Iynx (magic object)

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The female figures have a iynx in their hands, gold, 330–300 BC. Chr.

The Iynx , also Jynx , ( ancient Greek Ἴυγξ , plural Iynges ), is a magical tool, a kind of magic spinning top of Greek and Roman mythology . It is a typical attribute of Peitho , the goddess of erotic persuasion. The Iynx was also known as the "Wheel of Hekate " or "Hekates Kreisel".

The iynx consisted of a gold or bronze disc threaded on a leather strap. This disk was often jagged on the edge and had engravings or two or four spokes. Tensioning and loosening the belt set it in motion and produced a buzzing or whirring noise typical of a buzzing wood . The Greek name “Ἴυγξ” is very similar to this sound.

The Iynx was preferably used for love spells. Such tops are mentioned in Lukian's conversations as well as by Horace , Properz and Ovid .

history

The shape of the Iynx resembles a spindle whorl, here: spindle whorl from the Iron Age

The shape of the Iynx suggests the origin of spindle whorls and tablet weaving , especially since spinning and weaving is closely linked to female mythology and magic.

mythology

Iynx was transformed into a bird ( Jynx torquilla ) and tied on a disc

According to Greek and Roman mythology, the Iynx was created as follows: Iynx was a servant of Io . By magic she enticed Jupiter ( Zeus ) to love Io. As a punishment, Juno ( Hera ) turned her into a bird ( Jynx torquilla ) and tied her to a wheel.

Jason gained Medea through the use of the Iynx

Later Aphrodite , the goddess of love and sensual desire, taught Jason how to use this iynx so that Medea could win.

Magic and theurgy

The Iynges were dedicated to Hecate, the goddess of magic.

The daimones were called with the iynx, here: winged daimon on a Corinthian disc with a hole

In Greek mythology, a daimon is a being who mediates between gods and humans and can teach the magician or theurge about the structure of the world. The iynx was used to contact the daimones. Such a ritual is described in the only fragmentary Chaldean oracles . The iynx was thus also a tool for divination and conjuration .

The magical-aphrodisiac use of the Iynx is traced back to mythology. Then Aphrodite taught Jason to turn the bird ( Jynx torquilla ) , which was stretched on four sides, under spells in order to win Medea's love. The bird thus became a symbol for the temptation of love, also in the fine arts. For a love spell, this bird was tied to a four-spoke wheel and this was turned under spells. The simplest of these spells was, “Jynx, bring this man over to my house!” The bird was later replaced with a spinning top wrapped in purple wool. According to legend, Thessalian sorceresses were the first to use such a top.

literature

  • Grace W. Nelson: A Greek Votive Iynx-Wheel in Boston. In: American Journal of Archeology , 44/4, 1940, pp. 443-456.

Web links

Wikisource: Greek and Roman Mythology  - Sources and Full Texts
  • Iynx described by Roman Eisele
  • Iynx magic object

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Note: There is no “J” in Latin, so “I” and “J” are used synonymously in the translation.
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g Thomas Lautwein : Hekate - The dark goddess. Edition Roter Drache, Rudolstadt, 2009, pp. 235–243, ISBN 978-3-939459-21-7 .
  3. ^ A b Max Haushofer : tragedies and comedies of superstition - love magic . In: The Gazebo . Issue 1, 1897, pp. 4–8 ( full text [ Wikisource ]).
  4. ^ Wilhelm Vollmer, Johannes Minckwitz: Dr. Vollmer's dictionary of the mythology of all peoples , 3rd edition, Hoffmann'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart 1874, p. 19, online . Retrieved September 5, 2016
  5. ↑ a b Richard Engelmann : Iynx 1) . In: Wilhelm Heinrich Roscher (Hrsg.): Detailed lexicon of Greek and Roman mythology . Volume 2.1, Leipzig 1894, Col. 772 f. ( Digitized version ).
  6. ^ Meyers Konversations-Lexikon, Iynx , 4th edition, Bibliographisches Institut, Leipzig 1888–1889, Volume 9, p. 110. Digital edition in Wikisource (version from July 18, 2015).