Callithyia
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 the daughter of Peiras[4] or Peiranthus (himself son of Argus) and the first priestess of Argive Hera in history.
Mythology
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
- West, pp. 284–285; Clement of Alexandria, Stromata, 1. 164.1, citing the Phoronis
- Scholia on Aratus, Phenomena 161
- Aelius Aristides, Orationes, 45. 3
- Plutarch in Eusebius, Preparation for the Gospel 3.8.1
- Hesychius of Alexandria s. v. Ὶὼ Καλλιθύεσσα
- Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2.1.3 citing Hesiod, Ehoiai fr. 124 and Acusilaus (FGrHist 2 F 26).
References
- 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
- Pseudo-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. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.
Further reading
- 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.