Polemos

In Greek mythology, Polemos /ˈpɒlɪˌmɒs/ or Polemus /ˈpɒlɪməs/ (Ancient Greek: Πόλεμος Pólemos; "war") was a daemon; a divine personification or embodiment of war.[1] No cult practices or myths are known for him, and as an abstract representation he figures mainly in allegory and philosophical discourse.[2] The Roman counterpart of this figure was Bellum.

## Contents

* 1 Literature
* 2 Philosophy
* 3 References
* 4 External links

## Literature

Pindar says that Polemos is the father of Alala, goddess of the war-cry.[3] According to Quintus Smyrnaeus, Polemos was the brother of the war goddess Enyo.[4] Other Greek personifications of war and the battlefield include Ares, Eris, the Makhai, the Hysminai, the Androktasiai, the Phonoi and the Keres. In Aesop's fable of "War and his Bride", told by Babrius and numbered 367 in the Perry Index,[5] it is related how Polemos drew Hubris (insolent arrogance) as his wife in a marriage lottery. So fond has he become of her that the two are now inseparable. Therefore, Babrius warns, "Let not Insolence ever come among the nations or cities of men, finding favour with the crowd; for after her straightway War will be at hand".[6]

In Aristophanes' Acharnians, it is reported that Polemos is banned from parties for burning vineyards, emptying the wine and disrupting the singing. He is set in opposition to Dicaeopolis, who profitably champions peace and longs for marriage with Diallage, "Reconciliation". Dionysos, god of the life force, uses a vine stake as a weapon to wound the soldier Lamachus for neglecting him in favor of Polemos, but overall Aristophanes seem to be advocating a balance between Dionysos and Polemos, since the interests of the polis are served at times by peace and other times by war.[7]

Polemos even makes a brief speaking appearance at the end of the prologue to Aristophanes' Peace. With Tumult (Kudoimos) as his henchman, he has buried Peace under stones in a cave. Now he makes a speech in which he announces that he is going to grind all the cities of Greece in a mortar, having plagued them for ten years. However, a series of puns on the names of the cities undermines his fearsome threat, making it appear as if he is preparing a relish for a feast.[8] Sending Tumult to obtain a pestle sufficient for the task, he withdraws to the "house of Zeus" and does not reappear, though his potential return is a threat throughout the play. The scenario seems to be an original invention of Aristophanes.[9]

## Philosophy

The pre-Socratic philosopher Heraclitus described Polemos as "both the king and father of all", with the capacity to bring all into existence and to annihilate.[10] For Heraclitus, Polemos "reveals the gods on the one hand and humans on the other, makes slaves on the one hand, the free on the other".[11] The fragment leaves it unclear as to whether Heraclitus thought of Polemos as an abstraction, a god, or a generalization of war, and this ambiguity is perhaps intentional.[12] Heidegger interpreted the polemos of Heraclitus as the principle of differentiation or "setting apart" (German Auseinandersetzung).[13]

## References

1. ↑ Niall W. Slater, Spectator Politics: Metatheatre and Performance in Aristophanes (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2002), p. 119.
2. ↑ William Kendrick Pritchett, The Greek State at War (University of California Press, 1979), vol. 3, p. 161.
3. ↑ Pindar, Dithyrambs fragment 78.
4. ↑ Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 8\. 424 ff
5. ↑ "War and His Bride". http://mythfolklore.net/aesopica/perry/367.htm.
6. ↑ Loeb Classics Library, Babrius I.70
7. ↑ Richard F. Moorton, Jr., "Dionysus or Polemos? The Double Message of Aristophanes' Acharnians," in The Eye Expanded: Life and the Arts in Greco-Roman Antiquity (University of California Press, 1999), pp. 24, 39, 42, 45.
8. ↑ Carroll Moulton, Aristophanic poetry, Göttingen 1981, p. 87
9. ↑ Carlo Ferdinando Russo, Aristophanes: An Author for the Stage (Routledge, 1962, 1994), pp. 135, 139, 143, 145; Slater, Spectator Politics, pp. 120, 280.
10. ↑ Daniel Chapelle, Nietzsche and Psychoanalysis (State University of New York Press, 1993), p. 53, citing NER 19, frg. 53.
11. ↑ Gregory Fried, Heidegger's Polemos: From Being to Politics (Yale University Press, 2000), p. 21.
12. ↑ Fried, Heidegger's Polemos, p. 23.
13. ↑ Fried, Heidegger's Polemos, p. 17.

