Research source

[194] In the Hercules Furens of Euripides, where Madness, 'the unwedded daughter of black Night,' and sprung of…

Date of account: Published 1879
Source: Demonology and Devil-lore
Reference: Demonology and Devil-lore · selected passage 170
Rights: public_domain
Language: English
Record updated: 2026-08-24

Record summary

[194] In the Hercules Furens of Euripides, where Madness, 'the unwedded daughter of black Night,' and sprung of 'the blood of Coelus,' is evoked from Tartarus for the express purpose of imbreeding in Hercules 'child-slaying disturbances of reason,' there is a suggestion of the hereditary nature of insanity

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e Greeks, as Mania. [194] In the Hercules Furens of Euripides, where Madness, 'the unwedded daughter of black Night,' and sprung of 'the blood of Coelus,' is evoked from Tartarus for the express purpose of imbreeding in Hercules 'child-slaying disturbances of reason,' there is a suggestion of the hereditary nature of insanity. Obedient to the vindictive order of Juno, 'in her chariot hath gone forth the marble-visaged, all-mournful Madness, the Gorgon of Night, and with the hissing of hundred heads of snakes, she gives the goad to her chariot, on mischief bent.' We may plainly see that the religion which embodied such a form was itself ending in madness. Already ancient were the words mantikê (prophecy) and manikê (madness) when Plato cited their identity to prove one kind of madness the special gift of Heaven: [195] the notion lingers in Dryden's line, 'Great wits to madness sure are near allied;' and survive in regions where deference is paid to lunatics and idiots. Other diseases preserve in their names indications of similar association: e.g., Nympholepsy, St. Vitus's Dance, St. Anthony's Fire. Wesley attributes still epilepsy to 'possession.' This was in pursuance of ancient beliefs.

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Modern context

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