Opis (Hyperborea)
Opis ( Greek Ὦπις ), also Oupis ( Οὖπις ) is a hyperborean virgin in Greek mythology , who came to Delos in connection with the cults of Apollo and Artemis - Eileithyia , died there and whose grave was worshiped.
Herodotus reports that Opis came to Delos with another virgin named Arge ( Ἄργη ) with Apollon and Artemis (ie with cult images of these gods). From Delos the cult of these gods would have spread over the islands and all over Ionia. The ashes from the thighs of the victim would have been scattered on her grave behind the Artemision.
Opis seems to be closely related to Artemis, as Opis was also an epithet of Artemis. This event would have been the subject of the hymns of the legendary poet Olen ( Ὠλήν ).
In Callimachos Loxo ( Λοξώ ) and Hekaerge ( Ἑκαέργη ) appear as companions of the grandpas. All three come from the land of the Arimaspen (who were considered neighbors of the Hyperboreans) and are known as the daughters of Boreas . As the companion of Artemis, she is described as an archer.
According to the library of Apollodorus , the hunter Orion is said to have tried to rape Opis, whereupon he was shot by Artemis.
literature
- William Sale: The Hyperborean Maidens on Delos. In: Harvard Theological Review 54 (1961), pp. 75-89
Web links
- Opis in Theoi Project
Individual evidence
- ↑ Herodotus Histories 4.33ff
- ↑ Pausania's description of Greece 5.7.8; 1.43.4
- ↑ Callimachos 4th Hymnos (on Delos) 275ff
- ↑ Virgil Aeneid 11.532-867
- ↑ Nonnos of Panopolis Dionysiaka 5.480ff; 48.330ff
- ↑ Libraries of Apollodorus 1.27