Smintheus

Smintheus ( Greek  Σμινθεύς , also Sminthios ) is an epithet mostly of the god Apollo , but also of Dionysus in Greek mythology . Homer called Apollo in the Iliad as Smintheus . The etymology of the non-Greek word is not certain. It is derived from the Cretan or Phrygian word sminthos for "mouse" or "rat" and can be translated as "mice eater". To what extent Apollon Smintheus is to be equated with Apollo as the plague god is unclear. Mice or rats can point to epidemics that, according to Greek mythology, originated from Apollo. However, the epiclesis was also chosen to drive away mice that had devastated the vineyards.

Remains of the most famous sanctuary of Apollon Smintheus called Smintheion can be found in Chryse near Gülpınar . However, the cult was widespread and can be found in Pergamon , Lesbos , Keos and Rhodes , but also in Athens . In Lindos on Rhodes Dionysus was worshiped as Smintheus alone, the Sminthia celebrated there were only for him. The veneration also found expression in the name of the Rhodian month Sminthios .

literature

• Johannes Ilberg : Smintheus 1 . In: Wilhelm Heinrich Roscher (Hrsg.): Detailed lexicon of Greek and Roman mythology . Volume 4, Leipzig 1915, Sp. 1083-1086 ( digitized version ).