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A Concise Dictionary of CL - Ical Mythology PDF
A Concise Dictionary of CL - Ical Mythology PDF
CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY
A CONCISE DICTIONARY OF
CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY
P I E R R E GRIMAL
EDITED BY
STEPHEN KERSHAW
FROM THE T R A N S L A T I O N BY
A. R. M A X W E L L - H Y S L O P
Basil Blackwell
A Concise Dictionary of Classical Mythology
© Basil Black well Ltd 1990
Based on The Dictionary of Classical Mythology
English translation © Basil Black well 1986
A C O N C I S E D I C T I O N A R Y OF C L A S S I C A L
MYTHOLOGY I
A
Acacallis (Άκακαλλίς) One of the
daughters of Minos, loved first by
Hermes, by whom she had Cydon,
and then by Apollo, by whom she
had three sons; Naxos, Miletus and
Abas (Άβας) Amphitemis who was also known as
ι. The eponym of the Abantides, a Garamas. While Acacallis was
tribe in Euboea mentioned in the expecting Amphitemis, Minos, in a
Iliad. He is said to have been the son fit of anger, banished her to Libya,
of Poseidon and the Nymph Areth- where her son became the progeni
usa (i), but a late Athenian myth tor of the nomadic people, the Gara-
makes him a descendant of Metion. mantes. Acacallis had also fled from
Abas had two sons, Chalcodon (i) her father's anger before the birth of
and Canethus. Miletus. She sought refuge in the
2. The best known Abas was the woods, where she gave birth to
king of Argos, son of Lynceus (i) Miletus and, unable to rear him her
and Hypermestra (i). He was des self, she left him at the foot of a tree.
cended from the two feuding In obedience to Apollo, the she-
brothers, Danaus and Egyptus, and wolves in the forest suckled him
was the ancestor of Perseus and his until some shepherds found him and
family (Table 7). He was considered brought him up.
to be the founder of the Phocian Acacallis is sometimes called Aca-
town of Abae. With his wife, calle, which in Greek means 'the
Aglaea, Abas had twin sons, Acrisius Egyptian tamarisk' (see PHILAN-
and Proetus. He is also said to have DRUS).
had an illegitimate son Lyrcus (2).
3. The great-grandson of Abas (2). Acacus (Άκακος) The son of
He is said to have been the father of Lycaon (2) and founder of the town
Lysimache (Table 1), Idmon and of of Acacesion in Arcadia. According
Coeranus (see POLYIDUS (2)). to some traditions he was the foster-
4. The son of Eurydamas. He was father of Hermes.
slain by Diomedes (2) (cf. Polyidus
(2)). Academus (Ακάδημος) An Attic
hero who told the Dioscuri where
Aborigines The earliest inhabitants Theseus was holding their sister
of central Italy, according to Roman Helen prisoner when they were
legends, and supposedly sons of the searching for her. His tomb on the
trees. They lived as nomads, without outskirts of Athens was surrounded
laws, and their food was wild fruit. by a sacred wood in which Plato set
Their name is generally taken to up his Academy.
2 ACALANTHIS
maeon had stolen these from King accused Peleus of trying to rape her.
Phegeus of Psophis, but had been Acastus believed the story and, not
killed by Phegeus' children for doing daring to kill his guest, lured Peleus
so. When Callirhoe heard of this she to a hunt on Pelion. During the hunt
asked Zeus, her lover, to make her Peleus merely cut out the tongues of
sons Acarnan and Amphoterus grow the animals he killed, while the other
up immediately; he granted her re- hunters bagged their game. When
quest, and they took revenge on his companions mocked him, he
Phegeus and his sons, subsequently proved his courage by showing
fleeing to Tegea. After dedicating them the tongues. In the evening
the necklace and dress at Delphi, Peleus fell asleep. Acastus abandoned
they went to the land of the Curetés him, having first hidden his sword in
and founded Acarnania, whose in- a dung heap. The unarmed Peleus
habitants took their name from was almost put to death by the Cen
Acarnan. According to one tradi- taurs who lived on the mountain,
tion, Acarnan was killed while try- but one of them, CHIRON woke him
ing to marry Hippodamia (1), whose in time and gave him back his
father put her suitors to death. sword. (Another version said that
the sword was sent by Hephaestus.)
Acastus (Άκαστος) The son of When Peleus returned to his king
PELIAS and Anaxibia (Table 6). Acas dom he thought about revenge. In
tus took part in the voyage of the some accounts he captured Iolcos,
ARGONAUTS against his father's perhaps with the help of Jason, CAS
wishes, Pelias having conceived the TOR and POLLUX, killing Astydamia,
expedition as a means of getting rid and scattering her limbs so that his
of JASON whom he regarded as a army could march between the vari
threat to his throne. Acastus also ous pieces of the dismembered body.
took part in the hunt for the wild He also killed Acastus.
boar of Calydon. After the murder Other writers claim that Peleus
of his father by MEDEA Acastus was attacked by Acastus during the
reigned in Iolcos. Trojan War and forced to flee. There
Acastus played an indirect part in is also a tradition that besides Asty
the legend of PELEUS. During the damia, Acastus had another wife,
hunt of the Calydonian boar Peleus Hippolyta Cretheis, the daughter of
accidentally killed EURYTION, and to CRETHEUS.
purify himself he went to Iolcos.
While he was there Astydamia, the Acca Larentia
wife of Acastus, fell in love with 1. During the reign of either
him. When Peleus rejected her ad Romulus or Ancus Martius, the
vances she sent a message to his wife keeper of the temple of Hercules in
saying that her husband was about to Rome invited the god to a game of
leave her in order to marry STEROPE dice. The prize was to be a feast and a
(5), the daughter of Acastus. Peleus' beautiful girl. Hercules accepted and
wife hanged herself in despair. Asty won both the feast and the favours of
damia did not think that she had yet Acca Larentia. When Hercules gave
exacted sufficient revenge, and Acca up he advised her, by way of
4 ACESTES
change her into an island, and thus the capture of Troy but the 'wrath of
she became immortal. Achilles'. Other poets and popular
The modern name of the Ache- legends filled gaps left by the
lous, which flows into the Ionian Sea Homeric accounts, and so an 'Achilles
at the entrance to the gulf of Patras, cycle' gradually came into being,
is the Aspropotamo. overlaid with incidents and legends
which, though frequently inconsist
Acheron (Άχέρων) The first men ent with each other, continued to be
tion of the River Acheron occurs in an inspiration to poets throughout
the Odyssey, where it is described as antiquity.
being in the Underworld, together
with Pyriphlegethon and COCYTUS. Childhood Achilles was the son of
The Acheron is the river which souls PELEUS. On his father's side he was a
have to cross to reach the empire of direct descendant of Zeus, while his
the Dead. A ferryman, CHARON, mother was the goddess THETIS.
carries them across. The river is There are varying accounts of his
almost stagnant and its banks are upbringing. One version depicts him
thick with reeds and mud. Accord as being brought up by his mother in
ing to tradition Acheron was a son of his father's house, under the guid
GAIA, condemned to stay under ance of his teacher PHOENIX (3) or the
ground for having allowed the Centaur CHIRON. Another says that
GIANTS to drink his waters after their he was the involuntary cause of a
struggle with the Olympians. quarrel between his father and
There was a River Acheron in mother and tells how, after Thetis
Epirus which disappeared into a deep had left her husband, Achilles was
cleft. When it surfaced again, it put in the care of Chiron, who lived
formed an unhealthy marsh set in a on the mountain of Pelion. Achilles
barren landscape. An etymological was said to have been the seventh
mistake (according to which its child of the marriage and Thetis had
name was thought to be derived tried to purge each of her offspring
from the Greek word for sorrow) as of the mortal elements which indi
well as the characteristics of the river cated that Peleus was their father.
in Epirus undoubtedly contributed She did this by thrusting them into a
to the idea that it was associated with fire and so killing them, but when
the Underworld, and its earthly she was about to incinerate the
features were transferred to the sub seventh child, Peleus awoke. He
terranean world. snatched the child from her and
In the mystical beliefs of the Achilles was found to have suffered
Roman Empire, the Acheron was nothing worse than the scorching of
regarded as lying near the South his lips and of a small bone in his
Pole, among the constellations of the right foot. Thetis, in her anger, went
Antipodes. back to the depths of the sea. Peleus
asked Chiron, who was skilled in the
Achilles (Άχίλλ€υς) The legend of art of medicine, to replace the
Achilles owes its fame largely to the scorched bone. So Chiron exhumed
Iliad, which has as its main theme not the body of a giant called DAMYSUS,
6 ACHILLES
who had been a notably swift inglorious. Achilles chose the former
runner, and replaced the missing alternative. This is the Homeric ver-
bone with the corresponding one sion, but later poets, and especially
from the giant. This explains the the tragedians, give a very different
extraordinary runner's gifts which account. According to them an ora-
Achilles possessed. Another legend cle had disclosed to Peleus (or, in
asserts that in his infancy Achilles some versions, Thetis) that Achilles
was bathed in the River STYX, whose was fated to die at the gates of Troy.
waters had the power of making When the Greeks were discussing
invulnerable all who were steeped in whether to go to Troy, Peleus (or
them, but the heel by which Thetis Thetis) had the idea of hiding
was holding him was untouched by Achilles by dressing him in women's
the waters and remained vulnerable. clothes and making him live at the
On Mount Pelion Achilles was court of LYCOMEDES, King of Scyros,
looked after by Chiron's mother where he shared the life of the king's
PHILYRA and his wife, Chariclo (i). daughters. He stayed there for nine
When he was older he began to years. He was known as Pyrrha (the
practise hunting, breaking horses, red-haired girl) because of his fiery
and medicine. In addition he learned auburn locks and while in this dis-
to sing and play the lyre and talked guise he married Deidamia, one of
with Chiron about the ancient vir- Lycomedes' daughters, by whom he
tues. He was fed on nothing but the had a son, NEOPTOLEMUS. This dis-
entrails of lions and wild boars (to guise failed to cheat Fate, however,
instil in him the strength of these ani- as Odysseus had learned from the
mals), honey (to give him gentleness soothsayer CALCHAS ( I ) that Troy
and persuasiveness) and bear's could not be taken without the help
marrow. Chiron named him of Achilles. He immediately sought
Achilles: previously he had been Achilles and eventually learned
called Ligyron. where he had taken shelter. Odys-
seus then presented himself at the
Departure for Troy According to court of Lycomedes and, offering a
the Iliad Achilles took part in the pedlar's pack, made his way into the
Trojan expedition on the invitation women's quarters. The women
of NESTOR, ODYSSEUS and PATROCLUS. chose embroidery materials but
He led a fleet of fifty warships sailed Odysseus had mixed up some
by a body of Myrmidons and was weapons with them and these were
accompanied by Patroclus and the choice of'Pyrrha'. Odysseus had
PHOENIX (3). As he left, Peleus made no difficulty in persuading the young
a vow to dedicate the hair of his son man to reveal his identity. In another
to the River SPERCHEIUS if he version Odysseus arranged for the
returned safely. Thetis, for her part, sound of the trumpet to be heard in
warned Achilles of the fate which the middle of the harem of Lyco-
awaited him: if he went to Troy he medes. While the women fled,
would win a dazzling reputation but Achilles stood his ground and called
his life would be short; if he stayed at for weapons. Peleus and Thetis had
home his life would be long but therefore to accept that Achilles'
ACHILLES 7
curious to see her and that Aphrodite Patroclus (after a certain degree of
and Thetis arranged for them to success, which lasted as long as the
meet. No one, though, seems to Trojans believed him to be Achilles)
have portrayed Achilles as Helen's was killed by Hector. Achilles was
lover. overcome by indescribable grief. His
The real Homeric stories and the cries were heard by Thetis, who pro-
quarrel over Briseis begin with the mised him a fresh suit of armour in
tenth year of the war. When a place of that which Hector had just
plague afflicted the Greek ranks, Cal- stripped from Patroclus' body.
chas revealed that the calamity was Though unarmed, Achilles joined
due to the wrath of APOLLO, sent at the battle and his voice put to flight
the request of his priest CHRYSES ( I ) the Trojans who were struggling
whose daughter Chryseis had been against the Greeks for possession of
abducted by Agamemnon. Achilles the corpse of Patroclus.
summoned the chiefs and compelled The next morning Achilles made
Agamemnon to surrender the girl. his peace with Agamemnon, who in
In retaliation Agamemnon de- his turn asked Achilles' forgiveness
manded that Achilles should give and returned Briseis; Achilles
back his own prize, Briseis, where- rejoined the fighting, whereupon his
upon Achilles retired to his tent and horse, Xanthus, which had been
refused to take any part in the momentarily endowed with the gifts
struggle. When the heralds came to of prophecy and speech, foretold the
reclaim her he returned her, but pro- imminent death of his master. Des-
tested against this injustice. Then he pite this, Achilles advanced and the
appealed to Thetis, who advised him Trojans fled; Aeneas alone, under the
to let the Trojan attack get as far as inspiration of Apollo, stood up to
the ships, in order to prove his indis- him. Achilles' spear pierced Aeneas'
pensability, for, as she well knew, he buckler; Aeneas brandished a huge
was the only man who could pre- stone and Poseidon rescued both of
vent the enemy from attacking the them by enveloping them in a cloud.
Greeks effectively. Thetis went to Hector also wanted to attack
ZEUS and asked him to grant the Achilles, but in vain: fate for the
Trojans victory as long as Achilles moment did not allow the two
kept away from the fighting. Zeus heroes to meet face to face. Achilles
agreed and the Greeks suffered a continued his advance. After fording
series of defeats. Agamemnon sent a the River SCAMANDER, he took
mission to appease Achilles, promis- twenty young Trojans prisoner,
ing him Briseis and a magnificent intending to sacrifice them at Patroc-
ransom, but Achilles remained lus' tomb. The river-god wanted to
unmoved. The battle came close to stop the bloodshed and kill Achilles,
the camp but Achilles watched from whose victims were blocking his
the deck of his ship. Patroclus even- course. The river became swollen,
tually asked Achilles to let him help overflowed its banks and pursued the
the Greeks, whose ships were in hero, but Hephaestus made it return
danger of being burnt. Achilles to its course. Achilles continued his
agreed to lend his armour, but attack in order to cut off the Trojan
ACHILLES 9
retreat, but he was diverted into a First there is the tale of the struggle
fruitless pursuit of Apollo, and so against the Amazon queen, PENTHE-
lost his opportunity. Hector was SILEA. Initially she forced the Greeks
alone in front of the Scaean Gate, to retreat, but Achilles wounded her
but, just as Achilles was drawing and, just as she was on the point of
close and they were on the point of death, he exposed her face. Con-
fighting, he took fright and Achilles fronted by such beauty he was
chased him round the walls until at stricken with a sorrow so obvious
last Zeus, raising the scales of fate, (for he was incapable of concealing
weighed Achilles' lot against Hec- his emotions) that THERSITES derided
tor's, whose scale tipped towards his love for a corpse. Achilles killed
Hades. Apollo then abandoned Hec- him with one blow of his fist.
tor. ATHENA appeared and, assuming A further story records Achilles'
the likeness of his brother DEIPHO- struggle against MEMNON, which
BUS, inspired Hector with the wish took place in the presence of their re-
to confront his opponent; he was spective mothers, Thetis and EOS.
soon killed, uttering a warning to Finally comes the tale of Achilles'
Achilles that he himself had not long love for POLYXENA. Achilles fell so
to live. On the point of death he deeply in love with her that he pro-
asked Achilles to return his body to mised her father, Priam, that he
PRIAM, but Achilles refused and would come over to the side of the
dragged the corpse behind his Trojans if he would agree to their
chariot into the Greek camp. marriage. Priam accepted, and the
Each day for twelve days Achilles betrothal was to be ratified in the
did the same, but then Thetis was temple of Apollo Thymbrius.
bidden by Zeus to tell him that the Achilles appeared unarmed and
gods were angry at his lack of respect PARIS, hidden behind the statue of
for the dead, and when Priam came Apollo, shot him. The Trojans seized
to ask for Hector's body, he was his corpse and demanded the same
kindly received by Achilles, who ransom as they had had to pay for
gave him back the corpse. That Hector's body.
moment is the climax of the Iliad. This version of the hero's end
In the Odyssey we find Achilles in seems to be a late one: other authors
Hades. He is surrounded by heroes say that Achilles met his end in battle
who were his friends during the war, at a moment when he had driven the
amongst them was Agamemnon Trojans back to the walls of their
who told Odysseus of the death of city. Apollo confronted him and
Achilles, although he did not give ordered him to withdraw and, when
the name of his killer. The Odyssey he refused, shot him with an arrow.
gives an account of Achilles' funeral In some versions the archer is said to
games, and the subsequent quarrel be Paris, although Apollo guided the
caused by the way in which the arrow to strike Achilles at his only
hero's arms were awarded (see AJAX vulnerable place, his heel. (See also
(2) and ODYSSEUS). DAMYSUS.) A struggle took place
Other stories in the Homeric round Achilles' body, from which
poems bring the cycle to its close. AJAX (2) and ODYSSEUS eventually
ίο ACIS
carried the body back to the camp. of violence, a slave to his emotions,
The funeral was celebrated by Thetis and they were very ready to contrast
and the MUSES, or the NYMPHS. him with Odysseus, the man of
Athena anointed the body with am judgement.
brosia to preserve it from decay. The cult of Achilles was widely
Later there was a story that Thetis practised in the islands, as well as on
removed his body to the White the Asiatic mainland. We also know
Island at the mouth of the Danube. of the cult consecrated to Achilles by
Sailors passing the island heard by Alexander the Great who took him
day the incessant clashing of as his pattern. Both of them died
weapons and by night songs and the young.
clinking of cups. And in the Elysian Achilles was the inspiration
Fields Achilles is said to have married behind many works of literature,
MEDEA, or Iphigenia, or Helen, or from the Iliad to the Achilleid of Sta-
Polyxena. There is also a tale that, tius. He plays a part in many trage
after Troy had been taken but before dies, notably Euripides' Iphigenia in
the Greeks had left, a voice from Aulis.
Achilles' tomb had been heard
demanding that Polyxena should be Acis (IAKLS) The god of the river of
sacrificed in his memory. the same name, near Etna. He was
As depicted by Homer, Achilles the son of Pan or Faunus (in the
was handsome, fair-haired, with Latin tradition) and the Nymph
flashing eyes and a powerful voice. Symaethis. Before becoming a river
He did not know the meaning of he had loved GALATEA ( I ) .
fear: his greatest passion was fight
ing, and he loved glory above all Acontius (Άκόντιος) A young man
else. Yet he also had milder qualities: from Chios who belonged to an
he was musical and could charm affluent though not noble family.
away care with lyre and song; he One year he went to the festivals in
loved both his friend Patroclus, and Delos, where he saw an Athenian
his concubine Briseis. He could be girl called CYDIPPE who had also
cruel, as when he ordered the execu come to worship there. Acontius in
tion of the captured Trojans, and stantly fell in love with her. Acontius
when, from beyond the grave, he followed her to the temple of ARTE
demanded the sacrifice of Polyxena, MIS, where she sat down while the
but he was also hospitable and wept sacrifice was taking place. Then
with Priam when the latter came to Acontius picked a quince and on it
recover his son's body. In the Elysian scratched Ί swear by the temple of
Fields he rejoiced to learn that his son Artemis that I will marry Acontius'.
Neoptolemus was a man of courage. Then he threw the quince towards
He revered his parents, and, when he Cydippe who innocently read the
knew the gods' will, lost no time in writing on it out loud. On realizing
carrying it out. Despite all these the meaning of the words she threw
civilized characteristics, Achilles was the fruit away, but she had uttered a
taken by many Hellenistic philo form of words which bound her to
sophers for the archetype of the man Acontius. Moreover, the goddess
ACRISIUS il
Artemis was a witness of the oath. Acrisius, who expelled his brother;
Acontius returned to Chios, con the latter went to Lycia where he
sumed by love for the girl, whom he married Anteia (see STHENEBOEA).
regarded as his betrothed. Cydippe's Her father, King Iobates, restored
father, however, was preparing for Proetus to the Argolid and set him
her engagement to a husband of his up at Tiryns, which the CYCLOPES
choice, but Cydippe fell so suddenly had fortified for him. At this point
and seriously ill that the engagement the brothers decided to come to an
had to be postponed. The girl im agreement whereby Acrisius reigned
mediately recovered, but three at Argos and Proetus at Tiryns, thus
times, at each attempt to arrange the dividing the kingdom of the Argolid
betrothal, her mysterious illness into two equal parts.
returned. News of this reached Acrisius had a daughter, DANAE.
Acontius, who hurried to Athens He wanted to have a son and con
and constantly asked about sulted the oracle, which told him
Cydippe's health, to the point where that his daughter would bear a son
he became the talk of the town. who would kill him. In order to
People began to think that he had thwart the prediction, Acrisius had
bewitched the girl. Her father went an underground room built of
to consult the oracle at Delphi and bronze, where he kept Danae under
discovered that Cydippe was bound guard, but this did not prevent
by an oath and that she was punished Danae from being seduced. Some
by the anger of Artemis each time think that Proetus was the culprit,
she was on the point of committing but most say that Zeus seduced her
perjury. Her father therefore made in the form of a shower of gold
enquiries about the family of Acon which fell through a crack in the
tius, which seemed to him to be en roof into her womb. When Acrisius
tirely suitable, and soon a happy heard of this he put her and her baby
marriage rewarded the young man's into a chest which he left to its fate
trick. (See also HERMOCHARES.) on the sea. The child was PERSEUS.
DICTYS rescued him from the beach
Acrisius (Ακρίσιος) ABAS (2) was at Seriphos, where the tide had cast
the father of twin sons, PROETUS and him up. Later, Perseus wanted to see
Acrisius (Table 7). The two children his grandfather again and returned to
fought each other while they were Argos. When Acrisius learned that
still in their mother's womb, and Perseus was preparing to come he
their antagonism continued into was afraid that the oracle would be
adulthood. They declared war on fulfilled and left for Larissa in the
each other to find out which of them land of the Pelasgians, at the furthest
should succeed to the throne of point of Greece, equally far from
Argos, bequeathed to them by their Seriphos and Argos. When he
father at his death. It is said that arrived at Larissa he found that King
during this war round shields, which Teutamides was holding games and
were destined to be widely used in that Perseus had come there to com
warfare in antiquity, were first pete. At the moment of Perseus
invented. Eventually victory went to throwing the discus a violent wind
12 ACRON
sprang up and the discus struck Acri- a Lapith, the son of Phorbas (1) and
sius a fatal blow. Perseus, realizing Hyrmine. In the latter version Actor
that the prediction had in spite of was the father of Augias. The tradi
everything come true, buried Acri- tions about his descendants vary:
sius outside the city and returned to sometimes he is regarded as the
Argos. father of Menoetius (1), and the
grandfather of Patroclus, and some
Acron King of the Sabine town of times as the father of the Molionidae
Caenina. After the rape of the (see THALPIUS). Actor reigned at
Sabines he took up arms against Pherae in Thessaly, and Peleus came
ROMULUS. He accepted the latter's to him when, having killed Phocus
challenge and their duel took place (3), he was searching for someone to
before the two armies. Acron was purify him. Actor agreed to do so
killed by Romulus, who stripped and on his death bequeathed his
him of his armour and dedicated it to kingdom to Peleus. According to
Jupiter Feretrinus on the Capitol. this version of the legend, Actor had
This was the origin of the ceremony a son, EURYTION (3).
of the Spolia Opima. 2. A son of Hippasus. One of the
Argonauts.
Actaeon (Άκταίων) ARISTEUS had a
son named Actaeon; he was brought Admete (Αδμήτη) A priestess of
up by the Centaur CHIRON who Hera at Argos. One version of the
taught him the art of hunting. One legend of the Amazons says that it
day Actaeon was devoured by his was for her that Heracles went to
own dogs on Mount Cithaeron. fetch the girdle of the Amazon
There are differing accounts of his queen. On the death of her father
death: some say that this was his Eurystheus, Admete fled to Samos,
punishment from ZEUS for having taking Hera's cult statue with her.
tried to rob him of the love of She discovered an ancient shrine of
SEMELE, but most authors ascribe it to the goddess, founded by the Leleges
the wrath of the goddess ARTEMIS, and the Nymphs, and put the statue
incensed at having been seen naked there. The Argives commissioned
by Actaeon when she was bathing. some pirates to search for the statue,
She incited his hounds to fury and set and, as the shrine in Samos had no
them on him. They ate him without door, they easily removed it. How
recognizing him, and then hunted ever, when they tried to set sail and
for him in vain throughout the were unable to cast off, they realized
forest. Finally their search brought that the goddess wanted to remain in
them to the cave where Chiron Samos, so they placed the cult statue
lived, and he made a statue of on the shore and offered a sacrifice to
Actaeon to calm them. her. When the Samians found the
statue abandoned on the shore by the
Actor (Άκτωρ) departing pirates, they assumed that
ι. A Thessalian hero, sometimes the goddess had come there of her
said to be the son of MYRMIDON and own accord. They bound the statue
Pisidice (3) and sometimes said to be in rushes, and when Admete arrived
ADONIS 13
she unfastened it, purified it, consec Adonis (Άδωνι,ς) A Greek hero of
rated it afresh, and brought it back to Syrian origin, Adonis is mentioned
its temple. An annual fesstival was by Hesiod, who considers him the
instituted in which the Samians son of Phoenix (4) and Alphesiboea;
carried the statue of Hera to the Apollodrous calls him a son of
shore and gave it offerings. Cinyras and Metharme, but the
Pausanias claims that the Argive generally accepted version is that
statue of Hera was brought to Samos Smyrna (2) was impelled by Aphro
not by Admete but by the Argo dite to commit incest with her
nauts. father, Theias. With the help of her
nurse Hippolyta (2) she tricked
Admetus (Ά8μητος) Son of Pheres, Theias and became pregnant, but
founder of Pherae in Thessaly, and when Theias discovered the trick he
Periclymene. He took part in the pursued her with a knife. The gods
Calydonian boar hunt and the Argo changed Smyrna into a myrrh tree,
nauts' expedition. He succeeded his which later burst open, allowing the
father as king, and fell in love with child Adonis to emerge. Aphrodite,
Alcestis, the daughter of Pelias, who moved by the child's beauty, shel
would give his daughter only to a tered him and entrusted him to Per
man whose chariot was drawn by sephone. Persephone was so taken
wild beasts. Apollo, who was Adme with his beauty that she refused to
tus' drover at this time, harnessed a give him back. In some versions the
lion and a wild boar for him. How dispute was settled by Zeus, in others
ever, when Admetus failed to offer a by Calliope on Zeus' behalf: Adonis
sacrifice to Artemis during the was to spend one third of each year
wedding celebrations, she filled the with each goddess and the remaining
bridal chamber with snakes, and third wherever he chose. He always
Apollo had to appease her. Apollo spent two thirds with Aphrodite.
also asked the Fates that Admetus However, at an early age he was
should not die on the day fixed by fatally wounded by a wild boar.
Destiny, if he found someone to take The reason often given for the
his place. To do this Apollo made curse of Aphrodite upon Smyrna is
the Fates drunk (or persuaded Arte that Cenchreis the wife of Cinyras
mis). Admetus was unable to find (who here takes the place of Theias)
anyone to take his place except his had offended the goddess by claim
wife, who died on his behalf. ing that her daughter was more
According to the tradition followed beautiful; Smyrna's desire for an illi
by Euripides in his Alcestis, she was cit love was a punishment for this.
saved by Heracles, who went down As soon as she realized the nature of
to the Underworld, wrestled with her passion, Smyrna wanted to hang
Thanatos, the god of Death, and herself but her nurse advised her to
brought her back; another tradition satisfy her love. Once incestuous
holds that Persephone returned her intercourse had taken place, the girl
spontaneously. Admetus had three hid herself in a forest where Aphro
children: Eumelus, Perimele and dite, taking pity on her victim,
Hippasus (Table 6). changed her into a tree. Smyrna's
14 ADRASTUS
father struck the bark of the tree called 'gardens of Adonis', which
with his sword, thus bringing the grew unnaturally quickly and died
baby Adonis into the world, but in equally rapidly, thus symbolizing
another version it was a wild boar the fate of Adonis, for which the
which freed the child from the tree women uttered ritual laments.
by opening it up with its tusks, thus Adonis is found depicted on
foretelling the young man's death. Etruscan mirrors, and his cult spread
Hellenistic poets depicted Adonis as throughout the Mediterranean
having been brought up by the world in the Hellenistic period.
Nymphs, hunting or leading his
flocks. The tragedy which led to his Adrastus (Άδραστος) An Argive
death was sometimes said to have king, leader of the Seven against
been caused not by Artemis but by Thebes. During a riot Amphiaraus
the jealousy of Ares, Aphrodite's killed Talaus, Adrastus' father,
lover, or by the vengeance of Apollo wherupon Adrastus fled to Sicyon,
on Aphrodite, who had blinded whose king, Polybus (2), died with
ERYMANTHUS (i), the god's son, out male children and left him the
because he had seen her bathing kingdom. Adrastus then made peace
naked. with Amphiaraus, to whom he gave
The Adonis legend is set some the hand of his sister ERIPHYLE, and
times on Mount Idalion, sometimes returned to the throne of Argos.
in Lebanon. A river called the Ado There, Polynices, forced to leave
nis flowed through Byblos, and its Thebes by Eteocles, and TYDEUS,
waters coloured red every year on exiled by his father, Oeneus, because
the day when the death of Adonis of a murder, appeared together to
was celebrated. seek asylum. They quarrelled and
The story of Adonis provides a awoke Adrastus, who, realizing that
basis for myths such as that of the they fought like lion and wild boar
origin of myrrh (the tears of (or perhaps seeing the two animals
Smyrna) and that of the red rose, depicted on their armour), remem
which was originally white. As Aph bered an oracle that he would marry
rodite ran to Adonis' assistance she his daughters to a lion and a wild
pricked her foot on a thorn and the boar: he gave Argia to Polynices,
flowers dedicated to him were and Deipyle to Tydeus.
coloured by her blood. Anemones Adrastus' promise to restore the
too were said to be born of the blood heroes to their rights in their coun
of the wounded Adonis. The poet tries was the start of the expedition
Bion tells that the goddess shed as of the Seven against Thebes. The
many tears as Adonis shed drops of seven chiefs were: Adrastus (their
blood; from each tear sprang a rose, leader), Amphiaraus, Capaneus,
and from each drop of blood an Hippomedon, Parthenopaeus, Poly
anemone. nices and Tydeus. They stopped at
In honour of Adonis, Aphrodite Nemea, where they instituted the
established a funeral feast, celebrated Nemean Games in honour of
each spring by the followers of his Opheltes (see AMPHIARAUS), then
cult. They nurtured green plants, pressed on to Thebes where, after an
AECHMAGORAS 15
place and saved his lover and his son. now knew the whole story. Poly
A neighbouring spring took the technus was arrested, smeared all
name of Cissa ('the spring of the over with honey and laid out in a
jay')· meadow. Plagued by flies, he
aroused the pity of Aedon, who
Aedon (Αηδών) In the Odyssey, drove off the flies. Her brothers and
Aedon envied the number of chil sisters, enraged by this, wanted to
dren born to her sister-in-law NIOBE kill her, but Zeus took pity on the
(2). She tried to kill Niobe's eldest family and changed them all into
son, Amaleus, in his sleep, but by birds, Pandareus into a sea-eagle,
mistake she killed her own son, Ity- Polytechnus into a green wood
lus. In her grief she begged the gods' pecker, Aedon into a nightingale,
pity and they transformed her into a and Chelidon into a swallow
nightingale (αηδών in Greek). In an (χβλιδων in Greek).
alternative legend about the night
ingale Aedon was the wife of the Aeetes (Αίήτης) The son of Helios
artist Polytechnus, They had a son, and Perseis. He was given the king
ITYS. In their good fortune they dom of Corinth by his father but
boasted that they were more closely soon left for Colchis on the coast of
united than Hera and Zeus, where the Black Sea. His sisters were Circe
upon Hera punished them by filling and Pasiphae. The traditions about
them with the desire to outdo each the name of Aeetes' wife, Eurylyte,
other. Both set to work, he building vary: she has been named as the
a chariot, she weaving, the first to Nereid Neaera, Idyia and Hecate (see
complete their task having to give MEDEA).
the other a serving-maid. With the Aeetes ruled over Aea in Colchis
help of Hera, Aedon won. and his capital was the town of
The resentful Polytechnus went to Phasis. When PHRIXUS arrived at
Ephesus and asked his father-in-law Colchis, on a ram with a golden
to allow him to take Chelidon, fleece, he was welcomed by the king,
Aedon's sister, to stay with her. On who gave him in marriage his
the journey he raped her, gave her daughter Chalciope (2). Phrixus sac
the clothes of a slave, cut off her hair rificed the ram to Zeus and gave the
and threatened her with death if she fleece to Aeetes, who nailed it to an
told her sister who she was. On his oak tree in a wood dedicated to Ares.
return, he gave Chelidon to Aedon Jason, being ordered by Pelias to
as a serving-maid. One day when she bring him the Golden Fleece, went
was lamenting her misfortunes, with his companions in search of it
Aedon overheard and recognized (see ARGONAUTS), and the king pro
her and they resolved to take re mised them the fleece provided that
venge. They killed Itys, served his Jason succeeded in accomplishing
body on a dish to his father, and fled. various feats, thinking by this means
Polytechnus, learning the nature of to get rid of him. But when Jason
the food he had eaten, left in pursuit succeeded in overcoming the tests
but was stopped by the servants of which were set him, Aeetes refused
Pandareus, the girls' father, who by to let him have the fleece and tried to
AEGESTES 17
burn the Argo. Jason took the fleece and Poseidon for building the wall
by force and fled, taking Aeetes' around Troy, the gods inflicted cala
daughter Medea with him. Aeetes mities on the country: Poseidon sent
pursued them, but Medea killed and a sea-monster and Apollo caused a
dismembered her brother Apsyrtus, plague, and said that, to end the epi
scattering the limbs on the sea, and demic, the youngest generation of
Aeetes, by waiting to gather them noble families must be given up to
up, allowed Jason to escape. At a feed the monster. Many Trojans sent
later date Aeetes is said to have been their offspring abroad, and Aegesta
dethroned by his brother Perses, and was evacuated to Sicily. There
restored to his rights by Medea, who Crimisus coupled with her in the
had returned without being recog shape of a dog or a bear, and she
nized. gave birth to Aegestes who founded
the town of Aegesta or Segesta.
Aegaeon (Αιγαίων) One of the According to Lycophron, Aegesta
HECATONCHEIRES was called Briareus was the daughter of Phoenodamas,
by the gods and Aegaeon by who advised his fellow-Trojans to
mortals. Together with his brothers give Hesione (3), the daughter of
he fought with the Olympians Laomedon, to the monster. In re
against the Titans. Sometimes he is venge Laomedon gave Phoenoda
one of the warders of the Titans in mas' daughters to some sailors with
their underground prison, and some instructions that they should be left
times it is said that Poseidon re out in the open in Sicily where the
warded him for his courage by wild beasts could eat them. Thanks
giving him the hand of'his daughter to Aphrodite the girls escaped.
Cympolea and exempting him from Aegesta married Crimisus. In this
keeping guard over the Titans. version, her son, Segestes, founded
When Hera, Athena and Poseidon the towns of Segesta, Eryx and
wanted to put Zeus in chains, it was Entella. According to one tradition
to Aegaeon that Thetis turned for Aegesta returned to Troy where she
help, and fear of his prodigious married Capys (1) and gave birth to
strength was enough to deter them. Anchises. According to Dionysius of
However, a variant tradition claims Halicarnassus, a grandfather of
that this faithful friend of Zeus was Aegesta who quarrelled with Lao
an ally of the Titans, with whom he medon was put to death by him, to
fought against the Olympians. gether with all the male members of
his family. Laomedon was reluctant
Aegestes (Αίγεστης) to have the females killed, and gave
ι. The son of the Sicilian river-god them to merchants. A young Trojan
Crimisus and a Trojan woman followed them to Sicily; there he
named Aegesta or Segesta, who married one of them and fathered
received Aeneas and the Trojans on Aegestes. After Troy was attacked,
Sicily. There are a number of ex Aegestes returned to defend it, but
planations of how she first arrived in when the city was lost he went back
Sicily. According to Servius, after to Sicily, taking Elymus with him.
Laomedon refused to pay Apollo Strabo says that the companions of
i8 AEGEUS
was received with great demonstra a member of the reigning house, but
tions of friendship and happiness. A when Aphrodite revealed her iden-
great feast was prepared for him, tity to Anchises, after he had coupled
during which he was murdered by with her, she said: 'You will have a
Clytemnestra. Aegisthus sub son, who will rule over the Trojans,
sequently reigned for seven more and sons will be born to his sons, and
years over Mycenae before he was so on for all eternity.'
killed by Orestes, Agamemnon's In the Trojan War Aeneas
son. Aegisthus had two children, encountered Achilles during raids on
Aletes (2) and Erigone (2). Mount Ida, but Aeneas was driven to
Lyrnessos, where he was rescued by
Aegyptus (Αίγυπτος) The eponym Zeus when Achilles sacked the city.
of Egypt, the son of Belus (Table 3). Aeneas was also wounded by Dio-
He had a brother DANAUS. Belus medes (2): in trying to save him
established Danaus in Libya and gave Aphrodite was herself wounded, but
Arabia to Aegyptus, who also con Apollo hid Aeneas in a cloud and
quered the land of the Melampodes removed him from the battlefield.
(meaning, literally, 'black feet') He later returned to slay Crethon
which he renamed Egypt. Aegyptus and Orsilochus, attack the Achaean
had fifty sons, and his brother camp, confront Idomeneus, kill a
Danaus had fifty daughters (see large number of Greeks, and fight at
DANAIDES). The brothers quarrelled Hector's side when the latter put the
and Danaus fled to Argos. Aegyptus' Achaeans to flight. He was among
sons went to meet Danaus there and those fighting around Patroclus'
asked permission for his daughters to body, and again fought with
marry them; Danaus agreed, but on Achilles: Aeneas was saved by Posei-
the eve of this marriage he contrived don, who caused a mist to rise before
for all the sons to be killed by their Achilles' eyes, removed the spear
intended wives, with the exception which was stuck in Aeneas' shield,
of Lynceus (1) who was spared by and transported the hero behind his
Hypermestra (1). Aegyptus, his sons own lines. Poseidon's motive in sav-
all dead, became afraid of his brother ing a Trojan was that he had remem-
and he retired to Aroe, where he bered Aphrodite's prophecy that
died. Aeneas would one day rule over the
Trojans, and that his descendants
Aeneas (Alvciaç) A Trojan hero, would keep this position of supre-
the son of Anchises and Aphrodite macy; it was also perhaps that
(Table 4). For the circumstances of Aeneas was not one of the imme-
his birth, see ANCHISES. Aeneas was diate descendants of Laomedon, but
initially brought up in the moun- was directly linked with Tros,
tains; when he was five he was taken through Anchises, Capys and Assar-
to the city by his father and entrusted acus (see Table 4, POSEIDON and
to his brother-in-law Alcathus, who LAOMEDON). Thus Homer's Aeneas
took charge of his education. Later was a hero protected by the gods
Aeneas stood out as the bravest of (whom he obeyed with due respect)
the Trojans after Hector. He was not and destined for a great role: in him
AENEAS 21
lay the future of the Trojan race. scene of his visit to the SIBYL and his
These elements were combined by descent into the Underworld. After
Virgil in his Aeneid. leaving Cumae he landed for the
After the death of Hector, Aeneas burial of his old nurse at Caieta,
assumed his role in the defence of the which was named in her honour,
city, and after the fall of Troy his im- avoided Circe's island, and finally
portance increased still further. reached the mouth of the Tiber,
Following the death of LAOCOON, he where he became embroiled in a
realized that the fall of the city was series of battles with the Rutuli.
imminent, and made his escape with Aeneas went up the Tiber to Pallan-
Anchises, Creusa (4) and his son teum, which was later to become the
Ascanius. One version of the legend site of the city of Rome (the Pala-
claimed that Aeneas was taken by tine), and there sought an alliance
surprise by the Greek attack on the with King Evander (3), a one-time
city and made his escape with old guest of Anchises. Evander wel-
Anchises on his back and Ascanius in comed Aeneas and sent a body of
his arms, carrying the PÉNATES and troops to his aid, led by his own son
the PALLADIUM. He then withdrew to Pallas (4). On Evander's advice
Mount Ida where he gathered to- Aeneas went to Agylla, in Etruria, to
gether the surviving Trojans and incite the subjects of King Mezentius
founded another city over which he to rebel, but in his absence the troops
reigned, thus fulfilling the prediction of Turnus, the Rutulian king,
of Aphrodite — who, it was said, had attacked the Trojan camp. Only
instigated the Trojan War to strip Aeneas' timely arrival with the allied
Priam of the throne and give it to troops reversed the situation. Aeneas
her own descendants. ultimately killed Turnus in single
The story which formed the basis combat.
for Virgil's Aeneid was that of Virgil's Aeneid ends with the
Aeneas' travels. After a short stay on death of Turnus and does not dir-
Mount Ida (see OXYNIUS), he left for ectly mention later events recorded
Hesperia. He called at Samothrace, by the historians — the founding of
Thrace, Macedonia, Crete (via Lavinium, struggles against local
Delos), Cythera, Laconia and Arca- tribes, the disappearance of Aeneas in
dia; from there he went to Zacyn- a storm. In these traditions the
thus, Leucas, Epirus, and finally founder of Rome was ROMULUS;
reached southern Italy. He then Aeneas' son Ascanius (or IULUS)
sailed round Sicily, avoiding SCYLLA founded Alba Longa. For versions of
(1) and CHARYBDIS, and stopped at the legend before Virgil, see ίΑΉΝυ8.
Drepanum, where Anchises died. Some traditions make Aeneas the
When he set sail again a storm drove direct founder of Rome (see
him to Carthage (see DIDO). From ODYSSEUS, iv); others give him four
there he resumed his journey at the sons — Ascanius, Euryleon, Romulus
order of the gods, who did not want and REMUS.
him peacefully to establish himself in Virgil's version set the tradition
the city destined to be Rome's for all later writers. The legend of
enemy, and landed at Cumae, the Aeneas gave Rome the stamp of res-
22 AEOLIA
pectability by tracing its founders' to divorce her. She asked the shep
race back to the beginnings of his herds to provide her with infants
tory, and attributing divine ancestorswhich she could pass off as her own,
(Zeus and Aphrodite) to it. Further and they gave her Aeolus and Boeo
more, Rome's grandeur seemed to tus. Theano convinced Metapontus
have been foretold by Homer him that they were his sons, but when she
self. herself bore twin sons she became
anxious to get rid of the strangers
Aeolia (ΑΙολία) and she told her sons the secret of
ι. In the Odyssey the island of Aeolus and Boeotus' birth. The four
Aeolia is the home of Aeolus (2), the youths fought, and with Poseidon's
Lord of the Winds. It was a rocky help Aeolus and Boeotus killed
floating island, surrounded by a wall Theano's sons and fled to the shep
of bronze. It was sometimes identi herds who had taken them in. Posei
fied as the island of Strongyle don then told them that he was their
(today's Stromboli), and sometimes father and that their mother was still
as the island of Lipari. a prisoner, whereupon they hastened
2. The daughter of Amythaon and to her rescue. Poseidon restored her
wife of Calydon (1) (Table 1). sight, and her sons took her back to
Metapontum, where they revealed
Aeolus (Αΐολος) Theano's crimes to King Metapon
ι. The son of Hellen and Orseis tus. The king married Melanippe,
(Table 5). His descendants became and the young men left to found
known as the Aeolians. Aeolus was cities abroad.
king of Magnesia, in Thessaly. He In other versions of the myth,
married Enarete, by whom he had Arne/Melanippe, pregnant by Posei
seven sons and five daughters (Table don, was not imprisoned but handed
5). This Aeolus was sometimes iden over to an inhabitant of Metapon
tified with the Lord of the Winds, tum who subsequently adopted the
but this title is more often given to two children, Aeolus and Boeotus.
Aeolus (2). Aeolus played a part in When they grew up they seized the
the tragic affair of his daughter throne of Metapontum, slew their
CAN ACE with Macareus (1). adoptive father's wife (Autolyta or
2. The grandson of Aeolus ( 1 ). His SIRIS), and fled, Boeotus to Aeolis,
mother was Arne, or, in the tradition later known as Thessaly, Aeolus to
followed by Euripides in two lost the Aeolian Islands, where he was
tragedies, Melanippe (1). Melanippe welcomed by King Liparus, who
(or Arne) had twins, Aeolus and gave him both his daughter Cyane
Boeotus, by Poseidon. At their birth (1) in marriage and his throne.
Melanippe's father blinded and Aeolus and Cyane had six sons:
imprisoned her, and ordered the Astyochus, Xuthus, Androcles,
twins to be exposed. A cow fed them Pheraemon, Iocastus and Agathyr-
with its milk until some shepherds nus.
took them in. Now King Metapon- Aeolus (2) was often identified
tus, being unable to have a child by with Aeolus the Lord of the Winds
his wife Theano (2), had threatened (see 1 above). In the Odyssey he
AESON 23
the Iliad, the Greeks, who did not stored Briseis to Achilles, promised
know their way to Troy, landed first him the hand of one of his daughters,
in Mysia, but were scattered by a and gave him rich gifts. From this
storm and forced back to their point Agamemnon fades from pro
homes (see ACHILLES). Eight years minence in the Iliad.
later they reassembled at Aulis, but Other epics speak of Agamem
could not sail because of a persistent non's involvement in the events
calm. Calchas (i) said this was due to following Hector's and Achilles'
the anger of Artemis, either because deaths (see AJAX (2)). The Odyssey
Agamemnon had compared himself tells how, after the capture of Troy,
with the goddess as a hunter, or Agamemnon took Priam's daughter
because ATREUS had not sacrificed the Cassandra, who bore him twins,
golden lamb to her, or because Aga Teledamus and Pelops (2).
memnon had promised to sacrifice The return of Agamemnon also
the most beautiful produce of the features in epic. The Odyssey refers
year to Artemis in the year when to a quarrel between him and Mene-
IPHIGENIA was born, and had not laus, who wanted to leave as soon as
carried out his promise. Only the the war was over, while Agamem
sacrifice of Iphigenia would appease non wanted to stay to win the favour
the goddess, and Agamemnon ulti of Athena by giving her gifts. Poems
mately agreed to this. about Agamemnon's return tell how
Once under way, the expedition the ghost of Achilles tried to make
called in at Tenedos, where Aga him stay by predicting his future
memnon quarrelled with Achilles misfortunes.
for the first time, and Lemnos, When Agamemnon arrived
where Agamemnon abandoned PHI- home, Aegisthus, his wife's lover,
LOCTETES, before reaching Troy. invited him to a feast and, assisted by
During a raid in the tenth year of twenty men, killed him. Other ver
the siege of Troy Achilles captured sions implicate Clytemnestra in the
Briseis, and Agamemnon took murder of Agamemnon and Cassan
Chryseis, the daughter of Chryses dra. Pindar adds that Clytemnestra
(i). When Agamemnon refused to hated Agamemnon's family so bit
ransom Chryses' daughter Apollo terly that she wanted to kill her own
caused a plague in the Greek army. son Orestes as well. The accounts
At this point the Iliad begins. Aga given by the tragedians also differ:
memnon later gave up Chryseis, but sometimes Agamemnon is struck
demanded that Achilles should give down while at table; sometimes he is
him Briseis, whereupon Achilles killed in his bath, hampered either
retired to his tent in anger and by a net or by a shirt with sewn-up
refused to fight. Agamemnon per sleeves which Clytemnestra had
formed some remarkable feats in given him. For another variant see
battle, but was wounded and was OEAX.
forced to withdraw. After the Tro Eventually Agamemnon was
jan attack on the camp he realized avenged by his son ORESTES.
that defeat was imminent unless
Achilles returned; he therefore re Agapenor (Άγαπήνωρ) Mentioned
AGDISTIS 27
herself in despair, and violets grew The god finally changed her into a
from her blood and also an almond stone statue (see CERYX).
tree over her tomb. Zeus granted
Agdistis that Attis' body should not Aius Locutius This name embraces
decay, his hair should continue to the idea of speech (aio and loquor) and
grow, and his little finger should belongs to a god who revealed him
move. Agdistis founded a commun self only at the time of the Gallic in
ity of priests and a festival in Attis' vasion in 390 BC, in the form of a
honour at Pessinus. voice announcing the approach of
the enemy. No one took any notice
Agenor (Άγήνωρ) Poseidon and of it, but after the Gauls had been put
Libya had twin sons, Agenor and to flight the dictator, Camillus, in
Belus (Table 3). Belus ruled Egypt, order to make amends, built a shrine
while Agenor ruled Tyre or Sidon. to him at the place where the voice
Agenor's children were Europa (5), had been heard.
Cadmus, Phoenix (2) and Cilix.
When Zeus abducted Europa, Age Ajax (Αίας)
nor sent his sons to find her with ι. Ajax of Locri is called the son of
orders not to return until they had Oileus or the Lesser Ajax to dis
done so, and as their search was futile tinguish him from Ajax (2). He
they settled abroad. Traditions about fought beside his namesake the son
the names of the sons vary: Euripides of Telamon at Troy, but whereas the
and Pausanias also mention Thasos, latter was heavily armed, the son of
while Herodotus speaks of Phoeni Oileus was armed only with a
cian colonies established on the breastplate of linen and a bow. He
island of that name. The name of took part in all the great battles of
Agenor's wife also varies: sometimes the Iliad, as well as in the drawing of
it is Telephassa, sometimes Argiope, lots for the intended duel with Hec
sometimes Antiope, the daughter of tor; he fought in the battles around
Belus. the ships, and around the body of
Patroclus, and competed in the
Aglaurus (Άγλαυρος or Άγραυλος) funerary games given in honour of
ι. The daughter of Actaeus, first Patroclus.
King of Athens, and the wife of Cec- He is said to have been a man of
rops by whom she had Erysichthon, bad character, being arrogant, cruel
Aglaurus (2), Herse and Pandrosus. to his enemies, quarrelsome, and im
2. The daughter of Aglaurus (1), pious. He committed sacrilege
she was loved by Ares, by whom she against Athena when, during the
had Alcippe. Aglaurus later went capture of Troy, Cassandra had
mad and threw herself off the Athe sought refuge near Athena's altar.
nian Acropolis (see ERICHTHONIUS). Ajax used force to carry off both girl
Ovid tells a different story, saying and statue. The Achaeans wanted to
that Aglaurus was not struck with stone him for this act of impiety, but
madness. Some time later Ovid Ajax in his turn sought safety near
shows her to be jealous of her sister, the altar of Athena and so escaped
Herse, who was loved by Hermes. death. But on the return journey
AJAX 29
Athena sent a storm which wrecked The son of Telamon was taciturn,
a large number of Achaean ships, benevolent and god-fearing, but he
including the one in which Ajax was lacked the sensitivity, love of music,
travelling. Nevertheless he was saved and kindness of Achilles. He was first
by Poseidon. Ajax boasted that he and foremost a man of war.
had survived in spite of the goddess's Ajax was chosen by lot to fight
wrath, whereupon Athena insisted Hector in single combat. He struck
that he should be destroyed, so him to the ground with a stone, but
Poseidon took his trident and broke the heralds then intervened to stop
the rock on which Ajax had taken the fight. During the Achaean
refuge and drowned him. There is defeats he tried again to stop Hector
also a story that Athena herself des- but was wounded and had to leave
troyed him with a thunderbolt. the field. When Hector launched his
But the sacrilege committed by attack on the ships Ajax was at the
Ajax continued to oppress his coun- heart of the Achaean defence. He
trymen, the Locrians: epidemics wounded Hector once more with a
broke out in Locris and there was a stone but the latter forced him to
series of bad harvests. The oracle re- defend himself on his own ship.
plied that these calamities were a sign When Hector broke his spear on him
of the divine wrath, and that Athena he acknowledged the will of the
would be appeased only if the Loc- gods and took flight. Ajax returned
rians sent two girls to Troy each to the battle after the death of
year, for a thousand years, to expiate Patroclus; Hector was about to
the rape of Cassandra. This was attack him and would have done so
done. The Trojans killed the first had not Zeus, in deference to the fate
pair and scattered their ashes on the which ordained that Hector should
sea. Their successors were pursued fall under Achilles' blows, enveloped
by the populace, armed with sticks them both in a cloud.
and seeking to put them to death. If Legends later than the Iliad put
they escaped they repaired bare- Ajax nearly on a par with Achilles.
footed to the shrine of Athena and He was, like Achilles, made out to be
there they stayed, unmarried, to a the grandson of Aeacus (see TELA-
very advanced age. Thus the sacri- MON). In Attica his mother was said
lege against Cassandra was expiated, to be Periboea (5).
long after Ajax's death. When Heracles came to invite
2. Ajax son of Telamon is the Telamon to take part in his expedi-
Great Ajax. In the Achaean camp at tion against Troy, he found Tela-
Troy he commanded the left wing. mon in the middle of a banquet.
Next to Achilles he was the most Heracles stretched his lion-skin
powerful hero in the army. Strong, beneath him and begged Zeus to
large, handsome, calm and self- grant Telamon a son as brave as him-
controlled, he was heavily armed self and as strong as the lion to whose
with a remarkable shield, made of skin he pointed. Zeus granted his
seven layers of oxhides, the eighth prayer. According to another legend
and outermost coating being a sheet Ajax had already been born at the
of bronze. time of the visit of Heracles, and the
30 ALALCOMENEUS
hero wrapped him in his lion-skin, Once the city had been captured, he
asking Zeus to make him invulner demanded that Helen should be put
able. The child grew up to be so, to death, but Odysseus secured her
except for those parts which on the return to Menelaus. Then Ajax
body of Heracles supported the demanded the Palladium as his share
quiver: armpit, hip and shoulder. of the spoils, but Odysseus, under
Gradually Ajax' character as por pressure from Menelaus and Aga
trayed in the Iliad acquired new memnon prevented him taking it.
features. When he left for Troy his Ajax threatened to take vengeance
father advised him to fight first of all but the Atrides surrounded them
with the spear, but also with the help selves with guards and on the
of the gods. Ajax replied that 'the following morning Ajax was found
coward as well could be victorious stabbed with his own sword.
with the help of the gods'. Then he The account of his death better
seems to have removed the picture known to the tragic poets tells how
of Athena from his shield, thereby Ajax was refused the arms of
incurring the goddess's wrath. Achilles. These arms had been des
Ajax played an important part in tined by Thetis for whoever had
the preliminary expeditions. He was inspired most fear in the Trojans.
appointed to command the fleet to The Trojan prisoners were ques
gether with Achilles and Phoenix tioned and they named Odysseus,
(3). He replaced Agamemnon as who received the arms. During the
commander-in-chief when the latter night Ajax went mad, slaughtered
was removed from that position for the Greek flocks and killed himself
having killed the sacred doe of Arte when he realized the state of distrac
mis. After the landing in Mysia Ajax tion into which he had fallen.
killed Teuthranius, the brother of Ajax was not cremated but placed
Telephus. in a coffin and buried. The Athenians
During the first nine years of the offered him divine honours every
fighting before Troy Ajax attacked year at Salamis.
the town of the Phrygian king,
Teleutas, and carried off his daughter
Tecmessa. He also laid waste the Alalcomeneus (Άλαλκομένβυς)
Thracian Chersonese of which Poly- Founder of Alalcomenae in Boeotia.
mestor was king. Polymestor surren He also founded the Hieros Gamos,
dered Polydorus (2), one of his the religious ceremony symbolizing
father-in-law Priam's children, of the marriage between Zeus and
whom he had custody. Hera. When Hera complained to
After Achilles' death, during the Alalcomeneus, who had been made
final stages of the war, Ajax is de responsible for bringing up Athena,
scribed as welcoming Achilles' son, about Zeus' infidelities, he advised
Neoptolemus, treating him as his her to have a statue of herself made
own son and fighting alongside him. of oak and to have it wheeled
He also fought beside the archer Phi- through the streets attended by a
loctetes, just as, in the Iliad, he retinue, as was done for a marriage.
fought beside the archer Teucer. The ritual was supposed to revive
ALCINOUS 31
and renew the divine marriage (cf. for the hand of Alcestis, Pelias forced
CITHAERON). him to accept certain conditions
which, with the help of Apollo, he
Alcathous (Άλκάθοος) met. Euripides tells us that their mar
ι. Son of Pelops (1) and Hippoda- riage was a model of connubial bliss,
mia (1) (Table 2). to the extent that Alcestis agreed to
King Megareus had a son who had die in place of her husband. But after
been killed by a lion, and had pro her death Heracles plunged into
mised the hand of his daughter Hades and he brought her back more
Evaechme to anyone who could kill beautiful and younger than ever.
the beast. Alcathous did so, gained There was also a story that Perse
the reward, deserted his wife, P y r g o phone, moved by Alcestis' devotion,
(1), and simultaneously gained the had spontaneously returned her to
throne of Onchestus. the land of the living.