## External links

* Theoi Project, literary passages mentioning Polemos

* v
* t
* e

Ancient Greek religion and mythology

Classical religious forms|

* Ancient Greek religion
* Gnosticism
* Paleo-Balkan mythology
* Proto-Indo-European religion
* Hellenistic religion
* Alchemy
* Orphism
* Pythagoreanism
* Mycenaean deities

Mystery religions
and sacred mysteries|

* Delos Mysteries
* Dionysian Mysteries
* Eleusinian Mysteries
* Imbrian Mysteries
* Mithraism
* Samotracian Mysteries

Main beliefs|

* Apotheosis
* Euhemerism
* Eusebeia
* Greek Heroic Age
* Interpretatio graeca
* Monism
* Mythology
* Nympholepsy
* Paganism
* Paradoxography
* Polytheism
* Theism

Texts/epic poems/odes|

* Aretalogy
* Argonautica
* Bibliotheca
* Cyranides
* Derveni papyrus
* Ehoiai
* Greek Magical Papyri
* Homeric Hymns
* Iliad
* Odyssey
* Interpretation of Dreams (Antiphon)
* Oneirocritica
* Papyrus Graecus Holmiensis
* Sibylline Books
* Telegony
* The golden verses of Pythagoras
* Theogony
* Works and Days
* Epic Cycle
* Theban Cycle

Rites and practices|

* Amphictyonic League
* Amphidromia
* Animal sacrifice
* Apotheosis
* Baptes
* Curse tablet
* Daduchos
* Delphinion
* Funeral and burial practices
* Hymns
* Hero cult
* Heroon
* Hierophany
* Hierophant
* Hierophylakes
* Hieros gamos
* Hypsistarians
* Iatromantis
* Interpretatio graeca
* Kanephoros
* Kykeon
* Libations
* Mystagogue
* Nekyia
* Necromancy
* Necromanteion
* Nymphaeum
* Panegyris
* Pharmakos
* Prayers
* Orgia
* Sacrifices
* Temenos
* Thyia
* Temples
* Votive offerings

Sacred places|

| Oracles, sanctuaries,
Necromanteion|

* Aornum
* Delphi
* Didymaion
* Dodona
* Oracle of Menestheus
* Tegyra

|

Mountain|

* Cretea
* Mount Ida (Crete)
* Mount Ida (Turkey)
* Mount Lykaion
* Olympus

Caves|

* Cave of Zeus, Aydın
* Cave of Zeus, Crete
* Psychro Cave
* Vari Cave

Islands|

* Achilles island
* Delos

Others|

* Athenian sacred ships
* Eleusis
* Hiera Orgas
* Kanathos
* Olympia
* Sacred Way

Mythical beings|

* Dragons in Greek mythology
* Greek mythological creatures
* Greek mythological figures
* List of minor Greek mythological figures

Deities|

| Primordial deities|

* Aether
* Aion
* Ananke
* Chaos
* Chronos
* Erebus
* Eros
* Gaia
* Hemera
* Nyx
* Phanes
* Pontus
* Thalassa
* Tartarus
* Uranus

|

Titans|

| First generation|

* Coeus
* Crius
* Cronus
* Hyperion
* Iapetus
* Mnemosyne
* Oceanus
* Phoebe
* Rhea
* Tethys
* Theia
* Themis

|

Second generation|

* Asteria
* Astraeus
* Atlas
* Eos
* Epimetheus
* Helios
* Leto
* Menoetius
* Metis
* Pallas
* Perses
* Prometheus
* Selene

Third generation|

* Hecate
* Hesperus
* Phosphorus

Twelve Olympians|

* Aphrodite
* Apollo
* Ares
* Artemis
* Athena
* Demeter
* Dionysus
* Hephaestus
* Hera
* Hermes
* Hestia
* Poseidon
* Zeus

