Meilichios



In Greek mythology, Meilichios was an archaic chthonic daimon honored in Athens. Meilichios was later worshipped with the epithet of Zeus, as Zeus Meilichius or Meilichios. In her book 'Prolegomena to the Study of Greek Religion' (1903), Jane Ellen Harrison explained that the Diasia festival, the greatest Athenian festival dedicated to Zeus, evolved from an older ceremony meant to appease Meilichios.

"Meilichios", the "Easy-to-be-entreated", the gracious, accessible one, was the euphemistic aspect of "Maimaktes, he who rages eager, panting and thirsting for blood." (Harrison, p. 17).

Explicitly inscribed votive reliefs show that Meilichios was figured in the form of a serpent, who might be invoked as a kind of Ploutos, bringer of wealth. He had some of the avenging and fearful character of an Erynis, for Pausanias saw near the River Cephissus "an ancient altar of Zeus Meilichios; on it Theseus received purification from the descendants of Phytalos after he had slain among other robbers Sinis, who was related to himself". Meilichios' sacrifice was a holocaust, which was wholly consumed in fire and not shared by the votaries, "a dread renunciation to a dreadful power" (Harrison, p. 16), in nocturnal rites performed in an atmosphere of "chilly gloom" (Harrison), that was rendered in Greek as stygiotes.

While bearing the name 'Zeus', Zeus Olympios, the great king of the gods, noticeably differs from Zeus Meilichios, a decidedly Chthonian character, often portrayed as a snake, and as seen beforehand, they are not different manifestations of the same god. Whenever 'another Zeus' is mentioned, this always refers to Hades. Zeus Meilichios and Zeus Eubouleus are often referred to being alternate names for Hades.

Zeus Meilichios is also identified as Agathodaemon, or Agathos Daimon, meaning a 'noble spirit', which was a sort of a household god. Zeus Meilichios was invoked in an Orphic Hymn to Zeus as the Daimon. This represents an old serpentine aspect of Zeus associated with fortune.