literary references to Deimos

[terrorise]

GREEK

"Ares drove these [warriors] on . . . and Deimos drove them, and Phobos, Eris whose wrath is relentless, she the sister and companion of murderous Ares."

Homer, Iliad 4. 436 ff

"[The shield of Agamemnon:] And he took up the man-enclosing elaborate stark shield, a thing of splendour. There were ten circles of bronze upon it, and set about it were twenty knobs of tin, pale-shining, and in the very centre another knob of dark cobalt. And circled in the midst of all was the blank-eyed face of the Gorgo with her stare of horror, and Deimos was inscribed upon it, and Phobos."

Homer, Iliad 11. 36 ff

"So he [Ares] spoke, and ordered Deimos and Phobos to harness his horses, and himself got into his shining armour."

Homer, Iliad 1. 119 ff

"Also Kytherea [Aphrodite] bare to Ares the shield-piercer Phobos and Deimos, terrible gods who drive in disorder the close ranks of men in numbing war, with the help of Ares, sacker of towns."

Hesiod, Theogony 933 ff

"[Among the images engraved on the shield of Herakles:] And on the shield stood the fleet-footed horses of grim Ares made gold, and deadly Ares the spoil-winner himself. He held a spear in his hands and was urging on the footmen: he was red with blood as if he were slaying living men, and he stood in his chariot. Beside him stood Deimos and Phobos, eager to plunge amidst the fighting men."

Hesiod, Shield of Heracles 191 ff

"And Phobos and Deimos quickly drove his [Ares'] smooth-wheeled chariot and horses near him [after he was wounded by Herakles] and lifted him from the wide-pathed earth into his richly-wrought car, and then straight lashed the horses and came to high Olympos."

Hesiod, Shield of Heracles 450 ff

"[Images engraved on the shield of Akhilleus:] And there were man-devouring wars, and all horrors of fight . . . Phobos was there, and Deimos, and ghastly Enyo with limbs all gore-bespattered hideously, and deadly Eris."

Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 5. 25 ff

"To one place Eris drew them all, the fearful Battle-queen, beheld of none, but cloaked in clouds blood-raining: on she stalked swelling the mighty roar of battle, now rushed through Troy's squadrons, through Akhaia's now; Phobos and Deimos still waited on her steps to make their father's sister glorious."

Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 10. 51 ff

"The Akhaians pressed hard on the Trojans even unto Troy. Yet these charged forth--they could not choose but so, for Eris and deadly Enyo in their midst stalked . . . Beside them raged the ruthless-hearted Keres fiercely: here Phobos and Ares there stirred up the hosts: hard after followed Deimos with slaughter's gore besprent, that in one host might men see, and be strong, in the other fear."

Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 11. 7 ff

"[Zeus arms himself for battle against the monster Typhon:] Now Zeus armed the two grim sons of Enyalios [Ares], his own grandsons, Phobos and Deimos his servant, the inseparable guardsmen of the sky: Phobos he set up with the lightning, Deimos he made strong with the thunderbolt, terrifying Typhon. Nike lifted her shield and held it before Zeus: Enyo countered with a shout, and Ares made a din."

Nonnus, Dionysiaca 2. 414 ff

"Kypris (Aphrodite) wore a gleaming helmet . . . the bridal swarm of unwarlike Erotes shot their arrows in battle; brazen Ares shrank back for very shame, when he saw his Phobos and his Deimos supporting the Erotes, when he beheld Aphrodite holding the buckler."

Nonnus, Dionysiaca 25. 150 ff

"In hot haste he [Ares] leapt up, and awoke Phobos and Deimos to yoke his deadly quickrunning car. They obeyed their urgent father. Furious Deimos set the crooktooth bit in the horses' mouths, and fastened their obedient necks under the yokestrap, and fitted the neckloop on each: Ares mounted the car, and Phobos took the reins and drove his father's chariot."

Nonnus, Dionysiaca 29. 364 ff

"Deathly Ares shouted as loud as nine thousand, with Eris moving by his side to support him; in the battle he placed Phobos and Deimos to wait upon Deriades [the Indian King]."