With Apollo's help Alcathous
rebuilt the walls of Megara. The A l c i n o u s (Αλκίνοος) King of an
stone on which Apollo laid his lyre island which Homer refers to as
while working on the wall would Scheria (see PHAEACIANS). Alcinous
give out a musical sound when was the grandson of Poseidon and
struck with a pebble. the son of Nausithous (1). Alcinous
Alcathous' son Ischepolis was had five sons and one daughter, NAU-
killed in the Calydonian boar hunt. SICAA. Alcinous' wife was called
In his haste to give Alcathous the Arete. She lived in the palace with
news, his other son, Callipolis, inter her husband and children, held by all
rupted a sacrifice to Apollo. Alcath in honour and respect. Their palace
ous, angered and thinking that his was surrounded by a wonderful
son wanted to offend the gods, killed orchard, where fruit of every kind
him with a blazing log (see POLY- ripened all the year round. Arete and
IDUS(l)). Alcinous were beloved by their
Alcathous also had a daughter, people, hospitable to strangers and
Iphinoe, whose tomb could be seen especially to victims of shipwreck.
at Megara. One of these victims was Odysseus.
2. Son of Porthaon and Euryte. He Having refreshed Odysseus and lis
was either murdered by his nephew tened to the long tale of his adven
Tydeus or put to death by Oeno- tures, Alcinous gave him a ship on
maus when he became a suitor of which to return to Ithaca and loaded
Hippodamia (1) (seeTARAXiPPUs(i)). him with gifts. But Poseidon
changed the boat into a rock and
Alcestis (Άλκησης) Daughter of surrounded Alcinous' city with
Pelias and Anaxibia (Table 6). She mountains.
was the most beautiful and pious of In the Argonautica, Medea and the
women, and the only one of Pelias' Argonauts landed in Alcinous'
children who had no hand in his country and found, at his court, a
murder when Medea brought about group of envoys from Medea's
his death at the hands of his own sons father, Aeetes, with orders to bring
(see JASON). When Admetus asked Medea back. Alcinous was chosen to
32 ALCMAEON
arbitrate and decided that if Medea fail, and Alcmaeon killed Eriphyle,
was still a virgin, she should be sent either with the help of his brother
back to her father; if not she should Amphilochus (1) or, more probably,
be left with Jason. Faced with this by himself. After this the avenging
decision, Arete hastened to marry Furies pursued him. In his distraction
the young couple. Not daring to he went to his grandfather Oecles
appear before their king, the Col- and then to the protection of Phe-
chian envoys settled in Scheria, geus. The latter purified him,
while the Argonauts made their way brought him back to health and gave
back home. him his daughter Arsinoe (or in
other accounts Alphesiboea (2)) in
Alcmaeon (Άλκμάίων) marriage. Alcmaeon gave her the
ι. Son of Amphiaraus (see Table i) necklace and the robe of Harmonia.
and elder brother of Amphilochus But Phegeus' land was struck by
(i). When Amphiaraus, under pres barrenness and the oracle directed
sure from his wife, Eriphyle, had to that Alcmaeon must be purified
leave for the war against Thebes, again, this time by the river-god
knowing from his powers of divina Achelous. Alcmaeon was welcomed
tion that he must die there, he by Oeneus at Calydon, then driven
charged his children to avenge him. out by the Thesproti in Epirus.
To achieve this they were to under Eventually he found at the mouth of
take an expedition against Thebes the Achelous a piece of ground
and also kill their mother. Alcmaeon 'created after his mother's murder'
therefore took part, as a follower of and there the river-god purified him
ADRASTUS, in the campaign of the and gave him his daughter Callirhoe
EPIGONI. An oracle had promised the (2) in marriage. But Callirhoe
Epigoni that they would be victori demanded the robe and necklace of
ous if they were led by Alcmaeon. Harmonia as a condition of their
Alcmaeon showed no enthusiasm living together. In order to comply
for leaving to fight against Thebes. with her wishes Alcmaeon set off
He was finally persuaded to do so by again to Phegeus and demanded that
his mother, who had been lured by his first wife should return the
the gift of the robe of Harmonia (i) presents, on the grounds that he had
(see ERIPHYLE). In the fighting to dedicate them to Apollo to gain
Alcmaeon killed Laodamas, king of final pardon for the murder of his
Thebes. The Thebans fled during the mother. Phegeus permitted his
night on the advice of their sooth daughter to return the gifts, but one
sayer, Tiresias, and on the following of Alcmaeon's servants disclosed
day the victorious troops entered the Alcmaeon's true purpose. In his in
town. They dedicated part of the dignation Phegeus ordered his sons
booty to Apollo and put Thersan- Pronous and Agenor (sometimes
drus (2) in charge of the town. said to be Temenus (2) and Axion) to
After the battle Alcmaeon went to set a trap for Alcmaeon and kill him.
the Delphic oracle to ask about the Alcmaeon's sons, however, lost no
murder of his mother. The oracle re time in avenging their father (see
ACARNAN). A tradition, mentioned
plied that he must do this without
ALCMENE 33
finally died Zeus sent Hermes to take washed up on the shore and in her
her body to the Islands of the despair she was changed into a halc
Blessed, where she married Rhada- yon, as was her husband.
manthys. Other accounts say that she 2. One of the PLÉIADES.
was raised to Olympus, where she
shared in the divine honours of her Alcyoneus (Άλκυονεύς)
son. It is also sometimes asserted that ι. A son of Gaia and Uranus,
after the death of Amphitryon Alc- Alcyoneus was exceptional for his
mene married Rhadamanthys, at height and strength. He played a
that time in exile, and lived with him leading part in the battle between the
at Ocaleus in Boeotia. Giants and the Gods (see GIANTS),
and attacked Heracles as he returned
Alcon (Άλκων) from Erythia with Geryon's cattle.
ι. A Cretan archer and a com Alcyoneus was invulnerable as long
panion of Heracles. His arrows never as he fought on the land where he
missed: he could make them go had been born. Every time he was
through rings placed on a man's felled he drew strength from merely
head and could split an arrow in half touching the earth from which he
by striking a blade set up as a target. had sprung, so Heracles took him far
One day, when his son had been away from Pallene and shot him
attacked by a snake, Alcon put an dead with an arrow after Alcyoneus
arrow through it, without hurting had crushed twenty-four of Hera
the child. cles' companions to death with an
2. The father of Phalerus, one of enormous rock. In despair at Alcyo
the Argonauts. The same story is neus' death, his daughters threw
told of him as of Alcon (i), and the themselves into the sea and were
two heroes were frequently con changed into Halcyons..
fused. 2. When the monster Lamia (3) or
Sybaris (1) was terrorizing the area
Alcyone (Αλκυόνη) near Delphi, Apollo told the inhabit
ι. The daughter of Aeolus (i). She ants to offer a young man as a sacri
married Ceyx (2). They were so fice to the monster. Alcyoneus was
happy that they compared them chosen, crowned, and led in proces
selves to Zeus and Hera. Annoyed at sion towards the monster. A young
such pride, the divinities changed nobleman named Eurybatus saw
them into birds, a diver and halcyon this, fell in love with Alcyoneus, and
respectively. Since Alcyone made offered himself in his place. His offer
her nest on the edge of the sea and was accepted. On reaching the mon
the waves continually destroyed it, ster's lair Eurybatus shattered its
Zeus commanded that the waves head on the rocks, and henceforth a
should be calm during the seven days spring called Sybaris gushed forth in
when the halcyon was hatching her its place.
eggs. Sailors call these the halcyon
days, when storms are unknown. Alebion (Άλεβίων) A son of Posei
In Ovid's version, Ceyx died in a don. He and his brother Dercynus
shipwreck. Alcyone found his body lived in Liguria. When Heracles
ALOADAE 35
his thyrsus against Alpos, hitting him its milk was called Aix (a she-goat).
in the throat. Alpos fell into the sea. She was a terrifying beast, descended
from Helios, and the Titans were so
Althaea (Μλ0αια) The wife of frightened by her mere appearance
Oeneus and mother of Deianeira and that Gaia, at their request, had
Meleager. When Meleager was hidden her in a cave in the Cretan
seven days old the Fates predicted mountains. Later, when Zeus was
that he would die if the log which fighting the Titans, he made himself
was then burning on the hearth was armour from her skin. This armour
burnt to ashes. Althaea immediately was called the aegis. There is also a
put it out and hid it in a chest. story that Zeus took one of the
According to other traditions this goat's horns and gave it to Amal-
log was an olive branch to which thea, promising her that it would he
Althaea had given birth at the same filled with all the kinds of fruit she
time as her son. wanted. This is the Horn of Amal-
During the hunt in Calydon thea or the Cornucopia (see ACHE-
Meleager killed Althaea's brothers. LOUS).
In her anger she threw on the fire the
Amata The wife of LATINUS and the
log on which her son's life depended.
mother of LAVINIA. Amata had
Meleager instantly died, and in her
chosen Turnus, the young king of
despair Althaea hanged herself.
the Rutuli, to marry Lavinia. So
A variant story says that the chil
when Latinus decided to give his
dren of Althaea were not the sons of
daughter's hand to Aeneas, Amata
Oeneus, but that Meleager was the
tried to prevent the marriage by
son of Ares and Deianeira, the
rousing the women of Laurentium
daughter of Dionysus. The latter had
against the Trojans. When she heard
fallen in love with Althaea, and
of the Trojan victory and the death
Oeneus, who had become aware of
of Turnus she hanged herself.
it, lent him his wife. In gratitude the
god gave him a plan of a vineyard Amazons (Άμαζόν€ς) A race of
and showed him how to use it for warrior women. Their kingdom was
cultivation of the vine. in the north on the boundaries of the
civilized world. They conducted
Amalthea (Άμάλθ€ΐ,α) The nurse their own government; they were
who brought up Zeus in secrecy on ruled by a queen; they could not
Mount Ida in Crete when Cronus stand the presence of men except as
wanted to eat him. In some sources, servants; at certain times they had
Amalthea is the she-goat who suc intercourse with strangers to pre
kled the child, in others she is a serve their race, keeping only the
Nymph. Amalthea hung the baby in baby girls. They removed one of the
a tree to prevent his father from breasts of the infant girls so that they
finding him 'in heaven, or on earth, should be able to shoot with the bow
or in the sea', and she gathered the or to handle a spear, and it was from
Curetés round him so that their this custom that the Greeks often de
songs and noisy dances should rived their name from ά-μαζών
drown his cries. The goat that gave (having no breasts).
38 AMPELUS
the royal inheritance into two parts: mone then granted Poseidon what
one consisted of the treasure, the she had refused the Satyr. But the
other of the kingdom. Numitor trident had struck the rock, and a
chose the latter but Amulius, relying stream with three springs gushed
on his wealth drove him out and from it. Another version of the story
usurped his place. However despite is that after Poseidon, who was in
all his precautions he was unable to love with Amymone, had come to
prevent his niece Rhea Silvia (1) her rescue he showed her the exist
from giving birth to Romulus and ence of the spring of Lerna. Amy
Remus, who eventually dethroned mone had a son, Nauplius (1), by
him, put him to death and restored Poseidon.
power to their grandfather Numi
tor. Ananke (Ανάγκη) Necessity, the
personification of absolute obliga
Amycus (Άμυκος) A giant, a son of tion and of the constraining force of
Poseidon and king of the Bebryces in the decrees of destiny, she appears in
Bithynia. Savage by nature, he used the Orphic theogony where, with
to force strangers to box with him. her daughter Adrasteia, she is the
He invariably killed his opponents. nurse of the little Zeus. She herself
When the Argonauts landed in his was a daughter of Cronus. Her chil
country, Amycus challenged them dren were Aether, Chaos and Ere
to fight. Pollux took up the chal bus. Ananke also occurs in the
lenge. Despite his huge height and philosophers. For example, in Plato's
brute strength, Amycus was defeated Republic, Ananke is the mother of
by the skill and suppleness of Pollux. the Moirae. Gradually, and particu
In Apollonius Rhodius Amycus was larly in popular tradition, Ananke
killed, in Theocritus he was knocked became a goddess of death, but in the
out, and Pollux was satisfied with works of the poets, particularly the
making the giant promise that he tragedians, she remained the incarna
would refrain from harming tion of the ultimate Force which
strangers in future. even the gods must obey. In Rome,
Ananke became Nécessitas.
Amymone (Άμνμώνη) One of the
Danaides. Her mother was Europa Anaxagoras (Άναξαγόραο) The son
(4). When DANAUS left Libya with of Megapenthes (2). According to
his children, Amymone went with Pausanias and Diodorus it was
him to Argos. But the country had during Anaxagoras' reign at Argos,
no water owing to the wrath of and not that of his grandfather PRO-
Poseidon. After Danaus had become ETUS, that all the Argive women
king he sent his daughters in search were struck with a madness which
of water. Tired out by walking, was cured by MELAMPUS. As a reward
Amymone went to sleep at the way Anaxagoras gave Melampus a third
side; a Satyr came upon her and tried of his kingdom, giving another third
to rape her. The girl called on Posei to Melampus' brother Bias, and
don, who with one blow from his keeping the remaining third for
trident drove the Satyr away. Amy himself. His descendants, the Anaxa-
42 ANAXARETE
gorides, ruled under this system until thunderbolt or, in other traditions/
the son of Sthenelus (3), Cylarabes, blind. Anchises is also said to have
reunited the whole kingdom of been the father of Lyrnus. The Iliad
Argos under his own sway. also gives Anchises a mortal wife
named Eriopis, by whom he had
Anaxarete (Άναξαρέτη) A young several daughters, including Hippo-
Cypriot called Iphis (3) fell in love damia (4).
with Anaxarete, but she was cruel to When Troy had been captured
him. In his despair Iphis hanged him Aeneas snatched his father from the
self at her door. She was unmoved carnage and made him his com
by the sight, and merely wanted to panion on his wanderings. The place
watch the funeral procession as it of Anchises' death (he was eighty
passed beneath her window. Aphro years old when he left Troy) is some
dite, angered by Anaxarete's lack of times said to be on Ida where he had
feeling, changed her into a stone once looked after the flocks; alternat
statue in the position she had taken ively it is placed near the peninsula of
up in order to look out of the win Pallene in Macedonia, in Arcadia, in
dow. This statue was placed in a Epirus, in southern Italy, or on Cape
temple in Salamis in Cyprus. Drepanum in Sicily. Aeneas, accord
ing to Virgil, established in his
Anchemolus The son of Rhoetus honour the funeral games that were
(4), king of the Italian tribe of the the origin of the Trojan Games held
Marruvians. Anchemolus had been in Rome until the beginning of the
the lover of his stepmother Casperia. Empire. Other writers make
When Rhoetus came to hear of it he Anchises live on until Aeneas arrived
wanted to kill his son, who fled to in Latium (see also AEGESTES).
Daunus, the father of Turnus. He
fought beside Turnus against Aeneas Anchurus (Άγχονρος) The son of
and died in the thick of the fighting. Midas. When a chasm opened near
his capital and threatened to engulf
Anchises (Άγχίσης) The father of the town an oracle was asked how to
Aeneas and son of Capys and end the threat. The oracle replied
Themiste (Table 4) or Aegesta (see that Midas had to cast into it what
AEGESTES). He was loved by Aphro ever he held most dear. Gold and
dite who approached him claiming jewels were thrown into it without
to be the daughter of Otreus, king of any result. At last Anchurus threw
Phrygia. By this device she married himself in and the chasm immedi
him. Later, she told Anchises who ately closed up.
she really was and predicted that she
would bear him a son (Aeneas), but Androclus (Άνδροκλος) The leader
begged him not to tell anyone that of the Ionian colonists who drove
his son was the child of a goddess. the Leleges and the Carians from the
But Anchises drank too much wine area round Ephesus. He himself was
one feast day and boasted of his love supposed to have founded the city.
affairs. Zeus punished him by He also conquered Samos. An oracle
making him lame with a blast from a had foretold that the site of Ephesus
ANDROMEDA 43
of a nearby stream, who carried her hung a leopard skin over Antenor's
off. Anna's servants followed her door to show that his house should
tracks to the stream, where a shape be spared.
rose from the water and told them With the development of the Tro
that Anna had become a water jan cycle Antenor appears as a trai
nymph, whose new name, Perenna, tor: he helped the Greeks steal the
signified eternity. Thereupon the PALLADIUM and let the soldiers out of
servants celebrated the first annual the Wooden Horse. After Troy was
festival of Anna Perenna. captured he went to northern Italy.
Mars chose Anna as an intermedi
ary between himself and Minerva, Antheias ('Avdeias) A hero from
whom he loved. Anna knew that the Patras (see TRIPTOLEMUS).
virgin goddess would never suc
cumb, so she put herself in Minerva's Antheus (Ανθβύς) A native of Hali-
place at a night-time meeting. When carnassus, of royal stock, who lived
Mars was shown into the bridal as a hostage at the court of Phobius,
chamber she lifted her veil; Mars the tyrant of Miletus. Phobius' wife
recognized her and spoke angrily. Cleoboea (sometimes called Phi-
This is what is said to lie behind the laechme) fell in love with him, but
obscenities which were sung at the he would not yield to her. Cleoboea
Festival of Anna. took her revenge by throwing a
golden cup into a deep well. When
Antaeus (Ανταίος) A giant, son of Antheus went down to look for it
Poseidon and Gaia. He lived in Libya she threw an enormous stone on him
and made all travellers fight with which crushed him. In remorse at
him. After he had defeated and killed the murder she hanged herself (see
them he decorated his father's alsoPHRYGius).
temple with their corpses. Antaeus
was invulnerable so long as he kept Anticleia (Άντίκλ€ΐα) The mother
in touch with his mother (that is, the of Odysseus and wife of Laertes.
earth), but Heracles fought with him When Sisyphus went to her father,
and choked him to death by hoisting Autolycus, to recover his cattle,
him on his shoulders. Anticleia secretly gave herself to
Sisyphus before marrying Laertes.
Anteia (Άνταα) see STHENEBOEA. Hence Odysseus is sometimes
regarded as Sisyphus' son. During
Antenor (Αντηνωρ) A companion Odysseus' absence Anticleia, tired of
and adviser of Priam. Before the waiting for him to come back and
Trojan War he was friends with consumed with worry, killed herself.
Menelaus and Odysseus, who tried
to negotiate a friendly settlement Antigone ('Αντιγόνη)
with him before the siege. In the ι. The daughter of Oedipus. The
Iliad Antenor urged moderation: he earliest legends call her the daughter
tried to get the war decided by a duel of Eurygania (i), but the version,
between Paris and Menelaus. While used by the tragic writers says that
the city was being sacked the Greeks she was the daughter of Jocasta.
46 ANTILOCHUS
smell so horribly that their husbands the whole Péloponnèse, which was
abandoned them for Thracian slave called Apia after him. But he acted
girls. The women then killed all but like a tyrant and was killed, accord-
one of the men on the island and ing to some by Aetolus, according to
established a community of women, others by Thelxion and Telchis. He
until the Argonauts arrived and en was subsequently deified and wor-
abled them to beget sons (see THOAS shipped under the name of Sarapis.
(I)). Aphrodite also punished the According to Aeschylus, Apis was
daughters of CINYRAS by compelling a physician with the gift of pro-
them to become prostitutes for phecy, a son of Apollo, who had
strangers (see also PHAEDRA, PASI- come from Naupactus to purify the
PHAE). It could, however, be equally Péloponnèse.
dangerous to be in Aphrodite's Pausanias records that Apis is said
favour, as the example of the Judge to be the son of Telchis of Sicyon
ment of PARIS shows. and father of Thelxion.
Throughout the Trojan War she
granted her protection to the Tro Apollo (Απόλλων) An Olympian
jans, and to Paris in particular. When god, son of Zeus and Leto and
Paris took on Menelaus in single brother of Artemis. In her jealousy
combat and was about to yield, she of Leto, Hera pursued her all round
snatched him from danger. Later she the world. Leto searched for a place
protected Aeneas when he was on to give birth to the children with
the point of being killed by Dio- whom she was pregnant; and the
medes (2), who actually wounded whole world refused to welcome her
her. But the protection offered by for fear of Hera's wrath. Only a
Aphrodite could not avert the fall of floating island called Ortygia or later
Troy and the death of Paris. Never Asteria (1) agreed to shelter her.
theless she succeeded in preserving That was where Apollo was born; in
the Trojan race, and it was thanks to gratitude the god named it Delos
her that AENEAS escaped from the 'the brilliant'. There Leto waited
burning city to seek a new father nine days and nights for the birth,
land. This was how Aphrodite- but Hera kept Eilithyia, the goddess
Venus became the special protectress who presided over happy deliveries,
of Rome. She was regarded as the away. Eventually the other god
ancestress of the Julii, who claimed desses sent Iris to ask Hera for per
descent from lulus, his father Aeneas, mission for the birth to take place,
and consequently the goddess. For offering her a necklace of gold and
this reason Julius Caesar built a amber, nine cubits thick. This gift
temple in her honour under the pro was large enough for Hera to agree
tection of Mother Venus or Venus to Eilithyia's coming down from
Genetrix. Olympus and going to Delos. At the
foot of a palm tree Leto gave birth to
Apis (Άπυς) According to Apollo- Artemis and Apollo. Zeus at once
dorus, Apis was the son of Phoro- gave his son gifts - a golden mitre, a
neus and the Nymph Teledice. From lyre and a chariot drawn by swans -
Phoroneus he inherited power over and bade him go straight to Delphi.
APOLLO 49
But the swans first took Apollo to them. But the oracle remained at
the land of the Hyperboreans. After Delphi.
a year Apollo returned to Greece and Apollo was depicted as a god of
made his way to Delphi. Even outstanding beauty and great stature,
Nature was in festive mood for him: especially distinguished for his long,
cicadas and nightingales sang to curling, black hair. He had a great
honour him, and the springs were many love affairs, with both
clearer. Each year at Delphi the Nymphs and mortal women.
arrival of the god was celebrated He fell in love with the Nymph
with hecatombs. DAPHNE, with whom he was unable
At Delphi Apollo slew a dragon to satisfy his desires. He fared better
called either Python or Delphyne with the Nymph Cyrene by whom
(2), which had the task of protecting he begot the demigod Aristaeus. He
the oracle of Themis but terrorized also had love affairs with the Muses,
the neighbourhood. There is a story whose cult was closely linked with
that Hera had bidden the monster to his own. He is said to have been,
pursue Leto before Apollo and through Thalia (1), the father of the
Artemis were born. Apollo rid the Corybantes. By Urania he fathered
country of it and founded funerary the musicians Linus (2) and Orpheus,
games in its honour, which took the though other versions ascribe them
name of the Pythian games and were to Oeagrus and Calliope. One of his
held at Delphi. He then took posses- most famous love affairs is that relat-
sion of the oracle and dedicated a tri- ing to the birth of ASCLEPIUS, in
pod in the shrine. The tripod is one which he was the victim of the
of Apollo's symbols, and the Pythian unfaithfulness of Coronis (1). He suf-
was seated on one when she uttered fered a similar misfortune with Mar-
her oracles. The inhabitants of Del- pessa. Apollo loved her but she was
phi celebrated the god's victory and carried off by Idas to Messina, where
instituted the singing of the Paean, he and Apollo fought. Zeus parted
which is essentially a hymn in them and Marpessa was given the
honour of Apollo. Apollo had to right to choose between them. She
cleanse himself of the pollution chose Idas, fearing that she would be
resulting from slaying the dragon. deserted in her old age if she married
Every eight years a festival was held Apollo. His love for Cassandra, had
at Delphi in memory of the killing equally unhappy results. In order to
of the Python and the purification of seduce her, he promised to teach her
Apollo. The god had to defend his the art of divination. She learned the
oracle against Heracles, who had skills, but still refused to yield to
come to question it and, when it him. Apollo took his revenge by
refused to give him any answer, tried ensuring that none of her predictions
to ransack the temple, carry off the were believed. Apollo was loved by
tripod and establish an oracle of his Hecuba, Cassandra's mother, and she
own elsewhere. Apollo confronted presented him with a son, Troilus.
him, but Zeus separated the At Colophon, in Asia, Apollo had a
opponents (who were both his sons) son by the soothsayer Manto (1); this
by hurling a thunderbolt between was the seer Mopsus (2). Also in
50 APOLLO
Asia, Apollo had a son called Miletus struck him with lightning. Apollo
by a woman variously called Aria, could not exact revenge from Zeus
Acalle or ACACALLIS. himself so he killed the Cyclopes
In Greece itself Apollo was gener- who made the lightning. As his
ally regarded as the lover of Phthia, punishment, Zeus commanded that
who gave her name to the epony- Apollo should serve a mortal master
mous area of Thessaly, and three as a slave for a year. In compliance
children were born to them - Dorus, Apollo made his way to the court of
Laodocus and Polypoetes (i). By King Admetus, and served him as a
Rhoeo he begot Anius, who ruled herdsman. Thanks to him the cows
over Delos. Tenes is sometimes said produced two calves at a time, and
to be the son of Apollo. he brought general prosperity to the
Apollo loved young men. The family (see ALCESTIS).
best known are the heroes Hyacin- Apollo also appears as a cowherd
thus and Cyparissus (2), whose meta- working for himself. His oxen were
morphoses (the former became a stolen by the young Hermes. Apollo
hyacinth, the second became a recovered his possessions on Mount
cypress) distressed the god very Cyllene, but the infant Hermes had
deeply. invented the lyre and Apollo was so
On two occasions Apollo had to delighted with it that in exchange
put himself in the position of a slave for it he let Hermes keep his cattle.
in the service of mortal masters. The When Hermes subsequently in-
first followed a conspiracy in which vented the flute Apollo bought it
he had joined Poseidon, Hera and from him for a golden staff (the
Athena to bind Zeus in iron chains Caduceus of Hermes) and instructed
and hang him in the sky (see him in the art of soothsaying. See
AEGAEON). After the failure of this MARSYAS for another legend about
plot Apollo and Poseidon were com- Apollo in which the flute has a role.
pelled to work for Laomedon, king Apollo was the god of music and
of Troy, on the task of building the poetry and he presided over the pas-
walls of the city though, according times of the Muses on Mount Par-
to some writers, Apollo looked after nassus. His oracular pronouncements
the king's flocks on Mount Ida. were generally in verse and he pro-
When the time of their servitude was vided inspiration for seers as well as
up Laomedon refused to pay the two for poets. He shared this office with
gods their agreed wages, and when DIONYSUS.
they protested he threatened to cut Apollo's love affairs with Nymphs
off their ears and sell them as slaves. and young people who became
When Apollo regained his divine flowers and trees linked him intim-
power he sent a plague to Troy. (See ately with plant growth and Nature.
HESiONE (3) a n d HERACLES, HI.) Apollo was also a warrior god, like
The motif of Apollo as herdsman his sister Artemis. Together they
recurs in the story that when Apol- massacred Niobe's children to
lo's son Asclepius had advanced so avenge the honour of Leto. Apollo
far in the art of medicine that he brought down on the Greeks before
could bring corpses back to life, Zeus Troy a plague, in order to compel
ARACHNE 51
which continues to spin and weave threw Cisseus into the pit. He then
until it has no more thread. left the town, and, on Apollo's
orders, followed a she-goat to a place
Areas (Αρκάς) The son of Zeus and in Macedonia where he founded a
CALLISTO (i). When Callisto died or town called Aege (Greek αΐξ =
was changed into a bear, her child goat).
was entrusted to Maia (i). Areas was
the grandson of LYCAON (2), who, in Archemorus (Άρχήμορος) See
order to test Zeus' perspicacity, HYPSIPYLE.
cooked and served him the limbs of Areion ('Apeiœv) Adrastus' horse in
Areas. Zeus, who was not fooled, the first expedition against Thebes.
punished Lycaon and reassembled After the defeat of the Argive army
Areas' limbs and restored him to life. Areion, whose speed had already
When Areas was grown up, he been demonstrated in the funeral
went hunting and met his mother in games of Opheltes (see AMPHIARAUS),
the shape of a bear. He pursued her carried his master away from the
into the temple of 'Lycian' Zeus, battlefield and left him near Colonus
thereby committing a sacrilege in Attica.
punishable by death. Zeus, however, The following story was told
took pity on them both and changed about Areion's breeding. When
them into the constellations of Ursa Demeter was searching for her PER-
(the Bear) and its guardian Arcturus. SEPHONE, Poseidon followed her
Areas succeeded his uncle Nycti- everywhere she went. Demeter had
mus as ruler of the Pelasgians, who the idea of changing herself into a
were called Arcadians after him. He mare and hiding among the horses of
taught them how to grow corn, King Oncus, in Arcadia. But Posei-
make bread and spin wool. He don assumed the likeness of a horse
married Meganira, daughter of and in this guise mated with her.
Amyclas or Crocon, by whom he From this union was born a daughter
had Elatus (1) and Aphidas (for a dif whose name could not be uttered
ferent version see CHRYSOPELIA). By (known as the Lady or the Mistress)
Erato (2) he had Azan. He divided and a horse, Areion. This horse
Arcadia between these three sons. belonged first to Oncus, and then to
Heracles, who used it in the expedi-
Archelaus (Αρχέλαος) Son of tion against Elis and the struggle
Temenus (3). Banished from Argos, against Cycnus (3).
he went to King Cissseus in Macedo
nia. Cisseus was under siege and pro Ares (Άρης) The Greek god of war,
mised Archelaus his daughter and his the equivalent of MARS. He was the
throne in return for deliverance, but son of Zeus and Hera (Table 8) and is
following Archelaus' victory he one of the twelve Olympian deities.
revoked his promise and plotted to From the Homeric period Ares was
kill him. As a trap he prepared a pit pre-eminently the god of war. In the
filled with glowing coals, covered fighting at Troy he was generally on
with a layer of branches, but Arche the side of the Trojans, but had little
laus was forewarned of this and regard for the justice of the cause he
ARETHUSA 53
went on their way. When they came to help him. She began by
arrived at the Symplegades they let making him promise that he would
loose a dove which managed to get marry her and take her to Greece if
through the channel. But the rocks, she helped him perform the tasks
closing up again, gripped the longest which her father had set him. Medea
feathers of its tail. The heroes then then gave him magic balsam (for she
made the passage in their turn. The was very skilled in all the occult arts)
ship got through safe and sound, but with which he was to cover his body
the stern was slightly damaged, like and his shield before he attacked the
the tail of the dove. Ever since then bulls. This balm made anyone
the Symplegades have remained covered by it invulnerable for a
motionless, for fate had decreed that whole day to harm from iron or fire.
once a ship passed them safely they Furthermore, she showed him that
could move no more. the dragon's teeth would give birth
Having thus made their way into to a crop of armed men who would
the Black Sea, the Argonauts try to kill him, but he had only to
reached the land of the Mariandyni throw a stone into their midst from a
whose king, Lycus (6), received distance and the men would start to
them favourably. It was there, attack and kill each other. Jason, thus
during a hunt, that the seer Idmon forewarned, managed to yoke and
was wounded by a boar and died. harness the oxen, plough the field
There too their steersman Tiphys, and sow the dragon's teeth. Then he
died. His place at the helm was taken concealed himself and from a dis-
by Ancaeus or Erginus (2). Then the tance stoned the warriors who had
Argonauts passed the mouth of the sprung up. They began to fight each
Thermodon, skirted the Caucasus other and, taking advantage of their
and arrived at the mouth of the failure to notice him, Jason slew
River Phasis, which was the goal of them.
their voyage. Aeetes, however, did not keep his
Jason presented himself to King promise: he tried to burn the Argo
Aeetes, to whom he explained his and kill her crew. But before he had
mission. The king granted the Gol- time to do so, Jason, acting on
den Fleece, on condition that he Medea's advice, secured the Fleece
should yoke, unaided, two bulls (Medea had put a spell on the dragon
with brazen hoofs which breathed which was guarding it) and made his
fire from their nostrils. When he had escape.
finished this test Jason would have to Aeetes gave chase, but Medea,
plough a field and sow the teeth of a who had foreseen that this would
dragon. These were the rest of the happen, killed her brother, Apsyrtus,
teeth of Ares' dragon at Thebes, whom she had taken with her, and
which Athena had given to Aeetes scattered his limbs along the way.
(see CADMUS and ARES). Aeetes spent some time picking
Jason was wondering how he them up, which gave the fugitives
could yoke these monstrous beasts time to escape. But before he
when MEDEA, the king's daughter, returned to Colchis he sent out
who had fallen in love with him, several groups of his subjects in pur-
ARGONAUTS 57
suit of the Argo, warning them that if order to escape the pursuit of a band
they returned without Medea they of Colchians (see ALCINOUS), and the
would be put to death. Another ver- Argonauts took to the sea once
sion of the story says that Apsyrtus again.
had been sent by Aeetes in pursuit of They had hardly departed before a
his sister but that Jason, with the help storm drove them towards the
of Medea, had killed him in a temple Syrtes, on the Libyan coast. There
dedicated to Artemis which lies at they had to carry the ship on their
the mouth of the Danube. The shoulders until they reached Lake
Argonauts went on their way Tritonis. Thanks to Triton, the spirit
towards the Danube and followed of the lake, they found a channel to
the river upstream until they reached the sea and continued their voyage
the Adriatic (at the date of this story towards Crete. But during this phase
the Danube, or Istros, was thought they lost two of their company,
to link the Black Sea with the Adria- Canthus and Mopsus (1), though
tic). Zeus, angered by the murder of they are not mentioned in all the lists
Apsyrtus, sent a storm which blew of the Argonauts traditionally
the ship off course. At this point the recorded (see above).
ship itself began to speak, and Just as they were disembarking in
explained Zeus' anger, adding that Crete, the Argonauts came into con-
this would not cease before the flict with a giant named TALOS ( I ) .
Argonauts had been purified by Medea got the better of him by
Circe. Accordingly the ship sailed, means of her spells. So the Argo-
by a complicated route, to Circe's nauts reached land and spent the
home on the island of Aeaea. There night on the beach. On the follow-
the sorceress, who was the aunt of ing day they built a shrine to Minoan
Medea, purified the hero and had a Athena and went on their way.
long conversation with Medea, but On the Cretan Sea, they were sud-
refused to offer Jason hospitality. denly overtaken by a black night
The ship set forth again and, guided which caused them to run into the
by Thetis, at Hera's bidding, it greatest dangers. Jason prayed to
crossed the sea of the SIRENS. At this Phoebus, who in response threw out
point Orpheus sang so sweetly that a shaft of flame which showed them
the heroes had no wish to respond to that the boat was very close to a
the Sirens' call. Only one of them, small island of the Sporades where
Butes (3), swam to their rock, but they could cast anchor. They called
Aphrodite saved him by extracting the island Anaphe (the Isle of Dis-
him and settling him at Lilybaeum in covery) and raised on it a shrine to
Sicily. Phoebus. But the offerings for cele-
Thereafter the Argo passed brating the inaugural sacrifice were
through the straits of Scylla (1) and lacking and they had to make their
Charybdis, then the Wandering Isles ritual libations with water rather
above which hung a cloud of black than wine. When the female Phaea-
smoke. Finally it arrived at Corcyra cian servants given by Arete to
in the land of the Phaeacians, where Medea as a wedding present saw this,
Jason and Medea were married in they began to laugh and made robust
58 ARGOS
jokes about the Argonauts. The from a bull which was devastating
latter responded in kind and the the area, flayed it and clothed himself
custom was repeated every time a in its hide. Then he killed a Satyr
sacrifice in honour of Apollo was which was terrorizing the Arcadians
made on this tiny island. and their flocks. Then he killed
The Argonauts finally arrived ECHIDNA by overcoming her in her
back at Iolcos, having accomplished sleep. Hera then appointed him to
their round voyage in four months, watch over the heifer 10. Argos teth-
bringing the Golden Fleece with ered Io to an olive tree, and thanks to
them. Jason then sailed the Argo to his many eyes was able to keep a per-
Corinth where he dedicated it to manent watch on her. But Zeus got
Poseidon. Hermes to free her. Sometimes
The legend of the Argonauts is Hermes is said to have killed Argos
best known to modern readers by throwing a stone; sometimes he
through the epic Argonautica by lulls Argos to sleep with the Pan
Apollonius Rhodius. It became ex pipes; sometimes he sends him to
tremely popular in the ancient world sleep with his divine wand. To give
and it was possible to extract from immortality to her faithful servant,
the adventures of the Argo plots for Hera moved his eyes to the tail of the
plays and poetry of every descrip peacock.
tion. The story of Medea, in particu 3. The son of Phrixus and Chal-
lar, caught the imagination of the ciope (2). He was born and brought
poets (see MEDEA and JASON). up in Colchis, but left to go and
claim his inheritance from his grand-
Argos {"Αργός) father, Athamas. He was ship-
ι. The son of Zeus and Niobe (i). wrecked on the island of Aria, where
Argos received the sovereignty of he was sheltered by the Argonauts.
the Péloponnèse, which he called Another version says that he met
Argos. He married Evadne (3), the Jason at the house of Aeetes. It was
daughter of Strymon and Neaera (or he who brought about the first
alternatively of Peitho (2)) and had meeting between Jason and Medea.
four sons, Ecbasus, Piras, Epidaurus He came back with the Argonauts.
and Criasus. Another tradition In Greece he married Perimele (1)
makes him father of Peirasus, Phor- and by her he had a son, Magnes.
bas (2) and Tiryns. Argos was sup- 4. The hero who built the Argo (see
posed to have introduced the ARGONAUTS). He took part in the ex-
practice of tilling the soil and plant- pedition in search of the Golden
ing corn into Greece. Fleece. He is sometimes regarded as
2. The great-grandson of Argos being the son of Arestor, a relation-
(1), generally known by the Lati- ship also claimed for Argos (2), and
nized form of his name, Argus. sometimes confused with Argos (3).
Some traditions give him a single
eye, others four, two looking back- Argynnus A variant spelling of
wards and two forwards, others ARGENNUS.
ascribe to him a large number of eyes
all over his body. He freed Arcadia Argyra {'Αργυρά) A Nymph of an
ARISTAEUS 59
different version Ascalaphus was first herd called Tyrrhus, and her child
made to lie under a large stone, SILVIUS was born in his home. When
which Heracles moved when he des Ascanius died Silvius succeeded to
cended into Hades, whereupon the throne of Alba.
Ascalaphus was changed into an owl. Ascanius is often referred to as
2. A son of Ares, see IALMENUS. lulus.
from the right was beneficial, and and Eurynome, or of Oceanus and
Asclepius knew how to use it to re- Tethys. He married Metope (1), the
store the dead to life. Capaneus, daughter of Ladon (1), and fathered
Lycurgus, Glaucus (5) and Hippoly- two sons, Ismenus (1) and Pelagon,
tus (1) (see PHAEDRA) are all said to and twenty daughters. Diodorus
have been revived by him. Zeus, gives the names of only twelve: Cor-
feared that Asclepius might upset the cyra, Salamis, Aegina, Pirene,
natural order of things and struck Cleone, Thebe (3), Tanagra, Thes-
him with a thunderbolt. To avenge pia, Asopis, Sinope, Oenia (or
him APOLLO killed the Cyclopes. Ornia) and Chalcis. Asopus is also
After his death Asclepius was said to be the father of Antiope and
changed into a constellation and Plataea, after whom the city is
became the plant serpentaria. Several named (see ISMENE ( I ) and AEGINA).
late pieces of evidence show Ascle-
pius taking part in the Calydonian Aspalis (Άσπαλίς) See MELITEUS.
hunt and the Argonauts' expedition,
but he usually stands outside the Assaon (Άσσάων) The father of
legendary cycles. Niobe (2) in one version of the
He is said to have had two chil- legend. See NIOBE (2).
dren, Podalirius and Machaon,
whose names are found in the Iliad. Asteria ('Aorepia)
Other traditions give him a wife, 1. The daughter of Coeus and
Epione, and five daughters, Aceso, Phoebe (1). She was Leto's sister.
Iaso, Panacea, Aglaea and Hygieia. Zeus loved her but she changed her
The cult of Asclepius was centred on self into a quail to escape him and
Epidaurus in the Péloponnèse, where threw herself into the sea, where she
a school of medicine flourished. This became an island called Ortygia
art was practised by the Asclepiadae (Quail Island) which was sub
or descendants of Asclepius, the best sequently called Delos. (See APOLLO).
known of these being Hippocrates. She was the mother of Hecate by
The usual symbols of Asclepius were Perses.
snakes twined round a staff, together 2. Asteria (or Asteropia) was the
with pine-cones, crowns of laurel daughter of Deion and Diomede.
and sometimes a nanny-goat or a She was the mother of Panopeus and
dog. Crisus by Phocus (3).
3. The daughter of Teucer (2) and
Asia (Ασία) The daughter of Ocea- Eune.
nus and Tethys (Table 8) who gave
her name to the Asian continent. She A s t e r i o n (Άστβρίων) (or Asterius)
was married to Iapetus and had four The son of Tectamus or Dorus (1)
children, Atlas (1), Prometheus, Epi- and a daughter of Cretheus, was a
metheus and Menoetius (2). king of Crete who married Europa
(5) after she had been seduced by
Asopus (Ασωπός) The god of the Zeus. Asterion adopted their chil
river of the same name, either the dren, Minos, Sarpedon (2) and Rha-
son of Poseidon and Pero, of Zeus damanthys.
64 ASTRAEA
was Ate who deceived him. Zeus allowed her to escape with Meli
took his revenge by casting her certes. He then caused Athamas to
down from Olympus. Ate fell to go mad and kill his younger son,
earth in Phrygia, on the hill which Learchus, by throwing him into a
took the name of the Hill of Error. cauldron of boiling water. Ino, in
That was the spot where Ilus (2) built turn, killed herself together with
the fortress o f Ilium (Troy). Zeus Melicertes (see LEUCOTHEA ( I ) ) .
forbade Ate ever to stay on Olym Euripides' tragedy Ino deals with
pus, and that is why Delusion is the the third marriage of Athamas with
sad lot of mankind. Themisto, the daughter of Hypseus.
In this play Ino departed to the
A t h a m a s (Άθάμας) A king of mountains to join Dionysus. Atha
Thebes in Boeotia. He was the son of mas, who believed that she was dead,
Aeolus (1) (Table 5). Athamas was married Themisto, and fathered two
married three times, first to Nephele children, Orchomenus and Sphin-
(1), who bore a son, PHRIXUS, and a gius, but Ino returned secretly. She
daughter, HELLE. Later he discarded made herself known to Athamas,
Nephele and married Ino, the who brought her into the palace in
daughter of Cadmus, by whom he the guise of a servant. Themisto dis
had Learchus and Melicertes (see covered that her rival was not dead,
LEUCOTHEA (i)). Ino was jealous of but could not learn where she was
the children of Athamas' first mar hiding. She set about killing Ino's
riage and wanted to kill them. She children and took the new servant as
persuaded the women of the country her confidante. She ordered her to
to roast the seeds of corn which were make Ino's children wear black
to be sown. The men sowed the clothes and her own children white
seed, but none of it came up. Atha so that they could be recognized in
mas sent messengers to the Delphic the dark. The servant changed the
oracle. Ino bribed them to report clothes round so that Themisto
that the god required the sacrifice of killed her own two sons. When she
Phrixus. The ruse almost succeeded, discovered her mistake Themisto
but Phrixus was rescued by a ram killed herself. The more common
with a golden fleece (see PHRIXUS). story was that the wrath of Hera had
Hyginus relates a tradition which fallen on Athamas after the sacrifice
claims that the messenger who had of Phrixus because he agreed to
been bribed by Ino pitied Phrixus bring up Dionysus who had been
and revealed the plan to Athamas entrusted to Ino, the sister o f SEMELE.
who, when he learned of the plot of Struck with madness by the goddess,
which his wife had been guilty, gave he killed Learchus. At this, Ino killed
orders that she should be sacrificed in Melicertes and then threw herself
place of Phrixus, along with her son, into the sea with his body (see LEU
Melicertes. When they were being COTHEA (1)).
led to the altar, however, Dionysus Athamas was banished from
had pity on his former nurse (see Boeotia because o f this crime, so he
below) and enveloped her in a cloud asked the oracle where he should
which made her invisible and settle, and was told to stop at the
66 ATHENA
place where the wild beasts would the Trojans since the Judgement of
feed him. When he reached Thessaly PARIS), supporting Diomedes (2),
he found wolves eating a sheep's car Odysseus, Achilles and Menelaus.
cass. When they saw him they ran She also looked after Heracles during
off, leaving the carcass behind, and his Labours: she gave him the bronze
thus the oracle was fulfilled. Atha- castanets with which he scared the
mas settled in that region. There he Stymphalian birds, and in return he
was said to have married Themisto, gave her the Golden Apples of the
by whom he had four sons: Leucon, Hesperides and fought beside her
Erythrius, Schoeneus (3) and Ptous. against the Giants.
According to Herodotus, Athamas In the Odyssey Athena helped
was on the point of being sacrificed Odysseus to return to Ithaca. She
by his subjects as a scapegoat, but he sent a dream to NAUSICAA to give her
was saved by his grandson CYTISSOR- the idea of doing her washing at the
us. This episode was dramatized by river on the day that Odysseus
Sophocles in his lost tragedy Athamas landed at Phaeacia; she gave him
Crowned. supernatural good looks to ensure
that Nausicaa would obtain a boat
A t h e n a (Αθηνά) A goddess identi for him to return home; she begged
fied at Rome with MINERVA. She was Zeus to show Odysseus his favour;
the daughter of Zeus and Metis. she caused CALYPSO ( I ) to release
When Metis became pregnant, Gaia Odysseus and give him the means to
and Uranus told Zeus that after put to sea again.
giving birth to a daughter, she Athena also presided over the arts
would then have a son by Zeus who and literature, though she was more
would later dethrone him. On Gaia's closely linked with philosophy than
advice Zeus swallowed Metis. When with poetry and music (cf. the
the time came for the child to be MUSES). She was the patroness of
born, Hephaestus split Zeus' head spinning, weaving, embroidery and
open with an axe. A girl in full similar household activities practised
armour sprang forth from his head: by women (see ARACHNE). Her com
it was Athena. bination of ingenuity and warlike
Athena, the warrior goddess, spirit led her to invent the war
armed with spear and aegis (a goat chariot, help DANAUS build the first
skin shield or short cloak surrounded two-prowed ship, Argos (4) to build
by Fear, Strife, Force and Pursuit, the Argo, and Epeius (2) to build the
with a Gorgon-head in the centre Trojan Horse. In Athens and Attica
and fringe of snakes), played a key she was blessed for the discovery of
role in the struggle against the olive oil and the introduction of the
Giants. She killed Pallas (6), flayed olive tree. Poseidon disputed the
him, and used his skin as a breast sovereignty of Attica with her. Each
plate for the rest of the battle; Ence- deity tried to give Attica the best
ladus fled, but she immobilised him present they could: Poseidon caused
by throwing the island of Sicily on salt-water to spring up on the Acro
top of him. In the Iliad she fought on polis by throwing his trident into the
the Achaean side (she was hostile to ground (this sea-water was, accord-
ATLANTIS 67
ing to Pausanias, a well of salt-water with calm features, majestic, and was
within the precincts of the Erech- traditionally described as 'the god
theum); Athena summoned Cecrops dess with the grey eyes'. (For her
(1) as a witness, planted an olive tree name of Pallas see Ρ ALL AS (I), (2) and
(which was still being pointed out in (3))-
the second century AD, in the Pan-
droseion), and demanded possession Atlantis (Ατλαντίς) Plato, in his
of the land. The dispute was referred Timaeus and Critias, tells that Solon
to Zeus, who named the arbitrators. was told by an Egyptian priest of
In one tradition they were Cecrops very ancient traditions relating to a
and Cranaus, in another the Olym war between the Athenians and the
pian gods. The tribunal decided in people of Atlantis, an island lying
favour of Athena because Cecrops beyond the pillars of Hercules, in the
testified that she had been the first to Atlantic Ocean. In Atlantis dwelt
plant an olive tree on the Acropolis. Clito, daughter of Evenor and Leu-
The furious Poseidon flooded the cippe (4), who was loved by Posei
plain of Eleusis. don. She lived on a mountain in the
Athena was patroness of many middle of the island. Poseidon con
towns apart from Athens: Megara, structed walls and moats around her
Argos, Sparta and others all had dwelling and lived there with her for
temples to her on their citadels. At a long time. They had five pairs of
Troy she was worshipped in the twin sons, the eldest of all being
form of the PALLADIUM. Atlas (2), to whom Poseidon gave
Athena was a virgin goddess, the supremacy. The whole island
though she had a 'son' in the follow was divided into ten areas, and Atlas
ing way. She went to Hephaestus to reigned on the mountain in the
get some weapons. He fell in love centre. The island was rich in miner
with her, and, though lame, caught als and vegetation, and its kings built
up with her. While she resisted him magnificent cities with many vaults,
he ejaculated on her leg. In disgust bridges, canals and passages to ease
she wiped his semen off with a piece defence and trade. In each of the ten
of wool which she threw on to the districts reigned the descendants of
ground. In this way Mother Earth the ten original kings, the sons of
was fertilised and ERICHTHONIUS was Poseidon and Clito, all in their turn
born. Athena regarded him as her subject to the descendants of Atlas.
son and brought him up without the The kings ruled benevolently at first,
other gods knowing (see AGLAURUS but became more tyrannical with
(2)). each succeeding generation, until
Athena's attributes were the spear, they tried to conquer the world.
the helmet and the aegis. She They were defeated by the Athe
attached the Gorgon's head, which nians 9,000 years before Plato's time.
Perseus had given her, to her shield, Later the island and its inhabitants
and this turned to stone every living disappeared for ever, submerged by
thing that looked at it. Her favourite a disastrous flood.
animal was the owl, and her favour According to a different tradition,
ite plant the olive tree. She was tall the people of Atlantis were neigh-
68 ATLAS
bours of the Libyans and were to have its origin in a curse of Pelops,
attacked by the Amazons (see since Atreus, Thyestes and Hippoda
MYRINA). mia killed their half-brother Chry-
sippus, whom the Nymph Axioche
Atlas (Άτλας) bore to Pelops. Pelops banished and
ι. A giant, the son of Iapetus and cursed the two youths. They took
Clymene (i) (or in some versions of refuge in Mycenae, with Eurystheus
ASIA). According to some traditions or, according to the most usual ver
he was the son of Uranus and thus sion, with Sthenelus (4), the father of
the brother of Cronus. He belongs to Eurystheus. Sthenelus entrusted the
the generation of monstrous divini city and land of Midea to Atreus and
ties which preceded the Olympians. Thyestes, and when Eurystheus died
He took part in the stuggle between childless an oracle advised the in
the Gods and the Giants, and Zeus habitants of Mycenae to take a son of
sentenced him to carry the vault of Pelops as their king. They sum
the sky on his shoulders as a punish moned Atreus and Thyestes, and the
ment. His dwelling was generally two brothers stated their claim to the
regarded as in the far West, in the kingship: this was the moment when
country of the Hesperides, though it their hatred showed itself. Atreus
was sometimes said to be 'among the had previously found a lamb with a
Hyperboreans'. Herodotus was the golden fleece in his flock, and
first writer to refer to Atlas as a although he had vowed that year to
mountain in North Africa. In Ovid's sacrifice the finest produce of his
Metamorphoses PERSEUS turned Atlas flock to Artemis, he kept the lamb
into a rock on returning after slaying back for himself and hid the fleece in
the Gorgon, by confronting him a chest, but his wife, Aerope (1) who
with Medusa's head. For Atlas' was Thyestes' lover, had secretly
encounter with Heracles see HERA- given the fleece to Thyestes. In the
CLES, π, The Golden Apples of the Hes debate at Mycenae, Thyestes pro
perides. posed that the throne should go to
Atlas had several children: the whoever could display a golden
Pleiades and the Hyades by Pleione, fleece. Atreus accepted, knowing
and the Hesperides by Hesperis. nothing of Thyestes' theft. Thyestes
Dione was also regarded as his produced it and was chosen, but
daughter, and his sons were Hyas Zeus advised Atreus to propose that
and Hesperus. if the sun were to change its course,
2. The eponym of ATLANTIS. it would be Atreus who would rule
Mycenae. Thyestes accepted and the
Atreus (Άτρβνς) The son of Pelops sun immediately set in the east.
and Hippodamia (ι) whose younger Accordingly, Atreus, who was
brother was Thyestes (Table 2). The clearly favoured by the gods, finally
underlying theme of the myths reigned over Mycenae. He banished
about him is the hatred between the Thyestes. Subsequently, learning of
two brothers and the appalling Aerope's affair with Thyestes, he
forms of revenge they took on each pretended to make up the quarrel
other. This hatred is sometimes said and recalled him, secretly killed his
AUGE 69
three sons, Aglaus, Callileon and trated himself. After his self-inflicted
Orchomenus, or two sons, Tantalus injury Attis seems to have been once
and Pleisthenes, and had the children more taken into Cybele's service. He
cut up, boiled and served in a dish to was generally portrayed with
their father during a feast. After Cybele in her chariot crossing the
Thyestes had eaten, Atreus showed Phrygian mountains.
him the heads of his children,
making clear the true nature of the Aucnus (or Ocnus) An Etruscan
meal, and hounded him out of the hero. Aucnus was a native of Perusia
country. Thyestes took refuge in but left the city in order not to over-
Sicyon. There, he begot a son named shadow his brother Aulestes who
AEGISTHUS who ultimately killed had founded it, crossed the Apen-
Atreus and then gave the kingdom nines and was the founder of Felsina,
to Thyestes. For details see AEGIS- the Etruscan town which was later to
THUS. be Bologna.
Atreus had two sons, Agamem-
non and Menelaus, though these Auge (Αυγή) The daughter of
children are sometimes attributed to Aleus the king of Tegea, and Neaara,
PLEISTHENES. daughter of Perseus.
