Althea, a Deep Dive Into Greek Mythology
Prompted by an excerpt in The Complete Annotated Grateful Dead of an interview with Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia in which they describe Althea as a "Minerva or Athena-esque character", this work is a deep dive into the song's connection to Greek mythology.
Where does the name Althea come from? The name Althea derives from the Greek myth of Althea Queen of Calydon who cursed her own son Meleager to death. At birth, Meleager had been gifted with a piece of wood by the Fates that, as long as it was unburned, would protect him from harm. Many years later Meleager was hunting a massive boar with his maternal uncles and his fellow Argonaut, kinds-sorta-girlfriend, and famed huntress Atalanta. While he killed the boar, Atalanta landed the first blow, so Meleagar rewarded her with the skin. His maternal uncles contested a woman earning such a reward, and in the following confrontation, Meleager killed his uncles. Althea, consumed with anger and grief, burned it in the fire, causing Meleager to die. The myth is often interpreted as a cautionary tale about the destructive power of anger and the tragic consequences of acting on impulse. Althea also happens to be the name of a type of hibiscus, the Shrub Althea, as well as forming part of the scientific name for the marshmallow plant - althea officinalis, both of which are associated with love. Althea was also used by Richard Lovelace (a 17th century poet) as a pseudonym for the woman he wrote numerous love poems for.
But what does it mean for Althea to be "Minerva or Athena-esque"? Athena, and her Roman counterpart Minerva, are associated with wisdom, strategic war, and crafts in Greek and Roman mythology, respectively. They are often depicted with similar attributes such as the owl. Minerva also associated with the moon through her connection to the earlier Eustrustan moon goddess Meneswā. In lieu of Athena/Minerva's usual helmet or spear Althea pictured is holding a skull, symbolic of her (psychedelically imbued?) knowledge that now matter who you are and what little time we have can be cheapened or hastened by unthinking action (as well as being a nod to the several Hamlet references in the song).
So if Althea is embodying a smart, creative woman who is wise in the ways of the world (and the heart), who is our unnamed narrator? In Greek mythology, Hermes and Athena were often depicted as unified due to their shared functions. They share some of the same qualities, such as clever intelligence and strategy, but express them in different ways, with Hermes associated with the "night-time attributes" of cunning and deception and Athena with the "day-time attributes" of good judgment and quick thinking. Hermes is more than just "a messenger for the Gods", he is the Greek god of commerce, communication, and boundaries. He is commonly depicted wearing a winged hat and sandals, carrying a caduceus, a winged staff with two snakes wrapped around it, and also associated with a variety of other symbols such as the rooster, shown here in contrast to Althea's owl.
While Robert Hunter would have been the first to tell you there is no "correct" way to interpret a Grateful Dead song, the lyrics hit differently when one understands the almost subliminal references to the perils of impulsive action and one's own culpability in one's own fate, especially in regards to matters of the heart.
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