Callithyia of Argos
In Greek mythology and legendary history, Callithyia (/ˌkælɪˈθaɪ.ə/; Ancient Greek: Καλλίθυια; also Callithoe (/kəˈlɪθoʊi/; Καλλιθόη),[1] Callithea (/kəˈlɪθiə/; Καλλιθέα),[2] or Io (/ˈaɪ.oʊ/; Ἰώ Greek: [iːɔ̌ː]), "the best among women as well as among men",[3] was an Argive princess as the daughter of King Peiras[4] or Peiranthus (himself son of Argus) and the first priestess of Argive Hera in history.
Mythology
[edit]Peiras was credited with founding the first temple of Hera in Argolis, as well as with carving a wooden image of the goddess for the sanctuary; it was at this temple that Callithyia performed her duties as priestess.[4] Scholia on Aratus mention her as the inventor of the chariot and the mother of Trochilus.[2]
Callithyia is perhaps identical with "Io Callithyessa", "the first priestess of Athena" according to Hesychius of Alexandria.[5] In a lesser known version of the Argive genealogy, Io was the daughter of Peiren, likely the same as Peiras.[6]
Notes
[edit]- ^ West, pp. 284–285; Clement of Alexandria, Stromata, 1. 164.1, citing the Phoronis
- ^ a b Scholia on Aratus, Phenomena 161
- ^ Aelius Aristides, Orationes, 45. 3
- ^ a b Plutarch in Eusebius, Preparation for the Gospel 3.8.1
- ^ Hesychius of Alexandria s. v. Ὶὼ Καλλιθύεσσα
- ^ Apollodorus, 2.1.3 citing Hesiod, Ehoiai fr. 124 and Acusilaus (FGrHist 2 F 26).
References
[edit]- Apollodorus, The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.
- Hesiod, Catalogue of Women from Homeric Hymns, Epic Cycle, Homerica translated by Evelyn-White, H G. Loeb Classical Library Volume 57. London: William Heinemann, 1914. Online version at theio.com
Further reading
[edit]- Realencyclopädie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft, Band X, Halbband 20, Ius Liberorum-Katochos (1920), s. 1750, u. Kallithoe 2)
- Lyons, Deborah. Gender and Immortality – Appendix: A Catalogue of Heroines, under Kallithyia
- West, M. L. (2003), Greek Epic Fragments: From the Seventh to the Fifth Centuries BC. Edited and translated by Martin L. West. Loeb Classical Library No. 497. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 2003. ISBN 978-0-674-99605-2. Online version at Harvard University Press.