In one myth, Tiresias happened upon Athena one day while she was bathing. There are different versions of how Tiresias became the famous blind prophet of Thebes, at least two of which were well known in antiquity. Manto, the more famous of the two, was a skilled prophet like her father. Tiresias had two daughters-perhaps conceived while he was a woman-named Manto and Historis. 3 This meant that Tiresias belonged to the oldest and most respected family in mythical Thebes. His father was a Theban named Everes who may have been descended from one of the Spartoi, or “sown men,” the race of warriors who sprang from the earth when Cadmus first founded Thebes and sowed the dragon’s teeth given to him by the gods. Tiresias’ mother was Chariclo, a nymph devoted to the goddess Athena. As far as we know, he was never depicted in his female form. In ancient art, Tiresias was represented as a bearded prophet, often with a staff and other religious accoutrements. He also lived much longer than other mortals-for as many as seven generations. Tiresias also carried a special staff, made of either cornel wood or gold (there are different versions), which he used to guide his steps.įinally, Tiresias is remembered for his highly unusual life: he was born a man, lived for several years as a woman, then was transformed back into a man. According to ancient sources, he was awarded these abilities as compensation for his blindness (which also came from the gods). He was a prolific diviner, obtaining his information about the future through prophetic visions as well as augury (the interpretation of the songs and flights of birds). Tiresias boasted several famous attributes-most notably, the gift of divination, which he received from the gods.
It is likely related to the Indo-European * kwer-, meaning “magical sign” or “omen.” 1 #Pronunciation Though this word has several meanings-“sign,” “omen,” “wonder,” “monster”-it was broadly used to signify something divine.
Teiresias), also spelled Teiresias, seems to have been derived from the Greek word teras, or its variant teirea. The name “Tiresias” (Greek Τειρεσίας, translit. For example, the Greek hero Odysseus visited the Underworld during his decade-long journey home from the Trojan War, seeking advice from the long-dead Tiresias. Tiresias was an important prophet even in death. In the end, Tiresias was struck blind by the gods-in some versions because he had offended Athena, in others because he had offended Hera. Though born a man, he was transformed into a woman after he killed a copulating female snake eventually, after marrying and giving birth to children, (s)he was transformed back into a man. Tiresias was blessed with experiences and abilities that went beyond his famous clairvoyance and longevity. Inseparable from the mythology of his storied city, he played a central role in the lives of everyone from Cadmus to the Seven against Thebes. Tiresias, son of the nymph Chariclo, was a remarkably long-lived prophet of Thebes.
#The blind prophet of thebes how to#
that Odysseus would have many adventures on his way home, but would one day manage to return to his native Ithaca and die of old age, far from the sea.In the Odyssey, Tiresias speaks with Odysseus in the Underworld and gives him detailed instructions on how to reach home safely. that Heracles would one day perform many heroic deeds. Many contradictory stories are told about the cause of Tiresias' blindness.Īccording to one myth, Tiresias was blinded by the gods because he spread among men what the gods wished to keep hidden.Īccording to another myth, Tiresias was blinded by the goddess Athena because he happened to see her naked.Īccording to another version by Hesiod, Tiresias was blinded by Hera because he told her that women took more pleasure in love than men. Tiresias was a descendant of the Spartoi, who were created by the teeth of a dragon. Tiresias was the son of Everes, a shepherd, and of the Nymph Chariclo, a close friend of goddess Athena, the goddess of wisdom. He was famous for his extraordinary prophetic powers, his talent for interpreting the language of birds, and his longevity: according to legend, Tiresias lived for six to nine generations, earning the respect of his contemporaries. Tiresias was a blind seer from Thebes, Greece. Last Update: Tiresias, the blind seer from Thebes Tiresias, the blind seer from Thebes Tiresias, the Blind Seer with the Sixth Sense
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