The Sacred Tides: Waves of Myth and Legend

I. Introduction

The concept of sacred tides has been woven into the fabric of various cultures throughout history, representing much more than mere water movements.Sacred tides evoke a sense of reverence, symbolizing the connection between humanity and the vastness of the oceans. Myths and legends surrounding the sea have played a crucial role in shaping our understanding of these waters, reflecting our fears, reverence, and the mysteries of life itself. This article will delve into the ocean’s role as a sacred entity,explore the symbolism of waves, examine legendary sea creatures, and discuss the cultural significance of tides, ultimately revealing the profound relationship humans have with the sacred tides.

II. The Ocean as a Sacred Entity

Historically, the ocean has been regarded as a sacred entityin ancient civilizations. From the Greeks, who honored Poseidon, the god of the sea, to the Polynesians, who revered ocean deities like Kanaloa, the sea has been a source of both life and death.Spiritual beliefs often portrayed the ocean as a boundary between the known and the unknown,a place where the divine could be encountered.

In religious texts, the ocean is often depicted as a source of chaos and creation. For instance, in the Hebrew Bible, the “deep” waters represent the primordial chaos that God orders into creation.Symbolically, water in mythology often represents purification, transformation, and the cycle of life, underscoring the ocean’s role as a sacred force.

III. Waves as Symbols in Mythology

Waves have been significant symbols across various mythological narratives, often representing the ebb and flow of life. In many cultures, waves symbolize the cyclical nature of existence—the rise and fall of fortunes, the passage of time, and the inevitability of change.

• In Greek mythology:waves are often associated with the Nereids, sea nymphs who guided sailors through treacherous waters.
• In Hindu mythology:the ocean’s waves are linked to the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva, representing creation and destruction.
• In Native American cultures:the waves are seen as messengers of the spirit world, carrying prayers and stories across the vast waters.

This comparative analysis of wave motifs highlights their role as powerful metaphors for change and transformation,illustrating how cultures interpret the natural world through the lens of their beliefs.   Except for those who believe the Word of God, they view the World according to God’s word recorded in the Bible.  The Word of God never changes.  Beliefs of different religions, cultures and societies change constantly.  

IV. Legendary Sea Creatures

Mythical sea creatures have captivated human imagination across cultures. These legendary beings often embody the mysteries and dangers of the ocean, serving as cautionary tales or symbols of beauty.Some notable sea creatures include:

• Mermaids: Often depicted as beautiful beings, mermaids symbolize longing and the duality of allure and danger.
• Krakens:Giant sea monsters that evoke fear, representing the uncontrollable forces of nature.
• Selkies: Enigmatic creatures from Scottish folklore, selkies embody themes of transformation and the longing for belonging.

These creatures are steeped in stories and legends, often reflecting the values and fears of the cultures that birthed them. For example, the tale of the Kraken warns sailors of the ocean’s perilous depths, while mermaid stories often explore themes of love and sacrifice.  That is what the enlightened ones want you to believer.  But, the truth is that the peoples values, fears and cultures were formed in response to the demands of and interaction with the ruling demonic entities of the areas they inhabited.  The pagan world was ruled by entities who held authority over different locations.  Mountains, bodies of water, bridges, roads, deserts, oasis, trees, forests, gardens, waterfalls…etc.  The Pagans had to do whatever was demanded of these entities in order to pacify them and hopefully find favor with them, in order to survive and thrive.  These entities could take various forms including plants, animals, monsters, angels, etc.

V. The Role of Tides in Myth and Folklore

Tidal cycles have profoundly influenced human life,shaping agriculture, navigation, and fishing practices.Understanding tides has been essential for coastal communities, leading to a rich tapestry of myths surrounding their creation. Many cultures attribute the creation of tides to deities or natural events:

• In Norse mythology:tides are explained through the actions of the moon-god Máni, who pulls the waters.
• In Aboriginal Australian traditions:tides are connected to the movements of ancestral beings who shape the land and sea.

Folklore linked to tides often emphasizes their significance in navigation and fishing, highlighting the need for respect and understanding of the ocean’s rhythms. These stories serve not only as explanations for natural phenomena but also as moral lessons for living in harmony with the environment.     For the ancients they were moral lessons for living in harmony with the forces of nature and the entities connected with them.

VI. Cultural Celebrations and Rituals Related to the Sea

Festivals honoring the ocean and its deities are integral to many cultures, reflecting the sacredness of the tides.These celebrations often include rituals that demonstrate gratitude and reverence for the sea: (Sea Gods and Godesses)

• Polynesian Festivals:Celebrations such as the Hula Festival honor the ocean and its deities through dance, music, and offerings.   Hula dancing is a religious ritual.  Beware of participating.
• Mediterranean Celebrations:Events like the Feast of Saint Nicholas involve maritime processions and blessings of the waters.  I found this very interesting.  Saint Nicholas, who would have thought he was a maritime spirit?  I will include more on him later in this post.

These traditional practices not only echo the sacredness of the tides but also serve as a means of preserving cultural identities and fostering community bonds.   Boy that is a mouthful.  Practicing those traditions is how they maintian their hold on humanity.  By participating in the traditions and teaching them to your young you perpetuate the hold those spirits have on your family line.

VII. The Influence of Sacred Tides on Art and Literature

The ocean and tides have inspired countless artistic expressions, from paintings to poetry. Artists often draw on the mystique of the sea, using water and waves as central themes in their work. For instance, the Impressionists captured the play of light on water, while contemporary artists might explore environmental themes linked to the ocean’s plight.    All of the Arts, Crafts, Magic and Science stem from the evil things taught to humans by the Fallen Angels and their progen in exchange for the right to our DNA, which they used to pervert all life on earth. This is being repeated in today’s World.  The DAYS OF NOAH have returned.

Literary works are similarly enriched by sea myths and legends. Classic tales like “Moby Dick” and modern narratives often weave in the symbolism of the ocean, reflecting humanity’s struggles against the forces of nature. The impact of folklore on storytelling is profound,as these ancient tales continue to resonate in modern media, shaping our understanding of the world.    Exactly, they keep their hold alive as you pass them on to your children.  They use imagery, music, dance, geometry, symbols, numbers and narratives to keep the legacy alive through the centuries.  

VIII. Preservation of Ocean Myths and Legends in the Modern World

Oral tradition plays a crucial role in maintaining sea myths,ensuring that these stories are passed down through generations. However, modernization poses challenges to the preservation of these narratives. As societies evolve, the connection to ancient beliefs often becomes tenuous.  That is why each generation has to be introduced to them in ways that connect to the current society.  Today they come through cartoons, fantasy books, comics, video games, tv shows and movies.  Much more palatable to the young than a religious setting.  Still just as lethal.

Contemporary movements aimed at revitalizing ocean myths focus on education and community engagement, fostering a renewed interest in traditional stories.Initiatives that involve storytelling, art, and cultural exchange help keep these legends alive, bridging the gap between past and present.

IX. Environmental Concerns and Sacred Tides

The connection between mythology and environmental stewardship is increasingly relevant today.Many ancient (Pagan) beliefs emphasize respect for nature, promoting a sense of responsibility towards marine ecosystems.Understanding these connections can inform modern conservation efforts, highlighting the importance of preserving both the environment and cultural heritage.

Myth can foster respect for the ocean, encouraging sustainable practices that honor the sacred tides.By integrating traditional knowledge with contemporary environmental concerns, societies can work towards a more harmonious relationship with the sea.   Returning to the worship of the gods, godesses and other spirits. Taking humanity back to slavery to the Fallen and their progeny.  Worshiping the CREATION instead of the Creator.   Just look at how their “Environmental Agendas” are destroying life for humans already.  

