Averters of Evil

Compiled by Michael Gilleland

This is a collection of passages from ancient Greek authors and inscriptions in which the following epithets are applied to gods:

• ἀλεξήτωρ (alexētōr)
• ἀλεξίκακος (alexikakos)
• ἀλεξητήριος (alexētērios)
• ἀπαλεξίκακος (apalexikakos)
• ἀποτρόπαιος (apotropaios)
• ἀπωσίκακος (apōsikakos)

Last update: June 24, 2007.

Anonymous

But when I had risen and dipped my hands in the clear-flowing water of a spring, I drew near to an altar with incense in my hand, intending to make an offering of sacrificial cake to the divinities that avert evil [apotropaioi], those to whom these rites are due.

ἐπεὶ δ' ἀνέστην καὶ χεροῖν καλλιρρόου
ἔψαυσα πηγῆς, σὺν θυηπόλῳ χερὶ
βωμὸν προσέστην, ἀποτρόποισι δαίμοσιν
θέλουσα θῦσαι πέλανον, ὧν τέλη τάδε.

But since the gods--saviours and warders off of evil [alexikakoi]--clearly rescued me from manifest danger, I shall turn to work and walk the streets of the Peiraeus earning money by transferring ship-cargoes to the warehouses.

ἀλλ᾽ ἐπειδὴ θεοὶ σωτῆρες καὶ ἀλεξίκακοι προὔτυ με κινδύνου φανερῶς ἐξείλοντο, ἐπ᾽ ἐργασίαν τρέψομαι καὶ Πειραιεῖ βαδιοῦμαι τὰ ἐκ τῶν νεῶν φορτία ἐπὶ τὰς ἀποθήκας μισθοῦ μετατιθείς.

But on looking up from my dish I saw coming towards me some of the young men from the gaming tables, and in my fright I set the food behind me and lay down on the ground myself, hiding my plunder and praying to the Averting Gods [apotropaioi] that the storm cloud might pass by; I vowed an offering of a fair number of grains of frankincense--good and mouldy--that I had picked up from sacrifices and keep at home.

ἀνανεύσας δὲ τῆς λοπάδος ὁρῶ προσιόντας τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς τήλίας τινὰς νεανίσκων καὶ δείσας τὰ μὲν βρώματα ὄπισθεν ἀπεθέμην, αὐτὸς δὲ εἰς τοὔδαφος ἐκείμην κρύπτων τὰ κλέμματα εὐχόμενος τε τοῖς Ἀποτροπαίοις τὸ νέφος παρελθεῖν χόνδρους ὑποσχόμενος λιβανωτοῦ ἱκανούς, οὓς οἴκοι ἀναλεξάμενος τῶν ἱερῶν ἔχω εὖ μάλα εὐρωτιῶντας.

Immediately he recited some speech by Euripides about how a brother, o Averter of evil [alexikakos], had carnal knowledge of his sister by the same mother.

ὁ δ᾿ εὐθὺς ἦγ᾿ Εὐριπίδου ῥῆσίν τιν᾿, ὡς ἐκίνει
ἁδελφός, ὦ ᾿λεξίκακε, τὴν ὁμομητρίαν ἀδελφήν.

Averter of evil [apotropaios], he will never command me.

ἀποτρόπαι᾽, οὐ δῆτ᾽ ἐμοῦ γ᾽ ἄρξει ποτ᾽.

So with this knowledge about the heavenly bodies, precautions must be taken, with change of regimen and prayers to the gods; in the case of good signs, to the Sun, to Heavenly Zeus, to Zeus, Protector of Home, to Athena, Protectress of Home, to Hermes and to Apollo; in the case of adverse igns, to the Averters of evil [apotropaioi], to Earth and to the Heroes, that all dangers may be averted.

Before the altar a barrow has been raised for Epopeus himself, and near the grave are the gods Averters of evil [apotropaioi]. Near them the Greeks perform such rites as they are wont to do in order to avert misfortunes.

πρὸ τοῦ βωμοῦ δὲ αὐτῷ μνῆμα Ἐπωπεῖ κέχωσται, καὶ τοῦ τάφου πλησίον εἰσὶν Ἀποτρόπαιοι θεοί: παρὰ τούτοις δρῶσιν ὅσα Ἕλληνες ἐς ἀποτροπὴν κακῶν νομίζουσιν.

