 162.t

  Aegle – dazzling light, 33.d; 98.n

  Aegleis – bright, 91.g.

  Aegyptus – ? supine he-goat, 56.3; 60 passim

  Aelinus – dirge, 100.c.

  Aellopus – storm foot, 150.j

  Aeneas, or Aeneus – praiseworthy, 18.g,3; 50.2; 51.6; 98.3; 103.1; 158.3; 159.q; 162 passim; 163.c; 166.j, m; 167.j; 168 passim

  Aeolus – ? earth destroyer, 1.3; 26.1; 43 passim; 45.a, b,2; 67.e; 68.a; 148.a; 170.g,10

  Aerope – sky face, 93.a, c; 111.c, e, f,3,4; 140.b

  Aesacus – myrtle branch, 158.m, n,6; 159.f, g

  Aesculapius – ? ex aesculeo apiens, hangingfromanesculentoak,50.i,2

  Aeson – ? aesymnaon, ruler, 68.e, f; 148.a, b, e; 155.a.h

  Aethiolas – ? destroyed by fire, 159.d

  Aethra – bright sky, 95 passim; 97.b; 104.e; 159.s; 168.d.e

  Aethylla – kindling timber, 162.e,11

  Aetius – originator, 95.b,6

  Aetolus – ? cause of destruction, 64.c,3

  Agamede – very cunning, 138.6

  Agamedes – very cunning, 51.i; 84.b; 121.f; 169.2

  Agamemnon – very resolute, 92.4; 93.c; 111.f, j, n; 112 passim; 113 passim; 116.h,1,2; 131.11; 159.a, m; 160 passim; 161 passim; 162 passim; 163 passim; 164.e; 165 passim; 166 passim; 167 passim; 168 passim; 169 passim; 170.p

  Aganippe – mare who kills mercifully, 73.c

  Aganus – gentle, 159.v

  Agapenor – much distress, 169.n

  Agathyrsus – much raging, 132.v

  Agave – high-born, 27.f,9; 59.d

  Agelaus – herdsman, 136.g; 159 passim; 171.h

  Agenor – very manly, 56.b,3; 57.a,1; 58 passim; 60.3; 73.l; 142.5; 150.j

  Aglaia – bright, 73.a; 105.5

  Aglauros – dewfall, 25 passim

  Aglaus – splendid,111.g

  Agraulos – rustic one, 25.d, f,4

  Agreus – wild, 82.d

  Agriope – savage face, 28.b,4

  Agrius – wild (the Centaur), 35.g; 126.b; 164.a; 170.k

  Agyieus – he of
the street, 51.b

  Aidoneus – Hades, 103.e

  Aissa – swift, 160.j

  Ajax, Great – of the earth, 66.i; 81.e; 110.e; 137.i; 159.a; 160.k, n, p,2; 162.m; 163 passim; 164 passim; 165 passim; 168 passim; 170.p

  Ajax, Little, 160.p,2,6; 163.h; 164.m; 165.5; 168 passim

  Ajuna, 135.1

  Alalcomeneïs – guardian, 5.1

  Alalcomeneus – guardian, 5.a,1

  Alastor – avenger, 111.p,5

  Alcaeus – mighty one, 88.h; 118.d,3; 119.b; 131.e; 136.g

  Alcaids – sons of the mighty one, 122.a,2

  Alcathous – impetuous might, 67.1; 109.e, o; 110.c, d, e,2; 120.c

  Alcestis – might of the home, 69 passim; 106.6; 134.4,8; 155 passim

  Alcidice – mighty justice, 68.b

  Alcimede – mighty cunning, 148.b

  Alcimedes – mighty cunning, or mighty genitals, 156.e

  Alcimedon – mighty ruler, 141.i

  Alcinous – mighty mind, 148.9; 154 passim; 170.z; 171.2

  Alcippe – mighty mare, 19.b,2; 25.2; 74.e; 92.a; 94.b

  Alcis – might, 121.c,3

  Alcithoë – impetuous might, 27.g

  Alcmaeon – mighty endeavour, 85.1; 107 passim; 113.6; 115.4; 137.m

  Alcmena or Alcmene – might of the moon, or mighty in wrath, 74.1; 88.i,9; 110.c; 118 passim; 119 passim; 138.d; 145.e, h; 146 passim

  Alcon – mighty, 119.f,4

  Alcyone – queen who wards off [storms], 45 passim; 95.b; 110.c; 125.c; 126.d; 149.5; 160.12

  Alcyoneus – alceoneus, mighty ass, 35.c,4,5; 67.1; 132.w

  Alea – she who grinds, 141.a,1

  Alecto – unnameable, 6.a; 31.g; 115.2

  Aletes – wanderer, 113.e; 117.a

  Aleus – grinder, 140.b; 141 passim

  Alexander – he who wards off men, 146.c

  Alexirrhoë – averting the flow, 136.b, f

  Alexiares – warding off war, 145.i

  Aleyn, 73.2

  Aloeides – children of the threshing floor, 35.2; 36.4; 36 passim

  Aloeus – of the threshing floor, 19.b; 37.a,1

  Alope – alopecodis, sly as a vixen, 49 passim, 96.j,5

  Alopecus – fox, 116.l,4

  Alpheius, R. – whitish, 22.g,2

  Alphesiboea – bringing many oxen,58.d,2

  Alphito – white goddess, 22.2; 52.7; 61.1; 113.7.

