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Ancient Greek Myths in Medieval Armenian Literature
Series: - Armenian Texts and Studies, Volume: 5
Author:
This book is the winner of the 2023 Dr. Sona Aronian Book Prize for Excellence in Armenian Studies, awarded by National Association for Armenian Studies & Research
Though references to Greek myths will hardly surprise the reader of western European literature, the reception history of Greek mythology is far richer and includes such lesser known traditions as the Armenian one. Greek myths were known to medieval Armenians through translations of late classical and early Christian writings and through the original works of Armenian authors. However, accessing them in their Armenian incarnations is no easy task. References to them are difficult to find as they are scattered over the vast medieval Armenian written corpus. Furthermore, during the process of translation, transmission, retelling, and copying of Greek mythical stories, Greek names, words, and plot details frequently became corrupted.
In this first-of-its-kind study, Gohar Muradyan brings together all the known references to ancient Greek myths (154 episodes) in medieval Armenian literature. Alongside the original Armenian passages and, when extant, their Greek originals, she provides annotated English translations. She opens the book with an informative introduction and concludes with useful appendices listing the occurrences of Greek gods, their Armenian equivalents, images, altars, temples, and rites, as well as Aesop’s fables and the Trojan War.
Though references to Greek myths will hardly surprise the reader of western European literature, the reception history of Greek mythology is far richer and includes such lesser known traditions as the Armenian one. Greek myths were known to medieval Armenians through translations of late classical and early Christian writings and through the original works of Armenian authors. However, accessing them in their Armenian incarnations is no easy task. References to them are difficult to find as they are scattered over the vast medieval Armenian written corpus. Furthermore, during the process of translation, transmission, retelling, and copying of Greek mythical stories, Greek names, words, and plot details frequently became corrupted.
In this first-of-its-kind study, Gohar Muradyan brings together all the known references to ancient Greek myths (154 episodes) in medieval Armenian literature. Alongside the original Armenian passages and, when extant, their Greek originals, she provides annotated English translations. She opens the book with an informative introduction and concludes with useful appendices listing the occurrences of Greek gods, their Armenian equivalents, images, altars, temples, and rites, as well as Aesop’s fables and the Trojan War.
Gohar Muradyan, PhD (1986) and DSc (2005), is Head of the Department of Translated Literature at Matenadaran (Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, Armenia). She has published numerous articles and several monographs on translated literature and the Hellenizing School of Armenian translators, as well as critical editions of old Armenian translations from Greek, including Physiologus: The Greek and Armenian Versions with a Study of Translation Technique (Peeters, 2004), Grecisms in Ancient Armenian (Peeters, 2012), and David the Invincible, Commentary on Porphyry’s Isagoge (Brill, 2014). She has also translated, in collaboration with Aram Topchyan, many Greco-Roman classics into modern Armenian (Homer, Euripides, Aristophanes, Longus, Virgil, Ovid, Marcus Aurelius et al.).
