Greek Myth - Mother’s Edition
Happy Mother’s Day! Here’s a series of epigrams that dedicated to a historical queen who was honored by her sons with a catalogue of mothers receiving love in classical mythology and poetry presented in Greek Anthology 3.
1. On Dionysus conducting his mother Semele up to heaven, with Hermes in the lead and Satyrs and Sileni escorting them with torches
This is the fair-haired daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia, slain in childbirth by the lightning of Zeus, being led up from Acheron by her thyrsus-loving son; thus he responds to the godless insolence of Pentheus.
2. The second pillar has Telephus recognized by his mother.
Leaving the paths of Arcadia’s deep valleys for the sake of my mother Auge, I, Telephus, myself the dear son of Heracles, set foot on this Teuthranian land, to bring her back to Arcadia.
3. The third has Phoenix being blinded by his father Amyntor, and Alcimede restraining her husband.
Alcimede pulls her husband Amyntor away from their son, wishing to halt the wrath of Phoenix’s father. He was angry with his father for his virtuous mother’s sake, because he was drawn to the bed of a slave concubine. His father, listening to insidious whispers, was also angry with the young man, and turned a lethal torch against his eyes.
4. The fourth has Polymedes and Clytius, the sons of Phineus of Thrace, who murdered their father’s Phrygian wife, because he had taken her in place of their mother Cleopatra.
Clytius and Polymedes, renowned for intelligence, are killing their Phrygian stepmother for their own mother’s sake. Cleopatra is delighted with this; she had earlier seen Phineus’ wife righteously defeated.
5. The fifth has Cresphontes killing Polyphontes, his father’s murderer; Merope is there too, holding a staff and cooperating with her son in her husband’s demise.
You, Polyphontes, once killed Cresphontes’ father, wishing to defile the bed of his wedded wife, but later came his son came to avenge his father by your murder; now he kills you for the sake of his mother Merope. For this reason he planted a spear in your back, and she is helping, pounding your forehead with her heavy staff.
6. The sixth has Python being killed by Apollo and Artemis, because it appeared and prevented Leto from traveling to Delphi to take possession of its oracle.
Leto in utter loathing turns her head from earthborn Python, a creeping congeries of coils. It wishes to annoy the wise goddess, but Phoebus, shooting from the height, lays the beast low in its own blood. He will make the Delphic tripod inspired, and that most cruel of dragons will breathe out a plaintive hiss.
7. The seventh, on the northern side, has a scene of Amphion and Zethus. They are tying Dirce to a bull, because she, transported by jealous anger, punished their mother Antiope with excessive harshness; because of her affair, her father Nycteus had handed her over to her (Dirce’s) husband Lycus.
Amphion and Zethus, whelps of Zeus, kill this woman Dirce, who intended to slay your mother Antiope, whom formerly she kept in prison because of her jealous spite. But now she is the suppliant and begs piteously. Tie her to a bull with a double rope, so that it will drag her body through this thicket.
8. On the eighth is the necromancy of Odysseus. He questioned his own mother Anticlea concerning affairs at home.
Anticlea, mother of wise Odysseus, you did not live to welcome your son home to Ithaca; but now that you have come to the banks of Acheron, he wonders that his eye lights upon his sweet mother.
9. On the ninth are carved Pelias and Neleus, the sons of Poseidon, delivering their mother from bondage. Her father Salmoneus had recently imprisoned her because she had an affair, and her stepmother Sidero applied to her the instruments of torture.
Let your coils, Sidero, no longer torment Tyro, nor let her be subject to her father here, Salmoneus. For he will no longer keep her a slave in a cage, when he sees Neleus and Pelias sitting here nearby.
10. On the western side on the first part of the tenth tablet are carved Eunous and Thoas, the children of Hypsipyle, being recognized by their mother. They are showing her the golden vine that was the token of their birth and saving her from her punishment at the hands of Eurydice for the death of Archemorus.
Thoas, show her this, Bacchus’ plant, for you will save from death your mother, the slave Hypsipyle. She had endured the wrath of Eurydice since the earth-born snake slew feeble Archemorus.2 And you go too, Eunous, and leave the fields of Asopis, to take your mother to most holy Lemnos.
11. On the eleventh is Polydectes, king of Seriphus, being turned to stone by Perseus with the Gorgon’s head; because he wanted to marry his (Perseus’) mother, he had sent him for the Gorgon’s head, and the death that he intended for another he suffered himself, in accordance with the providence of Justice.
You, Polydectes, dared to defile the bed of Danaë, putting the blame on Zeus for your ill-rumored liaisons. In response Perseus here uncovered the eyes of the Gorgon and made your limbs stone, as a favor to his mother.
12. On the twelfth is Ixion killing Phorbas and Polymelus because of the murder of his own mother, Megara. They murdered her out of anger when she preferred not to marry either of them.
Here is Ixion striking Phorbas and Polymelus to the earth, in revenge for their punishment of his own mother.
13. The thirteenth has Heracles leading his mother Alcmene to the Elysian plains, giving her in marriage to Rhadamanthys, and then himself being admitted to the number of the gods.
The bold son of Alceus gave this woman, his mother Alcmene, in holy wedlock to Rhadamanthys.
14. In the fourteenth is Tityus being shot by Apollo and Artemis, for daring to assault their mother Leto.
Lustful and drunk with foolishness, why did you turn with violence to the bed of Zeus’ consort? He deservedly fouled you with your own blood, and now has righteously left you on the ground, food for beasts and birds.
16. By the temple doors as you go in are Aeolus and Boeotus, sons of Poseidon, delivering their mother Melanippe from the fetters in which she was placed by her father because of her affair.
Aeolus and Boeotus, you performed a clever and pious task in saving your mother from death. Therefore you were proven mighty men, one from Aeolia and one from Boeotia.
18. On the eighteenth are Cleobis and Biton; they enabled their mother Cydippe, who was priestess of Hera in Argos, to perform her sacrifices by putting their own necks under the yoke when the ox team was delayed. They say that she was so pleased that she prayed to the goddess that her sons should meet with whatever was best for men; thus she prayed, and they died that very night.
This story is no lie; the pious sacrifice of Cydippe’s sons is surpassingly true. Their timely journey set a pleasing target for men’s aim; they undertook a glorious labor out of pious devotion to their mother. So rejoice in sacrifices, men renowned for your piety, and may you alone have age-long story.
19. On the nineteenth are Remus and Romulus, delivering their mother (Servilia by name) from the tortures of Amulius. Ares had seduced her and fathered children from her; they were exposed and suckled by a wolf. When they grew to be men, they freed their mother from bondage, founded Rome, and restored Numitor to the throne.
You are bearing to Ares a hidden brood of children, Remus and Romulus from a single birth. A wild wolf raised them to manhood and nursed them in her cave, and they snatched you out of woes with no easy cure.
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