Λήθη (Lethe)
(“Oblivion”)

181

Discussion Meineke III (1840) 606-7; Kock II (1884) 461; Edmonds II (1959)
616-9; Webster 1970, 38; PCG VII (1989) 772.
Title Λήθη as a title is unique in Attic drama (but cf. Pherecrates’Thr^opmv ή
Θάλαττα). The word is related to the verb λανθάνω “to escape notice” and literally
means “forgetfulness” or “oblivion” (and in an eschatological sense the “Place of
Oblivion” in the Underworld, see below). Relevant titles taken from abstract no-
tions by means of personification or deification are Ειρήνη (Aristophanes, Eubulus
and Theopompus), Άγνοια (Diphilus, Macho),Ύπνος (Alexis, Antiphanes and
Xenarchus), Ποίησις (Antiphanes), Ήχώ (Eubulus), Παννυχίς (Eubulus, Alexis),
Άντέρως and'YPpig (Anaxandrides), Εύανδρία (Anaxilas), Οργή (Menander).200
As a proper name, Lethe is a deity in Hesiod; see Th. 227, where she is said to be
Eris’ daughter and a personification of oblivion. Another tradition associates Lethe
with the Graces: Schol. Hom. II. 14.276 και Λήθης γενεαλογοΰσι τάς Χάριτας. It
seems that Lethe as a deity had at times a cult in Athens, and an altar was dedicated
to her in the Acropolis; see Plu. Quaest. Conv. 741a. Moreover, she is mentioned in
tragedy, as a deification of the corresponding abstract entity; cf. E. Or. 213 (cited
below); S. fr. 670 Radt Λήθην τε την πάντων άπεστερημένην, / κωφήν, άναυδον;
cf. West 1966, on Hes. Th. Τ1Ί.
Lethe is also a place in the Underworld (Λήθης πεδίον), first mentioned in
Ar. Ra. 186 τις ές τό Λήθης πεδίον; cf. Λήθης δόμοι in Ps.-Simonides, ΑΡ 7.25
(= Gow-Page 2.519). Λήθης πεδίον is the opposite of άληθείας πεδίον (Pl. Phdr.
248b). This field was crossed by a river, also called Λήθη (alternately Άμέλης
ποταμός “Care-not river”, cf. Pl. R. 621a, or Lethaeus, cf. V. Aen. 5. 854). The
dead drank water after their arrival and lost all memory of their previous life:
Paus. 9.39.8 ένταϋθα δη χρή πιεϊν αύτόν Λήθης τε ϋδωρ καλούμενον, ϊνα λήθη
γένηταί οί πάντων ά τέως έφρόντιζε “Here he must drink the so-called ‘Water
of Forgetfulness’, in order to forget all his previous concerns”; Luc. Luct. 5 ...
ποτόν μνήμης πολέμιον· Λήθης γοϋν διά τούτο ώνόμασται; DMort. 13.6; 28.2.
The “Water of Forgetfulness” is often contrasted with the “Water of Memory”
(Plin. Nat. Hist. 31.15).201 In Orphic poems, the souls of the dead were routinely
instructed to avoid the Water of Forgetfulness and proceed instead to the Lake
of Memory; see C.I.G n. 5772; Frazer 1913, on Paus. 9.39.8; Kroll, RE s.v. Lethe,
2142.47-2143; Stoll, in Roscher-Ziegler II (1894-7) 1956-8; Bernabe-Jimenez
San Cristobal 2008, 9-59.202

200 See Webster 1952, 23; 1970, 83; Arnott 2010, 316; Henderson 2014, 195.
201 It is equally possible to take lethe as a common noun, in the sense “water that leads to
forgetfulness” or the like.
202 Lethe in late literary sources: A. R. Arg. 1.645;Ov. Met. 11. 602; Verg. A. 6. 705; G. 1.78;
4.545; Prop. 4. 7; Sen. Her. E 679; 762: Oed. 559; Phaed. 147;1201; V. Fl. Argonautica 8. 84;