Iodame
In Greek mythology, Iodame or Iodama (/aɪˈɒdəmiː/; Ancient Greek: Ἰοδάμαν probably means 'heifer calf of Io'[1]) was a Thessalian princess as the daughter of King Itonus of Iton in Phthiotis. She was the granddaughter of Amphictyon.[2]
Family[]
Iodame was the mother of Thebe by Zeus[2] while some authors, adds another son, Deucalion.[3]
Mythology[]
Iodame was a priestess at the temple of Athena Itonia built by her father. When she trespassed the precinct one night, Athena appeared in front of her; at the sight of Medusa's head which was worked in the goddess' garment, Iodame turned into a block of stone. After this, a priestess lit the fire on the altar every day, repeating thrice: "Iodame lives and demands fire".[4][5]
An alternate story of Athena and Iodame is found in the Etymologicum Magnum.[6] According to it, both Iodame and Athena were daughters of Itonus. They became jealous of each other and started fighting, which resulted in Iodame being killed by Athena. The story is similar to that of Athena and Pallas (daughter of Triton).
Interpretation[]
Robert Graves interpreted the myth of Iodama in the following passage:
"Iodama, probably meaning ‘heifer calf of Io’, will have been an antique stone image of the Moon-goddess, and the story of her petrification is a warning to inquisitive girls against violating the Mysteries."[1]
Notes[]
- ^ a b Graves, Robert (2017). The Greek Myths - The Complete and Definitive Edition. Penguin Books Limited. p. 47. ISBN 9780241983386.
- ^ a b Tzetzes on Lycophron, 1206
- ^ Murray, John (1833). A Classical Manual, being a Mythological, Historical and Geographical Commentary on Pope's Homer, and Dryden's Aeneid of Virgil with a Copious Index. Albemarle Street, London. p. 8.
- ^ Pausanias, 9.34.1-2
- ^ Graves, Robert (2017). The Greek Myths - The Complete and Definitive Edition. Penguin Books Limited. p. 45. ISBN 9780241983386.
- ^ Etymologicum Magnum 479. 47, under Itonis
References[]
- Graves, Robert, The Greek Myths: The Complete and Definitive Edition. Penguin Books Limited. 2017. ISBN 978-0-241-98338-6, 024198338X
- Pausanias, Description of Greece with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918. ISBN 0-674-99328-4. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library
- Pausanias, Graeciae Descriptio. 3 vols. Leipzig, Teubner. 1903. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
- Greek mythological priestesses
- Mortal women of Zeus
- Women in Greek mythology
- Characters in Greek mythology
- Deeds of Athena