Iambe
Just a quick explanation of who Iambe is, and why her name is on my page. First, obviously: my name is not Iambe. Iambe is a figure from Greek mythology. Sometimes she is presented as a goddess, and sometimes as a mortal woman. She is an associate and servant of Demeter, the greek Great Mother of the Earth and its fruitfulness. When Demeter's daughter, Persephone, was stolen down to the Underworld by Hades, Demeter was inconsolable. She wandered the earth in search of her missing daughter, neglecting her duties in a deep depression. Because of this, all of the plant life began to wither and die -- the first autumn. Demeter finally came to Eleusis, where she was offered hospitality by Celeos and Metaneira (either Eleusian nobles, or king and queen). Disguised as an old woman in her grief, Demeter took a job as a nursemaid to Demophoon, their son. Iambe, referred to in the Hymn to Demeter (Homeric Hymn 2, lines 202-205) as "thoughtful Iambe", is a maid in the household. By her jokes and laughter, Iambe managed to lift the goddess's sorrow, and she caused Demeter to laugh. Iambe left the service of Celeos and Metaneira and became an attendant of Demeter's.
Iambe is also associated with, or sometimes another name for, Baubo, who also made Demeter laugh with her sacred guesture of ana-suromai: lifting the skirt to reveal the vulva. Iambe/Baubo is more than a greek goddess or figure -- though repressed by patriarchal religions, her icons and stories have been found all over the world, dating from paleolithic times. She is a representation of women's laughter, joking, and sexual energy, and the power derived from them. As such, Iambe/Baubo is one of my favorite mythological characters, and this page is name Iambe's Lair because I hope it will be a repository for information and objects sacred to her spirit -- and, of course, because I just like her. ; )
For more information on Baubo and Iambe, read Winifred Milius Lubell's excellent book, The Metamorphosis of Baubo
If you have comments or questions, please contact me at heqit@hotmail.com
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