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In ancient Greek mythology, Tiresias was a famous blind soothsayer 1, who lived through seven generations, from the days of Cadmus to the times of Eteocles and Polyneices2. He was the son of Everes and a descendent of Udaeus 3, one of the Sparti who rose from the sown teeth of the dragon slayed by Cadmus. His mother was the nymph Chariclo, who was a close friend of the goddess Athena 4. Although there are many different versions of how he came to lose his sight, Tiresias is always compensated for his loss of sight with gifts from a god or goddess. According to Ovid’s Metamorphosis5, Jupiter and Juno, who are disputing which sex feels greater pleasure, consult Tiresias because of his experience as both genders 6. Reportedly, he once struck two mating serpents with his staff and was transformed into a woman. Nearly eight years later, he came across the same two snakes again. He decided to strike them once more, and this time he was transformed back into a man. Tiresias sides with Jupiter 7, agreeing that women experience more pleasure. Outraged, Juno blinds Tiresias8, but Jupiter compensates the loss of sight with the ability to see the future9. This version of the myth is also told by many others 10, including Hesiod. However, Hesiod’s version details that Tiresias came across the snakes on Mount Cyllene11. Callimachus’ version of the myth asserts that Tiresias is blinded for seeing Athena naked. In search of a drink, he accidentally encounters the goddess and his mother bathing in a mountain spring. Chariclo pleads for Athena to take mercy on her son, but the goddess declares that it is not her that took Tiresias’ sight, but the Laws of Cronus. These ancient laws command that any who looks upon an immortal without permission will pay a heavy price. Although Athena cannot reverse the punishment, she promises to grant him a long life 12 as a famous prophet13 and gives him a staff for guidance14. Additionally, she grants him the ability to understand birds15 and retain his cognizance in the Underworld16. Callimachus places Tiresias’s blinding on Mount Helicon, while authors such as Eustathius and Tzetzes lay it on Mount Cithaeron. Still others, such as Apollodorus, agree with Hesiod’s placement on Mount Cyllene 17. Ovid’s version does not detail the myth’s location, but it does mention that Tiresias was

1 Callimachus Hymns 5.120-22, translated by Mair; Ovid Metamorphoses 3.368-70, translated by Lombardo 2 Hesiod fr. 2 3 Apollodorus Library 3.6.7, translated by Frazer; Callimachus Hymns and Epigrams 5.79-80, translated by Mair 4 Callimachus Hymns 5.116, translated by Mair 5 Ovid Metamorphoses 3.343-70, translated by Lombardo 6 Ovid Metamorphoses 3.349-50, translated by Lombardo 7 Ovid Metamorphoses 3.361, translated by Lombardo 8 Ovid Metamorphoses 3.362-64, translated by Lombardo 9 Ovid Metamorphoses 3.364-67, translated by Lombardo 10 Frazer 1921: pg (will note page number when site is back up and running) 11 Apollodorus Library 3.6.7, translated by Frazer; 12 Callimachus Hymns 5.128-29, translated by Mair 13 Callimachus Hymns 5.120-22, translated by Mair 14 Callimachus Hymns 5.127-28, translated by Mair 15 Apollodorus Library 3.6.7, translated by Frazer; Callimachus Hymns 5.121-23, translated by Mair 16 Callimachus Hymns 5.129-30, translated by Mair 17 Frazer 1921: pg (will note page number when site is back up and running)

“celebrated / Throughout the cities and towns of Boeotia.” 18 Boeotia is a region in Greece located closer to Mount Helicon and Mount Cithaeron than Mount Cyllene. One possible explanation for Callimachus’s inclusion of various gifts to Tiresias that aren’t mentioned in Ovid’s version, is that Callimachus’s version appears in Hymns as his Hymn to Athena. As such, the author is seeking to praise the goddess. Even Athena’s cruelty is transformed to appear generous and worthy of glory. Further, a more comprehensive account of her gifts is given to highlight her generosity 19. Callimachus’s catalogue of the goddess’s gifts is supported by several other authors. Sophocles confirms the prophet’s ability to interpret the language of the birds 20 in Oedipus, and Homer illustrates that Tiresias maintains his soothsaying in the Underworld 21 in The Odyssey. In Thebaid, Statius reveals a gift unmentioned by Callimachus: the seer was also able to converse with the dead22. Tiresias’s oracles were usually cryptic, with a condition that offered the potential for redemption23, although it was rarely taken. The stories of Tiresias serve to show a pattern of prophecies being not well received, even when requested. This is seen in tragedies such as Oedipus24, Antigone 25, Phoenissae26, and Bacchae27. The myth of Tiresias’s blinding, regardless of which version is used, is significant in that it shows how favour from the gods can often be both a blessing and a curse. Although he lived seven times longer than any normal human, Tiresias was not invulnerable. He eventually died after drinking water from the poison spring called Tilphussa28.