Nonnus, Dionysiaca 32. 175 ff

"[In a sea-battle led by Dionysos during the Indian War:] In that tumult of many oars Ares was then an excellent mariner, Phobos held rudder in hand, Deimos was pilot of the fray and threw off the hawsers of the javelin-bearing ships."

Nonnus, Dionysiaca 39. 215 ff

"[Deimos] and Phobos and Kydoimos, attendants of Ares, the sons of war; they too experienced what Ares did, after Hephaistos had not been frightened by them."

Suidas s.v. Deimos

ROMAN

"From Venus [Aphrodite] and Mars [Ares] [were born]: Harmonia, and Formido [Deimos]."

Pseudo-Hyginus, Preface

"Malign Tisiphone [the Erinys] seized a torch steeped in blood, put on a robe all red with dripping gore and wound a snake about her waist, and started from her home; and with her as she went were Luctus [Penthos] and Pavor [Phobos], Terror [Deimos], and Insania [Mania] too with frantic face."

Ovid, Metamorphoses 4. 481

"She [Majesta] took her seat high in the midst of Olympus, a golden figure far seen in purple vest. With her sat Pudor [Aidos] and Metus [Deimos]. You might see every divinity modelling his aspect upon hers."

Ovid, Fasti 5. 29 ff

"The foul pool of Cocytus' sluggish stream lies here; here the vulture, there the dole-bringing owl utters its cry, and the sad omen of the gruesome screech-owl sounds. The leaves shudder, black with gloomy foliage where sluggish Sopor [Hypnos] clings to the overhanging yew, where sad Fames [Limos] lies with wasted jaws, and Pudor [Aidos], too late, hides her guilt-burdened face. Metus [Deimos] stalks there, gloomy Pavor [Phobos] and gnashing Dolor [Algos], sable Luctus [Penthos], tottering Morbus and iron-girt Bella [Enyo]; and last of all slow Senectus [Geras] supports his steps upon a staff."

Seneca, Hercules Furens 686 ff

"Suddenly the earth yawned and opened wide with gulf immeasurable. Myself, I saw the numb pools amidst the shadows; myself, the wan gods and night in very truth. My frozen blood stood still and clogged my veins. Forth leaped a savage cohort [of ghosts] . . . Then grim Erinys shrieked, and blind Furor [Lyssa] and Horror [Phrike], and all the forms which spawn and lurk midst the eternal shades: Luctus [Penthos], tearing her hair; Morbus [Nosos], scarce holding up her wearied head; Senectus [Geras], burdened with herself; impending Metus [Deimos], and greedy Pestis [Nosos], the Ogygian people's curse. Our spirits died within us. Even she [Manto] who knew the rites and the arts of her aged sire stood amazed. But he, undaunted and bold from his lost sight, summons the bloodless throng of cruel Dis [Haides]."

Seneca, Oedipus 582 ff

"No sluggish retinue is his [Dionysos']: Ira and Furor are there, and Metus [Deimos and Virtus, and Ardor never sober, and steps that stagger, an army most like to its prince."

Statius, Thebaid 4. 661 ff

"Fit sentinels hold watch there [the Thracian palace of Mars-Ares]: from the outer gate wild Impetus leaps, and blind Nefas and Irae flushing red and pallid Metus [Deimos], and Insidia lurks with hidden sword, and Discordia holding a two-edged blade. Minis innumerable make clamour in the court, sullen Virtus stands in the midst, and Furor exultant and armed Mors with blood-stained visage are seated there."

Statius, Thebaid 7. 64 ff

"[Description of an ancient Greek play of the Judgement of Paris:] Each maiden representing a goddess was accompanied by her own escort . . . The girl whose appearance in arms had revealed her as Minerva [Athene] was protected by two boys who were the comrades in arms of the battle-goddess, Terror [Deimos] and Metus [Phobos]; they pranced about with swords unsheathed."

Apuleius, The Golden Ass 10. 30 ff

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