X. Conclusion

In conclusion, sacred tides hold significant meaning in mythology and culture, reflecting humanity’s complex relationship with the ocean. From the historical perspectives that highlight the ocean’s revered status to the legends of sea creatures and the cultural rituals that honor these waters, the sacred tides resonate deeply within our collective consciousness. As we navigate modern challenges, the wisdom embedded in these myths can guide us towards a more respectful and sustainable coexistence with the ocean, ensuring that the waves of myth and legend continue to inspire future generations.

SPACER

We know that the ROMAN Catholic Church was established to continue the religion of the Romans and their gods and goddesses.  One of the ways that they continued the worship of pagan gods is by changing their names.  They did this to “Christianize” the pagan world.  Pagans were told they could continue to worship their gods and goddesses as they always had, only their names would change.  They applied their title of “SAINTHOOD” to the names they chose and applied those names to the pagan gods and goddesses.  In that way, all who became “Christians” under the Roman Catholic Church would be worshiping the pagan gods and goddesses unwittingly.  Thus, continuing to appease the demonic spirits and those who worshipped them.  

The spirits don’t care what name you call them as long as you continue to worship them in the manner they demand and in place of the Creator God.

SPACER

Greece honors Saint Nicholas Day, a revered figure in the Christian Orthodox faith, on December 6th each year. Known as the precursor to Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas was a devoted Greek bishop who lived in the 4th century in the Lycian town of Myra, located in present-day Turkey. His life and deeds have inspired countless legends and traditions that continue to shape the way Greece honors St Nicholas Day and Christmas is celebrated in Greece and beyond.

While the familiar image of Santa Claus, characterized by a jolly, white-bearded man in a red suit, became widely popular in the 19th century, the story of Saint Nicholas extends far back into history. This beloved bishop was known for his generosity and compassion, particularly towards the less fortunate.Greece honors St Nicholas Day in remembrance of his most famously associated tale of saving a poor family from despair by secretly providing them with gold coins, which he is said to have thrown down their chimney. This act of kindness not only saved a daughter from a life of slavery but also led to the tradition of gift-giving during the holiday season.

Interestingly, in Greece, the figure who brings gifts to children is not Santa Claus but Agios Vasilis (Saint Basil),who arrives on New Year’s Day. This distinguishes Greek traditions from those of many other nations, where Santa Claus is the central figure of Christmas celebrations. The name “Santa Claus” itself is derived from “Sinterklaas,” a name used by Germanic peoples that is a shortened form of “Saint Nicholas.” The merging of various cultural traditions in Western Europe ultimately led to the creation of the modern Santa Claus we know and love today. Meanwhile, Greece honors St Nicholas Day in a unique way distinct from these traditions.

Saint Nicholas participated in the historic Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, where the Nicene Creed was established, forming the foundation of (Roman Catholic) Christian beliefs.

He was imprisoned during the persecution under Emperor Diocletian but was later released after Constantine ascended to the throne. His strong opposition to the Arian heresy, which questioned the divinity of Christ, further solidified his reputation as a defender of the faith. Anecdotes from his life include not only his acts of generosity but also a legendary confrontation with an Arian opponent, showcasing both his compassionate and fierce nature.

In the years following his death, the veneration of Saint Nicholas grew, leading to the construction of St. Nicholas Church in Myra Lycia under Emperor Theodosius II. His remains were eventually moved to this church, but in 1087, merchants from Bari, Italy, removed his bones without permission, taking them to their city, where they are now housed in the Basilica di San Nicola. Additional relics were later taken to Venice during the First Crusade, further spreading the legacy of this beloved saint.

Saint Nicholas: A Christianized Version of Poseidon

An intriguing theory suggests that Saint Nicholas may have roots in the ancient Greek god Poseidon. According to this perspective, Saint Nicholas inherited some of Poseidon’s attributes, particularly his association with the sea.In Greek mythology, Poseidon was known for tormenting Odysseus for the death of his son, Polyphemos, which kept the hero away from his homeland for many years.

Among Greeks and Italians, Saint Nicholas is a beloved figure among sailors, fishermen, and those who depend on the sea.Over time, he has become the patron saint of several coastal cities, much like Myra Lycia.In Greek folklore, Nicholas is often referred to as “The Lord of the Sea,” and modern scholars have described him as a Christianized version of Poseidon.When Christianity became the formal state religion of the Roman Empire, churches began to rise in the ruins of the temples dedicated to ancient deities.

Many religious historians note that the life story and legends surrounding Saint Nicholas bear similarities to the mythology attributed to Poseidon, the Roman god Neptune, and the Teutonic god Hold Nickar. The feast day of Saint Nicholas, celebrated on December 6th, coincides with the day believed to be the date of his death in 342 AD. Interestingly, this day is speculated by many to have been a feast day for Poseidon in pre-Christian times,marking the onset of winter and possibly signalling the end of navigation as ships returned to harbor. Thus, Greece honors St Nicholas Day with historic and cultural significance.

DELPHI GOES TO TRIAL

November 1, 2024 by Cynthia

You know, during the 1980’s when people began to be aware of all the Satanic activities going on in our country and tried to do something about it…the public was reassured that there was “nothing to see here folks” calling it “Satanic Panic”  and accusing those reporting the truth or being “Conspiracy Theorists” and “fear … Click Here to Read More

 

Myra  Turkey

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Near modern:  Kale (Demre)

Key People: St. Nicholas  /  Chuck Yeager

Related Places: Turkey

Myra, one of the most important towns of ancient Lycia, located near the mouth of the Andriacus River on the Mediterranean Sea in southwest Turkey. Its early history is unknown. St. Paul is known to have visited the city, and in the 4th century St. Nicholas was its bishop. The Eastern Roman emperor Theodosius II made Myra the capital of Byzantine Lycia until the city fell to the caliph Hārūn al-Rashīd in 808 ce. The western scarp of its acropolis, dating from the 5th to the 3rd century bce, was sculptured into a large number of rock-cut sepulchres, imitating wooden houses and shrines, with pillared facades and reliefs. At the foot of the acropolis are the remains of a magnificent theatre, one of the largest and finest in Anatolia.

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An ostentatious part of Lycia’s urban fabric, tombs were an expression of the central role of ancestor worship and the afterlife. Strangest of all were the tower-like pillar tombs found in the ruins of Xanthos, capital of Lycia under the Persians.  Two pillar tombs dominate the acropolis: the Harpy Tomb, adorned with reliefs of female winged figures; and the Xanthian Obelisk, a giant stele covered in Lycian script that has not yet been fully deciphered. Xanthos’ greatest pillar tomb, the Tomb of Payava, with its bas-reliefs and Lycian inscriptions, was removed in 1841 by British archaeologist Sir Charles Fellows, who carted off all he could to London on the HMS Beacon. Today the tomb stands in the British Museum, alongside the original friezes from the Harpy Tomb, and the Nereid Monument, a spectacular sculptured tomb in the form of a Greek temple. From the 4th Century BCE onwards, the Lycians built rock-hewn “house” tombs – often funeral chambers carved into cliffs, with the rock face around the doorway cut to imitate the façade of a wooden Lycian house, complete with “timbers” and protruding “joists”. Most common are the sarcophagi, oblong tombs cut from Lycian limestone, typically sitting atop a lower sepulchre. In Lycian tombs the deceased would be buried in the upper sarcophagus, while relatives or slaves were interred in the chamber beneath. “There is this idea in Lycia of literally elevating important people in death,” she said. “So, in that sense, they’re heroising whoever is put in there.”   source

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Myra Roman theatre in Myra, Turkey.

SPACER

THE SECRET IS OUT!

