![]() Oedipus ( UK: / ˈ iː d ɪ p ə s/, also US: / ˈ ɛ d ə-/ Greek: Οἰδίπους "swollen foot") was a mythical Greek king of Thebes. Homer The Odyssey, 11.Oedipus and the Sphinx by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres Ovid Metamorphoses 3.343-370, translated by Lombardo Callimachus Hymns and Epigrams Lycophron Aratus 5.68-137, translated by Mair Apollodorus Library 3.6.7, translated by Frazer (transl) Homer: The Odyssey revised by Timothy Power and Gregory Nagy. 343-370.Īccessed online at: Butler, Samuel. (intro) Ovid: Metamorphoses – Tiresias, Hackett Publishing Company, 2010, pp. Loeb Classical Library Volume 129, Harvard University Press, 1921. (transl) Callimachus: Hymns and Epigrams Lycophron Aratus – Hymn 5: The Baths of Pallas. ![]() Perhaps one can consider themselves closer to Zeus’ bestowed ability of foresight by considering these two distinct perspectives.įrazer, J.G. They believe that their music can attain a new sound distinct to other artists that only take into account the one gender role. This further illustrates Tiresias’ role as a mediator between gods and humans, even persevering into the afterlife.Īrtists Iwaasa and McGregor chose to use Tiresias as a symbol of unity and mediation between both man and woman, speaking with both perspectives in mind with one voice. Additionally, Tiresias serves as a prophet in the Underworld upon his death. This interaction too is associated with a kind of punishment in order to receive his blessing. Likewise, Tiresias serves in a mediator’s role when confronted by Jupiter and Juno with their argument. While the interaction with Athena is more of a one sided punishment at first, her blessing of foresight to Tiresias allows him to mediate for humans on behalf of the gods. Furthermore, Tiresias displays much less agency when cursed by Juno/blessed by Jupiter to be blind/have foresight for merely answering a question asked by the gods.Ī common point among Tiresias’ myths, is that he serves as a mediator between gods and humans. As for Tiresias’ blinding, Callimachus’ account leaves Tiresias with less agency when he stumbled upon Athena bathing while looking to quench his thirst. The transformation described by Hesiod indicates a higher degree of agency as Tiresias chose to wound the snakes as much as he chose to leave them alone upon viewing them a second time. The two distinct myths of Tiresias’ blinding point to a differing amount of agency on the part of Tiresias. The Significant Difference & Common Threads Jupiter, who could not undo Hera’s curse, compensated Tiresias by bestowing upon him the gift of prophecy. When Tiresias claimed women enjoyed sex more, Juno struck him blind in her anger. Tiresias was brought before them to settle the matter, as he had experienced sex as both a man and a woman. ![]() In a second story, Ovid claims that Jupiter and Juno were arguing over who received more pleasure from sex: the man, as Juno claimed or the woman, as Jupiter believed. His mother, Chariclo, a nymph of Athena, begged the goddess to undo the curse she could not, so instead gave Tiresias the gift of understanding birdsong. So enraged was she to be seen naked by a mortal, she struck Tiresias blind. Callimachus recounts how Tiresias stumbled upon the goddess Athena while bathing. There are two different stories told of the cause of Tiresias’ blindness. This act undid the curse, and Tiresias was transformed back into a man. For seven years, Tiresias lived as a woman until she again came across two snakes copulating - this time, she did not strike them but instead let them be. ![]() Tiresias subsequently became a priestess of Hera she married and bore children. The goddess Hera was displeased by this action and cursed Tiresias by transforming him into a woman. There are two well-known myths about this unique character :Īccording to Hesiod in Apollodorus’ Library, “while on Mount Cyllene in the Peloponnese, Tiresias came upon two copulating snakes and struck them with his stick. Arguably the greatest seer of his time, Tiresias acted as a mediator between gods and humans, men and women, past and future, and life and death. In Greek mythology, Tiresias was a blind prophet of Apollo in Thebes, the son of Everes, a shepherd, and the nymph Chariclo. Hendrick Goltzius, Tiresias Decides Dispute Between Jupiter and Juno, from Metamorphoses, 1615, Ackland Art Museum (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)
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