El muslo de Atena, entre la anatomía y la política
This article analyzes the myth of the birth of Ericthonius. In one of the variants, Hephaestus’ semen is deposited on Athena’s thigh. Filled with disgust, she rubs it with a piece of wool (ἔριον) to expel it and then casts it onto the ground (χθών), where it will sprout, and thus the Earth will give...
Enregistré dans:
| Udgivet i: | Revue de philologie, de littérature et d'histoire anciennes | XCVI | 2 | 2022-08-16 | p. 115-129 | 0035-1652 |
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| Format: | Article ou chapitre numérique |
| Sprog: | Français |
| Udgivet: |
2022
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| Online adgang: | Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM |
| Summary: | This article analyzes the myth of the birth of Ericthonius. In one of the variants, Hephaestus’ semen is deposited on Athena’s thigh. Filled with disgust, she rubs it with a piece of wool (ἔριον) to expel it and then casts it onto the ground (χθών), where it will sprout, and thus the Earth will give birth to the Athenian king. Far from the ancient rationalizing interpretations (according to which the name of Ericthonius, analyzed through Volksetymologie as a compound of ἔριον and χθών, would have given rise to the myth), an interpretation is proposed based on the cultural significance of the thigh in ancient Greece, which goes far beyond pure anatomy and carries ideological value. Similarly, the tuft of wool used by Athena has become a powerful cultural reference to incorporate the “non-Athenian” Hephaestus into the “national” genealogy of Athens. The goddess’s gesture constitutes a successful biopolitical device that allows the political legitimacy of the primordial king of Athens to be sanctioned. |
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