Acknowledgements
Preface
Introduction
1 Ancient Greek Myths in Christian Authors
2 Ancient Greek Myths in Old Armenian Literature
3 Names of Gods and Other Personages of Myths
Editorial Principles
Texts
1 The Hundred-handed, Titans, Giants, Cerberus, Chimera and Gorgos
2 The Castration of Uranus and the Birth of Aphrodite
3 Cyclopes
4 Children of Uranus and Gea
5 The Birth of Zeus
6 Zeus’ Tomb in Crete
7 Atlas
8 Centaurs
9 Mythical Musicians
10 Musician Thamyris
11 Punishment of Hera, Hephaestus’ Disabling, Aphrodite and Ares
12 The Birth of Athena
13 Founding Eleusis and Attica
14 Leto and Tityos
15 Apollo and Daphne
16 The Court of Areopagus
17 Orion
18 Demeter, Persephone and Triptolemus
19 Zeus and Persephone-Pherephatte
20 Revolt of the Giants against Zeus
21 Prometheus and Hephaestus
22 Deucalion and the Flood
23 Graeci and the Origin of the Name of the Hellenes
24 Ion and the Origin of the Name of the Greeks
25 Otus and Ephialtes
26 The Flight of Phrixus and Helle from Ino
27 The Foundation of Corinth
28 Salmoneus and Tyro
29 Soothsayer Melampus
30 The Argonauts
31 Pelias Killed by Medea
32 Medea Takes Revenge on Jason
33 Medea’s Son Medus
34 The First Kings of Sicyon
35 The First Kings of Argos
36 Zeus and Inachus’s Daughter Io
37 Belus King of Assyria
38 The Daughters of Danaus and Sons of Egypt
39 Bellerophontes and Chimera
40 Zeus and Danae, the Birth of Perseus
41 Perseus and Gorgo Medusa
42 Eurystheus Reigns over Mycenae
43 The Birth of Heracles
44 Heracles and the Fifty Daughters of Thespius
45 Heracles’ Madness
46 Heracles and the Nemean Lion
47 Heracles and the Lernean Hydra
48 The Mares of Diomedes
49 The Amazons
50 Geryon and the Pillars of Heracles
51 Heracles’ Single Combat with Antaeus
52 Heracles and Busiris
53 The Adventures of Theseus and Pirithous
54 Cerberus and Heracles
55 Cercopes and Heracles
56 Heracles Destroys Troy
57 Heracles and Auge, the Birth of Telephus
58 Heracles and the Oxen of Thiodamas
59 Heracles and Deianeira. Heracles’ Death
60 The Apotheosis of Heracles
61 The Return of the Heraclids to Peloponnese, Aristodemus Stricken by a Thunderbolt
62 Distribution of the Towns of Peloponnese among the Heraclids
63 The Birth of Cadmus, Phoenician Letters Introduced to Greece
64 Europa and Zeus
65 Sarpedon in Lycia
66 Minos and Rhadamanthus as Judges
67 Pasiphae and the Bull, the Birth of Minotaur
68 Foundation of Thebes
69 Cadmus and the Sparti
70 Zeus and Semele, the Birth of Dionysus
71 Dionysus’ Upbringing
72 Madness of Athamas and Ino
73 Dionysus and the Tragedy
74 Actaeon
75 Dionysus and the Vine
76 Dionysus Torn Apart by the Titans
77 Dionysus and Pentheus
78 Dionysus’ Apotheosis
79 Labdacus and Lycus Reigning in Thebes
80 Zethus and Amphion, the Musician Arion
81 The Walls of Thebes
82 Niobe and Leto
83 The Sphinx Sent to Thebes
84 The Tragedy of Oedipus
85 Argos’ War against Thebes
86 The Transformation of Tiresias
87 Details of the Theban War
88 Single Battle of Eteocles and Polynices
89 Amphiaraus and Adrastus
90 The Epigones against Thebes
91 Zeus and Callisto, the Birth of Arcas
92 Atalanta and Hippomenes
93 Asclepius Struck by the Thunderbolt
94 Zeus and Leda
95 Dardania and Troy
96 The Rape of Ganymede
97 The Founding of Ilium and the Reign of Priam
98 Aeacus
99 The Birth and Upbringing of Achilles
100 Cecrops
101 Greek Letters Ascribed to Cecrops
102 Phoenix Blinded
103 The Strife of Athena and Poseidon for Athens
104 Cecrops’ Son Erysichthon
105 Phaethon
106 Myrrha, Birth of Adonis
107 Atthis and the Name of Attica
108 Cranaus’ Successors on the throne of Athens
109 The Birth of Erichthonius
