ὀρεστέρα: cp. Helen. 1301, where the “ὀρεία”... | “μάτηρ θεῶν” is identified with Demeter. In order to appreciate the large significance of this epithet in relation to the ‘Phrygian Mother,’ we must remember that ‘Phrygia’ originally denoted the whole interior highlands of Asia Minor west of the Halys (Kiepert, Anc. Geo. § 64). παμβῶτι: cp. the epithets “βιόδωρος” (1162), “φερέσβιος, πουλυβότειρα, φυσίζοος, κουροτρόφος”, etc. μᾶτερ αὐτοῦ Διός: the “Μητρῷον” at Athens was sacred to Rhea Cybele: see on Ant. 1070 ff. The name Rhea (probably connected with “ἔρα”, earth) was doubtless older than Cybele (see Welcker Götterl. I. 221), and in Crete the ancient cult of Rhea seems never to have passed into that of Cybele, while in Asia Minor Rhea and Cybele came to be identified. Hence Demetrius of Scepsis (in the Troad) could say that Rhea was not worshipped in Crete, because, by Rhea, he understood Cybele (Strabo p. 472). The legends of the Cretan Ida were easily transferred to the Mysian: there was a “Δίκτη” in the Troad (Strabo l.c.) as well as in Crete. Cp. Apoll. Rh. 1. 1139“ῥόμβῳ καὶ τυπάνῳ Ῥείην Φρύγες ἱλάσκοντο”. Propertius 3. 1. 27 Idaeum Simoenta (the river at Troy), Iovis cunabula parvi.
This text is part of:
Sophocles: The Plays and Fragments, with critical notes, commentary, and translation in English prose. Part IV: The Philoctetes. Sir Richard C. Jebb. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. 1932.
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