Desdemona sees through this exterior and she shows herself to be very courageous. The River Lethe was one of the five waterways of the underworld. On the left of the sanctuary of Despoine is Mount Lykaios (Lycaeus). 6 : The word lethe in ancient Greek is usually translated as forgetfulness. Its meaning, however, was much more exact than simple moments of thoughtlessness that are common to us all. "Aitna (Etna) is a mountain in Sikelia (Sicily), named after Aitna, daughter of Ouranos (Heaven) and Ge (Earth), according to Alkimos (Alcimus) in his work on Sikelia (Sicily). Thence you will ascend by stairs to a sanctuary of Pan . So she turned, the story runs, into a mare, and grazed with the mares of Onkios (Oncius) [in Arkadia (Arcadia)]; realising that he was outwitted, Poseidon changed into a stallion and enjoyed Demeter. Occasionally, Aphrodite was Ares legitimate wife. Demeter, they say, had by Poseidon a daughter [Despoine (Despoena)], whose name they are not wont to divulge to the uninitiated, and a horse called Areion (Arion). So Zeus learnt this from Pan, and sent the Moirai (Moirae, Fates) to Demeter, who listened to the Moirai and laid aside her wrath, moderating her grief as well. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) : Pausanias, Description of Greece 5. 1 : Pausanias, Description of Greece 8. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. Ampelus lived in the wilds of Thrace, and Dionysus often joined him there. (Eurip. Desdemona may have the choice of many suitable matches, but she chooses Othello, even despite his racial difference. The shades of the dead were required to drink the waters of the Lethe in order to forget their earthly life. In the play's first act, Desdemona has eloped with Othello, a Moor in the service of the Venetian Republic. What Were the Hamadryads in Greek Mythology? 21 ; Cic. The mountain itself was believed to be the place in which Hephaestus and the Cyclops made the thunderbolts for Zeus. In Greek mythology, it was much more common for a god's lover to die because of another deity's actions or a long-established fate. This version of the tale said that Selene was to blame for the death of Ampelus. Roddam Spencer Stanhope, John. Trypanis) (Greek poet C3rd B.C.) Dionysus memorialized his lover by creating a new constellation. Latin text available at the Perseus Digital Library. This act proved that the Lima was not as dangerous as the local myths described. Ares was never very popular, and his worship was not extensive in Greece. Most English translators use the last of these as the standard meaning for the word, especially as it was used in mythology. 27. During his festival at Geronthrae in Laconia, no women were allowed in the sacred grove, but at Tegea he was honoured in a special womens sacrifice as Gynaikothoinas (Entertainer of Women). Desdemona combines rationality and tenacity in her final conversation with Othello. Her father reluctantly accepts the union but warns Othello that she will someday deceive him. Did Archaeologists Find the Minotaurs Labyrinth? Lethe meant not just the forgetting of a single fact or event, but a complete loss of all memory and the concealment of truth. It was a common belief that when a soul reached the underworld it was ferried into the realm of the dead by Charon. Despoine was closely identified with the goddesses Persephone, Artemis and Hekate, all of . No longer was every soul doomed to wander without an identity for all eternity. Ares was one of the Olympian deities. Both claim that he was a young satyr. In fact, it was often taboo to even say the names of these deities. Desdemona is a lady of spirit and intelligence. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. bookmarked pages associated with this title. (2023, April 5). On vases, Ares is usually the typical armed warrior. These two stories both have themes and images that are common in early Greek mythology, but details suggest that they were later versions. Desdemona - Desdemona is a dark and beautiful name with Greek origins. The film holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations given to a Shakespeare film adaptation. It means "unfortunate . Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Desdemona is attempting to get him to say something nice about woman, and after struggling to find an example, Iago finally admits that it was a Muse that first inspired thought. It has themes from Greek myths, but there are clues that hint at its originality. Truth was thus an opposite of oblivion or concealment. Lethe was both a goddess and place in Greek mythology, although there was a great deal of overlap between the two. 15 ff (trans. [1] It is related to the Greek word for "truth", aletheia ( ), which through the privative alpha literally means "un-forgetfulness" or "un-concealment". The name Desdemona is girl's name of Greek origin meaning "ill-starred". Greek Lyric IV) (C6th to 5th B.C.) In a 1966 British film version, Maggie Smith played the character opposite Laurence Olivier. [4] In O (2001), Julia Stiles played a character based on Desdemona in a version of