- Melinoe
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Melinoe Abode Underworld Parents Persephone and Zeus or Hades Siblings Macaria[1] Melinoe (Μελινοε, "Dark Thought", from melas, black, and noe, mind) was the ancient Greek goddess of propitiation-offerings made to the deceased. She wandered the earth every night with a train of ghosts, scaring anyone in their path. This was said to be the reason that dogs would bark at seemingly nothing at night. She was said to be the daughter of Zeus, who took the guise of Hades and seduced Persephone by the river Styx. Because of this, Melinoe's limbs were half light and half dark reflecting the light king of Olympus, Zeus, and the dark queen of the underworld, Persephone. But it is also believed dark means Hades, and light means Persephone. Melinoe seems to have only been worshipped in the Orphic Mysteries. Some traditions have attributed Melinoe as a daughter of Hades himself because he is considered to be underground Zeus.
Notes
- ^ Melione was the daughter of Zeus and Persephone. Makaria was the daughter of Hades and Persephone making Macaria Melinoe's half-sister. Sometimes her father is believed to be Hades, and that makes her relation with Macaria to be same born siblings.
References
Orphic Hymn 71 to Melinoe, translated by Thomas Taylor, in The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus, Bertram Dobell and Reeves and Turner, 1896, republished by Nabu Press (January 9, 2010). ISBN 978-1-141-03241-9.
External links
Categories:- Death goddesses
- Greek death goddesses
- Greek goddesses
- Greek mythology
- Offspring of Zeus
- Orphism
- Undead
- Greek deity stubs
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