View source for Astronomy:Dysnomia (deity)

{{Short description|Ancient Greek deity}}
 {{Infobox deity
| type = Greek
| name = Dysnomia
| deity_of = Personification of Lawlessness
| parents = Eris<ref>[[Biography:Hesiod|Hesiod]], ''[[Religion:Theogony|Theogony]]'' 230</ref>
| siblings = [[Unsolved:Lethe|Lethe]], [[Company:Ponos|Ponos]], Algos, Hysminai, [[Religion:Limos|Limos]], [[Religion:Phonoi|Phonoi]], Androktasiai, [[Religion:Neikea|Neikea]], Amphillogiai, 
Pseudea, Logoi, Machai, Atë, [[Religion:Horkos|Horkos]]
| member_of = the Family of Eris
}}{{Greek myth (personified)}}

In [[Religion:Greek mythology|Greek mythology]], '''Dysnomia''' ({{IPAc-en|d|ɪ|s|ˈ|n|oʊ|m|i|ə}}; {{lang-grc|Δυσνομία}} means '[[Social:Lawlessness|lawlessness]]') was the [[Philosophy:Daemon (classical mythology)|daemon]] of "lawlessness", who shares her nature with Atë ("ruin").  She was a companion of the latter deity, Adikia (Injustice), and [[Social:Hybris (mythology)|Hybris]] (Violence). Dysnomia makes rare appearances among other personifications in poetical contexts that are marginal in [[Religion:Ancient Greek religion|ancient Greek religion]] but become central to Greek philosophy: see Plato's ''Laws''.

== Family ==
Dysnomia was imagined by [[Biography:Hesiod|Hesiod]] among the daughters of "abhorred [[Astronomy:Eris (mythology)|Eris]]" ("Strife").<ref>Hesiod, ''Theogony'' 230</ref> 

: "And hateful Eris bore painful [[Company:Ponos|Ponos]] ("Hardship"),
: [[Unsolved:Lethe|Lethe]] ("Forgetfulness") and [[Religion:Limos|Limos]] ("Starvation") and the tearful Algea ("Pains"),
: Hysminai ("Battles"), Makhai ("Wars"), [[Religion:Phonoi|Phonoi]] ("Murders"), and Androktasiai ("Manslaughters");
: [[Religion:Neikea|Neikea]] ("Quarrels"), Pseudea ("Lies"), Logoi ("Stories"), Amphillogiai ("Disputes")
: Dysnomia ("Lawlessness") and Ate ("Ruin"), near one another,
: and [[Religion:Horkos|Horkos]] ("Oath"), who most afflicts men on earth,
: Then willing swears a false oath."<ref>Caldwell, p. 42 lines 226-232, with the meanings of the names (in parentheses), as given by Caldwell, p. 40 on lines 212–232.</ref><ref>Hesiod, ''Theogony'' 226–232 {{PD-notice}}</ref>

==Mythology==
In a surviving fragment of [[Biography:Solon|Solon]]'s poems, a contrast is made to Eunomia, a name elsewhere given to one of the [[Religion:Horae|Horae]], the embodiments of order. Both were figures of rhetoric and poetry; neither figured in myth or  Greek religious cult &mdash; although other personifications did, like ''Harmonia'', "Agreement";<ref>''OCD'' ''s''. "''homonia''"</ref> whether Harmonia is only a personification is debatable.<ref>Burkert, ''Greek Religion'', p.283.</ref><blockquote>"This is what my heart bids me teach the Athenians, that Dysnomia (Lawlessness) brings the city countless ills, but Eunomia (Lawfulness) reveals all that is orderly and fitting, and often places fetters round the unjust. She makes the rough smooth, puts a stop to excess, weakens insolence (''hubris''), dries up the blooming of ruin (''ate''), straightens out crooked judgements, tames deeds of pride, and puts an end to acts of sedition and to the anger of grievous strife."<ref>[[Biography:Solon|Solon]], fr. 5 (trans. Gerber, Vol. Greek Elegiac, Greek elegy C6th B.C.) {{PD-notice}}</ref></blockquote>

== Legacy ==
In 2005, Dysnomia was chosen as [[Astronomy:Dysnomia (moon)|the name for the moon]] of the dwarf planet [[Astronomy:Eris (dwarf planet)|Eris]].<ref>[http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/iauc/08700/08747.html IAU Circular 8747] - Official publication of the IAU reporting the naming of Eris and Dysnomia</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dysnomia (Mythology)}}

== References ==
* Caldwell, Richard, ''Hesiod's Theogony'', Focus Publishing/R. Pullins Company (June 1, 1987). {{ISBN|978-0-941051-00-2}}.
* Greek Elegaic Solon, Fragments - Greek Elegaic C6th B.C.
* [[Biography:Hesiod|Hesiod]], ''Theogony'' from ''The Homeric Hymns and Homerica'' with an English Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White, Cambridge, MA.,Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1914. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0130%3Acard%3D1 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0129 Greek text available from the same website].

{{Greek mythology (deities)|state=collapsed}}{{Greek-deity-stub}}[[Category:Eris (dwarf planet)]]

{{Sourceattribution|Dysnomia (deity)}}