Othello set in a contemporary high school. Desdemona is as Shakespearean as a name can be, but because the beautiful and innocent wife of Othello came to such a tragic end, her name has been avoided for centuries. [N.B. These were so in keeping with the themes and motifs of classical myths that they were easily mistaken for older legends. Rhea (pronounced ree-uh or ray-uh): Mother of the Greek gods. The realm of Hades was a place of shadow and mist, populated by souls with no direction. Only by reaching Elysium through three consecutive reincarnations could one achieve true bliss on the immortal islands, so any amount of retained wisdom would be helpful in that pursuit. Her father appears to be a controlling man, and she stands up to him. ", Simonides, Fragment 52 (from Scholiast on Theocritus 1.65) (trans. [1], In the nineteenth century, behind-the-scenes events in the lives of the play's performers garnered for Othello a shocking and sensational reputation. She was worshipped alongside her mother Demeter, sister Persephone, and Artemis. Examples are found in his books on Nietzsche (Vol 1, p.194) and on Parmenides. A young lover of Dionysus, the satyr was both beautiful and reckless. This is another demonstration of her not being a submissive, passive charactershe decided she wanted him, and she pursued him. Edmund Kean, for example, suffered a bitter divorce in 1825, and, in 1833, collapsed following a performance of the play, dying shortly thereafter. On the last of them is an inscription saying that it is common to all the gods. In Alaska, a river which runs through the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes is called the River Lethe. This numbness lasts until she sees that he actually intends to kill her; then she puts up a brave and spirited defense, insisting on her innocence. Trypanis) (Greek poet C3rd B.C.) In front of the temple is an altar to Demeter and another to Despoine, after which is one of the Great Mother (Meter Megale). Often, both were seen in the form of a river nymph. They believed that the water of the Lethe wore away at the mind. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. 5 (trans. The personifications of murder and lies were among the family of Eris. In act 2, Othello's lieutenant, Cassio is disgraced in a brawl and falls from Othello's favor. Later, Cinthio's ensign's wife learns of her husband's villainy in the handkerchief deception but feels constrained to remain silent. 27. The river and the goddess were often conflated. The goddess Lethe was a personification of the idea. Ares, in Greek religion, god of war or, more properly, the spirit of battle. Instead, the character was created, or at least repurposed, by Ovid and became popular enough to inspire a later retelling. ii. 4 (trans. In Ovids story, Ampelus died from a fall. More ancient sources named another of Dionysuss lovers as the origins of the grapevine. Schol. Desdemona is a lady of spirit and intelligence. In his rendition, Desdemona's death was an especially violent affair. Simonides says that Aitna decided between Hephaistos (Hephaestus) and Demeter when they quarrelled over possession of the land.". . Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. The daughter of a Venetian senator, Desdemona is greatly loved by Othello, an honoured and heroic Moorish general in the service of Venice. These dread flames that creeping monster sends aloft, a marvel to look on, and a wondrous tale even to hear, from those whose eyes have seen it. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) : Pausanias, Description of Greece 8. Titan daughter of Gaia, the earth goddess and the sky god, Uranus. He represented the distasteful aspects of brutal warfare and slaughter. Areion (Arion)], but to Despoine (Despoena, the Mistress), as the Arkadians call her. The fact that the first mention of Ampelus occurs in the works of Ovid makes it likely that this was not an older, established myth before that time. The Greeks viewed truth as one of the most important principles in life. ThoughtCo, Apr. It is Desdemona's assurance and confidence in the honor and strength of the love she bears for Othello that inspires her boldness. 16. The mythology surrounding the figure of Ares is not extensive. "From Akakesion (Acacesium) [in Arkadia (Arcadia)] it is four stades to the sanctuary of Despoine (Despoena, the Mistress). Sophia, Sofia, Sophie: Wisdom, knowledge, wise one, knower. Desdemona is concerned over the loss of the handkerchief but maintains that its loss will not cause Othello to grow angry. When you have gone up a little, beside the temple of Despoine on the right is what is called the Hall, where the Arkadians celebrate Mysteries, and sacrifice to Despoine many victims in generous fashion. "Outside the Altis [at Olympia] . Cinthio's tale may have been based on an actual incident occurring in Venice about 1508. Simonides said that she had acted as arbitrator between Hephaestus and Demeter respecting the possession of Sicily. In short, the Greeks hoped that Lethe would, herself, forget all about them. