The Charities or Graces are divinities whose power is beauty and all the qualities of charis – beauty, grace, goodwill and favor – as it manifests in the world and the cosmos.
- The Three Graces, Roman fresco from Pompeii C1st A.D., Image from theoi.com
Hesiod (Greek epic 8th or 7th B.C.) tells of their birth – “Eurynome (Broad Pasture), the daughter of Okeanos, beautiful in form, bare him [Zeus] three fair-cheeked Kharites (Graces), Aglaia (Glory, Beauty), and Euphrosyne (Merriment), and lovely Thaleia (Festivity), from whose eyes as they glanced flowed love that unnerves the limbs: and beautiful is their glance beneath their brows” (Theogony 907 ff trans. Evelyn-White.)
A love that unnerves the limbs…I love that line. And yes, their representation in art through the ages certainly has that power.
We are nigh upon celebrating Thanksgiving, expressing gratitude for what we have and what we can share. Here at OPUS we wish you a holiday that is graced by the Charities and their beautiful glances.
