Olympos: Dionysus, the God of Transgression

Studio Tablinum: writing about the God Dionysus is like going into a world of transgression and mystical delirium. A god who looks more like a young girl, with his curvy body and his curled and perfumed hair. Son of Zeus and the princess of Thebes Semele. His birth is even more unusual than the birth of the Goddess Athena, born from the head of his father Zeus: Dionysus indeed was born from his father’s thigh.

When Hera discovered her husband’s affair with a mortal woman, Semele, furious for the new husband’s adultery, she thought about how to eliminate his lover. Let us say that does not predicted anything good for Semele and her child.

Hera took on the appearance of the old nurse Beroe, and beginning to creep into the mind of the princes bad thoughts about Zeus. She began to suggest that Zeus did not love her honestly: he had never shown himself to his mistress, but ony embraced her before vanishing, into the darkness of the lamps. He began to suggest that Zeus did not love her honestly: he had never shown himself to his mistress, but he embraced her into the darkness of the lamps and before vanishing. Semele decided that would never be granted to the Father of the Gods if he did not appear in his true nature.

Zeus tried to explain to his young lover that this was not possible, for his safety, but the young woman would not listen to reason and, struck by the true aspect of Zeus, the young woman dies electrocuted.

Zeus was just in time to snatch the little Dyonisus from the body incinerated of Semele and he decided to carry the pregnancy to term alone. So he putted the little Dionysus in his thigh and then he sewed the wound. After ninth month Zeus took the infant Dionysus from his thigh, and introduced him to the world as his son. In fact the name Dionysus means “twice-born”.

But the little Dionysus was not still there safely by Hera and then was hidden by his father Zeus in a country called Nisa, a country without a precise location, some are in Asia, others in Africa. Hera unleashed on his trail the relentless Titans who found him intent on playing near a source.

The Titans are trying to attack Dionysus but although very young Dionysus defended himself using his main talent: the metamorphosis.

First, he turned himself into a lion and after in a bull and got the better of the attackers.

Hera, furious with his emissaries that they could not kill the little Dionysus, slammed the doors of Olympus so vigorously that the noise spread throughout the universe and also spreading on the ground stunned Dionysus, then the Titans ripped him in and he cooked the pieces in a cauldron.

When the father Zeus learns of this cruel wickedness flashed instantly the Titans and recomposing the body of his son gave back life.

According to the story the Centaur Chiron was his first mentor of Dyonisus and he taught to his pupil the arts of dance, song and the rules of future initiatory rites of Bacchus. After the time spent with Chiron, Dionysus, decided to undertake several expeditions around the world and his presence did not pass unnoticed. Unlike the God Hermes, like him a God wanderer, usually move with fleetingness, unnoticed and plush just like you would expect from the God of Thieves, it was impossible not to notice its passage.

The epiphany of Dionysus is always a shocking event and the people who come into direct contact with him will never be the same.

As happens to a pirate crew that sail the Aegean Sea looking for prey. Suddenly a sailor saw the figure of a beautiful young man who was standing on a promontory of the island, this young man was Dionysus. Landed on the island the pirates decided to capture the young man and to request a sumptuous ransom to the family; so the pirates dragged him on board and tried to chain him to the mast of the ship, but they were unable to take him prisoner: but, somehow, the nodes and chains were loosed and the young man freed himself and smiled at his tormentors in a mysterious way.

At that point the helmsman of the ship, seeing the scene, shuddered and began to scream to his fellow leave free the young because he recognized him as a god and exhorted his comrades to not hurt him.

But his companions began taunting the helmsman, but suddenly happened the first miracle. The sailors heard a fascinating scent given off from the deck of the ship, and they realized that he was spouting a source of pure wine. Then the wonder and terror seized the crew, but it was too late: an ivy growing up and clung to the mast, and the oarlocks.

Dionysus, amused by what was he doing, decided to become a lion and pushed the crew, except the helmsman towards the stern of the ship, forcing the pirates overboard. But here is the second miracle, one by one were transformed into dolphins. The only survivor was the steersman who was awarded by the God of Transgression as a reward for being the only one to understand its true nature.

Well known was his journey to Hades to try to bring back to life his mother Semele; was at that moment that he knew Prosymnus who suggested to the god as a guide in the world of the dead, took Dionysus, to his mother near Lerna.

It was then that the guide asked his reward and it was really strange: Dionysus would have to give herself to Prosymnus, as a woman: Dionysus accept it, but asked him to return to the world of the living to get out of that place of death the mother Semele Prosymnus consent and telling him that he would wait for his return.

Occurred, however, that the pastor Prosymnus died before the return of Dionysus. However Dionysus, back near Lerna in order to fulfill the promise, he decided to “satisfy” at least the shadow of the shepherd.

