DISCORD IN THE MYTHS

by Calanthe

Discordia is the Roman equivalent of the Greek goddess Eris (pronounced "EE-ris"), variously translated as "Strife" or "Discord". She is usually portrayed as a dark-winged female spirit, and was part of the retinue of Mars (Ares).

The myths disagree as to where Eris fits into the gods' family tree. In many of the myths Eris is described as the "twin sister" of Ares, which would make her the daughter of Hera and Zeus. Hesiod, however, makes her the daughter of Nyx (Night) and Erebus. Nyx was the mother of a number of abstract-type gods, including Apate (deceit), Geras (old age), Hemera (day), Hypnos (sleep), Momus (reproach), Morus or the Moirae (destiny), Nemesis (retribution), Oizyz (distress), Philotes (love), and the Keres (battle-spirits who flew over the battlefield and determined the fates of the warriors).

According to Hesiod, Eris was herself the mother of Battles, Disputes, Fights, Forgetfulness, Hunger, Killings, Lies, Murders, Pain, Quarrels, Ruin, Stories, Work and the Oath. In some myths she is the mother of Nemesis, in others she is the mother (by Zeus) of Ate, the goddess of guilt and vengeance.

In all of the myths, Eris is the constant companion of Ares, and like him she delights in conflict and war.

Eris' most significant legend is that of her golden apple: a fruit so beautiful and valuable that everyone wanted to possess it. At the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, Eris was the only immortal not invited. In revenge, she threw her golden apple, inscribed with the words "For The Fairest" at the feet of the three goddesses Hera, Athene and Aphrodite. Peleus was the first to pick up the apple, but he either could not or would not choose between the goddesses. Immediately the three goddesses fell to arguing. Their dispute was settled by the Judgement of Paris. Paris, then a humble shepherd, was asked to decide which goddess was indeed "The Fairest". All three attempted to bribe him to award the apple to her: Hera offered riches, Athene offered fame and wisdom, Aphrodite promised the most beautiful woman in the world to be his wife. Paris awarded the apple to Aphrodite, and she rewarded him with Helen of Troy. Thus Eris was, indirectly, the cause of the Trojan War.

This piece of mischeif clearly gained Eris a reputation on Olympus. When Peirithous of the Lapiths married Deidameia (or Hippodameia), all the Olympians were invited to the wedding — except Ares and Eris. Furious at this slight, Ares and Eris caused the many Centaurs present at the festivities to drink too much strong wine. As a result a drunken Centaur (Eurytus or Eurytion) attempted to abduct the bride. The other Centaurs immediately followed his example, assaulting the many women and boys who were guests of the happy couple. The ensuing battle lasted until nightfall. This was not the end of the matter, however: the feud between the Lapiths and the Centaurs lasted for generations.

When Thyestes and Atreus fought over the throne of Mycenae, Eris played a part in their war, too. She may have provoked the two brothers to fight in the first place, though the more common tale gives Hermes and Artemis some of the blame. Hermes with help from Pan had created a horned lamb with a fleece of gold among the flock owned by the brothers. Atreus had sworn to sacrifice a lamb to Artemis, and he chose to sacrifice that one, retaining, however, the valuable fleece for himself. Artemis, angered by this slight, cursed the fleece. When the time came to select the new king of Mycenae, Atreus claimed the throne, but agreed that whoever owned the fleece should be king — meaning himself. He was unaware that the fleece had been stolen from him by Thyestes and thus Thyestes was crowned king.

Zeus, however, favoured Atreus as king. Thyestes agreed to resign the throne if the sun would turn backward on the sundial, which was, of course impossible. Zeus aided by Eris, interfered with the laws of nature: Helios turned his chariot about mid-sky, and for the first and only time, the sun set in the east. The seven Pleiades and all the stars reversed their courses, too. Atreus declared this exposed his brother's guilt and reclaimed the throne. This was the beginning, not the end of the feud between the brothers.

Brother against brother seems to be a favourite amusement of Eris: the Lapiths and the Centaurs, too were brother tribes, both claiming descent from Ixion.