Aergia
| Aergia | |
|---|---|
| Personification of sloth, idleness, indolence and laziness | |
| Abode | Underworld (specifically in the House of Hypnos) |
| Parents | Aether and Gaea |
| Roman equivalent | Socordia or Ignavia |
Aergia (Greek: Ἀεργία, "inactivity")[1] is a goddess in Greek mythology, a personification of sloth, idleness, indolence and laziness. She is the daughter of Aether and Gaia.[2] She is said to guard the court of Hypnos in the Underworld.[3]
Aergia is the transliteration of the Latin Socordia, or Ignavia. She was transliterated to Greek because Hyginus mentioned her based on a Greek source, and thus can be considered as both a Greek and Roman goddess. Her opposite character is Horme, a goddess of effort.[4] As the goddess of sloth she owns many servants who do her bidding from the mortal plane, and as such, Aergia has claimed rule over any mortal that has fallen victim to her influence.
Hyginus' Account
Pseudo-Hyginus, Preface (translated by Grant) (Roman mythographer of the 2nd century A.D.):
From Aether (Air) and Terra (Earth) [Gaia] [were born] : Dolor (Pain), Dolus (Guile), Ira (Rage), Luctus (Lamentation), Mendacium (Lies), Jusjurandum (Oath), Ultio (Vengeance), Intemperantia (Intemperance), Altercatio (Altercation), Oblivio (Forgetfulness), Socordia (Sloth) [i.e. Aergia], Timor (Fear), Superbia (Pride), Incestum (Incest), Pugna (Combat).
Statius' Account
Statius, Thebaid 10. 90 ff (translated by Mozley) (Roman epic from around the 1st century A.D.):
[In] the hollow recesses of a deep and rocky cave . . . [are] set the halls of lazy Somnus (Sleep) [Hypnos] and his untroubled dwelling. The threshold is guarded by shady Quies (Quiet) and dull Oblivio (Forgetfulness) [Lethe] and torpid Ignavia (Sloth) [Aergia] with ever drowsy countenance. Otia (Ease) and Silentia (Silence) with folded wings sit mute in the forecourt.
References
- ↑ ἀεργία. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project.
- ↑ PseudoHyginus, Preface (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.)
- ↑ Statius, Thebaid 10. 90 ff (trans. Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.)
- ↑ Aergia on Theoi Project: Aergia - AERGIA was the female spirit (daimon) of idleness, laziness, indolence, and sloth. Her opposite number was probably Hormes (Effort). N.B. Aergia is the presumed Greek form of the Latin Socordia mentioned by Hyginus. Although his list of abstractions derives from a Greek source, the names have mostly been translated into Latin.