When he arrived in front to the tomb of Prosymnus created with an olive wood a kind of foul and sat on it, and just like a woman enjoyed this practice. Finally eternally grateful to the pastor, he placed among the stars of the sky the figure of his guide.

When Dionysus became adult received by Hera an unpleasant gift: he became crazy and began to wander in different parts of Greece and Asia followed by his tutor Silenus, and a group of satyrs and maenads.

The God of Transgression, head of this unique expeditions, fought against the Titans, in Egypt, returning his scepter to the God Amun. Later he went to Syria where he defeated and deposed the king of Damascus, flaying him as punishment for trying to resist him, a God. They say that Dionysus with its procession came to India and along the way he introduced the cult and founded the city.

After the last venture, when he defeated the Kings Indian Deriade, he decided to return to Greece. But on his return opposed him the proud people of the Amazon, daughter of Ares. In this last battle Dionysus did not participate actively but he was a spectator of the fight between the Amazons and maenads devoted to him. Finally, the Maenads won the fierce rivals and the procession could start over again for Greece.

The revenge against the King of Thebes, Pentheus and women of the city who did not believe the claims of their princess Semele who claimed to have slept with Zeus was dreadful.
Then Dionysus punished with madness the women of Thebes and pushed to keep the orgiastic rites in his favor in the woods surrounding the city, and infused into the mind of the King Pentheus the “enthousiasmos” *. It was so that women become maenads, worshipers of Dionysus. When they discovered on top of a tree the curious King Pentheus who, driven by Dionysus, tried to to spy the women, they captured the poor Pentheus and devoured alive; Among the cannibals was also present Agave, the mother of the King, who recognized her son just too late. Back in themselves sank into eternal desolation.
As a result of their deeds were banished from Thebes, and only then Dionysus was satisfied with their revenge.

While the vicissitudes that saw the God reaching Nasso is much more benign.
The God found poor Arianna on the beach wandering disconsolately, after being seduced and abandoned by the hero Theseus.
Dionysus moved by love for a girl decided to take away from that island poor Arianna and later decided to marry her.

The bride Ariadne, took certanly part in the famous triumph of Dionysus, she was in a chariot pulled by goats, while Dionysus was on chariot drawn by panthers, in a jubilation of happiness and shouting, dancing between satyrs and Sileni. The maenads accompanied the wedding procession with the music of tambourines and syringes, while Silenus, the old guardian of Dionysus, with difficulty was riding his donkey.

As you understand Dionysus was worshiped everywhere is unlike the other gods could bring that sentiment that not all the Olympians were able to offer: the ekstasis *.

But woe to abuse, Dionysus demanded special rituals and much devotion, otherwise the abyss of madness was always open for the transgressors. We can say that the power of the God of Transgression knew no bounds.

Next month we will treat the events of the Goddess of Nature, Demeter.

Alessandro Cerioli

 

* Enthousiasmos literally means “to have a God within themselves,” us today we obtained just a positive condition: enthusiasm.

** Ekstasis literally mean “get out of themselves”, today we speak of ecstasy when something interferes with the human soul.

Olympos: Athena, Goddess of Wisdom

Studio Tablinum: Athena was not only the Goddess of Wisdom but anche a patron of the war who did not hesitate for a moment to fight her enemies. She overseeing the noblest part of the defense to war in order to “good causes.” The bloodiest aspects of the war were, indeed, assigned to the god Ares, as we write some months in August. Athena was the daughter of Zeus and the Oceanid Metis, the story of her birth is very special. Zeus received from his divine grandparents Uranus and Gaia a sinister prophecy:

if he have generated another son, he, when he grew up he would kill him.

So the Father of the Gods, who he did not want losing his status, decided to make the insane act of swallowing his newborn.

And so, nine months later, Zeus began to suffer a massive migraine that threatened to drive him madso for last resort, persuaded Hephaestus to hit him a blow on the head of the ax. From the wound caused came out Athena, already fully armed.

Athena’s holy objects were the lance, the aegis and helmet. The olive tree and little owl was sacred to the goddess. The Goddess of Wisdom was also called “Glaukopis” for her blue-eyes.

His wisdom in peace time was devoted to agriculture, handicraft, weaving and metallurgy. Attributable to Athena was the construction of the largest ship of that time: the ship Argo, which is used by Argonauts heroes . Her is also the invention of olive oil, even today excellent product from Greece.

In war, her wisdom was the prerogative of the warriors with cunning and shrewdness. sometimes she decide to make a gift of his powers to her protected mortals, one of them The most famous was the wily Odysseus.

Athena is Frequently accompanied by Nike, goddess of victory, which symbolically is brought in the right palm of the Goddess, how to assimilate the wisdom during the battle with the victory itself.

