View source for Bia (mythology)

{{Short description|Ancient Greek goddess, the personification of force, anger and raw energy}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Greek
| name = Bia
| god_of = Personification of Force
| image = Mural of Bia (Βία) at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens on May 22, 2022.jpg
| caption = Mural of Bia at the [[National and Kapodistrian University of Athens]]
| abode = [[Mount Olympus]]
| parents = [[Pallas (Titan)|Pallas]] and [[Styx]]
| siblings = [[Nike (mythology)|Nike]], [[Kratos (mythology)|Kratos]], [[Zelus]] and [[Scylla]], [[Fontes (mythology)|Fontes]] (Fountains), [[Lacus (mythology)|Lacus]] (Lakes)
| Roman_equivalent = [[Vis (mythology)|Vis]]
}}
{{Ancient Greek religion}}
{{Greek myth (personified)}}
In [[Greek mythology]], '''Bia''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|aɪ|ə}}; {{lang-grc|Βία}} {{IPA-grc|/bí.aː/|}}; "force, strength") is the [[personification]] of force. According to the preface to ''Fabulae'' by [[Gaius Julius Hyginus]], Bia's Roman name was Vis.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=BIA - Greek Goddess of Force, Might & Power (Roman Vis) |url=https://www.theoi.com/Daimon/Bia.html |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=www.theoi.com}}</ref>

== Family ==
Bia was the daughter of the [[Titan (mythology)|Titan]] [[Pallas (Titan)|Pallas]] and [[Oceanid]] [[Styx (mythology)|Styx]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hesiod, Theogony, line 371 |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Hes.+Th.+375&fromdoc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0130:chapter=375&highlight=Bia |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=www.perseus.tufts.edu}}</ref> and sister of [[Nike (mythology)|Nike]], [[Kratos (mythology)|Kratos]], and [[Zelus]].<ref>Hesiod, ''Theogony'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Hes.+Th.+371&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0130:chapter=371&highlight=Bia 383–5]; [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+1.2.4&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022:book=1:chapter=2&highlight=Violence 1.2.4]</ref>

: From Pallas the giant and Styx [were born]: Scylla, Vis (Force) [Bia], Invidia (Jealousy) [Zelos], Potestas (Power) [Kratos], Victoria (Victory) [Nike].<ref name=":0" />

== Mythology ==
Bia and her siblings were constant companions of [[Zeus]].<ref>Hesiod, ''Theogony'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Hes.+Th.+371&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0130:chapter=371&highlight=Bia 386–7]</ref> They achieved this honour after supporting him in the [[Titanomachy|Titan War]] along with their mother.<ref>Hesiod, ''Theogony'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Hes.+Th.+371&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0130:chapter=371&highlight=Bia 389–94]</ref> Bia is one of the characters named in the Greek tragedy ''[[Prometheus Bound]]'', attributed to [[Aeschylus]], where [[Hephaestus]] is compelled by the gods to bind [[Prometheus]] after he was caught stealing fire and offering the gift to mortals. Although she appears alongside her brother Kratos, she does not speak.

=== Titanomachy ===
Along with their mother, Bia and her siblings helped Zeus in his war against the Titans. The war, which was referred to as the Titanomachy, lasted for ten years, with the Olympian gods emerging victorious. Due to their heroic actions during the war, the four siblings won Zeus's respect and became his constant companions. They were almost always by his side as he sat on his throne in Mount Olympus, and they were tasked with enforcing Zeus's orders whenever he required an act of strength.''<ref name=":2">Hesiod, ''Theogony'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Hes.+Th.+371&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0130:chapter=371&highlight=Bia 383–5]; Apollodorus, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+1.2.4&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022:book=1:chapter=2&highlight=Violence 1.2.4]</ref>''

=== Prometheus' punishment ===
Bia is not as well known as her siblings Kratos or Nike, and when she appears in myths, she is usually silent. However, she does play a pivotal role in the story of Prometheus. Prometheus was one of the Titans and was often in conflict with Zeus. Eventually, he angered Zeus so much that he decided to punish him for all of eternity. He ordered that Prometheus be chained to a rock in the Caucasus Mountains. Bia and her brother, Kratos, were sent to carry out this task, but Bia was the only one strong enough to actually bind Prometheus to the rock with the unbreakable chains. Each day, an eagle would pluck out Prometheus's liver and eat it in front of him. Each night his liver would regrow, and the cycle would begin again, leaving him in perpetual torment.<ref>[[Aeschylus]], ''[[Prometheus Bound]]'' 1 ff.; [[Plato]], ''[[Protagoras (dialogue)|Protagoras]]'' 321d</ref>

== Worship ==
According to [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], there was a sanctuary to Bia and [[Ananke]] on the [[Acrocorinth]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pausanias, Description of Greece, Corinth, chapter 4, section 6 |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.+2.4.6&fromdoc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0160:book=2:chapter=4&highlight=Force |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=www.perseus.tufts.edu}}</ref>

== Family tree ==
{{Eurybia and Crius}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
* [[Aeschylus]], translated in two volumes. 1. ''Prometheus Bound'' by Herbert Weir Smyth, Ph. D. Cambridge, MA. Harvard University Press. 1926. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0010 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0009 Greek text available from the same website].
* [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], ''The Library'' with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. {{ISBN|0-674-99135-4}}. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0022 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0021 Greek text available from the same website].
*[[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. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0130%3Acard%3D1 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0129 Greek text available from the same website].
* [[Gaius Julius Hyginus]], ''Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus'' translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. [https://topostext.org/work/206 Online version at the Topos Text Project.]
* [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''Description of Greece'' with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918. {{ISBN|0-674-99328-4}}. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0160 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library]
*Pausanias, ''Graeciae Descriptio.'' ''3 vols''. Leipzig, Teubner. 1903.  [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0159 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].

{{Greek religion}}
{{Greek mythology (deities)}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Force]]
[[Category:Greek goddesses]]
[[Category:Personifications in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Olympian deities]]