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The Machai (or Makhai or Machae) (Greek: Μάχαι; singular: Μάχη Machê or Makhê; "battles" Latin: Mache) were the daemons (spirits) of battle and combat, often considered to be demons or gods. They were sons or daughters of Eris.[1] The Makhai are siblings of other macabre beings, among them are the Hysminai, the Androktasiai, and the Phonoi.

Overview[]

The daemons Homados (Battle-Noise), Alala (War-Cry), Proioxis (Onrush), Palioxis (Backrush) and Kydoimos (Confusion) were closely associated with the Makhai.

The Makhai were accompanied in battlefields by other deities and spirits associated with war and death, such as Ares, Phobos, Deimos, the Keres, Polemos, Enyo. Their mother was Eris, the goddess of discord.

Siblings[]

As an offspring of Eris and absentee of a father, the Makhai are siblings of the Ponos (Toil), Lethe (Forgetfulness), Limos (Starvation), Algea (Pains), Hysminai (Fightings), Phonoi (Murders) and Androktasiai (Manslaughters), Neikea (Quarrels), Pseudo-Logoi (Lies), Amphilogiai (Disputes), Dysnomia (Lawlessness) and Ate (Ruin), who share one another's nature, and Horkos (Oath).

In Popular Culture[]

  • The Makhai appear in the 2012 film Wrath of the Titans. In the film, the Makhai are depicted as double torsoed (or double-bodied), sword wielding beings of battle, minions to the previously dead titan Kronos.


Popular Culture[]

Sources[]

Hesiod, Theogony 226 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.): "But abhorred Eris (Strife) bare painful Ponos (Toil), and Lethe (Forgetfulness), and Limos (Starvation), and the Algea (Pains), full of weeping, the Hysminai (Fightings) and the Makhai (Battles), the Phonoi (Murders) and the Androktasiai (Manslaughters), the Neikea (Quarrels), the Pseudo-Logoi (Lies), the Amphilogiai (Disputes), and Dysnomia (Lawlessness) and Ate (Ruin), who share one another's natures, and Horkos (Oath)."

References[]

  1. Hesiod, Theogony - Greek Epic C8th-7th B.C
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