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 ...

, Meilichios was an archaic

chthonic In Greek mythology, deities referred to as chthonic () or chthonian () were gods or spirits who inhabited the underworld or existed in or under the earth, and were typically associated with death or fertility. The terms "chthonic" and "chthonian" ...

daimon The daimon (), also spelled daemon (meaning "god", "godlike", "power", "fate"), denotes an "unknown superfactor", which can be either good or hostile. In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology a daimon was imagined to be a lesser ...

'' honored in

Athens Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

. Meilichios was later worshipped with the

epithet An epithet (, ), also a byname, is a descriptive term (word or phrase) commonly accompanying or occurring in place of the name of a real or fictitious person, place, or thing. It is usually literally descriptive, as in Alfred the Great, Suleima ...

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 ...

, as Zeus Meilichius or Meilichios. In her book 'Prolegomena to the Study of Greek Religion' (1903), Jane Ellen Harrison explained that the Diasia festival, the greatest Athenian festival dedicated to Zeus, evolved from an older ceremony meant to appease Meilichios. "Meilichios", the "Easy-to-be-entreated", the gracious, accessible one, was the

euphemistic A euphemism ( ) is when an expression that could offend or imply something unpleasant is replaced with one that is agreeable or inoffensive. Some euphemisms are intended to amuse, while others use bland, inoffensive terms for concepts that the u ...

aspect of "''Maimaktes'', he who rages eager, panting and thirsting for blood." (Harrison
p. 17
.

Suda The ''Suda'' or ''Souda'' (; ; ) is a large 10th-century Byzantine Empire, Byzantine encyclopedia of the History of the Mediterranean region, ancient Mediterranean world, formerly attributed to an author called Soudas () or Souidas (). It is an ...

wrote that Dasia (Διάσια) was a festival of Zeus Meilichios at Athens and it is called this from the verb διαφυγεῖν ("to escape" or "to flee") and the noun ἄσαι ("troubles" or "suffering"). However, modern scholars believe that this etymology is speculative and debate its accuracy. Explicitly inscribed votive reliefs show that Meilichios was figured in the form of a serpent, who might be invoked as a kind of Ploutos, bringer of wealth. He had some of the avenging and fearful character of an Erynis, for Pausanias saw near the River Cephissus "an ancient altar of Zeus Meilichios; on it

Theseus Theseus (, ; ) was a divine hero in Greek mythology, famous for slaying the Minotaur. The myths surrounding Theseus, his journeys, exploits, and friends, have provided material for storytelling throughout the ages. Theseus is sometimes desc ...

received purification from the descendants of Phytalos after he had slain among other robbers Sinis, who was related to himself". Meilichios' sacrifice was a

holocaust The Holocaust (), known in Hebrew language, Hebrew as the (), was the genocide of History of the Jews in Europe, European Jews during World War II. From 1941 to 1945, Nazi Germany and Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy ...

, which was wholly consumed in fire and not shared by the votaries, "a dread renunciation to a dreadful power" (Harrison
p. 16
, in nocturnal rites performed in an atmosphere of "chilly gloom" (Harrison), that was rendered in Greek as '' stygiotes''. While bearing the name 'Zeus', Zeus Olympios, the great king of the gods, noticeably differs from Zeus Meilichios, a decidedly Chthonian character, often portrayed as a snake, and as seen beforehand, they are not different manifestations of the same god. Whenever 'another Zeus' is mentioned, this always refers to Hades. Zeus Meilichios and Zeus Eubouleus are often referred to being alternate names for Hades. Zeus Meilichios is also identified as Agathodaemon, or ''Agathos Daimon'', meaning a 'noble spirit', which was a sort of a household god. Zeus Meilichios was invoked in an Orphic Hymn to Zeus as the Daimon. This represents an old serpentine aspect of Zeus associated with fortune.Gerald V. Lalonde, ''Horos Dios'' (BRILL 2006), 117, note 47

Notes

References

* Harrison, Jane Ellen, (1903) 1991. ''Prolegomena to the Study of Greek Religion'' (Princeton: Princeton University Press)
pp. 12–28
*Schlesier, Renate (2012). ''A Different God?: Dionysos and Ancient Polytheism''. Berlin, Germany.: Freie University. pp. 27, 28. . *Hornblower, Spawforth, Eidinow, Simon, Antony, Esther (2014). ''The Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization''. Oxford: OUP Oxford. p. 354. . {{Authority control Religion in ancient Athens Epithets of Zeus Greek gods Archaic Athens Daimons Chthonic beings Legendary serpents