Tiresias – Unusual Prophet Who Turned Into A Woman For Seven Years

Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com – Some prophets captivate us because they are shrouded in a veil of mystery. There are also those who are interesting due to their curious experiences.

Tiresias was an unusual prophet, who not only unwillingly turned into a woman for seven years, but was also struck blind. His story is remarkable, and it has been suggested there is a deeper meaning behind the tale that should teach us a lesson.

Left: Blind prophet Tiresias – Right: Tiresias as a woman – Credit: Public Domain

In Greek mythology, we often encounter very emotional stories about love, vengeance, desires, jealousies, and betrayal. Greek myths are filled with fascinating characters that involve themselves in acts of passion and heroism. The line between gods and mortals is often very thin. It is by no means uncommon that ancient Greek gods and goddesses act like mortal humans. In the same way, it’s not surprising to find stories about mortals who attempt to be just as powerful as gods.

These dramatic ancient Greek tales have served as an inspiration to many authors who produced great works that we can still enjoy.

Who Was Tiresias?

Tiresias was the son of a shepherd named Everes and a nymph named Chariclo. In Greek and Roman mythology, there are many kinds of nymphs. These young and eternally beautiful daughters of the gods are generally regarded as divine spirits who animate nature and they are often associated with mountains, rivers, or forests.

Tiresias resided in Thebes and is said to have lived for seven generations. Mentioned by many authors like Pindar, Sophocles, Ovid, and Euripides, the life story of Tiresias has become famous. He is also included in Homer’s Odyssey where it is written that his prophetic gift is preserved in Hades, the Greek version of the Underworld.

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