[288] μίτρην ἔλυσα: ζώνην or μίτρην λύειν had two distinct references, (1) to a virgin's primus coitus, where the husband or lover was usually the subject of the verb, cf. Ellis on Cat. 61. 53; (2) to the unfastening of the girdle at delivery. This is the meaning here and in Call. Jov. 21, Del. 209, 222 (Call. has the middle voice in these passages). λυσίζωνος as a cult-name of Artemis is mentioned by our Schol. and Hesych., cf. also Theocr. 17. 60, Εἰλείθυιαν ἐβώσατο λυσίζωνον Ἀντιγόνας θυγάτηρ βεβαρημένα ὠδίνεσσιν. For the custom of dedicating the μίτρη, ζώνη, etc., to Artemis in return for an easy delivery, cf. Anth. P. 6. 201, 202, 272.
This text is part of:
Argonautica. Apollonius Rhodius. George W. Mooney. London. Longmans, Green. 1912.
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