The Goddess Athena fight with the God Poseidon for the sovereignty of Attica and Athens. Poseidon with a blow of his trident made to gush out una sorgente di acqua marina from the ground of the city while Athena made appear an Olive Tree. The dispute was resolved in favor of the Goddess of Wisdom thanks to athenians women determined the victory of Athena.

Athena was sculpted by Phidias in a famous chryselephantine statue, now lost, Athena Parthenos that was in the Athenian temple dedicated to her: the Parthenon. Frequently, resting on his shoulder is the little owl, its symbol “par excellence”.

The cult of Athena was spread in all of Greece, from Sparta, to Megara and Argos; Also into Troy she received a special honors, identified with a very old idol called Palladio, the same one that was stolen during the night from the heroes Odysseus and Diomedes, this act was mentioned as one of the causes of the defeat of Troy during the ten-year war.

The Trojan prince Paris was one of the heroes less loved by the Goddess of Wisdom. He was the cause of the Trojan war itself with the rape of Helen, but there was anche through more personal reason, as we saw some months ago dealing with the vicissitudes of Aphrodite. Paris During the famous “Judgment” chose Aphrodite, instead of Athena or Hera. During the Trojan War she sided with the Achaeans. She especially protected Odysseus and Menelaus and, under the walls of the besieged city, she crushed and defeated Ares.

Athena is known as one of the three virgin goddesses, she never marries and shows no sexual interest in males, referred to as virgin because she was able to remain independent. Despite this reputation, Hephaestus want to couple with her.

 

One day the God of Fire, tried to rape her in his forge, but the goddess was able to escape from him and Hephaestus reached the apex bathing Athena’s leg.

From the ground, so fertilized, was born Erichthonius, the Goddess Athena, anyway had gone, considered him a legitimate child. When he grew up, unbeknownst by the Olympians, lo rende immortale, she put him under the custody of the king of Athens, Cecrops. When Erichthonius grew up dethroned the king of Athens Amphictyon and became a king.

One of the most cruel tales was the story about Arachne *: the young women Arachne boasted of being a good weaver, Also better than Athena, who was the owner of That female art. Furious, the Goddess of Wisdom defy Arachne to a weaving race. In effect Arachne wove very well but the theme was derisively towards Zeus. Transformed Athena Arachne into a spider, forcing her to weave her spun for eternity.

Athena, however, was more benevolent with the semi-divine hero Perseus by helping him in the killing of the Gorgon Medusa. She gave him her shield, the aegis, and the hero was protected during the fight with the Gorgon.

Perseus chopped off the head of Medusa and gave it to Athena and she decorate the aegis like with that terrible trophy.

Originally, Medusa was the most beautiful of the three Gorgons sisters. She was seduced by the God Poseidon into the temple of the Goddess of Wisdom. Athena punished Medusa for the profanation, changing her handsome face into a monstrous sembiance.

Athena became also benefactor of Heracle. During the fight with the Nemean lion she explain to the hero how to cut off the skin of the lion by using its claws. The skin of the lion with the cudgel used during the fight, became one most distinguishing attributes for him.

With Odysseus was almost maternal. Athena help his protégé to return to his beloved Ithaca, changing its appearance from time to time. Interceded on with the witch Circe, and the Oceanid Calypso and feace with the feace princess Nausicaa, helping considerably the hero and in such a way for resumption the way back to its own island.

Athena help her “protégé” to return to his beloved Ithaca, changing its appearance from time to time. Interceded with Circe, and the Oceanid Calypso and the Feces princess Nausicaa, helping considerably the hero to come back in Itaca.

Athena was famous for her wisdom and intellectual strength, a landmark for greek men and women that ask her protection during disputes of all kinds: legal, family and life daily.

Athena had the last word in the event of an equal right of both parties to the dispute. During the Panathenaic party the athenians girls donated the statue of the Goddess am headmade peplos,a propitiatory gift. Next month we will discover the vicissitudes of Dionysus, God of Transgression and Delirium.

Alessandro Cerioli

* Even today, the term Arachne stands for spider

Olympos: Atena, Dea della Saggezza

Studio Tablinum: oltre che Dea della Saggezza Atena era anche una divinità guerriera che non esitava un solo istante a presentarsi in armi dinanzi al nemico, anche se lei sovrintendeva ad un tipo di guerra dagli aspetti più nobili, ossia una guerra di difesa o intrapresa per “giusta” causa. Mentre gli aspetti più violenti della guerra erano deputati al Dio Ares, come abbiamo visto qualche mese or sono.

Atena era figlia di Zeus e dell’Oceanina Metide, e la storia della sua nascita e davvero particolare. Accadde che Zeus ricevette dai nonni divini, Urano e Gaia, un sinistro vaticinio: se Metide avesse dato alla luce un figlio maschio, questi lo avrebbe spodestato. Quindi il Padre degli Dei, che teneva particolarmente al proprio status, decise di compiere l’insano gesto d’inghiottirlo appena generato. Fu così che, nove mesi  dopo, Zeus iniziò ad accusare una fortissima emicrania, che rischiava di farlo impazzire, quindi per estrema ratio, convinse Efesto, il Dio del Fuoco, a calargli sulla testa un fendente d’ascia. Dalla ferita provocata ne uscì Atena,  già armata di tutto punto.

