«Sed obstat θέλων» Aspetti della volontà degli dèi nelle Coefore di Eschilo

Abstract

This article attempts to explore a very broad topic through a small lens. Starting from a formal aspect of two prayers in Aeschylus’ Libation Bearers (the presence of θέλων in Cho. 19 and 793), the article investigates the connections and interactions between divine and human will within some ancient Greek prayers. Through the analysis of examples from Homer to tragedy, the importance of the divine will in accepting the agreement implicit in a prayer is emphasised, considering the dynamics of prayer within a more general mechanism of reciprocity. On this basis, the phrase θέλων ἀμείψῃ in Cho. 793 can be defended.