Shade (mythology)

In poetry and literature, ashade(translating Greek σκιά,^[1]Latinumbra^[2]) is the spirit orghostof a dead person, residing in theunderworld.

An underworld where the dead live in shadow was common to beliefs in theancient Near East.InBiblical Hebrew,it was calledtsalmaveth(צַלמָוֶת: lit. "death-shadow", "shadow of death" ) as an alternate term forSheol.^[3]^[4]TheWitch of Endorin theFirst Book of Samuelnotably conjures the ghost (owb^[5]) ofSamuel.

Only select individuals were believed to be exempt from the fate of dwelling in shadow after death. They would instead ascend to the divine sphere, as is reflected in the veneration ofheroes.Plutarchrelates howAlexander the Greatwas inconsolable after the death ofHephaistionup to the moment he received anoracleofAmmonconfirming that the deceased was a hero, i.e. enjoyed the status of a divinity.^[6]

Shades appear in Book Eleven ofHomer'sOdyssey,whenOdysseusdescends intoHades,and in Book Six ofVirgil'sAeneid,whenAeneastravels to the underworld. In theDivine ComedybyDante Alighieri,many of the dead are similarly referred to as shades (Italianombra), including Dante's guide, Virgil.

The phrase "peace to thy gentle shade [and endless rest]" is sometimes seen inepitaphs,and was used byAlexander Popein his epitaph forNicholas Rowe.

References[edit]

^Liddell & Scott entry
^Lewis & Short
^Gesenius
^(edit.) Boustan, Ra'anan S. Reed, Annette Yoshiko. Heavenly Realms and Earthly Realities in Late Antique Religions. Cambridge University Press, 2004.
^Gesenius
^"Alexander's grief for him exceeded all reasonable measure. He ordered the manes of all the horses and mules to be cut off in sign of mourning, he struck off the battlements of all the neighbouring cities, crucified the unhappy physician, and would not permit the flute or any other musical instrument to be played throughout his camp, until a response came from the oracle of Ammon bidding him honour Hephæstion and offer sacrifice to him as to a hero."Parallel Lives,72.

External links[edit]

Media related toShades (mythology)at Wikimedia Commons

[1] Liddell & Scott entry

[2] Lewis & Short

[3] Gesenius

[4] (edit.) Boustan, Ra'anan S. Reed, Annette Yoshiko. Heavenly Realms and Earthly Realities in Late Antique Religions. Cambridge University Press, 2004.

[5] Gesenius

[6] "Alexander's grief for him exceeded all reasonable measure. He ordered the manes of all the horses and mules to be cut off in sign of mourning, he struck off the battlements of all the neighbouring cities, crucified the unhappy physician, and would not permit the flute or any other musical instrument to be played throughout his camp, until a response came from the oracle of Ammon bidding him honour Hephæstion and offer sacrifice to him as to a hero."Parallel Lives,72.

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