Genetyllides
{{For|singular form|Genetyllis (disambiguation){{!}}Genetyllis}}
{{redirect|Genethliai|a song|Gennethleia}}
In Greek mythology, the Genetyllides ({{langx|grc|Γενετυλλίδες}}) were minor goddesses or spirits connected with the childbirth ("of one's birth hour"{{LSJ|*genetulli/s|Γενετυλλίς|ref}}) and procreation with a sanctuary on Cape Colias. Often depicted as attendants of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, the Genetyllides held a significant, albeit specialized, role in the religious beliefs of ancient Greece.{{sfn|Graf|2006}}{{sfn|Leonhard Schmitz|1870}} The Genetyllides were mostly venerated by women,{{sfn|Graf|2006}} with men regarding the cult as suspicious ("foreign religion" according to Aristophanes in The Clouds, possibly indicating influence of Astarte).{{sfn|Hadzisteliou-Price|1978|p=127}} These spirits were symbolizing female sensuality and associated with gluttony, deep kisses, erotic music.{{sfn|Parker|2005|p=432}}
Similar to Eileithyia, Genetyllides received canine sacrifices for easy delivery of a baby,{{sfn|Graf|2006}}{{sfn|Hadzisteliou-Price|1978|p=127}} an unusual choice of sacrificial animal in ancient Greece.{{sfn|Graf|2002|pp=118–119}} In a singular form, Genetyllis ({{langx|grc|Γενετυλλίς}}) became one of the names of Aphrodite and, sometimes, associated with Hekate or Artemis.{{sfn|Graf|2006}}{{sfn|Hadzisteliou-Price|1978|p=127}}
Pausanias (1.1.5{{Pausanias|en|1|1|5|ref}}) mentions Genetyllides alongside Gennaides (Hadzisteliou-Price suggests other kourotrophoi, Genethliai), different forms of the same group of nymphs associated with birth and offsprings.{{sfn|Hadzisteliou-Price|1978|p=126}}
Small female figures next to Aphrodite on coins and in visual arts are sometimes interpreted as Genetyllides.{{sfn|Frazer|1898|p=36}}
References
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Sources
{{sfn whitelist|CITEREFLeonhard_Schmitz1870}}
- {{cite book |last=Frazer |first=J.G. |title=Pausanias's Description of Greece: Commentary on Book 1 |publisher=Macmillan and Company, Limited |series=Pausanias's Description of Greece |issue=v. 2 |year=1898 |chapter-url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Pausanias_s_Description_of_Greece/kTGGzrWgNdoC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA36 |access-date=2025-06-28|chapter=Cape Colias|pages=35–36}}
- {{cite book |last=Graf |first=Fritz |title=Kykeon |chapter=What is New About Greek Sacrifice? |publisher=Brill |date=2002-01-01 |isbn=978-90-04-29594-0 |doi=10.1163/9789004295940_006 |url=https://brill.com/view/book/edcoll/9789004295940/B9789004295940-s006.xml |access-date=2025-06-28|pages=113–125}}
- {{cite web |first1=Fritz |last1=Graf |title=Genetyllis | date=2006 |url=https://referenceworks.brill.com/display/entries/NPOE/e421540.xml |website=Brill's New Pauly Online |publisher=Brill |access-date=28 June 2025 |doi=10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e421540}}
- {{cite book |last=Hadzisteliou-Price |first=Theodora |title=Kourotrophos: Cults and Representations of the Greek Nursing Deities |publisher=Brill Archive |date=1978 |isbn=978-90-04-05251-2 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Kourotrophos/_tMUAAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA126 |access-date=2025-06-28}}
- {{cite book |last=Parker |first=Robert |title=Polytheism and Society at Athens |publisher=OUP Oxford |date=2005-11-25 |isbn=978-0-19-153452-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ff51JeXhHXUC&pg=PA432 |access-date=2025-06-28}}
- {{Cite DGRBM|author=Leonhard Schmitz |title=Genetyllis|volume=|page=|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DG%3Aentry+group%3D4%3Aentry%3Dgenetyllis-bio-1|short=}}
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