Telemachus, Cronus, and Harpies
Telemachus/ The Telemachia/ Τηλέμαχος
Parents:
- Odysseus
- Penelope
Wives:
- Circe
- Nausicaa
- Polycast
Children:
- Latinus (Circe)
- Persepolis (Polycast)
- Poliporthes (Nausicaa)
Significant Deed:
- He is most well known for bringing his father back from the war to save himself and his mother from the suitors that lived at their home. He got most of his help from Athena who was in the form of a Taphian stranger. Odysseus killed all the suitors and was exciled making Telemachus the rightful ruler of Ithaca.
Story he plays a significant role in:
- Odyssey
Modern Reference:
- Odyssey the movie
Croncus/Κρονος /Kronos/Saturnus/Saturn/ The God of Time as it Affects the Course of Human Life
Parents:
- Uranus
- Gaea
Siblings:
- Oceanus
- Coeus
- Crius
- Hyperion
- Lapetus
- Theia
- Rhea
- Themis
- Mnmosyne
- Phoebe
- Tethys
Half siblings:
- Nereus
- Thaumas
- Phorcys
- Ceto
- Eurybia
Wife:
- Rhea
Offspring:
- Demeter
- Hades
- Hera
- Hastia
- Poseidon
- Zeus
Significant Deed:
- He castrated and killed his father to take his power
- Cronus hated his children because a prophecy told that he would be over thrown by one of his sons, to prevent this he ate all of his children. Only one made it out alive (Zeus) when he reached adulthood he waged a 10 year war on his father and defeated him.
Story he plays a significant role in:
- Orphic Theogonies
Modern Reference:
- The Tennessee football team the Titans (Cronus is a part of the Titan family)
- His roman name Saturn is a automobile division
ἅρπυια/Harpies/Harpyia
Names of Known Harpies: Aello/Aellopus (Αελλω), Nicothoe (Νικοθοη), Celaeno (Κελαινω), Podarge (Ποδαργη), Ocypete.
Parents: Thaumas (god of wet element), Electra (nymph)
Homer defines them as “wind spirits” within the Odyssey. But they can also be defined as The Hounds of Zeus, which is when they served Zeus by retrieving certain items or persons. They also sometimes served Hades and guarded doors to the underworld.
In Greek mythology, the Harpies were female monsters who caused mischief, tormented people who did wrong, and carried souls to the underworld (specifically to a person named Erinyes to be punished). They were known for their bad smell and ugly appearance, considering they were part bird and part human.
In the story of King Phineus and the Harpies, Phineus was a prophet and the ruler of Thrace, Greece. When Phineus foresaw too much of the future and revealed too much of God’s truth to the humans, Zeus’ wrath got outrageous. As punishment, Zeus blinds Phineus and leaves him on an island. On the island was a buffet of foods and drinks, which Phineus could not eat. Each time he would sit down to eat, the harpies would rob him of his meal but punishing him before he could even get a bite. Sometimes they would swoop in and steal his plate completely, while other times the harpies would leave the plate in an act of deception, replacing the good food with some unpalatable scraps, while making noise at Phineus. His punishment lasts until Jason and the Argonauts come ashore on his island. Although he cannot see his saviors, he knows who they are — his gift of prophecy had not been diminished by Zeus’ wrath — and he tells the Argonauts of his punishment. Upon hearing his story, two of the Argonauts, sons of Boreas, the North Wind, take flight and chase the harpies away. They pursue the harpies until Iris, a divine messenger, tells them to stop chasing the harpies because the gods will get very angry. Phineus is saved and hands them advice on how to continue their journey.
In modern culture, harpies are used as monsters within video game series.