Arne Sithonis: Difference between revisions
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'''Arnê of Siphnos''' (''Ἄρνη'') is a mythologized princess of the ancient Greek island of [[Sifnos|Siphnos]], who betrayed her motherland, which was known for its fertility, after the legendary king [[Minos]] had bribed her with gold into supporting [[Crete]]. After she had accepted the bribe that "her greed demanded", Minos' troops attacked Siphnos. For this misdeed the gods punished her by turning her into a black-footed, black-winged [[Jackdaw|jackdaw]], and she would be forever attracted to golden and shining objects. | '''Arnê of Siphnos''' (''Ἄρνη'') is a mythologized princess of the ancient Greek island of [[Sifnos|Siphnos]], who betrayed her motherland, which was known for its wealth and fertility, after the legendary king [[Minos]] had bribed her with gold into supporting [[Crete]]. After she had accepted the bribe that "her greed demanded", Minos' troops attacked Siphnos. For this misdeed the gods punished her by turning her into a black-footed, black-winged [[Jackdaw|jackdaw]], and she would be forever attracted to golden and shining objects. | ||
The only source on Arnê's story is [[Ovid]]'s mythological poem [[Metamorphoses (poem)|''Metamorphoses'']] from 8 BC.<ref>Publius Ovidius Naso, ''Metamorphoses'' [http://www.theoi.com/Text/OvidMetamorphoses7.html 7.465]</ref> | The only source on Arnê's story is [[Ovid]]'s mythological poem [[Metamorphoses (poem)|''Metamorphoses'']] from 8 BC.<ref>Publius Ovidius Naso, ''Metamorphoses'' [http://www.theoi.com/Text/OvidMetamorphoses7.html 7.465]</ref> | ||
==Possible chronology== | |||
The connection of Arnê and Minos stands on shaky grounds. The first mention of Minos is probably in [[Homer]]'s [[Odyssey]],<ref>Homer, ''Οδύσσεια'' IX 568</ref> usually dated to the late 8th century BC. In addition, Minos is said to have lived three generations before the [[Trojan War]] (i.e. ca. 1400 to 1300 BC).<ref>This in itself would pose a problem, if the sources are correct, which suggest that the colonization of Siphnos began around 1000–900 BC: [http://www.in2greece.com/english/places/summer/islands/sifnos.htm Sifnos tourist information].</ref> The abundant gold resources of Siphnos however are said to have lasted beyond the 6th century BC, so there would not have been any incentive for Arnê to betray her people for foreign gold, except due to a hypothetical early and temporary resource shortage on Siphnos. It is therefore probable that the story of Arnê's betrayal was either subject to ''réécriture'' by later Greek mythologists between 500 and 300 BC (or even later) or was relocated to Siphnos from a different region. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 16:57, 25 April 2007
Arnê of Siphnos (Ἄρνη) is a mythologized princess of the ancient Greek island of Siphnos, who betrayed her motherland, which was known for its wealth and fertility, after the legendary king Minos had bribed her with gold into supporting Crete. After she had accepted the bribe that "her greed demanded", Minos' troops attacked Siphnos. For this misdeed the gods punished her by turning her into a black-footed, black-winged jackdaw, and she would be forever attracted to golden and shining objects.
The only source on Arnê's story is Ovid's mythological poem Metamorphoses from 8 BC.[1]
Possible chronology
The connection of Arnê and Minos stands on shaky grounds. The first mention of Minos is probably in Homer's Odyssey,[2] usually dated to the late 8th century BC. In addition, Minos is said to have lived three generations before the Trojan War (i.e. ca. 1400 to 1300 BC).[3] The abundant gold resources of Siphnos however are said to have lasted beyond the 6th century BC, so there would not have been any incentive for Arnê to betray her people for foreign gold, except due to a hypothetical early and temporary resource shortage on Siphnos. It is therefore probable that the story of Arnê's betrayal was either subject to réécriture by later Greek mythologists between 500 and 300 BC (or even later) or was relocated to Siphnos from a different region.
References
- ↑ Publius Ovidius Naso, Metamorphoses 7.465
- ↑ Homer, Οδύσσεια IX 568
- ↑ This in itself would pose a problem, if the sources are correct, which suggest that the colonization of Siphnos began around 1000–900 BC: Sifnos tourist information.