Gods and goddesses revealed themselves rather remarkably often to the privileged and chosen ancient Greeks, even if it was in disguise to hide their blinding brilliance. Like English, Greek did not make a linguistic distinction between the optical faculty and the appearance of a divine being or ghost, as indicated by the range of meanings conveyed by the word ‘vision’. Similarly, doxcan either mean, ‘that which is seen’ or ‘an apparition’. This overlap or ambivalence may reflect an unconscious awareness that seeing the phenomenal world and seeing something in what is called the mind’s eye, are not distinct but closely related experiences. Humans are capable of visualizing events both in the past and in the imagination – when writing the word ‘elephant’ the image of an elephant magically appears before the author conjured up by the imagination and by memory of what an elephant looks like. Humans are also capable of visualising events as they are taking place in front of their eyes. Moreover, an image that was implanted in the brain in childhood can remain alive and be recalled with all the clarity and distinctiveness of an image that was implanted in the brain only yesterday.
Theophanies
At the beginning of Homer’s IliadAthena manifested herself to Achilles in the war council that Agamemnon had summoned, just when Achilles, mortally insulted, was about to draw his sword and kill his commander-in-chief. At that precise moment, however, Athena swooped down and snatched him by the hair, whereupon he turned around “ and she appeared to him alone.” Mortal and immortal then proceeded to hold a private conversation that goes on for 20 lines. No-one else heard the conversation, nor did anyone realize that Achilles was otherwise engaged. It is as if time had gone into the freezer for those 20 lines. The exclusivity of this encounter indicates the favour which Achilles enjoyed in the goddess’ eyes. But how did she effect this intimate theophany? Did she obscure the vision of the other members of the war council or did she enhance Achilles’ eyesight? Either way, she seems momentarily to have turned them to stone.
The Rage of Achilles, Athena grabbing him by the hair to prevent him from slaying Agamemnon, by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1757) Villa Valmarana ai Nani (Public Domain)
Observing a deity face-to-face, as Achilles does, is often more than human strength can bear, comparable to looking directly at the sun, since the eyes of a deity emit a blazing, blinding light.
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Dr Robert Garland obtained his M.A. in Classics from McMaster University and his Ph.D. in Ancient History from University College London. His research focuses on the social, religious, political, and cultural history of both Greece and Rome. He has written 17 books including The Eye of the Beholder: Deformity and Disability in the Graeco-Roman World.
Top Image: Death of Semele, caused by the Theophany of Zeus without a mortal disguise, by Peter Paul Rubens (1640) (Public Domain)
