Reply to “Liver in mythology: A different version of Tityos’ myth”
Authors: Michele A. Riva
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2012)

Liver in mythology: A different version of Tityos' mythJournal of HepatologyVol. 57Issue 3PreviewIn the original and enjoyable article by Riva and co-workers [1], the author cites an issue by Tiniakos et al. [2] about the giant Tityos receiving the same punishment suffered by Prometeus. The only difference consisted in the kind of bird involved: Zeus' eagle in Prometeus myth, a vulture in Tityos' one.Tityos too… was to be seen (in Tartarus); his body pegged over a full nine acres, a huge vulture with hooked beak gnawing forever his inexhaustible liver… (rostroque immanis vulture obunco immortale iecur tondens fecundaque poenis) [3]. Full-Text PDF Open Access"The city of Hepar": Rituals, gastronomy, and politics at the origins of the modern names for the liverJournal of HepatologyVol. 55Issue 5PreviewMedical etymology sometimes provides unexpected information about health concepts and medical practice in different times and cultures. We conducted an etymological analysis of the terms used to indicate "liver" in Germanic and Romance languages. The Greek word "hèpar" was originally connected to the concept of "pleasure", showing that in antiquity the liver was considered to be the seat of soul and human feelings. In Romance languages, the Latin term "ficatum" was linked to the ancient practice of fattening geese with figs (ficus in Latin) to make their livers more delicious. Full-Text PDF Open Access I greatly appreciate the letter written by Luigi Roffi, providing us with further information on the less-known myth of the Giant Tityus, cited in our manuscript [[1]Riva M.A. Riva E. Spicci M. Strazzabosco M. Giovannini M. Cesana G. "The city of hepar": rituals, gastronomy, and politics at the origins of the modern name for the liver.J Hepatol. 2011; 55: 1132-1133Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (25) Google Scholar] and in the paper by Tiniakos et al. [[2]Tiniakos D.G. Kandilis A. Geller S.A. Tityus: a forgotten myth of liver regeneration.J Hepatol. 2010; 53: 357-361Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (18) Google Scholar]. As mentioned by Roffi, in ancient populations snakes played an important role in the divination practice since they were supposed to be able to predict the future [[3]Adanti G. Le divinità della salute nell'antica Roma. Gazzetta Farmaceutica, Milano1966Google Scholar]. The relationship between the liver and snakes seems to be well clarified. These animals were believed to regenerate themselves when they shed skin, revealing a shiny new skin underneath. So, as suggested in the letter, snakes appear to be involved in myths of "regeneration", as the liver of Prometheus and Tityus. This is one of the reasons why these animals were looked upon as sacred to Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine, who carried a serpent-entwined rod. This symbol, named as "the rod of Asclepius" has continued to be used in modern times, being universally associated with medicine and healthcare [[3]Adanti G. Le divinità della salute nell'antica Roma. Gazzetta Farmaceutica, Milano1966Google Scholar]. Actually more precise information is needed on the Laconic bowl shown in Fig. 1 of the letter. Contrary to what stated in the legend, it does not reproduce the Giant Tityus, but the punishments of Prometheus (on the right) and of his brother Atlas (on the left), bearing the sky on his shoulders [[4]Grimal P. Enciclopedia dei miti. Garzanti, Milano1990Google Scholar]. In particular, this picture seems to refer to the "Theogony" by Hesiod: "And Atlas through hard constraint upholds the wide heaven with unwearied head and arms, standing at the borders of the Earth before the clear-voiced Hesperides; for this lot wise Zeus assigned to him. And ready-witted Prometheus he [Zeus] bound with inextricable bonds, cruel chains, and drove a shaft through his middle, and set on him a long-winged eagle, which used to eat his immortal liver; but by night the liver grew as much again everyway as the long-winged bird devoured in the whole day" (Theogony, 517–525). According to the myth, Atlas lived near the "Garden of the Hesperides" in the Western Mediterranean [[4]Grimal P. Enciclopedia dei miti. Garzanti, Milano1990Google Scholar] and, so, the snake reproduced beside him should represent Ladon, the serpent-like dragon which guarded the golden apples in the garden. In addition, since Prometheus was chained to the Caucasus Mountains situated between the Black and the Caspian Sea, this picture reproduces the geographic limits (mount Atlas and Caucasus) of the world of the ancient Greeks and Etruscans. The author declared that he does not have anything to disclose regarding funding or conflict of interest with respect to this manuscript.