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Potnia

March 06, 2024

Potnia is an Ancient Greek word for "Mistress, Lady" and a title of a goddess. The word was inherited by Classical Greek from Mycenean Greek with the same meaning and it was applied to several goddesses. A similar word is the title Despoina, "the mistress", which was given to the nameless chthonic goddess of the mysteries of Arcadian cult. She was later conflated with Kore (Persephone), "the maiden", the goddess of the Eleusinian Mysteries,[1] in a life-death rebirth cycle which leads the neophyte from death into life and immortality. Karl Kerenyi identifies Kore with the nameless "Mistress of the labyrinth", who probably presided over the palace of Knossos in Minoan Crete.

This Archaic image known as the Lady of Auxerre may be a version of the Minoan goddess, probably Kore or Despoina (c. 640–630 BCE, Louvre).
This article contains special characters. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols.
Artemis Orthia in the stance of Potnia Theron on an archaic ivory (National Archaeological Museum of Athens)

Etymology edit

Potnia (Greek: πότνια, "mistress")[2] is a poetic title of honour, used chiefly in addressing females, whether goddesses or women; its masculine analogue is posis (πόσις).[3] Its hypothetical Proto-Indo-European (PIE) form *pot-niha-, "mistress", "lady", "wife", is the feminine counterpart to *pótis, "husband"; cf. Latin hospēs, "host", Sanskrit páti-, "master", "husband", fem. pátnī-, "lady", "wife".[4] Potnia is attested in the Linear B script in Mycenean Greek: 𐀡𐀴𐀛𐀊 po-ti-ni-ja. The word was inherited in classical Greek with the same meaning. A related Greek word is despoina ("Des-potnia" from PIE *dems-potnia meaning "mistress of the house").[5] An alternative etymology of the goddess Demeter comes through Potnia and Despoina ("Dems-meter", from PIE *dems-méh₂tēr, meaning "mother of the house").[6]

Potnia is possibly also etymologically related to Ptgyh, an attested Philistine goddess.[7][8]

Origins edit

The figure of a goddess of nature, of birth and death was dominant during the Bronze Age, in both Minoan and Mycenean cults. In the Mycenean cult she was known by the title Potnia.[9] The earliest references to the title are inscriptions in Linear B (Mycenean Greek) syllabic script found at Pylos and at Knossos, Crete, dated 1450-1300 BC. On a number of tablets from Pylos, we find po-ti-ni-ja (potnia) without any accompanying word. Chadwick suggests that she was the mother-goddess of the Mycenaeans. It seems that she had an important shrine at the site Pakijanes near Pylos.[10] Wanax (wa-na-ka) was her male companion in the Mycenean cult,[9] and this title was usually applied to the god Poseidon (po-se-da-o). Another epithet of Poseidon was e-ne-si-da-o-ne ("earth-shaker") and in the cave of Amnisos (Crete) Enesidaon is related to the cult of Eileithyia.[11] She was a goddess of nature concerned with the annual birth of the divine child.[12] Potnia and her male companion (paredros) survived in the Eleusinian cult, where the following words were uttered : "Mighty Potnia has born a strong son".[13]

An inscription from Knossos refers to the "potnia of the labyrinth", who probably presided over the palace of Knossos (da-pu2-ri-to-jo, po-ti-ni-ja).[14][15] A famous Minoan seal impression found by Arthur Evans shows a nameless goddess brandishing a spear and standing upon the representation of a mountain flanked by rampant lions, and the representation seems similar to the Homeric potnia theron (the mistress of the animals).

Several tablets in Linear B script found at Knossos and Pylos refer to the potnia. Potnia is almost always accompanied by an epithet characterizing a particular place or function of the mistress : po-ti-ni-ja,a-si-wi-ja (a-si-wi-ja = ethnic adjective, possibly "Asian (Lydian) woman"), si-to-po-ti-ni-ja (sitos = "grain", of wheat or barley; probably referring to Demeter or her predecessor), po-ti-ni-ja,i-qe-ja (Potnia Hippeia, "Horse Goddess"). At Knossos a tablet refers to a-ta-na-po-ti-ni-ja, "potnia Athana", a form similar to the later Homeric form.[10][16]

This divine title could be the translation of a similar title of Pre-Greek origin, just as the title "Our Lady" in Christianity is translated in several languages.[17] The Pre-Greek name may be related to a-sa-sa-ra , a possible interpretation of some Linear A texts.[18] Although Linear A is not yet deciphered, Palmer relates tentatively the word a-sa-sa-ra-me which seems to have accompanied goddesses, with the Hittite išhaššara, which means "lady or mistress", and especially with išhaššaramis (my lady).[19]