According to epic traditions Auge
Atrides (Arpeïhcu) 'The sons of lived at the court of Laomedon, king
Atreus', a patryonymic given to of Troy, where she was loved by
AGEMEMNON and MENELAUS. See also Heracles when he came to capture
ATREUS. the city. After the birth of her son,
TELEPHUS, she was abandoned at sea
Attis (ATTIS) A Phrygian god, the by Aleus in a chest which drifted to
companion of Cybele, who was the shore of Mysia. Other versions
regarded as the son of Agdistis and claim that Aleus ordered Nauplius
Nana, the daughter of the river-god (1) to drown Auge, but he gave her
Sangarius. For the circumstances of to merchants who sold her to King
his birth, self-castration and death see Teuthras of Mysia. Telephus was
AGDISTIS. Ovid tells a different ver- brought up at his court.
sion of the Attis legend. According Another version goes back to Eur
to him, Attis, who lived in the Phry- ipides' Auge and Sophocles' Mysians
gian woods, was so handsome that and Aleadai. In this an oracle warned
he was loved by Cybele. She Aleus that his daughter would have a
resolved never to let him leave her son who would kill his uncles and
and to make him the guardian of her reign in their stead. The king accord
temple, but she laid down a con- ingly dedicated his daughter to
dition, that he should retain his vir- Athena and forbade her to marry, on
ginity. Attis however, succumbed to pain of death, but Heracles, who was
the love of the Hamadryad Sagaritis. passing through Tegea, was wel
Cybele in her rage felled the tree to comed by Aleus. While he was
which the Nymph's life was closely there, he became drunk and raped
bound, and she struck Attis with Auge (who he did not know was the
madness. During a violent fit, he cas- king's daughter) either in the shrine
70 AUGIAS
Β
B a b y s (Βάβυς) The brother of MAR-
SYAS, who wanted to compete with
on the tambourine and clashing the
cymbals which had belonged to
Selene, until she was restrained.
Then a storm broke and Basileia
vanished. A cult was established in
her honour, under the name of the
Apollo in music. Babys played a Great Goddess, which identifies her
flute with only one pipe, while his with Cybele.
brother played the double flute.
Babys played so badly that he was B a t o n (Βάτων) The chariot-driver
spared the god's anger. of AMPHIARAUS. Fighting before
Thebes, Baton shared the fate of his
B a c c h u s (Βάκχος) See DIONYSUS. master and was swallowed up by the
earth just as Amphiaraus was about
to be struck by an enemy. He was
B a i o s (Βαΐος) A pilot of ODYSSEUS
given divine honours. A different
whose name does not occur in the
tradition claims that Baton with
Odyssey but who gave his name to
drew to Illyria after the death of
several places, such as a mountain on
Amphiaraus.
the island of Cephalonia and the
town of Baiae. While piloting Odys
B a t t u s (Βάττος)
seus' vessel he met his death in Italian
ι. When Apollo was absorbed by
waters.
his love for Hymenaeus, he neg
lected his flocks, and Hermes stole
B a l i u s (Βαλίος) some beasts from him and removed
ι. One of Achilles' immortal them to the outskirts of Menale in
horses, offspring of Zephyr and the the Péloponnèse. There, meeting an
Harpy Podarge. Achilles' other old man called Battus, he promised
horse was called Xanthus. him a heifer if he agreed to keep
2. One of the dogs of Actaeon (i). silent about the theft. The old man
gave his promise but Hermes
Basileia (BaaiXeia) Basileia was, changed his shape and returned to
according to Diodorus Siculus, the Battus, pretending that he was look-
daughter of Uranus and Titaia and a ing for his cattle, and promising him
sister of Rhea and the Titans, whom a reward if he would help him to
she brought up. She married her find them. Battus broke his promise
brother Hyperion, and bore Selene and told him, and Hermes in anger
and Helios. But the other Titans changed him into a rock.
killed Hyperion and immersed 2. The founder of Cyrene on the
BELLEROPHON 73
coast of Libya. His father was Poly- unharmed. The place became a
mnestus and his mother was Phro- shrine and, because Baucis and
nime, and he belonged to the race Philemon had asked to end their
known as Minyans who were des days together, Zeus and Hermes
cended from the Argonauts (see turned them into two trees which
MINYAS). In the commonest tradition stood side by side in front of the
Battus was only a nickname given to temple.
a hero because he stammered (Greek
βάττο€ = 'stammerer'); however, Bellerophon (Βελλβροφόντης, BeX-
Herodotus tells us that Battus means Aeροφών) Son of Glaucus (3) and
'king' in the language spoken in Eurymede or Eurynome (2). He
Libya. Battus' real name is said by accidentally killed his brother
some to be Aristoteles, by others, Deliades, or Piren (1), or Alcimenes
Aristaeus. According to Pausanias, or Bellerus (Βελλβροψών = 'killer of
Battus regained the power of speech Bellerus') and went into exile to
after the foundation of Cyrene. King Proetus at Tiryns. Proetus pur
ified him. His wife, Stheneboea
Baubo (Βανβώ) The wife of (called Anteia by Homer), asked
Dysaules who lived at Eleusis. When Bellerophon to meet her secretly,
Demeter was searching for her but when he refused she claimed he
daughter she arrived at Eleusis, had tried to seduce her. Proetus then
accompanied by her small son, sent Bellerophon to his father-in-
Iacchus. Dysaules and Baubo wel law, Iobates, king of Lycia, and gave
comed them and Baubo offered him a letter which demanded that its
Demeter some soup, which the god bearer be put to death. Proetus was
dess in her grief refused. Then Baubo unwilling to kill Bellerophon him
tucked up her clothes and showed self, since he was his guest, so he
her buttocks. When Iacchus saw this, ordered Bellerophon to kill the
he began to cheer. The goddess CHIMAERA, which was ravaging the
began to laugh and accepted the country. Bellerophon mounted
soup. Dysaules and Baubo had two PEGASUS, the winged horse, and
sons, Triptolemus and Eubouleus swooped down on the Chimaera and
(1), and two daughters, Protonoe killed it. There is also a story that
and Nisa. Bellerophon fitted the point of his
spear with a piece of lead which
Baucis (Βαύκυς) A Phrygian melted when exposed to the flames
woman, the wife of Philemon, a breathed out by the Chimaera and
very poor peasant. They welcomed killed it. Iobates then sent Bellero
Zeus and Hermes to their cottage phon to fight his ferocious neigh
one day when the two gods were bours the Solymnes, whom he
making their way through Phrygia. defeated. Next Iobates sent him to
Baucis and Philemon were the only fight the Amazons; he killed many
ones in the area to offer hospitality. of them. Finally Iobates organized an
In their anger, the gods sent a storm ambush, but Bellerophon killed all
over the whole country but left the his attackers. After this Iobates
cottage with the two old people showed Bellerophon the letter, gave
74 BELLONA
him his daughter Philonoe, Cassan Zeus. She helped to tie down Pro
dra, Alcimene or Anticleia in mar metheus in Aeschylus' Prometheus
riage, and bequeathed him his Bound.
kingdom. For Bellerophon's re
venge see STHENEBOEA. Bellerophon Bias (Βίας) The son of Amythaon
had two sons, Isandros and Hippolo- and Idomene. His brother was
chus (i), and a daughter, Laodamia Melampus (Tables 1 and 6). When
(i). Later Bellerophon tried to ride Bias wanted to marry Pero, he had
on his winged horse up to the to perform a task imposed by her
domain of Zeus, but Zeus hurled father Neleus, namely, to steal the
him back to earth, where he was herds of Phylacus (1). Melampus
killed. He was honoured as a hero in agreed to steal them on behalf of his
Corinth and Lycia. brother and, when he had been
granted the hand of Pero, he gave
Bellona The Roman goddess of her up to Bias. Subsequently, after
war, who was for a long time Melampus had cured the daughters
regarded as a personification of mere of Proetus of their madness, he
force, but gradually became identi secured a third of the latter's king
fied with the Greek goddess, ENYO. dom for Bias (see ANAXAGORAS and
She was sometimes portrayed as the PROETIDES). When married to Pero,
wife of Mars and was depreted as Bias fathered Talaus, and possibly
driving her own chariot, holding a (Table 1) Perialces, Laodocus, Areius
torch, sword or spear in her hand. and Alphesiboea. Later, when he was
settled in Argos, he married one of
Belus (Βήλος) One of Poseidon's Proetus' daughters. She was perhaps
twin sons by Libya. The other was the mother of his daughter Anaxibia.
Agenor (Table 3) and while the
latter went to Syria, Belus remained Bona Dea An ancient Roman divin
in Egypt, where he was king, and ity. Her real name was Fauna, Bona
married Anchinoe, the daughter of Dea being a title meaning 'the Good
the god Nile. He had twin sons, Goddess'. In one version Bona Dea
Egyptus and Danaus and is some was the daughter of Faunus, who fell
times said to have fathered Cepheus in love with her and had intercourse
(2) and Phineus (2). His name is also with her in the form of a snake. In
found in the genealogy of Queen another version Bona Dea was Fau
Dido of Carthage. nus' wife. She was extremely skilled
in the domestic arts and was very
Bia (Βία) The personification of chaste. One day she found a jug of
violence. She was the daughter of wine, drank it and became drunk,
Pallas (2) and the Styx. In the whereupon Faunus beat her to death
struggle between the Gods and the with switches of myrtle. In remorse
Giants she fought on the side of he granted her divine honours. Bona
Zeus. Her sister was Nike (Victory) Dea had a shrine on the Aventine at
and her brothers, Zelus (Ardour) and Rome and her mysteries were celeb
Cratos (Strength), and with them rated by women only. Hercules,
she was the constant companion of who had been excluded from these,
BRANCHUS 75
who endowed him with the gift of with her and pursued her for nine
divination, he founded an oracle at months throughout the island of
Didyma, which was regarded until Crete. When she realized that she
historical times as almost equal in was about to be caught she threw
prestige to that of Delphi. It was herself from the top of a cliff into the
served by the Branchides (descen sea, where she fell into the fisher
dants of Branchus). men's nets and was saved, which was
why she acquired the name of Dic-
B r i a r e u s (Βριάρεως) See AEGAEON. tynna, 'the daughter of the net'.
Another version explains the same
B r i s e i s (Βρι,σηίς) Briseis, whose real epithet by attributing to Britomartis
name was Hippodamia (3), was the the invention of the nets used for
daughter of Brises. She was called hunting. In yet another story, Brito
Briseis after her father, and was martis was caught by accident in a
married to Mynes. He was killed by net and, after being rescued by Arte
Achilles, who carried off Briseis. mis, she was accorded divine
Achilles married her, and in effect honours under the name of Dic-
she became Achilles' favourite slave, tynna. Like Artemis, she was por
dearly loved by him. When the trayed as surrounded by hounds,
Greeks compelled Agamemnon to dressed as a huntress, eschewing male
return CHRYSEIS to her father and company and very fond of solitude.
Agamemnon demanded in return
that Achilles should hand over B r i B r y t e (Βρύτη) A daughter of Ares
seis, Achilles refused to fight, and it and an attendant of Artemis. She was
was she alone whom Achilles loved by Minos and threw herself
accepted at the time of his reconcilia into the sea where her body was re
tion with Agamemnon. She offered covered in a fisherman's net. A
the tributes at the funeral of Achilles. plague broke out, and the oracle
pronounced that to bring it to an end
Brises (Βρίσης) The father of BRI she must be accorded divine honours
SEIS. In some accounts he was the under the name of Diana Dictynna
king of the Leleges in Caria, but (Artemis of the net). (Cf. BRITOMAR
generally, like his brother CHRYSES, TIS).
he was the priest of Apollo in the
town of Lyrnessos, which was looted B u s i r i s (Βούσιρις) The son of
by the Greeks in the Trojan War. As Poseidon and Lysianassa (Table 3),
well as his daughter, he had a son and a king of Egypt. Busiris was
who was named Eëtion (not to be very cruel, and the harshness of his
confused with Eëtion the father of rule forced PROTEUS to flee from
Andromache). Brises hanged himself Egypt. He sent a band of pirates to
when his house was destroyed by abduct the Hesperides, but Heracles,
Achilles. while on his journey to get the gol
den apples, met and killed the
B r i t o m a r t i s (Βριτόμαρτις) A Cre pirates. A run of bad harvests fell on
tan goddess. She was the daughter of Egypt, and the seer Phrasius advised
Zeus and Carme. Minos was in love the king to sacrifice a stranger to
BYZAS 77
Zeus each year to restore prosperity. and harnessing bulls for work. He
When Heracles was passing through was also believed to have been one of
Egypt, Busiris captured him and led the first legislators, and is said to
him to the altar as a victim, but Her have banned the killing of oxen or
acles burst his bonds, and killed bulls since they were so useful in cul
Busiris, his son and all the spectators. tivation (see also PALLADIUM).
Butes (Βουτης)
B y b l i s (Βυβλίς) B y her father MILE-
ι. A son of BOREAS and the half-
TUS Byblis was the great-grand
brother of Lycurgus (2). They had
daughter of Minos (see ACACALLIS)
different mothers, neither of them
or, in some traditions, his grand
being Orithyia, the god's legitimate
daughter. She had a twin brother,
wife. Butes sought to kill Lycurgus,
Caunus, and she loved him with an
but he was exiled. He established
incestuous passion. Filled with
himself on Naxos, where he lived by
horror for his sister, Caunus fled and
piracy. On Naxos he encountered
went to found the town of Caunus
the female worshippers of Dionysus;
in Caria. Byblis went mad. The
most of them escaped, but the god's
Nymphs, who pitied her, turned her
nurse, Coronis (3), was carried off
into an inexhaustible stream, like the
and given to Butes. In answer to her
girl's own tears. There is another
prayers, Butes was struck with mad
contrasting tradition: according to
ness by Dionysus. He threw himself
this Caunus conceived a guilty pas
into a well and died.
sion for his sister, and this was why
2. The son of Pandion (1) and
he fled from his father's house and
Zeuxippe (1). On the death of Pan
why Byblis hanged herself. Her
dion, his estate was divided between
name was given to two towns: B y b
his sons: Erechtheus received the
lis in Caria and Byblus in Phoenicia.
kingship, and Butes the priesthood
of Athena and Poseidon. He married
the daughter of ERECHTHEUS, Chtho- B y z a s (Βύζας) Son of Poseidon and
nia (2). Ceroessa. He founded the city of
3. An Argonaut, the son of Teleon, Byzantium and fortified it with the
who founded the town of Lily- help of Apollo and Poseidon. When
baeum in Sicily (see ERYX). Butes Haemus (2) attacked the city, Byzas
was carried away by Aphrodite defeated him in single combat and
when he had yielded to the Sirens' pursued his enemies back into
songs. Thrace. While he was away Odryses
of Scythia besieged the city, but
B u z y g e s (Βουζύγης) Buzyges, or Byzas' wife, Phidalia, saved it by
'he who puts oxen under the yoke' throwing snakes into the enemy
was the mythical inventor of the camp. She also saved it from attacks
yoke who had the idea of taming by her brother-in-law, Strombus.
nymphs, sisters of the three CABIRI in
some traditions.
C
of the CABIRI and CABIRIDES by
Hephaestus.
father of Cadmus and Europa. A Cadmus admitted them into his city;
Boeotian tradition claims that Cad- with their help he built the Cadmeia,
mus was the son of Ogygus (i). the citadel of Thebes. To atone for
After Europa was abducted, Age- killing the dragon, Cadmus served as
nor sent Telephassa and his sons to Ares' slave for eight years, but when
find her, ordering them not to re- his sentence ended he became king of
appear without her. They soon rea- Thebes, through the protection of
lized that their quest was a vain one, Athena, and Zeus gave him as a wife
however, and Cadmus and Tele- Harmonia (i). The gods and the
phassa went to Thrace, where they Muses took part in their wedding.
were kindly received by the inhabit- The principal wedding gifts, a
ants. When his mother died Cadmus wonderful robe, woven by the
consulted the Delphic oracle which Charités, and a golden necklace,
told him to found a town; in order fashioned by Hephaestus, were for
to choose its site he should follow a Harmonia. This necklace and robe
cow until it collapsed with fatigue. would later play a large part in the
As Cadmus was crossing Phocis he episode of the expedition of the
saw a cow among the herds belong- Seven against Thebes (see AMPHIAR-
ing to Pelagon which led him to the AUS, ALCMAEON (i) and ERIPHYLE).
place that later became Thebes. Cad- Cadmus had four daughters by Har-
mus saw that the oracle had been ful- monia: Autonoe, Ino (who took the
filled and wanted to sacrifice the cow name of Leucothea after her deifica-
to Athena. He sent some of his com- tion), Agave and Semele, and one
panions to look for water from the son, Polydorus (i).
Spring of Ares, but a dragon, which Cadmus and Harmonia later left
in some accounts is said to be a des- Thebes under mysterious circum-
cendant of Ares himself, was guard- stances, giving the throne to their
ing the spring and killed most of grandson, Pentheus. They went to
them. Cadmus came to the rescue live among the Encheleans who had
and killed the dragon. Athena then been promised victory in battle by
appeared and advised him to sow an oracle if Cadmus and Harmonia
half of its teeth (the other half she would lead them. They were indeed
gave to Aeetes. See ARGONAUTS). victorious, and Cadmus then ruled
Cadmus did so, and at once, armed over the Illyrians and had another
men sprang out of the ground; these son, named Illyrius. But later Cad-
became known as the Spartoi, or mus and Harmonia were turned into
'Sown Men'. The miraculous men serpents and reached the Elysian
threatened Cadmus, who threw Fields. A legend recorded by Non-
stones into their midst. The Spartoi nus tells how Cadmus followed the
did not know who was attacking tracks of the bull which had carried
them; they first accused and then off Europa, and was enlisted by Zeus
slaughtered each other. Only five in the expedition against TYPHON.
survived, namely Echion (i) (who After Typhon had removed the
subsequently married Agave, one of sinews of Zeus, Cadmus bewitched
Cadmus' daughters), Oudaeus, him by playing the lyre, and
Chthonius, Hyperenor and Pelorus. retrieved Zeus' sinews by saying that
8o CAECULUS
he needed them to make strings for tus (2), who was raped by Poseidon.
the instrument. Cadmus returned She asked the god to change her into
them to Zeus, thus enabling him to a man; Poseidon granted this request
win the struggle. As his reward Cad and made Caeneus invulnerable.
mus received Harmonia as a wife. Caeneus took part in the stuggle
against the Centaurs, but when they
Caeculus The Roman legend of could not kill him, they beat him
Praeneste ascribes the foundation of with the trunks of fir trees and
the town to Caeculus. There lived in finally buried him alive. It is said that
this country two brothers called the after his death Caeneus became a
Depidii, who were shepherds. One woman again, or, according to
day when their sister was sitting near Ovid, a bird.
the hearth, a spark flew out of the A different tradition tells that after
fire and jumped into her bosom. She he had become a man, Caeneus grew
conceived a child who was regarded extremely proud: he set up his spear
as a son of Vulcan, but she aban in the market place and ordered the
doned him near the temple of populace to worship it. To punish
Jupiter. Some young women found him, Zeus roused the Centaurs
the infant beside a lighted fire and against him and they finally killed
took it to the Depidii. They brought him. His name appears in some of
the child up, and called him Caecu the lists of the Argonauts. He had a
lus (from caecus, 'blind') when they son called CORONUS.
first saw him, for the smoke of the
fire had made his eyes water and he Caieta One legend about this town
seemed to be blind. After he had (the modern Gaeta) tells how it had
grown up, he and some companions been founded in memory of Caieta,
founded the village which was des the nurse of Aeneas. Some versions
tined to become Praeneste. On the say that she was buried there and
day of the inauguration of the new others that she had quelled the fire
town he asked his father Vulcan to which was threatening to burn
produce a wonderful spectacle: Vul Aeneas' ship.
can sent down flames, which encir
cled the crowd and extinguished Calais (Κάλαϊς) See BOREADES.
themselves as soon as Caeculus bade
them. A great many people came to Calamus (Κάλαμος) The son of the
settle there, to be under the protec river-god Meander, his name means
tion of the god and his son. Caeculus 'reed'. He was in love with a youth
later fought alongside Turnus named Carpus. One day they were
against Aeneas. both bathing in the Meander and
Calamus wanted to show his friend
Caelus The personification of the that he was the better swimmer, but
Sky; this was a Latin translation of in the competition which ensued
the name of the Greek god URANUS. Carpus was drowned. In his grief
Calamus withered to such an extent
Caeneus (Kcuvevs) Originally a girl that he became a reed by the river
named Caenis, the daughter of Ela- bank.
CALCHAS 81
Calchus (Κάλχος) King of the father. Zeus did as she asked and in
Daunii of south Italy; he loved this way Alcmaeon was avenged.
Circe, but she was in love with 3. A Nymph loved by Paris at the
Odysseus and turned Calchus into a time when he looked after the flocks
pig; she then shut him up in her pig on Mount Ida. Paris later left her for
sty. When the Daunians came to Helen, and Callirhoe is said to have
look for him Circe agreed to give wept bitterly for her lost love.
him back to them, in human form, 4. The daughter of the river-god
but on the condition that he would Scamander. She married Tros and
not set foot on her island again. by him had four children: Cleopatra
(4), Ilus (2), Assaracus and Gany
Callidice (Καλλιδίκη) A queen of mede (Table 4).
the Thesproti, who married Odys 5. A daughter of LYCUS (8).
seus when he was forced to leave 6. A girl who had rejected the ad
Ithaca again to comply with the pro vances of a priest of Dionysus, called
phecy of Tiresias. Odysseus fathered Coresus; he complained to Diony
a son by her named Polypoetes (3). sus, who spread an outbreak of mad
ness throughout the land. The
Calliope (Καλλιόπη) One of the inhabitants consulted the oracle of
Muses. From the Alexandrian period Dodona, which disclosed that, to ap
she was regarded as Muse of lyric pease the god, the girl would have to
poetry. Calliope is said to have been be sacrificed at the altar attended by
the mother of the Sirens, Orpheus, Coresus. Just as he was about to sac
Linus (2) and Rhesus. She also rifice her, Coresus, overcome by his
appears as the arbitress in the quarrel love, lost his resolve and killed him
over Adonis between Persephone self. Callirhoe committed suicide
and Aphrodite. beside a spring which thereafter bore
her name.
Callipolis (Καλλίπολι,ς) The son of 7. The daughter of PHOCUS ( I ) .
ALCATHUS.
Callisto (Καλλιστώ)
Callirhoe (Καλλυρρόη) ι. According to some writers, a
ι. The daughter of Oceanus and wood-nymph; to others she was a
Tethys. By Chrysaor she gave birth daughter of Lycaon (1) or of
to Geryon and Echidna. She had Nycteus. She was a companion of
other children: Minyas by Poseidon, Artemis and had vowed to remain a
Chione by Nilus and Cotys by virgin. Zeus fell in love with her,
Manes. assumed the guise of Artemis or
2. The daughter of Achelous. She Apollo, and raped her. She became
married Alcmaeon (1), who fathered the mother of ARCAS. One day Arte
her two sons, Amphoterus and Acar- mis and her companions were bath
nan (Table 1). After the murder of ing in a spring; Callisto had to
her husband she was loved by Zeus; undress and her pregnancy was
she asked him to make her two sons revealed, whereupon Artemis
grow up immediately and to give changed her into a she-bear. Variants
them the strength to avenge their of the story attribute the metamor-
CAMILLA 83
Aeneas and was killed by the hero Menelaus when the latter came with
Arruns. Helen to Egypt after the capture of
Troy. Theonoe (1) loved Canopus,
Campe (Κάμπη) A female monster but he did not return her love. One
appointed by Cronus to guard the day he was bitten by a snake and
Cyclopes and the Hecatoncheires, died. Menelaus and Helen buried
whom he had imprisoned in Hades. him, building him a tomb on the
When an oracle promised Zeus that island of Canope. Another tradition
he would defeat Cronus and the claims that Canopus was the pilot of
Titans if he had the assistance of the Osiris, the Egyptian god. He is also
Cyclopes, he killed Campe and freed said to have steered the Argo, and
them. both pilot and ship were placed
among the constellations.
Canace (Κανάκη) One of the
daughters of Aeolus (i) (Table 5). Capaneus (Καπανενς) One of the
Ovid tells that she gave birth to a son Seven against Thebes (see AMPHI-
fathered by her brother Macareus ARAUS and ADRASTUS). He was the
(1). Aeolus threw the child to the son of Hipponous. He had no fear of
dogs and sent a sword to his the gods, but in the first attack on
daughter, ordering her to kill herself. Thebes Zeus killed him with his
According to another tradition thunderbolt just as he was about to
Canace had Hopleus, Nireus, Epo- scale the Theban walls. His wife
peus (1), Aloeus and Triopas by Evadne (2) threw herself on his
Poseidon. funeral pyre. Sthenelus (3) was his
son.
Canens A Nymph of Latium, the
daughter of Janus. She was married Caphaurus (Κάφανρος) In Apollo
to King PICUS. One day during a nius Rhodius a Libyan shepherd, the
hunt Circe fell in love with Picus; to son of Amphithemis (also known as
separate him from his attendants she Garamas) and a Nymph of Lake Tri-
changed him into a wild boar. Picus, tonis. Canthus, one of the Argo
parted from his wife, grieved deeply; nauts, tried to steal some of his sheep.
when Circe declared her love for Caphaurus killed him but was him
him he repulsed her, and in her anger self killed by the Argonauts (see
she changed him into a green wood CEPHALION).
pecker. In the meantime Canens des
paired; she wandered in search of Caphene (Καφένη) A girl from
Picus and finally collapsed on the Cryassus, a Carian town which felt
banks of the Tiber where she sang threatened by a nearby settlement of
for the last time and then vanished Greeks from Melos, led by Nym-
into thin air. phaeus. The people of Cryassus
invited the Greeks to a feast, intend
Canopus (Κάνωπος) The eponym ing to kill them, but Caphene was in
of Canopus or Canobus in Egypt love with Nymphaeus and told him
and of one of the rivers of the Nile of the plan. The Greeks accepted the
delta (Canope). He acted as pilot for invitation, but insisted that their
CARNA 85
wives should also attend. At the feast taken to Megara as a prisoner in her
the men were unarmed, but the old age and to have been made nurse
women all carried concealed to Scylla (2).
weapons, and when the Carians fell
upon them the Greeks killed them Carmenta Daughter of Ladon (1)
all. They demolished and rebuilt and mother of EVANDER (3) whom
Cryassus, naming it New Cryassus. she accompanied when he was exiled
Caphene married Nymphaeus. from Arcadia. In Arcadia she was
identified with Nicostrate, Themis,
Caphira (Καφείρα) A daughter of Timandra, Telpousa or Tyburtis; she
Oceanus. She helped the Telchines was called Carmenta at Rome
bring up Poseidon, who had been because she had the gift of prophecy
entrusted to her by Rhea. (Latin carmen = 'prophecy', 'in
cantation'). She chose the most
favourable site on which to establish
Capys (Κάπνς) Evander. When Hercules came to
ι. The Iliad mentions a Capys who Pallantium she told him of the fate
was the grandfather of Aeneas which lay ahead of him (see CACUS).
(Table 4). Other legends give Aeneas She lived to the age of one hundred
a companion of the same name who and ten; her son buried her at the
founded Capua in Campania, but foot of the Capitol, close to the Porta
there is also a story that Capua had Carmentalis, so called in her
been founded by Aeneas' son memory.
Rhomus, and that is was called this in
In other traditions Carmenta was
memory of his great-grandfather
Evander's wife. When she refused an
(see AEGESTES (1)). Capys was some
invitation from Hercules to attend
times also regarded as the founder of
the sacrifice he was offering at the
Caphyes in Arcadia.
Ara Maxima, he forbade women to
2. Some writers say that the
be present at the ceremony there
founder of Capua was not a Trojan
after. Carmenta was also regarded as
but a Samnite of the same name.
a divinity of procreation: she was
invoked by two names, Prorsa (head
Carmanor (Καρμάνωρ) A Cretan first) and Post versa (feet first), the
priest who welcomed Apollo and two positions in which a child can be
Artemis after the murder of Python born.
and purified them. He also allowed
the intrigue between Apollo and Carna A nymph who lived in a
ACACALLIS to take place in his sacred wood on the banks of the
house. Tiber. Ovid says she was originally
called Crane and had dedicated her
Carme (Κάρμη) The mother of self to virginity. When a suitor
Britomartis. She is said to have been approached her she would make him
the daughter of Eubouleus, the son promise to follow her into the
of Carmanor. Other writers make woods, where she would immedi
her the daughter of Phoenix (2) ately disappear. The god Janus fell in
(Table 3). She is said to have been love with her, followed her, saw her
86 CARNUS
name that the Hellenistic poet ruled over Delphi after the death of
Lycophron made her the leading his father.
character in his Alexandra. In
Lycophron's poem, Priam, who was Castor (Κάστωρ) One of the DIOS
unhappy about the prophetic gifts of CURI.
his daughter and feared the ridicule
Cathetus (Κάθητος) He was in love
of the Trojans, shut her up and
with the daughter of the Etruscan
placed over her a keeper with orders
king Annius (2), who was called
to report to him what she said. The
Salia. When Cathetus abducted her
poem was supposed to reproduce the
and brought her to Rome Annius
girl's prophecies.
tried unsuccessfully to catch them. In
his despair, he cast himself into the
Cassiopia (Κασσιέττ€ΐ,α, Κασσιό- nearest river which was thereafter
πβια, Κασσιόπη) Mother of ANDRO called the Anio. Cathetus married
MEDA. She boasted that her, or
Salia and by his marriage had Salius,
Andromeda's, beauty outshone that who gave his name to the Collegium
of the Nereids or Hera, so Poseidon of the Salii which annually in Rome
sent a sea-monster to lay waste the performed a sacred dance during a
land. Andromeda had to be sacri ritual procession.
ficed to the monster to appease the
god, but PERSEUS rescued her. Cassio Catillus A hero associated with the
pia was turned into a constellation. foundation of the town of Tibur.
Traditions about Cassiopia's ori Roman historians regarded him as a
gin vary. She is said to have Greek; alternatively Catillus might
belonged to the family of Agenor. have come with Evander (3), whose
She is also said to have been the wife fleet he commanded, or he might
of Phoenix (2) (see CILIX) and the have been the son of Amphiaraus,
mother of Phineus (2) (Table 3). She who after his father's death went to
was the daughter of Arabus, eponym seek his fortune in Italy on the orders
of Arabia. Her husband is sometimes of Oecles. There Catillus is said to
said to be Epaphus, by whom she have had three sons, Tiburnus, Coras
bore Libya, Agenor's mother. She is and Catillus the younger, who were
also said to have been the wife of supposed to have founded the town
Cepheus (2) of Ethiopia. In all these of Tibur.
cases the myth is associated with
countries of the extreme south — Catreus (Karpevs) Son of Minos
Arabia, Ethiopia or southern Egypt. and Pasiphae. An oracle had warned
that Catreus would die at the hands
Castalia (Κασταλία) A girl from of one of his four children, Areope,
Delphi. She was pursued by Apollo Clymene (4), Apemosyne and
and threw herself into the spring Althaemenes. The latter two fled to
which was sacred to Apollo. There Rhodes to avoid fulfilling the oracle,
after it bore her name. In another and Catreus gave Aerope and Cly
version, Castalia was the daughter of mene to Nauplius (2) to be sold as
Achelous and wife of King Delphus. slaves abroad. In his old age Catreus
By him she had a son, Castalius, who wanted to leave his kingdom to
88 CAUCON
Althaemenes and went to Rhodes to the earth and the upper part of his
find him, but on landing there he body was human, the lower took the
and his crew were mistaken for form of a serpent. He married
pirates and Althaemenes killed him. Aglaurus (1), the daughter of
When he realized his mistake Actaeus the king of Acte. He suc
Althaemenes was, by his own ceeded Actaeus and renamed the
prayer, swallowed up by the earth. land (subsequently called Attica)
It was when Menelaus was attend Cecropia. Cecrops fathered four
ing the funeral of Catreus — his children, ERYSICHTHON (2), Pandro-
grandfather (Table 2) - that Paris sus, AGLAURUS (2) and Herse. During
abducted Helen. his reign Poseidon and Athena quar
relled over the possession of Attica:
C a u c o n (Καύκων) Poseidon struck the ground with his
ι. One of the sons of LYCAON ( I ) . trident and a salt-water spring burst
He gave his name to the Caucones, forth on the Acropolis; Athena
who lived in the west of the Pélo- planted an olive tree on the hill. In
ponnèse. Together with all his some accounts Cecrops was the
brothers, he was struck by lightning judge of the contest, and ruled in
by Zeus in retribution for the favour of Athena. Cecrops' reign
impiety of Lycaon. was peaceful: he taught mankind
2. The son of Celaenus and grand- how to build cities and how to bury
son of the Athenian Phylus. He was the dead, and is sometimes credited
the first to introduce the mysteries of with the invention of writing and
Demeter into Messenia. the census.
2. The roll of the kings of Attica
Caulon (Καυλών) The son of the includes another Cecrops, the son of
Amazon Clete. He came to Italy ERECHTHEUS and Praxithea.
with his mother and founded Cauto-
nia near Locri. Cedalion (Κηδαλίων) After Heph
aestus was born his mother Hera
Caunus (Καύνος) The twin of placed him in the care of Cedalion
BYBLIS. There is also a story that in who lived at Naxos, and Cedalion
Lycia he married the Nymph P r o - taught him the art of metalwork.
noe and fathered a son called Aegia- Cedalion also helped ORION to regain
lus who is said to have founded his sight when he became blind.
Caucus.
Celaeno (KeXaivw)
Caystrus (Κάνστρος) A Lydian 1. One of the Pleiades. She married
river-god, the son of Achilles and Poseidon and bore, in varying tradi
Penthesilea. His son Ephesus tions, Lycus (1), Nycteus, Eurypylus
founded the city of the same name. (5) and Triton. She was also said to
Caystrus was also the father of be the mother of Deucalion (1) by
SEMiRAMis by Derceto. Prometheus (see Table 8).
2. One of the Harpies.
Cecrops (Κέκροψ)
ι. A mythical king of Attica, often Celbidas (KeAjSi'Saç) A native of
regarded as the first. He was born of Cumae who left Italy to found Tri-
CENTAURS 89
teia in Achaea. According to other The upper parts of their bodies were
authors, Triteia was said to have human, as were sometimes the front
been founded by Melanippus (1). parts of their legs, but the rear part
was that of a horse and in the Classi
Celeus (KeXeoç) The son of Eleusis cal era, they had four horses' hooves
and the first ruler of the district of and two human arms. They lived in
that name (see RARUS). He was ruling the mountains and forests and their
over Eleusis when Persephone was food was raw flesh. They were des
abducted. Demeter arrived at Eleu- cended from Centaurus, the son of
sis in search of Persephone in the Apollo and Stilbe (1), or of IXION
guise of an old woman. The and Nephele (2). The Centaurs
daughters of Celeus led her to their Chiron and Pholus were of a differ
father's house where she was offered ent descent: Chiron was the son of
the position of a serving-woman. Philyra and Cronus; Pholus the son
Demeter accepted and was put in of Silenus and a Nymph. Unlike
charge of Demophon, the king's their fellows, they were hospitable
youngest son (see DEMOPHON (I)). and non-violent.
She finally disclosed her divine When Heracles was hunting the
nature, but before returning to Erymanthian boar, he visited Pholus,
Olympus she told Celeus the rules of who received him hospitably, giving
her cult and helped him to build a him cooked meat whereas Pholus
temple (see also TRIPTOLEMUS and himself ate exclusively raw food.
DEMETER). Some versions of the story When Heracles asked for wine, Pho
claim that Celeus was not a king, but lus told him that there was only one
a peasant of Eleusis. jar, which either belonged commu
nally to the Centaurs or had been a
Celmis (Κέλμις) A divinity who gift from Dionysus who had advised
was one of the companions of Zeus them to open it only if Heracles
when he was a child, but he offended should be their guest. Heracles told
Rhea and as a result was changed Pholus to open it and not be afraid.
into a lump of diamond (or steel) by When the Centaurs smelled the wine
Zeus. they rushed from the mountains
armed with rocks, fir trees, and
Celtus (KCXTOÇ) The eponym of the torches to attack the cave. The first
Celts. When Heracles was passing two Centaurs to attack were
through Britain with the cattle of Anchius and Agrius, whom Heracles
GERYON, Celtine, the king's killed, but Pholus was killed in the
daughter, concealed the herds and fight: while burying one of his
refused to give them back unless fellow-Centaurs he drew one of
Heracles married her. He assented Heracles' poisoned arrows from a
and Celtus was born. In other tradi- wound, accidentally dropped it on
tions Celtus was the son of Heracles his foot, and died. Heracles drove off
and Sterope (1). the other Centaurs and pursued
them to Cape Malea where they
Centaurs (Κένταυροι) Mythical took refuge with Chiron. In the
creatures, half man and half horse. ensuing battle Heracles shot Elatus in
90 CENTIMANI
the elbow, but Chiron either married the girl. A variant of the
dropped one of Heracles' arrows on legend makes Mnesimache identical
his foot or was shot in the knee by with Deianeira, and sets the scene at
Heracles. The wounds of Heracles' Calydon, where a similar struggle
arrows could not be healed (see for possession of the young girl took
PHILOCTETES), and the immortal place between Heracles and ACHE-
Chiron begged to be made mortal: LOUS. In other legends the Centaur
Prometheus agreed to take on his NESSUS tried to violate Deianeira, and
immortality, and Chiron died. Most Hylaus and Rhoecus (2) tried to rape
of the other Centaurs took refuge in Atalanta.
Eleusis. Their mother, Nephele (2),
came to their aid by causing a rain Centimani Giants with a hundred
storm, but in the battle Heracles hands (see HECATONCHEIRES).
killed Daphnis, Argeius, Amphion,
Hippotion, Oreius, Ispoples, Melan- Cephalion (Κεφαλιών) A shepherd
chaetes, Thereus, Doupon, Phrixus in Libya who, according to Hyginus,
and Homadus. killed two Argonauts, Eribotes and
The Centaurs also fought against Canthus, who tried to rob him of
the LAPITHS. Pirithous invited the some of his flock (see also
Centaurs, who regarded themselves CAPHAURUS).
as his parents, to his wedding feast.
Unused to drinking wine, the Cen Cephalus (Κέφαλος) The common
taurs became drunk and one of them est account of his origin makes him
tried to rape Hippodamia (2), Pirith the son of Deion, son of Aeolus (1).
ous' bride. A violent brawl broke His mother was Diomede, the
out. Ultimately the Lapiths drove daughter of Xuthus and Creusa (2)
the Centaurs out of Thessaly. This (Table 5). Other writers claim that
'Centauromachy' became a popular he was an Athenian, the son of
theme in art. Herse.
Centaurs appear in other legends Cephalus was abducted by Aurora
concerning abductions. Eurytion (2) (see EOS) who loved him; he fathered
attempted to rape Hippolyta or her son Phaethon in Syria, but aban
Mnesimache, the daughter of Dexa- doned her and returned to Attica,
menus. In one version Dexamenus where he married PROCRIS. One day
had betrothed his daughter to Azan, Cephalus began to doubt whether
an Arcadian. Eurytion tried to kid his wife was faithful and decided to
nap her at the wedding feast, but test his suspicions. He disguised him
Heracles arrived in time to kill him, self and got into her presence when
and return her to Azan. In another she thought he was away and offered
version, Heracles, on his way to her more and more valuable gifts if
Augias, seduced the girl and pro she would yield to his advances. She
mised to marry her on his return. held out for a long time but finally
While he was away she was forcibly gave way. At this point Cephalus
betrothed to Eurytion. Heracles revealed who he was. In her shame
returned just as the wedding was and anger Procris fled into the
about to start, killed the Centaur and mountains. Cephalus was filled with
CERBERUS 91
remorse, went after her and they enemies attacked the town while he
were eventually reconciled. Then was away, his daughter Sterope (4)
Procris became jealous in her turn. had only to shake the lock of hair
She often saw her husband leave to over the town walls three times.
go hunting, and she wondered Provided that she took care not to
whether the mountain Nymphs look behind her, the enemy would
were attracting him. She questioned be put to flight. Cepheus went to
a servant who said that after the hunt war with Heracles and his brother
Cephalus would stop and call for a Iphicles. During the fighting, how
cloud (Nephele) or breeze (Aura). ever, Iphicles, Cepheus and his sons
Procris assumed this ambiguous lost their lives, but Heracles emerged
name was that of his lover and de the winner.
cided to catch Cephalus by surprise: 2. The father of ANDROMEDA and
she followed him when he went husband of CASSIOPIA. He was the
hunting and Cephalus, hearing some son of Belus (Table 3).
movement in the thicket, launched
his spear which had the property of Cerambus (Κεραμβος) A shepherd
never failing to hit its target. Procris from Othrys, in Thessaly. During
was mortally wounded, but on her the great flood in Deucalion's time
deathbed she saw that she had been he had taken shelter on the moun
mistaken. tains to escape the waters, and the
Cephalus was tried for murder Nymphs gave him wings, trans
before the Areopagus and sentenced forming him into a beetle (see also
to exile. He went with Amphitryon TERAMBUS).
on his expedition against Taphos.
After their victory the island of Ceramus (Κέραμος) An Attic hero
Cephalonia was named after Cepha who gave his name to a quarter of
lus. There he married Lysippe (2) Athens called the Ceramicus. He was
and fathered four children. The ori said to have invented the art of pot
gin of the race of Laertes is also tery.
ascribed to him as Arcesius, the
father of Laertes, is sometimes Cerberus (Κέρβερος) The dog of
regarded as either Cephalus' son or Hades. He watched over the realm
grandson. of the dead and forbade living
people to enter it, and prevented the
Cepheus (Κηφεύς) dead from leaving it. Cerberus is
ι. The king of Tegea in Arcadia generally described as having three
and one of the Argonauts. When dogs' heads, a serpent for a tail, and
Heracles undertook an expedition on his back innumerable snakes'
against the son of Hippocoon he heads. He is sometimes said to have
called for an alliance with Cepheus. had fifty, or a hundred heads. He
As an inducement, Heracles was chained up in front of the gate of
entrusted him with a lock of the the Underworld and filled souls with
Gorgon's hair in a bronze vase. This terror as they were entering. One of
had been given to him by Athena. the labours of Heracles was to go to
Heracles told Cepheus that if his the Underworld to find Cerberus
92 CERCAPHUS
and bring him back to earth (see them fight with him. Then, when he
HERACLES, π). Cerberus also suc had defeated them, he killed them.
cumbed to the charms of Orpheus. At last Theseus came past the spot;
Cerberus was believed to be the son he was more expert at fighting than
of Echidna and Typhon, brother of Cercyon, lifted his enemy in the air,
Orthrus, the monstrous dog of hurled him to the ground and
Geryon, of the Hydra of Lerna, and crushed him (see ALOPE and RARUS).
of the Nemean lion. 2. The son of AGAMEDES.
every kind of animal or tree, or ele and, while passing through Troezen
ment such as fire and water. on his way back, he fathered Theseus
by his union with Aethra.
Ceto (Κητώ) The daughter of Pon-
tus and Gaia. Her name is the generic C h a l c o d o n (Χαλκώδων)
Greek name for any large sea mon ι. The son of Abas (1) and the
ster. She married her own brother father of ELEPHENOR. Chalcodon died
Phorcys, by whom she had the at the hands of Amphitryon. Besides
GRAEAE, the Gorgons, the dragon Elephenor, Chalcodon had a
which guarded the Apples of the daughter Chalciope (3).
Hesperides, and the Hesperides 2. A companion of Heracles on his
themselves. expedition against Elis.
3. One of the suitors of Hippoda-
C e y x (Κηυξ) mia (1). He was killed by OENOMAUS.
ι. King of Trachis in Thessaly and 4. One of the defenders o f Cos
a relation of Heracles. Heracles took against Heracles during his attack on
refuge with him after he had acci Eurypylus (3). He inflicted a wound
dentally killed EUNOMUS, and after on Heracles, who was saved only by
Heracles' death his children, pursued the intervention of Zeus.
by the hate of Eurystheus, took
refuge with Ceyx, until Eurystheus C h a l c o n (Χάλκων)
made them leave. The daughter of ι. An oracle had advised Nestor to
Ceyx, Themistonoe, was the wife of give Chalcon to his son Antilochus
Cycnus (3), who was killed by Hera to be his armour-bearer and adviser.
cles. Ceyx offered funerary honours During the fight between Achilles
to Cycnus after his death. Ceyx had and Penthesilea, Chalcon, who was
two sons, Hippasus, who went with in love with Penthesilea, went to her
Heracles on his expedition against help. He was killed by Achilles and
Oechalia and died there, and HYLAS. his corpse was crucified by the
2. The son of Eosphorus. He was Greeks to punish his treachery.
married to ALCYONE ( I ) and became 2. The son of Metion.
a bird.
Chaon (Χάων) The hero who gave
Chalciope (Χαλκίόπη) his name to the Chaones, a tribe of
ι. The daughter of Eurypylus (3). Epirus. After Chaon was killed in a
B y her union with Heracles she had hunting accident his brother or
Thessalus. friend HELENUS named part of his
2. The daughter of Aeetes. She kingdom after him. Sometimes it is
married Phrixus, by whom she had said that Chaon had offered his life to
four children, Argos (3), Melas (2), the gods voluntarily for his country
Phrontis and Cytissorus. men during an epidemic.
3. The daughter of Rhexenor (or
Chalcodon (1)). She was the second Chaos (Χάος) The embodiment of
wife of AEGEUS, king of Athens. the primeval Void which existed
Because Aegeus could not have any before Order had been imposed on
children by her he went to Delphi the universe. Chaos begot Erebus
94 CHARICLO
and Nyx and then Hemera and Air. which corn was distributed and a
In a different version of the myth, doll, named Charila, ritually buried.
Chaos is said to have been the son of
Chronus and the brother of Air. Charités (Χάριτες) The Charités,
called the GRATIAE (Graces) in Latin,
Chariclo (Χαρικλώ) were personifications of grace and
ι. A daughter of Apollo (in other beauty. They spread the joy of
versions, of Oceanus), who married Nature and lived on Olympus. Their
Chiron. She brought up Jason and names, number and parentage vary,
Achilles. but after Hesiod they are generally
2. The daughter of CYCHREUS (see said to be three sisters named Euph-
also SCIRON). rosyne, Thalia (2), and Aglaea, the
3. A Nymph, the mother of Tire- daughters of Zeus and Eurynome (1)
sias. She was a companion of or Hera.
Athena, who often allowed her to They influenced artistic and
ride in her chariot. One day when imaginative works and wove the
Athena and Chariclo were bathing robe of Harmonia (1) (see CADMUS).
in the Hippocrene fountain on They often accompanied Athena,
Mount Helicon, TIRESIAS came upon Aphrodite, Eros, Apollo and Diony-
the spring and saw Athena naked. sus. In art they are frequently repre-
The goddess blinded him and when sented as naked girls with their hands
Chariclo reproached her for her on each other's shoulders, the two
cruelty, Athena explained that every outer figures looking one way and
mortal who saw a deity against his or the middle one looking the other.
her wishes must lose his or her sense
of sight. In reparation she gave Tire Charon (Χάρων) The ferryman of
sias a dogwood stick, with which he the dead, who transported the spirits
could guide himself as well as if he over the marsh of Acheron. Every
could see, then she refined his sense soul had to pay him one obol, hence
of hearing so effectively that he the custom of putting a coin in the
could understand what the birds mouth of corpses at burial. In Aristo
were saying. Moreover, she pro phanes' Frogs and Euripides' Alcestis
mised him that after his death he he is a miserable old man; in Virgil's
would retain all his intellectual facul Aeneid vi he is a sordid, awkward
ties in Hades and especially his gift of minor deity; on Etruscan tomb
prophecy. paintings he is a winged demon with
snakes in his hair and a mallet in his
Charila (Χαρίλα) During a famine hand. When he refused Heracles
at Delphi an orphan girl called Char access to the Underworld, Heracles
ila went to the king to beg for corn. beat him into submission with his
But he kicked her in the face, and in boathook; Charon was subsequently
despair she hanged herself. The placed in chains for a year for allow
drought worsened, and the oracle ing a living being to enter.
said that Charila's death must be
expiated. Accordingly a nine-yearly Charops (Χάροφ) A Thracian who
festival was instituted at Delphi in warned Dionysus of the harm which
CHIONE 95
LYCURGUS (2) was planning to inflict was the only person who stayed at
on him. After punishing Lycurgus, home, and this was by mistake.
Dionysus placed Charops on the Hermes noticed that she was not
throne of Thrace and initiated him there; he came down to earth again,
into the Dionysiac mysteries. Char- took hold of the house with the girl
ops handed down the knowledge of inside it and cast them both into a
the Dionysiac religion to his descen river. Chelone was changed into a
dants. tortoise which, like her, is insepar
able from its house.
Charybdis (Χάρυβδις) A monster,
the daughter of Gaia and Poseidon, Chimaera {Χίμαιρα) A beast which
she lived on the rock near Messina took its shape from both a goat and a
which lies just beside the straits lion. In some versions it is said to
between Italy and Sicily. During her have had the hindquarters of a snake
life on earth Heracles passed through and the head of a lion on the body of
her region, bringing with him the a goat, and in others it is claimed that
flocks of Geryon. Charybdis stole it had two heads, one of a goat and
some beasts from him and ate them. one of a lion; it breathed fire. It was
Zeus punished her by striking her the offspring of Typhon and
with a thunderbolt and casting her Echidna. Iobates commanded BEL-
into the sea, where she became a LEROPHON to kill it since it made
monster. Three times every day many raids on his kingdom.
Charybdis drank great quantities of Chimaereus (Χυμ,αυρβύς) One of
sea water swallowing everything the sons of the Prometheus and
that was floating. When ODYSSEUS Celaeno (1) (Table 8). He was buried
passed through the straits for the first at Troy. When a plague broke out in
time he escaped Charybdis, but later Lacedaemon the oracle of Apollo
he was caught clinging to the mast of said that it would not cease until a
his shipwrecked vessel by the current noble Lacedaemonian had offered a
of Charybdis. He succeeded in sacrifice on the tomb of the son of
grasping a fig tree which was grow Prometheus. Menelaus offered up
ing at the entrance to her cave, and the prescribed sacrifice. While stay
when she spewed the mast out, ing at Troy he was the guest of Paris,
Odysseus grasped it and continued and this was how they first came to
on his voyage. On the other side of meet.
the strait, another monster lay in
wait for sailors; this was SCYLLA ( I ) . Chione (Χιόνη)
ι. The daughter of Boreas and
Chelidon (XeXiowv) The sister of Orithyia. She bore Poseidon a son
AEDON. named EUMOLPUS and threw him
into the sea; he was saved by his
Chelone (Χελώνη) When the father.
wedding of Zeus and Hera took 2. The child of Callirhoe (1) and
place, Hermes invited not only the Nilus. Chione was raped by a
gods, but also all the humans and
peasant but Hermes carried her off
even the animals to attend. Chelone
and placed her among the clouds.
96 CHIRON
Hermione. There the girl founded a Cilia (Κίλλα) Sister of Priam (Table
shrine of Demeter Chthonia. 4). She bore THYMOETES a son called
2. One o f the daughters of ERECH- Munippus whilst Hecuba was preg
THEUS. She married Butes (2), her nant with PARIS. When Hecuba
uncle, though in another version she dreamt that she gave birth to a blaz
was offered as a sacrifice at the time ing brand which set Troy on fire, the
of the struggle between Eumolpus of people asked Aesacus what this
Eleusis and Erechtheus. In another meant. He explained that the forth
account she killed herself and her sis coming child would destroy Troy.
ters after the eldest, Protogenia (4), Although Aesacus meant Paris,
had been sacrificed. Priam misinterpreted the prophecy
and had his sister's child put to death.
Cicones (Κίκονες) A Thracian tribe Sometimes Cilia is said to be Hecu
recorded in the Iliad as being allies of ba's sister, and Priam to have fath
Priam. In the Odyssey Odysseus ered her son.
made his first stop in their country
after leaving Troy. He sacked Ismar- Cillas (Κίλλας) The charioteer of
us, sparing only MARON, a priest o f Pelops (1). He drowned during a
Apollo, and his wife. Odysseus' sol voyage with Pelops from Lycia to
diers stayed on to plunder the town, the Péloponnèse, where Pelops was
giving the local population time to to have a chariot race with Oeno-
come in strength and attack them. maus (see SPHAERUS).
They lost six men from each ship
before they escaped. C i m m e r i a n s (Κιμμέριοι) A mythi
The Cicones derive their name cal race who lived in a country
from Cicon, the son o f Apollo and where the sun was never seen. Odys
Rhodope. Orpheus is said to have seus went there to conjure up the
lived in their country and was dead and to question Tiresias.
initiated there into the mysteries o fAncient writers hold different views
Apollo, and it is said Ciconian on where this country was located:
women tore him to pieces. some say it was in the extreme West
and others that it lay to the north of
Cilix (Κίλιξ) One of the sons o f the Black Sea. Accordingly, the
Agenor; he was the brother of Cad Cimmerians are regarded as the an
mus, Thasos and Europa (5) (Table cestors o f the Celts or as the fore
3). He accompanied his brothers in fathers o f the Scythians o f southern
their search for Europa and stopped Russia. Occasionally they are said to
when he arrived at Cilicia, which live near Cumae; it was believed that
took his name. Other authors make one of the gates of the Underworld
him the son o f Cassiopia and Phoe was there, and the Cimmerians were
nix (2), who, in an alternative ver supposed to live near the Country of
sion, was his brother. Cilix joined the Dead. They are also said to have
forces with Sarpedon (2) in an ex lived in underground dwellings,
pedition against the Lycians, and linked with each other by passages,
after their victory he gave up a part and never to have left their city
of Lycia to Sarpedon. except at night.
CIRCE 99
seus mixed the moly with the con She and Zeus were reconciled. In
tents of the cup. Then, when Circe memory of this a festival celebrating
touched him with her wand, he re the marriage of Zeus and Hera was
mained unaffected by her spell. He held annually at Plataea (cf. ALALCO-
drew his sword and threatened to MENEUS).
kill her but she swore by the Styx to Other legends allude to the name
do no harm either to himself or to of Cithaeron. According to one the
his men and changed the sailors back violent Cithaeron killed his father
to their original shapes. Odysseus and his gentle brother Helicon by
spent a very pleasant month in her hurling them from a rock, killing
company, some sources say a year. himself in the fall. Two neighbour
During this period he fathered a son ing mountains came to be called
called TELEGONUS, a daughter called Cithaeron and Helicon, the former
Cassiphone and, in some versions, a in memory of the brutal hero
son called Nausithous (3). because it was the home of the Eri
In other traditions Circe is also nyes, the latter after the kindly hero
said to have borne a son called Lati- because it was the home of the
nus (see CALYPSO) or in other ver Muses. For another legend concern
sions, three sons, Romus, Antias and ing Cithaeron see TISIPHONE.
Ardeas. Circe is also said to have
been involved in intrigues with Picus Cleomedes (ΚΑ€ομήδης) A hero
(see CANENS) and with Jupiter, who from Astypalaea who during the
fathered the god Faunus. Olympic Games killed his opponent,
Circe plays a part during the Iccus of Epidaurus. He went mad
return voyage of the ARGONAUTS. when he was not declared the
She was also responsible for the winner. He returned to his own
metamorphosis of SCYLLA ( I ) who country and knocked down the
was her rival for the love of the sea- pillar which supported the roof of a
deity GLAUCUS (4). school, and some sixty children were
killed. Then he took refuge in the
Cithaeron (Κιθαιρών) A king of temple of Athena. His pursuers de
Plataea who gave his name to the cided to capture him there but failed
nearby Mount Cithaeron. He pre to find him, dead or alive. They
ceded Asopus on the throne. During questioned the oracle which replied
Cithaeron's reign Zeus quarrelled that Cleomedes was the last hero to
with Hera. Zeus was upset and went live and that his cult should be estab
to Plataea, where Cithaeron advised lished, and this was carried out at the
him to make a statue of a woman, seventy-second Olympic Games.
cover it in a big cloak and put it in a
cart drawn by oxen. When Hera saw Cleopatra (Κλ€οπάτρα)
this she made enquiries and was told ι. The daughter of Boreas and
that Zeus was abducting Plataea, the Orithyia. She was married to Phi-
daughter of Asopus, and was to neus (3), who fathered two sons,
make her his wife. Hera rushed up Plexippus (2) and Pandion. Cleopa
and tore the cloak off the statue, rea tra was imprisoned by her husband
lized the trick and began to laugh. and her children were blinded when
CLITUS ιοί
Phineus married a second wife, Idaea where she founded the town of
(2), but the Argonauts came to her Clete. Some time later she died
rescue and (in at least one version of fighting against the people of C r o -
the story) killed Phineus. ton, who annexed her town. She had
2. The daughter of Idas and the a son called Caulon.
wife of Meleager. After her hus
band's death she hanged herself. Clinis (Κλεΐνις) A Babylonian who
3. A girl who was sent to Troy by was loved by Apollo and Artemis.
the Locrians (see PERIBOEA 3). He often used to visit the land of the
4. The daughter of Tros and Cal- Hyperboreans with Apollo and there
lirhoe (4). he saw that asses were sacrificed to
the gods. He wished to do the same
Cleostratus (KXeoστρατός) A The- in Babylon but Apollo forbade him
ban who rid his country of a dragon to do so, telling him to sacrifice only
which demanded as a tribute the life animals which were generally used,
of a young man every year. Cleos such as sheep, oxen and goats. Des
tratus had been chosen by lot as the pite this command, two of his sons,
victim, but his friend Menestratus Lycius and Harpasus, disobeyed, but
made him a metal breastplate stud Apollo made the donkey become
ded with iron hooks. Cleostratus put deranged. It killed the two young
it on and allowed himself to be men, their father and the rest of the
eaten, but the dragon died from the family, who arrived, drawn by the
effects. noise. Apollo and the other gods
took pity on them, however, and
changed them into birds.