O sir, we will say to him, the impulse which moves you to rob temples is not an ordinary human malady, nor yet a visitation of heaven, but a madness which is begotten in a man from ancient and unexpiated crimes of his race, an ever-recurring curse;-against this you must guard with all your might, and how you are to guard we will explain to you. When any such thought comes into your mind, go and perform expiations, go as a suppliant to the temples of the Gods who avert evils [apotropaioi].

ὦ θαυμάσιε, οὐκ ἀνθρώπινόν σε κακὸν οὐδὲ θεῖον κινεῖ τὸ νῦν ἐπὶ τὴν ἱεροσυλίαν προτρέπον ἰέναι, οἶστρος δέ σέ τις ἐμφυόμενος ἐκ παλαιῶν καὶ ἀκαθάρτων τοῖς ἀνθρώποις ἀδικημάτων, περιφερόμενος ἀλιτηριώδης, ὃν εὐλαβεῖσθαι χρεὼν παντὶ σθένει: τίς δ' ἐστὶν εὐλάβεια, μαθέ. ὅταν σοι προσπίπτῃ τι τῶν τοιούτων δογμάτων, ἴθι ἐπὶ τὰς ἀποδιοπομπήσεις, ἴθι ἐπὶ θεῶν ἀποτροπαίων ἱερὰ ἱκέτης.

When Agesilaus had been not yet a year in the kingly office, once while he was offering one of the appointed sacrifices in behalf of the state, the seer said that the gods revealed a conspiracy of the most terrible sort. And when he sacrificed again, the seer said that the signs appeared still more terrible. And upon his sacrificing for the third time, he said: "Agesilaus, just such a sign is given me as would be given if we were in the very midst of the enemy." Thereupon they made offerings to the gods who avert evil [apotropaioi] and to those who grant safety, and having with difficulty obtained favourable omens, ceased sacrificing.

οὔπω δ' ἐνιαυτὸν ὄντος ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ Ἀγησιλάου, θύοντος αὐτοῦ τῶν τεταγμένων τινὰ θυσιῶν ὑπὲρ τῆς πόλεως εἶπεν ὁ μάντις ὅτι ἐπιβουλήν τινα τῶν δεινοτάτων φαίνοιεν οἱ θεοί. ἐπεὶ δὲ πάλιν ἔθυεν, ἔτι δεινότερα ἔφη τὰ ἱερὰ φαίνεσθαι. τὸ τρίτον δὲ θύοντος, εἶπεν: Ὦ Ἀγησίλαε, ὥσπερ εἰ ἐν αὐτοῖς εἴημεν τοῖς πολεμίοις, οὕτω μοι σημαίνεται. ἐκ δὲ τούτου θύοντες καὶ τοῖς ἀποτροπαίοις καὶ τοῖς σωτῆρσι, καὶ μόλις καλλιερήσαντες, ἐπαύσαντο.

"Your prayers, also," said Callias, "are doubtless to the effect that you may never be rich; and if you ever have a fine dream you sacrifice, do you not, to the deities who avert disasters [apotropaioi]?"

οὐκοῦν, ἔφη ὁ Καλλίας, καὶ εὔχῃ μηδέποτε πλουτεῖν, καὶ ἐάν τι ὄναρ ἀγαθὸν ἴδῃς, τοῖς ἀποτροπαίοις θύεις;

Apollo

Apollo averter of evil [apotropaios], what a gaping beak!

Ἂπολλον ἀποτρόπαιε, τοῦ χασμήματος.

Apollo averter of evil [apotropaios], what a prophecy!

Ἂπολλον ἀποτρόπαιε, τοῦ μαντεύματος.

Apollo averter of evil [apotropaios], not I, by Zeus.

Ἂπολλον ἀποτρόπαιε, μὰ Δί᾽ ἐγὼ μὲν οὔ.

Apollo averter of evil [apotropaios] and you kindly gods, what misfortune has the fellow suffered?

