The History and Antiquities of the Doric Race, Vol. 1 of 2Müller, Karl Otfried
History
The History and Antiquities of the Doric Race, Vol. 1 of 2
Müller, Karl Otfried
Dorians -- History; Greece -- Antiquities, Dorian; Greece -- History -- Dorian Invasions, approximately 1125-1025 B.C.
13. The introduction of this worship into ATTICA coincides exactly with
the passage of the Ionians into that country. The traditions respecting
the most ancient kings, Cecrops, Erichthonius, and Erechtheus, chiefly
refer to the temples, symbols, and festival rites of Athene; and this
goddess, together with the other deities of the Acropolis, plays the
principal part in them, particularly in her connexion with the blessings
of husbandry. But with the reign of Ion the Attic mythology assumes quite
a different character.(1021) This seems to me a complete refutation of the
assertion of the Ionians as to their identity with the aboriginal nation
of the Pelasgians.(1022) Still more evident is it then, that in proportion
as the Ionians, being a warlike nation,(1023) separated themselves from
the original inhabitants, whose employment was agriculture and pasturing,
their Hellenic worship deviated from the ancient one of the country.
Aristotle indeed speaks of the paternal Apollo (Ἀπόλλων πατρῷος) as being
a son of Athene and Hephæstus;(1024) but this is nothing more than an
endeavour to create a family connexion between the principal gods of the
same town: for where do we ever find a temple dedicated conjointly to
Athene and Apollo? what ceremonies and sacrifices were offered to them in
common? and in what legends are they found connected? Till such an union
of the two deities is discovered, we must consider Athene as an ancient
and native deity, Apollo as one of much later introduction. The Athenians,
indeed, maintained that an ancient hero of their country, Erysichthon, a
son of Cecrops himself, erected the first statue of Apollo at Delos:(1025)
but it is easy to recognise in this account the attempt of the Athenians
to fortify their claims to the dominion of the Delian temple, and to
represent their rights as prior to all others. In all that is related of
the Ionian princes (to whom Ægeus(1026) and Theseus belong) with reference
to religious institutions, mention is seldom made of the ancient Athenian
deities, Athene and Hephæstus. The whole is taken up with accounts either
of the establishment of the worship of Poseidon (which prevailed in the
Ionian cities and in the places of their national assemblies), or the
establishment and maintenance of an intercourse with the temples of Apollo
at Delos, Delphi, and Cnosus.
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