ατε

According to Hesiod (Hes. Th. 230), a daughter of Eris, and according to Homer (Hom. Il. 19.91) of Zeus, was an ancient Greek divinity, who led both gods and men to rash and inconsiderate actions and to suffering. She once even induced Zeus, at the birth of Heracles, to take an oath by which Hera was afterwards enabled to give to Eurystheus the power which had been destined for Heracles. When Zeus discovered his rashness, he hurled Ate from Olympus and banished her for ever from the abodes of the gods. (Hom. Il. 19.126, &c.) In the tragic writers Ate appears in a different light: she avenges evil deeds and inflicts just punishments upon the offenders and their posterity (Aeschyl. Choeph. 381), so that her character here is almost the same as that of Nemesis and Erinnys. She appears most prominent in the dramas of Aeschylus, and least in those of Euripides, with whom the idea of Dike (justice) is more fully developed. (William Smith. A dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. London: John Murray, 1873.)

Chorus: No, he [the who has spurned Justice] is driven on by perverse Temptation, the overmastering child of designing Destruction [Ate]; and remedy is utterly in vain. (Agamemnon, 385-7; Weir Smyth translation)

Cassandra: The commander of the fleet and the overthrower of Ilium little knows what deeds shall be brought to evil accomplishment by the hateful hound, whose tongue licked his hand, who stretched forth her ears in gladness, like treacherous Ate. Such boldness has she, a woman to slay a man. What odious monster shall I fitly call her? (Agamemnon,1226-33)

Clytaemestra: Listen then to this too, this the righteous sanction on my oath: by Justice, exacted for my child, by Ate, by the Avenging Spirit [Erinys], to whom I sacrificed that man, hope does not tread for me the halls of fear, so long as the fire upon my hearth is kindled by Aegisthus, loyal in heart to me as in days gone by. (Agamemnon, 1431-8)

Darius: For presumptuous pride [hubris], when it has burgeoned, bears as its fruit a crop of calamity [ates], whence it reaps a plenteous harvest of tears. (Persae, 821-2)

Chorus: Hush! Speak words of better omen! Do not cure evil by prescribing evil; do not increase the anguish of your mad disaster [ates]. (Sophocles’ Ajax, 362-3)