In Greek mythology, Aega (Ancient Greek: Αίγη) or Pine or Cynosura or Melissa was, according to Hyginus, a daughter of Olenus, who was a descendant of Hephaestus.[1][2] Aega and her sister Helice nursed the infant Zeus in Crete, and the former was afterwards changed by the god into the constellation called Capella.
Mythologyedit
According to other traditions mentioned by Hyginus, Aega was a daughter of Melisseus, king of Crete, and was chosen to suckle the infant Zeus; but as she was found unable to do it, the service was performed by the goat Amalthea. Hyginus also reports a tradition that while married to Pan she had a son by Zeus whom she called Aegipan.
According to other authors, Aega was a daughter of Helios and of such dazzling brightness that the Titans in their attack upon Olympus became frightened and requested their mother Gaia to conceal her in the earth. She was accordingly confined in a cave in Crete, where she became the nurse of Zeus. In the Titanomachy, Zeus was commanded by an oracle to cover himself with her skin (aegis). He obeyed the command and raised Aega among the stars.
Similar, though somewhat different accounts, were given by Euemerus and others.[3] It is clear that in some of these stories Aega is regarded as a nymph, and in others as a goat, though the two ideas are not kept clearly distinct from each other. Her name is either connected with αίξ, which signifies a goat, or with άιξ, a gale of wind; and this circumstance has led some critics to consider the myth about her as made up of two distinct ones, one being of an astronomical nature and derived from the constellation Capella, the rise of which brings storms and tempests,[4] and the other referring to the goat which was believed to have suckled the infant Zeus in Crete.[5]
Antoninus Liberalis, The Metamorphoses of Antoninus Liberalis translated by Francis Celoria (Routledge 1992). Online version at the Topos Text Project.
Aratus Solensis, Phaenomena translated by G. R. Mair. Loeb Classical Library Volume 129. London: William Heinemann, 1921. Online version at the Topos Text Project.
Aratus Solensis, Phaenomena. G. R. Mair. London: William Heinemann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 1921. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
Gaius Julius Hyginus, Astronomica from The Myths of Hyginus translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. Online version at the Topos Text Project.
Lactantius, Divine Institutes translated by William Fletcher (1810-1900). From Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 7. Edited by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe. Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1886. Online version at the Topos Text Project.
aega, mythology, other, uses, aega, disambiguation, greek, mythology, aega, ancient, greek, Αίγη, pine, cynosura, melissa, according, hyginus, daughter, olenus, descendant, hephaestus, aega, sister, helice, nursed, infant, zeus, crete, former, afterwards, chan. For other uses see Aega disambiguation In Greek mythology Aega Ancient Greek Aigh or Pine or Cynosura or Melissa was according to Hyginus a daughter of Olenus who was a descendant of Hephaestus 1 2 Aega and her sister Helice nursed the infant Zeus in Crete and the former was afterwards changed by the god into the constellation called Capella Mythology editAccording to other traditions mentioned by Hyginus Aega was a daughter of Melisseus king of Crete and was chosen to suckle the infant Zeus but as she was found unable to do it the service was performed by the goat Amalthea Hyginus also reports a tradition that while married to Pan she had a son by Zeus whom she called Aegipan According to other authors Aega was a daughter of Helios and of such dazzling brightness that the Titans in their attack upon Olympus became frightened and requested their mother Gaia to conceal her in the earth She was accordingly confined in a cave in Crete where she became the nurse of Zeus In the Titanomachy Zeus was commanded by an oracle to cover himself with her skin aegis He obeyed the command and raised Aega among the stars Similar though somewhat different accounts were given by Euemerus and others 3 It is clear that in some of these stories Aega is regarded as a nymph and in others as a goat though the two ideas are not kept clearly distinct from each other Her name is either connected with ai3 which signifies a goat or with ai3 a gale of wind and this circumstance has led some critics to consider the myth about her as made up of two distinct ones one being of an astronomical nature and derived from the constellation Capella the rise of which brings storms and tempests 4 and the other referring to the goat which was believed to have suckled the infant Zeus in Crete 5 Notes edit Hyginus De Astronomica 2 13 Bell Robert E 1991 Women of Classical Mythology A Biographical Dictionary ABC CLIO p 6 ISBN 9780874365818 Eratosthenes Catasterismi 13 Antoninus Liberalis Metamorphoses 36 Lactantius Divine Institutes 1 22 19 Aratus Phaenomena 150 Schmitz Leonhard 1867 Aega in Smith William ed Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology vol 1 Boston p 24 a href Template Citation html title Template Citation citation a CS1 maint location missing publisher link References editAntoninus Liberalis The Metamorphoses of Antoninus Liberalis translated by Francis Celoria Routledge 1992 Online version at the Topos Text Project Aratus Solensis Phaenomena translated by G R Mair Loeb Classical Library Volume 129 London William Heinemann 1921 Online version at the Topos Text Project Aratus Solensis Phaenomena G R Mair London William Heinemann New York G P Putnam s Sons 1921 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library Bell Robert E Women of Classical Mythology A Biographical Dictionary ABC Clio 1991 ISBN 9780874365818 0874365813 Gaius Julius Hyginus Astronomica from The Myths of Hyginus translated and edited by Mary Grant University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies Online version at the Topos Text Project Lactantius Divine Institutes translated by William Fletcher 1810 1900 From Ante Nicene Fathers Vol 7 Edited by Alexander Roberts James Donaldson and A Cleveland Coxe Buffalo NY Christian Literature Publishing Co 1886 Online version at the Topos Text Project nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Smith William ed 1870 Aega Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Aega mythology amp oldid 1130211702, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