I simboli della Dea Atena erano la lancia, l’egida e l’elmo. Sacri le erano la civetta e l’ulivo. La Dea della Saggezza era definita anche “glaukopis” ossia la Dea dagli occhi azzurri, dal volto celeste.

La sua saggezza in tempo di pace era votata all’agricoltura, all’artigianato, alla tessitura e alla lavorazione dei metalli. E’ attribuibile ad Atena la costruzione della nave più grande di quel tempo: la nave Argo, usata dagli eroi argonauti. Sua è anche l’invenzione dell’olio d’oliva, ancora oggi prodotto d’eccellenza della Grecia.

In guerra la sua saggezza era appannaggio di chi combatteva con furbizia e astuzia; poteva persino decidere di fare dono dei propri poteri ai suoi protetti mortali, uno di questi, il più noto, fu l’astuto Odisseo.

Spesso Atena viene si accompagna alla Dea della Vittoria, Nike, che simbolicamente viene portata nel palmo destro della Dea della Saggezza, come per assimilare la Vittoria stessa e crearne un binomio indissolubile.

La Dea Atena ebbe anche un contrasto importante con il Dio Azzurro Poseidone in merito alla sovranità dell’Attica e delle città di Atene. Poseidone con un colpo del suo tridente fece sgorgare dell’acqua salata dal suolo, mentre Atena fece spuntare una pianta di Ulivo, messa ai voti la disputa si risolse in favore delle Dea della Saggezza. In questa vicenda le donne ateniesi determinarono la vittoria di Atena.

Proprio in questa posizione la Dea Atena è stata scolpita da Fidia nella sua famosa statua crisoelefantina, ora perduta, l’Athena Parthenos che si trovava nel tempio ateniese dedicata a lei dal popolo ateniese: il Partenone. Spesso, poggiata sulla sua spalla, si trova la civetta, suo simbolo per antonomasia.

Il culto di Atena era diffuso in tutta la Grecia: Atene, Sparta, Megara e Argo; anche a Ilio ricevette onori particolari, fu identificata con un vecchissimo idolo chiamato Palladio, lo stesso che fu trafugato nottetempo dagli eroi Odisseo e Diomede, questo atto fu menzionato come una delle cause della sconfitta di Ilio durante la decennale guerra.

Il principe troiano Paride fu tra gli eroi meno amati dalla Dea della Saggezza, oltre che ad essere la causa scatenante della guerra stessa, con il ratto di Elena, ci fu anche un aspetto più personale, come abbiamo visto qualche mese or sono trattando le vicende della Dea Afrodite. Paride durante il famoso “giudizio” scelse Afrodite, scartando Atena e la Madre degli Dei Hera. Da qui la sua animosità nei confronti del principe.

Durante la guerra di Ilio parteggio per gli Achei. Protesse soprattutto Odisseo e Menelao, e durante una disputa sconfisse anche il Dio della Guerra Ares, sotto le mura della città assediata.

Come la Dea della Caccia Diana, Atena, era una divinità riottosa al sesso maschile e la sua verginità era nota a tutto l’Olimpo, ma durante una visita al Dio del Fuoco Efesto, in cerca di nuove armi probabilmente, Efesto, che era stato appena abbandonato da Afrodite, si invaghì della Dea della Saggezza a tal punto che cercò di farla sua con la forza, Atena si ribello ma Efesto, giunto all’apice, bagnò la gamba della Dea. Disgustata Atena si ripulì la gamba da quella sozzura e la gettò a terra. Dalla terra, così fecondata, nacque Erittonio, che la Dea Atena, comunque fosse andata, considerò suo figlio legittimo. Lo allevò all’insaputa degli Olimpi e sempre a loro insaputa lo rese immortale, non potendolo crescere ed accudire lo pose sotto la custodia del re di Atene, Cecrope. Quando Erittonio crebbe spodesto il re di Atene Anfizione e divenne lui stesso re.

Crudele fu la vicenda che vide la Dea della Saggezza punire la sventurata Aracne*. Aracne si vantò di essere una tessitrice migliore di Atena, che di quest’arte era la protettrice. La Dea della Saggezza andò su tutte le furie e sfido Aracne in una gara di tessitura. In effetti Aracne tessé in modo sublime, ma il tema era derisorio nei confronti del padre Zeus. Atena, decisa a non subire altri affronti, trasformo Aracne in un ragno, obbligandola a tessere la sua tela per l’eternità.

