IKHNAIE
Greek Name
Ιχναιη
Transliteration
Ikhnaiê
Latin Spelling
Ichnaea
Translation
Tracing, Tracking
IKHNAIE (Ichnaea) was the goddess of tracing and tracking. She was one of the female Titanes who possessed an oracle at Ikhnai (Ichnae) in Thessalia (Thessaly). Her name was derived from the Greek verb ichneuô meaning "to trace" or "to track".
Ikhnaie was identified with the goddesses Themis and Nemesis and perhaps also Theia.
PARENTS
HELIOS (Lycophron Alexandra 128)
CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES
Homeric Hymn 3 to Delian Apollo 89 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C7th - 4th B.C.) :
"Leto [in labour, on the island of Delos,] was racked nine days and nine nights with pangs beyond wont. And there were with her all the chiefest of the goddesses, Dione and Rheia and Ikhnaie (Ichnaea) and Themis and loud-moaning Amphitrite and the other deathless goddesses. Then the child leaped forth to the light, and all the goddesses raised a cry. Straightway, great Phoibos (Phoebus) [Apollon], the goddesses washed you purely and cleanly with sweet water, and swathed you in a white garment of fine texture, new-woven, and fastened a golden band about you."
Lycophron, Alexandra 128 ff (trans. Mair) (Greek poet C3rd B.C.) :
"A doer of justice and arbiter of Helios' (the Sun's) daughter Ikhnaie (Ichnaea)."
Strabo, Geography 9. 5. 15 (trans. Jones) (Greek geographer C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"Ikhnai (Ichnae) [in Phthiotis, Thessalia], where Themis Ikhnaia (Ichnaea) is held in honor."
SOURCES
GREEK
- The Homeric Hymns - Greek Epic C8th - 4th B.C.
- Lycophron, Alexandra - Greek Poetry C3rd B.C.
- Strabo, Geography - Greek Geography C1st B.C. - C1st A.D.
OTHER SOURCES
Other references not currently quoted here: Stephanus Byzantium s.v. Ichnai.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.