Pseudanor (Greek: Ψευδάνωρ pseudo- + anēr "false man", metaphorically an "effeminate man") was a Macedonianepithet applied to Dionysus. Other Macedonian appellations to the god were Agrios (Ἄγριος)[1] "wild" (as god of the countryside) and Erikryptos (Ἐρίκρυπτος) "completely hidden" (as the god hidden from the frenzied women roaming the countryside by the kourotrophosKala Thea, the Beautiful Goddess, and raised as a girl: the transition to pseudanor).
All of the names of Dionysus above are attested in four inscriptions from Beroea c. 248–264 AD.[2] However, the history of Pseudanor was certainly much older. The Macedonian historian Polyaenus relates an aetiological myth:
In the reign of Argaeus, the IllyrianTaulantii under Galaurus invaded Macedonia. Argaeus, whose force was very small, directed the Macedonian virgins (parthenoi), as the enemy advanced, to show themselves from mount Ereboea ( Ἐρέβοια ). They accordingly did so; and in a numerous body they poured down , covered by wreaths, and brandishing their thyrsi instead of spears. Galaurus, intimidated by the numbers of those, whom instead of women he supposed to be men, sounded a retreat; whereupon the Taulantii, throwing away their weapons, and whatever else might retard their escape, abandoned themselves to a precipitate flight. Argaeus, having thus obtained a victory without the hazard of a battle, erected a temple to Dionysus Pseudanor; and ordered the priestesses of the god, who were before called Klοdones[3] by the Macedonians, to ever afterwards be distinguished by the title of Mimallones.[4]
The Klodones and the Mimallones are also mentioned by Plutarch in his biography of Alexander the Great, one of his Parallel Lives. The aetiological myth in Polyaenus may have originated or been adapted in the Aitia ('Causes") of Callimachus, but Polyaenus mentions both important points: Dionysus's ambivalent sexuality and the masculine qualities of the Maenads. This female-male-female transvestite ritual (it was only natural that Dionysus presided over it)[5] of the Klodones-Mimallones probably marked the transition of the Macedonian girls to adulthood.
^Probably "spinners" from klotho. See Hatzopoulos (1994), p. 75-81. Some scholars connected it to klozo "cackle" from the sounds of the frenzied Maenads.
^Μιμαλλόνες "imitators of men" Etym. Mag. (587.53) see Hesychius "mimelazein. mimeisthai" "mimelon. homoion"
^Not uncommon in other parts of Greece: Sparta, Argos, Tegea etc.
Bibliography
Dillon, Matthew, Girls and Women in Classical Greek Religion
Hatzopoulos, Miltiades B., "Macedonian Cults" (as "Cultes et rites de passage en Macédoine"), Athens & Paris, 1994
Devine, A. M., "Review: Macedonian Cults", The Classical Review, New Series, Vol. 46, No. 2 (1996), pp. 279–281, Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Classical Association
Macurdy, Grace Harriet, "Klodones, Mimallones and Dionysus Pseudanor", The Classical Review, Vol. 27, No. 6 (Sep., 1913), pp. 191–192, Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Classical Association
Padilla, Mark William (editor), "Rites of Passage in Ancient Greece: Literature, Religion, Society", Bucknell University Press, 1999. ISBN0-8387-5418-X
pseudanor, greek, Ψευδάνωρ, pseudo, anēr, false, metaphorically, effeminate, macedonian, epithet, applied, dionysus, other, macedonian, appellations, were, agrios, Ἄγριος, wild, countryside, erikryptos, Ἐρίκρυπτος, completely, hidden, hidden, from, frenzied, w. Pseudanor Greek PSeydanwr pseudo aner false man metaphorically an effeminate man was a Macedonian epithet applied to Dionysus Other Macedonian appellations to the god were Agrios Ἄgrios 1 wild as god of the countryside and Erikryptos Ἐrikryptos completely hidden as the god hidden from the frenzied women roaming the countryside by the kourotrophos Kala Thea the Beautiful Goddess and raised as a girl the transition to pseudanor All of the names of Dionysus above are attested in four inscriptions from Beroea c 248 264 AD 2 However the history of Pseudanor was certainly much older The Macedonian historian Polyaenus relates an aetiological myth In the reign of Argaeus the Illyrian Taulantii under Galaurus invaded Macedonia Argaeus whose force was very small directed the Macedonian virgins parthenoi as the enemy advanced to show themselves from mount Ereboea Ἐreboia They accordingly did so and in a numerous body they poured down covered by wreaths and brandishing their thyrsi instead of spears Galaurus intimidated by the numbers of those whom instead of women he supposed to be men sounded a retreat whereupon the Taulantii throwing away their weapons and whatever else might retard their escape abandoned themselves to a precipitate flight Argaeus having thus obtained a victory without the hazard of a battle erected a temple to Dionysus Pseudanor and ordered the priestesses of the god who were before called Klodones 3 by the Macedonians to ever afterwards be distinguished by the title of Mimallones 4 The Klodones and the Mimallones are also mentioned by Plutarch in his biography of Alexander the Great one of his Parallel Lives The aetiological myth in Polyaenus may have originated or been adapted in the Aitia Causes of Callimachus but Polyaenus mentions both important points Dionysus s ambivalent sexuality and the masculine qualities of the Maenads This female male female transvestite ritual it was only natural that Dionysus presided over it 5 of the Klodones Mimallones probably marked the transition of the Macedonian girls to adulthood See also EditProitides and MinyadesReferences Edit See the Agrionia of Boeotia and the Agr i ania of Argos 1 2 3 Epigraphical Database Probably spinners from klotho See Hatzopoulos 1994 p 75 81 Some scholars connected it to klozo cackle from the sounds of the frenzied Maenads Mimallones imitators of men Etym Mag 587 53 see Hesychius mimelazein mimeisthai mimelon homoion Not uncommon in other parts of Greece Sparta Argos Tegea etc Bibliography EditDillon Matthew Girls and Women in Classical Greek Religion Hatzopoulos Miltiades B Macedonian Cults as Cultes et rites de passage en Macedoine Athens amp Paris 1994 Devine A M Review Macedonian Cults The Classical Review New Series Vol 46 No 2 1996 pp 279 281 Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Classical Association Macurdy Grace Harriet Klodones Mimallones and Dionysus Pseudanor The Classical Review Vol 27 No 6 Sep 1913 pp 191 192 Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Classical Association Padilla Mark William editor Rites of Passage in Ancient Greece Literature Religion Society Bucknell University Press 1999 ISBN 0 8387 5418 X Polyaenus Stratagems Book 4 1Greek Text Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pseudanor amp oldid 1105805965, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
