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Callithyia of Argos

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In Greek mythology and legendary history, Callithyia (/ˌkælɪˈθ.ə/; Ancient Greek: Καλλίθυια; also Callithoe (/kəˈlɪθi/; Καλλιθόη),[1] Callithea (/kəˈlɪθiə/; Καλλιθέα),[2] or Io (/ˈ./; Ἰώ Greek: [iːɔ̌ː]), "the best among women as well as among men",[3] was an Argive princess as the daughter of King Peiras[4] or Peiranthus (himself son of Argus) and the first priestess of Argive Hera in history.

Mythology

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Peiras was credited with founding the first temple of Hera in Argolis, as well as with carving a wooden image of the goddess for the sanctuary; it was at this temple that Callithyia performed her duties as priestess.[4] Scholia on Aratus mention her as the inventor of the chariot and the mother of Trochilus.[2]

Callithyia is perhaps identical with "Io Callithyessa", "the first priestess of Athena" according to Hesychius of Alexandria.[5] In a lesser known version of the Argive genealogy, Io was the daughter of Peiren, likely the same as Peiras.[6]

Notes

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  1. ^ West, pp. 284–285; Clement of Alexandria, Stromata, 1. 164.1, citing the Phoronis
  2. ^ a b Scholia on Aratus, Phenomena 161
  3. ^ Aelius Aristides, Orationes, 45. 3
  4. ^ a b Plutarch in Eusebius, Preparation for the Gospel 3.8.1
  5. ^ Hesychius of Alexandria s. v. Ὶὼ Καλλιθύεσσα
  6. ^ Apollodorus, 2.1.3 citing Hesiod, Ehoiai fr. 124 and Acusilaus (FGrHist 2 F 26).

References

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Further reading

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  • Realencyclopädie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft, Band X, Halbband 20, Ius Liberorum-Katochos (1920), s. 1750, u. Kallithoe 2)
  • Lyons, Deborah. Gender and Immortality – Appendix: A Catalogue of Heroines, under Kallithyia
  • West, M. L. (2003), Greek Epic Fragments: From the Seventh to the Fifth Centuries BC. Edited and translated by Martin L. West. Loeb Classical Library No. 497. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 2003. ISBN 978-0-674-99605-2. Online version at Harvard University Press.