Aquatic deities|

* Amphitrite
* Alpheus
* Ceto
* Glaucus
* The Naiads
* The Nereids
* Nereus
* The Oceanids
* Phorcys
* Poseidon
* The Potamoi
* Potamides
* Proteus
* Scamander
* Thaumas
* Thetis
* Triton

Love deities|

| Erotes|

* Anteros
* Eros
* Hedylogos
* Hermaphroditus
* Himeros
* Hymen/Hymenaeus
* Pothos

|

* Aphrodite
* Aphroditus
* Philotes
* Peitho

War deities|

* Adrestia
* Alala
* Alke
* Amphillogiai
* Androktasiai
* Ares
* Athena
* Bia
* Deimos
* Enyalius
* Enyo
* Eris
* Gynaecothoenas
* Homados
* Hysminai
* Ioke
* Keres
* Kratos
* Kydoimos
* Ma
* Machai
* Nike
* Palioxis
* Pallas
* Perses
* Phobos
* Phonoi
* Polemos
* Proioxis

Chthonic deities|

| Psychopomps|

* Hermanubis
* Hermes
* Thanatos

|

* Achlys
* Angelos
* Hades / Pluto
* Hecate
* Hypnos
* Keres
* Lampad
* Macaria
* Melinoë
* Persephone

Health deities|

* Aceso
* Aegle
* Artemis
* Apollo
* Asclepius
* Chiron
* Eileithyia
* Epione
* Hebe
* Hygieia
* Iaso
* Paean
* Panacea
* Telesphorus

Sleep deities|

* Empusa
* Epiales
* Hypnos
* Pasithea
* Oneiroi

Messenger deities|

* Angelia
* Arke
* Hermes
* Iris

Trickster deities|

* Apate
* Dolos
* Hermes
* Momus

Magic deities|

* Circe
* Hecate
* Hermes Trismegistus

Other major deities|

* Azone
* Eileithyia
* The Erinyes
* Harmonia
* The Muses
* Nemesis
* Pan
* Unknown God
* Zelus

Heroes/heroines|

* Abderus
* Achilles
* Actaeon
* Aeneas
* Argonauts
* Ajax the Great
* Ajax the Lesser
* Akademos
* Amphiaraus
* Amphitryon
* Antilochus
* Atalanta
* Autolycus
* Bellerophon
* Bouzyges
* Cadmus
* Chrysippus
* Cyamites
* Daedalus
* Diomedes
* Dioscuri (Castor and Pollux)
* Echetlus
* Eleusis
* Erechtheus
* Eunostus
* Ganymede
* Hector
* Heracles
* Icarus
* Iolaus
* Jason
* Meleager
* Odysseus
* Oedipus
* Orpheus
* Pandion
* Peleus
* Pelops
* Penthesilea
* Perseus
* Theseus
* Triptolemus

Mythical tribes|

* Amazons
* Anthropophage
* Atlantians
* Bebryces
* Curetes
* Dactyls
* Gargareans
* Halizones
* Korybantes
* Lapiths
* Lotus-eaters
* Myrmidons
* Pygmies
* Telchines

Oracles/seers|

* Aesacus
* Aleuas
* Amphiaraus
* Amphilochus
* Ampyx
* Anius
* Asbolus
* Bakis
* Branchus
* Calchas
* Carnus
* Carya
* Cassandra
* Delphic Sibyl
* Elatus
* Ennomus
* Epimenides
* Halitherses
* Helenus
* Iamus
* Idmon
* Manto
* Melampus
* Mopsus
* Munichus
* Phineus
* Polyeidos
* Polypheides
* Pythia
* Sibyl
* Telemus
* Theiodamas
* Theoclymenus
* Tiresias

Magic|

* Apotropaic magic
* Greek Magical Papyri
* Pella curse tablet
* Philia

Mythical realms|

* Aethiopia
* Atlantis
* Erytheia
* Hyperborea
* Libya
* Nysa
* Ogygia
* Panchaia
* Scheria
* Scythia
* Themiscyra

