Aergia
In Greek mythology, Aergia (/eɪˈɜːrdʒə/ Ancient Greek: Ἀεργία, "inactivity")[1] is the personification of sloth, idleness, indolence and laziness. She is the translation of the Latin Socordia, or Ignavia. She was translated to Greek because Hyginus mentioned her based on a Greek source, and thus can be considered as both a Greek and Roman goddess.
| Aergia | |
|---|---|
Personification of sloth, idleness, indolence and laziness | |
| Abode | Upperworld (specifically in the House of Hypnos) |
| Parents | Aether and Gaea |
| Roman equivalent | Socordia or Ignavia |
Family
Aergia is the daughter of Aether and Gaia.[2]
- "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)."
Mythology
According to Statius, Aergia is said to guard the court of Hypnos (Sleep) in the Underworld.[3]
- "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."
Aergia's 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.
Notes
- ἀεργία. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project.
- Hyginus, Fabulae Preface
- Statius, Thebaid 10. 90 ff
- 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.
References
- Gaius Julius Hyginus, Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. Online version at the Topos Text Project.
- Publius Papinius Statius, The Thebaid translated by John Henry Mozley. Loeb Classical Library Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1928. Online version at the Topos Text Project.
- Publius Papinius Statius, The Thebaid. Vol I-II. John Henry Mozley. London: William Heinemann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 1928. Latin text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
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