Leta ( Greek Λήθη , “oblivion”) - in ancient Greek mythology [1] the source and one of the five rivers (along with the Styx , Acheron , Kokytos and Flegheton ) flowing in the underworld of Hades , the river of oblivion. The Plain of Leta was originally mentioned [2] .
| Summer | |
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Upon arrival in the underworld, the dead drank from this river and received oblivion of all that was past; on the contrary, those who were sent back to earth had to once again drink water from the underground river. The idea of this arose after Homer and passed to the popular faith. The Leta River also flows in the country of Ena , which is considered the brother of Leta and Tanat (Oblivion and Death). In the underworld was her throne, on which, by the way, Theseus and Pirifa sat, visiting Hades .
The Leta River, “oblivion” is an integral part of the kingdom of death. The dead are those who have lost their memory. Conversely, some who have been given preference — among them Tiresias or Amphiarai — have retained their memory even after their death.
There was also the naiad of Summer .
Summer is a deity born of Eris [3] . Sister of Hypnos and Tanat [4] . It was called the mother of Dionysus [5] , according to the epigraphy, played a role in the Dionysian mysteries in Ephesus [6] . Her altar was in the temple of Athens and Poseidon in Athens [7] .
Content
- 1 Mentions in ancient culture
- 2 Use in Russian
- 3 Literature
- 4 notes
Ancient Mentions
Some later teachings mention the existence of another river, Mnemosyne . Those who drank from Mnemosyne should have remembered everything and gained omniscience . The followers of these teachings believed that after death they would be given a choice of which river to drink from, and they could choose Mnemosyne instead of Leta. The inscriptions on numerous gold tablets dating from the 4th century BC have survived . e. and later, found during excavations of Turium in Great Greece (Southern Italy) and other cities.
At the end of Plato’s dialogue “The State ”, a myth is given about Era - an ancient Greek soldier killed in a battle who made a trip to the kingdom of the dead. It is mentioned that the dead arrive in the “Leta Valley”, along which the Ameles River flows (“reckless").
The rivers Summer and Mnemosyne flowed in a cave under the temple of Trophonia in Boeotia [8] . The oracles drank from them before establishing contact with the gods. The Leton River was shown in Libya [9] .
According to local legend, the small river Limia in the province of Ourense in Galicia possessed the same properties associated with memory loss as the legendary river Leta. In 138 BC e. Roman general Decimus Junius Brutus decided to dispel this myth, as he planned to launch a military campaign in this region. Legend has it that the general crossed Limia himself and then began to call the soldiers on the other side one at a time, calling each by name. The soldiers, delighted that the general remembers their names, fearlessly crossed the river. This action dispelled local myths about the danger of Limia.
According to Dante , the current flowing in Earth Paradise is divided into two. Summer flows to the left, destroying the memory of committed sins; to the right is Evnoy (“good memory”), resurrecting a person’s memory of all his good deeds.
Use in Russian
In the Russian language, the expression "sink into oblivion" is widely known, meaning disappearance forever, surrender to oblivion. As a rule, an expression is used in relation to some information, facts, memories, legends, etc., less often in a figurative sense - in relation to objects and things that have been lost.
One of the rivers in Alaska is called "Summer" in honor of the mythical river. Located 18 km west of Kathmay volcano. It was discovered and named in 1917 by Robert F. Griggs, in one of the expeditions of the National Geographic Society of the United States .
Literature
- Summer // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary : in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.
Notes
- ↑ Myths of the peoples of the world . M., 1991-1992. In 2 vol. T. 2. S. 51; Pseudo-Apollodorus. Mythological library E I 24
- ↑ Aristophanes. Frogs 185; Plato. State X 621a
- ↑ Hesiod. Theogony 227
- ↑ Orphic hymns LXXXV 8
- ↑ Plutarch. Table Talks VII 5, 3
- ↑ Notes by I.I. Kovaleva in the book. Plutarch. Table conversations. M., 1990. P.449
- ↑ Plutarch. Table talks IX 6, 1
- ↑ Pausanias. Description of Hellas IX 39, 7
- ↑ Lucan. Farsalia IX 355