This MedLibrary.org supplementary page on Anticlea is provided directly from the open source Wikipedia as a service to our readers. Please see the note below on authorship of this content, as well as the Wikipedia usage guidelines. To search for other content from our encyclopedia supplement, please use the form below:
Related Sponsors
In Greek mythology, Anticlea, (Ἀντίκλεια), was the daughter of Autolycus and Amphithea, and mother of Odysseus by Laërtes (though some say by Sisyphus). She is also the granddaughter of the trickster god Hermes (who was the father of her father, Autolycus).
Anticlea in the Odyssey
In Book XI of the Odyssey, Odysseus, makes a trip to the underworld, seeking the advice of the dead prophet Tiresias. Here, he encounters many spirits, including that of his mother, Anticlea. Initially, he rebuffs her, since he is waiting for the prophet to approach. After speaking with Tiresias, however, Odysseus allows his mother to come near and lets her speak. She asks him why he is in the underworld while alive, and he tells her about his various troubles and futile attempts to get home. Then he asks her how she died, and enquires about his family remaining at home. She tells him that she died of grief, longing for him as he was at war. Anticlea also says that Laërtes (Odysseus' father) "grieves continually" for Odysseus, and lives in a hovel in the countryside, sleeping on the floor and constantly clad in rags. Anticlea, further describes the condition of Odysseus' wife (Penelope) and son (Telemachus); Penelope has not yet remarried, but is overwhelmed with sadness and longing for her husband, while Telemachus acts as magistrate for Odysseus' properties. Odysseus attempts to embrace his mother three times, but discovers that she is incorporeal and his arms simply pass through her. She explains that this is how all ghosts are, and he expresses great sorrow.
Anticlea and Sisyphus
According to some later sources, Odysseus was the child of Anticlea by Sisyphus, not Laërtes. In this version of the story, Autolycus, an infamous trickster, stole Sisyphus' cattle. At some point, Sisyphus recognized his cattle while on a visit to Autolycus, and subsequently seduced (or, in some versions, raped) Anticlea, Autolycus' daughter. Odysseus was the result of this union, which took place before Anticlea's marriage to Laërtes.
External links
- Encyclopaedia Britannica on Autolycus and the disputed parentage of Odysseus
- Odysseus as the child of Sisyphus and Anticlea
|
|||||
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 26 October 2008, at 00:45.
Wikipedia Authorship and Review
Wikipedia content provided here is not reviewed directly by MedLibrary.org. Wikipedia content is authored by an open community of volunteers and is not produced by or in any way affiliated with MedLibrary.org.
Wikipedia Usage Guidelines
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article on "Anticlea".
The URL for this specific entry is:
All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details). Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.