Benevola fu con l’eroe semi divino Perseo aiutandolo nell’uccisione della Gorgone Medusa, donandogli il suo scudo, l’egida, che protesse l’eroe durante lo scontro con la Gorgone. Come ringraziamento Perseo dono il capo mozzato di Medusa ad Atena che ella uso per decorare l’egida come un terribile trofeo. In verità Atena stessa fu la causa della mostruosità di Medusa. Originariamente Medusa era la più bella delle Gorgoni, ma ebbe l’ardire di farsi sedurre dal Dio Azzurro Poseidone che, senza badar troppo all’etichetta, la fece sua nel tempio della Dea della Saggezza. Venutolo a sapere, Atena punì Medusa per la profanazione, mutandole l’aspetto e rendendola mostruosa.

Anche il semi divino Eracle fu aiutato da Atena. Durante la lotta dell’eroe con il leone nemeo spiego ad Eracle, dopo che ebbe abbattuto la fiera, come scuoiarlo usando gli stessi artigli per tagliarne la spessa pelle. La pelle del leone divenne uno dei tratti distintivi di Eracle, insieme alla clava usata durante la lotta.

Con Odisseo fu invece più che benevola, potremmo dire: materna. Atena aiuto il suo protetto a tornare nella sua amata Itaca, mutando le sue sembianze di volta in volta. Intercesse con la maga Circe, con l’Oceanina Calipso e con la principessa feace Nausica, aiutando considerevolmente l’eroe e facendo in modo che riprendesse la strada del ritorno verso la sua isola.

Come avrete compreso siamo di fronte a una divinità che faceva delle sue qualità, la saggezza e la forza intellettuale, un caposaldo. Non a caso sia gli uomini che le donne greche erano soliti chiederle consiglio in merito a diatribe di ogni genere: legali, famigliari e della vita di tutti i giorni. Atena aveva sempre l’ultima parola in caso di egual ragione di ambo le parti in disputa. Durante le feste Panatenaiche le fanciulle della città di Atene donavano alla statua della Dea un peplo tessuto da loro stesse, in segno propiziatorio.

Il prossimo mese scopriremo le vicissitudini dell’estroso Dioniso, Dio della Trasgressione e del Delirio Mistico.

Alessandro Cerioli

*Ancora oggi il termine aracne significa ragno

Olympos: Hermes, The Gods Messanger

Studio Tablinum: a few words would be enough to define god Hermes: theft, liar and swindler. To be honest, Hermes was also a generous god at times, and he was considered a wanderer as he was the gods’ messenger and emissary, moving freely between the world of mortals and the divine as well as between the world the living and the afterlife. He is the god of boundaries, a bridge between visible and invisible and he always arrives unexpectedly and quickly. Thanks to this ability of being everywhere and nowhere, gentle and unperceived, he is the patron of communications and travel as well as thefts; all the thieves around the world inevitably need a powerful protector in order to get themselves out of trouble.

Son of Zeus and the Pleiad Maia, he is considered one the twelve Olympians. His symbols were the rooster and the turtle and he was easy to identify with his clothing, hat, winged sandals, purse and Kerykeion, the wanderer’s stick. In order not to be caught by his wife Hera, Zeus secretly escaped from the bed at night and rushed to the cave where Maia, the Titan Atlas’ daughter, was waiting for him. From their union, Hermes was conceived. In the same evening of his birth, he escaped from his cradle and headed for the woods. The first thing that he saw was a turtle, an invulnerable and odd animal. Astonished, Hermes took the animal back to his cave and killed it with a knife, in the hollow shell he put seven strings made of sheep nerves; he then started playing them and at that very moment, a sweet and harmonious sound came forth: Hermes had invented the lyre.

Hermes also had a fervid and brilliant mind, he used to see things that others could not even imagine and this is the reason why he undertook a second adventure, when he was only one day old. He decided to steal the cows which were sacred to God Apollo. He left his musical instrument and headed for the mountains in Pieria, where the cattle of the Olympians pastured. He took away the herd, and he carefully made sure that the cows walked backwards not to leave prints on the sandy soul. He also wore huge shoes made of leaves and branches, thus it would have been suspected that the thief was a monster or a giant rather than an infant.

He then hid the herd in a safe place and killed two cows to eat them. It is thought that this last action caused the invention of fire and new cooking techniques. To sum up, after only twenty-four hours from his birth, the infant had already invented the lyre, the fire and the art of cooking.

When Apollo went to check his cattle, he realised that fifty cows were missing, the prints that he saw were nothing but confusing and he thought no one could leave such strange prints. He met a winegrower and asked him explanations, the latter was not brave enough to lie to the god of sun and narrated a strange anecdote, a child leading fifty cows walking backwards. The enraged Apollo went to the cave where Hermes was peacefully having a nap and, grabbing his ear, he took him up to Mount Olympus.

