Life bound to an external object

greek roman

• Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome HECATE. / SELENE (LUNA). / ARTEMIS (DIANA). / ARCADIAN ARTEMIS.; lines 2881-2924 confidence: high

  At Meleager's birth, the Moirae enter Oeneus's house, point to a burning piece of wood, declare that the child will die when it is consumed, and Althea preserves it in a chest.

  Meleager's death is declared to depend on the consumption of a burning piece of wood, and he dies when Althea burns it to ashes.

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• Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome HECATE. / SELENE (LUNA). / ARTEMIS (DIANA). / ARCADIAN ARTEMIS.; lines 2881-2924 confidence: high

  At Meleager's birth, the Moirae enter Oeneus' house and point to a burning piece of wood, declaring that Meleager will die when it is consumed; Althea stores it in a chest.

  Meleager's life is explicitly made dependent on the preservation or consumption of the brand.

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roman

• The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV BOOK THE EIGHTH. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION.; lines 1128-1209 confidence: high

  The Fates say, “We give to thee, O new-born babe, and to this wood, the same period of existence”; Althæa rescues the brand with water and hides it, preserving the youth’s life.

  The Fates give the newborn and the wood the same period of existence; preserving the brand preserves Meleager’s life, and burning it brings about his death at a distance.

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• The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV BOOK THE EIGHTH. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION.; lines 1128-1209 confidence: high

  At the birth of Althaea’s son, the Fates put a billet in the flames and say that the newborn and the wood have the same period of existence; Althaea removes the brand and sprinkles it with water.

  The Fates give the newborn and the billet the same period of existence; when the billet is preserved, his life is preserved, and when it is burned, he dies.

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