Search

…

[German version] (ἁμαδρυάδες/ hamadryádes, later also: ἀδρυάδες/ adryádes, ἁδρυάδες/ hadryádes), tree nymphs. In contrast to the Dryads who reside in the vicinity of trees, the H. are intimately connected to their trees (δρῦς, drys): they come into being and die at the same time (ἅμα, hama) as the tree in which they live (schol. Apoll. Rhod. 2,477; Serv. Ecl. 10,62, cf. Pind. Fr. 165). The name is first documented in Apoll. Rhod. 2,477 (and Anth. Pal. 9,823,6), but the idea appears already in H. Hom. 5,256ff. The concept of the H. might go…

[German version] (ἱκεσία, hikesía; ἱκετεία, hiketeía). With the ritual of hiketeia someone seeking protection (ἱκέτης, hikétēs) documents his status and requests help, often for acceptance in a new community. Hiketeía and hikétēs are derived from ἵκω, ἱκνέομαι, ‘arrive’ (cf. Hsch. s.v. ἱκέσθαι, ἱκετεῦσαι), and therefore the hikétēs is firstly the one who ‘arrives’. As an institution of Greek sacral law, comparable with the stranger's right to hospitality (Hom. Od. 8,546f.; Hes. Op. 327f.;  Hospitality,  Aliens, position of) and closely asso…