Zeus ex machina. Le Meilichios ou l’oubli de la troisième fonction. Quaestiunculae Dumezilianae 2

Abstract

Here are compared four narratives staging as many very different characters in Greek history. Their common point is their appeal, fulfilled or not, at the end of their ordeal to Zeus Meilichios, as guarantor of prosperity and popular support. On the one hand (Theseus, Xenophon), “positive heroes”, find in that appeal the crowning point of a destiny already rich in warlike mettle and regal qualities. On the other hand (Cylon of Athens, Bryas of Argos), warriors in quest of sovereignty, ultimately fail by forgetting or scorning the “third function”. This parallel of three narrative structures combined with the consideration of a few Pirean bas-reliefs corroborates the implicitly dumezilian colouring of a remark by Jean-Pierre Vernant on Xenophon’s relation to Zeus’three functional facets: Basileus, Sôter, Meilichios.

Keywords

• Bryas
• Cylon
• Dumézil
• Halaesa
• kingship
• Selinonte