Cleothera (Κλεοθήρα) A daughter
of PANDAREOS and Harmothoe and
the sister of Aedon and Merope (3). Clite (Κλείτη) The daughter of
After they had lost their parents the Merops, the prophet of Percotus, in
three sisters were brought up by Mysia. She was the wife of CYZICUS.
Aphrodite, Hera and Athena. When
they became young women the Clitor (Κλςίτωρ)
eldest, Aedon, married Zethus, but ι. One of the sons of Azan. Clitor
Cleothera and Merope were founded the town which sub
abducted by the Erinyes. sequently bore his name and he was
the most powerful prince in the
C l e s o n y m u s (Κλησώνυμος) The whole of Arcadia. He died childless
son of Amphidamas of Opontus. In and his kingdom was inherited by
his childhood he used to play with Aepytus (3).
PATROCLUS but he was accidentally 2. One of the fifty sons of Lycaon
killed by his playmate. (2). He may be identical with Clitor
(1).
Clete (Κλήτη) The nurse of PENTHE-
SILEA and an Amazon herself. After Clitus (Κλ€Ϊτος)
Penthesilea died, Clete was cast up ι. The son of Mantius. He was
by a storm on the south coast of Italy abducted by Eos because of his
102 CLYMENE
beauty and set by her among the im Orchomenus. He was stoned to
mortals. He had a son called Coera- death by the Thebans in the wood
nus (i) and a grandson, Polyidus (i). which was sacred to Poseidon, and in
2. See PALLENE ( i ) . revenge for his death his son ERGINUS
3. The son of Polyidus (1). (1) forced the Thebans to pay
tribute; they were freed from this by
Clymene (Κλυμένη) Heracles.
ι. A daughter of Oceanus and 3. An Arcadian, the son of Schoe-
Tethys. By her marriage to Iapetus neus (1), or of Teleus, king of Arca-
she gave birth to Atlas (1), Prometh dia; he fell in love with his daughter,
eus, Epimetheus and Menoetius (2) Harpalyce (2) and had an incestuous
(Table 8). In some versions she is relationship with her. Later, he
regarded as the wife of Prometheus married her to Alastor but then
and the mother of Hellen. Accord abducted her from her husband. In
ing to other accounts she is said to revenge the girl killed either her
have married Helios and to have young brothers or the son Clymenus
borne him a son, Phaethon, and the had fathered, served them up to Cly-
HELIADES ( 2 ) . menus and made him eat them.
2. The daughter of Nereus and When he realized what a strange dish
Doris. his daughter had given him, Clyme-
3. One of the daughters of Minyas. nus killed first her and then himself.
She married Phylacus (i) and had He is also said to have been turned
two sons, Iphiclus (i) and Alcimedes. into a bird or to have committed
In other accounts she is said to have suicide.
been the wife of Cephalus whom she 4. A son of Oeneus of Calydon.
married after the death of Procris,
but is also supposed to have married Clytemnestra (Κλυταιμνήστρα)
Iasus (1) and to have had a daughter, Daughter of Tyndareus and LEDA,
Atalanta. and twin sister of Helen, although
4. One of the daughters of Catreus Helen was the daughter of Zeus,
of Crete. She married Nauplius (2) who coupled with Leda in the form
and was the mother of Palamedes, of a swan.
Oeax and Nausimedon. She was first married to Tantalus
(2), but Agamemnon killed him and
Clymenus (Κλύμ€νος) her children. Her brothers, the Dios
ι. A native of the town of Cydo- curi, then forced him to marry her.
nia, in Crete. He came to Olympia She had several children by AGAMEM
about fifty years after Deucalion's NON. When Menelaus was at Troy
flood and founded the Games there; attempting to recover Helen, Cly
he also built an altar there to the temnestra looked after Helen's
Curetés and to his ancestor Heracles. daughter Hermione. After the Greek
Clymenus reigned over the country army gathered at Aulis, the seer Cal-
until ENDYMION stripped him of his chas (1) declared that Clytemnestra's
power. daughter IPHIGENIA had to be sacri
2. A Boeotian hero; he was the son ficed. After the sacrifice Agamem
of Presbon and ruled the town of non sent Clytemnestra back to
CODRUS 103
Argos, where she fostered plans for name appears in some lists of the
revenge. Argonauts.
Clytemnestra was initially faithful
to Agamemnon while he was at Cnageus (Κναγβύς) A Laconian
Troy. He had left Demodocus (2) who had been taken prisoner by the
with her with instructions both to Athenians at the battle of Aphidna.
act as her adviser and to report back He was sold as a slave in Crete and
to him. But AEGISTHUS fell in love placed in the service of Artemis. He
with her and Demodocus could not eventually escaped, taking with him
prevent her yielding to him. She the priestess, a young girl, and the
may have been influenced by NAUP- statue of the goddess. After his
LIUS (2), by desire to take revenge for return to Laconia, he established the
the sacrifice of Iphigenia, or by cult of Artemis Cnagia.
jealousy of Agamemnon's liaison
with Chryseis. In the epic poets Cly Cocalus (Κώκαλος) King of Cami-
temnestra played no part in Aga cos in Sicily. Daedalus took refuge
memnon's murder on his return with him after his escape from Crete
from Troy, but the tragedians main (see ICARUS). Minos went looking for
tain that she was an accomplice, and Daedalus, and wherever he went he
indeed that she killed him with her offered rewards to anyone who
own hands: she made a robe for him, could insert a thread into a spiral
sewing up the neck and sleeves, so shell. When Cocalus brought the
that he was encumbered and ren threaded shell to Minos he knew that
dered helpless. She also killed Cas Daedalus, the man of ingenuity
sandra, of whom she was jealous. above all others, must be close at
Tragic writers say that she visited her hand. Cocalus then promised to
hatred on Agamemnon's children: hand Daedalus over after a banquet,
she had Electra (3) incarcerated, and but instructed his daughters to scald
would have killed Orestes had the Minos to death in his bath. Thus
child not been taken away by his Minos met his end.
tutor. Later Clytemnestra was killed
by ORESTES to avenge the death of his C o c y t u s (Κωκυτός) The Cocytus
father. or the 'River of Groans' was one of
the rivers of Hades. It was an ex
Clytia (Κλυτία) A young girl loved tremely cold watercourse which ran
by Helios who then spurned her for parallel to the Styx. It had to be
love of Leucothoe (2). Clytia told crossed by the souls of the dead
Leucothoe's father, and for this was before they could reach the kingdom
buried in a deep ditch, where she of Hades (see CHARON).
died. Helios never visited Leucothoe
again. She wasted away with love Codrus (Κόδρος) The son of
and turned into a heliotrope, the MELANTHUS whom he succeeded as
flower which keeps its face turned king of Athens. During his reign the
always towards the sun. A son called Peloponnesians declared war on the
Thersanor was born from the liaison Athenians, and the Delphic oracle
between Leucothoe and Helios. His promised them victory if they
104 COERANUS
refrained from killing the king of first king of Attica. He was over
Athens. When this pronouncement thrown by his brother-in-law
became known to the Athenians, Amphictyon; driven out of the city,
Codrus resolved to sacrifice his life he settled in the district of Myrrhina,
for his country: he left Athens where he consecrated a shrine to
dressed as a beggar and sought out Artemis Coelanis; he died there (see
two of the enemy, with whom he CRANAUS and CECROPS for varying
picked a quarrel. He killed one of traditions).
them, and was himself slain by the
other. The Athenians then Comaetho (Κομαιθώ)
demanded his body from the Pelo- ι. The daughter of Pterelaus
ponnesians in order to bury it. The (Table 7). See AMPHITRYON.
Peloponnesians realized they had lost 2. A priestess of Artemis at Patras.
all hope of conquering Athens and She was loved by Melanippus (6),
returned to their own country. and she returned his love, though
Codrus' tomb was erected at the their parents were opposed to this
place where he died, on the right match. The two young lovers used
bank of the Ilissus; it became one of to meet in the priestess' sanctuary,
the show-places of Athens. After his and Artemis, angered by this sacri
death Codrus was succeeded by his lege, sent a plague upon the land.
elder son, Medon. His younger son, The oracle of Delphi revealed the
NELEUS (2), went into exile at Mile cause of Artemis' anger; the sacrifice
tus. of the guilty couple was pronounced
to be the only means of appeasing
her. This was carried out, and
Coeranus (Κοίρανος)
furthermore, each year the hand
ι. The son of CLITUS ( I ) and father
somest youth and the most beautiful
o f POLYIDUS ( i ) .
girl in the land were sacrificed to
2. A charioteer who was slain by
Artemis. This custom continued
Hector.
until the arrival of EURYPYLUS (2).
3. A Milesian who saw a fisherman
with a dolphin he had caught; Coe Comatas (Κομάτας) A shepherd
ranus bought the animal and from Thurii, on the gulf of Taren-
returned it to the water. Some time tum, who used frequently to make
later, when he was shipwrecked, sacrifices to the Muses. His master
Coeranus was saved by dolphins. (from whose herds Comatas used to
After his death, when his funeral select the victims) shut him up in a
cortège passed near the port of Mile- sarcophagus of cedar-wood, telling
tus, a school of dolphins appeared him that the Muses would no doubt
and accompanied the mourners. find a way to save him. Three
months later the sarcophagus was
Coeus (Κοΐος) One of the Titans. opened, and the young man was
By his own sister, Phoebe (1), he found still alive: the goddesses had
sired Leto, the mother of Apollo, sent him bees which had nourished
Artemis and Asteria (1) (Table 8). him with their honey.
pus. Traditions vary as to the However, after this the babies of the
number of her children, although women of Caphyes were all still
seven is the usual number, the seven born. The oracle of Delphi said that
Corybantes or Curetés of Euboea. the goddess was angered by the
She was married to the god Socus or slaughter of the children and ordered
Saocus, but he was so violent that she that they be buried reverently and be
fled with her children via Crete to paid the honours due to heroes. This
Phrygia, where they were taken in was done, and thereafter this Arte
by Dionysus. They later went to mis was called 'The Strangled Arte
Athens where Cecrops (1) helped mis' (Άπαγχομ,ένη).
them take revenge on Socus. After
Socus died she returned to Euboea, Consentes The Etruscans acknow
where she was metamorphosed into ledged the existence of six gods and
a dove (see also CURETÉS). She was six goddesses, who formed Jupiter's
also called Chalcis because she was privy council and who assisted him
believed to have introduced bronze when important decisions had to be
weapons (Greek χαλκός = bronze); taken, notably the hurling of certain
her sons used to dance and clash their types of thunderbolt. Their statues
weapons, hitting their shields with stood beneath a portico at the side of
their spears (see also PYRRHICUS). the road running from the Forum to
the Capitol.
Comètes (Κομήτης)
ι. The son of Sthenelus (3). When Consus A Roman god who had an
DiOMEDES (2) left for the Trojan underground altar in the middle of
War, he entrusted Comètes with the the Circus Maximus. This altar was
care of his house, but Comètes disinterred on each of the god's feast-
seduced his wife AEGIALE. In doing days, during the Consualia and
this, Comètes was the instrument of during the horse-races. Draught ani
the anger of Aphrodite, who had mals, horses, asses and mules were
been wounded by the hero. On spared from work on these days and
returning to his fatherland, Dio- garlanded with flowers; horse-races
medes was forced into exile by and even mule-races were held. The
Comètes and Aegiale. rape of the Sabine women took place
2. The son of TISAMENUS ( I ) . during the first feast-day of Consus.
Cora (Κόρα) Cora, whose name Apollo might demand for his having
means 'young girl', was DEMETER'S slain Poene. The oracle instructed
daughter, better known as PERSE- him to take a sacred tripod from the
PHONE. temple at Delphi and set out bearing
it upon his back. When the tripod
C o r c y r a (Κέρκυρα) See CERCYRA. fell from his shoulders he was to stop
and found a city; thus the site for the
C o r i n n u s (Κόριννος) A legendary city of Megara was selected. His
Trojan poet who is said to have tomb was to be seen in the central
written the Iliad before Homer, at square of this city.
the actual time of the Trojan war, 2. A Phrygian, the son of MYGDON
and to have learnt the art of writing (1), who came to offer help to Priam,
from Palamedes. He was also said to if the latter would agree to give him
have composed an epic poem on the CASSANDRA'S hand in return; but he
war waged by Dardanus against the was killed at the fall of Troy.
Paphlagonians.
Coronides (Κορωνίδες) The Cor-
C o r i n t h u s (Κόρινθος) Corinthus, onides were two young sisters called
the eponym of Corinth, was said by Metioche and Menippe, the
the Corinthians to be one of the sons daughters of Orion. They were sac
of Zeus. The rest of Greece laughed rificed during a plague which had
at this claim until the phrase 'Corin been visited upon Orchomenus in
thus, son of Zeus' became the pro Boeotia. Their bodies were duly in
verbial expression for a monotonous terred, but Hades and Persephone
catch-phrase. He was said to be the took pity on them and transformed
son of MARATHON. He fled to Attica their dead bodies into stars.
with his father, and on the death of
EPOPEUS both father and son returned C o r o n i s (Κορωνίς)
to Corinth. When Marathon died, ι. The daughter of Phlegyas, king
Corinthus became king. According of the Lapiths. She was the mother
to one tradition, he was assassinated of Asclepius. According to a sacred
by his subjects (see also GORGE (2)), tradition she was really called Aegla
and his death was avenged by Sisy and had been given the surname
phus, who reigned over Corinth Coronis (the Crow) because of her
after him. beauty. In this tradition Phlegyas
was an ordinary inhabitant of Epi-
C o r o e b u s (Κόροφος) daurus who had married a Thessalian
ι. Apollo sent a monster called girl, Cleomene, the daughter of
Poene to devour the children of the Malus and Erato (1). For her legend
inhabitants of Argos because of the see ASCLEPIUS and compare
action of CROTOPUS. Eventually a MARPESSA.
young countryman called Coroebus 2. The daughter of Coronus, who
slew Poene, but another scourge was was changed into a crow by her pro
visited upon the Argives. Coroebus tectress Athena to enable her to
then went to Delphi, where he escape the attentions of Poseidon
offered to make whatever amends who was in love with her.
CREON 107
3. One of the Nymphs who were When his daughter Atthis died
Dionysus' nurses. See BUTES ( Ι ) . unmarried, her name was given to
the country: thus Cranae became
Coronus (Κόρωνος) The son of Attica. Cranaus was overthrown by
Caeneus who reigned over the his son-in-law, AMPHICTYON.
Lapiths. King Aegimius appealed to
Heracles for help against Coronus, C r a n t o r (Κράντωρ) Peleus' favour
and Heracles slew him. Coronus had ite squire. He was at his side at the
taken part in the expedition of the battle between the Lapiths and the
Argonauts. Centaurs. He was killed by a tree
hurled by the Centaur Demeleon;
Corybantes (Κορύβαντβς) Sons of his death was avenged by Peleus.
Apollo and Thalia (1). They were
attendants of Cybele, Dionysus and C r e o n (Κρέων)
Rhea. Like the CURETÉS, with whom ι. A king of Corinth, and the son
they are often confused, they celeb- of Lycaethus. ALCMAEON entrusted
rated their rites with armed dances in him with the upbringing of Amphi-
which they clashed their spears and lochus and Tisiphone (2), his chil
shields. The priests of Cybele, also dren by Manto. For Creon's death
known as Corybantes, celebrated her see MEDEA.
festivals by dancing to the sound of 2. A king of Thebes, and the son of
cymbals, drums and flutes. Some Menoeceus (1). After Laius died at
writers say that they took their name the hands of Oedipus, Creon suc
from Corybas, son of Iasus and ceeded him as king; but the city fell
Cybele, who first introduced victim to the SPHINX. Creon offered
Cybele's rites into Phrygia. a reward for whoever could rid the
city of this scourge, OEDIPUS killed
C o r y t h u s (Κόρυθος) the Sphinx, and Creon, in accord
ι. The son of Zeus and Electra (2). ance with his promise, gave up the
In one legend Iasion and DARDANUS throne to him. He also gave JOCASTA
were his sons but according to others to Oedipus in marriage. Later, when
they were actually sons of Zeus and Thebes was ravaged by a plague,
Electra (see Table 4). Corythus Oedipus sent Creon to consult the
reigned over the Tyrrhenians of Delphic oracle. Once Oedipus'
Italy, the ancestors of the Etruscans, incest with Jocasta was revealed
and founded the city of Cortona in Creon took his place as king. In
Italy. another legend Oedipus went to
2. A king of Tegea in Arcadia who Colonus in Attica, but Creon tried
rescued and reared TELEPHUS after his to make him return to Thebes
mother Auge exposed him. because the Delphic Oracle had de
clared that Thebes' prosperity would
Cranaus (Κραναός) One of the first not be assured until Oedipus
kings of Attica, who succeeded returned there. When Oedipus
CECROPS. During his reign the popu refused, Creon tried to have him
lation called themselves Cranaeans brought back by force, and Theseus
and the town of Athens, Cranae. had to intervene on Oedipus' behalf.
io8 CREONTIADES
During the war of the Seven lots. Each brother had to put a
against Thebes (see ADRASTUS) Creon pebble into an urn full of water, and
offered his own son Megareus as a the portions were to be allotted in
sacrifice to Ares at the order of Tire- the order in which each of the
sias, and thus saved the city. He then pebbles was drawn out. Cresphontes
decreed that POLYNICES, who had wanted Messenia, the richest of the
borne arms against his own city, portions, and he put a lump of earth
should remain unburied (see also into the water, which disintegrated.
ANTIGONE). Theseus forced Creon to Thus the two other pebbles were
return the bodies of the dead to the drawn out first and Cresphontes
Argives: some versions say that The became ruler of Messenia, while
seus slew Creon during this incident. Temenus received Argos and Aristo-
Creon purified AMPHITRYON when demus got Lacedaemon. Each
the latter took refuge in Thebes; he brother built an altar to Zeus and on
also required Amphitryon to slay the these altars each found a sign in
Teumessian fox before he would keeping with the character of the
accompany him on his expedition people over whom he had been
against the Teleboeans. Creon was chosen to rule: on the altar of the
also ruler of Thebes when Heracles ruler of Argos, a toad; on that of
rid the city of the tribute imposed by Lacedaemon, a snake; and on that of
ERGINUS (i). Messenia, a fox.
Cresphontes divided Messenia
Creontiades (Κρ€οντιάδης) A son into five regions, granted the in-
of Heracles and Megara (i). He was digenous population rights equal to
killed together with his brothers by those of the Dorians, and chose
his own father, who had gone mad. Stenyclarus as his capital; but the
Dorians criticized this choice, and
Cres (Κρής) The eponym of the Cresphontes changed his system of
Cretans. He reigned over the first in government accordingly. He
habitants of the island, the 'Eteocre- assigned Stenyclarus for occupation
tans', and is also said to have exclusively by the Dorians, but then
provided asylum in the range of the rich land-owners became discon-
Mount Ida to the child Zeus who tented, rose in rebellion and killed
was threatened with death by his him.
father Cronus. He gave the Cretans a
code of laws before the time of Cretheus (Κρηθ€υς) A son of Aeo
Minos. He is sometimes presented as lus (1) and Aenarete (Table 5). His
the father of Talos (i). marriage to his niece Tyro produced
three sons: Aeson, Pheres (1) and
Cresphontes (Κρ€σφόντης) One of Amythaon (Table 6). He adopted
the Heraclids. With his brothers Neleus and Pelias, Tyro's children,
Aristodemus and Temenus (3) he fathered by Poseidon before her
conquered the peninsula of the Pélo- marriage. He is said to have sired
ponnèse, at the head of the Dorians. Talaus (more commonly said to
After the conquest the three brothers have been the son of Bias); a
divided the country up by drawing daughter, Hippolyta, surnamed
CROCUS 109
the Trojan War, and was one o f the around her and which survived to a
heroes inside the Wooden Horse. fairly late period under the Roman
2. A Thessalian who married a girl Empire. She was generally portrayed
called Leucone. Cyanippus would wearing a crown o f towers and
go out hunting in the morning and accompanied by lions, or riding in a
come back in the evening so tired chariot drawn by these animals. She
that he usually went straight to bed. had as her servants the CURETÉS, also
Leucone felt neglected and bored. known as the CORYBANTES.
One day she decided to follow her
husband, hoping to discover what he C y c h r e u s (Κυχρ€υς) Son of Posei
found so attractive in the woods. She don and Salamis. Cychreus killed a
slipped out o f the house and before serpent which was ravaging the
long found herself deep in the island of Salamis, after which the
thicket, where her husband's hounds islanders made him their king. In
discovered her and tore her to pieces. other versions Cychreus raised the
When he discovered her body C y a serpent, which was later driven out
nippus was driven to despair. He to Eleusis where it became an attend
built a funeral-pyre and laid his wife ant o f Demeter. During the naval
upon it; then he slew his hounds, battle of Salamis a serpent was said to
threw them on to the pyre and, have appeared among the Greek
finally, he slew himself. ships: the Delphic oracle revealed
3. The father of CYANE 3. that this was Cychreus.
Cychreus had a daughter, Char-
C y a t h u s (Κύαθος) See EUNOMUS. iclo (2), the mother of Endeis and
mother-in-law of Aeacus. Cychreus
C y b e l e (Κυβέλη) A Phrygian g o d left his kingdom to his great grand
dess, often called 'the Mother o f the son Telamon, Aeacus' son. In
Gods', or 'the Great Mother': she another tradition Cychreus'
governed the whole o f Nature. Her daughter was Glauce (3), who bore
cult spread over the whole o f the Telamon by Actaeus.
Greek world, and, later, into the
Roman world as well. C y c l o p e s (Κνκλωττ€ς) Ancient
Cybele was often identified by the mythographers recognized three dif
Greek mythographers with RHEA. ferent kinds o f Cyclopes: the U r a -
The Rhea worshipped on Mount nian Cyclopes, sons of Uranus and
Cybele in Phrygia was said to be Gaia, the Sicilian Cyclopes, and the
Cybele. She figures little in myth; in 'master-mason' Cyclopes.
the story of AGDISTIS and ATTIS, Attis The Uranian Cyclopes had only
appeared sometimes as her lover but one eye in the middle of the forehead
more often as her companion. It is and they were distinguished by their
also possible that her personality was strength and manual dexterity.
concealed behind that o f the her There were three of them, Brontes,
maphrodite Agdistis, the lover o f Steropes (or Asteropes) and Arges,
Attis after his emasculation. names which corresponded to
Cybele's major importance lay in Thunder, Lightning and Thunder
the orgiastic cult which grew up bolt, respectively. They were impri-
CYCNUS 113
nus, the father of Tenes, seems not the supposition that swans sing when
always to have been clearly dis on the point of death.
tinguished from Cycnus (i), and 5. The son of Apollo and Thyria,
doubtless this is the explanation for the daughter of Amphinomus. This
this later variant. Cycnus lived in Aetolia, between
3. The son of Ares and Pelopia (2). Pleuron and Calydon. He was very
He was a brigand who used to way handsome, but harsh and capricious
lay travellers and kill them and then - so much so that one after another
offer sacrifices to his father from the all his friends and lovers grew dis
ransom he took from them. He heartened. Of all those who paid
preyed in particular upon travellers court to him, only Phylius remained
to Delphi; this earned him the hatred in the end. Cycnus then imposed a
of Apollo, who incited the hero Her series of tasks on him: he killed a lion
acles against him. Heracles very soon without using iron weapons; cap
despatched Cycnus; but then Ares tured man-eating vultures; and led a
came forward to avenge his death. wild bull to the altar of Zeus with his
However, Athena deflected Ares' own hands. After this, his patience
javelin and Heracles wounded the exhausted, he threw himself over a
god in the thigh. So runs the Hesio- cliff. Cycnus, dishonoured and com
dic version. pletely alone, threw himself into a
This fight was generally con lake. Out of pity, Apollo trans
sidered to have taken place at Paga- formed Cycnus and his mother into
sae in Thessaly, but Apollodorus swans.
places it in Macedonia. According to
him Cycnus was the son of Ares and Cydnus (Κύδνος) The son of the
Pyrene (2); as in the other version, Nymph Anchiale; he gave his name
Cycnus was slain, but Appollodorus to the river in Cilicia. There was a
claims that when Ares intervened, popular legend in Cilicia which told
Zeus parted the combatants with a the love story of Cydnus, half man,
thunderbolt. Apollodorus wrote of half river, and Comaetho: Com-
another Cycnus, the son of Ares and aetho fell in love with the river, and
Pelopia, who was killed at Itonus, ended up by marrying Cydnus.
but there is no mention of divine
intervention in the fight. Cydon (Κύδων) The son of Hermes
A version given by Stesichorus and ACACALLIS. He was reputed to be
and Pindar states that when Heracles the founder of the Cretan city of
found himself opposed by both Cyc Cydonia. The inhabitants of Tegea
nus and Ares during the first engage in Arcadia believed that he was one
ment, he withdrew. Later, he met of the sons of their hero Tegeates;
Cycnus alone, and slew him. but there were also those who said
4. A king of Liguria, and a friend that Apollo was his father, though
of PHAETHON. Cycnus mourned his mother was the same Acacallis.
Phaethon's death so bitterly that he
was transformed into a swan. Apollo Cylabras (Κυλάβρας) A shepherd
had given this Cycnus a beautiful of Lycia from whom Lacius bought
voice, and from this account springs the land on which the town of Pha-
CYRENE 115
selis was built, paying for it in salted according to some accounts, by the
fish. The inhabitants built a sanctu god Zephyrus, and possibly by the
ary to Cylabras, where they offered Roman god Silvanus). His favourite
up salted fish in his honour. companion was a sacred stag which
he had tamed, but one summer's day
Cyllarus (Κύλλαρος) A young Cen Cyparissus inadvertently killed it
taur who was loved by the she- with his javelin. Racked by his grief,
Centaur Hylonome. He was killed he besought heaven to let his tears
during the fight between the Lapiths flow for all eternity. The gods
and Centaurs. Not wishing to live turned him into a cypress, the tree of
without him, Hylonome took her sadness.
own life with the same arrow that
had killed him. Cypselus (Κύψ€λος)
ι. The son of Aepytus (1). He was
Cyllene (Κυλλήνη) An Arcadian ruler of Arcadia when the HERACLIDS
Nymph, who gave her name to attacked Péloponnèse for a second
Mount Cyllene, where Hermes is time. Cypselus appeased them by
said to have been born. Sometimes giving his daughter Merope (2) to
she is said to have brought Hermes Cresphontes. Later he brought up
up during his infancy. AEPYTUS (2), the son of Cresphontes
and Merope, and allowed him to
Cynortas (Κυνόρτας) A king of avenge his father's death. Cypselus
Sparta, the son of Lacedaemon and had raised a temple and an altar to
the elder brother of HYACINTHUS. Demeter of Eleusis at Basilis in the
Cynortas had a son called Perieres, land of the Parrhesians. During this
or perhaps Oebalus, though Perieres goddess's annual festival, a female
was generally considered to have beauty contest was held; Herodice,
been the son of Aeolus (1). One ver Cypselus' own wife, carried off first
sion omits this generation com prize.
pletely, and makes Tyndareus the 2. A Corinthian, one of the Seven
son of Cynortas. Sages. Among the votive offerings at
Olympia was a chest, which Cypse-
Cynosura (Κυνόσουρα) A Nymph lus had offered: this was the chest in
on Mount Ida in Crete, and in some which his mother had hidden him at
legends she and Hélice (2) were said birth to conceal him from the Bac-
to have brought up the infant Zeus chiadae. As the Corinthian for a
(see AMALTHEA). When Cronus pur- chest at that time was 'cypsela', the
sued them, Zeus turned them into infant was named accordingly. This
two constellations, the great Bear chest, described by Pausanias, carried
and the Little Bear. Cynosura gave archaic inscriptions and pictures of
her name to a place in Crete, near the mythical scenes.
town of Histoi.
Cyrene (Κυρήνη) A Thessalian
Cyparissus (Κυπάρισσος) Nymph, daughter of Hypseus, the
ι. A son of Telephus who lived on king of the Lapiths. According to
Ceos, and was loved by Apollo (and Pindar, Cyrene lived in the forests of
n6 CYTISSORUS
Mount Pindus and looked after her his descendants Zeus' wrath. In each
father's flocks. One day, unarmed, generation, the eldest son had to
she attacked and overcame a lion. avoid the Prytaneum; for if he were
Apollo saw her do this and fell in found within the council hall, he
love with her. After enquiring of the would have been sacrificed.
Centaur Chiron who she was, he
abducted her to Libya and gave her Cyzicus {Κύζικος) A hero of the
the land of Cyrene. She had a son, Propontis, on the Asiatic coast. He
ARISTAEUS, by Apollo. played a part in the legend of the
In the Hellenistic era it was said ARGONAUTS. Cyzicus is said to have
that after Cyrene's arrival in Libya come from northern Greece. He was
she was given the kingdom of the son of Aeneas and of Aenete, a
Cyrene by Eurypylus (5), since she daughter of Eusorus, the king of
was able to kill a lion which was Thrace. Cyzicus reigned over the
ravaging the country. Doliones, who traced their origins
The myth of Cyrene has many back to Poseidon. When the Argo
variants. Some say that she came to nauts arrived in his country, he had
Libya straight from Thessaly, others just married Clite, daughter of the
that she came via Crete. Others say soothsayer Merops. Cyzicus wel
that Apollo mated with her in the comed the sailors, gave them a ban
form of a wolf (there was a cult of quet, and replenished their supplies,
Lycian Apollo in Cyrene). Virgil de but after the Argonauts had set sail a
scribes Cyrene as a water-nymph storm came up at night and forced
who lived beneath the River Peneus. them back to shore at the place
She is also said to be the mother of which they had just left. The
Idmon. Doliones thought they were being
attacked by pirates, and fell upon the
Cytissorus (Κυτίσσωρος) The son Argonauts. Cyzicus came to the aid
fathered by Phrixus after his arrival of his men and was slain by Jason.
in Colchis, on one of King Aeetes' On the next morning, everyone dis
daughters, either Chalciope (2) or covered the mistake. The Argonauts
Iophassa. When he grew up, he went mourned for three days over the
to his grandfather ATHAMAS to king's corpse and then gave him a
receive his inheritance. He arrived at great funeral in the Grecian style and
the very moment when Athamas' held funeral games. Clite was over
subjects were preparing to sacrifice come by despair and hanged herself.
him to propitiate Zeus. Cytissorus The city over which Cyzicus had
saved him. This earned both him and reigned then took his name.
and made many conquests. He had a
daughter called Chione (3) who
attracted many suitors. One day
Hermes and Apollo both fell in love
with her. She gave them two chil
dren from this encounter. The one
D
by Hermes was called AUTOLYCUS
and the one by Apollo Philammon.
But Chione had the audacity to set
her beauty above that of Artemis,
who killed her with an arrow. Dae-
Dactyls (Δάκτυλοι) The Dactyls of dalion's grief was so intense that
Mount Ida were daemons, Cretan or Apollo transformed him into a
Phrygian in origin, who formed part sparrow-hawk, a bird which
of Rhea's or Cybele's retinue. Their retained the violent instincts he had
name means 'the fingers'. They were had as a man.
so called either on account of their
skill at working with their hands Daedalus (Δαίδαλος) An Athenian
because when their mother (Rhea, or descended from Cecrops. Daedalus
one of the Nymphs of Mount Ida) was a skilled artist, architect, sculptor
was giving birth to them she pressedand inventor. In antiquity he was
her clenched fingers into the soil to
credited with archaic works of art
ease her pain, or because they sprang
and such inventions as the animated
from the dust that Zeus' nurses scat
statues mentioned in Plato's Meno.
tered behind them through their According to some legends, Daeda
fingers. lus' father was Eupalamus or altern
They were related to the Curetés,atively METION.
and were said, like them, to have Daedalus worked in Athens,
watched over Zeus during his in- where his nephew Talos (2) was his
fancy. They were said to have num- pupil. Talos proved so talented that
bered five, ten, or sometimes even aDaedalus became jealous, and when
hundred. An Elean tradition names Talos, drawing his inspiration from
the males as follows: Heracles (not the jaw-bone of a serpent, invented
Alcmene's son), Epimedes, Idas (or the saw, Daedalus threw him from
Acesidas), Paeonius, and Iasus. the top of the Acropolis. Daedalus
The Dactyls were credited with was tried before the Areopagus and
the spread, and sometimes the inven-sentenced to exile. He fled to the
tion, of the Mysteries. To amuse thecourt of King Minos at Crete. When
Minos' wife PASIPHAE became ena
infant Zeus, they organized the first
Olympic Games. They were also moured of a bull, Daedalus con
believed to have taught Paris music structed a wooden cow for her. He
on Mount Ida in the Troad. also built the Labyrinth for Minos —
a building with a maze of corridors
Daedalion (Δαι8αλίων) The brother in which the MINOTAUR was confined
of Ceyx (2) and the son of Eosphor- — and then in due course suggested to
us. He loved hunting and fighting, Ariadne the trick which saved The-
II8 DAMAETHUS
and buried the heads at Lerna. At attacked the bull, overcame it, and
Zeus' order, they were purified of killed it. The Argives were struck by
their murders by Hermes and the analogy between this wolf that
Athena. Danaus later confirmed the had come out of its solitude, far from
union of Hypermestra and Lynceus, mankind, and Danaus, and chose
and tried to marry off the other Danaus as their king. Danaus built a
daughters, but there were few shrine to Lycian Apollo (Wolfish
suitors. He then decided to hold Apollo).
games with his daughters as prizes; For the way in which Danaus pro
would-be suitors were excused the cured water for the land of Argos,
requirement of providing the cus which had been deprived of it as a
tomary gifts. His daughters thus result of Poseidon's anger, see
married young men from their own AMYMONE and INACHUS. For the
country; and with them they pro murder of Aegyptus' fifty sons, see
duced the race of the Danaans. To DANAIDES.
gether with their father they were Danaus was said to have founded
later killed by Lynceus, who thus the citadel of Argos. He was buried
avenged his brothers' deaths. The there.
Danaides were also said to have been
punished in Hades by being com Daphne (Δάφνη) A Nymph loved
pelled everlastingly to refill leaking by Apollo; her name means 'laurel'
water-pots (see AMYMONE). in Greek. She is sometimes said to be
the daughter of the River Ladon,
Danaus (Javaos) One of the two sometimes of the Thessalian River
sons of BELUS and Anchinoe (see Peneus. Apollo's love for her was
AEGYPTUS, and Table 3). By different fired by Eros, angered by the taunts
wives he had fifty daughters (see of Apollo who had derided him for
DANAIDES). His father had given him practising archery. Daphne fled to
Libya as his kingdom, but he fled the the mountains, and just as Apollo
country, either after a warning from was about to catch her she begged
an oracle or from fear of his brother her father to transform her so that
Aegyptus' fifty sons. He travelled in she might escape. She became a
a ship with fifty banks of oars, which laurel, the tree sacred to Apollo.
Athena had advised him to build, via A Laconian version of the myth
Rhodes to Argos. Gelanor was king made Daphne the daughter of
of Argos at that time; according to Amyclas. She spent her time among
some he yielded his throne to the mountains and was a favourite of
Danaus spontaneously, but other Artemis. Leucippus (2) fell in love
stories hold that Danaus obtained the with her, disguised himself as a girl,
throne only after a rhetorical battle and joined her companions. Daphne
with Gelanor in the presence of the became fond of him, but Apollo
people of Argos. As the two contest became jealous and inspired Daphne
ants met to present their final argu and her companions with the wish to
ments, a wolf came out of the forest bathe. Leucippus hesitated to
and fell upon a herd of cattle that remove his clothing, but his com
was passing the city walls. The wolf panions forcibly undressed him. On
120 DAPHNIS
his sons' crime. Temenus' sons were with her in the shape of a dolphin
banished, but later regained power (whence the name of the child. The
in Argos with external help; Dei- Greek δ€λφίς = 'dolphin'). Some
phontes went to Epidaurus, along times he was held to be the son of
with Hyrnetho and Agrius, and Apollo, either by Celaeno (or
obtained the throne of King Pity- Melaenis), or by Thyia, or yet again
reus. While Deiphontes was at Epi by Melaena (Table 5). Delphi owed
daurus his brothers-in-law, Cerynes its original name of Pytho either to
and Phalces, carried off his wife. Dei Delphus' son, King Pythes, or to one
phontes pursued them and killed of his daughters called Pythis (see
Cerynes, but Phalces slew Hyrnetho also PYTHON).
and escaped. She was buried on the
spot, in an olive grove, and divine D e l p h y n e (Δζλφύνη)
honours were paid to her. ι. A dragon, half woman, half ser
pent, who was charged by TYPHON
D e i p y l u s (Δηίπυλος) Son of POLY- with keeping watch over Zeus'
MESTOR and Priam's daughter Ilione. sinews and muscles, which Typhon
Priam entrusted his son Polydorus had hidden in a cave in Cilicia. But
(2) to Ilione to bring up, and she Hermes and Pan outwitted Del
exchanged the two children, passing phyne and restored Zeus to his
her own son Deipylus off as her former shape and strength.
young brother. This was to ensure 2. The dragon at Delphi, which
that if one of them should die, the watched over the fountain near
other would retain his right to the which lay the old oracle taken over
throne. After the fall of Troy, A g a by APOLLO. See also PYTHON.
memnon wanted to destroy Priam's
race completely, and promised Poly- D e m e t e r (Δημήτηρ) One of the
mestor his daughter Electra (3) if he Olympian deities, the Mother God
would agree to murder Polydorus. dess of the Earth. She was the second
Polymestor accepted and killed his daughter of Cronus and Rhea (Table
own son Deipylus, thinking he was 8). Her personality is distinct from
Polydorus. Later the Delphic oracle that of GAIA, who was the Earth
informed Polydorus that his mother viewed as a cosmogonie element.
and father were dead and his native Demeter, the divinity of agriculture,
land ruined. He questioned Ilione, is essentially the Corn Goddess.
who told him the truth. On Poly Both in myth and in cult,
dorus' advice Ilione blinded Poly Demeter was closely linked to her
mestor and put him to death. daughter PERSEPHONE, and together
they formed a couple known simply
D e l p h u s (Δζλφός) The hero who as the Goddesses. Initiation into the
gave his name to Delphi. He is said Eleusinian Mysteries revealed the
to have been the reigning king of the profound significance that lay
country when APOLLO arrived to behind the myth. Persephone was
take possession of it. He was some the daughter of Zeus and Demeter
times said to be the son of Poseidon and — at least in the traditional legend
and Melantho; Poseidon coupled - the goddess' only child. She grew
DEMETER 123
fashion at Argos, driving King Proe tuous processions in which the spirits
ms' daughters mad (see PROETCDES). of the earth and of fecundity
On one occasion Dionysus de appeared, their likenesses evoked by
cided to go to Naxos and hired some masks. From these revels evolved the
Tyrrhenian pirates to take him there. more ordinary representations of the
However, the pirates headed for theatre, comedy, tragedy and satyric
Asia, intending to sell their passenger drama. From the second century BC,
as a slave. When Dionysus realized the mysteries of Dionysus made their
this he turned their oars into ser way into Italy, where they took root
pents, filled the ship with ivy, made very quickly among the people of
it echo with the sounds of invisible southern and central Italy. In 186 BC,
flutes, and immobilized it with gar the Roman Senate prohibited the
lands of vine. The pirates went mad celebration of the Bacchanalia. But
and threw themselves overboard, various mystic sects still retained the
where they became dolphins. Dionysiac tradition. In all prob
Once Dionysus' power had won ability, Caesar authorized the Bac
world-wide recognition and his cult chic ceremonies once again, and
had been widely established he Dionysus still played an important
retired to Olympus. Subsequently he part in the religion of the Imperial
decided to seek out the shade of his Age.
mother, Semele, in the Underworld
Diopatra (Διόπατρα) See TERAM-
and restore her to life. He went by
BUS.
way of Lake Lerna, a bottomless lake
which offered the quickest access to Dioscuri (Δίόσκουροι) Castor and
Hades, but as he did not know the Pollux, the 'Sons of Zeus'. They
way had to ask Prosymnus (or POLY- were the brothers of Helen and Cly-
MNUS). Down in the Underworld temnestra (Table 2). Their mother,
Dionysus persuaded Hades to release Leda, was married to Tyndareus,
Semele in exchange for something and in Homer Castor and Pollux are
that he held very dear. From among both sons of Tyndareus and are
his favourite plants Dionysus gave known as the Tyndarides. In other
up the myrtle, and this is said to be traditions, on the night when Zeus
why initiates into Dionysus' myster mated with Leda in the form of a
ies wore crowns of myrtle. swan, Leda also slept with Tyndar
It was as a god, after his ascent to eus; of the two pairs of twins that
Olympus, that Dionysus rescued resulted, Pollux and Helen were
Ariadne from Naxos (see ARIADNE attributed to Zeus, Castor and Cly-
and THESEUS, in). temnestra to Tyndareus. One ver
Dionysus also took part in the war sion holds that each pair of twins was
of the Gods against the Titans; he born from an egg laid by Leda after
killed Eurytus (1) with a blow from her union with Zeus. They were
his thyrsus (a long staff entwined born on Mount Taygetus in Sparta.
with ivy), which was his usual They were pre-eminently Dorian
emblem. heroes and became engaged in strife
Dionysus, god of wine and inspi with Theseus, the Athenian. When
ration, was worshipped with tumul Theseus and Pirithous went to the
130 DIOSCURI
lis, a daughter of Dryops; she looked this tree was the transformed body
after her father's flocks near Mount of the Nymph Lotis. Blood ran from
Oeta. The Hamadryads made her the branches, and in her anger the
their companion and Apollo fell in Nymph changed Dryope into a tree
love with her. To come closer to her like herself.
he turned himself into a tortoise. The 2. In the Aeneid Dryope was a
girl played with him as though he Nymph beloved of the god Faunus.
were a ball. When he found himself
in Dryope's lap he took the shape of D r y o p s (Αρνοψ) Dryops gave his
a serpent, and coupled with her. name to the Dryopians, who were
Dryope ran home, but said nothing said to have been one of the first
to her parents. Soon she married peoples to occupy the Hellenic
Andraemon, and gave birth to a son, peninsula. He is sometimes por
Amphissus. One day when Dryope trayed as the son of River Spercheius
had gone to sacrifice to the Hamad by POLYDORA, and sometimes as the
ryads, near a temple to Apollo built son of Apollo by Dia. His descen
by her son, the Hamadryads carried dants, who originally inhabited the
her off and made her one of them region round Mount Parnassus, were
selves. A tall poplar sprang up at the expelled by the Dorians. Some set
place where she was kidnapped, and tled in Euboea, others in Thessaly,
a spring gushed forth from the still others in the Péloponnèse, and
ground. even in Cyprus. In the Arcadian ver-
Ovid relates a slightly different sion of his legend, which made him a
version. When Amphissus was still descendant of Lycaon (2), Dryops
quite small, Dryope went up into the had a daughter who was loved by
mountain to make a sacrifice to the Hermes and became the mother of
Nymphs, but she saw a tree with Pan. In the Thessalian version, his
beautiful shining flowers and picked daughter DRYOPE coupled with
some of them. She was unaware that Apollo, and give birth to Amphissus.
and an archetypal tyrant. In the
Odyssey the beggar Irus was threa
tened with being handed over to
Echetus, who would then have had
Irus' nose and ears cut off and
thrown to his dogs. Echetus'
daughter Metope (2) had an intrigue
Ε
Ecbasus (Έκβασος) According to
Apollodorus, the son of Argos (i)
with a lover; as a punishment Eche
tus mutilated the lover and blinded
Metope with bronze needles. He
then incarcerated her and gave her
grains of bronze, promising that she
would regain her sight when she had
and Evadne (3), and brother of Piren ground them into flour.
(2), Epidaurus and Criasus.
Echidna (Έχωνα) A monster with
Echemus (Έχ€μος) The son of the torso of a woman and a serpent's
Aeropus and husband of TIMANDRA tail instead of legs. According to
(Table 2). Echemus succeeded Hesiod she was the daughter of
Lycurgus (1) on the Arcadian Phorcys and Ceto; other versions
throne, and he defended the Pélo- claim that she was descended from
ponnèse against the HERACLIDS' first Tartarus and Gaia, or from Styx, or
invasion. Echemus agreed to fight from Chrysaor. Echidna inhabited a
Hyllus, the Heraclids' leader, in cave either in Sicily or in the Pélo-
single combat: if Echemus were to ponnèse. She used to devour passers-
win, the Heraclids would not invade by until eventually she was killed by
the Péloponnèse again for fifty, or a Argos (2). Many monstrous off-
hundred, years. Echemus killed Hyl- spring were attributed to her: by
lus, and the Heraclids withdrew. Typhon she is said to have given
Echemus' tomb is said to have been birth to ORTHRUS, CERBERUS, the
at Megara, beside Hyllus', but his HYDRA OF LERNA a n d t h e CHIMAERA.
grave is also supposed to be at Tegea.
The dragons guarding the Golden
According to one account, Echemus
Fleece and the Garden of the Hesper-
participated in the expedition led by
ides are said to have been Echidna's
the Dioscuri against Attica to release
offspring, as was the eagle of PRO-
Helen from Theseus.
METHEUS.
Echetlus (Έχ€τλος) An Attic hero. In a quite different tradition
During the battle of Marathon he is related by Herodotus, when Hera-
supposed to have appeared on the cles visited Scythia he left his horses
battlefield wearing peasant's clothes to graze while he slept, and when he
and to have killed many Persians. awoke he found they had dis-
After the victory he disappeared: an appeared. As he searched he came
oracle ordered that a sanctuary across Echidna in a cave; she pro-
should be dedicated to Echetlus. mised to return his horses if he
agreed to couple with her. He con-
Echetus (Έχ€τος) A hero of Epirus sented, and as a result Echidna gave
134 ECHION
and fell to his death from the terrace. Selene saw him and fell in love with
Later Odysseus met the shade of him. Sometimes the Péloponnèse is
Elpenor in the Underworld and was the location of the legend, some-
asked to carry out Elpenor's funeral times Caria (see also HYPNUS). Endy-
rites, which he did on his return to mion is said to have given his lover
the upper world. fifty daughters. The hero NAXOS is
sometimes said to have been born of
E l y m u s (Έλνμος) The bastard son their union.
of Anchises and the companion of
AEGESTES (i), with whom he founded E n i p e u s {'Evwevç) A Thessalian
several Sicilian cities. river-god. See TYRO and Table 6.
chop it up for firewood, but could lages around Thebes. The Thebans
only make a small cut in one advanced to meet them, led by Lao-
shoulder. They then put the whole damas, son of Eteocles, and the two
statue in the fire, but it would not sides met at Glissas. Laodamas slew
burn. Finally they threw it back into Aegialeus, but was himself killed by
the sea, but when it again became Alcmaeon; the Thebans were forced
caught in their nets they realized it to retreat. During the night, on the
was a divine image and raised a advice of the seer Tiresias, the in
shrine for it. habitants of the city fled. The Epi
goni entered Thebes the next
E p h i a l t e s (Εφιάλτης) One of the morning and pillaged it; they
ALOADAE. See also GIANTS. devoted a large part of the spoils to
Pythian Apollo.
E p i d i u s A hero from Nuceria in
E p i m e l i d e s (Έπιμηλίδ€ς) Nymphs
Italy. One day he disappeared into
who watched over sheep. One day
the River Sarno; later he reappeared
some shepherds saw the Nymphs
with bulls' horns on his forehead, a
dancing near their shrine. The shep
sign that he had been transformed
herds jeered at them and pretended
into a river-god.
that they could surpass them. The
Nymphs accepted the challenge; and
E p i g e u s (Έπζιγεύς) The king of the shepherds, who were unskilled in
Budeion in Thessaly. He killed a dancing, were easily beaten. As
kinsman, was exiled, and fled to the punishment the Nymphs turned the
court of Peleus. He accompanied shepherds into trees.
Achilles to Troy, where he was slain
by Hector. E p i m e t h e u s (Έπιμηθβνς) One of
the four children of Iapetus and of
E p i g o n i (Επίγονοι) Ten years after either Clymene (1), or of Asia (Table
the failure of the expedition of the 8). He belonged to the race of Titans;
Seven against Thebes (see ADRASTUS his brothers were Atlas (1), Menoe-
and ALCMAEON (i)), the sons of the tius (2), and PROMETHEUS. Epimeth
heroes who had fallen decided to eus ('Hindsight') formed a pair with
avenge their fathers. The oracle pro Prometheus ('Foresight'). He was
mised them victory if they took Alc the tool used by Zeus to deceive the
maeon (i) as their leader. Alcmaeon highly skilled Prometheus; after the
reluctantly accepted at the bidding latter had outwitted Zeus on two
of his mother, ERIPHYLE. Those who separate occasions he forbade Epi
took part in the war were Alcmaeon metheus to accept even the smallest
(i); AMPHILOCHUS (i); Aegialeus; of presents from Zeus. However
DIOMEDES ( 2 ) ; PROMACHUS ( 2 ) ; STHE- Epimetheus could not resist when
NELUS ( 3 ) ; THERSANDRUS ( 2 ) ; a n d EUR- Zeus offered him PANDORA. In this
YALUS (1) (Pausanias also mentions way, Epimetheus became respons
Timeas and Adrastus, both brothers ible for all the miseries of mankind.
of Thersandrus). The Epigoni began Epimetheus and Pandora were the
their campaign by ravaging the vil parents of Pyrrha (1).
ERECHTHEUS 139
of the chariot, under Athena's inspi from his ravaged kingdom. When
ration. he had amassed a sufficient sum, he
married a young woman on the
Erginus (Έργΐνος) advice of the oracle and fathered two
ι. The king of the Minyans of children, the architects AGAMEDES
Orchomenus, in Boeotia, and the and TROPHONios.
son of Clymenus (2). When his 2. A son of Poseidon and one of
father was killed by a Theban called the ARGONAUTS. Sometimes he is
Perieres (2), Erginus marched on identified with Erginus (1). When
Thebes. After slaying many Thebans the Argo\ pilot, Tiphys, died, Ergi
he concluded a treaty with the king nus took his place. Although he was
of the city, under which Thebes quite young his hair was white, and
would pay him an annual tribute of a this provoked derision from the
hundred cattle for twenty years. women at Lemnos. In the games
When Heracles was on his way they held at Lemnos, he won the
home after his successful hunt for the prize for running.
lion of Cithaeron, he met Erginus'
heralds as they went to collect the Erichthonius (Έριχθόνιος) One of
tribute. He mutilated them by cut the first kings of Athens. His genea
ting off their ears and noses, which logy varies: sometimes he is de
he hung round their necks; he told scribed as the son of Atthis, the
them to take this tribute back to daughter of Cranaus; sometimes he
Erginus. The outraged Erginus is portrayed as the child of Athena,
marched again on Thebes. Creon fathered by Hephaestus. See ATHENA.
(2), the king of the city, was pre Athena hid Erichthonius in a basket,
pared to surrender, but Heracles which she entrusted to one of the
called the youth of Thebes to arms. daughters of Cecrops (1). Filled with
He received a suit of armour from curiosity, the girls opened the basket
the hands of Athena, took command and there they saw the child, with
of the force, and joined battle with two snakes guarding him. Accord
Eriginus. Heracles flooded the plain ing to certain versions the body of
to prevent the enemy's cavalry from the child terminated in a serpent's
advancing and won the battle, but tail, as was the case with most of
during the fighting his adoptive Mother Earth's children. Others
father, Amphitryon, was killed; in claim that when he saw the basket
revenge, Heracles himself slew Ergi opened Erichthonius escaped in the
nus. To reward him for his victory form of a snake and hid behind the
Creon gave him the hand of his goddess's shield. The girls were terri
daughter, Megara (1). fied by this sight: they went mad and
According to one tradition Ergi killed themselves by throwing them
nus did not die in this battle but con selves off the Acropolis.
cluded a treaty with Heracles, who Athena brought up Erichthonius
imposed on the Minyans a tribute in the sacred precincts of her temple
which was twice as large as the one on the Acropolis, and Cecrops later
imposed on the Thebans before. He yielded the throne to him. An altern
then set out to rebuild his fortune ative version claims that Erichtho-
ERINYES 141
nius expelled AMPHICTYON, who held Athens with madness so that they
the throne of Athens at the time. hanged themselves. The oracle at
Erichthonius then married a Delphi explained that this was the
Naiad named Praxithea (2) and by god's way of avenging the deaths of
her had a son named Pandion (1), Icarius and Erigone. The Athenians
who succeeded him on the Athenian then punished the shepherds and
throne. Erichthonius is generally instituted a festival in honour of Eri
credited with the invention of the gone. During this festival young
four-horse chariot, the introduction girls swung from trees on swings;
into Attica of the use of silver, and later the girls were replaced by
the organization of the Panathenaea, masks in the shape of human faces.
the annual festival in celebration of This was the legendary origin of the
Athena. Some of these innovations rite o f the oscilla, performed
were also attributed to ERECHTHEUS. throughout Italy at the Liberalia, the
festival of Liber Pater, who was the
Eridanus (Ηριδανός) A river-god, Italian Dionysus. Compare the myth
one of the sons of Oceanus and ofENTORIA.
Tethys. He is generally considered as 2. The daughter of Aegisthus and
a river of the West. He featured in Clytemnestra and the sister of Aletes
Heracles' journey to the Garden of (2). It is sometimes claimed that
Hesperides (see HERACLES, II), and he ORESTES was brought to trial for his
also played a part in the voyage of double murder because of Erigone's
the ARGONAUTS. He was said to have intervention. When he was acquitted
guided the Argo to the land of the Erigone committed suicide. Accord
Celts and out into the Adriatic. The ing to other authorities, Orestes
River Eridanus was identified some wanted to kill her with her parents,
times with the P o , and sometimes but Artemis took her to Athens,
with the Rhône. where she made Erigone her pries
tess. Another tradition claims that
E r i g o n e (Ήρυγόνη) she married Orestes and gave him a
ι. The daughter of Icarius (1), who son, Penthilus.
welcomed Dionysus when he came
down to earth. The god presented E r i n y e s ('Epwves) Goddesses, whom
Icarius with a goat-skin bottle full of the Romans identified with their
wine, telling him to let his neigh Furies. They were also known as the
bours taste it. Icarius shared the wine Eumenides, which means the 'kindly
with some shepherds, who became ones', a name intended to flatter
drunk and suspected that Icarius had them, and thus to avoid bringing
poisoned them. They beat him to down their wrath upon the speakers.
death and abandoned his body. The They were engendered by the drops
howling of his dog, Maera, showed of blood that were spilt on the earth
Erigone where her father's corpse lay when URANUS was castrated. The
unburied at the foot of a tree: the Erinyes were analogous with the
sight so shocked Erigone that she PARCAE, or MOIRAE, who had no laws
hanged herself from the tree. Diony other than their own, which even
sus afflicted the young girls of Zeus had to obey. There was origin-
142 ERIPHYLE
2. One of the daughters of Ocea- wind, the son of Eos and Astraeus, or
nus and Tethys. perhaps Typhon.