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. The name Desdemona is girl's name of Greek origin meaning "ill-starred". Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. For all the claims of military straightforwardness of some other characters, Desdemona is the most direct and honest speaker in the play. Thomas Mann in his short story "A Man And His Dog" has the pointer Bashan's owner express the sentiment: "It is good to walk like this in the early morning, with senses rejuvenated and spirit cleansed by the night's long healing draught of Lethe". There is a grove of oaks around the cave, and a cold spring rises from the earth. . The daimones had no real characterization beyond the role they played. Her siblings included Ponos (Toil), Ate (Ruin), and Limos (Starvation). Othello really had to contemplate his plan and why he should kill his wife because he doesn't want to because he knows she will be dead and he cannot reverse that, but he thinks he should kill her out of duty. "[5] A few mystery religions taught the existence of another river, the Mnemosyne; those who drank from the Mnemosyne would remember everything and attain omniscience. The River Lethe was also called Ameles potamos, or the river of unmindfulness. Ampelus is one of the lesser-known characters of Greek mythology. For Desdemona, Othello is the hero of many exciting and dangerous adventures, who also has the appeal of the orphan child who needs love. In Greek mythology, Lethe (/lii/; Ancient Greek: Lth; Ancient Greek:[lt], Modern Greek:[lii]), also referred to as Lesmosyne, was one of the five rivers of the underworld of Hades. Dorian (Greek origin) meaning "child of the sea"; the main character from ' Picture of Dorian Gray'. Only by drinking the water, however, could one be reincarnated. Zeus, the chief god, specifically assigns the sphere of war to Ares, the god of war, and Athena. 15. Desdemona is as Shakespearean as a name can be, but because the beautiful and innocent wife of Othello came to such a tragic end, her name has been avoided for centuries. Othello and Desdemona: An Analysis. : Roger Brooke describes their dynamic in his 1999 book Pathways into the Jungian World: Phenomenology and Analytical Psychology stating "Rather than only constituting disaster and darkness, Lethe also presents their obliteration something like the withdrawal of life".[4]. No part of the drapery, and no part of the carvings about the throne, is fastened to another stone by iron or cement, but the whole is from one block. Pindar, Pythian Ode 1. Emilia is more cynical, especially after Othello violently asks to see it. i. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) : Philosophers since, such as William J. Richardson have expanded on this school of thought. In Greek mythology, it was much more common for a gods lover to die because of another deitys actions or a long-established fate. : Pausanias, Description of Greece 8. [1] Unlike Shakespeare's Emilia, Cintho's ensign's wife lives to tell what she knows of Disdemona's death long after her husband and the Moor are dead. Clues in the stories, however, indicate that this might not be the case with the tale of Ampelus. Athena is the goddess of war, and her sweet friend Hera is the goddess of marriage and queen of the Olympian gods. There, her husband is manipulated by his ensign Iago into believing she is an adulteress, and, in the last act, she is murdered by her estranged spouse. Ares, in Greek religion, god of war or, more properly, the spirit of battle. [1], The only named character in Cinthio's story is "Disdemona". Also known as the Amels potamos (river of unmindfulness), the Lethe flowed around the cave of Hypnos and through the Underworld where all those who drank from it experienced complete forgetfulness. "Only to the Nymphai (Nymphs) and the Despoinai (Despoenae) [probably Demeter, Persephone and Hekate] are they not wont [at Olympia] to pour wine in libation.". . The River Phlegethon The river of fire, it coiled around the earth before emptying its hot fires into the depths of. Lee Jamieson, M.A., is a theater scholar and educator. When Emilia's husband Iago sees Desdemona's handkerchief, he steals it and forbids Emilia to disclose its whereabouts to Desdemona. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. He cannot believe in reality, for it seems too good to be true. Lethe could be beneficial in certain contexts, however. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. [1], In the twentieth century, Peggy Ashcroft played the character opposite Paul Robeson in London's Savoy Theatre in 1930, and Uta Hagen appeared in the role opposite Robeson in Margaret Webster's production at the Shubert Theatre in New York City in 1943.[1]. On the latter is also an inscription, declaring that Greece would never have fallen at all [to the Roman Empire], if she had obeyed Polybios in everything, and when she met disaster her only help came from him. Unlike Shakespeare's Othello, the Moor in Cinthio's story never repents the murder of his wife. The souls of the dead wandered without purpose, the vast majority receiving neither punishment nor reward after they had died. It starts when Desdemona lies to the doctor studying her Mediterranean diet, and Cal . The sound of the river lulled people while Hypnos, the brother of Thanatos (Death) came to them in the night. Corrections? Too often played as a weak character, Desdemona is strong and bold, especially when it comes to Othello. 