The eudaemon, eudaimon, or eudemon () in

Greek mythology Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the Ancient Greece, ancient Greeks, and a genre of ancient Greek folklore, today absorbed alongside Roman mythology into the broader designation of classical mythology. These stories conc ...

was a type of

daemon A demon is a malevolent supernatural being, evil spirit or fiend in religion, occultism, literature, fiction, mythology and folklore. Demon, daemon or dæmon may also refer to: Entertainment Fictional entities * Daemon (G.I. Joe), a character ...

genius Genius is a characteristic of original and exceptional insight in the performance of some art or endeavor that surpasses expectations, sets new standards for the future, establishes better methods of operation, or remains outside the capabiliti ...

(deity), which in turn was a kind of spirit.Russell, Michael; W, J. T. (1865); Vol I, p 157. A eudaemon was regarded as a good spirit or

angel An angel is a spiritual (without a physical body), heavenly, or supernatural being, usually humanoid with bird-like wings, often depicted as a messenger or intermediary between God (the transcendent) and humanity (the profane) in variou ...

, and the evil cacodaemon was its opposing spirit.Merriam-Webster (1995); p 392.

Etymology

The word ''eudaimon'' in Greek means having a good attendant spirit, and consequently being happy. It is composed of the words εὖ ''eu'', which means "well" or "good" and δαίμων ''daimon'', which means "divinity, spirit, divine power, fate, or god."Prior, William J. (1990); p 150.Guiley, Rosemary E. (2008); p 94. Sometimes ''eudaimon'' is taken to mean literally "good spirit". Also ''daimon'' is the Greek derivative for the term demon, in which case "demon" means "replete with knowledge".Wilhelm, Robert (1995); p 22. Moreover, ''Eudaimon'' is as well an ancient proper noun, in particular it was the Greek name of a priest of

Zeus Zeus (, ) is the chief deity of the List of Greek deities, Greek pantheon. He is a sky father, sky and thunder god in ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, who rules as king of the gods on Mount Olympus. Zeus is the child ...

and father of P. Aelius Aristeides, a notorious rhetorician of the second century AD.Smith, William (1844); p 295.

Characteristics

Eudaemons in Greek mythology included deified heroes. They were regarded intermediary spirits between gods and the men. Eudaemons, the good daemons, were understood as guardian spirits, bestowing protection and guidance to ones they watched over. As a counselor, the eudaemon whispered advice and opinions in one's ear. Such person escorted by the eudaemon was considered fortunate. It was said that

Socrates Socrates (; ; – 399 BC) was a Ancient Greek philosophy, Greek philosopher from Classical Athens, Athens who is credited as the founder of Western philosophy and as among the first moral philosophers of the Ethics, ethical tradition ...

during his lifetime had a daemon that always warned him of threats and bad judgment, but never directed his actions. According to Socrates, his daemon was more accurate than the respected forms of divination at that time, such as either reading the entrails or watching the flights of birds. Pompei - House of Iulius Polybius - Lararium

Pompei - House of Iulius Polybius - Lararium

A worshiped good daemon was Agathodaemon in whose honor the first

libation A libation is a ritual pouring of a liquid as an Sacrifice, offering to a deity or spirit, or in Veneration of the dead, memory of the dead. It was common in many religions of Ancient history, antiquity and continues to be offered in cultures t ...

to the god

Dionysus In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, myth, Dionysus (; ) is the god of wine-making, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, festivity, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, and theatre. He was also known as Bacchus ( or ; ...

was dedicated.Cooksey, Thomas L. ( 2010); pp 69-71.

Other definitions

The philosopher

Aristotle Aristotle (; 384–322 BC) was an Ancient Greek philosophy, Ancient Greek philosopher and polymath. His writings cover a broad range of subjects spanning the natural sciences, philosophy, linguistics, economics, politics, psychology, a ...

believed that a happy person is one who is eudaemon, but still in a literal manner one possessing a good or fortunate daemon.

Heraclitus Heraclitus (; ; ) was an Ancient Greece, ancient Greek Pre-Socratic philosophy, pre-Socratic philosopher from the city of Ephesus, which was then part of the Achaemenid Empire, Persian Empire. He exerts a wide influence on Western philosophy, ...

believed that a person’s character is his guardian daemon. Once in a while the good daemon may also stand for the souls of the deceased. For example, the heroine

Alcestis Alcestis (; Ancient Greek: Ἄλκηστις, ') or Alceste, was a princess in Greek mythology, known for her love of her husband. Her life story was told by pseudo-Apollodorus in his '' Bibliotheca'', and a version of her death and return from t ...

in 438 BCE Athenian tragedy by the Greek

Euripides Euripides () was a Greek tragedy, tragedian of classical Athens. Along with Aeschylus and Sophocles, he is one of the three ancient Greek tragedians for whom any plays have survived in full. Some ancient scholars attributed ninety-five plays to ...

, is reported as a "blessed daemon" subsequent to her death. According to psychologist

Carl Jung Carl Gustav Jung ( ; ; 26 July 1875 – 6 June 1961) was a Swiss psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and psychologist who founded the school of analytical psychology. A prolific author of Carl Jung publications, over 20 books, illustrator, and corr ...

there is not eudaemon or else cacodaemon but only the daemon, which is a unique independent spirit neither good nor bad, living in everyone. In mystical approaches eudaemon is sometimes defined as a symbol of " higher self", or the individual in the " causal body." As well it is a symbol of intelligence on the " buddhic plane" and higher esoteric planes, which assists evolution and is related to the higher thoughts and emotions. *

Notes

References

* * * * * * *{{cite book , author=Smith, William , year=1844, title=Dictionary of greek and roman biography and mythology. 1, Abaeus-Dysponteus, url=https://archive.org/details/dictionarygreek15smitgoog , publisher= Taylor and Walton John Murray, location=London, oclc=492553013 Characters in Greek mythology Angels Daimons

Etymology

Characteristics

Other definitions

See also

Notes

References