"The Three Graces: Aglaia, Euphrosyne and Thalia" Silifke by Sirvictor

Silifke Travel Guide: 17 reviews and 24 photos

semi god semi human daughters of Zeus

Silifke is not a well known part of Turkey. But is a home of many historical and cultrural heritages. In Narlikuyu you may find very intersting remains of ancient culture. Narlikuyu is on the 20th km of Silifke-Mersin highway. It is famous for fish reataurants and a small bay with a nice beach. It was called Porto Calamie in the middle ages. Narlikuyu is famous with a bath ruin near sea shore. This bath was built by Poimenius in IV century during the Roman period. You may see the beautiful mosaics of bath even today. It is a must to see. In this mosaic it is shown three naked girls dancing with partridges and doves. Those three girls are doughters of Zeus.
In Grek mithology they are called Kharides or Tharits. Singular form is Kharit or Tharit which means charity. They are the daughters of Zeus and Eurynome. Eurynome was the daughter of Okeanos. Aglaia is the youngest daughter which means brightness. Euphrosyne means happiness and Thalia is blossom time. First they were presented in long dresses with flowers as crown on their heads. After IVth century they were presented naked.

The virtue of Charity is depicted in the character of a godess, seated in a chair of ivory, with a golden tire upon her head, set with precious stones: her vesture like the light of heaven, represented universal benevolence; her throne was unpolluted and unspotted by passions and prejudices; and the gems of her filet represented the inestimable blessings which flowed variously from her bountry. They also represented the charities, otherwise called the Graces, under three personages: one of these was painted with her back towards us, and her her face towards, as proceeding from us; and the two with their faces towards us to denote, that for one benefit done, we should receive douple thanks: they were painted naked, to intimate that good offices should be done without dissembling and hypocrisy: they were presented young, to signify that the remembrance of benefits should never wax old: and also laughing to tell us that we should do good to others with cheerfullness and alacricy. They were presented linked together, arm in arm, to instruct us that one kindness should prompt another; so that the knot and band of love should be indissoluble. The poets tell us, they used to wash themselves in the fountain Acidalius, because benefits, gifts and good turns, ought to be sincere and pure, and not base and counterfeit.(William Hutchinson, "The Spirit of Masonry", New York 1982, originally published in 1775,p.180)

The Three Graces of the Modern times

The English Three Graces

A English artist Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898) painted also The Three Graces.
We have today original 3 naked Kharites staues in the Siena Fine Arts Academy. It is said that the statues was carved by a Grek called Kyrene. There are several copies of those statues in the Louvre Museum in Paris.
The Three Graces inspired also many artists such as Tintoretto, Raffaello, Zuccari, Rubens, Natoire, Leonard Kern, Falconetti, Thorvaldsen and Pradier. Borticelli painted in Florance “The Spring”.

The Three Graces of Pompeii in Italy

The Three Graces of Pompeii

Pros and Cons

Pros:support Turkey's membership into the EU

Last visit to Silifke: Jul 2003
Intro Updated Apr 13, 2005
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Comments (4)

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Knight_Kadosh Feb 9, 2006 at 11:43 AM

Hi Brother, wonderful historic pages on the 3-graces. I plan to return to the cradle-of-mankind, one of these next few years.
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ExGuyParis May 9, 2005 at 3:49 PM

Very interesting information on the Three Graces
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Oana_bic May 9, 2005 at 1:46 AM

Lovely chapter dedicated to the history f the 3 graces! Thanks for stopping by my pages.
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cbeaujean Mar 29, 2005 at 1:23 AM

your "pro" is exactly the same title and meaning than in my "ephesus" page!!!