Immortality

[Darth Executor]

Ok, I think I asked a question similar to this before, but I can't find the topic so I'm starting a new one. I'm doing some research on the topic of greek gods and although I've done quite a bit of reading when I was younger (back when I wasn't a lazy bum), I don't have any of my references available. The particular subject I'm looking at are ambrosia and nectar. I recall reading about where they can be found, and speculation as to what they actually were, but like I said, I don't have the sources anymore and the internet isn't giving me much. In addition, Psyche's story might provide some additional useful information. In short, I would like to know what ancient sources contain this information (and any additional information that you think might be useful), and preferably, links to English translations. Thank you.

[Darth Executor]

I know this area ain't exactly a pub but there has to be somebody who drops in here once in a while and knows something about greek legends. :help:

[technomage]

Ok, I think I asked a question similar to this before, but I can't find the topic so I'm starting a new one. I'm doing some research on the topic of greek gods and although I've done quite a bit of reading when I was younger (back when I wasn't a lazy bum), I don't have any of my references available. The particular subject I'm looking at are ambrosia and nectar. I recall reading about where they can be found, and speculation as to what they actually were, but like I said, I don't have the sources anymore and the internet isn't giving me much. In addition, Psyche's story might provide some additional useful information. In short, I would like to know what ancient sources contain this information (and any additional information that you think might be useful), and preferably, links to English translations. Thank you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambrosia

"Nectar" is synonymous with Ambrosia.

[Darth Executor]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambrosia

"Nectar" is synonymous with Ambrosia.

Are you sure? I was under the impression that one was food and the other was a drink. Anyway, I read the wiki and although it doesn't give me exact sources (I wanted original greek texts), it does give a couple of clues:

One of the impieties of Tantalus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tantalus), according to Pindar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pindar), was that he offered to his guests the ambrosia of the Deathless Ones

I don't suppose you know which of Pindar's works contains this story?

Circe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circe) mentioned to Odysseus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odysseus) that a flock of doves brought the ambrosia to Olympus.

This is fairly obvious, but I figured I should ask anyway. This information is from Homer's Odyssey, right?

[kawaika]

Having tried searching through JSTOR? I've found pretty much everything in there (for all my history classes...).

http://www.jstor.org/jstor/

You'll need a login and password though. Perhaps your local library has access?

[Darth Executor]

No but I have a friend at York University who probably has access to it. I'll see if he can help next time he's online.

[JB]

Hiya, Darth. I'm not sure if you're still looking for that information, but if you are, maybe these will help somehow. I hope so, at least.


But when first their father was vexed in his heart with Obriareus and Cottus and Gyes, he bound them in cruel bonds, because he was jealous of their exceeding manhood and comeliness and great size: and he made them live beneath the wide-pathed earth, where they were afflicted, being set to dwell under the ground, at the end of the earth, at its great borders, in bitter anguish for a long time and with great grief at heart. But the son of Cronos and the other deathless gods whom rich-haired Rhea bare from union with Cronos, brought them up again to the light at Earth's advising. For she herself recounted all things to the gods fully, how that with these they would gain victory and a glorious cause to vaunt themselves. For the Titan gods and as many as sprang from Cronos had long been fighting together in stubborn war with heart-grieving toil, the lordly Titans from high Othyrs, but the gods, givers of good, whom rich-haired Rhea bare in union with Cronos, from Olympus. So they, with bitter wrath, were fighting continually with one another at that time for ten full years, and the hard strife had no close or end for either side, and the issue of the war hung evenly balanced. But when he had provided those three with all things fitting, nectar and ambrosia which the gods themselves eat, and when their proud spirit revived within them all after they had fed on nectar and delicious ambrosia, then it was that the father of men and gods spoke amongst them

Tantalus is punished in Hades by having a stone impending over him, by being perpetually in a lake and seeing at his shoulders on either side trees with fruit growing beside the lake. The water touches his jaws, but when he would take a draught of it, the water dries up; and when he would partake of the fruits, the trees with the fruits are lifted by winds as high as the clouds. Some say that he is thus punished because he blabbed to men the mysteries of the gods, and because he attempted to share ambrosia with his fellows.