  Althaea – marshmallow, 80.a,1; 142.a

  Althaemenes – strength of growth, 93 passim; 171.3

  Alxion – war-like native, 109.b

  Amaltheia – tender, 7.b,3,4; 26.b; 30.3; 108.e; 142.d

  Amarynceus – swift darting, 138.a, b,5; 139.e, f

  Amathaon, 103.1; 108.8; 148.f

  Amazons – moon-women, 27.d; 39.5,6; 75.d; 100 passim; 131 passim; 132.f; 134.2; 151.d, e; 152.j; 164 passim

  Ameinius – unpausing, 85.b,1

  Ammon – sandy, 27.b; 51.1; 97.a,1

  Amnisian Nymphs – of the she-lambs 22.f

  Amphiaraus – doubly cursed, 51.g; 80.c, e, g; 106 passim; 107.a; 148.i

  Amphictyon – fastener together, 24.5; 38.h,8

  Amphictyonis – fastener together; 38.8

  Amphidamas – taming all about him, 108.b; 127.a; 133.k; 160.m

  Amphilochus – double ambush, 51.g,8; 107.d, i; 169.c, e

  Amphimarus – ? ambidextrous, 147.b

  Amphinome – grazing all about, 148.b; 155 passim

  Amphinomus – grazing all about, 171.l,2

  Amphion – native of two lands, 76.a, b, c,2; 77 passim; 109.j,6

  Amphissa – double strength, 43.h

  Amphissus – double strength, 21.j

  Amphitrite – the third one who encircles, i.e. the sea, 16.b,1,2; 47.c; 87.c; 91.2; 98.j

  Amphitryon – harassing on either side, 74.1; 89.h, i; 111.b; 118 passim; 119 passim; 120.a; 121.d; 122.e; 135.e; 146.g; 167.b

  Amyclas – very lustful, 77.b; 125.c

  Amycus – loudly bellowing, 131.e, h; 150 passim; 151.c

  Amymone – blameless, 16.e,5; 60.g, o

  Amyntor – defender, 142.e; 143.i; 160.l

  Amythaon – unspeakably great, 112.b; 138.m

  Anakim, 88.3; 117.3

  Anatha, 9.4; 41.4; 61.1; 82.4; 98.7; 114.4; 133.10; 141.1; 169.5

  Anax – king, 88.b,3

  Anaxagoras – king of the market-place, 72.k

  Anaxandrides – son of the kingly man, 117.d,7

  Anaxibia – queenly strength, 111.f; or Eurydice, 164.e

  Anaxo – queen, 104.i; 118.a

  Ancaeus – of the glen, 18.7; 80.c, d, g; 148.i; 151.c; 154.i; 157.e,2

  Anchiale – close to the sea, or sea-girt, 53.a

  Anchinoë – quick wit, 60.a

  Anchises – living with Isis, 18.f, g,3; 137.g; 158.l, r; 159.4; 162.k; 168 passim

  Ancius – of the dell, 126.b

  Androclea – glory of men, 121, c,3

  Androgeneia – mother of men, 89.a

  Androgeus-man of the earth, 66.h;90 passim; 91.a, f; 98.a,c,p; 131.i,6

  Androgyne – man-woman, 18.8

  Andromache – battle of men, 158.8; 168.h

  Andromeda – ruler of men, 73 passim; 137.2

  Andron – man’s apartment, 160.u

  Androphonos – man-slayer, 18.4

  Andrus – manly, 88.h

  Angitia – snake-goddess, 157.a

  Anicetus – unconquerable, 145.i

  Anippe – queenly mare, 133.k

  Anius – troublous, 88.h; 160.t, u, v

  Annwm, 31.3

  Antaeus – besought with prayers, 53.3; 109.f; 132.f; 133 passim; 134.6,8,9

  Antagoras – facing the market-place, 137.q

  Anteia – precedence, 70.2; 73.a; 75.a, e,1

  Antenor – instead of a man, 158.r; 150.q; 162.n; 166.j, l; 167.e, l,1; 168 passim

  Ante-vorta, 154.3

  Anthas – flowery, 95.b

  Anthea – flowery, 95.1

  Anthedon – rejoicing in flowers, 90.l,7

  Antheis – flowery, 91.g

  Antheus – 85.2; 159.q,4

  Antibia – confronting strength, 110.c

  Anticleia – false key, or in place of the famous one, 67.c; 96.a; 160.c; 170.n, o; 171.2

  Antielus – near the marshland, 167.k,2

  Antigone, in place of a mother, 105.k; 106.m

  Antileon – bold as a lion, 120.b

  Antilochus – lying in ambush against, 164.e, f, m

  Antinous – hostile mind, 171 passim

  Antiochus – driver against, 143.b

  Antiope – with face confronting, 43.a; 68.2; 76 passim; 100 passim; 101.b; 106.7; 131.e, g; 151.f; 154.a; 167.h; 170.o

