Aphrodite of the dawn: indo-european heritage in greek divine epithets and theonyms

Abstract

§1. Aphrodite, originally an epithet of PIE *h2 éus̯ōs, has taken over numerous features of the goddess of dawn. Like the Vedic Uṣas she is the ‘daughter of the sky’. She is connected with the calm of the sea (γαλήνη) and a rescuer of seafarers, a function fulfilled by Uṣas’ suitors in Vedic mythology. Her name may derive from *abh ro-dih2-to-‘shining up from the mist/foam’. §2.1 The epithets of Aphrodite made up of or including colour terms (χρυσής, χρυσοστέφανος, etc.) may refer to her original character as personification of dawn. §2.2 Her connection with chariots as reflected e.g. in χρυσάνιος may derive from her association with the chariot of the sun. This could also be the case of χρυσόθρονος. §2.3 The use of λευκός in connection with Aphrodite may be compared to Ved. rocamāna-, said of Uṣas. §2.4 Her epithet Ἀργυννίς corresponds to Ved. arjunī-. §2.5 Aphrodite ῥοδέη and ῥοδόχρους corresponds to ῥοδοδάκτυλος Eos. §3. The Vedic dawn-cows can be compared with the cows of Helios on Thrinakia. The epic epithets ἕλιξ and ἑλικοβλέφαρος may refer to the celestial movement. §4. The inscriptional Aphrodite Ὀρθροῦ could be dawn or the morning star as daughter of the morning twilight and may be identical to the Ὀρθρία of Alcman fr. 1 and a riddle of Theognis (ll. 861-4). The Ἐρίβοια attested next to Aphrodite Ὀρθροῦ can be understood as the one ‘rich in dawn-cows’.