Damarchus: Difference between revisions
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{{for|the genus of spiders|Damarchus (spider)}} |
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'''Damarchus |
'''Damarchus''' ({{lang-el|Δάμαρχος}}) or '''Demaenetus''' was a victorious [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] boxer from [[Parrhasia (Arcadia)]] who is said to have changed his shape into that of a wolf at the festival of [[Lykaia|Lycaea]], only to become a man again after ten years.<ref name="Augustine">[[Augustine of Hippo|St. Augustine]], ''[[The City of God]]'', Book XVIII, Chapter 17</ref> [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] investigated the story for his famous work ''[[Description of Greece]]'' and, while he seems to believe that Damarchus the boxer did indeed exist, he notes that Damarchus' inscription at Olympia mentions nothing about his supposed metamorphosis to a wolf.<ref name="Pausanias">[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''[[Description of Greece]]'', 8.2.6</ref><ref>[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], [[Description of Greece]], 6.8.2</ref> |
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The festival of |
The festival of Lycaea involved human sacrifice to [[Zeus]]. A young boy was killed and then consumed by one of the participants, in this case by Damarchus, and as a result Zeus would transform the cannibal into a wolf.<ref name="Augustine"/><ref name="Pliny">[[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]], ''[[Natural History (Pliny)|The Natural History]]'', Chapter 34.(22.)</ref> According to Pausanias, the werewolf could once again live as a man provided he abstained from human flesh for nine years; if, however, the wolf tasted the flesh of a man, he would remain a beast forever.<ref name="Pausanias"/> |
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[[Augustine]] and [[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]] agree with the main aspects of the story but claim the requisite waiting period was ten years, not nine.<ref name="Augustine"/><ref name="Pliny"/> The story is briefly alluded to in [[Plato|Plato's]] masterpiece, ''[[The Republic (Plato)|The Republic]]'', however in Plato's version there is no suggestion that the change could be undone.<ref>[[Plato]], ''[[The Republic (Plato)|The Republic]]'', 565D</ref> |
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{{Ancient Olympic winners}} |
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[[Category:Werewolves]] |
[[Category:Werewolves in Greek Myths]] |
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[[Category:Ancient Olympic competitors]] |
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[[Category:Ancient Arcadian athletes]] |
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[[Category:Metamorphoses in Greek mythology]] |
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Latest revision as of 23:00, 5 January 2023
Damarchus (Greek: Δάμαρχος) or Demaenetus was a victorious Olympic boxer from Parrhasia (Arcadia) who is said to have changed his shape into that of a wolf at the festival of Lycaea, only to become a man again after ten years.[1] Pausanias investigated the story for his famous work Description of Greece and, while he seems to believe that Damarchus the boxer did indeed exist, he notes that Damarchus' inscription at Olympia mentions nothing about his supposed metamorphosis to a wolf.[2][3]
The festival of Lycaea involved human sacrifice to Zeus. A young boy was killed and then consumed by one of the participants, in this case by Damarchus, and as a result Zeus would transform the cannibal into a wolf.[1][4] According to Pausanias, the werewolf could once again live as a man provided he abstained from human flesh for nine years; if, however, the wolf tasted the flesh of a man, he would remain a beast forever.[2]
Augustine and Pliny agree with the main aspects of the story but claim the requisite waiting period was ten years, not nine.[1][4] The story is briefly alluded to in Plato's masterpiece, The Republic, however in Plato's version there is no suggestion that the change could be undone.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c St. Augustine, The City of God, Book XVIII, Chapter 17
- ^ a b Pausanias, Description of Greece, 8.2.6
- ^ Pausanias, Description of Greece, 6.8.2
- ^ a b Pliny, The Natural History, Chapter 34.(22.)
- ^ Plato, The Republic, 565D
