Potnia
Potnia (PIE *potnih2, Sanskrit patnī), Ancient Greek for "Mistress, Lady", title of a goddess. The word was inherited by Classical Greek from Mycenean Greek with the same meaning and it was applied to several goddesses. A similar word is the title Despoina ,"the mistress" which was given to the nameless chthonian goddess of the mysteries of Arcadian cult. She was later conflated with Kore (Persephone)," the maid",the goddess of the Eleusinian mysteries,[1]in a life-death rebirth cycle which lead the neophyte from death into life and immortality. Karl Kerenyi identifies Kore with the nameless "Mistress of the labyrinth",who probably precised over the palace of Knossos,in Minoan Crete.
Origins
The earliest reference to the term is an inscription in Linear B (Mycenean Greek) syllabic script found in Knossos of Crete dated 1450-1400 BC. The inscription is referring to the "potnia of the labyrinth" (Mistress of the Labyrinth), who probably presided over the palace of Knossos.[2][3] A famous Minoan seal impression found by Arthur Evans shows a nameless goddess brandishing a spear and standing upon the representation of a mountain flanked by rampant lions.
Several tablets in Linear B script found at Knossos and Pylos refer to the potnia (mistress) or to potniai (mistresses). Potnia is almost always accompanied by an epithet characterizing a particular place or function of the mistress. At Pylos a tablet is referring to "potnia Athana", a form similar to the later Homeric form and another to the "two Potniai and Poseidon" (Campell 1964).[4]
Classical Greece
In classical Greece the title potnia is usually applied to the goddesses Demeter, Artemis, Athena and Persephone. This title was also given to the earth goddess Gaia (Ge). A similar title Despoina,"the mistress" was given to the nameless goddess of the mysteries of Arcadian cult,later conflated with Kore (Persephone),the goddess of the Eleusinian mysteries. Homer in Iliad (xxi 470) mentions a potnia theron (mistress of the animals) who is obviously Artemis. Karl Kerenyi asserts that the two potniai identified at Pylos were the precursor goddesses of Demeter and Persephone, the two goddesses of the Eleusinian mysteries and he identifies Persephone with the nameless "mistress of the labyrinth". According to Pausanias at Olympia the two goddesses were called Despoine ("mistresses", plural of Despoina).[5] Demeter and Persephone were also called "Demeteres" as duplicates of the earth goddess with a double function as chthonian and vegetation goddesses.
Etymology
Potnia (πότνια) is a feminine form meaning "mistress" (PIE *potnih2) related to potis derived from PIE pota meaning lord or powerful. Sanskrit patih ("master", "husband"), fem. patni, Latin verb *potere. Relative English words :power, potent.[6]Mycenean Greek po-ti-ni-ja. The word was inherited in classical Greek with the same meaning. Relative Greek words Despoina ("Des-potnia" from PIE *dems-potnia meaning "mistress of the house")[7] and Poseidon (PoteidaFwn or Potei-das)
References
- ^ Princeton Encyclopedia of classical sites
- ^ Kn Gg 702:da-pu2ri-to-jo po-ti-ni-ja
- ^ Ventris M. and Chadwick J. Documents in Mycenean Greek 1976. Cambridge UP. ISBN 0-521-08558-6
- ^ Chadwick J.The Mycenean world.1976.Cambridge UP. ISBN 0-521-29037-6
- ^ Pausanias.Description of Greece.[1]
- ^ Online Etymology Dictionary [2]
- ^ Online Etymology Dictionary,