Greek vase painting style showing Odysseus with Tiresias in the Underworld (upper); 380-360 BCE

18 Ovid Metamorphoses 3.368-69, translated by Lombardo 19 Heath 1988: 81 20 Sophocles Oedipus 310, translated by Jebb; Sophocles Antigone 998-1005, translated by Jebb; Apollodorus Library 3.6.7, translated by Frazer; Euripides Bacchae 345-50, translated by Buckley 21 Homer Odyssey 11.90-6, translated by Murray 22 Statius Thebaid 4.406-67, translated by Mozley; 23 Sophocles Oedipus 408-63, translated by Jebb; Sophocles Antigone 996-1032; Euripides Phoenissae 865-99, translated by Coleridge; Ovid Metamorphoses 3.379, translated by Lombardo 24 Sophocles Oedipus 429-46, translated by Jebb 25 Sophocles Antigone 1033-63, translated by Jebb 26 Euripides Phoenissae 915-75, translated by Coleridge 27 Euripides Bacchae 343-359, translated by Buckley 28 Apollodorus Library 3.7.3, translated by Frazer

Indeed, Tiresias went on to become a famous prophet, often being sought after by kings in search of guidance. In one such story, the prophet is called before King Oedipus to help him determine who killed the late King Laius, so that the plague in Thebes may be lifted29. Tiresias reluctantly reveals that the king himself is the man he seeks30 but, despite seeking the prophet’s counsel, Oedipus refuses to listen. By the time Oedipus comes to accept the truth, he learns the queen has killed herself 31 and, in his anguish and shame, he gouges out his eyes 32. Although Ovid’s version only mentions Tiresias’ receipt of prophetic abilities, Callimachus’s account of the prophet’s gifts is supported by several stories. In Sophocles’s Oedipus,

29 Sophocles Oedipus 300-15, translated by Jebb 30 Sophocles Oedipus 447-61, translated by Jebb 31 Sophocles Oedipus 1235-64, translated by Jebb 32 Sophocles Oedipus 1265-79, translated by Jebb

confirms the prophet’s ability to interpret the language of the birds 33, and Homer illustrates that Tiresias maintains his soothsaying in the Underworld 34 in The Odyssey, while Statius reveals that the seer was also able to converse with the dead35. Tiresias’s oracles were usually cryptic, with a condition that offered the potential for redemption36, although it was rarely taken. The stories of Tiresias serve to show a pattern of prophecies being not well received, even when requested, as seen in Oedipus37, Antigone 38, Phoenissae39, and Bacchae40. The myth of Tiresias’s blinding, regardless of which version is used, is significant in that it shows how favour from the gods can often be both a blessing and a curse.

BIBLIOGRAPHY 33 Sophocles Oedipus 310, translated by Jebb; Sophocles Antigone 998-1005, translated by Jebb; Apollodorus Library 3.6.7, translated by Frazer; Euripides Bacchae 345-50, translated by Buckley 34 Homer Odyssey 11.90-6, translated by Murray 35 Statius Thebaid 4.406-67, translated by Mozley; 36 Sophocles Oedipus 408-63, translated by Jebb; Sophocles Antigone 996-1032; Euripides Phoenissae 865-99, translated by Coleridge; Ovid Metamorphoses 3.379, translated by Lombardo 37 Sophocles Oedipus 429-46, translated by Jebb 38 Sophocles Antigone 1033-63, translated by Jebb 39 Euripides Phoenissae 915-75, translated by Coleridge 40 Euripides Bacchae 343-359, translated by Buckley

Heath, John R.. “The Blessings of Epiphany in Callimachus’ ‘Bath of Pallas’”, Classical Antiquity 7 (1988): 72-90. Frazer 1921: pg (will note page and note number when site is working again) Frazer, J. G. (transl.) Apollodorus: The Library Book 3. Harvard University Press, William Heinemann Ltd., 1921. Accessed online at: https://www.theoi.com/Text/Apollodorus3.html Frazer, J. G. (transl.) Apollodorus: The Library Book 3. Harvard University Press, William Heinemann Ltd., 1921. Accessed online at: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text? doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022%3Atext%3DLibrary%3Abook%3D3%3Achapter %3D6%3Asection%3D7#note2 http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0022 Mair, A. W. (transl.) Callimachus: Hymns and Epigrams. William Heinemann Ltd. and G. P. Putnam, 1921. Accessed online at: https://archive.org/details/callimachuslycop00calluoft/page/n5/mode/2up Evelyn-White, Hugh G. (transl.) Hesiod: Homeric Hymns Epic Cycle – Homerica. William Heinemann Ltd., 1914. Accessed online at: https://www.theoi.com/Text/HesiodMiscellany.html Murray, A. T. (transl.) Homer: Odyssey. Harvard University Press, William Heinemann Ltd., 1919. Accessed online at: https://www.theoi.com/Text/HomerOdyssey11.html Mozley, J. H. (transl.) Statius: Thebaid. Harvard University Press, William Heinemann Ltd., 1928. Accessed online at: https://www.theoi.com/Text/StatiusThebaid4.html#46 Jebb, Richard (edited) The Antigone of Sophocles. Cambridge University Press, 1891. Accessed online at: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext %3A1999.01.0186%3Acard%3D988 Buckley, T. A. (transl.) The Tragedies of Euripides: Bacchae. Henry G. Bohn, 1850. Accessed online at: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0092 Coleridge, E. P. (transl.) Euripides : Phoenissae. Random House, 1938. Accessed online at: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0118%3Acard %3D911...