Aglaea

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Aglaea
Goddess of grace, charm, and splendor
Member of The Charites
Canova-Three Graces 0 degree view.jpg
Aglaea (center), as depicted in Antonio Canova’s sculpture, The Three Graces.
AffiliationAphrodite
Major cult centreBoeotia
AbodeMount Olympus
Personal information
ParentsZeus and Eurynome, Dionysus and Hera[1]
SiblingsEuphrosyne and Thalia
SpouseHephaestus
ChildrenEucleia, Eupheme, Euthenia, and Philophrosyne

Aglaea (/əˈɡlə/) or Aglaïa (/əˈɡlə/; Ancient Greek: Ἀγλαΐα means 'splendor, brilliant, shining one'[2]) is the name of several figures in Greek mythology, the best known of which is one of the three Charites or Gratiae (Graces).[3]

Mythology[]

Aglaea is the Greek goddess of beauty, splendor, glory, magnificence, and adornment.

She is the youngest of the Charites according to Hesiod.[4] Aglaea is one of three daughters of Zeus and either the Oceanid Eurynome, or of Eunomia, the goddess of good order and lawful conduct. Her two sisters are Euphrosyne, the goddess of joy or mirth, and Thalia, the goddess of festivity and rich banquets.[5] Together they are known as the Charities in Greek mythology or the Gratiae (Graces) in Roman mythology, and they were responsible for overseeing all feasts and dances.[6] They were part of the retinue of Aphrodite with Aglaea sometimes acting as her messenger.[7]

Aglaea was also known as Charis (the Grace) and Kale (Beauty).[8] Aglaea was married to Hephaestus, typically seen as after his divorce from Aphrodite, and by him she became mother of Eucleia ("Good Repute"), Eupheme ("Acclaim"), Euthenia ("Prosperity"), and Philophrosyne ("Welcome").[9]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Nonnus, Dionysiaca, 15.87 ff.; 33.4 ff.
  2. ^ Graves, Robert (2017). The Greek Myths - The Complete and Definitive Edition. Penguin Books Limited. pp. Index s.v. Aglaia. ISBN 9780241983386.
  3. ^ Bell, Robert E. (1991). Women of Classical Mythology: A Biographical Dictionary. ABC-CLIO. p. 15. ISBN 9780874365818.
  4. ^ Hesiod, Theogony 945
  5. ^ Hesiod, Theogony 907; Apollodorus, 1.3.1
  6. ^ Pindar, Olympian Ode 14.1–20
  7. ^ Nonnus, 24.261 ff.
  8. ^ Atsma, Aaron J. (2017). "Aglaia". Theoi Greek Mythology. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  9. ^ Hesiod, Theogony 945; Orphic Rhapsodies (fragments)[not specific enough to verify]

References[]

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