Before the Father of gods, Hermes swore that he did not know anything about the cattle as he was only an infant but Zeus scolded the child and ordered him to give back his ill-gotten gains. He also urged him to well behave, but Hermes never followed this suggestion because of his shrewd and furtive nature. However, to make peace with his own brother Apollo, he gave him the instrument he had earlier invented, the lyre. With the instrument in his hands, Apollo became the god of music.

As previously mentioned, Hermes was also the god of wanderers, merchants as well as thieves. He was an emissary travelling around the world and he was also the conductor of souls into the afterlife. The god gathered them and led them through the door to hell where they were condemned to stay in eternity. He used to accomplish this task every single night and this is the reason why Hermes was also identified as an esoteric divinity.

We also say that Olympus for the work he never failed, it was also used in the household chores like cleaning the table of the gods, after the banquet, or do their butler, in short, a sort of God “factotum.”

 

Its multiple events they see him help the demigod Perseus killing the Gorgon, procuring for the sickle of Perseus Zeus, his winged shoes, the helmet of Hades and the shield of Athena.
They see it on the big Caucasus in an attempt to convince the Titan Prometheus to reveal to him the prophecy about the end of the Gods Olympians but Prometheus, the Titan’s friend, refused to speak and thus prolonged the suffering of his prisoner.
Join, like the other gods, to the war of Troy siding with the Achaeans, though always protect the King Priam, especially when the old king went into the camp of the Greeks to claim the body of his son Hector.
Help the hero Odysseus in his return home, after the council of the gods that stable that the King of Ithaca could return to his island, he went by the nymph Calypso Hermes to persuade her to leave between Odysseus. The Messenger of the gods help Odysseus still giving him an antidote potions of Circe that turned men into animals.

The Loves of Hermes were different and all with bizarre consequences for his descendants, as the Messenger of the Gods ambiguous in its very nature, of course, also his offspring was somewhat extravagant.
The love goddess Aphrodite brought it to create a beautiful child named Hermaphroditus *. It is said that he Hermaphrodite beauty of Aphrodite and the vivacity of Hermes, in his name is the key of the illustrious parents, but it so happened that during a jaunt in the woods the handsome young man found himself near a source and decided to take a bath , not knowing that the Nymph Salmacis, the protector of the source, watching him interested in all that beauty and not just the boy dip in the fresh water source by Salmacis also in the water and joined him, the young Hermaphrodite, who did not want to join with Salmacis, I try to break free but the Nymph taken by a blind fury took a solemn oath to the gods: it is never the day when our two bodies will come off … this oath Pronunciation water came out of a being that was neither man nor woman, but both. She was featured as a girl but masculine attributes.

Another bizarre son of Hermes, had with the nymph Driope, was the mighty God Pan and wild. Hermes would have seduced the nymph of the mountains of Arcadia. Fell in love with her, the Gods Messanger was transformed into a goat and stealthily approached the nymph, once arrived in its vicinity with a leap was on him and abuse her. That’s why this union was born a god so whimsical and surreal, half man and half goat. It is said that when he saw this Driope his son he was so frightened that she left him in the woods. Pan was a god, like his father Hermes, who loved the woods, the pastures and the countryside, a great lover of sex and dance he used to chase the nymphs while playing his instrument, syringe or panpipes. He was also a god playful and appeared suddenly terrorizing ** shepherds and travelers emitting terrifying screams.

As a child of great cunning, in fact like his father Hermes, was Autolycus, father of Laertes and grandfather of Odysseus. He was born from the union of the Gods Messanger and Chione daughter Dedalione. Autolycus, a great thief, had the ability to steal anything from anyone without getting caught. He was also a member of the Argonauts and dispense advice to his grandson Odysseus during their encounter is not by chance Odysseus was crafty and deceiver.

 

As you understand we are dealing with a God of multiple capabilities, not always fair and clear, but for the Greeks Hermes was a god to which way to turn in the event of a practical need, before a trip, before the opening of a business or before a theft, it was good to have the God Hermes as protector.
The Next month we will discuss the events of the Goddess of Wisdom, Athena.

* Even today hermaphroditism define the phenomenon by which a species of animal or plant can produce, in both ways, the male gametes and the female ones.
** Even today we speak of “panic” for the sudden and unwarranted fears.

Alessandro Cerioli

Olympos: Hermes, il Messaggero degli Dèi

Studio Tablinum: basterebbero poche parole per definire il Dio Hermes, ossia: ladro, bugiardo e imbroglione. In verità  Hermes era anche un Dio generoso, alle volte, e andrebbe considerato un Dio vagabondo per la sua connotazione “professionale”; era il Messaggero degli Dei, faceva da tramite fra l’Olimpo e la terra, ma non solo, faceva da collegamento fra il mondo dei vivi e quello dei defunti. E’ il Dio delle soglie, un ponte tra il visibile e l’invisibile e arriva sempre inatteso e con rapidità. Per questa sua capacità di essere ovunque e in nessun luogo, leggero e inavvertito, lo rendono non solo patrono delle comunicazioni e dei viaggi ma anche del furti; tutti i ladri di questo mondo, per forza di cose, debbono avere un protettore potente per potersi destreggiare con fugacità.

