ANTICLEA IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Anticlea was a Queen of Ithaca in Greek mythology, famous for being wife of Laertes and mother of Odysseus.
Anticlea Daughter of Autolycus
Anticlea was usually named as the daughter of Autolycus and Amphithea; Autolycus being the famed robber of Greek mythology. Possible siblings of Anticlea were Polymede, potentially the mother of Jason, Neaera, mother of Hippothous, and Aesimus, father of Sinon.
Some tell of Anticlea being an attendant of the goddess Artemis, Anticlea accompanying the goddess as she hunted. |
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Anticlea and Sisyphus
Anticlea is of course most famous for being the mother of Odysseus, and whilst commonly the father of Odysseus is said to be Laertes, an alternative tale tells of Anticlea and Sisyphus being Odysseus’ parents.
It was said that Autolycus would steel cattle from Sisyphus’ herd. Sisyphus saw his herd decrease in number, and his neighbour, Autolycus’ herd increasing, but could not prove that Autolycus was rustling his cattle. Eventually though Sisyphus came up with the idea of marking the hooves of his cattle, and it was these cattle that he tracked down to Autolycus’ land.
Sisyphus was said to have retrieved his cattle, but he also came up with his method of revenge. At best Sisyphus would seduce Anticlea, and at the worst he reaped the daughter of Autolycus. In either case, Anticlea was then said to have given birth to Odysseus.
It was said that Autolycus would steel cattle from Sisyphus’ herd. Sisyphus saw his herd decrease in number, and his neighbour, Autolycus’ herd increasing, but could not prove that Autolycus was rustling his cattle. Eventually though Sisyphus came up with the idea of marking the hooves of his cattle, and it was these cattle that he tracked down to Autolycus’ land.
Sisyphus was said to have retrieved his cattle, but he also came up with his method of revenge. At best Sisyphus would seduce Anticlea, and at the worst he reaped the daughter of Autolycus. In either case, Anticlea was then said to have given birth to Odysseus.
Anticlea in the Underworld
Anticlea would marry Laertes, son of Acrisius, and would become Queen of Ithaca, and it was then that most tell of Anticlea becoming mother to Odysseus, and also Ctimene.
The most famous appearance of Anticlea in surviving sources comes in Homer’s Odyssey where Odysseus meets his mother in the Underworld. There Odysseus learns of events in Ithaca in his absence, but it seems that Anticlea had died of grief, due to the lengthy absence of her son.
The death of Anticlea does greatly affect Odysseus for he tried to hug the ghost of his mother without success.
An alternative version of the death of Anticlea does tell of Odysseus’ mother killing herself, perhaps when she was told that Odysseus had been killed.
The most famous appearance of Anticlea in surviving sources comes in Homer’s Odyssey where Odysseus meets his mother in the Underworld. There Odysseus learns of events in Ithaca in his absence, but it seems that Anticlea had died of grief, due to the lengthy absence of her son.
The death of Anticlea does greatly affect Odysseus for he tried to hug the ghost of his mother without success.
An alternative version of the death of Anticlea does tell of Odysseus’ mother killing herself, perhaps when she was told that Odysseus had been killed.
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Colin Quartermain - Anticlea - 25th February 2024