Ἂπολλον ἀποτρόπαιε καὶ θεοὶ φίλοι,
τί ποτ᾽ ἐστὶν ὅ τι πέπονθεν ἃνθρωπος κακόν;

The prophet of Zeus in Dodona announces. To Dionysus pay public sacrifices and mix a bowl of wine and set up dances; to Apollo the Averter [apotropaios] sacrifice an ox and wear garlands, both free men and slaves, and observe one day of rest; to Zeus, the giver of wealth, a white bull.

ὁ τοῦ Διὸς σημαίνει ἐν Δωδώνῃ, Διονύσῳ δημοτελῆ ἱερὰ τελεῖν καὶ κρατῆρα κεράσαι+ καὶ χοροὺς ἱστάναι, Ἀπόλλωνι ἀποτροπαίῳ βοῦν θῦσαι, καὶ στεφανηφορεῖν ἐλευθέρους καὶ δούλους, καὶ ἐλινύειν μίαν ἡμέραν. Διὶ κτησίῳ βοῦν λευκόν.

For Apollo is addressed as Healer and as Averter-of-Evil [alexikakos], in the belief that he turns men aside from misfortunes and implants health in soul and body, not sickness or madness.

τὸν μὲν γὰρ Παιήονα καὶ Ἀλεξίκακον προσαγορεύουσιν, ὡς ἀποτρέποντα τῶν κακῶν καὶ ὑγίειαν ἐμποιοῦντα ταῖς ψυχαῖς καὶ σώμασιν, οὐ νόσον οὐδὲ μανίαν

And in front of the temple is one Apollo made by Leochares; the other Apollo, called Averter of evil [alexikakos], was made by Calamis. They say that the god received this name because by an oracle from Delphi he stayed the pestilence which afflicted the Athenians at the time of the Peloponnesian War.

πρὸ δὲ τοῦ νεὼ τὸν μὲν Λεωχάρης, ὃν δὲ καλοῦσιν Ἀλεξίκακον Κάλαμις ἐποίησε. τὸ δὲ ὄνομα τῷ θεῷ γενέσθαι λέγουσιν, ὅτι τὴν λοιμώδη σφίσι νόσον ὁμοῦ τῷ Πελοποννησίων πολέμῳ πιέζουσαν κατὰ μάντευμα ἔπαυσε Δελφῶν.

In front of the doors they set up statues of Apollo as averter of evil [alexikakos] and guardian of the roads.

πρὸ τῶν θυρῶν ἵστασαν ἀγάλματα τοῦ Ἀπόλλωνος ὡς Ἀλεξικάκου καὶ φύλακος τῶν ὁδῶν.

Athena

Athena averter of evil [apotropaia]

Ἀθηνᾶς Ἀποτροπαίας

Heracles

O Hermes giver of gain and Heracles warder off of evil [alexikakos], I escaped in safety.

Ἑρμῆ κερδῷε καὶ ἀλεξίκακε Ἡράκλεις, ἀπεσώθην.

Such, then, was his outward appearance; but his soul and his mind -- O Heracles Forfender [alexikakos]! O Zeus, Averter of Mischief! O Twin Brethren, our Saviours! may it be the fortune of our enemies and ill-wishers to encounter and have to do with the like of him!

Τοιόσδε μὲν τὴν μορφήν· ἡ ψυχὴ δὲ καὶ ἡ γνώμη ἀλεξίκακε Ἡράκλεις καὶ Ζεῦ ἀποτρόπαιε καὶ Διόσκουροι σωτῆρες͵ πολεμίοις καὶ ἐχθροῖς ἐντυχεῖν γένοιτο καὶ συγγενέσθαι τοιούτῳ τινί.

And who the god was to whom I had offered my prayers is shown in the statue which I set up in Ephesus to commemorate the event; and it is a temple of the Heracles who averts disease, for I chose him to help me, because he is the wise and courageous god, who once purged of the plague the city of Elis, by washing away with the river-tide the foul exhalations which the land sent up under the tyranny of Augias.

He therefore called together the Ephesians, and said: "Take courage, for I will today put a stop to the course of the disease." And with these words he led the population entire to the theater, where the image of the Averting god has been set up.

He calls Telamon "undermining towers" because he sacked Troy. For Hellanicus relates that, even before Heracles, Telamon came to Troy and overthrew some part of the wall.

