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Literary
October 17, 1882
Semi Weekly Interior Journal
Stanford, Lincoln County, Kentucky
What is this article about?
An essay describing the stichio, a popular Greek household spirit or specter known in folklore, its various forms, and the custom of sacrificing a lamb during house construction to propitiate it and avoid a malevolent version.
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OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
THE STICHIO
The foremost place in this gallery of fantastic portraits is due to the most popular "genius" in Greece; that one which, together with the Nereids, has the greatest hold upon the imagination of children and old people. The stichio is known and dreaded in all the provinces, and no traveler, halting by the night on his journey under a peasant's roof, can fail to hear it talked of. The stichie is a specter, a wandering soul, a vague phantom, sometimes invisible, at others assuming the most widely various forms. We shall see presently that ancient mythological creations have become mingled in this being under the same name and added to its attributes. The characteristics of the stichio are very numerous and various, but he is especially to be regarded as the household "genius." The stichio is good or evil, inoffensive or harmful; every dwelling has its inevitable stichio, and, as there is no possibility of getting rid of it, the great object is to render it as friendly and favorable as possible. With this view, no one who builds a house would omit to slay a lamb over the foundations, letting the blood run into the earth, so that the stichio may drink it and be propitiated. This is an obligatory tribute, and if the ceremony, which is called by the ancient name of "thysia" (sacrifice), were omitted, the dwelling would be forever disturbed by a "kako" or bad stichio.—The Nineteenth Century.
The foremost place in this gallery of fantastic portraits is due to the most popular "genius" in Greece; that one which, together with the Nereids, has the greatest hold upon the imagination of children and old people. The stichio is known and dreaded in all the provinces, and no traveler, halting by the night on his journey under a peasant's roof, can fail to hear it talked of. The stichie is a specter, a wandering soul, a vague phantom, sometimes invisible, at others assuming the most widely various forms. We shall see presently that ancient mythological creations have become mingled in this being under the same name and added to its attributes. The characteristics of the stichio are very numerous and various, but he is especially to be regarded as the household "genius." The stichio is good or evil, inoffensive or harmful; every dwelling has its inevitable stichio, and, as there is no possibility of getting rid of it, the great object is to render it as friendly and favorable as possible. With this view, no one who builds a house would omit to slay a lamb over the foundations, letting the blood run into the earth, so that the stichio may drink it and be propitiated. This is an obligatory tribute, and if the ceremony, which is called by the ancient name of "thysia" (sacrifice), were omitted, the dwelling would be forever disturbed by a "kako" or bad stichio.—The Nineteenth Century.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Religious
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Stichio
Greek Folklore
Household Genius
Thysia Sacrifice
Kako Spirit
Literary Details
Title
The Stichio
Subject
Greek Folklore On The Household Spirit
Form / Style
Prose Reflection On Mythology
Key Lines
The Stichio Is Known And Dreaded In All The Provinces, And No Traveler, Halting By The Night On His Journey Under A Peasant's Roof, Can Fail To Hear It Talked Of.
The Stichio Is Good Or Evil, Inoffensive Or Harmful; Every Dwelling Has Its Inevitable Stichio, And, As There Is No Possibility Of Getting Rid Of It, The Great Object Is To Render It As Friendly And Favorable As Possible.
No One Who Builds A House Would Omit To Slay A Lamb Over The Foundations, Letting The Blood Run Into The Earth, So That The Stichio May Drink It And Be Propitiated.