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Charites
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Charites
In Greek mythology, the Charites (/ˈkærɪtiːz/; Ancient Greek: Χάριτες), singular Charis (Χάρις), also called the Graces, are goddesses who personify beauty and grace. According to Hesiod, the Charites were Aglaea, Euphrosyne, and Thalia, who were the daughters of Zeus and Eurynome, the daughter of Oceanus. However in other accounts, their names, number and parentage varied. In Roman mythology they were known as the Gratiae. Hesiod has Aglaea as the wife of Hephaestus, and in the Iliad Hera promises to give a Charis named Pasithea to Hypnos as bride. Otherwise they have little independent mythology, usually described as attending various gods and goddesses, especially Aphrodite.
In Roman and later art, the three Charites are generally depicted nude in an interlaced group, but during the Archaic and Classical periods of Greece, they were typically depicted as fully clothed, and in a line, with dance poses.
In Hesiod's Theogony, the Charites are the three daughters of Zeus: Aglaea ("Splendor"), Euphrosyne ("Joy"), and Thalia ("Good Cheer"), by the Oceanid Eurynome. The identical genealogy is given by Apollodorus. The same three names are also given by Pindar, with a possible reference to their "father" Zeus and no mother mentioned. Although the Charites were usually considered to be Zeus' daughters and three in number, their names as well as their parentage and number varied. Homer mentions Pasithea as "one of the youthful Graces", and perhaps has "Charis" (the singular form of "Charites"), as the name of another, but does not give their parentage, number, or any other of their names.
The geographer Pausanias gives other variations, some regional. He says that, according to Boeotian tradition, Eteocles, the king of Orchomenus, established three as the number of Charites, but that the Athenians and Spartans worshipped only two. For the Athenians the two Charites were Auxo and Hegemone, while for the Spartans they were Cleta and Phaenna. Also, according to Pausanias, the Hellenistic poet Hermesianax said that Peitho ("Persuasion") was one of the Charites, and the poet Antimachus said that the Charites were the "daughters of Aegle and the Sun [Helios]".
While Hesiod has Eurynome, and Antimachus has Aegle, as the mother of the Charites, other names were also given. According to Orphic Hymn 60, the Charites ("Aglaea, Thalia, ... Euphrosyne") were the daughters of Zeus and Eunomia. The Stoic philosopher Cornutus includes the names Eurynome, and Aegle, he gives other names for mothers as well: Eurydome, Eurymedousa, Hera, and Euanthe. Nonnus has his three Charites (Hesiod's Aglaea, Homer's Pasithea, and Hermesianax's Peitho) being the daughters of Dionysus and Coronis.
A purported summary of a lost poem by an otherwise unknown poet "Sostratus", while naming the three Charites, adds to Homer's Pasithea, and Hesiod's Euphrosyne, the name Kale, saying that it was she who was the wife of Hephaestus.
The Charites' major mythological role was to attend the other Olympians, particularly during feasts and dances. They attended Aphrodite by bathing and anointing her in Paphos before her seduction of Ankhises and after she left Olympus when her affair with Ares is found out. Additionally, they are said to weave or dye her peplos. Along with Peitho, they presented Pandora with necklaces to make her more enticing. Pindar stated the Charites arranged feasts and dances for the Olympians. They also danced with the Seasons, Hebe, Harmonia and Aphrodite in celebration of the arrival of Apollo among the gods of Olympus, while Artemis sang and Apollo played the lyre. They were often referenced as dancing and singing with Apollo and the Muses. Pindar also referred to them as the guardians of the ancient Minyans and the queens of Orchomenus who have their thrones beside Pythian Apollo's.
The Charites appear to have a connection to Hera, where some ancient authors reference her as their nurse. In the Iliad, as part of her plan to seduce Zeus to distract him from the Trojan War, she offers to arrange Hypnos's marriage to Pasithea, who is referred to as one of the younger Charites.
