Greek mythology A major branch of classical mythology, Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the ancient Greeks, and a genre of Ancient Greek folklore. These stories concern the origin and nature of the world, the lives and activities ...

, Dyssebeia (;

Ancient Greek Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Dark Ages (), the Archaic p ...

: ) was the spirit and personification of impiety and ungodliness, as opposed to

Eusebeia Eusebeia (Greek: from "pious" from ''eu'' meaning "well", and ''sebas'' meaning "reverence", itself formed from ''seb-'' meaning sacred awe and reverence especially in actions) is a Greek word abundantly used in Greek philosophy as well as in ...

. Her Roman equivalent was Impietas.

Family

According to

Aeschylus Aeschylus (, ; grc-gre, Αἰσχύλος ; c. 525/524 – c. 456/455 BC) was an ancient Greek tragedian, and is often described as the father of tragedy. Academic knowledge of the genre begins with his work, and understanding of earlier Greek ...

, Dyssebeia was the mother of Hybris.

"I have a timely word of advice: arrogance (''hybris'') is truly the child of impiety (''dyssebia''), but from health of soul comes happiness, dear to all, much prayed for."

Mythology

Dyssebeia (Impietas) was called upon by Hera when the goddess was angry towards

Heracles Heracles ( ; grc-gre, Ἡρακλῆς, , glory/fame of Hera), born Alcaeus (, ''Alkaios'') or Alcides (, ''Alkeidēs''), was a divine hero in Greek mythology, the son of Zeus and Alcmene, and the foster son of Amphitryon.By his adoptiv ...

Zeus Zeus or , , ; grc, Δῐός, ''Diós'', label= genitive Boeotian Aeolic and Laconian grc-dor, Δεύς, Deús ; grc, Δέος, ''Déos'', label= genitive el, Δίας, ''Días'' () is the sky and thunder god in ancient Greek reli ...

's illegitimate son.

"One in deep darkness buried, far down below the place of banishment of guilty souls, will I call up – the goddess
Discordia Eris (; grc-gre, Ἔρις ', "Strife") is the Greek goddess of strife and discord. Her Roman equivalent is Discordia, which means the same. Eris's Greek opposite is Harmonia, whose Roman counterpart is Concordia. Homer equated her with th ...
/ Eris (Discord), whom a huge cavern, barred by a mountain, guards; I will bring her forth, and drag out from the deepest realm of Dis/ Hades whatever thou hast left; hateful Scelus (Crime) shall come and reckless Impietas/ Dyssebeia (Impiety), stained with kindred blood,
Error An error (from the Latin ''error'', meaning "wandering") is an action which is inaccurate or incorrect. In some usages, an error is synonymous with a mistake. The etymology derives from the Latin term 'errare', meaning 'to stray'. In statistics ...
/ Ate, and Furor/ Lyssa (Madness), armed ever against itself – this, this be the minister of my smarting wrath!"Seneca, ''Hercules Furens'' 90–99

Notes

References

, translated in two volumes. 2. ''Eumenides'' by Herbert Weir Smyth, Ph. D. Cambridge, MA. Harvard University Press. 1926
Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.Greek text available from the same website
* Lucius Annaeus Seneca, ''Tragedies''. Translated by Miller, Frank Justus. Loeb Classical Library Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1917
Online version at theoi.com.
* Lucius Annaeus Seneca, ''Tragoediae''. Rudolf Peiper. Gustav Richter. Leipzig. Teubner. 1921
Latin text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
Greek goddesses Personifications in Greek mythology {{Greek-deity-stub