May 15, 2023 by Cynthia

I never question or argue with GOD.  When he leads me to something.  I always assume it is important whether I see it yet or not.  It always turns out in the end to be so.  Eventually, all things fall into place and truth is revealed. I hope you are paying attention.  Because GOD wants … Click Here to Read More

Archaeologists Believe They Have Unearthed St. Nicholas’s Sarcophagus

Written and fact-checked by the Editors of ProCon

Article History

ProCon Debate: Is There Really a Santa Claus?

ProCon Issue in the News: Archaeologists working at the Church of St. Nicholas in Demre, Turkey, have found a limestonesarcophagus that they believe to be the burial place of  St. Nicholas, who is the real man on whom the legendary figure Santa Claus is based.

Archaeology News offered details of the discovery: “The sarcophagus, found within the church’s two-story annex, is believed to be the original burial site of Saint Nicholas, who lived in the ancient city of Myra during the 4th century CE. Measuring approximately two meters in length and buried at a depth of 1.5 to 2 meters, the sarcophagus features a raised lid and a pitched roof consistent with burial styles of the region. Its proximity to the church—constructed in the 5th century CE by order of Byzantine Emperor Theodosius II—adds credibility to the theory that this was the saint’s original resting place.”

The publication noted that the discovery is part of Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism “Legacy for the Future Project,” which is led by Ebru Fatma Findik, associate professor at Hatay Mustafa Kemal University. Findik explained to a Turkish news agency, “Some historical sources mention that St. Nicholas was buried near the sacred area of the city of Myra,” thus “the discovery of a sarcophagus near the church, which is believed to be the resting place of St. Nicholas, could indicate that this site may indeed be the sacred area in question. We can say that we have reached archaeological evidence that confirms historical sources about St. Nicholas’ burial place being in the city’s sacred area.” Findik and her team will continue excavations, looking for additional information about the sarcophagus and its occupant.

Although little is known for sure about St. Nicholas, his kindness and generosity and habit of gift giving crystallized through the centuries into the modern-day Santa Claus.

Sources

• Gretchen Eichenberg, “ ‘Santa Claus’ Sarcophagus Believed to Be Discovered During Excavation Project” (December 16, 2024), foxnews.com
• Encyclopӕdia Britannica, “St. Nicholas” (updated December 13, 2024), britannica.com
• Dario Radley, “Sarcophagus of ‘Real Santa Claus’ Found at St. Nicholas Church in Turkey” (December 7, 2024), archaeologymag.com

SPACER

St. Nicholas

bishop of Myra

Also known as: Nicholas of Bari, Nicholas of Myra, Santa Claus

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: May 19, 2025 • Article History

Quick Facts

Also called:Nicholas of Bari or Nicholas of Myra

Flourished: 4th century, Myra, Lycia, Asia Minor [near modern Demre, Turkey]

Flourished: c.301 – c.400  Myra

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St. Nicholas (flourished 4th century, Myra, Lycia, Asia Minor [near modern Demre, Turkey]; Western feast day December 6; Eastern feast day December 19) was one of the most popular minor saints commemorated in the  Eastern  and Western churches and now traditionally associated with the festival of Christmas. In many countries, children receive gifts on December 6, St. Nicholas Day. He is one of the patron saints of children and of sailors.

Nicholas’s existence is not attested by any historical document, so nothing certain is known of his life except that he was probably bishop of Myra in the 4th century. According to tradition, he was born in the ancient Lycian seaport city of Patara, and, when young, traveled to Palestine and Egypt. He became bishop of Myra soon after returning to Lycia. He was imprisoned and likely tortured during the persecution of Christians by the Roman emperor Diocletian but was released under the rule of Constantine the Great. He may have attended the first Council of Nicaea (325), where he allegedly struck the heretic Arius in the face.

Nicholas’s reputation for generosity and kindness gave rise to legends of miracles he performed for the poor and unhappy. He was reputed to have given marriage dowries of gold to three girls whom poverty would otherwise have forced into lives of prostitution and to have restored to life three children who had been chopped up by a butcher and put in a tub of brine.

Patara Patara is a name with multiple meanings and origins. It can refer to a port city in Asia Minor, a spirituality unisex name, or a temple and oracle of Apollo1

Discover the meanings of thousands of Biblical names in Abarim Publications’ Biblical Name Vault: Patara Patara meaning Patara in Biblical Greek:  Παταρα The name Patara: Summary Meaning: Basket(s) Etymology: From patar, the Lycian word for basket. The name Patara in the Bible The name Patara belonged to one of the port cities of Asia Minor, located at the south-west point of Anatolia (modern Turkey). It was originally Lycian but in Roman times it became attached to the province of Pamphylia. Patara was a bustling sea port but traditionally mostly noted for its temple and oracle of Apollo, which, according to writers such as Virgil and Plutarch, were second only to those in Delphi. The name Patara occurs only once in the Bible. It is mentioned as where Paul stopped on his way from Macedonia to Jerusalem (Acts 21:1). Paul doesn’t seem to have stayed long in Patara (or at all, even) and journeyed on to Phoenicia. Etymology and meaning of the name Patara The Greek name Patara is a transliteration of the original Lycian name Pttara, which in turn derives from the name of a mountain, namely Mount Patar, which is mentioned in the Hittite Yalburt Inscription, and which turn appears to have been named after the Lycian word for basket, again patar (Lycia – Crossroads of Hittite and Greek Traditions? — Annick Payne). Later Greek mythology dictated that Patara was named after Patarus, who was a son of Apollo and Lycia, daughter of Xanthus (Hecataeus, FGrH.IF.256).

Patara Patara is a distinct and melodic name with roots in various cultures. It has been associated with meanings such as ‘light’ or ‘luminous’ depending on the origin—as it is derived from the word ‘patara’ meaning ‘to shine’ in some Native American languages. Meaning: to shine, light (Native American origin) Origin: Patara has its origins in Native American language, with implications of brightness and uniqueness. Usage: Patara is predominantly considered unisex, suitable for both male and female individuals. I found this quite interesting, since the bible says One does not hide their light under a “basket”.  So, Patara is a mountain that is called “Basket” to hide the LIGHT?? The light of GOD?  Masking God’s WORD with the Oracle of Apollo the SUN GOD who represents the FALSE LIGHT OF SATAN.

 
Relics and devotion

LEFT: Relics of St. Nicholas:  The tomb of St. Nicholas in the crypt of the Basilica di San Nicola, in Bari, Italy

St. Nicholas was buried in his church at Myra, and by the 6th century his shrine there had become well known. In 1087 Italian sailors or merchants stole his alleged remains from Myra and took them to Bari, Italy; this removal greatly increased the saint’s popularity in Europe, and Bari became one of the most crowded of all pilgrimage centers. Nicholas’s relics remain enshrined in the 11th-century basilica of San Nicola at Bari, though fragments have been acquired by churches around the world. In 2017 researchers dated one such relic fragment, a piece of hip bone, from a church in the United States and confirmed it to be from the 4th century.

In the Middle Ages, devotion to Nicholas extended to all parts of Europe. He became the patron saint of Russia and Greece; of charitable fraternities and guilds; of children, sailors, unmarried girls, merchants, and pawnbrokers; and of such cities as Fribourg, in Switzerland, and Moscow. Thousands of European churches were dedicated to him—one, built by the Roman emperor Justinian I at Constantinople (now Istanbul), as early as the 6th century.

Nicholas’s miracles were a favorite subject for medieval artists and liturgical plays, and his traditional feast day was the occasion for the ceremonies of the Boy Bishop, a widespread European custom in which a boy was elected bishop and reigned until Holy Innocents’ Day (December 28).