Underworld|

| Entrances to
the underworld|

| Rivers|

* Acheron
* Cocytus
* Eridanos
* Lethe
* Phlegethon
* Styx

|

Lakes/swamps|

* Acherusia
* Avernus Lake
* Lerna Lake

Caves|

| Charoniums|

* Charonium at Aornum
* Charonium at Acharaca

|

* Cave at Cape Matapan
* Cave at Lake Avernus
* Cave at Heraclea Pontica

Ploutonion|

* Ploutonion at Acharaca
* Ploutonion at Eleusis
* Ploutonion at Hierapolis

Places|

* Elysium
* Erebus
* Fields of Asphodel
* Fields of Punishment
* Isles of the Blessed
* Tartarus

Judges|

* Aeacus
* Minos
* Rhadamanthus

Guards|

* Cerberus

Ferryman|

* Charon
* Charon's obol

Symbols/objects|

* Bident
* Cap of invisibility

Animals, daemons
and spirits|

* Ascalaphus
* Ceuthonymus
* Eurynomos
* Hade's cattle

Mythological wars|

* Amazonomachy
* Attic War
* Centauromachy
* Gigantomachy
* Cranes-Pygmies war
* Theomachy
* Titanomachy
* Trojan War

Mythological and
religious objects|

* Adamant
* Aegis
* Ambrosia
* Apple of Discord
* Ara
* Baetylus
* Caduceus
* Cornucopia
* Dragon's teeth
* Diipetes
* Galatea
* Golden apple
* Golden Fleece
* Gorgoneion
* Greek terracotta figurines
* Harpe
* Ichor
* Lotus tree
* Minoan sealstone
* Moly
* Necklace of Harmonia
* Omphalos
* Orichalcum
* Palladium
* Panacea
* Pandora's box
* Petasos (Winged helmet)
* Philosopher's stone
* Ring of Gyges
* Rod of Asclepius
* Sacrificial tripod
* Sceptre
* Shield of Achilles
* Shirt of Nessus
* Sword of Damocles
* Talaria
* Thunderbolt
* Thymiaterion
* Thyrsus
* Trident
* Trojan Horse
* Winnowing Oar
* Wheel of Fortune
* Wheel of fire
* Xoanon

Symbols|

* Arkalochori Axe
* Labrys
* Ouroboros
* Owl of Athena

Mythological powers|

* Divination
* Eidolon
* Eternal youth
* Evocation
* Fortune-telling
* Immortality
* Language of the birds
* Nympholepsy
* Magic
* Ornithomancy
* Shamanism
* Shapeshifting
* Weather modification

Storage containers,
cups, vases|

* Amphora
* Calathus
* Chalice
* Ciborium
* Cotyla
* Hydria
* Hydriske
* Kalpis
* Kantharos
* Kernos
* Kylix
* Lebes
* Lekythos
* Loutrophoros
* Oenochoe
* Pelike
* Pithos
* Skyphos
* Stamnos
* Urn

Musical Instruments|

* Aulos
* Barbiton
* Chelys
* Cithara
* Cochilia
* Crotalum (Castanets)
* Epigonion
* Kollops
* Lyre
* Pan flute
* Pandura
* Phorminx
* Psaltery
* Salpinx
* Sistrum
* Tambourine
* Trigonon
* Tympanum
* Water organ

Games|

| Panhellenic Games|

* Olympic Games
* Pythian Games
* Nemean Games
* Isthmian Games

|

* Agon
* Panathenaic Games
* Rhieia

Festivals/feasts|

* Actia
* Adonia
* Agrionia
* Amphidromia
* Anthesteria
* Apellai
* Apaturia
* Aphrodisia
* Arrhephoria
* Ascolia
* Bendidia
* Boedromia
* Brauronia
* Buphonia
* Chalceia
* Diasia
* Delphinia
* Dionysia
* Ecdysia
* Elaphebolia
* Gamelia
* Haloa
* Heracleia
* Hermaea
* Hieromenia
* Iolaia
* Kronia
* Lenaia
* Lykaia
* Metageitnia
* Munichia
* Oschophoria
* Pamboeotia
* Pandia
* Plynteria
* Pyanopsia
* Skira
* Synoikia
* Soteria
* Tauropolia
* Thargelia
* Theseia
* Thesmophoria