Figlio di Zeus e della Pleiade Maia, Hermes è considerato uno dei dodici Olimpi, i suoi simboli erano il gallo e la tartaruga, era facilmente riconoscibile per il suo abbigliamento, il suo cappello e i suoi sandali alati, il borsellino ed il Kerykeion, il bastone da viandante. Zeus, per evitare di farsi scoprire dalla moglie Hera, segretamente sgusciava di notte fuori dal letto di nozze e si precipitava nella grotta dove la figlia del gigante Atlante Maia lo attendeva. Da questa unione nacque Hermes e non poteva che essere figlio del Padre degli Dei. Precocemente, la sera della sua nascita, scappò dalla sua culla e si incamminò nella boscaglia. Con stupore la prima cosa che vide fu una tartaruga, animale corazzato e buffo; Hermes preso dallo stupore riportò l’animale nella grotta e con un coltello lo uccise e dal suo guscio ne ricavò una nicchia dove vi posizionò sette corde di nervo di pecora che iniziò a pizzicare, in quell’istante ne scaturì un suono dolce ed armonioso che incantava. Era nata la Lira.

Hermes era un Dio dalla mente fervida e brillante, vedeva cose che gli altri non potevano nemmeno immaginare, e qui la sua seconda avventura, dopo solo un giorno di vita, stava per essere messa in atto. Si mise in testa di rubare le vacche sacre del Dio Apollo, suo fratello. Cosi Hermes depose il nuovo strumento musicale e si incamminò verso i monti della Pieria, dove pascolava la mandria degli Olimpi. Radunò la mandria e la portò via con se, accorto che le vacche camminassero tutte all’indietro per non lasciare tracce direzionali su di un terreno sabbioso. Mentre per confondere le idee costui prese delle calzature enormi con foglie e rami, pensando che nessuno avrebbe mai sospettato che il ladro fosse un bimbo in fasce, ma un gigante o un mostro.

Arrivato in un luogo sicuro nascose le vacche e ne macellò due, che con buon appetito divorò in loco. Si pensa che quel gesto portò il Dio Hermes ad inventare il fuoco e nuove tecniche per cucinare gli alimenti. Insomma dopo ventiquattrore di vita l’infante inventò la Lira, il fuoco e l’arte culinaria.

Apollo, recandosi al pascolo per il controllo quotidiano, si accorse che mancavano all’appello cinquanta vacche e non si capacitava del fatto che le impronte provenissero da una parte improbabile e poi quelle impronte giganti, nessuno poteva lasciare impronte simili. Visto al lavoro un vignaiolo lo interrogò ed il vignaiolo, che non se la senti di mentire al Dio del Sole, racconto un fatto strano, un bimbo che conduceva una cinquantina di vacche che procedevano all’indietro. A quel punto Apollo andò su tutte le furie e si precipitò nella grotta, dove nel frattempo il neonato furfantello Hermes era tornato per un riposino ristoratore. Preso Hermes per un orecchio lo condusse sull’Olimpo. Una volta al cospetto del Padre degli Dei, Hermes giurò e spergiurò che non sapeva nulla di queste “vacche” ma che era solo un povero neonato. Zeus a quel punto rimproverò il neonato intimandogli la restituzione del maltolto e ammonendo Hermes di comportarsi in futuro in modo più corretto, ammonimento che Hermes non seguì mai per via della sua natura scaltra e furtiva. Tuttavia, per fare pace con il fratello Apollo, gli donò lo strumento che da poco aveva inventato, la Lira. Avendola nelle sue mani Apollo divenne anche il Dio della Musica.

Come dicevamo prima Hermes era il Dio protettore dei viandanti, dei commercianti e dei ladri ma essendo un messaggero che viaggiava per tutto il mondo aveva anche un compito più gravoso, ossia quello di accompagnare le anime dei defunti nell’Aldilà, nell’Ade. Il Dio le radunava e con il suo bastone magico le conduceva attraverso le porte dell’inferno dove esse erano condannate a rimanere in eterno e questa operazione si ripeteva tutte le notti, non a caso Hermes veniva anche identificato come una divinità esoterica. Malinconico custode dell’oltremondo.

Era venerato in tutta la Grecia, ma il centro più importante dove veniva praticato il suo culto era a Feneo in Arcadia.

Diciamo inoltre che sull’Olimpo per lui il lavoro non mancava mai, veniva anche impiegato nel disbrigo delle faccende domestiche come pulire la tavola degli Dei, dopo i banchetti, oppure fare il loro coppiere, insomma una sorta di Dio “factotum”.

