Mythology Thetis

1 mythology

1.1 thetis , other deities
1.2 marriage peleus
1.3 iliad , trojan war

mythology
thetis , other deities

immortal thetis mortal peleus in foreground, boeotian black-figure dish, c. 500–475 bc - louvre.

pseudo-apollodorus bibliotheke asserts thetis courted both zeus , poseidon, married off mortal peleus because of fears prophecy themis (or prometheus, or calchas, according others) son become greater father. thus, revealed figure of cosmic capacity, quite capable of unsettling divine order. (slatkin 1986:12)

when hephaestus thrown olympus, whether cast out hera lameness or evicted zeus taking hera s side, oceanid eurynome , nereid thetis caught him , cared him on volcanic isle of lemnos, while labored them smith, working there in hollow of cave, , stream of okeanos around went on forever foam , murmur (iliad 18.369).

thetis not successful in role protecting , nurturing hero (the theme of kourotrophos), role in succoring deities emphatically repeated homer, in 3 iliad episodes: rescue of zeus (1.396ff) , hephaestus (18.369), diomedes recalls when dionysus expelled lycurgus olympians aid, took refuge in erythraean sea thetis in bed of seaweed (6.123ff). these accounts associate thetis divine past—uninvolved human events—with level of divine invulnerability extraordinary olympian standards. within framework of iliad ultimate recourse zeus protection, here poem seems point alternative structure of cosmic relations

marriage peleus

thetis changing lioness attacked peleus, attic red-figured kylix douris, c. 490 bc vulci, etruria - bibliothèque nationale de france in paris.

zeus had received prophecy thetis s son become greater father, zeus had dethroned father led succeeding pantheon. in order ensure mortal father eventual offspring, zeus , brother poseidon made arrangements marry human, peleus, son of aeacus, refused him.

proteus, sea-god, advised peleus find sea nymph when asleep , bind tightly keep escaping changing forms. did shift shapes, becoming flame, water, raging lioness, , serpent. peleus held fast. subdued, consented marry him. thetis mother of achilles peleus, became king of myrmidons.

according classical mythology, wedding of thetis , peleus celebrated on mount pelion, outside cave of chiron, , attended deities: there celebrated marriage feasting. apollo played lyre , muses sang, pindar claimed. @ wedding chiron gave peleus ashen spear had been polished athene , had blade forged hephaestus. while olympian goddesses brought him gifts: aphrodite, bowl embossed eros, hera chlamys while athena flute. father-in-law nereus endowed him basket of salt called divine , has irresistible virtue overeating, appetite , digestion, explaining expression ...she poured divine salt . zeus bestowed wings of arce newly-wed couple later given thetis son, achilles. furthermore, god of sea, poseidon gave peleus immortal horses, balius , xanthus. eris, goddess of discord, had not been invited, however. threw, in spite, golden apple midst of goddesses awarded fairest. in interpretations, award made during judgement of paris , occasioned trojan war.

thetis dips achilles in styx peter paul rubens (between 1630 , 1635)

in later classical myths thetis worked magic on baby achilles night, burning away mortality in hall fire , anointing child ambrosia during day, apollonius tells. when peleus caught searing baby, let out cry.

thetis heard him, , catching child threw him screaming ground, , breath of wind passed swiftly hall dream , leapt sea, exceeding angry, , thereafter returned never again.

in variant of myth, thetis tried make achilles invulnerable dipping him in waters of styx (the river of hades). however, heel held him not touched styx s waters, , failed protected. in story of achilles in trojan war in iliad, homer not mention weakness of achilles heel. similar myth of immortalizing child in fire connected demeter (compare myth of meleager). myths relate because had been interrupted peleus, thetis had not made son physically invulnerable. heel, burn away when husband stopped her, had not been protected.

peleus gave boy chiron raise. prophecy said son of thetis have either long dull life, or glorious brief one. when trojan war broke out, thetis anxious , concealed achilles, disguised girl, @ court of lycomedes. when odysseus found 1 of girls @ court not girl, came plan. raising alarm under attack, odysseus knew young achilles instinctively run weapons , armour, thereby revealing himself. seeing no longer prevent son realizing destiny, thetis had hephaestus make shield , armor.

the iliad , trojan war

thetis , attendants bring armor had prepared him achilles, attic black-figure hydria, c. 575–550 bc, louvre.

thetis played key part in events of trojan war. beyond fact judgement of paris, kicked off war, occurred @ wedding, thetis influenced actions of olympians , son, achilles.

jupiter , thetis, ingres: sank ground beside him, put left arm round knees, raised right hand touch chin, , made petition royal son of cronos (iliad, i.)

nine years after beginning of trojan war, iliad starts agamemnon, king of achaeans, , achilles, son of thetis, arguing on briseis, war prize of achilles. after refusing, achilles relents , gives agamemnon briseis. however, achilles feels disrespect having give briseis , prays thetis, mother, restitution of lost honor. urges achilles wait until speaks zeus rejoin fighting, , achilles listens. when speaks zeus, thetis convinces him bids, , seals agreement bowing head, strongest oath can make.

following death of patroclus, wore achilles armor in fighting, thetis comes achilles console him in grief. vows return him armor forged hephaestus, blacksmith of gods, , tells him not arm himself battle until sees coming back. while thetis gone, achilles visited iris, messenger of gods, sent hera, tells him rejoin fighting. refuses, however, citing mother s words , promise wait return. thetis, meanwhile, speaks hephaestus , begs him make achilles armor, does. first, makes achilles splendid shield, , having finished it, makes breastplate, helmet, , greaves. when thetis goes achilles deliver new armor, finds him still upset on patroclus. achilles fears while off fighting trojans, patroclus body decay , rot. thetis, however, reassures him , places ambrosia , nectar in patroclus nose in order protect body against decay.

after achilles uses new armor defeat hector in battle, keeps hector s body mutilate , humiliate. however, after 9 days, gods call thetis olympus , tell must go achilles , pass him message, gods angry hector s body has not been returned. bid, , convinces achilles return body ransom, avoiding wrath of gods.