Cilix
| Cilix | |
|---|---|
Eponym ofCilicia | |
| Member of thePhoenicianRoyal Family | |
| Abode | Phoenicia,later Cilicia |
| Genealogy | |
| Parents | AgenorandTelephassa |
| Siblings | Europa,CadmusandPhoenix |
| Children | ThasusandThebe |
Cilix(/ˈsɪlɪks/;Ancient Greek:ΚίλιξKílix) was, according toGreek mythology,aPhoenicianprince as the son of KingAgenorandTelephassaorArgiope.
Etymology
[edit]In her bookWho's Who in Classical Mythology,authorAdrian Roomdescribes the name's etymology: "we can perhaps see in his name a blend of ceras, 'horn' and helix, 'twisted', or even a link with cyllos, 'crooked'". This is referring to the horns of Zeus in the form of a white bull, who carried off Cilix's sister Europa to the coast of Crete. Cilicia's etymology is broken up into two parts according to the two parts of its terrain. Cilicia Trachea is "rugged Cilicia", in Greek Κιλικία Τραχεῖα; it is also the AssyrianHilakku,classical "Cilicia". Cilicia Pedias is "flat Cilicia", in Ancient Greek: Κιλικία Πεδιάς, and in AssyrianQuwê.
Family
[edit]Cilix was the brother ofCadmus,PhoenixandEuropa.[1][2]He was the father ofThebe,wife ofCorybas,the son ofIasionandCybele.[3]
While some sources claim thatThasusis related to Cilix, as a brother or nephew, Thasus' genealogy is not fully agreed upon. Hawthorne's tale specifically calls Thasus a "playfellow", and mentions no blood relation to Agenor. There is little information about this, and the only widely agreed on information is that Thasus founded the town of Thasos.
Mythology
[edit]When Europa was carried off by Zeus, Agenor sent his three sons out to find her, telling them not to return until they find her. The search was unsuccessful. Cilix eventually settled down inAsia Minor.The land was calledCiliciaafter him.[1][2][4]Cilix's son, Thasus (who might have also been a son ofPoseidon), who accompanied his uncle Cadmus in his journey.[1]Thasus was said to become king of islandThasos.
Tanglewood Tales
[edit]Author Nathaniel Hawthorne's novelTanglewood Talesfeatures Cilix in the story "Dragon's Teeth". The story is a re-telling of Europa's disappearance and her family's search for her, aimed towards a younger audience. After the party leaves Phoenix, Cilix seemed to be more tormented by it than the rest of them. He tells the party that "methinks we are like people in a dream"; he states that they had been looking for the missing Europa for so long that not only can he not remember what she looks or sounds like, but questions whether or not she existed in the first place. Cilix states that he has "resolved to take up my abode here", and entreats Thasus, Cadmus, and Telephassa to join him. They refuse, but help him build a habitation. Other settlers joined him and built their own living spaces, and this land turned into Cilicia. Cilix's small abode turned into a marble palace; after the inhabitants found out he was a king's son, they decided to make him king of the land. He appeared on the balcony every noontide, "in a long purple robe, and with a jeweled crown upon his head". One of his first acts of his new government was to send out an exhibition to visit the principal kingdoms of the earth to look for Europa. In Hawthorne's last substantial mention of Cilix in the story, he remarks on Cilix's remorse, stating "It is, therefore, plain to my mind, that Cilix secretly blamed himself for giving up the search for Europa, as long as he was able to put one foot before the other".
Cilicia
[edit]
Levantine Cilicia
[edit]Cilicia,mythically, quickly grew from Cilix's home to a full province. Historically, Cilicia was a part of the ancient Roman Empire on the southeast portion of Asia Minor. It was settled from the Neolithic period onwards. The terrain, mostly rugged, is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the south and mountains on to the north and east. Cilicia was a neighbor of Lycia. The Cilicians and Lycians did not have good character according to the Greeks, and they fought each other as well as Greeks passing on the coast of the Mediterranean often. The land has biblical influences as well. Its capital, Tarsus, is the famous birthplace of Paul the Apostle. When news of Christianity reached Cilicia, Paul came and founded churches on the land. There are numerous mention of Cilicia in the Bible, particularly in Acts 6-23. Acts 15:41 describes Paul the Apostle coming back to Cilicia, saying "And he went through Syria and Cilicia, blessing the churches". Paul also passed by Cilicia on his sea voyage to Rome as a prisoner. In Martin P. Nilsson's bookThe Mycenean Origin of Greek Mythology,Nilsson mentions Cilicia and Lycia from an archaeological standpoint. The lands are known now more from a mythical rather than a physical way. Not many artifacts have been found there, but Nilsson refers to aEinar Gjerstadwho had been to the land.[5]He writes "Unhappily this country is almost unknown archaeologically. But Dr. Gjerstad who visited Cilicia recently informs me that there is evidence of Mycenean colonization in this district". But asThe Mycenean Origin of Greek Mythologywas published in 1932, more artifacts may have been found.
Aegean Cilicia
[edit]The area is coastal plain in the East ofAdramytteion Gulf,betweenTroasandAeolis,Aegean cost ofMysia.Similar with Cilix's brother Cadmus who built a city nameThebesinBeotia;there is a city calledThebein this region. The region is much more close to Greek islandThasos.Pseudo-Apollodorosstated that Cilix settled nearPhoeniciaaround thePyramus,meaning in Levantine Cilicia.[1]
Argive genealogy
[edit]See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- Apollodorus,The Librarywith an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4.Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.Greek text available from the same website.
- Diodorus Siculus,The Library of Historytranslated byCharles Henry Oldfather.Twelve volumes.Loeb Classical Library.Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. 1989. Vol. 3. Books 4.59–8.Online version at Bill Thayer's Web Site
- Diodorus Siculus,Bibliotheca Historica. Vol 1-2.Immanel Bekker. Ludwig Dindorf. Friedrich Vogel. in aedibus B. G. Teubneri. Leipzig. 1888–1890.Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
- Gaius Julius Hyginus,Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginustranslated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies.Online version at the Topos Text Project.
- Herodotus,The Historieswith an English translation by A. D. Godley. Cambridge. Harvard University Press. 1920.ISBN0-674-99133-8.Online version at the Topos Text Project.Greek text available at Perseus Digital Library.