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EntityQ364688· pop 13· linked from 96 articles

Also known as Mercy, Pity

In ancient Athens, Eleos (Ancient Greek m.) was the personification of compassion. Pausanias described her as "among all the gods the most useful to human life in all its vicissitudes."

Wikidata facts

Gender
female
Father
Erebos
Mother
Nyx
Show 2 more facts
described by source
Pauly–Wissowa

via Wikidata · CC0

~2 min read

Encyclopedic overview

3 sections
Contents
  • Mythology
  • Notes
  • References

In ancient Athens, Eleos (Ancient Greek m.) was the personification of compassion. Pausanias described her as "among all the gods the most useful to human life in all its vicissitudes."

== Mythology == Pausanias states that there was an altar in Athens dedicated to Eleos, at which children of Heracles sought refuge from Eurystheus' prosecution. Adrastus also came to this altar after the defeat of the Seven against Thebes, praying that those who died in the battle be buried. Eleos was only recognized in Athens, where she was honored by the cutting of hair and the undressing of garments at the altar.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Eleos” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.