Classical Greece edit

In classical Greece the title potnia is usually applied to the goddesses Demeter, Artemis, Athena, and Persephone. This title was also given to the earth goddess Gaia (Ge). A similar title Despoina, "the mistress", was given to the nameless goddess of the mysteries of Arcadian cult, later conflated with Kore (Persephone), the goddess of the Eleusinian Mysteries. Homer in the Iliad (xxi 470) mentions a potnia theron ("mistress of the animals") who is obviously Artemis. Karl Kerenyi identifies Persephone with the nameless "mistress of the labyrinth". Demeter and Persephone were the two great goddesses of the Arcadian cults. According to Pausanias at Olympia they were called Despoinai ("mistresses", plural of Despoina).[20] Demeter and Persephone were also called "Demeteres" as duplicates of the earth goddess with a double function as chthonic and vegetation goddesses.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Princeton Encyclopedia of classical sites
  2. ^ πότνια. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project.
  3. ^ πόσις in Liddell and Scott.
  4. ^ J. P. Mallory, J. P.; Adams, D. Q. (2006). The Oxford Introduction to Proto-Indo-European and the Proto-Indo-European World. Oxford University Press. pp. 207, 505.
  5. ^ Harper, Douglas. "despot". Online Etymology Dictionary.
  6. ^ Frisk, Griechisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch Entry 1271
  7. ^ David Ben-Shlomo, Philistine Cult and Religion According to Archaeological Evidence, January 2019Religions 10(2):74, DOI: 10.3390/rel10020074
  8. ^ Press, Michael D. (2012-02-01). "(Pytho)Gaia in Myth and Legend: The Goddess of the Ekron Inscription Revisited". Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research. 365: 1–25. doi:10.5615/bullamerschoorie.365.0001. ISSN 0003-097X.
  9. ^ a b B.Dietriech (2004):The origins of the Greek religion Bristol Phoenix Press. pp. 181-185
  10. ^ a b G. Mylonas (1965) Mycenae and the Mycenaean age, Princeton University Press, p.159
  11. ^ Dietriech, p.181
  12. ^ Dietrich: pp.109, 141
  13. ^ Dietrich:166-167
  14. ^ Kn Gg 702:da-pu2ri-to-jo po-ti-ni-ja
  15. ^ Ventris M. and Chadwick J. Documents in Mycenean Greek 1976. Cambridge UP. ISBN 0-521-08558-6
  16. ^ Chadwick J.The Mycenean world.1976.Cambridge UP. ISBN 0-521-29037-6
  17. ^ Chadwick: The Mycenean world P.92
  18. ^ Harald Haarmann: Das Rätsel der Donauzivilisation - Die Entdeckung der ältesten Hochkultur Europas, Verlag C.H. Beck oHG, Munich, 2011, p. 241, ISBN 978-3-406-62210-6.
  19. ^ "However the word doesn't seem to have Indo-European origin" :F.Schachermeyer (1964) Die Minoische Kultur des alten Kreta, pp.256, 263, W. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart
  20. ^ Pausanias.Description of Greece.[1]