3. The mother of Niobe (1) and
the wife of Phoroneus. E u r y a l u s (Εύρύαλος)
4. The daughter of Nilus, and one ι. The son of Mecisteus (Table 1).
of Danaus' wives. He took part in the expeditions of
5. The daugher of Agenor and the Argonauts and the Epigoni, and
Telephassa (Table 3), although her in the Trojan War.
father is in some accounts said to 2. One of Odysseus' sons, whose
have been Agenor's son, Phoenix mother was EVIPPE ( I ) .
(2). Zeus saw Europa on the beach at 3. One of Aeneas' companions. A
Sidon, or Tyre, where her father was youth o f great beauty, whose friend
king. Filled with love for her, he ship with NISUS (2) was widely
transformed himself into a bull of a known. He died in the fighting
dazzling whiteness, with horns like a against the Rutuli.
crescent moon, and lay down at Eur-
opa's feet. After she had overcome E u r y c l e i a (Εύρύκλ€ΐα) Odysseus'
her initial fright, Europa sat upon the nurse.
bull's back. The bull immediately
made for the sea, plunged into the E u r y d i c e (Ευρυδίκη)
waves and swam away from the ι. The Dryad who was the wife o f
shore. They reached Crete and at ORPHEUS (see also ARISTAEUS).
Gortyna, beside a spring, Zeus lay 2. The daughter of Lacedaemon
with Europa beneath some plane and Sparte, upon whom ACRISIUS
trees. fathered Danae (Table 7).
Europa had three sons by Zeus: 3. In Euripides' lost tragedy Hypsi-
Minos, Sarpedon (2) and Rhada- pyle, Eurydice was the wife of
manthys. She is also said to have Lycurgus (3) and the mother of
given birth to Carnus (2) - and per Archemorus.
haps Dodon. Zeus gave her three 4. The daughter of Amphiaraus
gifts: the bronze automaton TALOS and Eriphyle (Table 1).
(1); a dog which never let any prey 5. The wife of Creon. See ANTI-
escape it; and a hunting-spear which GONE (1).
never missed its mark. Zeus then 6. The daughter of Adrastus and
married her to Asterius, the king of the mother of LAOMEDON by ILUS (2)
Crete. The marriage proved child (Table 4).
less, and Asterius adopted Zeus' sons. 7. See CREUSA (4).
After her death, Europa received 8. The daughter of Clymenus (2)
divine honours; the bull whose form and wife of Nestor (according to the
Zeus had taken became a constella Odyssey (see NESTOR)).
tion. For the saga of Europa's
brothers when they went in search E u r y g a n i a (Εύρυγάν€ΐα) Euryga-
of their sister, see AGENOR and CAD- nia, Eurygane or Euryanassa are the
MUS. names of OEDIPUS' wife in some ver
sions of the legend. Eurygania was
E u r u s (Εΰρος) The south-west the daughter of Hyperphas, Periphas
148 EURYLOCHUS
E u r y n o m e (Ευρυνόμη)
Eurymachus (Εύρύμαχος) ι. A daughter of Oceanus and
ι. One of the suitors of PENELOPE in Tethys (Table 8). She reigned with
the Odyssey. He insulted Odysseus Ophion over Olympus until they
when the latter appeared disguised as were expelled by Cronus and Rhea.
a beggar, and threw a stool at him. She and Ophion took refuge in the
When Theoclymenus warned the sea, where, with Thetis, she wel
suitors of the doom that threatened comed HEPHAESTUS when he was
them, Eurymachus accused him of thrown from Olympus. She was
being insane. When given the test of loved by Zeus, who fathered the
the bow, Eurymachus was unable to CHARITÉS and the river-god Asopus.
bend it, much to his shame. After the A temple on the outskirts of Phigalia
death of Antinous, he tried in vain to was dedicated to Eurynome. The
make his peace with Odysseus; he cult statue which represented her had
was killed by an arrow from Odys the torso of a woman, but from the
seus' bow. waist downwards had the form of a
2. See THEANO. fish.
2. A daughter of Nisus, king of
E u r y m e d o n (Εύρυμ4δων) Megara, and the mother of BELLERO-
ι. A Giant, who reigned over a PHON. She was also known as Eury-
race of Giants at the far end of the mede.
earth. His violent deeds led to his
downfall. While he was still a child E u r y n o m u s (Εύρύνομος) A demon
EURYSTHEUS 149
who ate the flesh from buried bodies, the Argonauts were passing through
leaving only the bones. Lake Tritonis. According to Pindar,
Eurypylus was the incarnation of the
Eurypylus (Εύρνπνλος) god Triton; other authors depict him
ι. A Thessalian chief who took as Triton's brother, with his mother
part in the Trojan War. He was being Celaeno (1). During his reign
wounded by Paris, but was rescued Apollo brought the Nymph CYRENE
by Patroclus. into the country.
2. The inhabitants of Patras used to 6. One of the sons of Thestius.
make an annual sacrifice to Artemis
of the most beautiful boy and girl in Eurysaces (Εύρυσάκης) Son of
the city (see COMAETHO (2)). As part Ajax (2) and TECMESSA. Before com
of his share of the spoils of Troy, mitting suicide, Ajax entrusted Eur
Eurypylus had been given a chest; ysaces to his half-brother, TEUCER (2).
upon opening it he had gone mad. After the fall of Troy, Eurysaces
The oracle told him he would be returned to Salamis, his father's
cured when he came across 'an homeland, but was not allowed to
unusual sacrifice', and that he must travel in Teucer's ship. This angered
settle in the land where he found it. Telamon, Eurysaces' grandfather,
On reaching Patras he saw the sacri who banished Teucer and made Eur
fice to Artemis and realized that the ysaces his heir. On Telamon's death
oracle had been fulfilled. The in Teucer tried to return, but Eurysaces
habitants of Patras had also been told sent him away. Eurysaces and his
that the sacrifice could cease once it brother Philaeus handed over
had been witnessed by a leader from Salamis to the Athenians, though in
another land; when Eurypylus some traditions Philaeus was Eury
arrived they knew that Artemis had saces' son, not his brother, and he,
been appeased. Eurypylus settled in rather than Eurysaces, handed the
Patras and died there. He is often island over. Miltiades, Cimon, Alci-
identified with Eurypylus (1). biades and Thucydides the historian
3. A king of the island of Cos, the claimed Eurysaces as an ancestor.
son of Poseidon and Astypalaea (see
HERACLES, III). Eurystheus (Ενρυσθβνς) Perseus'
4. The son of TELEPHUS. Telephus grandson, son of Sthenelus (4) and
had promised that neither he nor his Nicippe (Table 7). He ruled Tiryns,
descendants would ever fight against Mycenae and Midea. When Heracles
the Greeks; but Eurypylus' mother, was about to be born, Zeus declared
Astyoche, having been bribed with that Mycenae would be ruled by the
the golden vine which Zeus had descendant of Perseus who was
once offered to Ganymede, was per about to see the light of day. The jea
suaded to send Eurypylus to Troy, lous Hera persuaded Eilithyia, the
where he was killed by Neoptole- goddess of childbirth, to hold back
mus. the birth of Heracles (see ALCMENE)
5. A son of Poseidon. He ruled and to hasten that of Eurystheus,
Cyrene in Libya. He gave EUPHEMUS who was still only in his seventh
a present of a lump of earth, when month. So Eurystheus was born first
150 EURYTION
and other useful skills. He is also said had a daughter, Marpessa, and he
to have introduced the cults of Ceres used to kill her suitors and then
(Demeter), Neptune (Poseidon) and decorate the temple of Poseidon
Lycian Pan (in whose honour he with their skulls. For the abduction
initiated the festival of the Luperca- of Marpessa and the death of Evenus,
lia) into Latium. When Heracles see MARPESSA.
came to Pallantium, Evander wel
comed him and purified him of the Evippe (Εύίππη)
murder of Cacus. He recognized ι. After he had killed Penelope's
Heracles' divine origin, and insti suitors, ODYSSEUS went to Epirus to
tuted the cult of the Ara Maxima in consult the oracle. There he was wel
his honour, between the Palatine and comed by King Tyrimmas. He
Aventine Hills. Evander arrived in seduced the king's daughter, Evippe,
Latium 60 years before the Trojan and fathered a son called Euryalus
War; thus he was an old man when (2). When Euryalus reached man
AENEAS came to seek his help against hood, Evippe sent him to Ithaca,
the Rutuli. Remembering that in with some tokens which would
former days he had been a guest of ensure that Euryalus would be
Anchises, Evander welcomed Aeneas recognized by his father. Euryalus
and gave him a contingent of troops reached Ithaca while Odysseus was
under the command of his son PAL- away. Penelope knew of Odysseus'
LAS (4). Evander also had two affair with Evippe; when Odysseus
daughters, Rhome and Dyne, or returned, she persuaded him to kill
Dauna. An altar was dedicated to Euryalus, pretending that the young
Evander at the foot of the Aventine man had come to Ithaca with the
Hill. This altar was symmetrical intention of assassinating him. Odys
with the one dedicated to Carmenta seus killed him himself. According
at the foot of the Capitol. to other traditions, the son of Evippe
and Odysseus was called Leontoph-
Evenus (Εύηνος) A king of Aetolia, ron.
the son of Ares and Demonice. He 2. A granddaughter of Athamas.
F a t u m The god of Destiny.
Originally this word meant the
word of god, and was applied to an
irrevocable divine decision. Under
the influence of Greek religion,
Fatum came to include the divinities
F
of Destiny, such as the MOIRAE, the
PARCAE, and even the SIBYLS. Near
the Rostra in Rome stood three
statues, which were called the three
Fata: these were statues of the Sibyls.
F a m a According to Virgil, Earth The word Fata was in time mistaken
gave birth to Fama ('the Voice of the for a feminine singular, and became
Multitude') after Coeus and Encela- the origin of the word for fairies in
dus. Fama possessed a great number Roman folklore. The lower classes
of eyes and mouths, and moved by even invented a god Fatus (by
flying very swiftly through the air. making Fatum masculine), who was
Ovid depicted her as living in a a personal demon, symbolizing indi-
palace at the centre of the world, vidual destiny and analogous to the
within the limits of Earth, Heaven, GENII. Feminine destiny was personi-
and Sea - an echoing palace with a fied by a Fata, feminine, a later equi-
thousand openings, through which valent of the primitive JUNO.
even the lowest voice could pene-
trate. This palace, made entirely of Fauna The sister and wife of
bronze, was always open and every FAUNUS. She was a divinity of
word that entered it was broadcast women, identified with BONA DEA,
again, much amplified. Fama lived for whom she was perhaps originally
surrounded by Credulity, Error, merely an epithet: the favourable
Unfounded Joy, Terror, Sedition, goddess in Latin (quae javet). As
and False Rumour, and from her Bona Dea she appeared in the cycle
palace she kept watch over the of Hercules, in which she was the
whole world. This creature is clearly wife of the Latin King Faunus. Her-
a late allegory rather than a true cules loved her and gave her a son,
myth. the future King LATINUS. Another
tradition depicted Fauna as a young
Hyperborean girl who bore Her-
Fames The allegory of Hunger. cules' child Latinus, and then
Her name was a translation of LIMOS. married Faunus after Hercules had
Virgil portayed her in the entrance- left her.
hall of Hades, alongside Poverty;
Ovid depicted her as living in Faunus An ancient Roman deity.
Scythia, a desolate land, where she From his name he was apparently a
nibbled ceaselessly at what scanty benevolent god (in Latin qui javet),
vegetation she could find. At the particularly the protector of shep-
demand of Ceres, she destroyed herds and their flocks. He was identi-
ERYSICHTHON ( i ) . fied with the Arcadian god PAN. He
154 FAUSTINUS
also became associated with the Arca entrusted them to his wife Acca Lar-
dian King EVANDER (3) (Εν-άνήρ = entia (2) to bring up. Faustulus was
'the Good Man'), and in this w a y considered to be a good and chari
myths about the Arcadians and their table man; he was sometimes de
migration to the Palatine Hill took scribed as King Amulius' head
root on Roman soil. Faunus came to shepherd. When Amulius ordered
be regarded as one of the first kings Romulus and Remus to be exposed,
of Latium, ruling before the arrival Faustulus was on the same road as
of Aeneas. He is sometimes described the servants who were taking the
as the son o f CIRCE and Jupiter. He children away. He waited until the
succeeded King Picus and was him servants had started back but dis
self succeeded by his son Latinus (see covered that some shepherds had
FAUNA). Faunus' divine personality already found the two infants. He
lived on as the Fauns (Fauni) of the persuaded them to hand the children
Classical Age, who were rustic over to him, on the grounds that his
demons equivalent to the Greek wife had just lost a son and would be
SATYRS. happy to have some nurslings.
The cult of Faunus originally in According to another version, Faus
cluded the procession of the Luperci, tulus found the children as they were
during which boys ran about clad in being suckled by a she-wolf. For
goat skins whipping any women another tradition see NUMITOR.
they met with lashes of rawhide; this During the strife between Romu
flagellation was said to bring fertility lus and Remus, Faustulus tried to in
to the victims. For other legends o f tervene and was killed. He was
Faunus see BONA DEA and FAUNA. buried in the Forum. Later, the
statue of a lion was raised above his
Faustinus A companion of EVANDER tomb. In Classical days, Faustulus'
(3) and the brother of FAUSTULUS. hut was still to be seen on the Pala
While Faustulus was a shepherd to tine Hill preserved as a relic of these
Amulius, whose flocks he tended on mythical times. Certain authors refer
the Palatine Hill, Faustinus looked to him as Faustus, the diminutive of
after Numitor's on the Aventine. which was Faustulus.
For a version of the Romulus legend
in which Faustinus plays a peculiar Febris The goddess of Fever. She
role, see NUMITOR. Both Faustinus was much feared at Rome, where the
and Faustulus died in the struggle low ground and even the upper parts
between Romulus and Remus. The of the valleys stayed damp and
rivalry between two hills, the Aven unhealthy for a long time. She was a
tine and the Palatine, is echoed by maleficent power who had to be
the locations of the two shepherds conciliated. She had an archaic altar
in this legend, as it is by the strife on the Palatine Hill, one on the
between Romulus and Remus. Esquiline Hill and another at the
head of the Quirinal Valley.
Faustulus The shepherd who shel
tered ROMULUS and Remus on the Februus The g o d to whom the
banks of the Tiber, and then month o f February was sacred. In
FORTUNA 155
later days he was identified with DIS version of this legend probably used
PATER. During February the city was Orithyia's abduction by Boreas as
purified by appeasing the dead with the model for the account of Flora's
sacrifices and offerings. These fest- abduction; but Ovid also attributed
ivals bore the name of Februalia. the birth of Mars to Flora in the
following way. Juno, incensed by
Ferentina A Latin Nymph, the Minerva's springing spontaneously
goddess of a spring and a sacred from Jupiter's head, wished to con-
wood. Her shrine was common to ceive a child without recourse to any
the whole of the Latin confederacy. male assistance. Flora gave her a
flower which would make a woman
Feronia A goddess of springs and pregnant by touching it. Juno then
woods, whose cult was widespread gave birth to Mars without prior
in Central Italy. Slaves were freed in sexual relations with Jupiter.
her temple at Terracina, which Flora had her own priest at Rome.
explains why she is sometimes iden- The Floralia were celebrated in her
tified with Libertas. She is said to honour; these were marked by
have been the mother of ERYLUS. games in which courtesans took part.
G
himself to be as brutal a tyrant as his
father. When he too imprisoned his
brothers in Tartarus, Gaia started
planning a second revolution.
Cronus' wife Rhea had seen all her
children eaten by Cronus, who had
Gaia (Γαία) Gaia, or Ge, was the been warned he would be over
earth conceived as the primordial thrown by one of them. When she
element from which sprang the was pregnant with Zeus, she went to
divine races. According to Hesiod, Gaia and Uranus and asked them
Gaia was born immediately after how to save the child. They then
Chaos and just before Eros. Without revealed the secret of the Fates to
the aid of any male, she gave birth to her, and showed her how to cheat
URANUS, the Mountains, and PONTUS.
Cronus. Gaia concealed him at birth
After the birth of Uranus, she and hid him in a deep cave. In place
coupled with him, and bore the six of the child she gave Cronus a stone
Titans - Oceanus, Coeus, Crius, wrapped in swaddling-clothes,
Hyperion, Iapetus and Cronus — and which the god devoured. In this way
the six Titanesses — Theia, Rhea, ZEUS was able to escape and grow to
Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe (i) and manhood. Later, when Zeus began
Tethys. CRONUS was the youngest of openly resisting Cronus, Gaia told
this line (Table 8). Gaia then gave him he could achieve victory only
birth to the CYCLOPES and finally the with the Titans as his allies (see ZEUS,
HECATONCHEIRES. All these children II). Nevertheless, Gaia did not com
lived in terror of their father, who pletely throw in her lot with Zeus.
forced them to remain entombed in Displeased by the defeat of the Heca
the depths of Gaia's body. She was toncheires, she coupled with Tartar
determined to free her children, and us, and gave birth to TYPHON, a
asked them to exact vengeance on monster of prodigious strength, who
Uranus; but none of them was will declared war on the gods and held
ing except Cronus. Gaia then them at bay for a considerable time.
entrusted him with a sickle, and She had another monstrous child by
when Uranus came to lie with Gaia Tartarus, ECHIDNA.
that night, Cronus cut off his father's In other théogonies she was said to
testicles, and threw them over his have been the mother of TRIPTOLE-
shoulder. The blood from the MUS by Oceanus. The giant ANTAEUS
wound fell upon Gaia and fertilized was also said to have been her son,
her once again. As a result Gaia gave by Poseidon. Other monsters con-
birth to the ERINYES, the GIANTS, the sidered by various mythographers as
Ash Nymphs and other divinities the children of Gaia include: CHAR-
also associated with trees.
158 GALAESUS
YBDis, the HARPIES, PYTHON, the dra he told her he wanted only a son; if
gon that guarded the Golden Fleece she gave birth to a girl she would
in the land of Aeetes, and FAMA. have to expose it. Galatea gave birth
Earth, the power and inexhaust to a girl, but she could not bring her
ible reserve of fecundity, gradually self to expose it. On the advice of
became known as the Universal soothsayers she dressed the child as a
Mother and the mother of the gods. boy and called him Leucippus (6).
Mother Earth became incarnated as However, as time went by, Leucip
divinities such as Demeter or pus became very beautiful, and it
Cybele, while speculations about became impossible to continue the
Earth as an element passed from the masquerade. Galatea went to Leto's
realm of mythology into that of shrine, where she asked the goddess
philosophy. Gaia was credited with to change her daughter's sex. Leto
being the inspiration of numerous granted her request (compare IPHIS).
oracles, for she possessed the secrets
of the Fates, and her oracles were Galates (Γαλάτης) When Heracles
reputedly older and more accurate passed through Gaul on his way back
than those of Apollo. from stealing Geryon's cattle, he
founded the city of Alesia. The
Galaesus When Aeneas' son lulus daughter of a local prince loved him;
(or Ascanius) killed a tame hind, he fathered a son called Galates,
almost starting a war between the whose bravery earned him rule over
Latins and the Trojans, Galaesus the whole of Gaul. Later, Galates
tried to intervene and restore peace. gave his name to Galatia, the land of
He failed in his attempt and was the Galatians (compare also CELTUS).
killed.
Galeotes (Γαλβώτης) A Hyperbor
Galatea (Γαλάτεια) ean who was the ancestor of a race of
ι. A daughter of Nereus and a sea- Sicilian soothsayers. With Telmissus,
goddess who featured in the myths another Hyperborean, Galeotes
of Sicily. The milk-white maiden went to consult the oracle at
(γάλα = 'milk') Galatea lived in the Dodona. They were instructed to
sea and was loved by Polyphemus travel, one East and the other West,
(2), the Sicilian Cyclops. She did not until an eagle robbed them of the
return his passion, however, and was meat and the offering made during a
instead in love with Acis. One day sacrifice. At that place they were to
when Galatea was lying beside the raise an altar. Galeotes went to Sicily
sea with her lover, Polyphemus saw and Telmissus stopped in Caria.
them. Although Acis tried to flee,
the Cyclops threw an enormous Galinthias (Γαλινθίας) Daughter of
boulder at him which crushed him Proetus and friend of Alcmene. Hera
to death. Galatea turned Acis into a had ordered the Moirae and Eili-
stream with sparkling waters. thyia, the divinities of childbirth, to
2. A Cretan girl who was married stop Alcmene delivering her child
to Lamprus. When Lamprus dis Heracles. For nine days and nights
covered that Galatea was pregnant they sat on the threshold of Ale-
GAVANES 159
did. Other traditions claim that some an arrow from Apollo in his left eye
Giants (Alcyoneus (i), for example, and another from Heracles in his
or Porphyrion) were immortal as right; Eurytus (i) was killed by Dio
long as they remained on Earth, nysus with a blow from his thyrsus.
where they had been born. The Hecate killed Clytius, using fire
legend of the Giants is dominated by brands, and Hephaestus dispatched
their revolt against the gods. Gaia Mimas by throwing lumps of red-
gave birth to them to avenge the hot iron at him. Athena destroyed
Titans, whom Zeus had imprisoned Enceladus and Pallas (6) (see ATH-
in Tartarus. The Giants were enorm ENA). Polybotes was chased by Posei
ous beings of invincible strength and don as far as Cos. There the god
terrifying appearance. They had broke off the part of the isle called
thick shocks of hair, bristling beards, Nisyrus and crushed the Giant
and their legs were the bodies of beneath it. Hermes wore Hades'
great snakes. Their birthplace was helmet, which made him invisible;
Phlegrae on the peninsula of Pallene he killed Hippolytus (2) while Arte
in Thrace. They began threatening mis slew Gration. The Moirae,
heaven by bombarding it with armed with their bronze clubs, killed
enormous rocks and flaming trees. Agrius and Thoas (7). Zeus stunned
The Giants' main adversaries were the rest of the Giants with his
initially Zeus and Athena. Zeus was thunderbolts and Heracles finished
armed with his aegis and his them off with his arrows. The site of
thunderbolts, brought to him by his this battle was generally thought to
eagles. Athena also had an eagle and be on the peninsula of Pallene, but a
launched thunderbolts. Their chief local tradition placed it in Arcadia,
assistant was Heracles, the mortal on the banks of the River Alpheus.
whose help was needed to kill the Later traditions name even more
Giants. Heracles stationed himself on Giants, but these are generally TITANS
Zeus' chariot, and fought from afar wrongly included in the category of
with his arrows. Dionysus is some Giants, or other monsters such as
times said to have taken part in the TYPHON, AEGAEON a n d t h e ALOADAE,
struggle, armed with his thyrsus and whose immense size and strength
with firebrands, and supported by entitled them to be called 'giants'.
the Satyrs. Various other deities also The Gigantomachy, or the revolt of
came to be included, such as Ares, the Giants against the gods, was a
Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Eros and favourite theme of plastic art in the
Poseidon. Classical and Hellenistic periods.
During the struggle ALCYONEUS
(I) was slain by Heracles with the Glauce (Γλαυκή)
assistance of Athena. Porphyrion ι. A Nereid and also an Arcadian
attacked Heracles and Hera, but Nymph.
Zeus filled him with lust for Hera, 2. Daughter of Creon (1): she was
and while he was trying to tear her also called CREUSA (3).
garments off Zeus smote him with a 3. Daughter of Cychreus, king of
thunderbolt and Heracles killed him Salamis, and the mother of Telamon
with an arrow. Ephialtes was slain by by Actaeus in some traditions.
i62 GLAUCIA
have built the Argo and to have art. This Polyidus did, but when he
accompanied the ship on its voyage. was finally allowed to go, he spat
Glaucus courted SCYLLA ( I ) un- into his pupil's mouth, and Glaucus
sucessfully, and also tried to win the immediately lost all the knowledge
favours of Ariadne when Theseus he had just acquired. In other ver-
abandoned her on Naxos. He failed, sions of the legend, it was Asclepius,
but Dionysus included him in his not Polyidus, who brought Glaucus
train when the god took her away back to life.
and made her his wife.
5. The son of Minos and Pasiphae. Golden Age In his Works and Days
While still a child he was chasing a Hesiod describes the different races
mouse when he fell into a jar of which had followed each other since
honey and drowned. When Minos the beginning of humanity. Origin-
finally found his son's corpse, the ally, he says, there was a 'golden
Curetés told him that Glaucus could race' at the time when Cronus was
be restored to life by the man who still ruling in heaven. People in those
could best describe the colour of a days lived free from worries and safe
certain cow among his herds which from grief and distress. They re-
changed its colour three times a day. mained eternally young, and spent
It first became white, then it turned their time in banquets and festivals.
red, and finally became black. Minos When the time came for them to die,
asked all the cleverest men in Crete they went peacefully to sleep. They
to describe the colour of the cow. had no need to work; every good
Polyidus answered that the cow was thing came to them spontaneously.
mulberry-coloured, for the fruit is The soil needed no labour to pro-
first white, turns red, and finally duce large crops, and men lived in
goes black when ripe. Minos felt that peace in the countryside. This race
Polyidus had solved the problem, vanished from the earth in the reign
and told him to bring Glaucus back of Zeus, but they still remain as good
to life, shutting him up with Glau- spirits, protectors of mankind and
cus' body. Polyidus was at his wits' distributors of wealth.
end, until he saw a snake make its Very soon the myth became a
way into the room and go over commonplace of morality, depicting
towards the body. He killed the ani- the beginnings of humanity as the
mal, but soon a second snake came in reign of Justice and Honesty. In
and saw the first one lying dead, Rome, where Cronus was identified
went out, and finally returned carry- with Saturn, the Golden Age was the
ing in its mouth a herb with which it era when Saturn ruled in Italy, then
touched its companion. The snake still called Ausonia. The gods lived
immediately returned to life. Poly- in close association with mortals.
idus rubbed this herb on Glaucus, Doors had not yet been invented, for
who revived at once. Minos, how- there was no such thing as theft, and
ever, was still not satisfied. Before people had nothing to hide. The
allowing Polyidus to return to his only food was vegetables and fruit,
fatherland he demanded that the since killing had not been thought
soothsayer should teach Glaucus his of. Civilization was in its earliest
164 GORDIAS
stages. Saturn introduced the use of founder of Corinth. When her chil
the sickle (which was an attribute in dren were slaughtered, she threw
representations of the god); he herself in her despair into a lake,
taught people to exploit the natural which thereafter took the name of
fertility of the soil. It was said in Lake Gorgopis.
Rome that he reigned on the Capi
tol, the very spot where the temple G o r g o n s (Γοργόνες) There were
of Jupiter Optimus Maximus stood three Gorgons, called Stheno,
later. Saturn had been welcomed to Euryale and Medusa, all daughters of
Italy by the god Janus, who ruled Phorcys and Ceto. Medusa, was
with him and agreed to share his mortal; the other two were im
kingdom with the newcomer. mortal. The name Gorgon was
Poets embroidered this theme. generally applied to Medusa, who
They told of wool colouring itself was particularly considered as the
on the sheeps' backs, brambles bear Gorgon. They lived in the far West.
ing delicious fruits, and the earth Their heads were entwined with
rejoicing in a perpetual spring. The snakes and their necks were pro
myth of the Golden Age also formed tected by dragons' scales; they had
an element in neo-Pythagorean mys huge tusks, like those of a boar,
ticism. hands of bronze, and golden wings.
Their gaze was so penetrating that
Gordias (Γόρδιας) A mythical king anyone who encountered it was
of Phrygia who founded the city of turned to stone. Poseidon alone was
Gordium. He kept his chariot in the not afraid of them, for he had
citadel, and the chariot-pole was coupled with Medusa and fathered a
attached by a knot so complicated child. For the death of Medusa see
that nobody could untie it. The em PERSEUS. From the stump of Medu
pire of Asia was promised to sa's neck, two beings sired by Posei
whoever could undo it. Alexander don issued forth: PEGASUS, the
the Great, who was familiar with the winged horse, and CHRYSAOR. Ath
oracle, drew his sword and cut ena fixed Medusa's head to her
through the knot. Gordias had been shield, or the centre of her aegis. In
the lover of Cybele, who bore him a this way she could turn her enemies
son, Midas. to stone. Perseus also gathered up the
blood that flowed from the wound,
G o r g e (Γοργή) for it had magic properties. The
ι. The daughter of Oeneus, king blood which flowed from the vein
of Calydon, and the sister of on the left was a mortal poison,
Meleager. She had a son named while that from the vein on the right
TYDEUS by her own father; and by was a remedy capable of restoring
Andraemon she had another son, the dead to life (see ASCLEPIUS).
THOAS (4). She and her sister Deia- Furthermore, a single lock of her
neira escaped the metamorphosis hair, when held up in the face of an
which their sisters underwent (see attacking army, would put the
MELEAGRIDS). enemy to flight (see CEPHEUS ( I ) ) .
2. The wife of Corinthus, the B y the Hellenistic era, the legend
GRAEAE 165
H
Hades, whose name means 'the
Invisible', was not usually named out
loud, for fear of arousing his anger.
Euphemisms were used to describe
him instead: he was most commonly
Hades (Άιδης) The god of the dead. called Pluton, 'the Rich' - an allusion
Hades was the son of Cronus and to the wealth of the cultivated earth
Rhea (Table 8). With his brothers and the mines beneath it. Pluton was
Zeus and Poseidon he shared the em often depicted holding a horn of
pire of the Universe after the defeat plenty, as a symbol of richness (see
of the Titans: Zeus gained the sky, also PLUTON, PLUTUS, DIS PATER and
Poseidon the sea, and Hades the ORCUS).
Underworld. The Greek Under
world, called 'the House of Hades' Haemon (Αίμων)
by Homer, came to be called simply ι. The son of Creon (2). There are
'Hades'. two different traditions about him:
Like his brothers, Hades had been according to the first, Haemon was
swallowed at birth by Cronus, and devoured by the Sphinx, and to
later disgorged. He fought against avenge his death Creon had pro
the Titans and the Cyclopes armed mised his kingdom to whoever
with a helmet which conferred invis should deliver Thebes from the
ibility on the wearer. This helmet monster. According to the second,
was subsequently worn by Athena Haemon was betrothed to ANTIGONE
and Perseus. (1), and slew himself when Creon
In the Underworld, Hades condemned the young girl to death.
reigned over the Dead, allowing It was sometimes said that Haemon
none of his subjects to return to the and Antigone had a son, called
Living. His niece Persephone, the Maeon (1).
daughter of Demeter (Table 8), 2. The eponymous hero of Hae-
reigned at his side. For Persephone's monia, the old name for Thessaly.
abduction by Hades see PERSEPHONE This Haemon was the son of Pelas-
and DEMETER. gus and the father of Thessalus (4),
Apart from the story of Perse who gave the country its new name.
phone's abduction, Hades hardly In another genealogy, Haemon was
appears in the legends. The main one of the fifty sons of Lycaon (2),
exception is related in the Iliad. Here who himself was the son of Pelasgus.
Heracles went down into the Under In this tradition, Haemon was not
world and shot Hades in the the eponym of Haemonia the
shoulder with an arrow at the Gate country, but the founder of the
of Hell. However, Hades found his Arcadian city of Haemonia.
i68 HAEMUS
horses: Xanthus and Balius (1), the daughter. She was captured by
horses of Achilles, and Phlogeus and Achilles when he took the island of
Harpagus, the horses of the Dioscuri. Tenedos on his way to the Trojan
War.
Harpinna {'Άρτηννα) One of the
daughters of the river-god Asopus. Hecate (Εκάτη) A goddess closely
Harpinna was loved by Ares, who connectd with ARTEMIS. Hesiod por
fathered her child OENOMAUS. She trays her as the offspring of Asteria
gave her name to the city of Har- (1) and Perses, and a direct descen
pina, founded by Oenomaus. dant of the generation of Titans. She
extended her goodwill towards all
Hebe {'Ήβη) The personification of mortals: she could grant material
Youth. She was the daughter of Zeus prosperity, eloquence in political
and Hera (Table 8). Within the assemblies, and victory in battle and
divine household her role was that of sporting events. She had the power
a serving-maid: she poured the nec to give fishermen big hauls of fish,
tar (until replaced in this function by and she made cattle grow fat or lean
GANYMEDE), prepared Ares' bath, at will. She was most particularly
and helped Hera to harness the invoked as the 'foster-mother god
horses to her chariot. She danced dess' of youth, as were Artemis and
with the Muses and the Horae to the Apollo.
sound of Apollo's lyre. After Hera Hecate gradually came to be con
cles became a god, he married Hebe; sidered as the deity presiding over
the gods celebrated the marriage as a magic, and she was linked to the
symbol of his having attained the world of Shades. She appeared to
eternal youthfulness peculiar to the magicians and sorceresses with a
gods. torch in each hand, or in the form of
various animals, such as a mare, a
Hecale (Εκάλη) When THESEUS bitch or a she-wolf. She was credited
was on his way to fight the bull of with the invention of sorcery, and
Marathon, he spent the night in a legends linked her with magicians
village in Attica, where he was made such as Aeetes and Medea (see
welcome by an old woman called PERSES) . Later traditions even portray
Hecale. They spent the evening to her as CIRCE'S mother. As a magician,
gether by the fire, and the following Hecate presided over crossroads,
day, after Theseus' departure, Hecale where statues were erected to her, in
sacrificed to Zeus to ensure the the form of a woman with three
young man's safe return. After The bodies or three heads. These statues
seus had killed the bull he went back were especially common in the
to Hecale's cottage, only to find that countryside, and votive offerings
she had died. Theseus then raised a were placed near them.
shrine to Zeus Hecaleius in her
honour and established the Hecale- Hecatoncheires (Εκατόγχειρες)
sian Rites. Giants who had a hundred arms and
fifty heads. They were three in
Hecamede (Έκαμήδη) Arsinous' number: Cottus, Briareus (or
172 HECTOR
AEGAEON) and GYGES ( Ι ) (or Gyes). among those he killed. Hector then
They were sons of Uranus and Gaia. challenged any Greek hero to single
They fought on the side of the combat; Menelaus came forward,
Olympians in the war against the but was held back by Agamemnon;
Titans. finally Ajax (2) accepted the chal
lenge. The fight went on till night
Hector (Έκτωρ) The son of Priam fall, whereupon Ajax and Hector
and Hecuba - probably their eldest exchanged presents.
son, though certain traditions make Hector's most brilliant exploit was
him Apollo's son. Although Priam his attack on the Greek ships. The
was king of Troy, Hector held the intervention of the gods was neces
real power; he organized the As sary to prevent him from killing
sembly debates and directed the war such heroes as Nestor or Diomedes
effort. He was much loved by the (2); Apollo, for his part, protected
Trojans, and friends and enemies Hector; and Zeus instructed the gods
alike acknowledged him as the prin and goddesses to let Hector be vic
cipal defender of the city. Agamem torious as long as Achilles refused to
non wished to kill Hector as quickly join the fray. The situation had
as possible, for he knew he would become critical for the Greeks when
not take Troy while Hector was PATROCLUS came to their assistance.
alive. Hector's personality is dealt He was soon killed by Hector, who
with at considerable length in the stripped him of his arms. Achilles
Iliad. He was married to ANDRO rejoined the battle. When Achilles
MACHE, and had one son by her, who slew Polydorus (2), one of Hector's
was called Astyanax by the Trojans brothers, Hector tried unsuccessfully
and Scamandrius (i) by his parents. to avenge him. Hector was helpless
One aberrant tradition gave Hector against Achilles for he was fated to
and Andromache another son, Lao- die at his hands. Apollo hid Hector
damas; yet another version mentions in a cloud and Achilles sought him in
a son called Oxynius. vain; but when the Trojan army
Until the tenth year of the war, retreated behind the city walls, Hec
Hector avoided fighting in open tor stayed behind, alone, at the
country, since he knew that Achilles Scaean Gate. His father and mother
was among the Greeks. Achilles tried urged him to take shelter; but he
once to meet him face to face, but refused to listen and waited for
Hector retreated into the city. How Achilles. However when Achilles
ever, he created considerable carnage drew near, Hector fled from him.
among the Greeks when Achilles The two opponents circled the city
was not present. He was protected three times, until Athena assumed
by Ares, until Ares was wounded by the form of DEIPHOBUS and per
Diomedes (2). Mnesthes, Anchialus, suaded Hector to stand and fight.
Teuthras (2), Orestes (not Agamem While Hector faced Achilles, Athena
non's son), Trechus, Oenomaus (not disappeared. Hector then realized his
the father of Hippodamia (1)), Hele- last hour had come. On Olympus,
nus (not Cassandra's twin brother) Zeus used Destiny's scales to weigh
and Oresbius were prominent the fates of the two adversaries, and
HECUBA 173
Hector's proved the heavier. Apollo dra. The younger children were:
too abandoned Hector, and Achilles Deiphobus, Helenus, Pammon,
dealt him a mortal blow. As he lay Polites (1), Antiphus, Hipponous,
dying, Hector begged Achilles to Polydorus (2), and TROILUS, the
return his body to Priam, but youngest. Hecuba is also said to have
Achilles refused. Then Hector fore had a fifteenth child, Polydamas.
told Achilles' own early death. Euripides said that she had fifty chil
Achilles attached Hector's body to dren.
his chariot and dragged it round the In Homer's work, Hecuba plays
city, under the eyes of the Trojans. only a modest role; in the epic cycles,
Then the corpse was exposed in the and especially in the tragedies, she
Greek camp and left for the dogs and becomes a more significant figure.
birds of prey, till Zeus sent Iris to She had a dream just before giving
order Achilles to hand Hector's birth to Paris: a torch emerged from
corpse over to Priam. For his part, her bosom, which set fire to the city
Priam came to Achilles and ran of Troy and the forests of Mount
somed his son's body at a heavy Ida. The seers announced that the
price. A twelve-day truce allowed infant about to be born would bring
the Trojans to perform their about the ruin of the city. Hecuba
defender's funeral rites. Andro had him exposed. The child was res
mache, Hecuba and Helen were the cued and later returned to Troy (see
chief mourners. PARIS). In another version the sooth
sayers (and especially AESACUS)
Hecuba (Εκάβη) Priam's second merely warned Priam that the child
wife. According to one tradition to be born on a certain day would
about her genealogy, she was the cause Troy's downfall. On the stated
daughter of Dymas, a king of Phry- day, two births took place: that of
gia, and the Nymph Eunoe; in the Paris and that of Munippus, the son
other, she was the daughter of Cis- of CILLA and Thymoetes. Priam had
seus, a king of Thrace, and Telecleia. Cilia and Munippus put to death.
In the first case, she was a descendant When Troy fell, Hecuba had lost
of SANGARIUS, and a variant of this nearly all her sons. One of them,
tradition made Sangarius her father. Polydorus (2), had been entrusted by
In another variant, her mother was Priam to Polymestor, king of the
Glaucippe, Xanthus' daugher. The Chersonese. At the same time, Priam
tradition linking Hecuba with asked Polymestor to take care of
Dymas and Phrygia was maintained some important treasures for his son.
in the Iliad. The Thracian lineage When Troy had fallen and Priam
was preferred by the tragic poets, was dead, Polymestor decided to
especially Euripides. appropriate the treasures. He killed
Hecuba was renowned for her Polydorus and threw his body into
fecundity. Apollodorus names four the sea. (According to another ver
teen children: Hector, the eldest; sion, he slew his own son DEIPYLUS
Paris, called Alexander, the second by mistake. See also POLYDORUS (2)
son; then four daughters, Creusa (4), for variants.) The body was washed
Laodice (4), Polyxena, and Cassan up on the coast of the Troad, just as
174 HEGELEUS
Hecuba — who had fallen to Odys Helen (Ελένη) The wife of Mene-
seus when lots were drawn for the laus and the woman for whom the
captured Trojan women — was about Greeks fought at Troy. In Homer's
to leave Troy. The old queen plotted epic work, she was the daughter of
her revenge. She sent one of her Zeus and Leda, with Tyndareus as
serving-women with a false message her 'human' father (Table 2). The
for Polymestor, saying that a buried Dioscuri, Castor and Pollux, were
treasure had been found. Polymestor her brothers, and Clytemnestra her
joined her, and after the captive Trosister. Helen was later said to be the
jan women had slain the two chil daughter of Zeus and NEMESIS. The
dren he had brought with him tradition that claims that Leda was
before his eyes, she tore his eyes out.
Helen's mother recounts how Zeus
As a punishment the Greeks decided lay with her in the form of a swan
to stone Hecuba to death; but and how she laid an egg from which
beneath the mass of stones lay not Helen issued. In a variant tradition,
her corpse, but a bitch with eyes of Leda laid two eggs; Helen and Pollux
fire. In another version, Hecuba was came from one, and Clytemnestra
transformed into a bitch as she was and Castor from the other. Yet
being pursued by Polydorus' com another version claims that Helen,
panions, intent on avenging their Castor and Pollux all came from the
king. Yet another tradition claims same egg, while Clytemnestra was
that Hecuba had been transformed born in the normal way. Still other
aboard the ship that was taking her traditions claim that Helen was the
to Greece, and had thrown herself daughter of Oceanus or even of
into the sea. For another version of Aphrodite.
her death, see HELENUS. A legend not mentioned in
Homer tells of Helen's abduction by
Theseus and Pirithous. The two
Hegeleus (Ήγέλβως) A grandson
heroes decided to marry daughters
of Heracles and the son of Tyrsenus.
of Zeus, since they were the sons of
Tyrsenus is said to have invented the
Poseidon and Zeus respectively, and
trumpet, and Hegeleus introduced
began by abducting Helen. Some
the use of this instrument in war
mythographers maintained that the
among the Heraclids and the Dor
abduction was carried out by Idas
ians. He built a temple in Argos to
and Lynceus (2), or that Tyndareus
Athena Salpinx (Athena of the
handed her over to Theseus for pro
Trumpet) (see also MELAS ( I ) ) .
tection, being afraid that one of the
sons of Hippocoon wanted to abduct
Heleius (Έλα,ος) The youngest son her. However, the most common
of Perseus and Andromeda (Table version is that Theseus and Pirithous
7). He accompanied Amphitryon on went to Sparta and kidnapped Helen
the expedition to Taphos, and after while she was performing a ritual
the victory shared the sovereignty of dance in the temple of Artemis
the island with Cephalus. He was Orthia. They drew lots for her and
said to have founded the city of Theseus won. The Athenians were
Helos in Laconia. unwilling to welcome the young girl
HELEN 175
that looked exactly like Helen and ramparts, helping the Trojans by
gave it to Paris, while the real Helen pointing out the Greek leaders, but
was carried off to Egypt by Hermes as a compatriot of the enemy she was
and entrusted to PROTEUS. According sympathetic to their cause; the Tro-
to a variant tradition, Zeus himself jans thus had good reason to distrust
sent a phantom Helen to Troy to her. However, she faced her difficul-
provoke a war. According to Hero- ties with courage, knowing her
dotus, when Helen and Paris went to beauty would always get her out of
Egypt on their way to Troy, Proteus trouble. A legend not included in the
initially made them welcome, until Iliad tells how Achilles was seized
he found out how they came to be with a desire to meet Helen, and
together. In his indignation he how Thetis and Artemis arranged a
banished Paris and kept Helen meeting for them. It is possible that
prisoner in his palace until Menelaus Achilles fell in love with her at first
could come to fetch her. Later sight and coupled with her immedi-
authors added to the legend by ately. This was the view of those
claiming that Proteus was reluctant mythographers who gave Helen five
to send Paris off alone, so he used his husbands, making Achilles the
magic arts to fashion a simulacrum fourth, after Theseus, Menelaus and
of Helen to keep Paris company, and Paris. The fifth, whom she married
it was for this phantom Helen that after Paris' death, was DEIPHOBUS. AS
the Trojan War was fought. The soon as Paris was slain, Priam offered
object of these legends may have Helen as a prize for the bravest man:
been to free Helen from blame and Deiphobus and HELENUS put them-
present her as the instrument of fate. selves forward, as did Idomeneus,
They probably derive from the poet another of Priam's sons. Deiphobus
Stesichorus' 'recantation' (see AUTO- won her.
LEON). When Odysseus, dressed as a
According to the Homeric tradi- beggar, made his way into the city,
tion, Helen was welcomed by Priam Helen recognized him but did not
and Hecuba, who were enchanted betray him. Euripides claimed that
by her beauty. Before long, how- she revealed his presence to Hecuba,
ever, ambassadors arrived from who merely sent him out of the city,
Greece seeking the fugitive's return: instead of handing him over to the
Odysseus and Menelaus, or Acamas Trojans. Later, Odysseus came back
(3) and Diomedes (2). These missions into Troy, accompanied by Dio-
proved fruitless, and war broke out. medes (2) and intending to steal the
Helen was universally looked upon PALLADIUM. This time Helen recog-
as Paris' wife; but she was generally nized him and actually helped him.
hated by the Trojan people, who Odysseus reached an understanding
regarded her as the cause of the war. with her as to the necessary measures
Only Hector and Priam knew that for the capture of Troy. On the fate-
the war had resulted from the wills ful night, she waved a torch from the
of the gods, and they were well dis- citadel, the signal for the return of
posed towards her. In the Iliad, the Greek fleet. She removed all
Helen is described as standing on the arms from Deiphobus' house, and
HELENUS 177
having thus proved her loyalty to prayers of Helen, who was anxious
the Greeks, she awaited the arrival of to compensate him for the torments
MENELAUS. After he had killed Dei- she had inflicted on him during their
phobus, Menelaus ran at her, intend life together.
ing to kill her as well, but she For a Rhodian myth, related by
displayed herself to him half-naked, Pausanias, in which Helen meets a
and the sword fell from his hand. It is violent death, see POLYXO (2). In
also said that Helen took refuge in other traditions Iphigenia was said to
Aphrodite's temple, and made her have offered her as a sacrifice in
peace with Menelaus from that Tauris ('poetic vengeance' for Iphi-
inviolable ground. When the Greeks genia's sacrifice at Aulis); or again
saw that Helen had survived, they that Thetis, angered at the death of
wished to stone her to death. Once Achilles, who had fallen because of
again she was saved by her beauty, Helen, killed her during the return
and the stones fell from the hands of voyage. However, another legend
her would-be executioners. portrays Helen as married to Achilles
Helen's return to Greece with and enjoying an eternal life on the
Menelaus took eight years; she wan White Island at the mouth of the
dered over the eastern Mediterran Danube. Poseidon and the other
ean, especially Egypt, where her ship gods attended the wedding, and no
was wrecked. Various legends deal mortal was allowed to set foot on
with her stay in Egypt: see CANOPUS, this island (see, however, AUTOLEON).
THON, POLYDAMNA a n d PHAROS. Achilles and Helen had a son,
According to Euripides, before Euphorion, a winged being who was
Helen and Menelaus reached Sparta loved by Zeus.
they landed at Argos, on the day that Helen had several children from
ORESTES had just slain Clytemnestra her various marriages. Only her
and Aegisthus. Neither Menelaus marriage to Deiphobus was childless.
nor Helen knew what had just hap She and Paris argued about what
pened there. When Orestes set eyes they should call their daughter:
on Helen, surrounded by the women Alexandra, after her father, or
of her train, and clad in Trojan dress, Helena, after her mother. Finally,
he wanted to kill her because he held they decided to let the knuckle
her responsible for the disasters bones make the choice for them, and
which had befallen his house; how Helen won. Helena is said to have
ever at Zeus' command Apollo been slain by Hecuba.
carried her away and made her im
mortal. This legend differs from the
tradition generally accepted since the Helenus (Έλ€νος) Son of Priam
Odyssey, which shows Helen return and Hecuba, and Cassandra's twin
ing to Sparta at Menelaus' side, and brother. He acquired the gift of pro
thereafter setting an example of all phecy at the same time as she did (see
the domestic virtues. There were CASSANDRA). Helenus was a favourite
many shrines to the deified Helen, in of Apollo, who presented him with
which Menelaus was honoured too. an ivory bow, with which he
He had been deified in answer to the wounded Achilles in the hand. Hele-
178 HELIADES
nus predicted to Paris all the calami widow ANDROMACHE; they had a
ties that would occur as a result of his son, Cestrinus.
voyage to Greece in which he Helenus was credited with found
abducted HELEN. In the Trojan War ing Buthrotum and Ilium in Epirus.
Helenus fought alongside Hector; He gave Chaonia its name, after his
after Hector's death he replaced him brother CHAON. In the Aeneid Hele
as leader of the Trojans. He was nus is married to Andromache and
wounded by Menelaus. After Paris' welcomes any of his compatriots
death Helenus' attitude changed who pass through Epirus. A later tra
completely. Priam refused him dition claims that when Deiphobus
Helen's hand and gave her to Dei- was preferred to Helenus, the latter
phobus; Helenus retired to Mount left Troy for Greece, settled in Epir
Ida. The Greek seer Calchas (i) had us and established himself as ruler of
announced that only Helenus could the Molossians.
reveal how Troy could be captured.
Odysseus captured Helenus, and Heliades (7/λιάδαι and Τ/λιάδε?)
made him reveal these three con ι. The daughters of Helios and
ditions: Achilles' son Neoptolemus Clymene (i). Their names were
must be fighting with the Greeks; Merope (7), Helia, Phoebe (3), Aeth-
the Greeks must possess the bones of eria, and Dioxippe (or Lampetia (2)).
Pelops; the PALLADIUM must be sto When their brother Phaethon was
len from the Trojans. Helenus is also smitten by Zeus' thunderbolt, the
said to have said that PHILOCTETES Heliades wept for him on the banks
must return to the Greeks, bringing of the river Eridanus, where they
Heracles' bow and arrows with him. were transformed into poplars; their
Helenus is also said to have advised tears became drops of amber. It was
the Greeks to use the Wooden also said that their metamorphosis
Horse. For these and other services was a punishment because they had
Helenus was spared and set free after given PHAETHON the chariot and
the fall of the city. According to one horses of the Sun without Helios'
tradition he then went to the Thra- permission.
cian Chersonese and settled there 2. The sons of Helios and the
with Hecuba, Andromache and Cas nymph Rhodus. There were seven of
sandra. Hecuba is said to have been them: Ochimus, Cercaphus, Macar-
transformed into a bitch there, and eus (or MACAR), Actis, Tenages,
to have died; Helenus buried her in Triopas and Candalus. They were all
the Bitch Tomb. Another tradition expert astrologers, but Macareus,
holds that he and Andromache were Candalus, Actis and Triopas grew
allotted to Neoptolemus as spoils of jealous of Tenages' skill and killed
war. As a prophet Helenus advised him. Then they fled to Lesbos, Cos,
Neoptolemus to make his way home Egypt and Caria respectively. Ochi
by land; Neoptolemus thus escaped mus and Cercaphus stayed in
the disaster of Cape Caphareus, Rhodes. Ochimus, the eldest, seized
where most of the Greek fleet was power and reigned over the island.
wrecked. When NEOPTOLEMUS was He married the Nymph Hegetoria
slain by Orestes, Helenus married his and they had a daughter Cydippe.
HELIOS 179
Cydippe was married to her uncle, himself slain by his own niece,
Cercaphus, who was his brother's Medea. In addition, Helios coupled
heir and ruled after him. Cydippe with the Nymph Rhodos, by whom
had three sons — Lindos, Ialysus and he had the HELIADES (2); Clymene
Camirus, who in due course shared (1), who bore him daughters, the
the country between them and HELIADES (i); Leucothoe (2); and
founded the three cities that bore Eurynome (see also PHAETHON and
their names (see also TLEPOLEMUS). CLYTIA).
Another tradition recounts that Helios is portrayed as a young
Ochimus had engaged Cydippe to a man of very great beauty: his head
man called Ocridion, but Cercaphus, was surrounded with rays of light.
who was in love with his niece, He travelled across the sky in a
abducted her and fled abroad. He chariot of fire drawn by swift horses
came back later when Ochimus was called Pyrois, Eos, Aethon, and Phle-
an old man. gon. Each morning, preceded by the
chariot of Aurora, Helios set out on
Helicaon (Έλικάων) One of the his journey from the land of the
sons of ANTENOR. He married Lao- Indians, crossing the centre of the
dice (4). He was saved by Odysseus sky, and reaching the Ocean in the
when the city fell, and accompanied evening. He rested in a golden
Antenor and Polydamas to northern palace, from which he set out again
Italy. the next morning. His route then ran
underground, or along the Ocean
Hélice {'Ελίκη) stream which encircled the world, in
ι. Selinus' daughter; she married a boat fashioned out of a big hollow
ION. bowl (see HERACLES, II). His journey
2. One of the two Nymphs who from west to east was much shorter
nursed Zeus. When Cronus wanted than his daily passage along the vault
to punish them for bringing up the of heaven. From the days of Homer,
child, Zeus transformed them into Helios was portrayed as the servant
constellations, the Great Bear and of the gods. He was unable to take
the Little Bear. Hélice was some- any revenge himself for the insult
times identified with CALLISTO ( I ) , done to him by Odysseus' com
who was changed into the constella- panions, who killed and ate part of
tion of the Great Bear by Zeus. his herds. He sought redress by
threatening to withdraw beneath the
Helios (Ήλιος) The Sun. He was earth if the culprits were not
the son of the Titan Hyperion and punished as he requested. These
the Titaness Theia; he was the cattle of the Sun, which were eaten
brother of Eos and Selene (Table 8), by Odysseus' companions, were ani
and a descendant of Uranus and mals of immaculate whiteness, with
Gaia. Helios' wife was Perseis, one of gilded horns; they were tended by
the daughters of Oceanus and the HELIADES (i). Helios was often
Tethys. She bore Circe, Aeetes, Pasi- thought of as the eye of the world,
phae, and a son, Perses, who de who saw everything, and in this
throned his brother Aeetes, and was capacity he cured ORION'S blindness.
i8o HELLE
the marriage in Euboea, where the whether the man or the woman de-
god and goddess landed when they rived greater pleasure from sex. Zeus
came from Crete. Festivals comme- said that women enjoyed it more,
morating the marriage of Zeus and Hera that men did. The two deities
Hera took place almost everywhere consulted TIRESIAS, who had experi-
in Greece. The statue of the goddess enced sex both as a man and as a
was dressed in the costume of a bride woman. Tiresias said that if the
and carried in procession to a shrine pleasures of love were divided into
where a marital bed had been made ten parts, the man felt one of those
ready (see ALALCOMENEUS and CITH- parts, while the woman felt the other
AERON). Hera was the protecting nine. Hera was so annoyed that she
deity of wives. She is portrayed as deprived Tiresias of his sight.
jealous, violent, and vindictive, often Hera participated in the beauty
angry with Zeus, whose infidelities contest with Aphrodite and Athena,
she regarded as insults. She visited with Paris acting as judge. In the
her hatred not only on Zeus' mis- Trojan War she sided against the
tresses, but on the children he sired Trojans in revenge for Paris' refusal
upon them. Among these, HERACLES to award her the prize, even though
was the greatest victim of Hera's she had tried to bribe him by
wrath. Her vindictiveness cost her promising thim the sovereignty of
dear, however, for when Heracles the world. When Paris abducted
returned after he had captured Troy, HELEN, Hera raised a storm which
Hera raised a violent storm against drove them on to the Syrian coast.
his ship. This displeased Zeus, who Hera became Achilles' protectress,
hung her from Mount Olympus by since she had brought THETIS up, and
her wrists with an anvil fastened to this was the reason why Thetis
each foot, HEPHAESTUS tried to free spurned the advances of Zeus. Later,
his mother, which brought Zeus' Hera extended her protection to
wrath down upon him. Later, Hera MENELAUS, and gave him immorta-
made formal peace with Heracles. lity.
