Greek Mythology >> Greek Gods >> Daemones (Spirits) >> Ioke

IOKE

Greek Name

Ιωκη

Transliteration

Iôkê

Latin Spelling

Ioce

Translation

Onslaught, Rout (iôkê)

IOKE was the female personification (daimona) of onslaught, battle-tumult, pursuit and rout. She was one of the spirits of the aigis (aegis)--the tasselled arm-guard of Zeus--alongside Alke (Battle-Strength), Eris (Strife) and Phobos (Terror). Alke was perhaps the same as Proioxis and was likely numbered amongst the Makhai (Machae) (Battle-Spirits).

PARENTS

Perhaps a daughter of ERIS, though nowhere stated

CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES

Homer, Iliad 5. 738 ff (trans. Lattimore) (Greek epic C8th B.C.) :
"Across her [Athena's] shoulders she threw the betasselled, terrible aigis (aegis), all about which Phobos (Terror) hangs like a garland, and Eris (Hatred) is there, and Alke (Battle Strength), and heart-freezing Ioke (Onslaught) and thereon is set the head of the grim gigantic Gorgo (Gorgon), a thing of fear and horror, portent of Zeus of the aigis."
[N.B. The daimones (spirits) imbued the aigis with its power.]