Santa Claus

After the Reformation, devotion to Nicholas disappeared in all the Protestant countries of Europe except Holland, where his legend persisted as Sinterklaas (a Dutch variant of the name St. Nicholas). Dutch colonists took this tradition with them to New Amsterdam (now New York City) in the American colonies in the 17th century. Sinterklaas (without his helper Zwarte Piet) was adopted by the country’s English-speaking majority under the name Santa Claus, and his legend of a kindly old man was united with old Nordic folktales of a magician who punished naughty children and rewarded good children with presents. The resulting image of Santa Claus in the United States crystallized in the 19th century, and he has ever since remained the patron of the gift-giving festival of Christmas.

Under various guises, St. Nicholas was transformed into a similar benevolent gift-giving figure in the Netherlands, Belgium, and other northern European countries. In the United Kingdom, Santa Claus is known as Father Christmas.

Lycia

Lycia

ancient district, Turkey
Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Lycia, ancient maritime district of southwestern Anatolia (now Turkey). Lycia lay along the Mediterranean  coast between   Caria and Pamphylia, and extended inland to the ridge of the Taurus Mountains. In Egyptian, Hittite, and Ugaritic records of the 14th and 13th centuries bc, the Lycians are described as wedged between the Hittites on the north and the Achaean Greeks on the coast. Known as Luka, they participated in the Sea Peoples’ attempt to invade Egypt in the late 13th century. Nothing more is known of the Lycians until the 8th century bc, when they reappear as a thriving maritime people confederated in at least a score of cities that made up the Lycian League. Neither Phrygia nor Lydia were able to bring Lycia under its control, but the country eventually fell to Cyrus’ general Harpagus after a heroic resistance. Under Achaemenian Persia and later under the rule of the Romans, Lycia enjoyed relative freedom and was able to preserve its federal institutions until the time of Augustus. It was annexed to Roman Pamphylia in ad 43 and became a separate Roman province after the 4th century. Archaeological discoveries made on sites at Xanthus, Patara, Myra, and other of its cities have revealed a distinctive type of funerary architecture.

Xanthus is a masculine name from the Ancient Greek word ‘xanthos,’ meaning ‘yellowish’ or ‘blonde’2. In Greek mythology, Xanthus was the name of a river god in Asia Minor, known as Scamander in the Iliad4. The Latin word “xanthus” means “yellow” or “golden”

Xanthus is a name found in Greek mythology and history, associated with several individuals and creatures: Xanthus, an Argive prince who later became king of Pelasgia (Lesbos).  Xanthus, one of the immortal horses, offspring of the harpy Podarge and the West wind, Zephyrus. 1 Xanthus, an immortal horse that drew the chariot of Achilles during the Trojan War. 1 Xanthus, the gods’ name for Scamander, the great river of Troy. 1 Xanthus, one of the twelve sons of the god Pan who were allies of Dionysus during the latter’s Indian campaign. 1 Xanthus, a son of Phaenops who was killed by Diomedes.

Xanthus, principal city of ancient Lycia. The ruined city, situated on a cliff above the mouth of the Koca (Xanthus) River in what is now southwestern Turkey, was designated (along with the nearby Letoon religious centre) a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988. The early history of Xanthus is unclear: although it is mentioned in early Lycian inscriptions, no Bronze Age remains have been found within the city. According to the Iliad, the Lycians, led by the hero Sarpedon, were the most prominent allies of Troy in the Trojan War. Xanthus reappears in the historical records of the 6th century bce as the principal city of Lycia. About 540 bce it was besieged by Harpagus, general of the Persian king Cyrus II. The Lycians, forced within their walls, collected their wives and children and burned them, together with their slaves and treasure, under their acropolis. Then, attacking the Persians, they died fighting to the last man.   source

Greek Name: Σκαμανδρος Transliteration: Skamandros Latin Spelling: Scamander Translation: River Scamander Greek Name: Ξανθος Transliteration: Xanthos Latin Spelling: Xanthus Translation: River Xanthus SKAMANDROS (Scamander) was a River-God of the Troad in north-western Anatolia (modern Turkey). During the Trojan War he tried to drown the hero Akhilleus (Achilles) but was driven back by Hephaistos (Hephaestus) with flame. The River Skamandros was the largest river of the Trojan plain. Its headwaters were located in the foothills of Mount Ida and its mouth near the entrance to the Hellespont. Several of its tributaries were also personified as River-Gods, such as the Simoeis, Heptaporos, and Kebren (Cebren). The most significant neighbouring rivers were the Rhodios to the east and Satnoeis in the south. PARENTS OF SCAMANDER [1] OKEANOS & TETHYS (Hesiod Theogony 345, Hyginus Preface) [2] ZEUS (Homer Iliad, Philostratus Elder 2.8, Ptolemy Hephaestion 4) SCAMANDER (Skamandros), the god of the river Scamander, in Troas, was called by the gods Xanthus. Being insulted by Achilles, he entered into a contest with the Greek hero; but Hera sent out Hephaestus to assist Achilles, and the god of fire dried up the waters of Scamander, and frightened Scamander, until Hera ordered Hephaestus to spare the river-god. (Hom. Il. xx. 74, xxi. 136, &c.; Hes. Theog. 345.) Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.  CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES Hesiod, Theogony 337 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or 7th B.C.) : “Tethys bore to Okeanos (Oceanus) the swirling Potamoi (Rivers) . . . Euenos (Evenus) and Ardeskos (Ardescus), and Skamandros (Scamander), who is holy [in a long list of Rivers].” Philostratus the Elder, Imagines 2. 8 (trans. Fairbanks) (Greek rhetorician C3rd A.D.) : “[The river] Meles through his son [Homer] will grant to . . . the [River] Xanthos (Xanthus) to be born from Zeus, and to Okeanos (Oceanus) that all rivers spring from him.” [N.B. Xanthos is another name for Skamandros.] Ptolemy Hephaestion, New History Book 4 (summary from Photius, Myriobiblon 190) (trans. Pearse) (Greek mythographer C1st to C2nd A.D.) : “The author [Hephaestion] speaks of double appellations in Homer; one is that used among the gods, the other current among men; the Xanthos (Xanthus) is the only river which is a son of Zeus.” [N.B. Xanthos is another name for Skamandros.]

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Did ANYONE KNOW that our government is linked to LYCIA??

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not to be confused with Lydians, another Anatolian people.

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Lycians (Greek: Λύκιοι, romanized: Lúkioi) is the name of various peoples who lived, at different times, in Lycia, a geopolitical area in Anatolia (also known as Asia Minor).

The earliest known inhabitants of the area were the Solymoi (or Solymi), also known as the Solymians.^[2] Later in prehistory, another people, known as the Milyae (or Milyans) migrated to the same area; they spoke an Anatolian language (Indo-European) known as Milyan and the area was known as Milyas.

According to Herodotus, Milyas was subsequently settled by a people originating in Crete, whose endonym  was trm̃mili – the hellenized form of this name was Termilae (Τερμίλαι). Under a leader named Sarpedon, the Termilae had been driven out of Crete (according to Herodotus) by Minos and settled in a large part of Milyas. Subsequently, the Milyae were concentrated increasingly in the adjoining mountains, whereas the Termilae remained a maritime people. The area occupied by the Termilae gradually became known to them as trm̃mis.

Greek sources referred to trm̃mis as Lykia (Latin: Lycia). The reason for this, according to Greek mythology, was that an Athenian aristocrat named Lykos (Lycus) and his followers settled in trm̃mis, after being exiled from Athens. The land was known to the Greeks as Lukia (later Lykia; Latin Lycia) and its inhabitants were referred to as Lukiae (later Lykiae; Latin Lyciani). However, trm̃mili remained their endonym.