March 06, 2024
potnia, ancient, greek, word, mistress, lady, title, goddess, word, inherited, classical, greek, from, mycenean, greek, with, same, meaning, applied, several, goddesses, similar, word, title, despoina, mistress, which, given, nameless, chthonic, goddess, myste. Potnia is an Ancient Greek word for Mistress Lady and a title of a goddess The word was inherited by Classical Greek from Mycenean Greek with the same meaning and it was applied to several goddesses A similar word is the title Despoina the mistress which was given to the nameless chthonic goddess of the mysteries of Arcadian cult She was later conflated with Kore Persephone the maiden the goddess of the Eleusinian Mysteries 1 in a life death rebirth cycle which leads the neophyte from death into life and immortality Karl Kerenyi identifies Kore with the nameless Mistress of the labyrinth who probably presided over the palace of Knossos in Minoan Crete This Archaic image known as the Lady of Auxerre may be a version of the Minoan goddess probably Kore or Despoina c 640 630 BCE Louvre This article contains special characters Without proper rendering support you may see question marks boxes or other symbols Artemis Orthia in the stance of Potnia Theron on an archaic ivory National Archaeological Museum of Athens Contents 1 Etymology 2 Origins 3 Classical Greece 4 See also 5 ReferencesEtymology editPotnia Greek potnia mistress 2 is a poetic title of honour used chiefly in addressing females whether goddesses or women its masculine analogue is posis posis 3 Its hypothetical Proto Indo European PIE form pot niha mistress lady wife is the feminine counterpart to potis husband cf Latin hospes host Sanskrit pati master husband fem patni lady wife 4 Potnia is attested in the Linear B script in Mycenean Greek 𐀡𐀴𐀛𐀊 po ti ni ja The word was inherited in classical Greek with the same meaning A related Greek word is despoina Des potnia from PIE dems potnia meaning mistress of the house 5 An alternative etymology of the goddess Demeter comes through Potnia and Despoina Dems meter from PIE dems meh ter meaning mother of the house 6 Potnia is possibly also etymologically related to Ptgyh an attested Philistine goddess 7 8 Origins editThe figure of a goddess of nature of birth and death was dominant during the Bronze Age in both Minoan and Mycenean cults In the Mycenean cult she was known by the title Potnia 9 The earliest references to the title are inscriptions in Linear B Mycenean Greek syllabic script found at Pylos and at Knossos Crete dated 1450 1300 BC On a number of tablets from Pylos we find po ti ni ja potnia without any accompanying word Chadwick suggests that she was the mother goddess of the Mycenaeans It seems that she had an important shrine at the site Pakijanes near Pylos 10 Wanax wa na ka was her male companion in the Mycenean cult 9 and this title was usually applied to the god Poseidon po se da o Another epithet of Poseidon was e ne si da o ne earth shaker and in the cave of Amnisos Crete Enesidaon is related to the cult of Eileithyia 11 She was a goddess of nature concerned with the annual birth of the divine child 12 Potnia and her male companion paredros survived in the Eleusinian cult where the following words were uttered Mighty Potnia has born a strong son 13 An inscription from Knossos refers to the potnia of the labyrinth who probably presided over the palace of Knossos da pu2 ri to jo po ti ni ja 14 15 A famous Minoan seal impression found by Arthur Evans shows a nameless goddess brandishing a spear and standing upon the representation of a mountain flanked by rampant lions and the representation seems similar to the Homeric potnia theron the mistress of the animals Several tablets in Linear B script found at Knossos and Pylos refer to the potnia Potnia is almost always accompanied by an epithet characterizing a particular place or function of the mistress po ti ni ja a si wi ja a si wi ja ethnic adjective possibly Asian Lydian woman si to po ti ni ja sitos grain of wheat or barley probably referring to Demeter or her predecessor po ti ni ja i qe ja Potnia Hippeia Horse Goddess At Knossos a tablet refers to a ta na po ti ni ja potnia Athana a form similar to the later Homeric form 10 16 This divine title could be the translation of a similar title of Pre Greek origin just as the title Our Lady in Christianity is translated in several languages 17 The Pre Greek name may be related to a sa sa ra a possible interpretation of some Linear A texts 18 Although Linear A is not yet deciphered Palmer relates tentatively the word a sa sa ra me which seems to have accompanied goddesses with the Hittite ishassara which means lady or mistress and especially with ishassaramis my lady 19 Classical Greece editIn classical Greece the title potnia is usually applied to the goddesses Demeter Artemis Athena and Persephone This title was also given to the earth goddess Gaia Ge A similar title Despoina the mistress was given to the nameless goddess of the mysteries of Arcadian cult later conflated with Kore Persephone the goddess of the Eleusinian Mysteries Homer in the Iliad xxi 470 mentions a potnia theron mistress of the animals who is obviously Artemis Karl Kerenyi identifies Persephone with the nameless mistress of the labyrinth Demeter and Persephone were the two great goddesses of the Arcadian cults According to Pausanias at Olympia they were called Despoinai mistresses plural of Despoina 20 Demeter and Persephone were also called Demeteres as duplicates of the earth goddess with a double function as chthonic and vegetation goddesses See also editDespoina Persephone Potnia theron Poseidon List of Mycenaean deitiesReferences edit Princeton Encyclopedia of classical sites potnia Liddell Henry George Scott Robert A Greek English Lexicon at the Perseus Project posis in Liddell and Scott J P Mallory J P Adams D Q 2006 The Oxford Introduction to Proto Indo European and the Proto Indo European World Oxford University Press pp 207 505 Harper Douglas despot Online Etymology Dictionary Frisk Griechisches Etymologisches Worterbuch Entry 1271 David Ben Shlomo Philistine Cult and Religion According to Archaeological Evidence January 2019Religions 10 2 74 DOI 10 3390 rel10020074 Press Michael D 2012 02 01 Pytho Gaia in Myth and Legend The Goddess of the Ekron Inscription Revisited Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 365 1 25 doi 10 5615 bullamerschoorie 365 0001 ISSN 0003 097X a b B Dietriech 2004 The origins of the Greek religion Bristol Phoenix Press pp 181 185 a b G Mylonas 1965 Mycenae and the Mycenaean age Princeton University Press p 159 Dietriech p 181 Dietrich pp 109 141 Dietrich 166 167 Kn Gg 702 da pu2ri to jo po ti ni ja Ventris M and Chadwick J Documents in Mycenean Greek 1976 Cambridge UP ISBN 0 521 08558 6 Chadwick J The Mycenean world 1976 Cambridge UP ISBN 0 521 29037 6 Chadwick The Mycenean world P 92 Harald Haarmann Das Ratsel der Donauzivilisation Die Entdeckung der altesten Hochkultur Europas Verlag C H Beck oHG Munich 2011 p 241 ISBN 978 3 406 62210 6 However the word doesn t seem to have Indo European origin F Schachermeyer 1964 Die Minoische Kultur des alten Kreta pp 256 263 W Kohlhammer Stuttgart Pausanias Description of Greece 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Potnia amp oldid 1211221121, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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