Then, when he observed and learned that Heracles was annoyed for that reason, he built an altar to Heracles Averter of Evil [alexikakos], and assuaged his anger at what had been done.

When Heracles drew his sword against him, Telamon observed that Heracles was annoyed for that reason and he heaped stones around Heracles. Heracles said, "Why are you doing that?" Telemon said, "I am going to raise up an altar to Heracles Averter of Evil [alexikakos]." And in this way he put a stop to Heracles' anger and gave as a gift to him Hesione and Theaneira.

πυργοσκάφον λέγει τὸν Τελαμῶνα τὸν πορθήσαντα τὴν Τροίαν. ἱστορεῖ γὰρ Ἑλλάνικος ὅτι καὶ πρὸ τοῦ Ἡρακλέος εἰσελθὼν εἰς τὴν Τροίαν ὁ Τελαμὼν καὶ μέρος τι τοῦ τείχους καταβαλὼν

εἶτα παρατηρήσας καὶ μαθὼν δυσχεράναντα τούτου ἕνεκα τὸν Ἡρακλέα Ἀλεξικάκου Ἡρακλέος βωμὸν ἰδρύσατο καὶ τὴν ἐπὶ τῷ πεπραγμένῳ αὐτοῦ ὀργὴν ἐθεράπευσε.

εἰσῆλθε. σπωμένου δὲ ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν Ἡρακλέος τὸ ξίφος Τελαμὼν παρατηρήσας τούτου ἕνεκα δυσχεράναντα τὸν Ἡρακλέα λίθους περὶ αὐτὸν ἐσώρευε. τοῦ δὲ φαμένου τί τοῦτο; Τελαμὼν ἔφη· ἐγείρειν μέλλω βωμὸν Ἡρακλέος Ἀλεξικάκου. καὶ οὕτω τῆς ὀργῆς Ἡρακλῆς παύεται καὶ γέρας αὐτῷ τὴν Ἡσιόνην τὴν καὶ Θεάνειραν δωρεῖται.

Fate-fending: Heracles, the one who drives away the Fates; for he is Averter of Evil [alexikakos].

Κηραμύντης ὁ Ἡρακλῆς ὁ τὰς κῆρας διώκων· ἀλεξίκακος γάρ.

Hermes

And when the other cities are rid of their troubles, they'll sacrifice to you as Hermes Averter of Trouble [alexikakos].

ἄλλαι τέ σοι πόλεις πεπαυμέναι κακῶν
ἀλεξικάκῳ θύσουσιν Ἑρμῇ πανταχοῦ.

Zeus

From these evils may Zeus the Defender [alexētērios], upholding his name, shield the city of the Cadmeans!

ὧν Ζεὺς ἀλεξητήριος / ἐπώνυμος γένοιτο Καδμείων πόλει.

Such, then, was his outward appearance; but his soul and his mind -- O Heracles Forfender! O Zeus, Averter of Mischief [apotropaios]! O Twin Brethren, our Saviours! may it be the fortune of our enemies and ill-wishers to encounter and have to do with the like of him!

Τοιόσδε μὲν τὴν μορφήν· ἡ ψυχὴ δὲ καὶ ἡ γνώμη ἀλεξίκακε Ἡράκλεις καὶ Ζεῦ ἀποτρόπαιε καὶ Διόσκουροι σωτῆρες͵ πολεμίοις καὶ ἐχθροῖς ἐντυχεῖν γένοιτο καὶ συγγενέσθαι τοιούτῳ τινί.

Some time later she was brought to the Emperor Claudius in Rome. Because of the portent he had an altar built on the Capitoline to Jupiter the Averter of Evil [alexikakos].

μετὰ δὲ χρόνον είς Ῥώμην ἀνηνέχθη πρὸς Κλαύδιον Καίσαρα, ὁ δὲ τούτο ἕνεκα τοῦ σημείου ἐν Καπετωλίῳ Διὶ Ἀλεξικάκῳ ἵδρύσατο βωμόν.

Zeus our protector [alexētōr], who is the old man?

Ζεῦ ἀλεξῆτορ, τίς ποθ' ὁ πρέσβυς;

Zeus averter of evil [apotropaios]

Διὸς / Ἀποτροπαίου