Hera appears in many myths. She Hera participated in the war
persecuted Io, and suggested to the against the Giants, in which she was
Curetés that they should kill EPA- attacked by Porphyrion (see GIANTS).
PHUS, her rival's son. She was re- Hera was attacked again later on by
sponsible for SEMELE'S fate. She IXION, who wished to abduct her (see
struck ATHAMAS and Ino with mad- CENTAURS). Hera was also the protec-
ness to punish them for having tress of the Argo, which she helped to
brought up DIONYSUS, Zeus' son by pass unscathed between the Planctae,
Semele. She urged Artemis to slay or Wandering Rocks (see ARGO-
CALLISTO (i), whom Zeus had NAUTS) and through the narrows of
seduced, and she tried to stop the Scylla (i) and Charybdis. Hera's
birth of Artemis and Apollo when usual symbol was the peacock,
LETO was in labour. Hera's anger and whose plumage was said to represent
her acts of vengeance sometimes had the eyes of ARGOS, whom the god-
other reasons behind them. Hera and dess had set over Io. In Rome, Hera
Zeus were arguing one day as to was identified with JUNO.
HERACLES 183
Some mythographers claim that that Heracles should carry out for
Megarus survived the massacre, and him certain Labours. This period of
that Heracles then wanted to break bondage was generally considered to
up the marriage which he had be the expiation for Heracles'
stained with blood, and that he murder of his children. After the
married Megara to his nephew murder, Heracles went to consult the
Iolaus. Alternatively, after the kill- oracle at Delphi, where he was
ing, Heracles left Thebes for a year in instructed to place himself at his
exile. He was recalled by Iphicles and cousin's disposal for twelve years.
Licymnius, but did not wish to Apollo (and Athena) added that as a
return. Iphicles, Licymnius and reward he would be granted immor-
Megara went in search of him and tality.
found him at Tiryns. Yet another The mythographers of the Helle-
version claims that children of Hera- nistic age established an authoritative
cles and Megara were killed by list of the Twelve Labours, dividing
Lycus. them into two series of six. The first
The usual explanation for the six took place in the Péloponnèse,
murders is an attack of madness while the other six took place in
induced by Hera. Hera wanted to Crete, Thrace, Scythia; in the far
force Heracles to put his services at West, in the land of the Hesperides;
the disposal of Eurystheus, by and in the Underworld. The estab-
making him commit some defile- lished order of events is the one fol-
ment which would necessitate expia- lowed here. There are many
tion. Despite Zeus' oracle, Heracles variations on the order in which the
was reluctant to go to Argos and Labours were carried out and on
acknowledge Eurystheus as his their number (Apollodorus, for
master; but now Hera had sent him a example, recognized only ten).
warning. Heracles' most distinctive weapon
was his club, which he fashioned
II. THE TWELVE LABOURS himself. In some versions he was said
These were the exploits carried out to have cut it in Nemea, and in
by Heracles at the bidding of his others on Mount Helicon, or on the
cousin EURYSTHEUS. The traditions shores of the Saronic Gulf, from the
give different explanations of why trunk of a wild olive tree. The rest of
the hero submitted to someone who his weapons were of divine origin —
was so far from being his equal. The his sword was given to him by
Iliad describes the trickery of Hera, Hermes, his bow and arrows by
who turned Zeus' promise around to Apollo, and his gilded breastplate
Eurystheus' advantage; but Heracles was a present from Hephaestus.
did not submit personally to his According to other traditions, Ath-
cousin, although the delaying of his ena furnished him with all his
own birth had in fact made him Eur- weapons except for his club. Finally,
ystheus' 'subject'. According to Eur- his horses were a gift from Poseidon.
ipides, Heracles expressed his wish to
return to Argos and Eurystheus The Nemean Lion Heracles' first
agreed to this - but on the condition task was to kill the Nemean lion, a
i86 HERACLES
monster, the son of Orthrus and ing arrows against it, and was also
ECHIDNA. Hera (or perhaps Selene) said to have cut off its heads with a
brought it up and set it in the region short curved sabre. He was helped in
of Nemea, where it ravaged the this by his nephew Iolaus, whose
land. The lion lived in a cave with help was essential since every head he
two exits and was invulnerable. Her- cut off immediately grew back
acles shot at it with his bow, but this again. To stop the heads growing
proved useless; then he threatened it back, Heracles asked Iolaus to set fire
with his club, drove it back into its to the nearby grove of trees; he then
cave, and blocked up one of the used burning brands to cauterize the
exits: then he seized it in his arms and neck-stumps, making it impossible
strangled it. When the lion was dead, for heads to grow again. According
Heracles flayed it and clad himself in to some authors, the central head
its skin, with the lion's head serving was immortal; but Heracles cut it
as a helmet. The lion's skin was off, buried it, and then set a huge
impervious to both steel and fire, so rock on top of it. He finally dipped
Heracles used the monster's own his arrows in the Hydra's venom (or
claws to cut it. During the hunt for in its blood), and made them poison-
the Nemean lion Heracles met a ous (see PHILOCTETES). In her spite
peasant named MOLORCHUS. Heracles against Heracles, Hera sent an
brought the lion's body back to enormous crab to help the Hydra;
Mycenae, where Eurystheus was so this crab nipped the hero on the heel,
terrified by the courage of the hero but he crushed it. According to
who was able to slay such a monster Apollodorus, Eurystheus refused to
that he forbade him to enter the city, count this Labour on the grounds
and ordered him henceforth to leave that Heracles had been helped by
the fruits of his Labours outside the Iolaus.
gates. It is said that Zeus added the
lion to the constellations to com- The Erymanthian Boar The third
memorate Heracles' exploit. Labour was to bring back alive a
monstrous boar that lived on Mount
Erymanthus. Heracles' shouts forced
The Lernaean Hydra The Lernaean
the animal to leave its lair; then he
Hydra was a monster, the daughter
drove it into the deep snow which
of Echidna and Typhon. It was
covered the countryside, keeping it
reared by Hera under a plane-tree
on the run until it was exhausted,
near the source of the River Amy-
thus enabling him to capture it. He
mone, to serve as a test for Heracles.
brought it back to Mycenae across
This Hydra was depicted as a snake
his shoulders. When Eurystheus saw
with several heads; the number
it, he hid himself in a big jar he had
varies from five or six up to a
had prepared for himself as a refuge
hundred; sometimes they were said
in time of danger. During this
to be human heads. The breath that
Labour, Heracles had his adventure
issued from its mouths was so veno-
with the Centaur Pholus (see CEN-
mous that anyone who approached
TAURS).
it invariably died. It used to ravage
the countryside. Heracles used flam- The Hind of Ceryneia The fourth
HERACLES 187
demanded mercy. Heracles finally who could tell him about the
reached the presence of Pluto and country he sought. Although Nereus
asked for permission to take Cerber- repeatedly assumed different shapes,
us away. Pluto granted his request Heracles tied him up and would not
on condition that he mastered the release him until he had revealed the
dog without resorting to weapons. position of the garden of the Hesper-
Heracles grasped the dog's neck with ides. Apollodorus describes how
his hands and, although the dog had from the banks of the Eridanus the
a forked tongue at the end of its tail,
hero reached Libya where he fought
which stung Heracles several times, the giant ANTAEUS; he then crossed
he overcame it. He returned to earth Egypt where he barely escaped being
using the entrance at Troezen. When sacrificed by BUSIRIS. He passed
Eurystheus saw Cerberus he was so through Asia and into Arabia where
frightened that he hid himself in his he killed Emathion, the son of Tith-
jar. Because he did not know what onus. He embarked in Helios' cup
to do with Cerberus, Heracles and reached the other bank at the
returned him to Pluto. An Olym- foot of the Caucasus. Whilst climb-
pian legend describes how Heracles ing the Caucasus he freed PROMETH-
brought the white poplar bark from EUS, who told Heracles that he
the Underworld, the only wood himself would not be able to collect
allowed when sacrifices were being the apples: this must be done by
offered to Olympian Zeus. Atlas. Heracles finally reached the
country of the Hyperboreans where
The Golden Apples of the Hesperides he found Atlas, the giant who bore
When Hera married Zeus, Gaia gave the whole weight of the sky on his
her golden apples as a wedding shoulders. He offered to relieve Atlas
present; Hera found them so lovely of his burden while he went to the
that she had them planted in her gar- garden of the Hesperides to collect
den near Mount Atlas. The three golden apples. Atlas agreed to
daughters of Atlas (i) used to come do this but on his return he told Her-
and steal from the garden, so Hera acles that he himself would take the
had it placed under the protection of apples to Eurystheus if Heracles
an immortal dragon with one would continue to carry the weight
hundred heads, the offspring of of the vault of heaven. The hero pre-
Typhon and Echnida. Three tended to agree to this but he asked
Nymphs of the evening, the HESPER- Atlas to take the weight for a
IDES, also guarded the apples. Eurys- moment, while he put a cushion on
theus ordered Heracles to bring him his shoulders. Atlas agreed to do this
these golden apples. He went north but once relieved of the burden,
across Macedonia and on his way he Heracles picked up the apples and
first met CYCNUS (3). Then he fled.
reached the River Eridanus in Illyria Other accounts claim that Hera-
where he met the river Nymphs cles did not need Atlas' help but
who were the daughters of Themis either killed the dragon of the Hes-
and Zeus. They told him that the sea perides or put it to sleep and took
god Nereus was the only person possession of the golden fruit him-
HERACLES 191
self. The dragon was transported to Eurypylus (3). Heracles then had an
the sky where it became the con- intrigue with Eurypylus' daughter
stellation of the Serpent. Heracles Chalciope (1), who bore a son Thes-
gave the golden apples to Eurystheus salus (2). A different account tells
but he did not know what to do that Heracles was seriously wounded
with them, so he gave them back to during the battle by Chalcodon (4)
Heracles who presented them to and that only the intervention of
Athena. She returned them to the Zeus saved him. In another account
garden of Hesperides. Heracles lost all his fleet except his
own ship in the storm. On Cos he
III. THE CAMPAIGNS OF HERACLES met Eurypylus' son Antagoras. Her-
It is generally agreed by mythogra- acles was ravenous, but when he
phers that the first of these great ex- asked Antagoras to give him a ram,
peditions was against Troy. For the Antagoras challenged him to a wres-
reasons behind Heracles' hostility tling match with the ram as the
towards Laomedon, king of Troy, reward for victory. During the con-
see HESiONE (3). When Heracles had test, the locals thought Antagoras
completed his Labours, he recruited was being attacked, and rushed to his
a fleet and set sail for Troy. On his aid and overpowered Heracles. Her-
arrival, Heracles left Oecles to guard acles escaped to a woman's hut
the fleet, while he attacked the city. where he put on women's clothes to
Laomedon attacked Heracles' fleet avoid being found. From Cos, Hera-
and killed Oecles, but Heracles sub- cles went to Phlegra where he took
sequently drove him back and part in the battle between the Gods
besieged Troy, TELAMON was the first and the Giants (see ALCYONEUS ( I ) ) .
to enter the town: Heracles, angry to
think that his bravery had been sur- The War against Augias When
passed, was about to kill Telamon Augias banished Heracles from Elis
when the latter knelt down and filled (see HERACLES, 11) Heracles gathered
his hands with stones. Heracles asked an army of Arcadians and marched
him what he was doing; Telamon against Elis. Augias put his two
replied that he was building an altar nephews the MOLIONIDAE in com-
to Heracles the Conqueror. Heracles mand of his army. They annihilated
spared him, but killed Laomedon Heracles' army and mortally
and all his children except Podarces wounded his brother Iphicles. Much
and Hesione (see PRIAM). later, the inhabitants of Elis sent the
As Heracles was returning from Molionidae to represent them at the
Troy, Hypnus was incited by Hera third Isthmian games. Heracles laid
to make Zeus fall into a very deep an ambush for them at Cleonae and
sleep. Hera then raised a storm killed them both. He mounted a
which drove Heracles' fleet on to the second expedition against Elis, cap-
coast of Cos. The inhabitants tured the town, killed Augias and
thought they were being attacked by made his son PHYLEUS king. After
pirates and opposed the landing, but this expedition Heracles founded the
Heracles and his men landed, cap- Olympic Games and dedicated a
tured the town, and killed the king, sanctuary to Pelops.
192 HERACLES
Deianeira was forced to take part. BUSiRis was fitted into the story of
Heracles eventually killed Theioda- the search for the golden apples.
mas. After the war with the Lapiths,
Heracles attacked the Dryopes Antaeus Heracles' clash with
because they had been their allies, ANTAEUS took place on his journey
and killed their king, Laogoras. Her- through Libya in his quest for the
acles took possession of the king- golden apples. Heracles killed
dom; the inhabitants split into three Antaeus and then lived with
groups and fled: one group went to Antaeus' wife, Iphinoe; she bore him
Euboea, the second group went to a son named Palaemon (1). The PYG-
Cyprus and the third took refuge in MIES, a race of midgets, tried to take
the neighbourhood of Eurystheus revenge on Heracles. They attacked
who, because he hated Heracles, him when he was asleep, but he
received them graciously. Finally awoke and laughed. He caught them
Heracles captured the town of all in one hand, imprisoned them in
Orminion at the foot of Mount his lion skin, and took them all to
Pelion. The hero had been forbidden Eurystheus.
by its king, Amyntor, to cross his
country but Heracles decided to seize Liberation of Prometheus While
the country and to kill the king. crossing the Caucasus Heracles freed
According to Diodorus, Heracles PROMETHEUS.
asked Amyntor for his daughter,
Astydamia. When the king refused, The Fight with Lycaon LYCAON (3)
Heracles captured the town and was the son of Ares and Pyrene (2);
abducted Astydamia, who bore him he ruled over the Crestonians who
a son called Ctesippus. lived in Macedonia on the border of
Echedorus; this country was called
IV. THE MINOR ADVENTURES Europe after Pyrene's grandfather,
Pholus and the Centaurs For the Europus. While he was looking for
adventures concerning Pholus, see the golden apples, Heracles crossed a
CENTAURS. grove sacred to Pyrene. Lycaon
attacked Heracles, who killed him.
Eurytion For Heracles' fight with
the Centaur Eurytion (2), see CEN- The Battle with Alcyoneus See
ALCYONEUS.
TAURS.
for example. The myth of Heracles with Deianeira, Nessus ferried him
seems to have been conflated with over first and then returned for
numerous other myths. As an Deianeira, but while he ferried her,
example, there is a story that Hera- he tried to rape her. Heracles shot
cles had killed the Boreades as re- Nessus in the heart with an arrow as
venge for their advice to the he landed; as he was dying, Nessus
Argonauts to abandon him. This called Deianeira and told her that if
later version may have been Heracles ever stopped loving her, she
invented to unite the two originally could compel him to love her by
independent cycles of Heracles and giving him a love-potion made of
the Thessalian myths surrounding the blood from Nessus' wound.
Boreas. Similarly, Heracles is sup- Deianeira believed him and collected
posed to have buried Icarus on the his blood. The myths about the
island of Doliche. In return Daedalus composition of this so-called love-
carved a statue of the hero which he potion vary. Some versions say that
consecrated at Pisa. Thus the myths it contained only Nessus' blood and
of Heracles and Daedalus were con- others that it was mixed with the
flated. blood from the wounds of the Ler-
naean Hydra or with the sperm
VI. LATER YEARS, DEATH AND DEIFI- ejected by Nessus during his
CATION attempted rape. After Heracles cap-
The establishment of the myths con- tured Oechalia, he made IOLE his
cerning the events which led to Her- mistress. Deianeira was staying with
acles' deification on Mount Oeta was Ceyx (i) and was told by Lichas, a
particularly the result of the work of follower of Heracles, that Iole might
tragic poets, and the Trachiniae of make Heracles forget her. Deianeira
Sophocles is the most important remembered the love-potion which
source for Heracles' end. The con- Nessus had given her as he was dying
necting thread is the love of Deia- and decided to use it. After his vic-
neira. The marriage with Deianeira tory over Eurytus (2), Heracles
was settled during Heracles' meeting wished to consecrate an altar to Zeus
with Meleager in the Underworld, and he sent Lichas to Trachis to ask
but first Heracles had to win her in a Deianeira for a new cloak for this
savage fight with ACHELOUS. Hera- ceremony. Deianeira dipped a tunic
cles lived with Deianeira at Calydon, in Nessus' blood and gave it to
close to his father-in-law Oeneus, Lichas. Heracles put the tunic on and
but fate made him accidentally kill started to make the sacrifice. As the
Oeneus's cup-bearer, EUNOMUS. tunic was warmed by his body the
Although Architeles, the father of poison which it contained became
Eunomus, forgave him for the active and attacked his skin. The pain
murder, the hero went into exile quickly became so great that Hera-
with his wife and son, Hyllus. cles, beside himself, threw Lichas
During this journey he had to fight into the sea. At the same time he
the centaur Nessus, who lived on the tried to force the garment off, but
bank of the Evenus, where he was a the cloth stuck to his body and tore
ferryman. When Heracles arrived off strips of skin. In this condition he
HERACLIDS 195
was taken to Trachis in a boat. When When Eurystheus was beaten the
she realized what she had done, Heraclids wanted to return to the
Deianeira committed suicide. Hera Péloponnèse, their father's country
cles made his final arrangements: he of origin. With HYLLUS in command
gave Hyllus control of Iole, asking they established themselves there.
him to marry her when he was old After a year, however, a plague
enough; he then climbed Mount broke out, and the oracle revealed
Oeta, not far from Trachis and built that it was the result of divine anger
a funeral pyre and climbed on to it. at the return of the Heraclids before
When these preparations were the time fixed by fate. The Heraclids
finished he ordered his servants to set went back to Attica, but they always
fire to the wood, but no one would hoped to be able to return. Hyllus
obey him. PHILOCTETES finally went in their name to consult the
obeyed him, and as a reward Hera oracle at Delphi, which told him that
cles gave him his bow and arrows. their wish would be granted after
There was a clap of thunder and the 'the third harvest'. The Heraclids
hero was raised to the sky on a cloud. looked on Hyllus as their leader and
Once among the gods Heracles they asked him to lead them to their
was reconciled with Hera and she homeland. Hyllus entered the Isth-
assumed the role of immortal mus of Corinth but there he ran into
mother. He married Hebe, the god the army of ECHEMUS, the king of
dess of Youth, and became one of Tegea, who killed him.
the immortals thereafter. Hyllus' grandson Aristomachus
went to question the oracle again.
Heraclids (Ήρακλειδαι) Heracles' The oracle replied: 'The gods will
descendants, particularly the direct give you victory if you attack by the
descendants of Heracles and Deia narrows' or 'by the narrow path'.
neira who colonized the Pélopon- The oracle's expression was ambigu-
nèse. After the apotheosis of ous. Aristomachus thought this
Heracles, his children, fearing Eurys- meant attacking by the narrow Isth-
theus' hatred, took refuge with Ceyx mus, but this was wrong and he was
(1). However, when Eurystheus killed. When Aristomachus' sons
demanded their expulsion, Ceyx, were grown up, Temenus (3) went
who had always been afraid of to consult the oracle, which only re-
Eurystheus, sent them away. They peated its two previous answers.
then went to Athens where Theseus, Temenus remarked that his father
or his sons, agreed to protect them. and his grandfather had followed the
Eurystheus declared war on Athens. advice of the god and that this had
In the battle Eurystheus' five sons caused their deaths. The oracle re-
were killed. Eurystheus fled but he plied that they did not know how to
was followed by Hyllus or IOLAUS interpret the oracles; it added that
and killed near the rocks of Sciron 'third harvest' meant 'third genera-
(see ALCMENE). The victory was tion' and that the 'narrow path'
ensured by the Athenians, who sacri- meant the straits between the coast
ficed one of Heracles' daughters, of mainland Greece and the Pélo-
MACARIA. ponnèse. To conform to the oracle's
196 HERCULES
second reply Temenus built a fleet oracle and made an agreement with
on the coast of Locri at a town which the Arcadians, promising to spare
became named Naupactus (from their country. Another version
two Greek words meaning 'to build claims that the Heraclids were struck
a ship'). While there with his army, by the abundance of crops on the
his youngest brother ARISTODEMUS Arcadian frontier. When Cypselus'
died after being struck by lightning, envoys presented themselves the
leaving twin sons, Eurysthenes and Heraclids refused to accept their
Procles. presents because the oracle had for-
A short time later the Heraclids bidden them to make any alliance
saw a soothsayer called CARNUS ( I ) during the campaign. Cypselus
approaching the camp. One of the pointed out that they had already
Heraclids named HIPPOTES (I) received as a present the crops which
pierced him with a javelin. A storm they had seized, consequently the
then arose which scattered and alliance was already concluded. The
wrecked the fleet, and a famine Heraclids recognized this and turned
visited the army which broke ranks away from Arcadia. There is also a
and scattered. Temenus returned to story that Cypselus, by giving his
the oracle, which told him that this daughter in marriage to Cres-
was due to divine anger at the death phontes, succeeded in saving his
of the soothsayer, adding that the country (see MEROPE (2)).
murderer must be banished for ten
years and that the Heraclids should Hercules A latinized form of the
take a being with three eyes as a Greek Heracles. This name was
guide. Hippotes was banished, and attached a whole collection of
then a being with three eyes pre- Roman legends which had been in-
sented itself in the form of a man tegrated into the account of Hera-
with one eye mounted on a horse. cles' 'return from Geryon' (see
This man was OXYLUS (3). The Her- HERACLES, π). One well-known epi
aclids defeated the Peloponnesians sode was the fight between Hercules
and built an altar to Zeus, the father, and CACUS. In its earliest form, the
to demonstrate their gratitude for legend of Hercules respresents the re
the victory. They then divided the ception of the hero as a guest by
Péloponnèse (see CRESPHONTES for King FAUNUS, a king whose custom
details of the partition). An oracle it was to sacrifice to the gods all
had called upon the Heraclids in strangers who visited him. When
their conquest to spare 'those with Faunus attempted to lay hands on his
whom they had shared a meal'. guest, Hercules killed him. After
When the Heraclids approached this, he continued his journey to
Arcadia its king, Cypselus (1), sent Magna Graecia. The usual tradition
ambassadors with presents. It hap- made EVANDER (3) treat Hercules
pened that the ambassadors met kindly. Evander was supposed to be
Cresphontes' soldiers just as they the Greek form of Faunus.
were eating. They asked the Arca- The myth of the Good Goddess
dians to share it with them. The Her- (see BONA DEA) is also part of the
aclids remembered the words of the legend of Hercules. Propertius tells
HERMES 197
how, thirsty from his fight with push her away. She prayed to the
Cacus, Hercules asked the Bona Dea gods begging them to cause their
(or Fauna), the goddess who per bodies never to be separated; the
formed sacred rites in the neighbour gods granted this prayer and united
hood, for a drink. She refused to them into one new being with a dual
allow him to approach her sacred personality. At the same time Her
spring which was open only to maphroditus also had a request
women, and Hercules in anger then granted by the gods: this was that
closed his shrine to women (see anybody who bathed in the lake of
RECARANUS). Salmacis should lose his virility.
Apollo, looking for his missing these adventures it was Hermes' skill
animals, finally came to Pylos where which enabled him to intervene.
Battus showed him the hiding-place. In other episodes Hermes simply
(Some say, however, that Apollo interpreted divine will: it was to him
was aware of the whole episode that Deucalion (1) came after the
because of his powers of divination.) flood, to ask him what he wanted;
Apollo complained to Maia about from Hermes Nephele (1) received
the thefts, but showing him the the ram which saved her children
child, wrapped in swaddling bands, PHRIXUS and ATHAMAS; Hermes gave
Maia asked how he could possibly Amphion his lyre, Heracles his
make such accusations. Apollo then sword, Perseus the helmet of Hades
called Zeus to the cave; Zeus ordered and the winged sandals. Hermes
Hermes to return the animals. saved Odysseus, once when he gave
Apollo in the interim had seen the CALYPSO (1) the order to release him
lyre in the cave and was so enchanted and to help him to build a raft, and a
by the sounds it produced that he de- second time, when Odysseus was
cided to give his beasts in exchange with CIRCE, and Hermes showed
for the instrument. Odysseus the magic plant which
A little later, Hermes invented the protected him from the transforma-
syrinx or Pan pipes. Apollo wanted tion undergone by his companions.
to buy the new instrument, offering In Hades Hermes watched over Her-
the golden crook which he used acles (see HERACLES, 11). Hermes also
when looking after the herd of arranged Heracles' purchase as a
Admetus. Hermes agreed, but asked slave by OMPHALE. Hermes was in-
to be taught the art of soothsaying. volved in the death of ARGOS (2) (see
Apollo accepted, and in this way the also 10). This murder was the ex-
golden rod (the herald's wand) planation for the cognomen 'Argei-
became one of Hermes' attributes. phontes' given to Hermes, meaning
Hermes also learned how to foretell 'killer of Argos'. To help Zeus and
the future by using small pebbles. to thwart Hera, he took the young
Zeus made him the herald with par- DIONYSUS from one hiding-place to
ticular responsibilities towards him another on Mount Nysa and then to
and the gods of the Underworld, Athamas' estate. Hermes was
Hades and Persephone. instructed to take Hera, Aphrodite
Hermes usually played a second- and Athena to Ida in Phrygia at the
ary role as a divine agent and a pro- time of the Judgement of PARIS.
tector of heroes. In the battle against Hermes was also the god of com-
the Giants he wore Hades' helmet merce and flight, and the one who
which made the wearer invisible; guided travellers along their way.
this enabled him to kill the Giant His statue, known as a 'herm', used
Hippolytus (2). During the battle of to be set up at crossroads in the form
the gods against the ALOADAE, he of a pillar of which only the top half
freed Ares from the bronze vessel in was shaped as a human bust but
which the two giants had impri- which had very visible male organs.
soned him. He also saved Zeus He was said to protect shepherds and
during his fight with TYPHON. In all was often shown carrying a lamb on
HERO 199
his shoulders; it was this which mione, who bore him a son TISAME-
earned him the title Hermes Crio- NUS ( i ) .
phorus, 'Bearing a Ram'. He also
had the task of accompanying the Hermochares (Έρμοχάρης) A
spirits of the dead to Hades, and young Athenian who fell in love
because of this he was given the with a girl from Chios called
name Psychopompus, 'accompanier Ctesylla when he saw her dancing at
of souls'. He was the father of AUTO- the altar of Pythian Apollo. He
LYCUS, who inherited Hermes' abil wrote an oath on an apple; Ctesylla
ity to steal without being caught, of saw the apple in the temple of Arte
Eurytus (3) and of Abderus — a mis and read the words aloud, thus
favourite of Heracles who was becoming bound to him by the oath.
devoured by the mares of Diomedes Hermochares asked her father Alci-
(1). Hermes was most frequently damas for permission to marry her;
shown wearing winged shoes and a Alcidamas agreed and called on
large-brimmed hat and carrying the Apollo as witness, touching the
winged staff, the symbol of his posi sacred laurel. Time passed however,
tion as divine messenger. and Alcidamas forgot his promise
and betrothed Ctesylla to another
man. But, while she was sacrificing
Hermione (Ερμιόνη) The only to Artemis to celebrate the engage
daughter of Menelaus and Helen ment, Hermochares came to the
(Table 3). In the Odyssey Menelaus temple. Following the wish of Arte
betrothed Hermione to NEOPTOLE- mis, Ctesylla fell in love with Her
MUS while he was away at Troy. mochares and absconded with him
When Neoptolemus returned to to Athens, where they were married.
Lacedaemon, the marriage took They had a child, but Apollo caused
place. According to the tragedians, Ctesylla to die in childbirth to
however, Menelaus had initially expiate her father's perjury. At the
betrothed Hermione to Orestes funeral a dove flew away from the
before the Trojan War. Yet, during bier and Ctesylla's body disappeared.
the Trojan War, Menelaus had given The oracle indicated that the girl had
his daughter to Achilles' son instead, been deified and should receive her
since his co-operation was necessary cult under the name of Aphrodite
if Troy was to be captured. Orestes Ctesylla. (See also ACONTIUS).
was forced to give up Hermione to
Neoptolemus. She thus became the Hermus ("Ερμος) An Athenian
source of contention between her noble who accompanied Theseus
two suitors. The marriage of Her against the Amazons. On his way
mione and Neoptolemus produced home, Theseus left Hermus and two
no children, and during the visit he of his companions to establish laws
made to Delphi to discover the and regulations for the new town of
reason for the sterility, Neoptolemus Pythopolis.
was killed in a riot, either by Orestes
himself or by another at Orestes' Hero (Ήρώ) The young girl whom
behest. Orestes then married Her LEANDER l o v e d .
200 HEROPHILE
Oenomaus would behead the suitor have married sons of Perseus (Table
and nail the head to the door of the 7). However, CHRYSIPPUS is more
house to frighten future competitors. commonly said to be Hippodamia's
When PELOPS (1) arrived to com son-in-law, whom she had mur
pete, Hippodamia fell in love with dered by Atreus and Thyestes. In re
him. She enlisted the help of Myrti- venge Pelops was said to have had
lus, her father's driver, who took the her put to death. In a different ver
axle-pins out of Oenomaus' chariot- sion Hippodamia decided to murder
wheel and replaced them with wax Chrysippus herself, using the sword
pegs. These gave way during the belonging to Laius, who was staying
race, causing an accident that was with Pelops. She left the weapon
fatal to Oenomaus. Some sources say piercing Chrysippus' body in an
that in order to win Myrtilus' co attempt to ensure that suspicion
operation, Pelops promised him one would fall on Laius. But Chrysippus
night with Hippodamia; others that had time to reveal the facts before he
Hippodamia herself gave him this died. Pelops banished Hippodamia
promise. Later Pelops killed Myrti from Elis. She took refuge at Midia
lus by throwing him into the sea, in Argolis where she died. Later, as
either because he had tried to rape instructed by an oracle, Pelops had
Hippodamia, or because he wanted her ashes brought back to Olympia.
to avoid paying Myrtilus the price 2. The wife of Pirithous. It was on
agreed for his treachery. (Other her account that the battle between
sources, however, say that Hippoda the LAPITHS and CENTAURS took place
mia tried to seduce Myrtilus, but (see PIRITHOUS and Table 1).
when he refused her advances, she 3. Hippodamia was the real name
invented the rape incident to relate ofBRISEIS.
to her husband.) As he died, Myrti 4. Mother o f PHOENIX (3).
lus cursed Pelops and all his descen 5. Daughter o f ANCHISES.
dants. This was the origin o f the
misfortune which struck the house H i p p o l o c h u s (Ίππολόχος) The son
of Pelops (see ATREUS, THYESTES, AGA of Bellerophon and Philonoe (or
MEMNON and Table 2 ) . Anticleia). His son Glaucus (2) com
Pelops, in honour of Hippodamia, manded the Lycians at the siege of
founded the quinquennial festival of Troy.
Hera at Olympia. There are various
accounts of their children. Some Hippolyta (Ιππολύτη)
times six sons are listed: Atreus, ι. The queen of the Amazons,
Thyestes, Pittheus, Alcathous (1), whose girdle Heracles attempted to
Peisthenes and Chrysippus. Another seize (see HERACLES, II). Her father
tradition gives them Atreus, was Ares and her mother Otrera.
Thyestes, Dias, Cynosurus, Corin- Some claimed it was she who organ
thus, Hippalmus, Hippasus, Cleon, ized the expedition against Theseus
Argeus, Alcathous, Heleius, Pittheus (see THESEUS, v). She was even said to
and Troezen, together with three be the mother of HIPPOLYTUS ( I ) . She
daughters: Nicippe, Lysidice and was murdered by Heracles. She is
Astydamia, all of whom were said to also known as Antiope (2).
204 HIPPOLYTUS
2. The nurse of Smyrna (2) (see on the town, by Ismarius. His son
ADONIS). Polydorus was one of the EPIGONI.
dedicated to her by Camillus, which the Etruscans. After the battle it was
symbolized the agreement finally not clear which country had won.
reached between patricians and ple The armies were camped on the
beians. battlefield near the forest of Arsia,
from which suddenly a voice pro
Honos The personification of claimed: 'The Etruscans have lost
morality. There were several one more man than the Romans; the
temples dedicated to her in the city Romans are the victors.' At this, the
of Rome. Etruscans fled. Horatius emerged
from the forest as the hero, for it was
his voice that had put the enemy to
Hopladamus (Όπλάδα/uoç) One of flight.
the giants who escorted Rhea, carry-
2. One-eyed Horatius (Horatius
ing the baby Zeus in her arms, to
Codes) single-handedly defended
protect her from Cronus.
the only bridge connecting Rome
with the opposite bank of the Tiber
Horae (τΩραι) Daughters of Zeus against the Etruscans. During the
and Themis. There were three — battle, however, he was wounded in
Eunomia, Dike and Eirene, meaning the thigh and permanently lamed. In
Discipline, Justice and Peace. How his honour a statue was erected at the
ever, the Athenians called them Volcanal at the foot of the Capitol.
Thallo, Auxo and Carpo, names 3. The conflict between the three
which denote budding, growth and Horatii and the three Curiatii, cham
ripening. As goddesses of nature pions of Alba, is generally con
they controlled the growth of plants; sidered to be historic, but there is
as goddesses of order they main good reason to believe that this tale
tained the stability of society. On was a transposition of a very old
Olympus they guarded the entrance initiation myth of which similar
to the divine dwelling. By some they examples are found in Celtic legend.
were said to have reared Hera,
whose servants they were. They Hostius Also called Hostus Hosti-
were responsible for unharnessing lius, a Roman originally from the
her horses and occasionally did the colony of Medullia. During the
same for the god of the sun. They reign of Romulus he came and set
were followers of Aphrodite, and tled in Rome. After the removal of
they appeared in the train of Diony the Sabines he married HERSILIA by
sus and also among Persephone's whom he had a son, who was the
companions. Pan was said to have father of King Tullus Hostilius.
enjoyed their companionship. They During the Sabine war Hostius was
were customarily represented as the first to be killed. The Romans
three graceful girls, often holding a panicked momentarily until Jupiter
flower or a plant. Stator intervened to restore order.
Hostius had already shown outstand
Horatius ing bravery at the capture of Fid-
1. The story of Horatius is linked enae, for which he was awarded a
to the war between the Romans and laurel wreath.
206 HYACINTHIDS
I
(according to one tradition). Ialemus
is the personification of the funeral
dirge, which he is said to have
invented. Sometimes he was identi-
fied with Linus (i) about whom this
Iacchus ("Ιακχος) The god who sort of lament was sung.
guided the initiated in the mysteries
of Eleusis. 'Iacche' was the ritual cry
Ialmenus (Ίάλμ€νος) With his
uttered by the faithful; this cry
brother Ascalaphus (2), a son of Ares
simply became a name which was
and Astyoche. They were kings of
given to a god. Traditions vary as to
Orchomenus in Boeotia. During
his personality, but Iacchus, whose
their reign the Minyans took part in
name recalls Bacchus, one of Diony
the expedition against Troy, since
sus' names, may be considered to be
Ialmenus had been one of HELEN'S
the go-between of the goddesses of
suitors. After the capture of Troy,
Eleusis and Dionysus. Sometimes he
Ialmenus sailed to the coast of the
is said to have been DEMETER'S son
Euxine Sea where he founded a
(see BAUBO), but Iacchus was more
settlement whose inhabitants, at the
often regarded as the son of Perse
time of Strabo, still claimed Orcho
phone, in which case he was the
menus as their mother city. Ialmenus
reborn ZAGREUS, Persephone's son by
and his brother were also numbered
Zeus. Some stories made Iacchus
among the Argonauts.
Demeter's husband, others the son of
Dionysus by the Nymph AURA. She
had twins by the god, but in her Ialysus (Ίάλυσος) The eponym of
madness she ate one. Iacchus was Ialysus in Rhodes. Through his
saved by another Nymph who was father, Cercaphus, he was descended
loved by the god. She entrusted the from Helios. He married Dotis by
baby to the Bacchantes of Eleusis whom he had a daughter called
who brought him up. Athena is said Syme, who gave her name to the
to have breast-fed him. Sometimes island between Rhodes and Cnidus.
Iacchus and Bacchus were said to be
the same person. Iacchus is depicted Ianibe (Ίάμβη) The daughter of
in art as a child scarcely adolescent Pan and Echo. She was a servant in
carrying a torch and dancing, and the house of Celeus and Metanira, at
leading the procession of Eleusis. the time when Demeter passed
through on her search for Perse
Iaera ("Ιαιρα) According to Virgil, phone. Iambe's jokes amused
Iaera was a Phrygian Dryad. She Demeter. This role was sometimes
bore Alcanor twins, Pandarus and assigned to BAUBO.
IASION 213
Iamus ("Ιαμ,ος) The son by Apollo of Asopus. Together with the other
of EVADNE (1), the daughter of Posei Titans he was thrown down into
don and Pitane. Ashamed of being Tartarus by Zeus.
seduced, Evadne abandoned her
child. However, two snakes came Iapyx (Ίάττυξ) The hero whose
and fed the child with honey. One name was adopted by the Iapyges in
day Evadne found him sleeping in southern Italy. Some authors
the middle of some flowering vio claimed that he was the son of
lets. So she called him Iamus ('child Lycaon (2) and the brother of Dau-
of the violets'). The Delphic oracle nus (or Daunius) and Peucetius.
told Evadne's husband AEPYTUS (3) Others said that he was a Cretan, the
that Iamus would be a famous son of DAEDALUS and that he went to
prophet and would found a long line southern Italy as a result of the events
of priests (the Iamids). When Iamus which followed the death of MINOS.
was an adult Apollo led him to the Iapyx was the leader of the Cretans
site of Olympia and told him to who had followed Minos; after the
settle there and wait for Heracles to latter's death they tried to return to
come and found the Olympic Crete, but were caught in a storm
games. Apollo also taught Iamus and forced to land in the district of
augury and divination. Tarentum. A variation of this story
said that Iapyx was a Cretan who
Ianiscus (Ίάνισκος) Descended was the brother of ICADIUS. He went
from the Athenian Clytius. The to southern Italy whereas his brother
latter had a daughter called Pheno, was carried off by a dolphin to the
whom he gave in marriage to Lame- foot of Mount Parnassus.
don, the king of Sicyon. Later, when
ADRASTUS, one of Lamedon's succes Iarbas (Ίάρβας) A native African
sors, abdicated, Ianiscus was invited king, son of Jupiter Ammon and a
to become king. When he died he Nymph. He granted DIDO the land
was succeeded by PHAESTUS. on which she founded Carthage, but
being in love with the queen and
Ianthe (Ίάνθη) jealous of Aeneas, he attacked the
ι. One of the Oceanids, 'daughter new city after Dido's death and
of the violets'. drove out Dido's sister Anna (see
2. A Cretan heroine, the wife of ANNA PERENNA).
IPHIS ( 6 ) .
Iardanus (Ίάρδανος) Sometimes
Iapetus (Ίαπβτός) One of the called Iardanas, a king of Lydia, the
Titans, the son of Uranus and Gaia. father of Omphale. One tradition
According to Hesiod he married has it that he was a magician who by
Clymene (1) by whom he had four his spells caused Camblites or
children, Atlas (1), Menoetius, (2), CAMBLES to eat his own wife by
Prometheus and Epimetheus (see making him insatiably hungry.
Table 8). Other legends say that his
wife was Asia; others maintained Iasion (Ιασίων) A son of Zeus and
that his wife was Asopis, a daughter Electra (2) (Table 4). He lived with
214 IASO
Idas ("Ιδας) According to the Iliad, dyni. Idmon had foreseen his own
the strongest and bravest man and, death but nevertheless had not hesit
through his father, Aphareus, a ated to join the expedition.
member of the family of Perieres (i).
His mother was Arena, a daughter of Idomeneus (YSo/xeveus) A king of
Oebalus (i). He had two brothers, Crete, the son of Deucalion (2). He
Lynceus (2) and Pisus. Idas was a was a half-brother of Molus (1) who
cousin of the Dioscuri as well as of was the father of his brother-in
the Leucippidae, Hilaera and Phoebe arms, MERIONES. As one of the suitors
(2), and Penelope. Idas and Lynceus of Helen he took part in the Trojan
sailed with Jason and the ARGONAUTS. War. He was one of the nine leaders
When they were with King Lycus who volunteered to fight Hector in
(7) and the Mariandyni, the sooth single combat, and he killed numer
sayer Idmon was killed by a boar. ous adversaries. His main opponent
Idas took revenge for the death of his was Deiphobus, and then he faced
companion by killing the boar. Then Aeneas. In the fight round the body
he tried unsuccessfully to seize the of Patroclus he intended to attack
kingdom of Teuthras (1), the king of Hector, but fled when Hector killed
Mysia. He was defeated by TELEPHUS Meriones' charioteer, Coeranus (2).
(see also AUGE). Idas and Lynceus After the events of the Iliad, Idome
both appear among the hunters of neus won a victory for boxing at the
the boar of Calydon, Idas as father- funeral games of Achilles. He
in-law of Meleager (who had entered Troy in the Wooden Horse
married his daughter, Cleopatra (2)). and was one of the judges who had
Idas abducted Marpessa, the to dispose of Achilles' arms. The
daughter of Evenus, on a winged Odyssey relates that his homecoming
chariot given to him by Poseidon was a happy one.
(see MARPESSA). Idas was also well Idomeneus' wife Meda was in
known for his struggle with his fluenced by NAUPLIUS (2) to yield to
cousins Castor and Pollux (see DIOS the love of Leucus, son of Talos (1),
CURI). who had been exposed by his father
at birth. Idomeneus rescued him and
Idmon ("Ιδμ,ων) One of the Argo brought him up. When Idomeneus
nauts, the soothsayer whose duty went to the Trojan War he placed
was to interpret the forecasts for the Leucus in charge of his kingdom and
expedition. He is said to have been a family, promising him the hand of
son of Apollo, but his mortal father his daughter Clisithera. Leucus
was Abas (3) (Table 1). Sometimes seduced Meda, then killed her, along
Idmon was identified as Thestor, the with Clisithera and all Idomeneus'
son of Apollo and Laothoe, and the children, and then usurped the
father of Calchas. His adventures throne. When he got back, Idome
with the ARGONAUTS were told in neus blinded Leucus and regained his
different ways. Some accounts throne, but other versions say that
agreed that he reached Colchis; Leucus drove Idomeneus into exile.
others said that he was killed by a In a different version Idomeneus'
boar in the territory of the Marian fleet was hit by a storm on the way
ILUS 217
back to Crete. He swore to sacrifice Amulius, king of Alba, who con
the first person he met in his king demned her to be a Vestal Virgin,
dom if he returned safely; that per either kept her prisoner, or even had
son was his son. A plague broke out her thrown into the Tiber. It was
in Crete, and, to appease the gods, also said that the river-god caused
Idomeneus was banished. He went her to be made divine and married
to Italy and established himself at her.
Salentinum. In another story Thetis
and Medea asked Idomeneus to Ilione (Ίλιόνη) A daughter of
adjudicate a beauty contest between Priam and Hecuba. She married
them; he decided in favour of Thetis, POLYMESTOR (see also DEIPYLUS).
whereupon Medea said, 'All Cretans
are liars', and cursed the race of Ido Ilioneus (Ίλιονζύς)
meneus, condemning it to never tell 1. The youngest son of Niobe (2)
ing the truth. This was the origin of and Amphion.
the proverb 'All Cretans are liars'. 2. The son of the Trojan Phorbas
(5)·
Idothea (ΕΙδοθέα) 3. A companion of Aeneas.
ι. The daughter of Proteus. She
advised Menelaus to question her Illyrius (Ιλλυριός) The youngest
father, in Egypt. son of Cadmus and Harmonia (1).
2. The second wife of PHINEUS (3). He was born during their expedition
She was the sister of Cadmus. Phi against the Illyrians. It is from him
neus' second wife was sometimes that the country got its name.
called Eurytia or Idaea (2).
Ilus (Ίλος)
Idyia (ΊΒυΐα) An Oceanid who was ι. One of Dardanus' four children
the wife of AEETES and the mother of (Table 4). He died without issue.
Medea and Chalciope (2). She was 2. One of the four children of Tros
sometimes regarded as the mother of and Callirhoe (4) (Table 4). Ilus was
Apsyrtus. the common ancestor of the family
of Priam. He founded the town of
Ilia (Τλι'α) The name frequently Troy (Ilion). Being a native of the
given to RHEA SILVIA ( I ) , the mother Troad, he had gone to Phrygia to
of Romulus and Remus. Some take part in some games which the
ancient mythographers tried to dis king of that country had organized.
tinguish between those myths where He won the prize which consisted of
the mother of Romulus was called fifty young slaves of each sex. The
Rhea and others calling her Ilia. The king, under guidance of an oracle,
name Ilia was reserved for the added a dappled cow and advised
legends in which the mother of Ilus to follow the cow and to found a
Romulus was the daughter of Aeneas city in the place where it stopped.
and Lavinia. The legend remained The cow stopped on the Hill of ATE
the same whatever the heredity. in Phrygia. Ilus built a town there
Rhea/Ilia was loved by Mars, who which he called Ilion (the future
was the father of the twins; and Troy).
2i8 IMBRASUS
times went to visit her in the shape of onoea in Boeotia. One night the
a bull) and he ordered Hermes to goddess visited her and she was
help her escape. Hermes killed turned to stone. In the temple she
Argos, but was of no avail to Io, for had an altar and every day a woman
Hera sent a horsefly to torment her. carrying the ritual fire repeated three
The insect stuck to her flanks and times 'Iodama is alive and wants a
made her mad. Io went along the burnt offering'. Zeus loved Iodama
coast of the gulf which became and had a child by her who was
known as the Ionian gulf. She called THEBE (2).
crossed the sea at the strait which
divides Europe from Asia and she Iolaus (Ιόλαος) A nephew of Hera
gave this strait the name Bosphorus cles; the son of Iphicles and Autome-
('cow crossing'). She finally arrived dusa. He travelled with Heracles on
in Egypt, where she was well his Labours and served as his chariot
received and bore Zeus' son EPAPHUS driver. He helped fight against the
(Table 3). She resumed her original Lernaean Hydra and against Cycnus
form and, after a final attempt to (3), went with Heracles to bring
find her son, who had on Hera's back Geryon's cattle, and was in
orders been abducted by the Curetés, volved with the struggle against
she returned to rule in Egypt, where, Troy (see HERACLES, II and in). He
under the name of Isis, she was wor- frequently appears in art at Heracles'
shipped. side, for example, among the HES-
PERIDES, in the battle against
Iobates (Ίοβάτης) A king of Lycia ANTAEUS, or in search of Cerberus.
who played an important part in the Iolaus accompanied his uncle on the
legends of ACRISIUS and of BELLERO- voyage of the ARGONAUTS and was
PHON. one of the hunters of Calydon. He
won the chariot prize at the first
lobes (Ίόβης) One of Heracles' sons Olympic games, as well as the prize
whose mother was Certhe, a at the funeral games of Pelias (see
daughter of Thespius. GLAUCUS (3)). When Heracles
married Iole he gave his wife Megara
Iocastus (Ίόκαστος) The founder (1) to Iolaus; they had a daughter
of Rhegium in Calabria; nevertheless called Leipephile ('love of the aban
another tradition recorded that it doned', an allusion to Megara's
was founded by the people of Chal- state). Iolaus joined Heracles in the
cis who set themselves up 'near the exile imposed by Eurystheus. He left
tomb of Iocastus', where there was a Tiryns with him and took refuge
woman embracing a man, that is, a with him in Attica. He also accom
vine climbing a green oak. Iocastus panied his uncle at his apotheosis on
was killed by a snake bite. Mount Oeta.
After the death of Heracles Iolaus
Iodama (Ίοδάμα) The daughter of went to help the HERACLIDS. He took
Itonus and the granddaughter of many of them to Sardinia. He
Amphictyon (Table 5). She was the founded several towns, notably
priestess of Athena Itonia at Cor- Olbia, and commissioned Daedalus
ION 221
to build magnificent buildings. He were at war with Eleusis. They
either died in Sardinia or returned to called on Ion for help and made him
Sicily. In his old age, or even after his
their leader. He died in Attica. His
death, he punished Eurystheus for descendants held power in Aegialus
attacking the Heraclids. Zeus and until Achaeus' descendants returned
Hebe gave him one day of strength from Thessaly, drove them out, and
and youth and he killed Eurystheus. renamed the country Achaea.
According to Strabo, Xuthus
Iole (Ιόλη) Daughter of EURYTUS founded the Tetrapolis (Oenoe,
(2). Heracles won her in an archery Marathon, Probalinthus and Tri-
competition, but had to seize her by corynth) in Attica after he married
force when Eurytus refused to give Erechtheus' daughter. His son
her to him. When she heard about Achaeus committed an accidental
this, DEiANEiRA sent Heracles the fatal murder and fled to Sparta, where he
tunic which caused his death. On his gave the people the name of
funeral pyre Heracles assigned Iole to Achaeans. Meanwhile Ion was made
his son Hyllus. In some traditions king at Athens after he defeated
Iole resisted Heracles' advances and EUMOLPUS (1). Ion organized the
preferred to see her parents mas country politically and when he died
sacred rather than yield to him; in the area assumed his name. Later the
others she tried to commit suicide by Athenians colonized Aegialus and
throwing herself off the town walls, called the country Ionia. The col-
but her flowing clothes softened her onists were subsequently driven out
fall. Heracles then sent her to Deia- by the Achaeans who renamed it
neira, but when Deianeira saw Iole Achaea.
she prepared the tunic, not realizing In Euripides' Ion, Ion was the son
that it would prove deadly. of Apollo and Creusa (2), conceived
and born in a cave on the Acropolis.
Ion ("Ιων) The hero who gave his Creusa abandoned the child in a
name to the Ionians. He was of the basket, thinking that Apollo would
family of Deucalion (1), the son of know how to look after it. Hermes
Xuthus and CREUSA (2) (Table 5). took the baby to Delphi and put him
According to Pausanias, Xuthus was in the cave of the temple priestess.
driven out of Thessaly by his Later Creusa married Xuthus, but
brothers Dorus and Aeolus (1). He the marriage proved to be childless.
settled in Athens, but was driven out They consulted the Delphic oracle
when his father-in-law, Erechtheus, which told Xuthus to adopt the first
died. He settled in Aegialus in the child he saw when entering the
Péloponnèse. After Xuthus' death temple. This was Creusa's son.
his sons Ion and Achaeus separated: Xuthus adopted him, but Creusa did
Achaeus went to Thessaly; King not wish to welcome a child whom
Selinus of the Aegialians gave Ion his she did not know and even con-
daughter Hélice (1) in marriage, and sidered poisoning it. Finally, how-
when Selinus died, Ion assumed ever, because of the basket in which
power there. He named his subjects the child had been found and which
'Ionians'. At this time the Athenians the priestess had kept, Creusa came
222 IONIUS
the running race at the funeral games temnestra (Table 2). Agamemnon
in honour of Pelias. He took part in incurred the anger of ARTEMIS, who
the voyage of the ARGONAUTS. prevented the Achaean fleet from
2. The son of Thestius and brother sailing from Aulis against Troy by
of Althaea. He participated in the inducing a prolonged calm. Calchas
hunt for the Calydonian boar and (1) explained that the goddess would
sailed with the ARGONAUTS. be appeased only if Agamemnon
3. A SOn o f IDOMENEUS. sacrificed Iphigenia to her. Under
4. The leader of the Dorian the influence of public opinion, par
invaders who put an end to Phoeni ticularly that of Menelaus and Odys
cian domination of Rhodes. Only seus, Agamemnon gave in. He
one Phoenician garrison was left in ordered his daughter to be fetched
the citadel of Ialysus under the com from Mycenae on the pretext that
mand of Phalanthus. An oracle had she was to be betrothed to Achilles,
promised Phalanthus that he would and then Calchas offered her to Arte
not be driven from his position as mis on the goddess's altar. However,
long as the crows were black and the goddess spirited Iphigenia away
there were no fish in the well from in a cloud and put a deer in her place.
which the garrison drew its water. She took her to Tauris, where she
Iphiclus learned of this oracle and made her a priestess. There are a
bribed one of Phalanthus' servants great number of variations of the
(though others said that Dorcia, a story, however. In some accounts
daughter of Phalanthus, took part in the place of sacrifice was an area
the enterprise because of her love for called Brauron in Attica. It was also
Iphiclus), and with his help released said that the goddess substituted a
crows whose wings were whitened bear as victim in place of the deer, or
with plaster. He then secretly had that Iphigenia was changed into a
some fish put into the well. When he bull, or a mare, or a she-bear, or
saw this, Phalanthus lost courage and even into an old woman, and dis
surrendered. appeared in one of these forms. Her
disappearance was explained by the
Iphidamas (Ίφώάμ,ας) fact that all the participants averted
ι. One of the children of the Tro their eyes to avoid seeing such a
jan ANTENOR and Theano (1). He horrible murder committed.
went to Troy with twelve ships and Iphigenia stayed for many years in
was killed by Agamemnon. His Tauris in the service of the goddess;
elder brother, Coon, tried to avenge her duty was to sacrifice all
him, but succeeded only in wound foreigners. One day she recognized
ing the king, who temporarily with two strangers, who had been
drew from the battle. Coon was brought to her for sacrifice, as her
killed on the corpse of his brother. brother Orestes and Pylades; they
2. A son of King BUSIRIS who was had been sent by the Delphic oracle
killed by Heracles. to look for the statue of Artemis. She
gave them the statue and fled with
Iphigenia (7<£iyeWia) One of the them to Greece. In Sophocles' tra
daughters of Agamemnon and Cly- gedy Chryses (now lost) the fugitives
224 IPHIMEDIA
Sometimes she was said to be the She was the wife of Osiris and the
wife of Zephyrus and the mother of mother of Horus. Seth, the god of
Eros. Iris was a messenger of the darkness, killed Osiris and scattered
gods, particularly at the call of Zeus his dismembered body throughout
and Hera. Egypt. Isis searched for Osiris (see
NEMANUS) until Horus took revenge
Irus (*Ιρος) for her.
ι. A son of Actor and the father of The story of 10 was assimilated
Eurydamas and EURYTION (3). When with Isis' myth and iconography (Isis
Peleus accidentally killed Eurytion was often shown as a cow carrying
he offered sheep and cattle to Irus as the lunar symbol). Isis was compared
compensation, but Irus refused to to Demeter who searched for her
accept them. An oracle then advised daughter, abducted by Hades, god of
Peleus to leave the herds at liberty. A the Underworld. Isis represented the
wolf attacked them, but divine inter female principle: she ruled the sea,
vention caused it to be turned into the fruits of the earth, and the dead.
stone. The statue was displayed on As goddess of magic, she controlled
the frontier between Locri and Pho- the transformation of things and
cis. beings, and the elements. The re
2. The beggar mentioned in the ligious syncretism of the Imperial
Odyssey, whom Odysseus fought to period developed around her.
amuse the suitors.
Ismene (Ίσμήνη)
ι. The mother of Iasus (1) in the
Ischenus (Τσχβνο?) An inhabitant
of Olympia, a son of Gigas. During a genealogy which made him a son of
famine an oracle prophesied that it Argos (1). She was a daughter of
would come to an end if a noble man Asopus.
were sacrificed. Ischenus offered 2. The sister of Antigone and the
himself as the victim. He was buried daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta.
on the hill of Cronus not far from the According to Apollodorus, Ismene
games stadium. Funeral games were was loved by Theoclymenus (see
held in his honour. After his death TYDEUS).
the Olympians gave him the name
TARAXIPPUS (1) 'horse-frightener' Ismenus (Ίσμψός)
because horses became uncontroll ι. The god of the river Ismenus in
able near his tomb during races. Boeotia. He was the son of Oceanus
and Tethys. Occasionally he was said
to be a son of Asopus and Metope
Ischys ("Ισχύς) An Arcadian whose
father was Elatus (see LAPITHS). He (0·
married Coronis (1) when she was 2. Ismenus (or Ismenius) was a son
already pregnant with ASCLEPIUS. of Apollo and the Nymph MELIA ( I ) .