2 : Pausanias, Description of Greece 8. The Myth of Er in Book X of Plato's Republic tells of the dead arriving at a barren waste called the "plain of Lethe", through which the river Ameles ("careless") runs. The Phigalians accept the account of the people of Thelpousa (Thelpusa) about the mating of Poseidon and Demeter, but they assert that Demeter gave birth, not to a horse [i.e. For these reasons, the Phigalians say, they concluded that this cavern was sacred to Demeter and set up in it a wooden image. Lethe was embodied in mythology by not one, but two figures. 15 ff (trans. A little farther up is the circuit of the wall of Lykosoura (Lycosura), in which there are a few inhabitants. Dracula (Latin origin) meaning "dragon"; from the famous novel 'Dracula'. Maggie Smith and co-stars Olivier, Frank Finlay (Iago), and Joyce Redman (Emilia) all received acting nominations. Drinkers of the Lethe's water would not be quenched of their thirst, often causing them to drink more than necessary.[2]. He also appears on the great frieze of the altar at Pergamum. : Aeschylus, Fragment 216 (from Scholiast on Theocritus, Idyll 2. It is revealed that he has previously warned Roderigo of his daughter, saying My daughter is not for thee, (Act One, Scene One), but she takes control. Desdemona (/dzdmon/) is a character in William Shakespeare's play Othello (c. 16011604). (1.3). According to Ovid, Ampelus died while picking the grapes that were sacred to Dionysus. In the portico by Despoine there is, between the reliefs I have mentioned, a tablet with descriptions of the Mysteries (telete). Good name in man and woman, dear my lord, is the immediate jewel of their souls; who steals my purse steals trash By the side of Demeter stands Artemis [probably here identified with Hekate] wrapped in the skin of a deer, and carrying a quiver on her shoulders, while in one hand she holds a torch, in the other two serpents; by her side a bitch, of a breed suitable for hunting, is lying down. It was later believed that souls could choose to drink less of the water, retaining some of their memories in the afterlife. Desdemona is, after all, innocent, but even if she weren't, it is not Othello's place to take her life. 10 : Both he and the ensign escape immediate prosecution but are killed much later. Afterwards, they say, angry with Poseidon and grieved at the rape of Persephone, she put on black apparel and shut herself up in this cavern for a long time. There was another use of the name Lethe, however. Such is the being bound between the peaks of Aitna in her blackened leaves and the flat plain, while all his back is torn and scarred by the rough couch on which he lies outstretched. This leaves his mind susceptible to the tragic poisoning by the scheming Iago, even though Desdemona has done nothing wrong. Desdemona is a girl name of Greek origin. It flowed through the realm of Hades, among the souls of the dead. For all the claims of military straightforwardness of some other characters, Desdemona is the most direct and honest speaker in the play. Initiates were taught that they would receive a choice of rivers to drink from after death, and to drink from Mnemosyne instead of Lethe. Unlike his Roman counterpart, Mars, he was never very popular, and his worship was not extensive in Greece. Greek deities series Primordial deities Titans and Olympians Water deities Like many abstract ideas in the Greek world, lethe was personified as a minor goddess. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/desdemona-and-othello-2984765. Generally, they are characters from Greek mythology that are related in some way to the equivalent of the Roman god their planet is named after. It charged through the forest, throwing Ampelus from its back and goring him to death. Desdemona's banter with Iago and Emilia at their arrival in Cyprus (2.1.100ff) has been traditionally regarded as distasteful and cut on moral and artistic grounds, being deemed unworthy of a noble tragedy such as Othello and out of character for Desdemona. The River Lethe formed the boundary between Elysium and the rest of the underworld, ensuring that no unworthy souls could wander into a more comfortable existence. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Ovid was known to not only embellish on known myths, but also to create new stories of his own. This retention was especially true for those seeking entrance to the Isles of the Blessed. Such events cultivated the play's shocking and sensational reputation, and Tommaso Salvini's savage and sensual performance only enhanced it. For a character like Ampelus to simply fall out of a tree because of youthful recklessness does not seem to fit with other stories of the gods lovers.
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