ATE IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Ate was a minor goddess from the Ancient Greek pantheon. Ate was the Goddess of Delusion, and the goddess who led man, and god, into reckless folly.
Ate Daughter of Eris
Ate is named as either a daughter of Eris (Strife) or Zeus.
Hesiod’s Theogony, is the most commonly referenced source for the genealogy of the gods, and as such Hesiod names Ate as a daughter of Eris, and thus sister to many, including Ponos (Hardship), Dysnomia (Anarchy) and Amphillogiai (Disputes).
It is left to Homer, in the Iliad, to offer up the opinion that Ate was the daughter of Zeus.
Hesiod’s Theogony, is the most commonly referenced source for the genealogy of the gods, and as such Hesiod names Ate as a daughter of Eris, and thus sister to many, including Ponos (Hardship), Dysnomia (Anarchy) and Amphillogiai (Disputes).
It is left to Homer, in the Iliad, to offer up the opinion that Ate was the daughter of Zeus.
The Myths of AteThe role of Ate though, was Goddess of Delusion, Reckless Impulse, Blind Folly and Ruin, indicating a closer connection to Eris than Zeus.
All of this was to the detriment of man, and this was expressed by Athenaeus; Ate and Hybris, being the recipients of the third toast of wine, with Ate thus working best when man drank too much. |
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It was though, not just men who were influenced by Ate, for as Hera told Ate, in the Argonautica (Apollonius Rhodius), that “Even the gods are sometimes visited by Ate”. Indeed, the most famous tale of Ate, sees Hera, making use of the goddess to sway Zeus himself.
Zeus and Ate
Ate induced Zeus to recklessly proclaim that the boy born of the House of Perseus on the given day would be king. Zeus meant this proclamation to mean Heracles, but the intrigue of Hera, resulted in Eurystheus being born, on the given day, whilst Heracles was born later.
Zeus, when he realised that he had been tricked, threw Ate to earth, banishing Ate from Mount Olympus and the gods for evermore, and so she lived amongst man from then on.
The place where Ate fell to earth was a spot in Phrygia that was initially called Mount Ate, but it was here that Ilus would found his new city, Ilium, the city that became better known as Troy.
Zeus, when he realised that he had been tricked, threw Ate to earth, banishing Ate from Mount Olympus and the gods for evermore, and so she lived amongst man from then on.
The place where Ate fell to earth was a spot in Phrygia that was initially called Mount Ate, but it was here that Ilus would found his new city, Ilium, the city that became better known as Troy.
Ate and ThebesSome also say that a monument to Ate was placed at one of the gates of Thebes, to commemorate the death of Polynices and Eteocles, when the brothers had killed themselves in dispute over the throne of the city.
It is though commonly said that this madness was due to the curse of Oedipus rather than the intervention of Ate. |
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Ate and Ampelus
The only other famous myth involving Ate, comes from the Dionysaica. Hera again makes use of Ate to cause Ampelus to recklessness attempt to impress his lover, Dionysus. Ate convinced Ampelus that he was underappreciated compared to others loved by Dionysus. Ate thus suggested that to impress Dionysus, Ampelus should ride upon the back of a bull, just as Europa had done.
Ampelus was of course killed in the attempt.
The work of Ate was counteracted by the Litai, goddess of repenting prayers, but Ate was swift, and the Litai often struggled to keep up with her.
Peitho, the Greek Goddess of Desire, was named as the daughter of Ate.
Ampelus was of course killed in the attempt.
The work of Ate was counteracted by the Litai, goddess of repenting prayers, but Ate was swift, and the Litai often struggled to keep up with her.
Peitho, the Greek Goddess of Desire, was named as the daughter of Ate.
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Colin Quartermain - Ate - 6th January 2024