He had two daughters, Dirce and
Isis (7σι?) An Egyptian goddess Strophia, two Theban springs.
whose cult and myths were wide 3. The eldest son of NIOBE (2) and
spread in the Graeco-Roman world. Amphion. He was killed by Apollo.
As he was dying he threw himself
IULUS 227
J
the city. One night TARPEIA delivered
the citadel into the hands of the
Sabines. They had already scaled the
heights of the Capitol when Janus
launched a jet of hot water which
frightened them and put them to
flight. To commemorate this miracle
Janus One of the oldest of the gods it was decided that in time of war the
in the Roman pantheon. He was door of the Temple of Janus should
represented as having two faces, one always be left open so that the god
looking forwards and the other could come to the aid of the
backwards. According to some Romans. It was closed only if the
mythographers, Janus was a native Roman Empire was at peace. Janus
of Rome, where at some point he was also said to have married the
had ruled with CAMESUS. Others Nymph Juturna and to have had a
claimed that Janus was a native of son by her, the god FONS or Fontus.
Thessaly, who was exiled to Rome
where he was welcomed by Came Jason (Ιάσων) The son of AESON
sus, who shared his kingdom with (Tables 6 and 1). He was a native of
him. Janus was supposed to have Iolcos. His mother was Alcimede,
built a city on a hill, which was con daughter of Phylacus (1), or, in other
sequently called Janiculum. He came versions, Polymede, daughter of
to Italy with his wife Camise or Autolycus. At Iolcos Aeson had been
Camasenea and they had children, deposed by his half-brother Pelias,
the best-known being Tiberinus (2). the son of Tyro and Poseidon.
After the death of Camesus, he ruled Another version says that Aeson had
Latium alone. Janus received Saturn entrusted power to Pelias until Jason
when he was driven from Greece by came of age. Jason was brought up
Jupiter (see CRONUS and ZEUS). While by the Centaur Chiron, who taught
Janus ruled on the Janiculum Saturn him medicine. When he reached
ruled over Saturnia, a village situated manhood Jason left Pelion, where
on the heights of the Capitol. the Centaur lived, and returned to
During the reign of Janus people Iolcos dressed in a tiger-skin with a
were perfecly honest; there was lance in each hand, and no shoe on
plenty; and there was also complete his left foot. He arrived in Iolcos just
peace. Janus was said to have as his uncle Pelias was offering a sac
invented the use of money. The rifice. Pelias was alarmed because an
oldest bronze Roman coins had the oracle had told him to 'mistrust a
effigy of Janus on one side and the man who had only one shoe'. Jason
prow of a boat on the reverse. Janus
was said to have civilized the first
230 JOCASTA
stayed five days and nights at his grew weary of Medea and trans
father's house, and on the sixth day ferred his affections to Glauce (2) (or
he called on Pelias and claimed the Creusa (3)) the daughter of Creon
power which was his by right. Pelias (1). Medea sent as a present to Glauce
ordered him to bring him the fleece a wedding dress which made her
of the ram which had carried Phrix- veins burn violently. Medea mur
us through the air: this was the Gol dered her two children by Jason and
den Fleece consecrated by Aeetes, fled into the sky in a chariot given to
king of Colchis, to Ares, and her by the Sun. Jason then wished to
guarded by a dragon. Pelias was cer go back to Iolcos where Acastus, the
tain that Jason would never succeed. son of Pelias, was king. He made an
Another version claims that Pelias alliance with PELEUS, and with the
asked Jason what punishment he help of the Dioscuri laid the town
would give to somebody guilty of waste. Thereafter either Jason or his
treason; Jason said that he would son Thessalus (3) ruled over Iolcos.
send him to fetch the Golden Fleece. Jason was also among those who
The poets claim that the idea of this took part in the hunt of the Calydo-
test was suggested to Jason by Hera nian Boar.
who wanted to bring Medea to Col
chis so that she could kill Pelias, with Jocasta (Ίοκάστη) The wife and
whom she was angry. mother of OEDIPUS. In the Homeric
Jason sought the help of Argos, tradition, she was called Epicaste.
the son of Phrixus, and on the advice She was the daughter of Menoeceus
of Athena, Argos built a boat, the (1) and the sister of Hipponome and
Argo, which was to take Jason and Creon (2). She was first married to
his companions to Colchis (see Laius, by whom she had Oedipus.
ARGOS (3) and (4) and ARGONAUTS). Later, without recognizing her son,
When Jason came back from Col or his recognizing her, she married
chis with the Golden Fleece, he Oedipus, by whom she had several
married MEDEA, and gave the fleece children. When she discovered her
to Pelias. In some versions he ruled incest she hanged herself. Another
instead of Pelias; in others he lived tradition says that Jocasta and Oedi
quietly in Iolcos, and fathered a son pus had two sons, Phrastor and LAO-
called Medeus; a third version NYTUS.
claimed that Medea persuaded
Pelias' daughters to boil him in a Juno The Roman equivalent of
cauldron, telling them that this HERA. Originally she was one of the
would rejuvenate him. The murder three divinities honoured on the
of Pelias was said to be Jason's re Quirinal and then on the Capitol,
venge either for the usurpation namely Jupiter, Juno and Minerva.
which he had suffered or because of She also had other sanctuaries,
the death of AESON, who had been notably under the name of Moneta
driven to commit suicide by Pelias. 'the goddess who alerts people' or
After Pelias' death Medea and Jason 'she who makes people remember'.
were driven out of Iolcos and took She was worshipped in the citadel,
refuge in Corinth. Ultimately Jason or Arx. The saving of Rome at the
JUPITER 231
time of the Gallic invasion in 390 BC with oak trees (oaks were sacred to
was attributed to Juno Moneta. Jupiter). The principal worship of
Geese which were reared in her sanc- the Latin confederation was always
tuary sounded the alarm and made it of Jupiter Latialis whose sanctuary
possible for Manlius Capitolinus to was on the top of a wooded moun-
force the invaders to retreat. tain which overlooks the lakes of
Under the name of Lucina, Juno Nemi and Albano. The Capitoline
watched over childbirth. It was for- Jupiter was to a large extent the des-
bidden to take part in offerings to cendant of this older Jupiter (see
Juno Lucina unless all knots were LATCNUS). On the Roman Capitol
untied, because the presence of a there were several cults of Jupiter in
belt, knot or the like on any partici- his different aspects, the best known
pant could hinder the delivery of the being that of Jupiter Optimus Maxi-
woman for whom the sacrifice was mus. This cult was transferred com-
offered. In a general way Juno was paratively late from the Quirinal to
the protector of women and particu- the Capitol at the same time as those
larly of those who were legally of the other two divinities of the
married. The Matronalia in her Triad, Juno and Minerva. Previously
honour took place on the calends on the Capitol there had been a
(first) of March. The date of this fest- temple to Jupiter Feretrius where the
ival was sometimes said to be the Spolia Opima were consecrated —
birthday of Mars, the god of war and that is, the weapons of all enemy
the son of Juno, and sometimes the leaders killed by Roman com-
anniversary of the end of the manders. Romulus was said to have
Roman-Sabine war. The festival been the first to consecrate Spolia
recalled the part played by the Opima: those of King Acron. The
Sabine women in throwing them- memory of the second consecration
selves between their fathers and their was also preserved — A. Cornelius
young husbands and re-establishing Cossus in 426 BC presented the spoils
harmony between the two peoples. of Tolumnius, the king of the
While every man had his 'Genius' Veians. Romulus was also said to
so every woman had her 'Juno' - a have built a temple to Jupiter Stator:
divine double which personified and during the battle between Romulus
protected her femininity. Inscrip- and the Sabines, the Sabines gained
tions record a Juno of the goddess the advantage and drove the Romans
Dia and of the goddess Virtus, and so back across the Forum. Then Romu-
on. lus promised Jupiter that he would
build a temple dedicated to him on
Jupiter The Roman equivalent of that spot, if he stopped the enemy.
ZEUS. He was the god of the sky, of The Sabines were driven off and
daylight, of the weather, which he Romulus kept his promise; the
produced, and particularly of temple of Jupiter Stator (Jupiter
thunder and lightning. In Rome he who stays or halts) was situated at
ruled on the Capitol, which was the bottom of the Palatine. It was
consecrated to him. Virgil tells how also said that M. Atilius Regulus
at one time this area was covered made a vow similar to that of
232 JUTURNA
κ
towards Hades and therefore Apollo
immediately abandoned the hero to
his unavoidable destiny.
The Keres are given a genealogy
Keres (Kijpeç) The Keres were in the Theogony of Hesiod. There
spirits which played an important they appear as 'daughters of Nyx';
part in the Iliad. They appeared in but in the same passage, some verses
scenes of battle and violence and later, the poet names a Fate, a sister
controlled the destiny of each hero. of Thanatos and Moros (Death and
They were said to be horrible, black Doom), and several Fates, sisters of
winged creatures, with big white the Moirae (in Latin, Parcae).
teeth and long pointed nails. They In the Classical era the Keres tend
tore corpses into pieces and drank to be mixed with other similar
the blood of the wounded and dead. deities, the Moirae and even the
Their garments were stained with Erinyes, whom they resemble
blood. Some allusions made by because of their savage character. In
Homer show that the Keres were the Laws Plato considers that they
Destinies co-existing with human are evil genii which, like the Harpies,
beings and personifying what kind sully everything which they touch in
of life would fall to their lot and how human life. Popular tradition identi-
they would die. For example, fied them with the evil spirits of the
Achilles had two fates to choose dead which had to be appeased by
from: one would give him a long sacrifices, such as, for example, took
and happy life, and the other, which place at the festival of the Anthes-
he chose, would earn him eternal teria.
have assaulted his sister and in re
morse he threw himself into the
River Marathon, which was there
after called the Himerus until its
name was changed to Eurotas.
L
Lacestades (Λακ€στάδης) When
PHALCES took possession of Sicyon,
Lacestades, the king of the town,
reigned jointly with him.
L a b d a c u s (Λάβδακος) Son of P o l y -
L a c i n i u s (Λακίνιος) The hero who
dorus (i) and grandson of CADMUS
gave his name to Cape Lacinium in
(Table 3) and on Nycteis, his
southern Italy. In some accounts he
mother's, side, the grandson of
was said to have been a king of the
Chthonius (see also SPARTOI). Poly-
country, who came from Corcyra,
dorus died when he was only one
and welcomed Croton when he
year old and his grandfather, N y c -
arrived as a wandering exile; in
teus, became regent; when he too
others he was described as a brigand,
died, his brother Lycus (3) became
a son of the Nymph Cyrene, who
regent. Labdacus finally obtained
had tried to rob Heracles of the herds
power. After his reign the title
of Geryon (see HERACLES, II). After
passed to his son LAIUS. The reign of
Heracles had killed Lacinius he built
Labdacus is notable for a war with
the temple of the Hera Lacinia on the
King Pandion (1) of Athens over a
promontory of the same name.
question of the position of the fron
tier. During this war, Tereus, king of
Thrace, came to help Pandion. L a d o n (Λάδων)
According to a legend recorded by ι. The god of the river of that
Apollodorus, Labdacus, like Pen- name in Arcadia and the son of
theus, was torn to pieces by the B a c Oceanus and Tethys. He married
chantes because he had fought Stymphalis and had two daughters,
against the introduction of the cult DAPHNE and Metope (1), wife of the
of Bacchus. river-god ASOPUS.
2. The dragon, the son of Phorcys
L a c e d a e m o n (Λακ€δαίμων) The and Ceto, which guarded the golden
son of Zeus and TAYGETE. He married apples of the Hesperides. Other
Sparta, the daughter of Eurotas. Eur- myths said that this dragon was the
otas bequeathed his kingdom to son of Typhon and Echidna or the
Lacedaemon, who gave the people son of Gaia. He had a hundred heads.
his name — Lacedaemonians — and After he had been killed by Heracles,
the capital of the country took his Hera turned him into a constellation.
wife's name, Sparta. His children
were Amyclas and Eurydice (2). In Laertes {Λαέρτης) The father of
some versions Asine and Himerus Odysseus. He was the son of Arce-
were added. The latter was said to sius and Chalcomedusa. His family
LAMEDON 235
for the abduction of his son that Zeus be linked with the family of Phle-
gave him either a vine carved in gold gyas. The Lapiths were also related
or the divine horses, which he to CAENEUS and his son Coronus.
offered Heracles as a reward. Caeneus had a brother, Ischys, who
was, like him, the son of Elatus.
Laonome (Λαονόμη) These names recur in the Arcadian
ι. In one version of the Heracles legends (see CORONIS ( I ) ) . The main
legend the hero had a sister called myth involving the Lapiths de
Laonome, who was the daughter of scribed their struggle against the
Alcmene and Amphitryon. She CENTAURS. Heracles also fought them
married an Argonaut, sometimes on behalf of their enemy AEGIMIUS
called Euphemus and sometimes (see HERACLES, πι). Mythographers
included Lapiths amongst the
Polyphemus (i).
hunters of Calydon (see MELEAGER)
2. Amphitryon's mother was and the Argonauts (notably Cae
sometimes called Laonome. She was neus, Coronus, Mopsus (i), Pirith-
the daughter of Gouneus. ous, Asterion, Polyphemus (i),
Laonytus (Λαόνντος) In some Leonteus, Polypoetes (2) and Phaler-
accounts Oedipus and Jocasta had us).
two sons, Laonytus and Phrastor;
both were killed in the war between Lara A Nymph of Latium, whose
the Thebans and the Minyans and real name was Lala, 'the Gossip'.
their king, ERGINUS ( I ) . In this ver Jupiter loved JUTURNA, who sought
sion Oedipus (i) had a second wife, to avoid him; therefore he requested
Eurygania (i), who bore him Eteo- the help of the Nymphs of the
cles, Polynices, Antigone and Ismene countryside. All gave their agree
(2)· ment except Lara, who warned
Juturna and told Juno everything.
Lapiths (Λαττίθαι) A Thessalian Enraged, Jupiter tore out her tongue
people who originally inhabited Pin- and gave her to Mercury, to be con
dus, Pelion and Ossa. They drove veyed down to Hades where she
out the Pelasgians, who were the would be the water Nymph in the
first inhabitants. Lapiths were also kingdom of the dead. On the jour
mentioned at Olenos, Elis, Rhodes ney Mercury raped her and begot
and Cnidos. The Lapiths were said to the LARES.
have been descendants of Peneus (i)
and Creusa (ι) (or Philyra). Peneus Larentia See ACCA LARENTIA.
had two sons, Hypseus and Andreus,
and a daughter who, by Apollo, Lares Roman tutelary gods, par
gave birth to Lapithes (the eponym ticularly charged with watching
of the Lapiths). He, in his turn, sired over crossroads and domestic prop
Phorbas (i), Periphas (i) and Trio- erty. Ovid (see LARA) claims that
pas, and Lesbos (at least if the text of they were sons of Mercury and gives
Diodorus Siculus is not corrupt). them duties similar to those of Mer
Periphas was supposedly the ancestor cury, the god of crossroads and pos-
of IXION, but more often Ixion can perity. It is also said that the Lar
LATINUS 239
PENELOPE had originally come from and Melanippe (4) as sisters. It was
Sparta. said that Glaucus (3), a son of Sisy
phus, passed through Lacedaemon
Leander (Aéavbpos) A young man looking for horses which he had lost,
of Abydos who was in love with a and there had an affair with Panti-
priestess of Aphrodite called Hero, dyia, who at the same time was
who lived at Sestos on the other side married to Thestius; she had a
of the Hellespont. Every night he daughter called Leda, whom she
swam across guided by a lamp which passed off as a daughter of Thestius
Hero placed on top of her house. (cf. the legend of the birth of ODYS
One stormy night the lamp was SEUS). When Tyndareus was driven
blown out and Leander could not from Lacedaemon by Hippocoon
find the shore. The next day Hero and his sons he took refuge at the
discovered his corpse. Not wishing court of Thestius, who gave him his
to survive her lover she threw herself daughter Leda as wife. When Hera
off the balcony. cles restored Tyndareus as king of
Sparta she went with him. By Tyn
Learchus (Λέαρχος) A son of Ino dareus Leda had Timandra who
and Athamas, his brother being married ECHEMUS; CLYTEMNESTRA,
Melicertes. When Athamas was who married Agamemnon; HELEN
driven mad by Hera, he killed Lear and the DIOSCURI. Among all these
chus with an arrow, mistaking him children (to whom the tragic writers
for a deer. According to another added Phoebe (4)), some were
account he mistook him for a young begotten by Zeus, who changed
lion and threw him off a rock. himself into a swan in order to unite
Another version maintains that Ath with her. It was also said that Helen
amas learned of the crime which Ino was the daughter of Zeus and NEME
had committed against Phrixus and SIS. Nemesis laid an egg, which she
Helle, his children by Nephele (1), abandoned. A herdsman found it
and, intending to kill her, he killed and took it to Leda. When Helen
Learchus by mistake. emerged from it, Leda claimed that
she was her child, because of her
Lebeadus (Λ€β4α8ος) Eleuther and great beauty. More often it was
Lebeadus were the only ones who accepted that Leda, because of her
did not take part in the blasphemy of love for Zeus, laid an egg, or occa
their father, LYCAON (2). After the sionally two eggs, from which
resulting disaster they fled to Boeotia emerged the two pairs of children:
where they founded the towns of Pollux and Clytemnestra, Helen and
Lebadea and Eleutherae. Castor (see DIOSCURI). In Sparta at
the temple of the Leucippidae frag
Leda (Λήδα) A daughter of the ments of an enormous shell were said
king of Aetolia, Thestius, and his to be part of the egg laid by Leda.
wife Eurythemis. Her sisters were
Althaea, the mother of Meleager, Leimon (Λζιμών) When Apollo
and Hypermestra, though some and Artemis wanted to avenge the
legends quote her as having Clytia rejections suffered by their mother
242 LEIMONE
when she had been pregnant, they was the first king of Laconia and a
came to the kingdom of Tegeates. child of the sun. He had two sons,
There they were received by Sceph- Myles and Polycaon (1); Myles suc-
rus, one of Apollo's sons, who spoke ceeded him on the throne of Laco-
to the god secretly. He was seen by nia, which he later bequeathed to his
one of his brothers, Leimon, who own son, Eurotas, the river-god.
imagined that he was slandering him Polycaon married MESSENE and
to the god and in anger killed him; gained the kingdom which he called
however, at the same time, Artemis Messenia after his wife. Another
shot him with an arrow. Tegeates legend made Lelex the father of
and his wife Maera (i) offered sacri Eurotas.
fices, but Apollo and Artemis would 2. A son of Poseidon and Libya
not relent; they departed, leaving a who came from Egypt to rule over
famine behind them. Tegeates con Megara. He had a son, Cleson,
sulted the Delphic oracle. It replied whose daughters, Cleso and Tauro-
that they must give Scephrus full polis, received the body of Ino when
funeral honours. In consequence an it was brought to Megara by the sea
annual festival was started at Tegea after her suicide (see PALAEMON (3)).
in his honour.
Lémures The spirits of the dead
Leimone (Λ€ΐμώνη) A daughter of which were exorcized annually at
Hippomenes, an Athenian noble. the Festival of the Lemuria in Rome
When her father realized that she on 9 May and the two following odd
had had an affair before she was days, 11 and 13. This festival was
married, he shut her up with a horse celebrated at night. The father of the
in a lonely house and gave them no family came bare-footed out of the
food or water. The horse grew mad house and washed his hands in the
with hunger and ate the young water of a spring and threw into the
woman. darkness some kidney beans (or
broad beans), turning his head and
Leipephile (Λ€ΐπ€φ(λη) The daugh saying, 'By these beans, I redeem
ter of Iolaus, a nephew of Heracles. myself and my own.' He repeated
Through her marriage to Phylas (4) this nine times without looking
she united two strands of Heraclean backwards, while, it was believed,
descent in her son HIPPOTES ( I ) (see the Lémures gathered the beans. The
also ALETES and Table 7). celebrant then purified his hands
Leitus (Λήιτος) A Theban chief again and knocked on some bronze
tain, a son of Alectryon (or Alector). saying, 'Shadows of my ancestors, be
The Iliad describes his killing of the gone.' He could then look behind
Trojan Phylacus (3) and his being himself. The Lémures had gone
wounded by Hector. He brought away satisfied for a year.
back the ashes of Archesilaus from
Troy. He was one of the Argonauts. Leonteus (AeovTevs) A chief of the
Lapiths, the son of Coronus and
Lelex (AéXef-) grandson of Caeneus. He went with
1. The eponym of the Leleges. He Polypoetes (2) to the Trojan War. In
LETHE 243
the Iliad he is named among the war daughters because the Delphic oracle
riors who manned the Wooden demanded human sacrifice to over
Horse. Myths also include him in the come the famine. The Athenians
list of the suitors of Helen. After the erected a shrine in the Ceramicus in
capture of Troy, he followed CAL- memory of the girls.
CHAS (i) on the land road. After the
death of the seer he returned to Lepreus (Λ4πρ€ος) The son of
Troy, whence he returned to his Astydamia, a sister of Augias. He ad
own country. vised Augias not to pay Heracles the
money which he had promised for
Leontichus (Λ€οντιχος) Rhadinea cleaning the king's stables. He
was a young girl of Triphylia in further suggested that he should put
Samos. She was betrothed to a tyrant Heracles into chains. When Heracles
in Corinth but she loved a young returned to take revenge on Augias,
fellow-countryman called Leonti he intended also to punish Lepreus,
chus. When she sailed to Corinth to but let himself be side-tracked by the
marry her fiancé, Leontichus took entreaties of Astydamia, and con
the land route. The tryant killed tented himself with organizing a
them both, and returned their bodies contest between himself and Lepreus
on a chariot. He then regretted his of eating, drinking and discus-
cruelty and buried them in an en- throwing. Lepreus, beaten at every
closure which he dedicated to them. thing, took up arms. They fought
Rejected lovers went tjiere to ask for until Lepreus was killed.
happiness in their love.
Lesbos (Λέσβος) The son of
Leontophonus (Λβοντοφόνος)
Lapithes. On the order of the oracle
After the murder of the suitors,
he went into exile in Lesbos (see
Odysseus, when accused by their
MACAR). He gave his name to the
parents, submitted the matter to the
island.
arbitration of Neoptolemus who
condemned him to exile. Odysseus
took refuge with Thoas (4), whose Lethaia (/Ι^^αια) The lover of Ole-
daughter he married. Leontophonus, nus. Over-confident in her beauty,
'the lion-killer', was born from this she was turned to stone. Olenus was
marriage. similarly transformed.
memory of what they had seen Leto. The two divine children were
when they were underground. Near then born.
the oracle of Trophonius at Lebadeia To escape Hera, Leto assumed the
there were two springs which those shape of a she-wolf and she fled from
consulting the oracle had to drink — the land of the Hyperboreans where
the spring of forgetfulness (Lethe) she usually lived. In Lycia Leto
and the spring of memory (Mnemo stopped by a spring or a pond to
syne). Lethe became a personifi wash her children, but the neigh
cation of Oblivion, sister of Death bouring herdsmen hindered her
and Sleep. from reaching it and the goddess
turned them into frogs.
Leto (Λητώ) The mother of Apollo Leto later became a much loved
and Artemis by Zeus. Her father was mother of her children, who made
the Titan Coeus and her mother the every effort to defend her. They
Titan Phoebe (i). Her sisters were slaughtered the sons and daughters
Asteria (i) and Ortygia (Table 8). of NiOBE (2) for her. They killed
When Leto was about to produce TITYUS (2) because he tried to rape
her divine twins, Hera, being jea her; and because the PYTHON had
lous, forbade every place in the threatened her, Apollo killed it at
world to offer her shelter. So Leto Delphi.
wandered without being able to find
a resting-place. Finally Ortygia, Leucadius (Λζυκάδιος) Leucadius,
which until then was a floating Alyzeus and Penelope were all three
island, agreed to receive her. As a children of ICARIUS (2) as was Poly-
reward the island was fixed to the sea caste (2) (see PENELOPE for a different
bed by four columns which kept it in legend). Icarius had been driven by
position. Because Apollo, the god of Hippocoon from Lacedaemonia
light, first saw daylight on its soil it where he was ruling with his brother
was named Delos, 'the Brilliant'. Tyndareus. But when Tyndareus
Another legend claimed that Hera was restored to Lacedaemonia by
had sworn that Leto could not give Heracles, Icarius stayed in Acarnania.
birth in any place which was reached Leucadius gave his name to the town
by the sun's rays. On Zeus' order of Leucas.
Boreas brought Leto to Poseidon,
who, by raising waves, made a sort Leucaria (Λευκαρία) The mother
of liquid arch above the island. So, of AUSON in one tradition. In another
shaded from the sun, Leto was able legend she was the mother of ROMUS.
to give birth. The birth pains lasted She was said to be the daughter of
nine days and nights. All the god King Latinus and to have married
desses came to help Leto except Hera Aeneas (consequently she is identi
and Eilithyia, the goddess of birth. fied with LAVINIA).
Her absence hindered the event, so
Iris was sent by the goddesses, and by Leucaspis (Λζύκασπις) A prince of
promising Eilithyia a necklace in Sicyon who fought Heracles when
gold and amber, nine cubits long, he crossed Sicily on his return from
persuaded her to help the suffering his time with Geryon. He was killed
LEUCIPPUS 245
the god of the science of language. that he was a son of Physcus and a
At other times he was regarded as great-grandson of Amphictyon;
the son of Oeager and brother of others claim that he was the son of
Orpheus, with whom he became Amphictyon and the grandson of
increasingly assimilated. Deucalion (1) (Table 5). He ruled
over the Leleges and gave them the
Liparus (Λιπαρός) One of the sons name of Locrians. Opus, a king of
of Auson. He was driven out of Italy Elis, had a daughter called Cabye of
by his brothers and fled to an island exceptional beauty. Zeus abducted
which he called Lipara, off the Sici her and took her to Mount Menalus.
lian coast. There he established a She became pregnant, and Zeus took
community which prospered. Later her to Locrus, who had no children,
he welcomed Aeolus (2) when he and gave her to him as a wife. Locrus
came to the island and gave him reared the child which she bore and
Cyane (1), his daughter, in marriage. called it Opus after his grandfather.
In return Aeolus arranged for him to In other versions Locrus was married
return to Italy. Liparus landed on the to Protogenia (1). After an affair
coast at Sorrento where he was made with Zeus, Protogenia gave birth to
a king. When he died, his new sub the hero Aethlius.
jects gave him divine honours. Locrus had a quarrel with Opus
and decided to set himself up else
where. Locrus asked the oracle
Lityerses (Λι,τυέρσης) A son of where he should go; the oracle told
King Midas, and an accomplished him to stop at a place where he was
harvester. He asked travellers who bitten by a 'bitch of the woods'.
crossed his territory to go harvesting When he had reached the western
with him; if they refused he killed slopes of Parnassus he stepped acci
them or forced them to work for dentally on the thorns of a wild rose
him. Then he beheaded them and (in Greek 'dog rose'). He realized
put their bodies in a stook. Some that the oracle had been fulfilled and
times he forced them to compete he settled in this country, which was
with him to see who was the quicker also called Locris after him.
harvester. He always won and
would then behead his opponent. Lotis (Λωτίς) A Nymph loved by
When Heracles was in the service of Priapus; she obstinately refused the
Omphale he passed Lityerses' estate, god's advances. One night when she
accepted Lityerses' challenge and, was sleeping among the Maenads,
after making him drowsy by a song, Priapus, who was one of the same
cut off his head. Heracles killed him band, tried to take her by surprise,
because Lityerses was keeping as a but at that moment Silenus' donkey
slave DAPHNIS, the herdsman who began to bray so loudly that every
was searching for his lover, Pimplea body woke up; Lotis escaped,
or Thalia (1). leaving Priapus abashed while every
body there laughed at his bad luck.
Locrus (Λοκρός) The figure who Later Lotis asked to be changed into
gave his name to Locri. Some say a plant and she became a shrub with
LYCAON 249
red flowers called a Lotus (see also During this ceremony they paraded
DRYOPE). naked round the Palatine and
scourged any women they met on
Lotophagi (Λωτοφάγοι) The Lotus- their way with the hide of a specially
eaters, a people amongst whom sacrificed goat. They believed that
Odysseus landed when he was women would become fertile in this
driven off course by a violent north way. Before the procession the priest
wind. They welcomed the hero and sacrificed the goat and with the
his men hospitably and gave them bloody knife marked the foreheads
the fruit of the Lotus, which was of the Luperci. The marks were
their staple food. This fruit made removed by being wiped with a
people lose their memory. Odysseus' wisp of wool soaked in milk; then
companions soon lost their desire to the Luperci uttered a peal of ritual
return to Ithaca, and Odysseus had laughter. The sacrifice also included
to force them to put to sea again. the immolation of a dog. The shrine
Ancient geographers located the of Faunus Lupercus was the cave of
Lotophagi's country on the coast of Lupercal situated on the Palatine.
Cyrene. According to legend, the she-wolf
suckled Romulus and Remus there
Lotus-eaters See LOTOPHAGI.
(seeROMULUs).
Lycaon (Λυκάων)
Lua A very old Roman goddess
ι. One of the sons of Priam and
associated with Saturn, and con
Laothoe. He was captured by
nected with the devotio or offering of
Achilles one night when he was cut
enemy spoils. She seems to have
ting branches in Priam's orchard.
been a goddess of the plague or,
Achilles sold him to Euneus of Lem-
more often, a magic defilement by
nos but Eëtion of Imbros bought
which one hoped to see one's
him back and returned him to Troy.
enemies struck.
Twelve days after his return he met
Achilles on the banks of the Sca-
Lucifer The Latin name for PHOS mander. Although he offered a
PHORUS. ransom, the Greek killed him merci-
lessly.
Luna The Roman goddess of the 2. An Arcadian hero, a son of
moon. Her temple in Rome was on Pelasgus. His mother was either
the Aventine. She was integrated Meliboea (1) or the Nymph Cyllene.
with Diana, whose temple was ad Lycaon succeeded his father as king
jacent to hers. In passages where she of Arcadia. He had some fifty sons,
is alluded to in literature she is but the mythographers do not agree
merely an equivalent of Selene. on the names or the exact number of
the sons. Pausanias and Apollodorus
Luperci Priests in Rome who celeb give remarkably different lists. It is
rated the Lupercalia. This was a fest said that generally the sons of
ival in honour of Faunus which took Lycaon were the eponymous heroes
place every year on 15 February. of a great number of towns in the
250 LYCASTUS
Péloponnèse. Like all genealogical mus; she gave birth to him and PARR-
legends this one is very complicated HASIUS at the same time.
and seems to have changed with the
times and the cities according to the Lycius (Λύκιος)
needs of explanation and local data. 1. The son of CLINIS, a Babylonian,
Lycaon was a very pious king like who was turned into a crow by
his father, Pelasgus, and was fre- Apollo. The crow was originally
quently visited by the gods. His sons white but it turned black because of
wanted to know if the strangers who his mistake (see also CORONIS (2)).
came to visit their father really were 2. An epithet of Apollo.
gods. So they murdered a child and
mixed its flesh with that which had Lycomedes (Λνκομήδης) King of
been prepared for the banquet. In the Dolopians who lived on the
horror the gods sent a tornado which island of Scyros at the time of the
destroyed the guilty. But more Trojan War. See ACHILLES and THE-
often, Lycaon, as well as his sons, SEUS, vu.
was said to have been impious. One
day Zeus came to ask the king for Lycopeus (Λυκωπ€νς) One of the
hospitality. The king received him sons of Agrius. With them he took
but because he wanted to discover if part in an expedition against Oeneus.
his guest was a god, he gave him a They captured the kingdom of
child's flesh to eat, either that of a Calydon from OENEUS, but Lycopeus
hostage whom he had held at court was later killed by DIOMEDES (2).
or even one of his own sons, Nycti-
mus, or indeed of his grandson Lycophron (Λυκόφρων) A son of
ARCAS. Zeus, enraged by such a meal, Mestor. After committing a murder
turned the table over, and in his he had to leave Cythera, his home
anger struck Lycaon and his children country. He accompanied Ajax (2)
with lightning. Gaia intervened in to Troy, where he was killed by
time to save Nyctimus, who suc- Hector.
ceeded Lycaon as king. Other
legends say that Lycaon was trans- Lycoreus (Λυκωρβνς) The son of
formed into a wolf by Zeus. Apollo and the Nymph Corycia. He
3. A son of Ares and Pyrene (2) was the king and founder of a town
who was killed by Heracles (see HER- called Lycoreia at the top of Parnas
ACLES, IV). sus. He had a son, HYAMUS, whose
daughter had a son by Apollo, who
Lycastus (Λύκαστος) was called DELPHUS.
ι. According to Diodorus, the
father of Minos the Younger, whom Lycurgus (Λυκούργος)
he sired on Ida (2). In this version he ι. A son of Aleus and Neaera.
was himself the son of Minos the When his father died he followed
Elder and Itone, the daughter of him as king of Arcadia. Through his
Lyctius. son, IASUS (2), he was the grandfather
of Atalanta in one version of her
2. The son of Ares and Phylo-
story, and of Melanion, who sue-
nome. She was a daughter of Nycti
LYCUS 251
ceeded in marrying her. His son chantes, CHAROPS told the god about
Anceus was an Argonaut. the plot. Dionysus retreated; then
2. A king of Thrace. When the Lycurgus attacked the Bacchantes
young Dionysus arrived in Thrace, and put them to death, but Dionysus
Lycurgus frightened him so much returned in force and routed the
that he jumped into the sea. Thetis Thracian army. He captured Lycur
rescued him. However, Zeus made gus and tore out his eyes. After much
Lycurgus blind. In the tragedies torture he crucified him. Diodorus
Lycurgus was the king of the Edones says that this episode was sometimes
in Thrace. When Dionysus wanted set in Nysa in Ethiopia. Nonnus de
to cross Thrace, Lycurgus refused scribed a Bacchante called Ambrosia,
permission. He captured the Bac who changed herself into a vine
chantes and the Satyrs in Dionysus' shoot so that she could throttle
train. Dionysus took refuge with Lycurgus. Hera had to rescue him.
Thetis. The Bacchantes were freed 3. A king of Nemea, sometimes
miraculously from their chains and called Lycus. Either by Amphithea
Lycurgus went mad; thinking he or by Eurydice (3) he had a child
was cutting down a vine, Lycurgus called Opheltes. The child was put in
cut his own leg, and his son's hands the charge of its nurse, Hypsipyle
and feet. Then he regained his sanity; (see EUNEUS), but was strangled by a
but the ground became barren and serpent near a spring (see AMPHIAR-
the oracle told the people that it AUS).
would become fertile again only if
Lycurgus was killed. On Mount Lycus (Λύκος)
Pangeus his subjects tied him to four ι. The son of Celaeno (1) and
horses which tore him to pieces. Poseidon. He was taken by his father
Hyginus' version differs greatly to the Island of the Blessed.
from the previous one. Lycurgus 2. The son of Celaeno (1) and Pro
drove Dionysus out of his kingdom, metheus, and the brother of CHI-
calling his divinity into question. MAEREUS (Table 8).
Then, after drinking wine he tried to 3. Grandson of Alcyone (2) and
rape his own mother in his drunken Poseidon. He was the son of Hyreius
ness. To stop a recurrence of such be and the Nymph Clonia in some tra
haviour he tried to uproot all the ditions, a son of Chthonius, one of
vines, but Dionysus made him mad, the 'Spartoi' (the warriors born from
and he killed his wife and son. Then the teeth of the dragon killed by
Dionysus exposed him to the CADMUS), in others. He is named as
panthers on Mount Rhodope. the uncle or father of ANTIOPE ( I ) .
In Diodorus' opinion, Dionysus Apollodorus tells how Lycus and
had decided to go from Asia to NYCTEUS had to flee from their native
Europe with his army and made a land, because they had killed Phle-
treaty with Lycurgus to this end. gyas. They ended up in Thebes
The Bacchantes crossed the Helles where Pentheus welcomed them.
pont and entered Thrace, but during Lycus either succeeded Pentheus or
the night Lycurgus ordered his sol became regent, since Pentheus' son
diers to kill Dionysus and the Bac LAIUS was too young to become
252 LYDUS
king. Hyginus records that Lycus killing Amy eus, the king of his hos
was the husband of Antiope. He tile neighbours the Bebryces. Hera
renounced her because she had an cles, returning from his expedition
affair with Epaphus and was sub to the Amazons, supported Lycus in
sequently loved by Zeus. Lycus then a war against the Bebryces, killed
married Dirce, but she was jealous of Amy eus' brother Mygdon (2), and
Antiope, so she had her imprisoned. gave Lycus part of the Bebryces' ter
Antiope was miraculously freed on ritory.
the order of Zeus, and she fled to 8. A king of Libya, who made a
Cithaeron where she bore Amphion practice of sacrificing stangers to his
and Zethus, who later took revenge father, Ares. Returning from Troy,
on Dirce and Lycus. See also ANTIOPE Diomedes (2) was shipwrecked on
( I ) , AMPHION and NYCTEUS. the coast. Lycus took him prisoner
4. In Heracles by Euripides, a char and was about to sacrifice him when
acter also called Lycus seized the Callirhoe (5), his daughter, took pity
kingdom of Thebes and was on the on the prisoner and set him free.
point of exiling Megara when Hera Diomedes did not reciprocate her
cles returned. The usurper had come love, however; he fled, and realizing
from Euboea and was a descendant that she was abandoned she hanged
of the son of Nycteus who had the herself.
same name.
5. One of the TELCHINES. Lycus had Lydus (Λνδός) The eponym of the
a premonition that there would be a Lydians of Asia Minor. Herodotus
flood (at the time of Deucalion (1)), calls him the son of Atys, son of
and took flight with his brothers. He Manes (1). According to Dionysius
landed in Lycia, where he intro of Halicarnassus, Manes was the son
duced the worship of the Lycian of Zeus and Gaia; by the Nymph
Apollo in the valley of the Xanthus. Callirhoe (1) he had a son called
6. One of the four sons of Pandion Cotys who, by Halie (or Halia), had
(2). Shortly after Pandion's sons two sons, Adies and Atys. Atys
returned to Athens, Lycus was married Callithea; their sons were
driven out by his brother Aegeus Lydus and TYRRHENUS. Some ver
and took refuge in Messenia. He was sions claim that Lydus was one of the
a well-known priest and seer. The Heraclids, the son of Heracles and
foundation of the cult of the Lycian Omphale.
Apollo was attributed to him.
Another account says that he emi Lymphae Divinities of springs
grated to Lycia and that the country who were identified with the
owed its name to him. NYMPHS at an early stage. The Lym
7. A king of the Mariandyni. He phae could make anyone who saw
succeeded his father, Dascylus. He them become mad (hence Latin lym-
received the ARGONAUTS hospitably, phatus = 'mad', 'crazy').
providing a magnificent funeral for
Tiphys and Idmon and sending his Lynceus (Λνγκ€νς)
son Dascylus to guide them. Lycus ι. Son of Aegyptus, and husband
was grateful to the Argonauts for of HYPERMESTRA (i), one of the
LYSIPPE 253
DAN AIDES. She spared her fiancé at drunk at a banquet and during the
the time of the massacre. She was night Staphylus, who knew of the
tried by her father, Danaus, for dis- oracle's prediction, put his daughter
obeying his orders but was acquitted Hemithea (1) in the room with Lyr
with Aphrodite's help. Lynceus took cus. (Staphylus' daughters Rhoeo
refuge on a hill near Argos. Hyper- and Hemithea, both finding Lyrcus
mestra let him know it was safe to attractive, had quarrelled over who
return by waving a torch. In should spend the night with him;
memory of this the Argives had a Hemithea won). In the morning
torchlight festival on the hill which Lyrcus resented the incident, but he
was called Lyrceia (after LYRCUS (2), gave his belt to Hemithea as a token
the son of Lynceus). Lynceus later of recognition for their son, and
became reconciled with Danaus and returned to Caunus. Aegialus was
succeeded him as king. Lynceus and angry and exiled Lyrcus. A civil war
Hypermestra had one son, Abas (2) ensued in which Hilebia took her
(Table 7). Another legend claimed husband's side, helping him win.
that Lynceus killed Danaus. The son of Hemithea and Lyrcus,
2. The brother of IDAS and the son called Basilus, later came to Canus
of Aphareus. He took part in the and succeeded his father.
Calydonian boar hunt (see 2. A son of LYNCEUS (1); he estab
MELEAGER) and the ARGONAUTS' ex- lished himself after his father's death
pedition, where he was distinguished in the village of Lynceia near Argos
by his keen sight. His most celeb- and changed its name to Lyrceia.
rated actions relate to his fight Other accounts claim that Lyrcus
against the DIOSCURI on behalf of the was a bastard of King Abas (2).
Leucippidae.
Lysidice (Λυσώίκη) The daughter
Lyrcus (Λύρκος) of Pelops (1) and Hippodamia (1).
ι. Son of Phoroneus. He was sent She was the wife of Mestor and bore
by Inachus to look for Io when she him Hippothoe. According to
had been kidnapped by Zeus. He another myth she was the wife of
failed to find her and, afraid to Alceus and the mother of Amphi
return to Argos, settled in Caunus tryon (Alceus' wife was mgre
where Aegialus gave him the hand usually called Astydamia or Lao-
of his daughter Hilebia. The mar nome (2)) (Table 7). Other versions
riage was childless, so Lyrcus con say that she was the mother of Alc-
sulted the oracle at Dodona. It told mene and the wife of Electryon.
him that the first woman he slept
with would give him a son. On the Lysippe (Λυσίππη)
way home Lyrcus stopped in the ι. One of the PROETIDES .
land of Staphylus (3). He became 2. The wife ofcEPHALUS.
imitating the sacrifice which their
father had just offered. The elder
took the sacred knife and stabbed his
brother in the neck. Then in spite of
his brother's screams he burned him
on the altar. In anger his mother
M
struck him down. Macareus killed
his wife with a blow of a thyrsus.
the daughter of Atlas (i) and the identified with Maia (1) and was said
wife of Tegeates, eponym of Tegea. to be the mother of Mercury.
Maera was the mother of LEIMON
and Scephrus, as well as Cydon, Malcandrus (Μάλκανδρος) A king
Archedius and Gortys. of Byblos in whose service Isis was a
2. A dog owned by ICARIUS ( I ) was slave, as nurse to the queen of Byb
torn apart by drunken peasants. los. This was at the time when Isis
Maera's barking led ERIGONE ( I ) to was searching for the body of Osiris.
her father's grave. After Erigone's
suicide, the dog died of despair or Mamercus
committed suicide by throwing itself 1. A son of Pythagoras, nicknamed
into the Onigrus spring. Dionysus Aemilius ('the courteous') because of
turned this faithful dog into a con the sweetness of his manners. This
stellation — 'the Dog'. In some Mamercus Aemilius is said to have
accounts Maera was one of ORION'S been the ancestor of the Gens Aemi-
dogs. lia. A variation claimed that he was
the son of NUMA POMPILIUS, whose
connections with Pythagoras and
Magnes (Μάγνης) A Thessalian
Pythagoreanism were well known.
hero who gave his name to Magne
2. Mars, disguised as a herdsman,
sia. He is thought most often to be
had made Sylvia, the wife of Septi-
the son of Aeolus (i) and Aenarete
mius Marcellus, pregnant. He gave
(Table 5). He married a Naiad and
her a lance, with a note setting out
had two sons, Polydectes and Dictys.
the destiny of the unborn child
Other mythographers made him a
attached to it. This child was
son of Zeus and Thyia and the
Mamers Mamercus. He fell in love
brother of Macedon (1). Hesiod,
with the daughter of Tuscinus.
according to Antoninus Liberalis,
When Mamers Mamercus was out
claimed that he was a son of Argos
hunting he slew boar. He gave his
(3) and Perimele (1). In that case he
lover the head and the feet, but his
would be the father of Hymenaeus.
mother's two brothers, Scymbrathes
and Muthias, were annoyed and
Maia (Μαία) snatched the trophies back. Mamer
ι. One of the PLÉIADES, although cus then killed his uncles, but Sylvia
another legend claims that her burned the lance and Mamercus
mother was Sterope (1). Maia was a died.
Nymph of Mount Cyllene where, in
an affair with Zeus, she conceived Mamurius Jupiter sent a shield to
Hermes. She also appears as nurse of king Numa as a pledge of victory for
Areas after the death of Callisto (1). Rome. As a safeguard Numa had
2. In very early times in Rome eleven copies made which he
there was a goddess called Maia. She entrusted to the Salii. They were
was the supporter of Vulcan, to made by Mamurius, and in return
whom the month of May was par- his name was included in the song
ticularly dedicated. After the intro- sung by the Salii at the festival of the
duction of Hellenism she became shields. In Rome, at the festival of
MARIANDYNUS 257
Marsyas (Μαρσύας) The inventor Adrastus (Table 1). His son was EUR-
of the double-flute (as opposed to the YALUS (1). He was one of the Seven
Syrinx or Pan pipes). Marsyas was Against Thebes. He was killed by
variously described as the son of Melanippus (2).
Hyagnis, Olympus (2) or Oeager. In
one version the flute was invented by Medea (Μήδεια) The daughter of
Athena, but when she saw how dis AEETES, king of Colchis, the grand
torted her face became whilst play daughter of Helios and the niece of
ing, she threw it away. A variant Circe. Her mother was Idyia. In
myth claims that Athena made the some accounts Hecate is said to have
first flute out of deer's bones, but been her mother.
Hera and Aphrodite laughed so Without Medea, Jason would not
much at her appearance while blow have won the Golden Fleece; she
ing it that she went to Phrygia to gave him the ointment to protect
look at her reflection in a stream. Shehim from the bulls of Hephaestus
saw that Hera and Aphrodite were (see ARGONAUTS) and with her spells
right and threw the flute away. sent the dragon to sleep. A later
Marsyas picked it up and found he legend, related by Diodorus, informs
could make beautiful music with it. us that Medea was opposed to her
He challenged Apollo to produce father's policy of killing all for
equally beautiful music on his lyre. eigners. Annoyed by her mute
Apollo accepted, on condition that opposition, Aeetes imprisoned her,
the winner could inflict any punish but she easily freed herself. This hap
ment he wished on the loser. The pened on the day that the Argonauts
first trial was a draw but Apollo landed in Colchis. She threw in her
challenged his opponent to play his lot with theirs, persuading Jason to
flute upside down as he could with promise to marry her if she ensured
his lyre. Marsyas was declared the the success of his enterprise. As soon
loser. Apollo tied him to a pine (or as the fleece was gained, Medea took
plane) tree and flayed him alive. flight with Jason and the Argonauts.
Marsyas was subsequently trans He had promised to marry her and
formed into a river. The flaying of all the subsequent crimes of Medea
Marsyas was a popular theme in Hel were explained by Jason's perjury.
lenistic art. (See also BABYS). To give him victory Medea had not
only betrayed her father but she had
Mater Matuta A Roman deity of taken as a hostage her brother,
growth, identified with the Greek Apsyrtus, whom she killed and cut
LEUCOTHEA (i). Lucretius says she is a into pieces to delay the pursuit of
goddess of the dawn. She had a Aeetes (see ARGONAUTS).
temple in the Forum Boarium near Jason and Medea's marriage was
the Port of Rome. Her festival, the postponed until the call on ALCI-
Matralia, was held on 11 June. NOUS: Alcinous had decided to give
Medea up to Aeetes' envoys, but
Mecisteus (Μηκι,στεύς) One of the only if she was still a virgin. Alci
children of Talaus and Lysimache nous' wife Arete told Medea secretly
and consequently a brother of about the king's decision and Jason
260 MEDEIUS
slept with her in the cave of MACRIS. and jewels. She had these delivered
In a much later legend Jason was to Creusa; when Creusa put them on
married in Colchis, where he stayed she was encircled by a mysterious
for four years before carrying out fire, as was her father when he came
the exploits for which he had come to help her. Meanwhile Medea killed
to the country. Medea, as priestess of her own children in the temple of
Artemis/Hecate, was responsible for Hera. She then fled to Athens in a
putting to death all foreigners who chariot driven by winged dragons
entered Colchis. When she saw Jason which were a present from her an
she was overcome with immediate cestor, Helios. A different version
love, inspired by Aphrodite, and the claims that Medea's children were
scene of the sacrifice was said to have stoned by the Corinthians because
ended with a wedding (cf. the story they had brought the dress and j e w
of Iphigenia and Orestes). Hesiod els to Creusa (see MERMERUS).
gave Jason and Medea a son called It was said that Medea fled to
MEDEIUS. Other authors name a Athens because, before she murdered
daughter, Eriopis; in the tradition her children, AEGEUS had promised
used by the tragedians, Pheres (2) to help her. After unsuccessfully try
and Mermerus were said to have ing to kill Theseus she was banished
been their two sons. Diodorus from Athens and made her way back
named Thessalus (3), Alcimenes and to Asia, taking her son by Aegeus,
Tisandrus. MEDUS (1). She later returned to Col
While returning to Iolchus with chis where Perses had dethroned
JASON, Medea started her campaign Aeetes. She had Perses killed, and
of revenge against PELIAS. She per gave the kingdom back to her own
suaded the king's daughters that she father. In one legend Medea was
could rejuvenate any living being if transported to Elysium, where she
she wished to do so, by boiling it in a was united with Achilles.
magic liquid. She demonstrated,
using an old ram. Convinced by this, Medeius (Μήδ€ΐος) A son of Jason
the daughters of Pelias cut him up and Medea, who was brought up by
and threw the pieces into a cauldron Chiron.
provided by Medea; Pelias, how
ever, did not emerge. After this M e d o n (Μέδων)
murder, Acastus, Pelias' son, ι. The natural son of Oileus and
banished Jason and Medea from his Rhene. He was a native of Phthiotis
kingdom. but had to g o into exile after the
Corinth was the native city of murder of his parents by his mother-
AEETES. Jason and Medea lived for in-law, Eriopis. When PHILOCTETES
some time in Corinth, until CREON was left on Lemnos, Medon took
(1) wanted to marry his daughter command of some of his troops. He
Creusa (3) or Glauce (2) to Jason. He was killed at Troy by Aeneas.
banished Medea but she obtained a 2. A herald of the suitors at Ithaca.
day's delay, which she spent prepar When they decided to set a trap for
ing her revenge. She dipped a dress Telemachus, Medon told Penelope
in poison, together with ornaments about the plot; he was therefore
MEGES 261
2. S o n o f ALPHESIBOEA ( i ) .
ATALANTA). When Minos besieged
King Nisus (1), he called on Megar-
eus for help. Megareus was killed in
Medusa (Μέδοισα) One of the GOR- the fighting. When his successor,
GONS. See PERSEUS. Alcathous, rebuilt the citadel of Nisa
he named it Megara. In a tradition of
Mentis An Italian goddess who pre Megarian origin Megareus suc-
sided over outbreaks of sulphurous ceeded Nisus because Iphinoe was his
fumes. It was claimed that these wife and the daughter of Nisus.
fumes were responsible for plagues, Alcathous succeeded Megareus
so sometimes Mentis was said to be because he was his son-in-law.
the goddess of plague. In Rome she
had a temple on the Esquiline. M e g e s (Μέγης) The son of PHYLEUS
262 MELAMPUS
had a son called EURYTUS (2). He is the head to Tydeus because he knew
said to have founded the town of how savage he was. Amphiaraus was
Oechalia in Messenia on land hostile to Tydeus because he had
granted to him by Perieres (1). forced them to undertake this ex
pedition, which Amphiaraus knew
Melanippe (Μ€λανίππη) was doomed to be disastrous.
ι. The daughter of Aeolus (1), the 3. One of the sons o f Agrius, who
son of Hellen (Table 5). She had two deposed Oeneus at Calydon (see
sons by Poseidon, Boeotus and Aeo DIOMEDES (2)).
lus (2). She was the heroine of two 4. The son Theseus had by Peri-
tragedies of Euripides, now lost: goune, daughter of SINIS. He was
Melanippe in Chains and Melanippe among the winners at the Nemean
the Wise. games in the time of the Epigoni.
2. A Nymph who married Itonus, 5. Several Trojans with this name
the son of Amphictyon, and bore a fell while fighting before Troy.
son, Boeotus. 6. See COMAETHO ( 2 ) .
3. A daughter of Ares and a sister
M e l a n t h i u s (MeXavdios) An Itha-
of Hippolyta (1). Melanippe was
can goatherd, a brother of MELANTHO1
captured by Heracles but Hippolyta
(2). Like his sister, he betrayed the
obtained her release by agreeing to
interests of Penelope and Odysseus.
the conditions of the captor. In the
When Odysseus arrived in Ithaca
fight which followed the breakdown
disguised as a beggar, Melanthius
of the armistice Melanippe was
insulted him and took the side of the
killed by Telamon (see HERACLES, II).
suitors. During the massacre he tried
4. The sister of MELEAGER (but see
to give arms to the suitors. He was
also LED A).
locked in the room where the
weapons were and when the servants
Melanippus (Μζλάνιππος)
had been hanged he was taken into
ι. A son of Ares and of the goddess
the courtyard, where his nose and
Triteia. He founded the town of Tri-
ears were cut off and given to the
teia in Achaea.
dogs to eat.
2. A Theban, the son of Astacus,
who was one of the warriors born M e l a n t h o (Μβλανθώ)
from the teeth of the dragon of ι. A daughter of Deucalion (1),
CADMUS. He fought in the war of the according to one tradition. After an
Seven against Thebes. He killed intrigue with Poseidon, who took
Mecisteus and mortally wounded the shape of a dolphin, she gave birth
Tydeus before he himself was killed to DELPHUS, after whom Delphi was
by Amphiaraus. Amphiaraus be named. Other versions give the
headed his corpse and took the head daughter of Deucalion the name of
to the dying Tydeus, who split the Melantheia, and make her the grand
skull open and ate the brains. As a mother of Delphus. She also had by
result Athena, who had decided to Cephissus, or by HYAMUS, a daughter
make Tydeus immortal, abandoned called Melaena or Melaenis or
her idea. Amphiaraus, had foreseen Celaeno, who was the mother of
what would happen and had given Delphus (Table 5).
264 MELANTHUS
Melitus (not Meles) the lover who Melicertes (Μελικέρτ^?) The youn
was rejected. In despair Melitus ger son of Ino, who took him down
threw himself from the top of the with her when she drowned herself.
rock. Timagoras committed suicide Melicertes became the god Palae-
on his body. mon (3) (see LEUCOTHEA ( I ) and
Table 3). In one tradition Athamas,
M e l i a (Μίλια) Melicertes' father, threw him into a
ι. A daughter of Oceanus and a sis cauldron of boiling water from
ter of Ismenus (2). After an affair which his mother snatched him
with Apollo she gave birth to Isme- before committing suicide with him.
nius and Tenerus. She was wor According to another version, Ino
shipped in the temple of Apollo threw him into the cauldron and
Ismenius near Thebes, and at Thebes then hurled herself into the sea with
there was a spring called after her. his dead body in her arms. In another
2. Another daughter of Oceanus. version she fled with the still living
She married Inachus, by whom she child and drowned both him and
had Aegialus, Phegeus and P h o r o - herself together. At the place where
neus. Ino cast herself into the sea the body
of Melicertes was retrieved by a dol
Meliads (Μελιαδε?) Nymphs of the phin, which hung it upon a pine tree.
ash tree who were born from drops Sisyphus, found the body and had it
of blood spread by Uranus after he buried. He instituted the worship of
had been castrated by Cronus. In the boy under the name of PALAE-
memory of their violent birth lances MON, and founded the Isthmian
were made from ash trees. The war Games as funeral games in his
like bronze age race supposedly honour.
sprang from ash trees. This was the
third age of people who inhabited Melissa (Μέλισσα) The sister of
the earth. Amalthea, who was nursemaid to
the infant Zeus on Mount Ida in
Crete (see MELISSEUS ( I ) ) .
