Adrasteia
Adrasteia (Greek Ἀδράστεια " the inevitable ") is a small Asian virgin mountain goddess in Greek mythology. At the same time it is one of the protectors of the young Zeus.
Myth
As protector of Zeus is considered nymph and daughter of Melisseus, the mythical king of Crete. On the Rhea maintains command and protected her along with her sister Ide the young Zeus in the Diktäischen cave, known as the Cave of Psychro today. In Hyginus Mythographus be named as the name of the daughters Idothea, Althaea and Adrasta.
In Apollonius of Rhodes is mentioned that Adrasteia the child's Zeus gave a wonderful toy, a ball ( sphaira ):
A rounded ball, indeed, a beautiful piece of Lust Could you even get out of the hand of Hephaestus never: Maturity of gold and belt around rings adorn the ball, Every moves a doubled ring, circular formed. Imperceptibly the joints are hidden, a bluish arc Runs through all gone, and you throw the ball with their hands, It shines with a fiery tail equal through the air, a star.
A handy globe, in which the rings correspond to the ( ancient ) climates: a toy worthy of a future Weltenbeherrschers.
It is believed that Adrasteia has been similar to that of Cybele originally a virgin mountain goddess from the north-west of Asia Minor. Your name was probably not have been Greek, but would the meaning of the " inevitable ", especially the " inescapable " revenge and punishment received by aligning with the Greek, why Adrasteia also appears as a surname of Nemesis and they speculatively later identified with Nemesis.
Cult
On the mountain named after her Adrasteia ( Adrasteia oros ) at Cyzicus in Mysia a temple itself is said to have been found. The mountain is located about 4 km west of the present Bandirma in Turkey. How does the city west disposed toward Troas Adrasteia was a goddess, is unclear. Founder of the sanctuary should be a eponymous Adrestos by Strabo.
In Cirrha, the port of Delphi, Pausanias noted a cult image of Adrasteia.
In Athens, a cult is occupied.
Other sources
- Callimachus Hymni 1.46
- Plutarch Quaestiones convivales 3,9,2