(εἴδωλον; eídōlon, Lat. idolum, picture, image, delusion). [German version] [1] Refers to a smaller-than-life-portrait Refers to a smaller-than-life portrait (cf. the votive gift of a female statue in Delphi, in Hdt. 1,51). Kunz, Heike (Tübingen) [German version] [2] Refers to a delusion in Greek mythology In Greek mythology, esp. in Homer, eidolon refers to a delusion (Hom. Il. 5,449), but especially to the soul of the deceased in Hades (Hom. Od. 11,213; Il. 23,104; the eidolon is disembodied but still has the shape of the living person: Hom. Il. 23,107). In pictorial…

(Νεφέλη/ Nephélē). [German version] [1] Personification of a cloud No evidence exists concerning her ancestry, probably because originally she is the personification of a ‘cloud’. Nephele is the wife of Athamas, mother of Helle and of Phrixus. Because Ino (Leukothea), the second wife of Athamas, caused a drought and wanted to kill Nephele's children, Nephele put the two children onto a golden ram, which flew away with them (Apollod. 1,9,1-6; Hyg. Fab. 1-3; 21; Ov. Met. 11,195). According to schol. Aristo…

[German version] (εἰκών/ eikṓn, εἴδωλον/ eídōlon, Latin imago). The Greek word for image (εἰκών; eikṓn) first of all denotes works of art (τέχνῃ εἰκόνες/ téchnēi eikónes: statues, paintings), but also natural images (φύσει εἰκόνες/ phýsei eikónes: silhouettes and reflections). Plato uses the concept of ‘image’ in conjunction with the concept of ‘participation’ (μέθεξις; méthexis) to describe the relationship between ideas and sensual objects. In Timaios the demiurge creates the sensible world as the image of the ideas, which serve as models (παραδείγματα; paradeígmata). In co…

[German version] A. Definition Greek φαντασία ( phantasía, 'imagination') in its basic meaning is connected with φαίνεσθαι ( phaínesthai, 'to come to light, to appear'). The concept therefore refers to what appears, what shows itself and becomes visible (φαντάζεσθαι/ phantázesthai) - independently of whether it is true or false; hence also its etymological derivation from 'light' (φῶς/ phôs; Aristot. An. 3,3,429a 2; Chrysippus in Aetius 4,12-15 Diels). The strictest and most neutral definition, however, is: “ Phantasia is that by means of which an image (φάντασμα/ phántasma) ari…

(Ἰφιγένεια; Iphigéneia). [German version] A. Myth Daughter of  Agamemnon and  Clytaemnestra (Procl. Cypriorum enarratio, 55-62 EpGF S.32; Aesch. Ag.; but cf. Stesich. fr. 191 PMGF and Nicander fr. 58 = Antoninus Liberalis 27, where Theseus and Helena are her parents and Clytaemnestra merely adopts I.), sister of  Orestes,  Chrysothemis [2] and  Electra [4]. Although she was promised to marry Achilles [1], Agamemnon, on the advice of Calchas, sacrificed her to Artemis to allow the Greeks' departure for Troy, which had been delayed by an unnatural calm. Aulis is most commonly refer…

[German version] The concept of image common in the western world of ideas has its origin in Greece, especially in the writings of  Plato and of  Aristotle, but modern and ancient views appear to deviate considerably from each other (cf. also  Art;  Art, theory of). Neither with regard to the concept of image nor concerning the terminology applied in antiquity relating to image is there a comprehensive investigation although attempts have been made to formulate a Greek basic idea of image [1]. In the process, individual concepts like εἴδωλον ( eídōlon), εἰκών ( eikṓn) [2; 3], κολοσσός ( kolo…

(Ἑλένη; Helénē, Lat. Helena). [German version] [1] Beautiful wife of Menelaus ('Helen of Troy') Goddess who was worshipped at various cult sites in and around Sparta, especially in the Menelaion in  Therapne (Hdt. 6,61; Paus. 3,15,3; Hsch. s.v. Ἑλένεια, [1]). In  Rhodes she had a cult as H. Dendritis (Paus. 3,19,10), in  Cenchreae and  Chios she is attested as a deity of springs (Paus. 2,2,3; Steph. Byz. s.v. Ἑλένη). There is no completely reliable etymology for her name [2. 63-80]. For evidence of her cult i…

(Εὐριπίδης / Euripídēs) [German version] [1] Tragedian The Attic Tragedian. Zimmermann, Bernhard (Freiburg) [German version] A. Biography The most important evidence comes from the vita passed down to us in several MSS, the  Marmor Parium, the  Suda, Gell. NA 15,20 and the vita by  Satyrus. Only a few details of E.'s life can be considered certain: born between 485 and 480 BC on Salamis, son of a Mnesarchus or Mnesarchides. He took part in the Great Dionysia for the first time in 455, achieving his first victory in 441. During his lifet…

(Πλωτῖνος; Plōtînos). Greek philosopher, founder of Neoplatonism. [German version] A. Life P. was born in AD 205 (in the 13th year of the rule of Septimius Severus) and died in 270 at the age of 66 (Porph. Vita Plotini 2,34). His ethnic origin is difficult to determine. Eunapius (p. 456 Boissonnade) lists as his place of birth Lycon in Egypt (the town has been identified as Lyconpolis). The information is problematic because according to Porphyrius P. kept his place of birth secret. Proclus (Platonis Theol…