Aergia

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Aergia
Personification of sloth, idleness, indolence and laziness
AbodeUnderworld (specifically in the House of Hypnos)
Personal information
ParentsAether and Gaea
SiblingsDolor, Dolos, Ira, Luctus, , Jusjurandum, Ultio, , Altercatio, Oblivio, Timor, , Incestum, Pugna
Roman equivalentSocordia or Ignavia

In Greek mythology, Aergia (/eɪˈɜrdʒə/; Ancient Greek: Ἀεργία means 'inactivity')[1] is the personification of sloth, idleness, indolence and laziness. She is the translation of the Latin Socordia, or Ignavia. She was translated to Greek because Hyginus mentioned her based on a Greek source, and thus can be considered as both a Greek and Roman goddess. Aergia's opposite character is Horme, a goddess of effort.

Family[]

Aergia was the daughter of the primordial deities Aether and Gaia.[2]

"From Aether (Air) and Terra/ Gaia (Earth) [were born]: Dolor (Pain), Dolus (Guile), Ira/ Lyssa (Anger), Luctus/ Penthus (Lamentation), / Pseudologoi (Lies), Jusjurandum/ Horcus (Oath), Ultio/ Poine (Vengeance), (Intemperance), Altercatio/ Amphillogiai (Altercation), Oblivio/ Lethe (Forgetfulness), Socordia/ Aergia (Sloth), Timor/ Phobos (Fear), (Arrogance), (Sacrilege), Pugna/ Hysminai (Combat)."[3]

Mythology[]

According to Statius, Aergia was said to be the 'torpid' guard in the court of Hypnos (Sleep) in the Underworld.[4]

"In] the hollow recesses of a deep and rocky cave . . . [are] set the halls of lazy Somnus/ Hypnos (Sleep) and his untroubled dwelling. The threshold is guarded by shady / ?Hesychia (Quiet) and dull Oblivio/ Lethe (Forgetfulness) and torpid Ignavia/ Aergia (Sloth) with ever drowsy countenance. / Acratus (Ease) and / ?Hesychia (Silence) with folded wings sit mute in the forecourt. . ."[5]

Notes[]

  1. ^ ἀεργία. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project.
  2. ^ Hyginus, Fabulae Preface
  3. ^ Hyginus, Fabulae Preface Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ Statius, Thebaid 10.90 ff.
  5. ^ Statius, Thebaid 10.86–92 Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

References[]

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