Le sue molteplici vicende lo vedono aiutare il semidio Perseo nell’uccisione della Gorgone, procurando a Perseo il falcetto di Zeus, le sue scarpe alate, l’elmo di Ade e lo scudo di Atena.

Andò sul grande Caucaso nel tentativo di convincere il Titano Prometeo a svelargli la profezia sulla fine degli Dei Olimpi ma Prometeo, il Titano amico dell’uomo, si rifiutò di parlare e prolungò cosi la sua sofferenza di prigioniero.

Partecipa, come le altre divinità, alla guerra di Ilio parteggiando per gli Achei, anche se proteggerà sempre il Re Priamo, soprattutto quando il vecchio Re andò nell’accampamento dei greci per rivendicare il corpo del figlio Ettore.

Aiutò anche l’eroe Odisseo nel suo rientro a casa, dopo il consiglio degli Dei che stabilì che il Re di Itaca potesse fare ritorno alla sua isola, Hermes si recò dalla Ninfa Calypso per convincerla a far partire Odisseo. Il Messaggero degli Dei aiuto ancora Odisseo dandogli un antidoto contro le pozioni della maga Circe che tramutavano gli uomini in animali.

Gli amori di Hermes furono diversi e tutti con conseguenze bizzarre per la sua discendenza, essendo il Messaggero degli Dei ambiguo nella sua natura stessa, chiaramente, anche la sua prole era alquanto stravagante.

L’amore per la Dea Afrodite portò a generare uno splendido fanciullo dal nome Ermafrodito*. Si dice che Ermafrodito avesse la bellezza di Afrodite e le vivacità di Hermes, nel suo nome sta la chiave degli illustri genitori, ma accadde che durante una scampagnata per i boschi il bel giovane si trovò nei pressi di una fonte e decise di prendersi un bagno, non sapendo però che la Ninfa Salmacide, protettrice di quella fonte, lo spiava interessata a tutta quella bellezza e non appena il ragazzo si tuffo nelle dolci acque della fonte Salmacide entro anch’essa in acqua e si unì a lui, il giovane Ermafrodito, che non voleva saperne di congiungersi con Salmacide, tento di divincolarsi ma la Ninfa presa da una furia cieca fece un giuramento solenne a gli Dei: non venga mai il giorno in cui i nostri due corpi si staccheranno… Pronunciato questo giuramento dall’acqua usci un essere che non era né uomo né donna ma entrambe le cose. Aveva fattezze da fanciulla ma attributi maschili.

Un altro figlio bizzarro di Hermes, avuto con la ninfa Driope, fu il Dio potente e selvaggio Pan. Hermes avrebbe sedotto la ninfa sulle montagne dell’Arcadia. Invaghitosi di lei il Messaggero degli Dei si trasformò in un caprone e si avvicinò furtivamente alla ninfa, una volta giunto nei suoi pressi con un balzo gli fu addosso e abusò di lei. Ecco perché da questa unione nacque una divinità tanto capricciosa e surreale, metà uomo e metà capro. Si dice che Driope appena vide questo suo figlio ne fu talmente spaventata che lo abbandonò nei boschi.

Pan era una divinità, come suo padre Hermes, che amava i boschi, i pascoli e la campagna, grande amante del sesso e della danza, era solito inseguire le ninfe mentre suona il suo strumento, la siringa o flauto di Pan. Era anche un dio scherzoso e appariva d’improvviso terrorizzando** pastori e viandanti emettendo urla terrificanti.

Mentre un figlio di eccezionale furbizia, come il padre Hermes appunto, fu Autolico, padre di Laerte e nonno di Odisseo. Nacque dall’unione fra il Messaggero degli Dei e Chione, figlia di Dedalione. Autolico, grande ladro, aveva la capacità di rubare qualsiasi cosa a chiunque e senza essere scoperto. Autolico fu anche un componente degli Argonauti e dispensò consigli al nipote Odisseo durante il loro incontro, non a caso Odisseo era scaltro e ingannatore.

Come avrete compreso siamo di fronte ad un Dio dalle molteplici capacità, non sempre leali e cristalline, ma per i greci Hermes era un Dio a cui votarsi in caso di bisogno pratico: prima di un viaggio, prima dell’apertura di un’attività commerciale o prima di un furto, era bene avere il Dio Hermes come protettore.

Il Prossimo mese tratteremo le vicende della Dea della Saggezza, Atena.

Alessandro Cerioli

*Ancora oggi definiamo Ermafroditismo il fenomeno con il quale una specie animale o vegetale può produrre, in ambo i modi, i gameti maschili e quelli femminili.

** Ancora oggi parliamo di “panico” per le paure improvvise e immotivate.