Wskrzeszenie Glaukosa – problem historii literackiej i genezy mitu

Abstract

In Greco-Roman Mythography (Ps.-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 3.3.1-2, Ps.-Hyginus, Fabulae 136, De astronomia 2.14.14-34, Palaephatus, Incredibila 26) and later Byzantine Literature we can find a story of Glaucus, son of Minos, the boy raised from dead with the help of magical herb delivered by the snake. Recognizable literary origins of the Myth can be traced back to lost pieces of Classical Drama (TGF ed. Nauck: Aeschyl. Fragm. 116-120, Soph. Fragm. 359-368, Euripid. Fragm. 634-648), which had to adopt some kind of more archaic tradition, supposedly connected with the Crete, as it was suggested by a number of authors (Jeanmire, Wittels, Muellner, Persson, Preller, Frazer). But very similar story can also be find in Lydian tradition recorded by Nonnus of Panopolis in the form of the myth of Tylos (Nonnus, Dionysiaca 25). Both stories show very striking common features, which cannot be explained as an accidental similarities. It is therefore possible that we should consider the possibility of the West Asian rather than “purely” Greek origins of the myth.