The Survival of Ancient Conceptions Linked to Ritual Practices in Greek Myth: the Case of Athamas
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3989/emerita.2025.1382Keywords:
Athamas, Phrixus, Helle, Nephele, Ino, golden fleece, storm god priest, eclipse, scape-goat, pharmakosAbstract
This article explores the mythical figure of Athamas through mythographic sources, aiming to identify his most essential characteristics and trace his primitive origins, before the modifications resulting from his association with the Dionysian myth and later alterations by tragic poets. By analysing mythical motifs and their ritual correlates, alongside comparisons to other Greek myths and Hittite traditions, we can define Athamas as a priest-king of the storm god. His anomalous behaviour disrupts the cosmic order, necessitating a restoration through sacrifice. Additionally, Greek mythology introduces motives like the golden fleece and the journey of Phrixus and Helle, which can be examined from an astral perspective and may symbolise the mythical representation of an eclipse interpreted as a dire omen.
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Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
Grant numbers PID2021-122594NB-I00