When Thetis had got a babe by Peleus, she wished to make it immortal, and unknown to Peleus she used to hide it in the fire by night in order to destroy the mortal element which the child inherited from its father, but by day she anointed him with ambrosia. But Peleus watched her, and, seeing the child writhing on the fire, he cried out; and Thetis, thus prevented from accomplishing her purpose, forsook her infant son and departed to the Nereids. Peleus brought the child to Chiron, who received him and fed him on the inwards of lions and wild swines and the marrows of bears, and named him Achilles, because he had not put his lips to the breast; but before that time his name was Ligyron.

Now the gods, seated by the side of Zeus, were holding assembly on the golden floor, and in their midst the queenly Hebe poured them nectar, and they with golden goblets pledged one the other as they looked forth upon the city of the Trojans

Then the valiant Lycians likewise abode not, but were driven in rout one and all, when they saw their king smitten to the heart, lying in the gathering of the dead; for many had fallen above him, when the son of Cronos strained taut the cords of the fierce conflict. But from the shoulders of Sarpedon they stripped his shining harness of bronze, and this the valiant son of Menoetius gave to his comrades to bear to the hollow ships. And then unto Apollo spake Zeus, the cloud-gatherer: Up now, dear Phoebus, go cleanse from Sarpedon the dark blood, when thou hast taken him forth from out the range of darts, and thereafter bear thou him far away, and bathe him in the streams of the river, and anoint him with ambrosia, and clothe him about with immortal raiment, and give him to swift conveyers to bear with them, even to the twin brethren, Sleep and Death, who shall set him speedily in the rich land of wide Lycia. There shall his brethren and his kinsfolk give him burial with mound and pillar; for this is the due of tne dead. So spake he, nor was Apollo disobedient to his father's bidding, but went down from the hills of Ida into the dread din of battle. Forthwith then he lifted up goodly Sarpedon forth from out the range of darts, and when he had borne him far away, bathed him in the streams of the river, and anointed him with ambrosia, and clothed him about with immortal raiment, and gave him to swift conveyers to bear with them, even to the twin brethren, Sleep and Death, who set him speedily in the rich land of wide Lycia. But Patroclus with a call to his horses and to Automedon, pressed after the Trojans and Lycians, and was greatly blinded in heart, fool that he was! for had he observed the word of the son of Peleus, he would verily have escaped the evil fate of black death. But ever is the intent of Zeus stronger than that of men, for he driveth even a valiant man in rout, and robbeth him of victory full easily, and again of himself he rouseth men to fight; and he it was that now put fury in the breast of Patroclus. Then whom first, whom last didst thou slay, Patroclus, when the gods called thee deathward? Adrastus first, and Autonous, and Echeclus, and Perimus, son of Megas, and Epistor, and Melanippus, and thereafter Elasus, and Mulius, and Pylartes: these he slew, and the others bethought them each man of flight.

So saying, she filled him with dauntless courage, and on Patroclus she shed ambrosia and ruddy nectar through his nostrils, that his flesh might be sound continually.

Anyway, to the links:

Hesiod's Theogony (http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/hesiod/theogony.htm)
Homer's Iliad (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Hom.+Il.+toc)
Apollodorus' Library and Epitome (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Apollod.+toc)
Apuleius' Most Pleasant and Delectable Tale of the Marriage of Cupid and Psyche (http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/cap/index.htm)

[Darth Executor]

Hiya, Darth. I'm not sure if you're still looking for that information, but if you are, maybe these will help somehow.

Yes, they will. I'll look through them later today. Thanks. :thumb:

[JB]

Yes, they will. I'll look through them later today. Thanks. :thumb:

You're welcome. :smile: