The Graces: From Thalia to Hegemone

"Graces" by Agita Keiri
The Graces, also known as the Charites, were the Goddesses of charm, beauty, fertility, nature, and human creativity, and are usually referred to as only three: Aglaea, Euphrosyne, and Thalia. Usually they are said to be daughters of Zeus and Eurynome, a Goddess portrayed as a mermaid. They have also been credited as daughters of Dionysus and Aphrodite, or Helios and the naiad Aegle. However, there are many other minor Goddesses named as Graces, and I will be covering their names, along with the common three. Firstly I will list their name, then the meaning, and finally what they are the Goddess of.

Aglaea - "Splendor, beauty" - Splendor, beauty, glory, adornment
Euphrosyne or Euthymia - "Mirth, meriment" and "In good spirits" - Joy and mirth and the incarnation of beauty and grace
Thalia - "To blossom" - Abundance, festivity, and banquets; Thalia is also the muse of comedy and pastoral poetry

Cleta - "Splendid, famous"
Hegemone - "Mastery" - Plants; She was thought to represent Autumn
Auxo - "Increase" - Plants; Represented Spring, and was also a Horae
Peitho - "Persuasion" - Persuasion and seduction, also known as Suada or Suadela in Rome
Phaenna - "Shining"
Pasithae or Pasithee - "Goddess of All" or "Relaxation" - Relaxation, meditation, hallucination
Charis - "Grace, kindness" - Sometimes a name of a Grace, sometimes used just as an a sort of epithet
Cale or Kale - "Beauty"
Antheia or Anthea - "Flower, blossom" - Flowers and flowery wreaths; Antheia was also a epithet of the Goddess Hera.
Eudaimonia - "Human flourishing" - Happiness
Paidia - "Play" - Playfulness
Pandaisia - "Banquet" - Banquets
Pannychis - "Night festivities" - Festivity

Comments

  1. UnknownMay 2, 2016 at 11:19 PM

    "Pandaisia - "Banquet" - Banquets"... totally equals the the nickname daisy or pearl. This name is the new Pandora in many aspects.

    ReplyDelete

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