  Antiphas – speaking in the name of, 167.i,3

  Antiphates – spokesmen, 170.h

  Antiphus – contrary, 158.o

  Antipoenus – vicarious penalty, 121.c

  Anu, 6.6

  Anubis, 17.2; 31.3; 34.1; 170.9

  Apemosyne – unknowingness, 93 passim

  Apesantus – ? he who lets loose against, 123.e,5

  Aphaea – not dark, or vanisher, 89.b,4

  Aphareus – unclothed, 74.b, c, g, k; 94.f; 141.f

  Apheidas – lavish, 141.a

  Aphidamas – ? amphidamas, taming all about him, 141.a

  Aphidnus – shrinking away until he bends backwards, 103.b; 104.e

  Aphrodite – foam-born, 6.6; 11 passim; 13.6; 15.b,1; 18 passim; 19.a; 23.1; 28.f; 32.4; 33.7; 65.a,1; 67.2; 71.a; 80.l; 83.1; 91.2; 92.j; 98.g, k; 101.b,5; 108.f; 126.1; 137.s; 152.a,2; 154.d; 159 passim; 162.4; 163.c, n; 167.4; 169.1; 170.q Comaetho – bright-haired, 91.1 Cyprian, 18.8 Eldest of the Fates, 10.3; 18.4 Epitragia – turned into a he-goat, 98.g Epitymbria – of the tombs, 18.4 Erycina – of the heather, 18.3; 132.r Federal, 99.d the Fish, 36.a Melaenis – black, 18.4 Peeping, 101.c Schocnis – ofthe rush-basket, 80.4 Scotia – of darkness, 18.4 Stranger, 159.v Temnian, 109.g Trojan, 160.8 Uniter, 159.s Urania – queen of the mountains, 10.c,3 Victorious, 60.k W
olfish, 81.9

  Apis – long ago, 56.b; 64.c,3,4; 75.5

  Apollo – destroyer, or apple-man, 13.c; 14 passim; 17 passim; 18.j; 20 passim; 22.b; 28.f,3; 40.3; 42.1; 43.h; 44.a; 50.c, d, e,4; 51.d,4; 52.8; 66.i; 69.a, c; 74.e, f; 76.c; 77.a, b; 82.a,b,c,1; 83.g; 84.b; 91.b; 95.h.5; 97.1; 98.t, u,10; 107.f; 113.f; 114.f, n; 115.4; 116.a; 135.d,2,3; 137.a; 139.f; 143.f; 154.i; 158 passim; 161; passim; 163.j, p,3; 164.j; 167.j; 169 passim Cillaean, 109.g,2 of the Dawn, 151.b Distraught, 169.m the Dolphin, 97.a; 99.2 of the Embarcations, 149.a the Hunter, 110.d; 133.l Hyperborean, 21.3; 113.7 Lycian, 60.8 Phygian, 158.d Pure, 82.b Pythian, 28.3; 99.c; 100.b Smintheus – mousy, 14.2;21.3;90.3;158.a, j,2; 161.i Solar, 109.2 Thymbraean, 158.p; 161.l; 163.a; 164.k; 166.g; 167.h, i of the White Rock, 89.j

  Apsu, 36.2

  Apsyrtus, or Aegialeus – swept downstream, 148.9; 152.c; 153 passim

  Aqhat, 41.4

  Arachne – spider, 25.h,6

  Arawn, 108.8

  Arcas – bear, 64.c; 132.r

  Archelaus – ruler of the people, 117.g; 169.5

  Archemorus – beginner of doom, or original olive-stock, 106.h,3

  Archias – eminent, 142.g

  Archippe – dominant mare, 110.c

  Architeles – plenipotentiary, 142.g

  Ardalus – dirty, 95.c

  Areia – warlike, 88.b

  Arene – man-like, 74.c

  Ares – male warrior, 1.3; 12.c,2; 15.b; 18.b, c, d, j; 19 passim; 35.d; 37.b, d,3; 40.b; 46.a; 48.d; 58.g; 59.a, e; 67.g; 70.m; 80.l,1; 102.e; 106.j,1; 109.b, d; 130.a; 133.d; 139.b,1; 143.g; 151.f,4; 152.h, i; 159.h; 164.a Colchian, 148.g

  Aresthanas – strength of prayer, 50.d

  Arëte – unspeakable, 154 passim, 170.z

  Arethusa – ardusa, the waterer, 22.a; 82.g

  Argeius – whited, 110.c; 144.a

  Arge – brightness, 3.b,2; 22.d

  Argeus – bright, 151.f

  Argiope – bright face, 58.a,2; 96.j,5; 141.e

  Argonauts, 28.b; 70.e; 126.f; 128.b; 133.f; 134.6; 137.e; 148 passim; 149 passim; 150 passim; 151 passim; 152 passim; 153 passim; 154 passim; 155 passim; 156 passim