The Gods of Greek mythology They are loaded with symbolism. Of a meaning that generally bears some relation to the practical events in their lives. Memory was basic for the Greeks, because for centuries their culture was basically transmitted orally. It is not surprising that one of its original goddesses, with the category of Titan, was represented as the Greek goddess of memory. Today in Supercurious we present you the fascinating story of Mnemosyne in Greek mythology. Join us!
First of all, we tell you that Its name comes from the ancient Greek word “mnēmē” which means “memory”.. From this same word derive others such as mnemonic or mnemonic that we currently use.
For these people, the Greek goddess of memory was of vital importance. Thanks to her, humans had the ability to know themselves, organize time into past, present, and future, and collect past events that make up history.
The importance of memory and memories are evident in these Memories phrases: reflections of great minds that will surely move you. But… How was the story of Mnemosyne in Greek mythology? Let’s meet her together.
Who was Mnemosyne in Greek mythology?
The greek myths They are inundated with fascinating characters. But, among them, special mention must be made of the Greek goddess of memory, Mnemosyne or Mnemosyne. She personifies memory and the faculty of remembering. She is a titan daughter of Gea and Urano and in turn is the mother of the muses that she engendered when she joined Zeus.
Thanks to her, kings and poets They received the power to speak with authority. She is credited with inventing words and language, being the one who gave names to all things and all concepts and thus allowed humans to express and understand each other.
Mnemosyne in Greek mythology was a very important goddess and, although she is described as a Titan, scholars say that in mythology she is not considered a “relic of the past” that Titans, ancestors of the gods, generally have. olympians
They believe that the affirmation that it is a titan is given by its function of representing memory. The Greeks believed that memory was one of the essential components of their culture and that it was present in the creation myth.
This fact is explained because for centuries oral transmission was basic to Greek culture and it is based on memory. Many epic poems in their first lines make the Greek goddess of memory appear so that she helps the one she recites to remember.
Some legends of the Greek goddess of memory
If you are interested in delving into the things you did not know about Greek mythology, you will find that the characters abound and even more so the legends that surround them. In the case of Mnemosyne in Greek mythology, There are many myths that gradually build his symbolism as a character. Let’s get to know some of them.
1. The mother of the muses
The myth of Mnemosyne in Greek mythology tells that Zeus disguised himself as a shepherd and for nine consecutive nights he joined the Greek goddess of memory.
As a result, the couple fathered all nine muses. Mnemosyne gave birth to her daughters in a multiple birth. In many works of art we see her together with her daughters: Calliope, Clio, Erató, Euterpe, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Thalia, Terpsichore and Urania.
2. The representation of Mnemosyne
Mnemosyne is often depicted as a thoughtful middle-aged woman, one hand under her chin.
The fact that she is represented as a mature woman and not with a youthful appearance Like most of the gods, it evidences its primordial importance. In his hair he usually wears pearls and gems.
3. The Greek goddess of memory and the river of Hades
Several classical authors explain in their texts that in Hades there was a river, the Lethe, whose function was to make the deceased forget everything that happened to them in their earthly life.
In contrast to this there was a river called Mnemosyne in honor of the Greek goddess of memory. This channel would allow those who drank from it to remember the events of their previous life.
There was a secret mystery religion that believed in reincarnation and that affirmed that the souls of the deceased, upon reaching Hades, drank from Lethe in order to be able to reincarnate without remembering anything of their previous life. But the initiates drank from the Mnemosyne and thus they could remember who they had been and this prevented the transmigration of the soul.
The ancient Greeks, very fond of consulting oracles, believed that in Boeotia there was a cave in which water flowed from two nearby sources. The first, the source of oblivion, Lete, and the second, the source of memory, Mnemosyne. Citizens who wanted to consult that oracle had to drink from those sources.
4. Moneta, the Roman equivalent of Mnemosyne
Mnemosyne in Greek mythology has, like all the deities that accompany her on Olympus, her equivalent in Roman mythology.
The name of the Latin goddess was “Moneta” (not to be confused with Juno Moneta) and derived from the word “monēre” which means to remember, instruct or warn.
The Greek goddess of memory is cited by many classical Greek authors in their texts. They ask her for her help and invoke her like Aristophanes in “Lysistrata” when he says: «Divine Memory, send the young man your poetic inspiration, the one that knows about me and the Athenians». His contest was basic to remember events of the past and to know oneself and that is why Greek mythology gives him a preferential place among the gods who participated in creation.
And you, Did you know the story of Mnemosyne in Greek mythology? Did you know of the enormous importance that the Greeks attached to memory? Do you know of other myths about her? Go ahead and leave us all your opinions in a comment.
We will be looking forward to reading you! And if the creatures, gods, and symbols of Greek mythology call your attention, don’t miss this article in which we talk about the story of Pegasus, Zeus’s winged horse. Until next time!