110 The Daughters of Pandion, Triptolemus
111 Icarius
112 The Tragedy of Procne and Philomela
113 Erechteus’ Ascension to the Throne, Orythia and Boreas
114 Eumolpus
115 The Seventh to Eleventh Kings of Athens
116 Theseus in Attica
117 Daedalus and Icarus
118 Theseus and the Marathonian Bull
119 Medea’s Banishment from Athens
120 Theseus and Ariadne
121 Daedalus’ Flight and the Murder of Minos
122 Phaedra and Hippolytus
123 Ixion and Hera
124 The Battle of Centaurs and Lapiths
125 Helen Kidnapped by Theseus
126 The Adventures of Theseus and Pirithous in Hades
127 Tantalus’ Punishment
128 The Ivory Shoulder of Pelops
129 Pelops’ Marriage and Ascension to the Throne, the Pelopids
130 Atreus’ and Thyestes’ Ascension to the Throne
131 Agamenon and Menelaus, the Birth of Orestes
132 Helen’s Rape by Paris
133 Proteus Keeps Helen, Proteus’ Transformation, His Sons
134 Odysseus and Palamedes
135 Iphigenia in Aulis and in Tauris
136 Aphrodite Wounded
137 Diomedes Wounded by Paris’ Arrow
138 The Death of Patroclus
139 Achilles and the Scamander River
140 Hector Killed
141 Achilles and Thersites
142 Memnon Protector of Troy, Zarmayr
143 The Conquest of Troy, Polyxene
144 Orestes’ Ascension to the Mycenaean Throne, Pyrrhus Killed
145 The Island of the Cyclopes
146 Odysseus and Polyphemus
147 The Island of Circe
148 The Sirens
149 Scylla and Charybdis
150 On the Island of Calypso
151 Penelope’s Bridegrooms
152 The Birth of Pan
153 The Foundation of Rome
154 Narcissus
Appendices
1 Mentions of Greek Gods, their Armenian Equivalents and Images
2 Complete Narrations about the Trojan War
3 Shaking Olympus
4 Candaules and Gyges, Midas
5 Halcyon
6 Hayk’s Grandson Cadmus
Bibliography
Literature
Index of Names
Preface
Introduction
1 Ancient Greek Myths in Christian Authors
2 Ancient Greek Myths in Old Armenian Literature
3 Names of Gods and Other Personages of Myths
Editorial Principles
Texts
1 The Hundred-handed, Titans, Giants, Cerberus, Chimera and Gorgos
2 The Castration of Uranus and the Birth of Aphrodite
3 Cyclopes
4 Children of Uranus and Gea
5 The Birth of Zeus
6 Zeus’ Tomb in Crete
7 Atlas
8 Centaurs
9 Mythical Musicians
10 Musician Thamyris
11 Punishment of Hera, Hephaestus’ Disabling, Aphrodite and Ares
12 The Birth of Athena
13 Founding Eleusis and Attica
14 Leto and Tityos
15 Apollo and Daphne
16 The Court of Areopagus
17 Orion
18 Demeter, Persephone and Triptolemus
19 Zeus and Persephone-Pherephatte
20 Revolt of the Giants against Zeus
21 Prometheus and Hephaestus
22 Deucalion and the Flood
23 Graeci and the Origin of the Name of the Hellenes
24 Ion and the Origin of the Name of the Greeks
25 Otus and Ephialtes
26 The Flight of Phrixus and Helle from Ino
27 The Foundation of Corinth
28 Salmoneus and Tyro
29 Soothsayer Melampus
30 The Argonauts
31 Pelias Killed by Medea
32 Medea Takes Revenge on Jason
33 Medea’s Son Medus
34 The First Kings of Sicyon
35 The First Kings of Argos
36 Zeus and Inachus’s Daughter Io
37 Belus King of Assyria
38 The Daughters of Danaus and Sons of Egypt
39 Bellerophontes and Chimera
40 Zeus and Danae, the Birth of Perseus
41 Perseus and Gorgo Medusa
42 Eurystheus Reigns over Mycenae
43 The Birth of Heracles
44 Heracles and the Fifty Daughters of Thespius
45 Heracles’ Madness
46 Heracles and the Nemean Lion
47 Heracles and the Lernean Hydra
48 The Mares of Diomedes
49 The Amazons
50 Geryon and the Pillars of Heracles
51 Heracles’ Single Combat with Antaeus
52 Heracles and Busiris
53 The Adventures of Theseus and Pirithous
54 Cerberus and Heracles
55 Cercopes and Heracles
56 Heracles Destroys Troy
57 Heracles and Auge, the Birth of Telephus
58 Heracles and the Oxen of Thiodamas