From the 5th or 4th centuries BCE, Lycia came under increasing Greek social and political influences. The Lycian language became extinct and was replaced by Ancient Greek, some time around 200 BCE.

 I of Constantinople wrote that Theopompus in one of his books mention how the Lycians, under the command of their king Pericles fought against Telmessos and they managed to corner them within their walls and forced them to negotiate.^[3]

During the period of Alexander the Great, Nearchus was appointed viceroy of Lycia and of the land adjacent to it as far as Mount Taurus.^[4]

Later classical scholars offer differing and sometimes plainly erroneous accounts of the Lycians.  Strabo  distinguished “Trojan Lycians” from the Termilae mentioned by Herodotus.^[5][6] Cicero stated flatly that the Lycians were a Greek tribe.^[7][8]

According to Herodotus, the culture and customs of the Lycians resembled a hybrid of Cretan culture (like that of the Termilae) and that of the neighboring Carians (the Carians spoke an Anatolian language and one might infer from this that they were closely connected culturally to the Milyae). For instance, Herodotus mentioned a unique custom, whereby Lycian males named “themselves after their mothers” and emphasized their “mother’s female ascendants“.^[1] This passage has normally been understood as meaning that the Lycians were a matrilineal society.

In Greek culture, Lycia (like Delos and Delphi) was sacred to Apollo, who was also known as Lycian, Delian and Pythian (Delphi).^[10][11] In the Homeric Hymns, Apollo is mentioned as the lord of Lycia: “O Lord, Lycia is yours and lovely Maeonia and Miletus, charming city by the sea, but over wave-girt Delos you greatly reign your own self”.^[12] Bacchylides in his Epinician Odes, called Apollo “lord of the Lycians’.^[13] Pindar in his Pythian Odes, called Apollo the “lord of Lycia and Delos, you who love the Castalian spring of Parnassus“.^[14] In the  Aristophanes work The Knights, at some point Cleon called Apollo the god of Lycia.^[15] Semos the Delian wrote: “Some say the birth of Apollo took place in Lycia, others Delos, others Zoster in Attica, others Tegyra in Boeotia.“^[16]

The 2nd century CE geographer Pausanias wrote that the Lycians in Patara showed a bronze bowl in their temple of Apollo, saying that Telephus dedicated it and Hephaestus made it.^[17] In addition, Pausanias also wrote that the Lycian poet Olen composed some of the oldest Greek hymns.^[18] Clement of Alexandria wrote that the statues of Zeus and Apollo, along with the lions that were dedicated to them, were created by Phidias.^[19] Solinus wrote that the Lycians dedicated a city to Hephaestus and called it Hephaestia.^[20]

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The Mysterious Ancient Greek city of Lycia

February 24, 2019

Lycia is a mountainous region in south-west Anatolia (also known as Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey). The earliest references to Lycia can be traced through Hittite texts to sometime before 1200 BCE, where it is known as the Lukka Lands. The city is mentioned in both Hittite and Egyptian texts, where they the Lycians are associated with a group known as the Sea Peoples. Lycia is also recorded as having contact with both the Greek  and  Roman civilizations, granting the region a recorded inhabited lifespan of over 2,000 years.

The name Lukka has Finnish and Italian origins, and it means ‘light’2. It is a distinctive variant of more common names like Luke or Luca, which share similar etymological origins14. The name is also associated with the region of Lycia in southwestern Anatolia, which was named after the Luwians3.

Luwian is an ancient language within the Anatolian branch of the Indo-European language family1. The Luwians were an ancient people who migrated from the Balkans to Anatolia (present-day Turkey) around the 2nd millennium BCE2. Luwian was spoken in central and western Anatolia and northern Syria until about 600 BC3. The Luwians formed part of the population of the Hittite Empire and adjoining states4. Their culture thrived in the Late Bronze Age near Troy, shaping cultural exchanges that defined the ancient world5.

MYTHOLOGICAL ORIGINS

Lycia appears as an important figure in Greek mythology and is frequently referenced. The historian Herodotus records one version of Lycian descent, claiming that the inhabitants of Lycia were originally from Crete (1.173.3). He relates their origin to a royal dispute between the two sons of Europa, namely Sarpedon and Minos. Sarpedon, the defeated brother, was cast out but went on to found Lycia. During this period, Herodotus claims that the settlement was known as Termilae. It was not until a man called Lycus, who was banished from Athens, arrived at Termilae that the site was then known as Lycia.

Sarpedon Etymology The name “Sarpedon” (Greek: Σαρπηδών) potentially derives from the Ancient Greek root meaning “to tear” or “to rend,” reflecting the turbulent and martial nature often associated with his myth.

The name Sarpedon has ancient Greek origins and means  “a kind of lizard”

