Chapter 14: Thebes
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Pherekydes 3F89 – Die Fragmente der Griechischen Historiker 1, p. 84, ed. F. Jacoby. 2d ed. Leiden 1957.
Hesiod, Ehoiai (The Catalogue of Women) fr 141 MW – Fragmenta Hesiodea, pp. 68-69, ed. R. Merkelbach and M. L. West. Oxford 1967.
Statius: Thebais 2.265-305
For thou wast wearing, Argia, the ill-starred ornament of thy husband’s giving, the dread necklace of Harmonia. Far back the story runs, but I will pursue the well-known tale of woes, whence came it that a new gift had such terrible power. Latin Text
VM I 151 – Vatican Mythographers – Scriptores rerum mythicarum Latini tres Romae nuper reperti 1, p. 48, ed. G. H. Bode. Celle 1834
VM II 78 – Vatican Mythographer – Scriptores rerum mythicarum Latini tres Romae nuper reperti, 2 p. 101, ed. G. H. Bode. Celle 1834
Hesiod, Theogony 975-78
And Harmonia, the daughter of golden Aphrodite, bore to Cadmus Ino and Semele and fair-cheeked Agave and Autonoe whom long haired Aristaeus wedded, and Polydorus also in rich-crowned Thebes. Greek Text
Pindar, Olympian 2.78
Peleus and Cadmus are counted among them, and Achilles. Greek Text
Euripides, Bakchai 1330-39
Changing your form, you will become a dragon, and your wife, Harmonia, Ares’ daughter, whom you though mortal held in marriage, will be turned into a beast, and will receive in exchange the form of a serpent. And as the oracle of Zeus says, you will drive along with your wife a chariot of heifers, ruling over barbarians. You will sack many cities with a force of countless numbers. And when they plunder the oracle of Apollo, they will have a miserable return, but Ares will protect you and Harmonia and will settle your life in the land of the blessed. Greek Text
Euripides, Bakchai 1354-60
I shall reach a foreign land as an aged immigrant. Still it is foretold that I shall bring into Hellas a motley barbarian army. Leading their spears, I, having the fierce nature of a serpent, will bring my wife Harmonia, daughter of Ares, to the altars and tombs of Hellas. Greek Text
Apollonios of Rhodes, Argonatika 517-18
A fenced city by the dark deep Illyrian river, where is the tomb of Harmonia and Cadmus, dwelling among the Encheleans. Greek Text
ApB 3.5.4 – Apollodoros, Bibliotheke (Library)
But Cadmus and Harmonia quitted Thebes and went to the Encheleans. As the Encheleans were being attacked by the Illyrians, the god declared by an oracle that they would get the better of the Illyrians if they had Cadmus and Harmonia as their leaders. They believed him, and made them their leaders against the Illyrians, and got the better of them. And Cadmus reigned over the Illyrians, and a son Illyrius was born to him. But afterwards he was, along with Harmonia, turned into a serpent and sent away by Zeus to the Elysian Fields. Greek Text
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Edited by Elena Bianchelli, Senior Lecturer of Classical Languages and Culture, University of Georgia, March 2020
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