Aergia
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| Aergia | |
|---|---|
Personification of sloth, idleness, indolence and laziness | |
| Abode | Underworld (specifically in the House of Hypnos) |
| Personal information | |
| Parents | Aether and Gaea |
| Siblings | Dolor, Dolos, Ira, Luctus, Mendacium, Jusjurandum, Ultio, Intemperantia, Altercatio, Oblivio, Timor, Superbia, Incestum, Pugna |
| Roman equivalent | Socordia or Ignavia |
In Greek mythology, Aergia (/eɪˈɜrdʒə/; Ancient Greek: Ἀεργία, 'inactivity')[1] is the personification of sloth, idleness, indolence and laziness. She is the translation of the Latin Socordia, or Ignavia. She was translated to Greek because Hyginus mentioned her based on a Greek source, and thus can be considered as both a Greek and Roman goddess. Aergia's opposite character is Horme, a goddess of effort.
Family[edit]
Aergia was the daughter of the primordial deities Aether and Gaia.[2]
- "From Aether (Air) and Terra/ Gaia (Earth) [were born]: Dolor (Pain), Dolus (Guile), Ira/ Lyssa (Anger), Luctus/ Penthus (Lamentation), Mendacium/ Pseudologoi (Lies), Jusjurandum/ Horcus (Oath), Ultio/ Poine (Vengeance), Intemperantia (Intemperance), Altercatio/ Amphillogiai (Altercation), Oblivio/ Lethe (Forgetfulness), Socordia/ Aergia (Sloth), Timor/ Phobos (Fear), Superbia (Arrogance), Incestum (Sacrilege), Pugna/ Hysminai (Combat)."[3]
Mythology[edit]
According to Statius, Aergia was said to be the 'torpid' guard in the court of Hypnos (Sleep) in the Underworld.[4]
- "In] the hollow recesses of a deep and rocky cave . . . [are] set the halls of lazy Somnus/ Hypnos (Sleep) and his untroubled dwelling. The threshold is guarded by shady Quies/ ?Hesychia (Quiet) and dull Oblivio/ Lethe (Forgetfulness) and torpid Ignavia/ Aergia (Sloth) with ever drowsy countenance. Otia/ Acratus (Ease) and Silentia/ ?Hesychia (Silence) with folded wings sit mute in the forecourt. . ."[5]
Notes[edit]
- ^ ἀεργία. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project.
- ^ Hyginus, Fabulae Preface.
- ^ Hyginus, Fabulae Preface.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Statius, Thebaid 10.90 ff.
- ^ Statius, Thebaid 10.86–92 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the References[edit]
- Gaius Julius Hyginus, Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. Online version at the Topos Text Project.
- Publius Papinius Statius, The Thebaid translated by John Henry Mozley. Loeb Classical Library Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1928. Online version at the Topos Text Project.
- Publius Papinius Statius, The Thebaid. Vol I-II. John Henry Mozley. London: William Heinemann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 1928. Latin text available at the Perseus Digital Library.