Sarpedon in Cilicia November 2023 DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.13668.49289 Authors: Angelo Papi This article is an attempt to revive the hypothesis put forward by Robert R. Stieglitz about the Phoenician origin of Sarpedon, the son of the “Saraptian girl”. Notwithstanding the fact that the Lycian interpretation of PN “Sarpedon” is almost commonplace, it is advisable to consider the “eggshells” of Phoenician origins that still linger on. The explanations put forward from both perspectives to shed light on this PN may be compatible. However, I focus only on the “Phoenician track” and try to make sense of other occurrences of “Sarpedon/Sarpedonian” as a toponym in ancient Greek literature. GENESIS HYPERTEXT PROJECT Angelo Papi Sarpedon in Cilicia(1°) Cape Sarpedon and Lena de la Bagascia The island of Sarpedon is the place where the Gorgons live, in the middle of the Ocean,1 but Sarpedon is also a cape near Silifke,2usually identified with today’s İncekum Burnu,3Lena de Labagaxain the Venetian portolan of Marin Sanudo.4 Not all scholars agree, and TIB has suggested a different location3 km southwest of ancient Holmoi (Taşucu).5 More recently, Varinlioglu et al. (2023)have proposed to identifyCape Sarpedon with “the rugged headland of Ovacık (Tisan), then known as Cape Cavalière” (Kaye and Rauh 2020 154).6The latter is also called Cape Zephyrion,7 name shared with İncekum Burnu, aliasLena de Labagaxa, just one version of a place name8 whose first part Lena means “tongue,” namely “sandbank,” while the second part is parsed as La bagaxa, meaning “the prostitute.”9 Gorgons The three Gorgon sisters are considered as some of the most dangerous and terrifying creatures in Greek mythology. Born to Phorcys and Ceto (also known as Keto). Phorcys is primordial sea god, while his brother-sister Ceto is a sea goddess., the Gorgons are members of a very strange family, which included many fierce monsters such as the Graeaa, Echidna, and Cerberus. The three Gorgon sisters: Stheno, Euryale and Medusa Hesiod describes as very absolutely hideous beings, both inside and out. They are almost like birds as they have wings and claws. Their bodies are primarily covered with scales. They have tusks. The scales they have on their bodies is a feature they acquired from their parents, who were sea deities.  In Greek mythology, the Gorgons are three sisters of immense power and abilities. They are famous for having boar-like fangs, scaly skin, long tongues, and most importantly venomous snakes for hair. In the myths, the Gorgons have the ability to turn anyone that gazed directly at them to stone. It’s been said that the meaning of the name “Gorgon” comes from the Greek word “gorgos”, which means ‘fierce’ or ‘grim’. source The awkward reference to a tomb of the Lycian heroin Cilicia, which is only supported by a disputed scholium to a verse10of the Aeschylean Supplices,11would have the chance to be less obscure if we compare Labagaxa with the Hebrew ʾlgbyš (ʾelgabiš), namely “hail.”12Perhaps it is just a coincidence that Porto Cavaliere was hit by a violent hailstorm for nine hours when Tschihatschwef visited the town on his way to Kelenderis in November 1848.13 Sarpedon, son of Europa “the Saraptian girl” Although the Phoenician word for “hail” is not attested, the Ugaritic ảlgbṯ, “stone,” is a good clue,14 and a metathesis does not prohibit assuming a Phoenician origin of the Cilician toponym, but possibly we can go further.15Indeed, a tradition links Sarpedon to Europa16 defined by Lycophron as “the Saraptian girl” (1300). This is what Hornblower (2015 456) derives from Saraptian,17so that Sarpedon18 could simply mean “Phoenician.”19 The “Sarpedonian Apollo,”20 closely related to the birds of Seleukia,21could be identified with Resheph, the Phoenician Apollo.22 11Aesch. Supp. 869–870: “Alas, alas! So may you perish past all help, driven from your course over the surging waves by eastern breezes off the sandy tomb of Sarpedon!”. Cf. Citti (2015 17–18); Lomiento (2015 123 n. 66). Apollo and Resheph The proximity of Cilicia to Cyprus and the contacts between the port of Ura and Ugarit in LBA suggest the adoption of a cult that was very ancient and widespread in Ancient Near East. The main dangers for farmers have always been the same: locusts and hail, as epigraphic records show, and these two functions may have conflated in the Cilician temple as early as the late 8th century BC, if we accept one of the possible interpretations of ršp ṣprm, “Resheph of the birds,” the equivalent of the Luwian Runta23 at Karatepe Korykos and the punching ball If Cape Sarpedon is now tightly confined within two other capes, both called called Zephyrion, we must seriously develop the meteorological connection indicated above and confirmed by Korykos, the name the cave where Typhon dwells, according to Greek mythology.24 The richest account of the fierce battle between Zeus and the “monster of hurricanes and winds” (Hes. Theog. 846-847) comes from Nonnos, who tells how hailstones used by Zeus as projectiles cut off its hands (2.426-432). The etymology of Korykos is so controversial25 that Beekes and Beek (2010 810) distinguish the GN from the common name κώρυκος (translates to horn). However, the latter word can be applied to a variety of places26 – not just the Cilician cave – as it means “knapsack, wallet,” but also “leather bag or ball, to strike with the fists as a gymnastic exercise” (MGS). A place like the cave of Typhon near Cape Sarpedon, which is associated with storms in Greek literature, could well deserve the name κώρυκος (translates to horn). Looking at the places so named, be they mountains, such as the site near Ionian Erythras,27 or on the tops of mountains, such as the cave above Delphi,28 or by the sea, such as Korykos in Crete,29 Pamphylia30 and Lycia,31 the decisive factor for the same designation may be the frequency of hailstorms, so that the places are regarded as “leathern sack hung up for punching” (LSJ). It could easily be argued that hail can strike anywhere, but in fact there are few places that have records of destructive meteorological events. Furthermore, the purely statistical aspect is overlaid by cultural influences, which in ancient times often associated violent storms or even earthquakes with subterranean winds.32 Typhon itself, who dwells in the depths of the Korykian cave or under Mount Aetna, is “the personification of the elemental forces imprisoned under a particular place on the earth” (Hesiodus 1966 381). Also in the Lycian case, where Korykos is Chimairas Oros, i.e., the Mount Chimera (TIB VIII 502–503), it is evident that certain places became conspicuous by extraordinary exhalations. Typhon and meteorology In Cilicia, the cave of Typhon was regarded as the source of the winds that bring destruction,33 and as such it deserved due control by Zeus, the supreme god who also ruled over hail as “Chalazeos” in the Cilician Anazarbos.34 The connection between monsters such as Typhon and Chimera, associated with fire and volcanoes, and places known for violent cold phenomena such as hailstorms, may belong to a mythological pair of opposites found in the Nonnian version of the Cilician myth, in which hail (cold) is a weapon in Zeus’ hands against Typhon (warm). Sarpedon and his taste for the coastline I quote what Davies and Finglass (2017 253) say about fr. 6 of Stesichorus’ Geryoneis: “A scholium on Apollonius Rhodius reports that Stesichorus’ poem referred to an island in the Atlantic as ‘Sarpedonia’. This island first appears (as Sarpedon) at Cypria fr. 30 GEF […] (Sarpedonia or Sarpedon was also the name of promontories in Thrace and Cilicia: see Crates of Mallos fr. 127 Broggiato with B.’s n.).” From this we conclude that the places named after Sarpedon are generally located on the coast. Sarpedon and the Phoenician purple If we try to find a reasonable connection between the toponyms with the name “Sarpedon” or similar, the conclusion could be as follows: “We do not know why the island’s name so resembles that of the Lycian commander in the Iliad” (Davies and Finglass 2017 253).35Basically, all we know is that Stesichorus “mentioned in the Geryoneis another Atlantic island, the island of Sarpedon: it seems not unlikely that the mention came in the same context”(Barrett 2007 22), namely that of Herakles’(Hercules) journey to or from the Hesperidesor to or from Erytheia. At this point, Sarpedon can boast the gift of trilocation and looks like the demon whose cult is attested in the Acts of Paul and Thecla.36 “Thekla expels in turn four indigenous pagan deities: Sarpedonios (a local Sarpedon-Apollo oracle), Athena, Aphrodite, and Zeus.Sarpedonios she expels from his shrine “by the breakwater of our shore”(i.e., Cape Sarpedonion)” (Johnson 2016 66), We have no intention of expelling one demon in order to embrace another,but Erytheiameans “red,” and this “may be yet another designation for Sarpedon,” as M. York (1995 15)astutely suggests. I have already pointed outthat all the places with the name “Sarpedon” are located by the sea and are easily connected by the Phoenician trade network.This is no big deal for the Lycian Sarpedon, but we should always remember that his father Zeus (Il. 15.458-461)37shed bloody drops for the son he had by the “the Saraptian girl”. Is this what survives in Homer of the Phoenician pedigree of the Lycian Sarpedon?38 Erytheia, the “red island,” belongs more to myth than to geography, and scholars therefore disagree about its location.It seems that the favourite is adeira/Gades/Cadiz(Stanley et al. 2022):39 “Erytheia, eine der legendären Inseln der Hesperiden, wurde in der Antike meist in der Gegend von Gadeira oder Tartessos gesucht. Manche Forscher identifizieren sie mit der Insel Mogador” (Stückelberger and Grasshoff 2017 389). Among those who have chosen Mogador, a group of scholars believe that this should be one of the Purple Islands(Marx 2016 37–38),40 where the presence of the Phoenicians is ancient and archeologically proven(Lipiński 2004 466–468). spacer The Phoenicians were a shrewd, entrepreneurial race of people known for their trade in rare and precious purple and blue dyes235. They were nicknamed “The Purple People” because of their association with these dyes1. The Phoenicians were involved in various trades, including glass manufacture and glass-blowing3. They survived by keeping powerful occult secrets from other factions Much like the Ruling Elite or “Stakeholders” as they call themselves, of today.  They keep all the important information Hidden/Occulted to protect their Corporations, Properties and Riches protected.  They keep the rest of the world in the dark, unable to perceive their deeds of darkness. Iranian neighbours to the west THE PHOENICIANS The Phoenicians were never a unified nation, never really a nation at all, and in fact their identity was imposed on them by the Greeks. The Levant around the beginning of the 1st millennium BC (modern Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Palestine) was inhabited by a Semitic people known as Canaanites. Some of them occupied cities along the coast – or, in the case of Tyre, an island off the coast. These cities (Beirut, Sidon and Byblos, along with Tyre) developed as trading centres, with their people (Phoenicians to the Greeks)as entrepreneurs selling the rich resources of the Levant to the Mediterranean worlds across the sea. The purple trade They held a monopoly in exploiting the small mollusc which produces the purple dye – symbol of wealth and success for ruling elites – Roman senators had purple borders to their tunics, and their emperors could wear solid purple. The Greeks assumed that their name, Phoenicians, meant “The purple people”: although it also relates to phoinix, meaning a date palm. They planted trading outposts all over the southern Mediterranean (unchallenged by Greeks – except in Sicily – who monopolised the northern part). Carthage, Palermo, Tangier, Algiers, Malaga and Gibraltar all reveal Phoenician/Canaanite origins. The color purple is associated with royalty, mysticism, and the supernatural12345. It represents spiritual symbolism, mystery, intuition, and divine connection, making it a powerful choice in witchcraft. The Color Purple – Its derivation and Masonic Significance “It may be, in the years to come, on your head may rest the laurel leaves of victory, and on your breast, may hang jewels fit to grace the diadem of an eastern potentate; nay, more than these, with light added to the coming light, your ambitious feet may tread round after round of the ladder that leads to fame in our mystic circle, and even the purple of our Fraternity may rest upon your honoured shoulder.”  It is axiomatic that the colour is descriptive of the higher echelons of Freemasonry, and that the candidate can only hope to learn the true significance of it on reaching the apex of the organisation. The combination of red and blue into purple or violet, is the colour of the York Rite Mark,Past, and Most Excellent Master degreeswhich fall between the degree of Master Mason and that of the Royal Arch. Mackey (Albert G. Mackey) says that the colour purple in this case therefore symbolizes the close connection and harmony which should ever exist between these two portions of the Masonic System… Portal’s Symbolic Colours states that purple, in the profane language of colours, symbolizes constancy in spiritual combats because blue denotes fidelity and red, war. We know that purple has always been an emblem of exalted office and purple the legendary colour of the robes of kings and high priests. The purple dye at that time reportedly could only be produced by crushing a certain shellfish, murex, from Phoenicia, which made it very expensive and contributed to limiting its use. Purple Color in Visible Spectrum The color purple holds a unique position in the visible spectrum. It is not a color of the rainbow; instead, it sits at the end of the visible light spectrum, where the short wavelength of blue meets the long wavelength of red. This positioning alone gives purple a sense of mystique, as it blends the calm stability of blue with the fierce energy of red to create something entirely different. Violet/Purple Symbolism on the Gay Pride Flag The last color, violet (or purple) represents spirit.Purple is often thought of as a regal, royal color that, on its own, denotes pride.Like blue, purple is considered a calming color, but rather than being associated only with calm, the color purple connects us to the spiritual realm.   source spacer  Sarpedonian blood Knowing that the “Sarpedonian” island is the bay of the Gorgons(Lazzeri 2008 335–349), whose blood is so precious to generations of people in Anatolia and elsewhere, what is really important as a scaffold for understanding the chronotope in which the idea of a Cilician tomb for the Lycian hero was born? Did recurring hailstorms that struck the coast when Zephyrus was still a stormy wind with Boreas(Il. 23.192-218) perhaps set the stage for these promontories to be called Zephyrion?Or was a part of the cliffs near Seleukia called Petra Poikile because, according to Oppian, it was reddened by the shattered heads of Typhon?41Yes, the hailstorm was the weapon used by Zeus to defeat the monster, and in Tschihatschwef’s account of the damage caused by hail at Porto Cavaliere quoted above, his horses were nearly killed. Yes, blood and hail can become a kind of hendiade for the coming war, but I still prefer to think that the unlikely tradition of Sarpedon buried in this strip of sand, mistakenly transliterated as “prostitute’s tongue”, arose because this was the scene of trade between Cilicia and the Phoenicians.A very intense traffic since the time of Ugarit and it meant “purple” for all.

