Doris
Doris, Goddess of Fish, exists in mythology mostly in the context of other, better-known gods. We know her as the wife of Nereus, the Old Man of the Sea, as well as the mother of their fifty Nereid daughters (fifty!). Nereus is also referred to as “The Old Gentleman” because he is “never forgetful of what is right, but the thoughts of his mind are mild and righteous.” So it seems Doris was married to a boring, judgy goody two-shoes. She appears in a more youthful, pre-Nereus incarnation in a story about Polyphemus and Galatea in Dialogues of the Sea Gods (by Greek writer Lucian, second century A.D.). In an exchange with her sea nymph sister Galatea about Polyphemus’ love for her, Doris comes across as catty and jealous, judging Galatea for her vain pride in the monster’s attentions. When Galatea calls Doris out for not even having a lover, Doris quips, “I don’t have one, and I don’t give myself airs and graces either for being able to attract a lover. Your cyclops, such as he is, stinks like a goat, eats his meat raw (so they say), and devours visiting strangers. So you can have him, and return his love, in perpetuity.” Whether a catty sister-nymph or devoted wife and epic childbearer, Doris was worshipped for providing all good things that come from the sea. Her themes are abundance, providence, and water; everyone likely said a prayer of thanks to her as they were eating a delicious piece of fish doused in olive oil and lemon (right?). Finally, her name is connected with two words: dôron, “gift” or “bounty,” and zôros, “pure” or “unmixed.” So who was this Doris, really? Is she marine bounty personified, pure and simple? Or is she an overlooked sea goddess who never got her own myth, and instead always played the foil? What if after centuries of hauling in the crab traps, she finally has something to say?
DORIS by Sabina Piersol
Directed by Stuart Bousel
Staged Reading on November 5, 2015
Sabina Piersol is excited to join SF Olympians as a writer for the 2015 Festival, “Wine Dark Sea.” She has written numerous pieces for local sketch comedy group Killing My Lobster, where she was a company member from 2009-2013; she currently writes for ShotzSF, a monthly short play festival produced by theater group Amios and performed at Pianofight in San Francisco. In September 2014, she was first terrified and then delighted to have her first one act play, “Drought at Sea,” produced by Amios in their Longshotz festival. Her poetry and literary translations have appeared in 14 Hills and Parthenon West Review; in addition to playwriting, she is currently trying her hand at short fiction, because why the hell not. A middle school English teacher, she loves how weird and impulsive pre-teens are, and thanks them for all the material they’ve given her over the years.