O: laureate draped bust of Diocletianus A K Γ OYAΛ ΔIOKΛHTIANOC CEB	R: Elpis holding flower and raising skirt L A (coin is from 1st year of reign)
potin tetradrachm struck in Alexandria 284-285 AD; ref.: Milne 4750

In Greek mythology, Elpis (Ancient Greek: ἐλπίς) was the personification and spirit of hope (hope was usually seen as an extension to suffering by the Greek, not as a good), perhaps a child of Nyx and mother of Pheme, the goddess of fame, renown and rumor. She was depicted as a young woman, usually carrying flowers or cornucopia in her hands. In Hesiod's Works and Days, Elpis was the last item in Pandora's box (or jar). Based on Hesiod's description, the debate is still alive to determine if Elpis was only hope, or more generally expectation.

Her Roman equivalent was Spes.

[edit] Elpis as described in Hesiod's Works and Days

The more famous version of the Pandora myth comes from one of Hesiod's poems, Works and Days. In this version of the myth (lines 60–105), Hesiod expands upon her origin, and moreover widens the scope of the misery she inflicts on mankind. Pandora brings with her a jar or, in most stories, a box ^[1][2] containing^[3] "burdensome toil and sickness that brings death to men" (91–2), diseases (102) and "a myriad other pains" (100). Prometheus had (fearing further reprisals) warned his brother Epimetheus not to accept any gifts from Zeus. But Epimetheus did not listen; he accepted Pandora, who promptly scattered the contents of her jar. As a result, Hesiod tells us, "the earth and sea are full of evils" (101). One item, however, did not escape the jar (96–9), hope:

<poem> Only Hope was left within her unbreakable house, she remained under the lip of the jar, and did not fly away. Before [she could], Pandora replaced the lid of the jar. This was the will of aegis-bearing Zeus the Cloudgatherer.</poem>

Hesiod does not say why hope (elpis) remained in the jar.^[4]

Hesiod closes with this moral (105): "Thus it is not possible to escape the mind of Zeus."

References[link]

• Verdenius, Willem Jacob, A Commentary on Hesiod Works and Days vv 1–382 (Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1985). ISBN 90-04-07465-1. This work has a very in-depth discussion and synthesis of the various theories and speculations about the Pandora story and the jar. Cf. p. 62 and onwards.
• West, M. L. Hesiod, Theogony, ed. with prolegomena and commentary (Oxford 1966).
• West, M. L. Hesiod, Works and Days, ed. with prolegomena and commentary (Oxford 1978).

External links[link]

• Godchecker (Greek Mythology) - Elpis
• Elpis at theoi.com

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Bob Swift
Swift's 1949 baseball card.
Catcher
Born: (1915-03-06)March 6, 1915 Salina, Kansas
Died: October 17, 1966(1966-10-17) (aged 51) Detroit, Michigan
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 16, 1940 for the St. Louis Browns
Last MLB appearance
September 27, 1953 for the Detroit Tigers
Career statistics
Batting average	.231
Home runs	14
Runs batted in	238
Teams
St. Louis Browns (1940–1942) Philadelphia Athletics (1942–1943) Detroit Tigers (1944–1953)
Career highlights and awards
Batted .250 in three games of 1945 World Series

Robert Virgil Swift (March 6, 1915 – October 17, 1966) was an American catcher, coach, manager and scout in Major League Baseball.

Swift is pictured in one of the most famous photographs in American sporting history. He was the catcher for the Detroit Tigers on August 19, 1951, when St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck sent midget Eddie Gaedel to pinch hit during an actual MLB game. The stunt was inspired by the James Thurber short story You Could Look It Up and Gaedel was allowed to bat when the Browns showed the umpires a legitimate baseball contract. Swift knelt on the ground to receive pitcher Bob Cain's offerings — it is this kneeling stance that is captured in the photo — and Gaedel took a base on balls. He was immediately replaced at first base by a pinch runner and he never appeared in a big league game again; he had had no baseball experience in the first place.

While Gaedel was a novice, Swift, a native of Salina, Kansas, played 14 consecutive seasons (1940–53) in the big leagues. Primarily a second-string catcher, he toiled for the Browns (1940–42), Philadelphia Athletics (1942–43) and Tigers (1944–53), appearing in 1,001 games and hitting .231. A good defensive catcher, he batted and threw right-handed.

He became a coach and minor league manager immediately upon the end of his playing career, coaching for the Tigers (1953–54; 1963–66), Kansas City Athletics (1957–59), and Washington Senators (1960). During the 1959 season, Swift filled in for Kansas City manager Harry Craft when Craft missed 15 games due to illness, and the Athletics won ten straight games and went 13-2. But Swift was bypassed at season's end when the A's changed managers.^[1]

Swift was in his second stint as a Detroit coach in 1965 when manager Chuck Dressen was felled by a mild heart attack during spring training. As acting manager, Swift led Detroit to a 24–18 record until Dressen was able to return. The next season, in May 1966, Dressen suffered his second coronary in as many seasons. Again, Swift took the reins, but in July (with the Tigers 32-25 under his command) he fell ill and was hospitalized during the All-Star game break for what appeared to be food poisoning. Tests revealed, however, that Swift was suffering from lung cancer. Coach Frank Skaff took over July 14 as the team's second acting manager and finished the campaign.

Three months after stepping aside, on October 17, Swift died in Detroit at the age of 51. His record in 1965-66 as an interim manager was 56-43 (.566).

References[link]

External links[link]

• Career statistics from Baseball Reference

See also[link]

• 1945 Detroit Tigers season