59 Heracles and Deianeira. Heracles’ Death
60 The Apotheosis of Heracles
61 The Return of the Heraclids to Peloponnese, Aristodemus Stricken by a Thunderbolt
62 Distribution of the Towns of Peloponnese among the Heraclids
63 The Birth of Cadmus, Phoenician Letters Introduced to Greece
64 Europa and Zeus
65 Sarpedon in Lycia
66 Minos and Rhadamanthus as Judges
67 Pasiphae and the Bull, the Birth of Minotaur
68 Foundation of Thebes
69 Cadmus and the Sparti
70 Zeus and Semele, the Birth of Dionysus
71 Dionysus’ Upbringing
72 Madness of Athamas and Ino
73 Dionysus and the Tragedy
74 Actaeon
75 Dionysus and the Vine
76 Dionysus Torn Apart by the Titans
77 Dionysus and Pentheus
78 Dionysus’ Apotheosis
79 Labdacus and Lycus Reigning in Thebes
80 Zethus and Amphion, the Musician Arion
81 The Walls of Thebes
82 Niobe and Leto
83 The Sphinx Sent to Thebes
84 The Tragedy of Oedipus
85 Argos’ War against Thebes
86 The Transformation of Tiresias
87 Details of the Theban War
88 Single Battle of Eteocles and Polynices
89 Amphiaraus and Adrastus
90 The Epigones against Thebes
91 Zeus and Callisto, the Birth of Arcas
92 Atalanta and Hippomenes
93 Asclepius Struck by the Thunderbolt
94 Zeus and Leda
95 Dardania and Troy
96 The Rape of Ganymede
97 The Founding of Ilium and the Reign of Priam
98 Aeacus
99 The Birth and Upbringing of Achilles
100 Cecrops
101 Greek Letters Ascribed to Cecrops
102 Phoenix Blinded
103 The Strife of Athena and Poseidon for Athens
104 Cecrops’ Son Erysichthon
105 Phaethon
106 Myrrha, Birth of Adonis
107 Atthis and the Name of Attica
108 Cranaus’ Successors on the throne of Athens
109 The Birth of Erichthonius
110 The Daughters of Pandion, Triptolemus
111 Icarius
112 The Tragedy of Procne and Philomela
113 Erechteus’ Ascension to the Throne, Orythia and Boreas
114 Eumolpus
115 The Seventh to Eleventh Kings of Athens
116 Theseus in Attica
117 Daedalus and Icarus
118 Theseus and the Marathonian Bull
119 Medea’s Banishment from Athens
120 Theseus and Ariadne
121 Daedalus’ Flight and the Murder of Minos
122 Phaedra and Hippolytus
123 Ixion and Hera
124 The Battle of Centaurs and Lapiths
125 Helen Kidnapped by Theseus
126 The Adventures of Theseus and Pirithous in Hades
127 Tantalus’ Punishment
128 The Ivory Shoulder of Pelops
129 Pelops’ Marriage and Ascension to the Throne, the Pelopids
130 Atreus’ and Thyestes’ Ascension to the Throne
131 Agamenon and Menelaus, the Birth of Orestes
132 Helen’s Rape by Paris
133 Proteus Keeps Helen, Proteus’ Transformation, His Sons
134 Odysseus and Palamedes
135 Iphigenia in Aulis and in Tauris
136 Aphrodite Wounded
137 Diomedes Wounded by Paris’ Arrow
138 The Death of Patroclus
139 Achilles and the Scamander River
140 Hector Killed
141 Achilles and Thersites
142 Memnon Protector of Troy, Zarmayr
143 The Conquest of Troy, Polyxene
144 Orestes’ Ascension to the Mycenaean Throne, Pyrrhus Killed
145 The Island of the Cyclopes
146 Odysseus and Polyphemus
147 The Island of Circe
148 The Sirens
149 Scylla and Charybdis
150 On the Island of Calypso
151 Penelope’s Bridegrooms
152 The Birth of Pan
153 The Foundation of Rome
154 Narcissus
Appendices
1 Mentions of Greek Gods, their Armenian Equivalents and Images
2 Complete Narrations about the Trojan War
3 Shaking Olympus
4 Candaules and Gyges, Midas
5 Halcyon
6 Hayk’s Grandson Cadmus
Bibliography
Literature
Index of Names
Scholars and students studying Greek mythology and medieval Armenian literature and those interested in classical studies, the reception of antiquity in the Middle Ages, and the cultural influence of Greco-Roman culture on the Eastern Christian world in general.