Athena's Spear: possibily a reed?
CF Perez
I'm working on a commentary of Athena, the Greek goddess, and would like
some expert opinions. If you would please, e-mail directly to me as you
post.
Athena is often pictured with a spear, but I notice (and perhaps the jar
paintings are merely the illusion I describe) the spear she carries is
often slightly curved, not just straight. Do the images of spears ever
evoke a slightly curved or bent shape, more resembling something like
sugar cane or bamboo? I wonder if a reed or a cane might also be
associated with Athena in any of her stories?
Does the word for spear in ancient Greek translate to reed, or give a
clue to what her spear might have been produced with?
According to the Perseus Site, the English Index reports on searching
"reed," details of the fennel used in ancient times to transport coals
between fire places. This seemed to me a kind of derivation of Zeus'
handy power with lightening... something Athena might have inherited
from her father?
I am interested particularly in stories of carrying of fire, from
anywhere in the Greek mythologies; and I thought it an interesting
image, the carrying of a lighted reed, sharing of human warmth,
estblishment of peaceful settlement in a sense, and the value of
something safe in which to carry the potential of warmth.
So, I wonder, does Athena have any stories which relate the image of
such a reed to her place in the Pantheon? or, does she only preside in
war by spear?
Chris Nyborg
CF Perez wrote <34C0E7...@pacbell.net>...
>I'm working on a commentary of Athena, the Greek goddess, and would like
>some expert opinions. If you would please, e-mail directly to me as you
>post.
>
>Athena is often pictured with a spear, but I notice (and perhaps the jar
>paintings are merely the illusion I describe) the spear she carries is
>often slightly curved, not just straight. Do the images of spears ever
>evoke a slightly curved or bent shape, more resembling something like
>sugar cane or bamboo?
If you're looking at pictures of vases, they may appear curved on the
picture since they obviously follow the curve of the vase. Also, they might
be curved simply because the painter wasn't as careful as he should have
been. Since Athena is a war goddess and a protectress of cities, it is
natural that she carries a spear.
>I wonder if a reed or a cane might also be
>associated with Athena in any of her stories?
I can't think of any such stories, and I couldn't find any reference either
(I've studied Greek and Roman iconography, so I have several reference books
available).
>
>Does the word for spear in ancient Greek translate to reed, or give a
>clue to what her spear might have been produced with?
Usually, the spear is described simply as a spear, without reference to the
materiel. In addtion, the text may mention what the spearhed was made of -
Homer is fond of mentioning bronze-tipped spears.
>According to the Perseus Site, the English Index reports on searching
>"reed," details of the fennel used in ancient times to transport coals
>between fire places. This seemed to me a kind of derivation of Zeus'
>handy power with lightening... something Athena might have inherited
>from her father?
There are references to Athena using, or at least threatening to use, her
father's thunderbolt. In Aeskhylos' Oresteia, she indicates that she has the
key to the place where it is kept.
>I am interested particularly in stories of carrying of fire, from
>anywhere in the Greek mythologies; and I thought it an interesting
>image, the carrying of a lighted reed, sharing of human warmth,
>estblishment of peaceful settlement in a sense, and the value of
>something safe in which to carry the potential of warmth.
Several goddesses may carry torches (which could be made from reeds), e.g.
Hestia, goddess of the hearth and Artemis as a goddess of the night, Demeter
as a goddess of mysteries. I've never seen any vase painting where Athens
carries one, though.
>
>So, I wonder, does Athena have any stories which relate the image of
>such a reed to her place in the Pantheon? or, does she only preside in
>war by spear?
Athens has other attributes that the spear. The spear, helmet and shield, as
well as the aegis, are her attributes as a war goddess. As Athena Kore
(Maiden/Girl) she may carry a pomegranade. She can also be identified by
animals sacred to her, the owl and the snake.
Chris Nyborg
cny...@online.no