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Charites
In Greek mythology, the Charites (/ˈkærɪtiːz/; Ancient Greek: Χάριτες), singular Charis (Χάρις), also called the Graces, are goddesses who personify beauty and grace. According to Hesiod, the Charites were Aglaea, Euphrosyne, and Thalia, who were the daughters of Zeus and Eurynome, the daughter of Oceanus. However in other accounts, their names, number and parentage varied. In Roman mythology they were known as the Gratiae. Hesiod has Aglaea as the wife of Hephaestus, and in the Iliad Hera promises to give a Charis named Pasithea to Hypnos as bride. Otherwise they have little independent mythology, usually described as attending various gods and goddesses, especially Aphrodite.
In Roman and later art, the three Charites are generally depicted nude in an interlaced group, but during the Archaic and Classical periods of Greece, they were typically depicted as fully clothed, and in a line, with dance poses.
In Hesiod's Theogony, the Charites are the three daughters of Zeus: Aglaea ("Splendor"), Euphrosyne ("Joy"), and Thalia ("Good Cheer"), by the Oceanid Eurynome. The identical genealogy is given by Apollodorus. The same three names are also given by Pindar, with a possible reference to their "father" Zeus and no mother mentioned. Although the Charites were usually considered to be Zeus' daughters and three in number, their names as well as their parentage and number varied. Homer mentions Pasithea as "one of the youthful Graces", and perhaps has "Charis" (the singular form of "Charites"), as the name of another, but does not give their parentage, number, or any other of their names.
The geographer Pausanias gives other variations, some regional. He says that, according to Boeotian tradition, Eteocles, the king of Orchomenus, established three as the number of Charites, but that the Athenians and Spartans worshipped only two. For the Athenians the two Charites were Auxo and Hegemone, while for the Spartans they were Cleta and Phaenna. Also, according to Pausanias, the Hellenistic poet Hermesianax said that Peitho ("Persuasion") was one of the Charites, and the poet Antimachus said that the Charites were the "daughters of Aegle and the Sun [Helios]".
While Hesiod has Eurynome, and Antimachus has Aegle, as the mother of the Charites, other names were also given. According to Orphic Hymn 60, the Charites ("Aglaea, Thalia, ... Euphrosyne") were the daughters of Zeus and Eunomia. The Stoic philosopher Cornutus includes the names Eurynome, and Aegle, he gives other names for mothers as well: Eurydome, Eurymedousa, Hera, and Euanthe. Nonnus has his three Charites (Hesiod's Aglaea, Homer's Pasithea, and Hermesianax's Peitho) being the daughters of Dionysus and Coronis.
A purported summary of a lost poem by an otherwise unknown poet "Sostratus", while naming the three Charites, adds to Homer's Pasithea, and Hesiod's Euphrosyne, the name Kale, saying that it was she who was the wife of Hephaestus.
The Charites' major mythological role was to attend the other Olympians, particularly during feasts and dances. They attended Aphrodite by bathing and anointing her in Paphos before her seduction of Ankhises and after she left Olympus when her affair with Ares is found out. Additionally, they are said to weave or dye her peplos. Along with Peitho, they presented Pandora with necklaces to make her more enticing. Pindar stated the Charites arranged feasts and dances for the Olympians. They also danced with the Seasons, Hebe, Harmonia and Aphrodite in celebration of the arrival of Apollo among the gods of Olympus, while Artemis sang and Apollo played the lyre. They were often referenced as dancing and singing with Apollo and the Muses. Pindar also referred to them as the guardians of the ancient Minyans and the queens of Orchomenus who have their thrones beside Pythian Apollo's.
The Charites appear to have a connection to Hera, where some ancient authors reference her as their nurse. In the Iliad, as part of her plan to seduce Zeus to distract him from the Trojan War, she offers to arrange Hypnos's marriage to Pasithea, who is referred to as one of the younger Charites.
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