In Greek mythology, Soteria (Greek: Σωτηρία) was the goddess or spirit (daimon) of safety and salvation, deliverance, and preservation from harm (not to be mistaken for Eleos). Soteria was also an epithet of the goddesses Persephone and Hecate, meaning deliverance and safety.[1]
Soteria's male counterpart was the spirit or daimon Soter. Both Zeus and Dionysus were titled Soter, so either may have been her father; her mother is unknown.
She had a sanctuary and a statue made in her honor in the town of Patrae,[2] which was believed to have been founded by Eurypylos of Thessaly. Various texts mention the creation of her sanctuary, for example:
Pausanias, Description of Greece 7. 24. 3 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue 2nd century AD): "[In Aigion in Akhaia (Aegium in Achaea)] they also have a sanctuary of Soteria (Safety). Her image may be seen by none but the priests, and the following ritual is performed. They take cakes of the district from the goddess and throw them into the sea, saying that they send them to Arethousa at Syrakousa (Syracuse)."
Pausanias, Description of Greece 7. 19. 7 & 21. 7: "Eurypylos [the hero of the Trojan War] opened the chest [containing a sacred idol of Dionysos], saw the image, and forthwith on seeing it went mad. He continued to be insane for the greater part of the time, with rare lucid intervals ... There is a sanctuary [in Patrai in Akhaia (Patrae in Achaea)] with an image of stone. It is called the sanctuary of Soteria (Deliverance), and the story is that it was originally founded by Eurypylos on being cured of his madness."
Ovid, Fasti 3. 879 ff (trans. Boyle) (Roman poetry 1st century BC to 1st century AD): "March 30 Comitialis. When the shepherd feeds and pens his kids four more times and the grasslands whiten with four fresh dews, Janus should be worshipped and gentle Concordia (Concord), Salus Romana (Safety of Rome) and the Ara Pacis (Altar of Peace)."[3]
Soteria was depicted as a woman wearing a laurel wreath crown, a symbol of victory.
In Roman mythology, Soteria is known as Salus (Preservation); however, Salus's domain more heavily featured physical well-being and health rather than security and safety. The Bible's use of Soteria indicates its etymology from Greek mythology, as the word is used to mean "fourfold salvation: saved from the penalty, power, presence and most importantly the pleasure of sin."[4]
See alsoedit
Look up Soteria in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
^A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. By William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood. 2005. p. 888.
^Thayer and Smith. "Greek Lexicon Entry for Soteria." The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon.
May 03, 2024
soteria, mythology, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, soteria, mythology, news, newspapers, books, sch. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Soteria mythology news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2018 Learn how and when to remove this message In Greek mythology Soteria Greek Swthria was the goddess or spirit daimon of safety and salvation deliverance and preservation from harm not to be mistaken for Eleos Soteria was also an epithet of the goddesses Persephone and Hecate meaning deliverance and safety 1 Soteria s male counterpart was the spirit or daimon Soter Both Zeus and Dionysus were titled Soter so either may have been her father her mother is unknown She had a sanctuary and a statue made in her honor in the town of Patrae 2 which was believed to have been founded by Eurypylos of Thessaly Various texts mention the creation of her sanctuary for example Pausanias Description of Greece 7 24 3 trans Jones Greek travelogue 2nd century AD In Aigion in Akhaia Aegium in Achaea they also have a sanctuary of Soteria Safety Her image may be seen by none but the priests and the following ritual is performed They take cakes of the district from the goddess and throw them into the sea saying that they send them to Arethousa at Syrakousa Syracuse Pausanias Description of Greece 7 19 7 amp 21 7 Eurypylos the hero of the Trojan War opened the chest containing a sacred idol of Dionysos saw the image and forthwith on seeing it went mad He continued to be insane for the greater part of the time with rare lucid intervals There is a sanctuary in Patrai in Akhaia Patrae in Achaea with an image of stone It is called the sanctuary of Soteria Deliverance and the story is that it was originally founded by Eurypylos on being cured of his madness Ovid Fasti 3 879 ff trans Boyle Roman poetry 1st century BC to 1st century AD March 30 Comitialis When the shepherd feeds and pens his kids four more times and the grasslands whiten with four fresh dews Janus should be worshipped and gentle Concordia Concord Salus Romana Safety of Rome and the Ara Pacis Altar of Peace 3 Soteria was depicted as a woman wearing a laurel wreath crown a symbol of victory In Roman mythology Soteria is known as Salus Preservation however Salus s domain more heavily featured physical well being and health rather than security and safety The Bible s use of Soteria indicates its etymology from Greek mythology as the word is used to mean fourfold salvation saved from the penalty power presence and most importantly the pleasure of sin 4 See also edit nbsp Look up Soteria in Wiktionary the free dictionary Goddesses of Justice Astraea Dike Themis Prudentia Goddesses of Injustice Adikia Aspects of Justice see also Triple deity Triple Goddess neopaganism Justice Themis Dike Justitia Lady Justice Raguel the Angel of Justice Retribution Nemesis Rhamnousia Rhamnusia Adrasteia Adrestia Invidia Redemption Eleos Soteria Clementia Zadkiel Zachariel the Angel of Mercy Notes edit Sarah Iles Johnston Hekate Soteira Scholars Press 1990 A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology By various writers Ed By William Smith Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood 2005 p 888 SOTERIA Greek Goddess of Safety amp Deliverance Roman Salus www theoi com Thayer and Smith Greek Lexicon Entry for Soteria The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Soteria mythology amp oldid 1190618514, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