Lycia also appears in the story of Bellerophon, who became the king after Iobates, while it also participated in the Trojan War on the side of the Trojans. Sarpedon and Glaucus were the two most important Lycian leaders in the war and were granted extensive lands for their efforts in Homer’s Iliad.

Bellerophon, also known as Bellerophontes or Hipponous, was a divine Corinthian hero of Greek mythology. The name Bellerophon may have been derived from the words belos (“projectile”) and phontēs (“killer”), meaning “he who kills with a projectile.”

Bellerophon local hero (god) of Corinth, who slew the Chimera, from Latin form of Greek Bellerophontēs, probably literally “killer of (the demon) Bellerus,” with -phontes “killer of.”

Bellerophon or Bellerophontes (Ancient Greek: Βελλεροφών; Βελλεροφόντης; lit. “slayer of Belleros”) or Hipponous (Ancient Greek: Ἱππόνοος; lit. “horse-knower”), was a divine Corinthian hero of Greek mythology, the son of Poseidon and Eurynome, and the foster son of Glaukos. He was “the greatest hero and slayer of monsters, alongside Cadmus and Perseus, before the days of Heracles“. Among his greatest feats was killing the Chimera of the Iliad     Chimera monster, a fearsome fire-breathing mix of lion, goat, and snake15.

THE REGION OF LYCIA IS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH THE NAME LUKKA LANDS, A SITE REFERENCED IN BOTH HITTITE & EGYPTIAN LITERATURE. 

LUKKA The Lukka, who were also from the Aegean area, were known as seafaring pirates during the 14th century B.C.E. Hittite and Ugaritic sources indicate that the Lukka lands probably were located in southwestern Anatolia. This corner of Anatolia was called Lycia (Lukia in Greek) in classical times.The Lukka were probably the ancestors of the Lycians, who in classical times inhabited southwestern Anatolia.  Source

LUKKA Many pirates were based in southwest Asia Minor, in regions then called Achaean territory and Lukka lands, and their raids focused on the sea lanes around Cyprus. Some fearsome warriors, such as the Shardana, served as mercenaries for the Egyptians. By the end of the 13th century B.C., Pharaoh Merneptah battled a coalition of Sea Peoples that included the Lukka, Shardana, and Tursha (Etruscans).  source

GEOGRAPHY

Lycia is a mountainous region lying on the south-west coast of modern-Turkey. In the ancient world, the site appears to have had less than 100 hundred settlements. Some of these settlements are mentioned frequently in Greek and Latin literature, such as Xanthos, Patara, and Olympos. The region is often associated with the settlement of Caria, located on the north border of Lycia. Ancient references to the Lycians claim that their customs are like the Carians, suggesting that the sites were occupied by one ethnic group. As both cities are referenced together in Homer’s Iliad, Lycia and Caria may have had some form of ethnic relations.

The region of Lycia is also associated with the name Lukka Lands, a site referenced in both Hittite and Egyptian literature. These references to a region called the Lukka Lands have provided historians with an alternative version of Lycian heritage. It is now widely believed among historians that this location in Hittite texts was indeed the later site of Lycia.

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

The first references of Lycia refer to the Lukka Lands in the late Bronze Age. Whilst the Lycians themselves created no literary record, they appear in both Hittite and Egyptian literature during this period. Both kingdoms record the Lycians as relatively hostile and rebellious peoples. Under the reign of the Suppiluliumas, in the 14th century BCE, the Lukka Lands remain in a state of constant rebellion. As the Lukka Lands were able to oppose the dominance of the Hittites, it is thought that they held a strong settlement and military influence.

In Egyptian sources, the Lukka peoples are recorded in a confederacy called the ‘Sea Peoples’. The Sea Peoples were naval raiders active between c. 1276-1178 BCE. Lukka is listed along with several other settlements for their involvement in these naval raids on tablets from Tel-el-Amarna in Egypt. These raids are attested throughout the reigns of Ramesses II (The Great, 1279-1213 BCE), his son Merenptah (1213-1203 BCE), and Ramesses III (1186-1155 BCE). Again this hostile contact with Egypt suggests that Lukka Lands held a strong military influence in the region.

