Ambant (or Abant [1] , other Greek Ἄβας, Ἄμβας ) is the oldest of six [2] sons of the Eleusinian king Kelei and his wife Metanira in Greek mythology, who, seeing Demeter drank in a gulp a whole jug of barley broth flavored with mint [2] , exclaimed: “Oh, how thirsty you drink!” - for which she, offended by such disrespect for the elders and disrespect for the gods, turned him into a lizard .
| Abant | |
|---|---|
| Floor | |
| Father | |
| Mother | |
Being ashamed of her act, Demeter decided to give immortality to his brother Demophont , but accidentally ruined it. Bitterly mourned his two sons Kelei, saying: “Misfortune has come to my house!” From that time he was nicknamed Disavl. The goddess comforted him, promising that he would generously give his other son Triptolemus . [2]
The story of Ambant is contained in the scholias of Nikandre's poem "Theriac" [3] . A similar story is told about Askalab , the son of Misma (E. Kearns points to the similarity of stories) [4] .
In art
The German artist Adam Elsheimer portrayed the drinking Ceres, which is mocked by Abant (although it is sometimes assumed that Askalab is depicted in the painting). The painting with the plot of Ceres and Abante was also created by the Dutch painter Matthias Stomer (located in the Old Pinakothek , Munich).
Notes
- ↑ the text of the scholia contains the spelling “Ambant”, but the literature suggests a possible correction to the more common name “Abant”
- ↑ 1 2 3 Graves, R. Myths of Ancient Greece - M.: Progress, 1992, S. 65.
- ↑ Scholia to Nicander. Teriaka. 484
- ↑ Kearns E. The Heroes of Attica. University of London, 1989. P. 150; A.P. Kondrashov, Gods and Heroes of Ancient Greece and Rome, 7