Vessels|

* Argo
* Phaeacian ships

Modern offshoot religions|

* Discordianism
* Gaianism
* Feraferia
* Hellenism

Modern popular culture|

* Greek mythology in popular culture

* v
* t
* e

Ancient Greek deities by affiliation

Primordial
deities|

* Achlys
* Aether
* Aion/Chronos
* Ananke
* Chaos
* Erebus
* Eros/Phanes
* Gaia
* Hemera
* Nyx
* The Ourea
* Pontus/Thalassa
* Tartarus
* Uranus
* Fates
* Atropos
* Clotho
* Lachesis

Titan
deities|

| Titanes (male)|

* Coeus
* Crius
* Cronus
* Hyperion
* Iapetus
* Oceanus

|

Titanides (female)|

* Dione
* Mnemosyne
* Phoebe
* Rhea
* Tethys
* Theia
* Themis

Children of Hyperion|

* Eos
* Helios
* Selene

Children of Coeus|

* Asteria
* Leto
* Lelantos

Children of Crius|

* Astraeus
* Pallas
* Perses

Children of Iapetus|

* Atlas
* Epimetheus
* Menoetius
* Prometheus

Olympian
deities|

| Dodekatheon|

* Aphrodite
* Apollo
* Ares
* Artemis
* Athena
* Demeter
* Dionysus
* Hephaestus
* Hera
* Hermes
* Hestia
* Poseidon
* Zeus

|

Theoi Olympioi|

* Asclepius
* Eileithyia
* Enyo
* Eris
* Iris
* Harmonia
* Hebe
* Heracles
* Paean
* Pan

Mousai (Muses)|

* Daughters of Zeus
* Calliope
* Clio
* Euterpe
* Erato
* Melpomene
* Polyhymnia
* Terpsichore
* Thalia
* Urania
* Daughters of Apollo
* Apollonis
* Borysthenis
* Cephisso
* Muses of the Lyre
* Hypate
* Mese
* Nete
* Muses at Sicyon
* Polymatheia

Charites (Graces)|

* Aglaea
* Antheia
* Euphrosyne
* Hegemone
* Pasithea
* Thalia

Horae (Hours)|

* Dike
* Eirene
* Eunomia

Children of Styx|

* Bia
* Kratos
* Nike
* Zelos

Aquatic
deities|

| Sea Gods|

* Amphitrite
* Benthesikyme
* Brizo
* Calypso
* Ceto
* Glaucus
* The Ichthyocentaurs
* Leucothea
* Melicertes
* Nereus
* Nerites
* The Nesoi
* Oceanus
* Phorcys
* Pontus/Thalassa
* Poseidon
* Proteus
* Rhodos
* Tethys
* Thaumas
* Thetis
* Triton

|

Oceanids|

* Acaste
* Admete
* Amalthea
* Asia
* Callirrhoe
* Ceto
* Clytie
* Dione
* Dodone
* Doris
* Electra
* Eurynome
* Idyia
* Melia (consort of Apollo)
* Melia (consort of Inachus)
* Metis
* Perse
* Pleione
* Plouto
* Styx
* Telesto
* Zeuxo

Nereides|

* Amphitrite
* Arethusa
* Dynamene
* Galatea
* Galene
* Psamathe
* Thetis

Potamoi|

* Achelous
* Almo
* Alpheus
* Anapos
* Asopus
* Asterion
* Axius
* Caanthus
* Cebren
* Cephissus
* Clitumnus
* Enipeus
* Kladeos
* Meander
* Nilus
* Numicus
* Phyllis
* Peneus
* Rivers of the Underworld
* Acheron
* Cocytus
* Eridanos
* Lethe
* Phlegethon
* Styx
* Sangarius
* Scamander
* Simoeis
* Strymon

Naiads|

* Aegina
* Achiroe
* Aganippe
* The Anigrides
* Argyra
* Bistonis
* Bolbe
* Caliadne
* Cassotis
* Castalia
* Cleocharia
* Creusa
* Daphne
* Drosera
* Harpina
* The Ionides
* Ismenis
* Larunda
* Lilaea
* Liriope
* Melite
* Metope
* Minthe
* Moria
* Nana
* Nicaea
* Orseis
* Pallas
* Pirene
* Salmacis
* Stilbe
* The Thriae
* Corycia
* Kleodora
* Melaina
* Tiasa