After the collapse of the Hittite Empire, Lycia emerged as an independent “Neo-Hittite” kingdom. Homer’s Iliad and Herodotus’ Historia were both composed by Greeks from Anatolia during this period of independence. Their perspectives of Anatolia are invaluable for creating an understanding of Lycian society. Homer’s Iliad provides the earliest appearance of the Lycians in Greek literature, in which the people of Lycia are recorded as allies of Priam and fighting at Troy (2.876-7).

The Lycians were also involved during the Persian Wars of the 5th century BCE. However, they appear allied with the Persians as they contributed 50 ships to the Persian fleet in 480 BCE. The Persians held control over Lycia from 546 BCE after they had overrun the central city of Xanthus. During the aftermath of the Persian Wars, Lycia appears as a subject of the Delian League but reverted to Persian control soon after. In the 4th century BCE, they were ruled by dynasts, most notably the figure Pericles. However, this governance readily submitted to Alexander the Great during his expansion into the region (334-323 BCE).

After the death of Alexander the Great (324 BCE), Lycia was then handed to Ptolemy I.  It was later conquered by Antiochus III in 197 BCE during the period of turbulence following Alexander’s death (also known as the Wars of the Diadochi or Successor Wars). After the Battle of Magnesia in 189 BCE, Antiochus III was defeated and so Lycia was given by the Romans to Rhodes. The Lycians resisted Rhodian control and in 177 BCE the Lycians sent an embassy to Rome complaining of the harsh Rhodian treatment. The issue was not resolved and the Lycians took up arms and remained in conflict until 167 BCE when the Senate decided to free Lycia and her neighbour Caria.

During the Roman civil wars (1st century BCE), the Lycians suffered from the plunders of Brutus and Cassius, who had assassinated Caesar. After the pair’s defeat, Mark Antony was given control of the East, including Lycia. During this period Lycia was merely incorporated into Asia Minor. This, however, changed under the reign of emperor Claudius (41-54 CE), who joined Lycia and the neighbouring Pamphylia in 43 CE. The two settlements shared a Roman governor, but in practice functioned rather differently.

LYCIAN SOCIETY

  THE LYCIANS ADOPTED MATRILINEAL DESCENT – ‘TAKING THEIR NAMES, NOT FROM THEIR FATHERS, BUT FROM THEIR MOTHERS’ HOMER

Herodotus notes something rather extraordinary about the Lycian culture. He claims that the Lycians adopted matrilineal descent, taking ‘their names not from their fathers, but from their mothers’ (1.173.4-5). This practice is the direct opposite of the Greeks, where the descent was traced through male lineage.

As already discussed, Herodotus did have a good knowledge of the history of the Anatolian region, including Lycian neighbours such as the Cretans and Carians. In addition to the comment regarding female descent, Herodotus claims that when a Lycian woman marries a slave her children will be allowed full rights. However, if a male citizen marries a female slave their children will be denied citizen rights. This again reinforces the notion that in Lycia, women were central to the society, reflected both in law and in the tracing of descent. Similar societies have been noted in Indian history, for example, Dravidian social order, where some parts of society were characterised by matriarchy and matrilineal succession. This practice was well attested throughout history, even as recently at the 19th century CE.

Whilst there is no conclusive evidence to confirm Herodotus’ statement, there are suggestions elsewhere that establish the presence of matrilineal descent in Lycia. A similar claim is made by the 1st century BCE author Nikolaos Damaskenos. There has also been a collection of tomb inscriptions found, which have been interpreted by some scholars as evidence of a matrilineal descent. However, this is very much contested by scholars.

LYCIAN LANGUAGE

Lycian is an Indo-European language, in the Luwian subgroup of Anatolian languages. The Lycian language is documented on fewer than 200 inscriptions, several of these only comprising names from coinage. Their alphabet features 23 consonants and six vowels, which were written left to right in horizontal lines. The literary records of Lycia occur at the same time as the Persian occupation, 500 BCE – 300 BCE. After the Persian rule, Lycia adopted Greek as their main language and, therefore, there are no later Lycian inscriptions.

Many of these inscriptions come from funerary monuments, for example, the Tomb of Payava. Whilst the inscription is rather short, it demonstrates how the Lycian society used their language, which occurs most often in a funerary context. One of the better-known examples of Lycian inscriptions is that of the Xanthian Obelisk, which contains a trilingual text referring to a religious cult. The inscription sits upon a tomb in Xanthos and is sometimes referred to as the Inscribed Pillar of Xanthos.

RIGHT: This is a limestone tomb with gabled roof. It was decorated with reliefs on its four sides and inscribed with Lycian inscriptions. It was made in Lycia; found in Xanthus. Greek Period, circa 375-362 BCE.

LYCIAN GOVERNANCE & RELIGION

Given a lack of written documentation, little is known about the exact governance of Lycia. However, sometime during the 4th century BCE, the Lycian League was formed. The League was the first democratic union known from history and was formed of elected representatives. Ancient writers appear to admire the League which linked the Lycian city-states within a political organization. The representatives would meet to discuss various issues such as trade rights and marriage laws. The male Lycian citizens who were residents or landowners could vote for their representatives in the Assembly on various matters.

The Lycian League’s capital was at Patara, where it is still possible to see the remains of the assembly building. The Roman historian Livy also records that at Patara in the Temple of Apollo archives were kept relating to the league.

Apollo was a particularly important god for the Lycians, as his origin is believed to have been Anatolian.  Artemis was also important for Lycia, as she was considered the Anatolian sister of Apollo. Both Apollo and Artemis had cult centres in Lycia, however, neither are as well attested as the goddess Leto. In Xanthus, the religious sanctuary known as Letoon appears to have been the most important for Lycians. Three temples are dedicated to Leto in this region, where the national festivals were held.  Other shrines exist to Leto throughout the region, making her the most influential religious figure in Lycia.

About Leto The name “Leto” is of Greek origin and is derived from the Greek word “letho,” meaning “hidden” or “concealed.” In Greek mythology, Leto was a goddess and the mother of the twin gods Apollo and Artemis. The name Leto symbolizes secrecy, obscurity, and the hidden aspects of life.  source

Leto in Greek Mythology Leto, also known as Lētṓ, is a significant yet often understated figure in ancient Greek mythology and religion. She is primarily revered as the mother of two of the most influential Olympian deities: Apollo, the god of music, prophecy, and healing, and Artemis, the goddess of the hunt and wilderness. Born to the Titans Coeus and Phoebe, Leto’s lineage connects her to the primal forces of the cosmos, making her both an ancient and enduring figure in the Greek pantheon. Leto’s mythology and worship have deep roots in Anatolia, particularly in Lycia, where she was venerated as a mother goddess long before Hellenic influences shaped her myth. This Anatolian connection is evident in the prominence of her cult in the region and the integration of her mythology into local traditions.

Leto Worship Simonides, Fragment 13 (from Plutarch, On the Malice of Herodotus) (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric III) (C6th to 5th B.C.) : “And this is the inscription of offerings dedicated in the temple of Leto by a Diodoros : ‘these weapons, taken from the hostile Medes [Persians], the sailors of Diodoros dedicated to Leto as a memorial of the sea-battle.’”  source Gift of Zeus Diodorus is a Greek masculine given name meaning “gift of Zeus”123. It is derived from the elements Διός (Dios) meaning “of Zeus” and δῶρον (doron) meaning “gift”1. The name was popular during Classical Antiquity and has been borne by prominent figures in various fields2

Letoon