InGreek mythology,Hybris orHubris (/ˈhaɪbrɪs/;Ancient Greek:Ὕβρις,romanized: Húbris,lit. 'wanton violence','insolence')[1] was the spirit and personification of insolence. She embodied the manifestation of excessivearrogance leading to the defiance of the natural order and disrespect of the gods, which in turn resulted indivine retribution.[2][3]
Aeschylus says thatDyssebeia is the mother of Hybris.[4] According to the mythographerApollodorus, the godApollo "learned the art of prophecy from Pan, the son ofZeus and Hybris (Ὕβρεως)".[5] Whether this Pan equates toPan, the god of shepherds and flocks, who was usually said to be the son ofHermes, remains unclear.[6]
Hybris (Ὕβρις), spirit of outrageous behavior (Personified concept) [...] Hybris was the personification of arrogance, insolence, and reckless behavior in ancient Greek mythology. As a personified concept, she embodied the extreme manifestation of pride and disrespect towards others, often leading to acts of violence, disrespecting gods or mortals alike. Hybris represented a defiance of natural order and moral boundaries, resulting in divine retribution and punishment. In Greek tragedies, characters exhibiting hybris were often portrayed as tragic figures whose downfall was inevitable due to theirhubris. The concept of hybris served as a moral warning against excessive pride and the consequences of disregarding societal norms and divine authority.
'[...] the meaning ofhybris has almost nothing to do with pride. ... The Greek verbhybrizein, found in Homer, means to wax wanton or run riot. ... The noun,hybris, means wanton violence and insolence. [...]'