Chthonic
deities|

| Theoi Chthonioi|

* Angelos
* Gaia
* Hades
* Hecate
* The Lampads
* Macaria
* Melinoë
* Persephone
* Zagreus

|

Erinyes (Furies)|

* Alecto
* Megaera
* Tisiphone

Earthborn|

* Cyclopes
* Gigantes
* Hecatonchires
* Kouretes
* Meliae
* Telchines
* Typhon

Apotheothenai|

* Trophonius
* Triptolemus
* Orpheus
* Aeacus
* Minos
* Rhadamanthus

Personifications|

| Children of Nyx|

* Achlys
* Apate
* Dolos
* Eleos
* Elpis
* Epiphron
* Eris
* Geras
* Hesperides
* Hybris
* Hypnos
* Ker
* The Keres
* The Moirai
* Aisa
* Clotho
* Lachesis
* Momus
* Moros
* Nemesis
* Oizys
* The Oneiroi
* Philotes
* Sophrosyne
* Thanatos

|

Children of Eris|

* Algos
* Amphillogiai
* Ate
* The Androktasiai
* Dysnomia
* Horkos
* Hysminai
* Lethe
* Limos
* Machai
* Phonoi
* Ponos
* Neikea
* Pseudea
* Logoi

Children of other gods|

* Aergia
* Aidos
* Alala
* Aletheia
* Angelia
* Arete
* Astraea
* Caerus
* The Younger Charites
* Eucleia
* Eupheme
* Euthenia
* Philophrosyne
* Corus
* Deimos
* The Erotes
* Anteros
* Eros
* Hedylogos
* Hermaphroditus
* Hymen
* Ersa
* Eupraxia
* Hedone
* Homonoia
* Iacchus
* The Litae
* Homonoia
* Peitho
* Phobos
* Tyche

Others|

* Adephagia
* Alala
* Alke
* Amechania
* Anaideia
* Alastor
* Apheleia
* The Arae
* Dikaiosyne
* Dyssebeia
* Eiresione
* Ekecheiria
* Eulabeia
* Eusebeia
* Gelos
* Heimarmene
* Homados
* Horme
* Ioke
* Kakia
* Koalemos
* Kydoimos
* Lyssa
* The Maniae
* Methe
* Nomos
* Palioxis
* Peitharchia
* Penia
* Penthus
* Pepromene
* Pheme
* Phrike
* Phthonus
* Poine
* Polemos
* Poros
* Praxidike
* Proioxis
* Prophasis
* Soter
* Soteria
* Thrasos

Other deities|

| Sky deities|

* The Anemoi
* The Astra Planeti
* Stilbon
* Eosphorus
* Hesperus
* Pyroeis
* Phaethon
* Phaenon
* Aura
* Chione
* The Hesperides
* The Hyades
* Nephele
* The Pleiades
* Alcyone
* Sterope
* Celaeno
* Electra
* Maia
* Merope
* Taygete

|

Agricultural deities|

* Aphaea
* Demeter
* Despoina
* Eunostus
* Philomelus
* Plutus

Health deities|

* Asclepius
* Aceso
* Epione
* Iaso
* Hygieia
* Paean
* Panacea
* Telesphorus

Rustic deities|

* Aetna
* Agdistis
* The Alseids
* Amphictyonis
* The Anthousai
* Aristaeus
* Attis
* The Auloniads
* Britomartis
* The Cabeiri
* Comus
* The Dryades
* Erato
* The Hamadryades
* Chrysopeleia
* The Epimeliades
* Hecaterus
* Leuce
* Ma
* The Maenades
* The Meliae
* The Napaeae
* The Nymphai Hyperboreioi
* The Oreads
* Adrasteia
* Echo
* Helike
* Iynx
* Nomia
* Oenone
* Pitys
* The Pegasides
* Priapus
* Rhapso
* Silenus
* Telete

Others|

* Alexiares and Anicetus
* Aphroditus
* Enyalius
* Palaestra

0.00

(0 votes)

Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polemos. Read more

|

Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Religion:Polemos&oldid=4012558"
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template