M e l i b o e a (Μελι'βοια)
1. A daughter of Oceanus. She Melisseus (Μελισσευ?)
married Pelasgus, by whom she bore ι. The king of Crete at the time of
Lycaon (2). Zeus' birth. Rhea entrusted the nur
2. One of the children of NIOBE (2). ture of the infant god, whom she had
With her brother Amyclas she hidden in a cave on Mount Ida, to his
escaped the massacre of the Niobids. daughters AMALTHEA and Melissa.
They took refuge in Argos, where Melisseus was the first man to offer
they built a temple to Leto. During sacrifices to the gods. Melissa was the
the massacre Meliboea turned pale first priestess of Rhea.
with fear, so she adopted the sur 2. One of the CURETÉS.
name Chloris (the green one). 3. A king of the Chersonese in
Caria, who purified Triopas of the
M e l i b o e u s (Μελίβοι,ος) A shepherd murder of his brother Tenages.
who found the infant OEDIPUS aban
doned on the mountain. Melissus (Μέλισσο?) An Argive
MEMNON 267
return of Helen and the treasures of the city Menelaus ran to DEIPHO-
carried off by Paris. Antenor BUS' house, where he knew Helen
brought them before the Trojan as- was, since after Paris' death she had
sembly, but Paris and his supporters married Deiphobus. He killed Dei-
ensured that any attempt at com- phobus and entered the house. For
promise was rejected. According to the meeting o f Menelaus and Helen
the Iliad, Paris and Menelaus initially see HELEN.
faced each other in single combat. After the victory Menelaus went
Menelaus wounded Paris so heavily to Tenedos, then Lesbos, then sailed
that Aphrodite had to cover Paris over to Euboea and on towards Cape
with a cloud and carry him off. A g a - Sounion. Phrontis, his pilot, died
memnon pointed out to the Trojans there and Menelaus turned back to
who were watching that his brother pay him his funeral honours while
was clearly the victor: he asked them Nestor and Diomedes (2) continued
to carry out the terms agreed before homewards. When Menelaus set sail
the fight, according to which Helen again, and reached a point level with
would belong to the winner. As the Cape Malea, he was caught by a
Trojans hesitated, Pandarus fired an storm that carried him to Crete,
arrow at Menelaus and grazed him; a where most of his ships foundered.
general battle then broke out. Soon He went on to Egypt, where he
Menelaus killed Scamandrius (2) and stayed for five years, acquiring great
had an indecisive encounter with riches according to the Odyssey. See
Aeneas. That evening Hector issued CANOPUS, THON, POLYDAMNA, PHAROS
a challenge to any Greek to face him and IDOTHEA (1). Menelaus finally
in single combat. Menelaus was arrived in Sparta with Helen eight
about to accept when he was re- years after leaving Troy and eight-
strained by the Greek chiefs. He dis- een years after the start o f the war.
tinguished himself in the fighting According to another version,
which took place around the ships, Menelaus found the real Helen in
and after Patroclus' death he was the Egypt; she had been kept there by
first to come forward and fight to PROTEUS since the time when she and
regain his body. Menelaus sent Anti- Paris had landed in that country.
lochus to Achilles with the news of At the end o f his life, Menelaus
his friend's death, and dragged was carried off alive to the Elysian
Patroclus' corpse from the battle- fields, an honour bestowed on him
field. He makes almost no appear- by Zeus because he was his son-in-
ance in the closing books of the Iliad, law. At the time of Pausanias, visit-
participating only in the chariot race ors to Sparta were shown the house
during the funeral games held in where Menelaus had supposedly
Patroclus' honour. once lived. He was worshipped as if
Menelaus appeared again in the he were a god; men would come and
events subsequent to the Iliad. After ask him for strength in battle, while
Paris was killed, Menelaus had his women appealed to Helen for
corpse mutilated; he then figured beauty and grace.
among the warriors inside the
Wooden Horse. During the capture Menestheus (Meveadev?) The son
270 MENESTHIUS
place during which Aeneas dis the happiest people in our world,
appeared. Aeneas' son, Ascanius, they wanted to see no more and
asked for peace terms. Mezentius returned back to their own lands.
demanded all the wine produced in There is another version of the
Latium. Ascanius vowed the same king's encounter with Silenus, told
wine to Jupiter, then routed the by Ovid in his Metamorphoses. Sile
Etruscans, killing Mezentius' son nus had strayed away from the reti
Lausus (i). Ascanius granted Mezen nue of Dionysus and fell asleep in the
tius lenient peace terms, and there mountains of Phrygia. Some
after he remained a loyal ally of the peasants found him and brought him
Latins. in chains to their king. Midas, who
In Virgil's version, Mezentius had had once been initiated into the
been driven out of Caere by his sub Mysteries, realized who his guest
jects because of his tyranny, and had was. He received him with great
taken refuge with Turnus. He honour and went off with him to
fought at Turnus' side with Lausus rejoin Dionysus, who offered to ful
(i), but both were killed by Aeneas. fil any wish the king might make.
This account contains no reference Midas asked that anything he
to promises of wine, and only touched should turn to gold. The
Mezentius is Aeneas' enemy; the god granted his request, but when
Etruscans support the Trojans. (This Midas wanted to eat, everything
can be explained by the fact that Vir turned to gold; the wine, too,
gil's patron Maecenas was an Etrus changed into metal. Midas begged
can and, at the time of writing, a Dionysus to take away his gift. Dio
close friend of Augustus.) nysus told him to wash in the spring
at the source of the river Pactolus.
Midas (Μίδα?) The mythical king Midas did so and was freed from his
of Phrygia. According to one tradi gift. The waters of the Pactolus were
tion, he came across Silenus sleeping thereafter full of grains of gold.
off the effects of heavy drinking. A similar tale is recounted by Plu
Midas asked him to teach him wis tarch. Midas became lost in the
dom. Silenus then recounted the middle of a desert. There was no
story of two cities, outside our water to quench his thirst but the
world, called Eusebes or the city of earth sent forth a spring. This spring
piety, and Machimus, the city of spouted gold instead of water and
war. The inhabitants of the first were Midas begged Dionysus for his aid.
always happy and died laughing, The god changed the spring of gold
whereas the citizens of Machimus into a fountain, which was accord
were born fully armed and spent ingly called the Spring of Midas.
their lives fighting. These two Midas plays a part in the myth of
peoples were very rich. They de Pan, or MARSYAS, and Apollo. Midas
cided to come and visit our world happened to be present just as
and they arrived in the land of the Tmolus had declared Apollo the
HYPERBOREANS. When they saw the winner; Midas complained that the
miserable condition of the Hyper judgement was unfair, whereupon
boreans and learnt that these were Apollo made a pair of ass's ears grow
MINOS 275
out of his head. According to Triad, with Jupiter and Juno. One of
another version Midas was one of her earliest temples was built on
several judges and was the only one Mons Caelius. This temple bore the
to decide in Marsyas' favour. Midas name Minerva Capta and it may
himself is credited with the inven have been built to house a statue of
tion of the so-called Pan pipes. Midas Minerva captured at Falerii during
hid his ears under his head-dress, and the Roman conquest of the city.
only his barber knew the secret. He According to one tradition Minerva
was forbidden to tell anyone, but was one of the gods brought to
weighed down under this secret, he Rome by Numa. The festival of
could not contain himself and, dig Minerva was celebrated in March at
ging a hole in the ground, he con the Quinquatria. The attributes of
fided to the earth that Midas had the goddess are analogous to those of
monstrous ears. The reeds which the Greek Pallas Athena. She pre
grew in the area then whispered to sided over intellectual and, in par
the wind that ruffled them: 'King ticular, academic activity. On the
Midas has ass's ears.' Esquiline there was a shrine dedi
cated to Minerva Medica, Minerva
Miletus (Μίλητος) According to the healer. Minerva plays no part in
Ovid, the son of Apollo and Deione; any specifically Roman legend (see,
Minos exiled him from Crete and he however, NERIO and ANNA PERENNA).
went to Asia Minor where he
founded Miletus. There he married Minos (Μίνως) A king of Crete,
the daughter of the river-god said to have lived three generations
Meander, and had two children, before the Trojan War. He is
Caunus and BYBLIS. In another tradi regarded as the son of Europa (5) and
tion he was the son of ACACALLIS or Zeus, and was brought up by Aster-
Aria and Apollo. His mother ion, king of Crete. He is also said to
exposed him at birth, but he was have been a son of Asterion (Table
either fed by a wolf and taken in by 3). Diodorus Siculus distinguishes
shepherds, or taken in by Aria's between two bearers of the name
father Cleochus. Later Minos fell in Minos, the former the son of Zeus
love with him. On the advice ofSAR- and the latter, grandson of the
PEDON (2) Miletus fled to Caria, former, the subject of the rest of the
where he founded the city of Mile legends. After Asterion's death
tus. In one version he fled to Samos Minos became the ruler of Crete.
first, founding a city called Miletus When his brothers raised objections,
there also. Minos replied that the gods meant
the kingdom to be his. To prove it,
Mimas (Μίμας) One of the GIANTS he offered up a sacrifice to Poseidon,
who fought against the gods. asking the god to make a bull
emerge from the sea, and promising
Minerva The Roman goddess iden to sacrifice the animal to the god in
tified with the Greek ATHENA; she return. Poseidon sent the bull, and
appeared first in Etruria and was Minos won his kingdom without
then introduced into the Capitoline opposition, but then refused to sacri-
276 MINOTAUR
fice the animal. Poseidon took his several military expeditions, notably
vengeance by sending the bull mad. one against Athens to avenge
Heracles subsequently dealt with it Androgeos' death, in which he cap
(see HERACLES, π). Pasiphae, Minos' tured the city of Megara (see NISUS
wife, later fell in love with this bull and SCYLLA (2)). He was victorious,
and conceived the MINOTAUR. and he demanded an annual tribute
Minos married Pasiphae, daughter of seven young men and seven girls
of Helios and Perseis. His legitimate to be fed to the Minotaur.
children were Catreus, Deucalion Later Minos went to Sicily at the
(2), Glaucus (5), Androgeos (also head of an army to recapture DAEDA-
known as Eurygyes), Acacallis, LUS, whom he found at the court of
Xenodice, Ariadne and Phaedra. He COCALUS. There Minos was killed in
also had illegitimate children. The his bath by one of the king's
Nymph Paria conceived EURYMEDON daughters at the instigation of Dae
(2), Chryses (4), Nephalion and Phi- dalus.
lolaus, and by another Nymph, At Heraclea Minoa there was a
Dexithea, Minos had Euxanthius. 'tomb of Minos', said to be the tomb
Minos is also said to have been the built by Minos' companions in
originator of homosexuality. In one honour of their king. The ashes of
tradition Minos rather than Zeus Minos were preserved in an inner
abducted GANYMEDE. He is also said chamber. This tomb was knocked
to have been the lover of Theseus down at the time of the founding of
and was supposedly reconciled with Agrigentum, and Minos' ashes were
him after Ariadne's abduction, and then carried off to Crete.
gave him his daughter Phaedra in
marriage. Minos loved BRITOMARTIS. M i n o t a u r (Μινώταυρος) A monster
His mistresses were so numerous that with the body of a man and the head
Pasiphae cursed him. He was cured of a bull, whose real name was
of this curse by PROCRIS. Asterius, or Asterion. He was the son
Minos is said to have been the first of Pasiphae, the wife of MINOS, and
man to civilize the Cretans and to of the bull sent to Minos by Posei
rule them justly. Minos' laws were don. Minos commissioned Daedalus,
thought to have been inspired by who was then at his court, to build a
Zeus: every nine years Minos con vast palace (the Labyrinth) compris
sulted Zeus in the cave on Ida where ing such a maze of rooms and corri
Zeus had been brought up. Minos is dors that only the architect could
often compared with his brother find his way. Minos shut the monster
RHADAMANTHYS, whose work he in the Labyrinth, and every year he
supposedly imitated. In the Under fed it with seven young men and
world both Minos and Rhada seven girls, who were the tribute
manthys sat in judgement over the exacted from Athens. Theseus
souls of the dead, assisted by AEACUS. offered himself as one of the victims,
Mythographers credit Minos with and with the help of ARIADNE he suc
dominion over a large number of ceeded not only in killing the beast
islands around Crete, and as far away but also in finding his way out of the
as Caria. He is said to have led Labyrinth. See THESEUS, HI.
MNESTHEUS 277
Minyads (Mivvaoes) The three MINYADS, Elara, who was the mother
daughters of king Minyas of Orcho- of TITYUS, Araethyrea, the mother of
menus; their names were Leucippe Phlias, and Clymene (3).
(5), Arsippe and Alcithoe, or
Alcathoe. The three sisters remained Misenus (Μισηνός)
at home during a festival of Diony ι. One of Odysseus' companions
sus, busily weaving and embroider who gave his name to Misenum in
ing, while the women of Campania.
Orchomenus were running over the 2. A follower of Hector. After his
mountains behaving like Bacchantes. death Misenus became Aeneas'
In some versions ivy and vines began trumpeter. Misenus challenged all
to grow around the stools where the the gods, claiming that he could play
girls were sitting, and milk and wine the trumpet better than any of the
began to flow down from the roof. immortals. Out of jealousy the sea-
Mysterious lights appeared in the god Triton tipped Misenus into the
rooms, and the sounds of wild ani sea, where he drowned. He was
mals, flutes and tambourines rang buried on the shore of the headland
out. The Minyads were seized with a in Campania which took his name.
divine madness; they tore the infant
Hippasus, Leucippe's son, to pieces. Mnemon (Μνήμων) When Achilles
Then they joined the other women went to the Trojan War his mother
in the mountains. In other accounts gave him a servant called Mnemon.
they were transformed into bats. An oracle had predicted that if
Another version claims that Diony Achilles should kill one of Apollo's
sus came to find them, in the guise of sons, he would die at Troy. It was
a young girl, and reproached them not known which of Apollo's sons
for their indifference. They made the oracle referred to. Mnemon had
fun of him; then, before their eyes, constantly to remind Achilles to
Dionysus turned himself into a bull, ensure his victim was not one of
a panther, and a lion. At the same Apollo's descendants. On Tenedos,
time milk and wine flowed from the however, Achilles killed Tenes, a son
stools, and the Minyads went mad of Apollo, and thereafter he could
and tore Hippasus to pieces. not escape his fate. To punish Mne
mon, he killed him with his spear.
Minyas (Μινύας) Minyas from the
Boeotian Orchomenus gave his Mnemosyne (Μνημοσύνη) The
name to the Minyans, the inhabitants personification of Memory. She was
of Orchomenus in the Homeric a Titaness, the daughter of Uranus
period. Minyas was either the son or and Gaia. Zeus coupled with her in
the grandson of Poseidon; in the Pieria for nine consecutive nights,
latter case his father was Chryses (3). and she later gave birth to the nine
By Euryanassa, the daughter of Muses. There was a spring dedicated
Hyperphas, he had a large number of to Mnemosyne before the oracle of
children: his son Orchomenus, the Trophonius at Lebadea (see LETHE).
successor to the throne (see CLYME-
NUS (2)), Cyparissus, the three Mnestheus (Μνησθ€υς) One of
278 MODIUS FABIDIUS
Achilles, he was also known as Mol- name of Molus and carried in pro
lessus or Molottus. His mother was cession. It is said that Molus
ANDROMACHE. In Euripides' Andro attempted to rape a Nymph; his
mache the infant Molossus was left to headless corpse was discovered some
die by Andromache but he survived, time later, and the rite was estab
and while visiting Delphi Neoptole- lished to commemorate this.
mus saw and recognized him. Her- 2. The grandfather of the MOLIONI-
mione, the wife of Neoptolemus, DAE.
was jealous since she herself was
barren, and she persecuted both Momus (Μώμος) The personifi
Andromache and Molossus. Her- cation of Blame. In Hesiod's Theo-
mione was on the point of killing gony she was a daughter of Nyx and
mother and son when Peleus saved a sister of the Hesperides. When
them. When Neoptolemus was Earth became exhausted by the
killed by Orestes, Thetis, conscious weight that she was carrying,
that Molossus was the only surviving because the human race was multi
descendant of the race of Aeacus, plying too swiftly, she asked Zeus to
instructed Andromache to take him reduce its numbers. Zeus accord
to Epirus. Andromache did accord ingly sent down the Theban War,
ingly, and there married HELENUS; but it proved insufficient to deal with
Molossus later succeeded his step the problem. Momus then suggested
father on the throne of Epirus. He that Zeus should marry Thetis to a
gave his name to the inhabitants of mortal; she would in time give birth
the region, the Molossians. to a daughter (Helen) who would set
Asia and Europe against one another.
Molpadia (Μολπαδια) This was one of the accounts given
ι. One of the Amazons who to explain the origins of the Trojan
attacked Attica. She killed Antiope War.
(2), the Amazon whom Thesus had
married, but was then killed herself Moneta The Bringer of Warnings:
by Theseus. this is the title under which Juno was
2. The daughter of Staphylus (3) worshipped on the Capitoline hill in
Rome. When the Gauls attacked the
(see PARTHENUS (1)).
city in 390 BC the sacred geese which
Molpus (Μόλπος) A flautist, also were kept around the sanctuary of
called Eumolpus (3), from Tenedos the goddess sounded the alarm by
who gave perjured evidence against cackling when the enemy had
TENES. Thereafter on Tenedos flau attempted a surprise night assault.
tists were not allowed into the The temple ofJuno Moneta stood on
temple dedicated to Tenes. the site of the house of Manlius
Capitolinus, the defender of the
Molus (Μόλος) Capitol. In this temple coinage was
ι. A Cretan, the illegitimate son of minted, because during the war
Deucalion (2) and father of Mer- against Pyrrhus the Romans were
iones. During a festival on Crete a afraid that they would run out of
doll without a head was given the money. They asked Juno's advice
28o MOPSUS
and she replied that they would at that time called 'Italy'. His subjects
never be short of money if their wars took the name of the Morgetes. One
were fought according to the prin day an exile from Rome named Sice-
ciples of justice. It was therefore de lus visited Morges, who took him in
cided that the minting of coins and gave him part of his kingdom.
would be placed under the auspices Morges had a daughter, Siris. He
of the goddess. was the founder of several cities
including Morgantina.
M o p s u s (Μόφος)
ι. A Lapith, and the son of Ampyx M o r i a (Mopia) A Lydian woman.
and Chloris. He took part in the ex Her brother Tylus was walking
pedition of the Argonauts as a sooth along the banks of the River Hermos
sayer. He competed at the funeral when a snake bit him on the face,
games held in honour of Pelias and is and he died at once. Moria saw her
listed among the hunters of the brother's terrible fate and sum
Calydonian boar. He died of a snake moned Damasen, a giant. Damasen
bite during the Argonauts' expedi plucked up a tree by the roots, and
tion in Libya. crushed the snake; its mate then
2. The son of Manto (i), and a rushed off to a neighbouring wood
grandson of Tiresias. He is often de and brought back in her mouth a
scribed as the son of Apollo. His herb which she placed in the corpse's
human father is sometimes said to nostrils. It came back to life and fled.
have been Rhacius, whom Manto Moria, learning from the snake,
met when leaving the temple at Del picked some of the herb and used it
phi and who had thus been marked to bring back Tylus to life (cf. GLAU-
out by the god as her intended hus cus (5)).
band. According to another tradi
tion Manto left for Claros, on M o r m o (Μορμώ) A female whose
Apollo's instructions, and was name was used to frighten small chil
abducted on her way by Cretan dren. She was accused of biting
pirates who took her to their leader, naughty children in particular, and
Rhacius. Mopsus was the fruit of this making them lame. She is sometimes
union. identified with Lamia (2).
Mopsus was credited with the
founding of the city of Colophon M o r m o l y c e (Μορμολνκη) 'The
where he competed against CALCHAS She-Wolf Mormo', or Mormolyce,
( I ) . After the death of Calchas, Mop was, like MORMO, an evil spirit whose
sus joined forces with AMPHILOCHUS name was used to frighten children.
(I).
3. The son of GERANA or Oenoe M o r p h e u s (Μορφ€υς) One of the
(see PYGMIES). thousand children of Hypnus. His
name (derived from the Greek word
M o r g e s (Μόργης) Italus named as for form) indicates his function: to
his successor a certain Morges, who take the shape of human beings and
reigned over the region bounded by to show himself to people during
Tarentum and Paestum, which was their dreams. Morpheus had large,
MUSES 281
swift wings which beat silently and offered refuge to the Minyans when
could carry him in seconds to the they were driven out by a Thracian
ends of the earth. invasion, and gave them land around
the harbour, which they named after
Mors The Roman personification of him.
Death (cf. the Greek THANATOS).
Munitus (Μούνίτος) The son born
Mothone (Μοθώνη) After the fall of the clandestine relationship
of Troy Diomedes (2) brought his between Laodice (4), Priam's
grandfather Oeneus to Messenia. daughter, and Acamas (3), who had
Mothone was the fruit of Oeneus' come with a deputation to Troy to
union with a local woman, and in recover Helen before the war
honour of his daughter Oeneus started. The infant was entrusted to
changed the name of the city of his grandmother Aethra. Munitus
Pedasos to Mothone. later died of a snake-bite during a
hunting expedition in Thessaly.
Mucius Scaevola When Rome was
besieged by the Etruscan King Por- Musaeus (Μουσαίο?) The friend,
senna, a man named Mucius decided pupil, master, son, or simply con
to kill him. He slipped into the temporary of Orpheus. According
enemy camp but stabbed another of to Attic legend his father was Anti-
the enemy instead. He was arrested phemus, or Eumolpus (1); these
and brought before Porsenna. At this names indicate that they were
moment a brazier full of burning singers, just as Musaeus' name sug
coals happened to be carried in: gests that he was the archetypal
Mucius held his right hand on the musician. His mother was Selene,
flames and let it burn away. Filled and he was brought up by the
with admiration Porsenna gave back Nymphs. Musaeus is said to have
to his enemy the sword that had been a great musician, capable of
been taken from him. Mucius then healing the sick with his music. He
told him that three hundred Romans was also a seer and he is sometimes
like himself were waiting for the credited with having introduced the
chance to succeed in the enterprise in Eleusinian mysteries into Attica.
which he had just failed. This was Various poems of mystic inspiration
untrue but Porsenna, much dis were attributed to him.
mayed, at once concluded an armis
tice with Rome. Mucius, one-armed Muses (Μούσαι) The daughters of
as a result of his sacrifice, took the Mnemosyne and Zeus, the fruits of
name of Scaevola or 'the left- nine nights of love-making. Other
handed'. traditions claim that they are the
daughters of Harmonia, or the
Munichus (Μούνιχος) In Athens daughters of Uranus and Gaia. The
Munichus was the eponymous hero Muses were not only divine singers,
of Munichia, one of the military har whose music delighted Zeus and
bours. He is said to have been a king other gods; they also presided over
of Attica and son of Panteuces. He thought in all its forms: eloquence,
282 MYCENEUS
and destroyed the city of Cerne, Antiphus by Pisidice (3) (see Table
whereupon the rest of the Atlantes 5). Through his daughter Eupole-
surrendered in terror. Myrina mia, he was the grandfather of the
treated them generously, building Argonaut Aethalides.
the city of Myrina on the site of
Cerne, and giving it to her prisoners. Myrrha (Μύρρα) The daughter of
The Atlantes then asked for her help Cinyras, king of Cyprus. For her
against a warlike people called the legend see ADONIS. She is also some
Gorgons, whom she eventually times called Smyrna (2).
defeated. She raised a monument,
known as the Tomb of the Ama
zons, to her subjects who died in the Myrtilus (Μυρτίλος) In the versions
fighting. The Gorgons subsequently of the legend of Pelops (1) used by
re-established their power, and later the dramatists Myrtilus is the chario
Perseus and then Heracles fought teer who took the axle-pin out of
them. Myrina also conquered the Oenomaus's chariot-wheel and re
greater part of Libya and later went placed it with a wax peg so that
to Egypt, where Horus reigned. She Pelops won the race (see HIPPODAMIA
made a treaty with him, organized (1)). Myrtilus was the son of Hermes
an expedition against the Arabs, and Phaethusa, one of the daughters
ravaged Syria, received the volun of Danaus, or of Clymene. After his
tary surrender of the Cilicians, death Myrtilus was changed by his
crossed the Taurus mountains, father, Hermes, into a constellation,
crossed Phrygia and reached the area the Charioteer.
of the River Caicus. She was even
tually killed by the Thracian King Myrto (Μυρτώ) A daughter of
Mopsus. This legend is not 'mythi Menoetius (1) and the sister of
cal' in the strict sense, since alongside Patroclus. She gave birth to a
the mythical elements the work of daughter fathered by Heracles,
'rationalist' Euhemerist mythogra- named Eucleia.
phers, seeking to explain the myths
in terms of historical events, is evi Myscelus (MVOKCXOS) The founder
dent. of the city of Croton, in Italy.
Myrina the Amazon Queen is Apollo instructed him through the
mentioned in the Iliad: there her Delphic oracle to found Croton, but
name Myrina is used only 'among when he arrived in the country he
the gods'; her human name was saw the city of Sybaris and asked the
Batieia. She married Dardanus god if it was necessary to found a
(Table 4) and was the daughter of new city in the same region. The
Teucer. oracle instructed Myscelus to accept
the god's gift. Myscelus obeyed. A
Myrmidon (Μυρμώών) The an tradition recorded by Ovid says that
cestor of the Myrmidons (a Thessa- Heracles had been given hospitality
lian people later ruled by Achilles) by Croton when on his way back
and the son of Zeus by Eurymedusa. from his encounter with Geryon. In
He was the father of Actor (1) and return Heracles had promised Cro-
284 MYSCELUS
ton that a city would be built which each putting into an urn the black
would bear his name. Accordingly, pebble which would condemn him
he advised Myscelus in a dream to go to death. Myscelus begged Heracles
and found a colony in Magna Grae- to rescue him, and miraculously all
cia. However the laws of Argos for- the black pebbles turned white.
bade its citizens to go abroad, so Myscelus was acquitted and allowed
Myscelus was brought to court and to leave. He then founded his colony
the judges all voted against him by at Croton.
which is dedicated to Artemis. This
version of the myth is a Hellenistic
one. For a different account see
ALPHEUS.
The Naiads were often said to
have healing powers. The sick might
Ν
drink or bathe in their springs,
though bathing was sometimes con
sidered sacrilegious. The Emperor
Nero was attacked by a sort of para
lysis and fever after bathing in the
Naiads (NaiaSes) Water Nymphs. source of the Aqua Marcia: this was
They lived for a very long time but attributed to the displeasure of the
were still mortal (see HAMADRYADS, Naiads. Another risk run by those
NYMPHS). The Naiads incarnate the who offended the Naiads was mad
divinity of the spring or stream ness: whoever caught sight of the
which they inhabit. A spring may Naiads, for example, was 'possessed'
have one or more Nymphs belong by them and driven mad (see LYM-
ing to it. PHAE).
Homer calls the Naiads 'daughters Many genealogies feature a Naiad
of Zeus'; elsewhere they are part of as foundress of a family, for example
the race of Oceanus; often they are the wives of Endymion, Magnes,
the daughters of the river in which Lelex (i), Oebalus (i), Icarius (2),
they live (the daughters of Asopus Erichthonius, Thyestes and others.
were Naiads, for example). Every Naiads are particularly numerous in
famous spring had its own Naiad. At the Péloponnèse.
Syracuse there was a beautiful
Nymph, Arethusa (i), a companion Nana In the legend of Attis Nana is
of Artemis. One day when she was the daughter of the river-god San-
swimming in a river, thinking she garius (see AGDISTIS and ATTIS).
was alone, she heard the voice of Nanas (Νάνας) The son of Teuta-
Alpheus, the god of the river, who mides, a king of the Pelasgians of
had conceived a passion for her. Thessaly. During his reign before the
Arethusa fled, pursued by the god. Trojan War, the Pelasgians were
She called on Artemis to save her. driven out of Thessaly by the Greek
The goddess enveloped her in a invasions, crossed the Adriatic, cap
cloud, and in her fear (since Alpheus tured the city of Croton and estab
refused to leave the place where he lished themselves in Italy. They
had seen her disappear) she turned thenceforth called themselves Tyrr
into a fountain. The earth opened up henians. Herodotus distinguishes
to prevent Alpheus mingling his these Pelasgians from the Tyrrhe
own waters with those of the spring nians who, according to him, orig-
which Arethusa had become, and, nally came from Asia Minor.
guided by Artemis, Arethusa went
through underground channels to Nannacus (Νάννακος) A king of
Syracuse, on the Island of Ortygia, Phrygia. He had foreseen the flood
286 NANUS
the Argonauts, whose pilot he on its way back from Troy, arrived
became after the death of Tiphys. level with the Gyroi (the Round
Some of the mythographers name Rocks near Cape Caphareus in the
him as the father of Palamedes, but south of Euboea) Nauplius lit a fire
others, notably Apollodorus, take on the reefs during the night. The
the father of Palamedes to be Naup- Greeks, thinking they were near a
lius (1), although this gives an harbour, headed for the light and
implausibly long duration to the life their ships were wrecked. It was in
time of Nauplius (1). this shipwreck that Ajax (1) died.
Nauplius (2) is notable principally According to Apollodorus the
for being the father of Palamedes, his death of Nauplius was caused by an
wife being either Philyra or Hesione act of treachery similar to that which
(2) or Clymene (4). His two other he had inflicted on the Greek fleet. It
sons were OEAX and Nausimedon. is also said that on the occasion of his
Nauplius was a remarkable naviga attempt to throw Penelope into the
tor, and several kings had recourse to arms of the suitors Nauplius was
his services. In the myth of Telephus, deceived by Anticlea, the mother of
his mother, Auge, was seduced by Odysseus. She told him of the death
Heracles. Her father, Aleus, gave of his sons, and in his grief Nauplius
Nauplius instructions to drown her, committed suicide.
but while he was conveying her to
Nauplion she gave birth to Tele Naus (Ναός) A great-great-grand
phus. Nauplius took pity on her and son of EUMOLPUS (1), king of Eleusis.
gave her to some merchants, who On the instruction of the Delphic
took her off to Mysia. In a second oracle he introduced the mysteries of
legend CATREUS entrusted Nauplius Demeter into Arcadia (though
with two of his daughters with according to Arcadian traditions
orders to drown them. But Nauplius these mysteries were introduced by
gave Aerope (1) to Atreus (or Pleis- Demeter herself).
thenes, according to different tradi
tions) and himself married Clymene Nausicaa (Ναυσικάα) The daughter
(4)· of King Alcinous of the Phaeacians,
Nauplius' son PALAMEDES joined and of Arete. Odysseus had been
the Greek army to fight against Troy shipwrecked and was thrown ashore
but was stoned to death on a charge on the coast of an island unknown to
of treachery. Nauplius then devoted him. He fell asleep in a wood on the
his life to avenging his son. He began banks of a stream. Athena sent a
by persuading the wives of the dream to Nausicaa. The young girl
absent heroes to take lovers and was dreamt that one of her friends chided
notably successful with CLYTEMNES- her for her negligence and asked her
TRA, the wife of Agamemnon, with to g o and wash all the family linen in
Meda, the wife of IDOMENEUS, and the river. In the morning Nausicaa
with Aegiale, the wife of DIOMEDES asked her parents for permission to
(2). Later he even tackled Penelope, go and do this washing and went off
but to no avail. Furthermore, when with the female servants in a carriage
the main convoy of the Greek army, drawn by mules. The girls washed
288 NAUSITHOUS
the clothes, and while these were and Calypso (1). He had a brother
drying they began to play ball on the named Nausinous. One tradition
river bank. The ball went astray and makes him the son of Odysseus and
rolled into the water. The girls gave Circe and the brother of Telegonus
a loud cry and woke Odysseus. He, (ι)·
being totally naked, covered himself
with branches and made his appear Nautes (Ναύτης) An elderly Trojan
ance. The servants fled, but Nausicaa who accompanied Aeneas. In Sicily
stayed where she was. Odysseus pre he advised Aeneas not to stay on the
tended to take her for a goddess or a island but to go on to Latium. A tra
Nymph of the stream; Nausicaa pro dition independent of the Aeneid says
mised him her help. She gave him that it was he who received back the
something to eat, lent him some PALLADIUM from Diomedes (2) when
clothes and scolded her servants for the oracle ordered its return to the
not having welcomed a guest sent by Trojans.
the gods. When evening fell Nausi
caa returned to the city, having Naxos (Νάξος) The hero who gave
shown Odysseus the way to the his name to the island. According to
palace; she herself rode in the car one tradition he was a Carian, son of
riage with her servants. There her Polemon who had installed himself
role stops, but she expressly admitted on the island at the head of a Carian
to herself that she would like to colony. The island was then called
marry Odysseus. Alcinous was ready Dia, and it was Naxos who gave it
to permit this but Odysseus had a his own name. According to another
wife in Ithaca. On this note the epi legend he was the son of Endymion
sode ends. The mythographers and Selene. A third version says that
invented a later marriage between he was the son of Apollo and Acacal-
Telemachus and Nausicaa, by which lis.
she was said to have had a son named
Persepolis. Neda (Μίδα) After Rhea had given
birth to Zeus she wanted to purify
Nausithous (Ναυσίθοος) herself and bathe the child, but the
ι. The son of Poseidon and of Peri- river-beds were competely dry. In
boea (2). He was king of the Phaea- her distress Rhea struck the ground
cians while they were still in with her sceptre, calling on Gaia for
Hyperia, and it was under his leader help. A spring burst forth. Rhea gave
ship that, driven out by the Cyc it the name of Neda in honour of the
lopes, they established themselves at Nymph, the eldest of the daughters
Scheria. Nausithous was the father of of Oceanus after Styx and Philyra.
Alcinous and of Rhexenor, and by
the latter the grandfather of Arete, Neleus (Νηλζύς)
Alcinous' wife. ι. Son of TYRO and POSEIDON
2. The pilot of the boat which took (Table 6). He was the twin brother
Theseus to Crete to fight the Mino of Pelias and the half-brother of
taur (THESEUS, in). Aeson, Pheres (1) and Amythaon.
3. One of the children of Odysseus Neleus and Pelias were abandoned at
NEMESIS 289
birth, but were fed by a mare sent by the fire in order to rid him of his
Poseidon. When the twins grew up mortal elements. Meanwhile she
they found their mother again when would change into a swallow and
she was being badly treated by her circle round the column bearing
stepmother, Sidero. They attacked Osiris' coffin. One night Nemanus
Sidero, who took refuge in the appeared and let out a cry at seeing
temple of Hera, but Pelias murdered her son in the fire. Isis revealed her
her at the altar. Later they fought true identity, but warned that the
each other to decide who should child would never be immortal. She
rule; Neleus was exiled and went to explained the reason for her presence
Messenia. There he founded Pylos and was given Osiris' body. When
and married Chloris, a daughter of Isis opened the coffin she screamed so
Amphion, and had a daughter Pero, violently that Nemanus' youngest
and twelve sons, including Nestor son died of shock. Nemanus' eldest
and Periclymenus (2). son also died as a result of having
For the war between Neleus and seen Isis grieving for her husband.
Heracles see HERACLES, HI. In some
traditions Neleus died in this war; in Nemesis (iVe/neai?) Both a goddess
others he outlived his sons and died and an abstract concept. She was one
of illness in Corinth, where he was of the daughters of Nyx and was be
buried. For other wars waged by loved by Zeus but tried to evade the
Neleus, notably against the Epeians, god, assuming many different forms
see NESTOR and MOLIONIDAE. and finally changing herself into a
2. A descendant of Neleus (1) and a goose. Zeus became a swan however
son of Codrus, king of Athens. He is and coupled with her. Nemesis laid
credited with the foundation of an egg which some shepherds picked
Miletus. He headed a colony of up and gave to LEDA. From this egg
Ionians who joined up with some came Helen and the Dioscuri. Some
Messenians who had been driven times Nemesis is a goddess who
from their country by the Heraclids. punishes crime, but more often she is
the power charged with curbing all
Nemanus (Νβμανούς) Wife of King excess, such as excessive good for
Malcandrus who gave hospitality to tune, for example, or arrogant pride.
Isis when she was searching for This illustrates a basic concept in
Osiris' body. Osiris' coffin had been Greek thought: people who rise
cast up on the coast of Byblos and above their condition expose them
had landed in a tree which had selves to reprisals from the gods since
grown and lifted it above the they risk overthrowing the order of
ground. Malcandrus had the tree cut the world and must be punished.
down and used it as a column to hold That is why Croesus, who was too
up the palace roof. Thus Osiris' cof wealthy and powerful, was enticed
fin was concealed in the palace roof. by Nemesis into his expedition
Isis arrived in Byblos disguised as a against Cyrus, which ruined him.
poor woman and Nemanus took her At Rhamnus in Attica, Nemesis
into her service as a nurse. At night had a famous sanctuary. A statue of
Isis used to put the youngest child in the goddess was carved by Agoracri-
290 NEOPTOLEMUS
was one of the Niobids. Her brothers worried as to what had befallen his
and sisters were killed by Apollo and father.
Artemis, but to make restitution
Apollo granted Nestor the right to Nicaea (Νίκαια) A Naiad, the
live the number of years of which his daughter of Sangarius and Cybele.
uncles and aunts had been deprived. She was devoted to hunting and
In both the Iliad and the Odyssey spurned love, so when a Phrygian
Nestor is the archetypal wise old shepherd Hymnus (1) was attentive
man, valiant on the battlefield but to her, she first rejected, and then
above all excellent in council. He killed him. Eros was indignant at
reigned at Pylos and attacked the this, so he inspired Dionysus, who
Epeians several times to punish them had seen Nicaea bathing naked, with
for their raids on his territory. a passion for her. Nicaea threatened
During one of these battles he nearly the god with the same fate as Hym
killed the MOLIONIDAE. He also killed nus, but Dionysus changed the water
the giant Ereuthalion in Arcadia, in the spring where she drank into
after challenging him to single com wine and when she had become
bat. He participated in the fight of drunk he overpowered her. The
the Lapiths and the Centaurs, in the fruit of their union was a daughter,
hunting of the Calydonian boar, Telete. Nicaea eventually made her
and, in certain late versions, in the peace with Dionysus and they had
expedition of the Argonauts. Above other children including a son called
all he played an important role in the Satyrus. Dionysus later built the city
Trojan War. He accompanied of Nicaea in her honour.
Menelaus on his trip around Greece
to assemble the heroes, and himself Nicomachus (Νικόμαχος) A grand
provided a fleet of ninety ships. He son of Asclepius, through his father,
took part in the capture of Tenedos Machaon. Nicomachus and his
by Achilles before the events brother Gorgasus became rulers of
recounted in the Iliad. His share of the city of Pherae in Messenia.
the booty was Hecamede, the
daughter of Arsinous. He acted as Nicostrate (Νι,κοστράτη) One of
intermediary in the dispute between the names given in Greece to the
Achilles and Agamemnon. The epic mother of EVANDER (3). She is some
poems also tell of how Nestor was times said to have been Evander's
attacked by Memnon and defended wife and the daughter of Hermes. In
by his son Antilochus, who sacrificed Rome she was known as CARMENTA.
his own life to save him. Achilles
finally killed Memnon and avenged Nicostratus (Νικόστρατος) The
Antilochus. After the fall of Troy son of Helen and Menelaus. Since
Nestor returned safely to Pylos. His the Homeric poems affirm that Her-
wife (Eurydice (8) according to the mione was Helen's only child,
Odyssey, but Anaxibia, daughter of Nicostratus is generally said to have
Cratieus, according to Apollodorus) been born after the return from
was still alive. Telemachus went to Troy. He is sometimes presented as
ask Nestor's advice when he was the son of Menelaus by a slave, in
294 NIKE
saved. The latter became pallid with He was born at Megara while his
terror; she took the name Chloris father was in exile. His mother was
('Green') and later married Neleus Pylia, daughter of the king of
(1). In the Iliad the children of Niobe Megara. After his father's death
remained unburied for ten days. On Nisus returned with his brothers to
the eleventh, the gods themselves conquer Megara (see also SCIRON).
buried them. In the more recent ver Some traditions attribute to Nisus
sion Niobe fled to Tantalus, at Sipy- a daughter named Iphinoe who
lus (or to Mount Sipylis in Asia married Megareus, son of Poseidon,
Minor), where she was changed into but in the best-known tradition,
a rock by the gods. Her eyes con Nisus' daughter was SCYLLA (2).
tinued to weep however, and people 2. A companion of Aeneas famous
were shown the rock which had for his friendship with Euryalus (3).
once been Niobe, from which a At the funeral games of Anchises,
spring flowed. Nisus ensured that his friend was the
There was another version of the victor. During the war against the
Niobe legend in which Niobe was Rutuli, Nisus and Euryalus went into
the daughter of Assaon, who had the enemy camp to reconnoitre
married her to an Assyrian named during the night, but on their way
Philottus. The latter was killed back were pursued by a troop of
during a hunt, and Assaon became cavalry. They sought refuge in the
enamoured of his own daughter. She woods but became separated. Feel
refused to yield. Assaon then asked ing that his friend was threatened
his grandchildren to a feast during Nisus left his hiding place and died
which he set fire to the palace and trying to avenge the death of Eurya
burned them all alive. Stricken with lus.
remorse Assaon killed himself.
Niobe was either changed into stone Nixi Three kneeling female statues
or threw herself from the top of a which could be seen at Rome, in
rock. front of the cella of the Capitoline
Minerva. They represented the pains
Nireus (Nipevs) One of the suitors experienced by women at the
of Helen. He was very handsome but moment when they bring a child
of humble birth. He reigned over the into the world.
island of Syme. During the battle
between Achilles and Telephus in Notus (Νότος) The god of the
Mysia Nireus killed Hiera, the wife South Wind, a warm and very moist
of Telephus, who was fighting at her wind. He was the son of Eos and
husband's side. Nireus was killed by Astraeus.
Telephus' son Eurypylus (4) before
the walls of Troy. Another tradition Numa Pompilius Numa, a Sabine
includes him in the travels of Thoas by birth, was the second king of
(4) after the fall of Troy. Rome. He was born on the day
Romulus founded Rome, and
Nisus (Νΐσος) married Tatia, the daughter of Titus
ι. One of the sons of Pandion (2). Tatius. He was credited with ere-
296 NUMITOR
ating most of the cults and sacred Marcius was the grandson of Numa
institutions. He began by paying through Pompilia's husband Mar-
divine honours to ROMULUS, under cius. Numa died at an extremely old
the title of Quirinus; then he created age and was buried on the Janicu-
the colleges of the Flamines, the lum. The sacred books that he had
Augurs, the Vestals, the Salii, the written in his own hand were placed
Fetiales, and the Pontiffs, and intro- beside him, in a separate coffin.
duced a large number of deities, for Later, under the consulate of P.
example the cults of Jupiter Ter- Cornelius and M. Baebius, a violent
minus, of Jupiter Elicius, of Fides and rainstorm unearthed the two coffins.
Dius Fidius and of the Sabine gods. It Numa's coffin was empty. The other
was claimed that he was Pythagor- contained the manuscripts; these
ean by persuasion, or, alternatively, were burnt in the Comitium in front
that his religious policy was inspired of the Curia.
by the Nymph EGERIA. All cultural
and religious reforms are attributed N u m i t o r The elder son of Procas,
to his name, such as the institution of king of Alba. His younger brother,
a calendar based on the phases of the AMULIUS, seized the throne on their
moon, and the distinction between father's death and expelled Numitor,
dies fasti and dies nefasti. killed Numitor's son and dedicated
Numa possessed magic powers. his daughter Rhea Silvia (i) to the
During a banquet over which he was service of Vesta, so that she would
presiding, the tables suddenly filled stay celibate beyond the age of child-
with costly dishes and delicious bearing. Rhea was loved by the god
wines which nobody had brought Mars, however, and gave birth to
in. He also captured Picus and Fau- Romulus and Remus, who even-
nus on the Aventine by mixing tually re-established Numitor on the
honey and wine with the water of throne (see ROMULUS, REMUS, and
the spring at which they used to FAUSTULUS).
drink. They took on all manner of Another version alleges that
terrifying forms to escape from him, Numitor knew about his daughter
but in the end they revealed various Rhea's pregnancy and contrived to
secrets to him, such as charms against substitute two children for those of
thunder. He is also said to have had a his daughter. Rhea's two sons were
conversation with Jupiter during sent by him to the shepherd Faus-
which he persuaded the god to con- tulus on the Palatine. They were
tent himself with turning thunder suckled by Faustulus' wife, Acca
aside with onion heads, instead of Larentia (2), who had once been a
using the heads of men, horses and prostitute and thereby earned the
fish. Numa had several sons, Pompo, title of 'she-wolf (a term applied to
Pinus, Calpus and Mamercus (i), women of easy virtue). Once they
each of whom was the ancestor of a had been weaned, they were sent to
Roman gens. He also had a daughter, Gabii to be educated. When they
Pompilia, either by Tatia or by Luc- came back to the man they thought
retia, whom he married after his was their father, Numitor contrived
accession to the throne. King Ancus a quarrel between them and his
NYMPHS 297
streams and were often considered to Nysa (Νΰσα) One of the Nymphs
be the daughters of the appropriate who brought up Dionysus as a child
river-god; the NEREIDS were usually on Mount Nysa. With the god's
believed to be the Nymphs of the other nursemaids she was, at his re
calm sea; the Oreads lived in the quest, given back her youthfulness
mountains; Nymphs called Alseids by Medea.
lived in the groves (Greek alsos =
'sacred wood'); other Nymphs were
attached to a specific spot or even a Nyx (Ννξ) The personification of
given tree, such as the HAMADRYADS. the Night, and its goddess. She was
Nymphs are often found as wives of the daughter of Chaos in the Hesio-
the eponymous hero of a locality or dic Theogony, and mother of Aether
city (for example AEGINA and Aea- and Hemera, and also of a whole
cus, or TAYGETE). They also fre series of abstract forces: Morus (Des
quently occur in myths with a love tiny), the Keres, Hypnus (Sleep), the
motif (see DAPHNE, ECHO, CALLISTO Dreams, Momus (Reproach), Oizys
(I)). Their usual lovers were deities (Distress), the Moirae, Nemesis,
such as Pan, the Satyrs and Priapus, Apate (Deceit), Philotes (Love),
although they also attracted the Geras (Old Age), Eris (Strife), and
attentions of Zeus, Apollo, Hermes, lastly the Hesperides. Her realm was
Dionysus and others. In some in the far West beyond the land of
accounts they fell in love with and Atlas (i). She was the sister of
abducted young boys such as HYLAS. Erebus.
had as many daughters, the Ocea-
nides, who were the lovers of a great
many gods and some mortals, and
gave birth to numerous children.
They personify the rivers and
springs. Hesiod gives the names of 41
of them, and other authors add
ο
further names.
Ocnus ("Οκνος)
ι. Ocnus the rope-maker is a sym
bolic character, represented as being
Oceanus {'Ωκεανός) The personifi in Hades weaving a rope that a
cation of the water that surrounded female donkey eats as fast as he can
the world. Oceanus is represented as make it. This was sometimes inter
a river flowing around the flat disk preted as meaning that Ocnus was a
of the Earth and marking its furthest hardworking man with a spendthrift
limits. This provides an explanation wife.
of the topography of some stories, 2. See AUCNUS.
such as the legend of Heracles and
the Hesperides and the account of his Ocrisia The daughter of the king of
adventures with Geryon (see HERA- Corniculum. She was brought to
CLES, II). As knowledge of the world Rome as a slave, becoming a maid
grew more precise, the name Ocea servant in the house of old Tarquin.
nus came to refer to the Atlantic She saw a male sexual organ appear
Ocean, the western boundary of the in the cinders of the hearth while she
Ancient World. was taking the ritual offering to the
Oceanus was the eldest of the household god. She recounted this
Titans, and a son of Uranus and vision to her mistress, Tanaquil, who
Gaia. As a deity, Oceanus was the advised her to put on bridal trap
father of all rivers. In the Theogony pings and to shut herself in the room
Hesiod names among his offspring: where she had seen the phenome
the Nile, the Alpheus, the Eridanus, non. Ocrisia did this, and during the
the Strymon, the Meander, the night her divine lover coupled with
Istrus, the Phasis, the Rhesus, the her; the child born of the union was
Achelous, the Nessus, the Rhodius, Servius Tullius. Another version says
the Haliacmon, the Heptaporus, the that Ocrisia arrived in Rome preg
Granicus, the Aesopus, the Simois, nant and was the wife of the king of
the Peneus, the Hermus, the Caicus, Corniculum. It was also said that
the Sangarius, the Ladon, the Parthe- Ocrisia's lover was not a god, but a
nius, the Evenus, the Ardescus, and hanger-on of the royal household.
the Scamander. Hesiod himself
warns us that this list is far from ex Ocyrrhoe (Ώκυρρόη)
haustive. At least 3,000 other names ι. One of the daughters of Ocea-
would have to be added in order to
list all the rivers that he fathered
upon his sister Tethys. By Tethys he
300 ODYSSEUS
nus, who was said to have coupled Odysseus was born in Ithaca, an
with Helios and borne him a son island on the western coast of
called Phasis. Greece. Anticleia is said to have
2. A Nymph of Samos, daughter given birth to him on Mount Neri-
of the Nymph Chesias and the River ton one day when she was caught by
Imbrasus (i). Apollo fell in love with the rain and she found her path cut
her and wanted to abduct her. off by the water. (The name Odys
Ocyrrhoe had asked a friend of her seus can be interpreted as a fragment
father, a sailor called Pompilus, to of the Greek phrase meaning 'Zeus
escort her. However Apollo rained on the road', Κατά την όδόν
appeared, took the girl, transformed ôoev 6 Zevs). But in the Odyssey
Pompilus' boat into a rock and Sisyphus named the child Odysseus
changed Pompilus into a fish. because he was himself 'hated by
3. The daughter of Chiron and the many people' (Odysseus is similar to
Nymph Chariclo (i). Her mother όδύσσομαι, 'to hate'). In the tradition
gave birth to her in a stream with which makes Odysseus the son of
swiftly flowing water (her name Sisyphus, Anticleia gave birth to him
means 'swift-flowing'). At birth she at Alalcomenae in Boeotia, while on
received the power of divination, her way to Ithaca with Laertes.
but she used it without discretion.
Against the gods' orders she revealed II. BEFORE THE TROJAN WAR
to the little Asclepius and his father A late tradition maintains that Odys
the secrets of the gods, so the gods seus was one of the pupils of the
changed her into a horse. Centaur Chiron, but the Odyssey
only alludes to a boar hunt which he
Odysseus (Όδυσσβυ?) Ulixes, or
took part in while staying with
Ulysses, in Latin. His legend, the
Autolycus. During the hunt he was
subject of the Odyssey, was continu
wounded in the knee, and the result
ally reworked, added to and com
ing scar was later to be the sign by
mented on.
which he was recognized on his
I. BIRTH return from Troy. Odysseus made
His father was Laertes, his mother journeys on Laertes' behalf. In par
Anticleia. This is the parentage given ticular, he went to Messenia to re
by the Odyssey. On the paternal side, claim the sheep which had been
his grandfather was Arceisius (as stolen from him. At Lacedaemon he
given in the Odyssey) although met IPHITUS (i) who gave him the
Arceisius is sometimes said to be the bow of Eurytus (2), which he was
son of Zeus and Euryodia, some later to use to kill the suitors.
times of CEPHALUS, or of Cileus, a On his reaching manhood, Laertes
son of Cephalus. On the maternal gave Odysseus the throne of Ithaca.
side, the Odyssey gives AUTOLYCUS as In accounts later than the Odyssey it
grandfather; but there is a tradition is at this period that his attempt to
according to which Anticleia was marry Helen took place. However,
seduced by SISYPHUS before her mar he gave up his claim to Helen in
riage to Laertes, and Odysseus was order to make a match that was
the son from his affair. almost as advantageous by marrying
ODYSSEUS 301
ive adviser. In the Iliad, he was entreaties, tears and guileful speech
placed in charge of the mission to that she swore to maintain secrecy.
Achilles when Agamemnon wanted He escaped, killing the Trojan
a reconciliation with the latter. B y guards on the gate.
then he had already brought the Odysseus' exploits during the war
prisoner Chryseis back to her father, were numerous. He slew many Tro-
concluded an armistice with the jan warriors, protected Diomedes (2)
Trojans, organized the single combat when he was wounded, commanded
between Paris and Menelaus, the detachment inside the Wooden
reduced Thersites to silence during Horse, and warned his companions
the meeting of the soldiers, and per- of Helen's trick of imitating the
suaded the Greeks to remain in the voices of their wives outside the
Troad. Poets writing later than the horse. He was the first to leap out
Iliad added various other episodes: and accompanied Menelaus who
the mission to ANIUS ( I ) to persuade wanted to seize Helen from Deipho-
him to send his daughters and thus to bus as soon as possible. According to
ensure the replenishment of the one version, he prevented Menelaus
army; the mission to PHILOCTETES from killing his wife on the spot; in
when Helenus revealed that Hera- another version, he waited for the
cles' arrows were needed to ensure Greeks' anger to die down and saved
the capture of Troy, and the mission Helen from being stoned, as the
tO NEOPTOLEMUS. Greeks had wanted. He also saved
Various espionage operations HELICAON.
were also attributed to Odysseus. For Odysseus' role in the division
The Iliad shows him taking part in a of Achilles' arms, and his intrigues
night reconnaissance exercise with against Ajax (2), see AJAX (2). Odys-
DIOMEDES (2), in the episode of the seus was also responsible for the
capture of DOLON, during which he death of ASTYANAX and the sacrifice
killed Dolon and captured RHESUS' of POLYXENA. Hecuba fell to him in
horses. There was also the later epi- the sharing out of the captive Trojan
sode of the removal of the PALLA- women and, in the tradition accord-
DIUM. The intrigue which brought ing to which the old queen was
about the death of PALAMEDES was stoned, it was Odysseus who threw
also attributed to Odysseus, as was the first stone.
the idea of building the Wooden
Horse; the success of this trick was IV. RETURN TO ITHACA
ensured by an expedition mentioned This part of Odysseus' adventures
in the Odyssey. Odysseus had himself forms the subject of the Odyssey,
whipped by THOAS (4) to make him- although the legend has undergone
self unrecognizable and then, dressed later reworkings and additions.
in rags, he appeared in the city MENELAUS a n d AGAMEMNON d i d
claiming to be a deserter. He made not agree on the date of departure
his way to Helen and persuaded her for Greece. Menelaus set off first
to betray the Trojans. Helen warned with Nestor. Odysseus followed
Hecuba of Odysseus' presence, but them, but quarrelled with them at
he had so touched the queen by his Tenedos and returned to Troy to
ODYSSEUS 303
join Agamemnon. When the latter the island when Odysseus fell asleep.
put to sea, Odysseus followed him, His companions, thinking that Aeo-
but was soon separated from him by lus' bag contained gold, untied it.
a storm. He landed in the country of The winds escaped in a hurricane
the Cicones where he took the city and drove the boat in the opposite
of Ismarus, sparing only MARON, a direction. Again, the boat landed on
priest of Apollo. In gratitude, Maron Aeolus' island, and once more Odys-
gave him 12 earthenware jars of a seus went to see the king to ask for a
strong, sweet wine, which were later favourable wind, but Aeolus replied
to be extremely useful to him in the that he could not do anything more
land of the Cyclopes. for him. Odysseus then put to sea
Heading south, two days later, he again, and heading north he reached
arrived in sight of Cape Malea, but a the country of the Laestrygonians.
violent north wind drove him out to The inhabitants stoned the Greeks,
sea and, two days later, he landed in breaking up the ships and killing the
the country of the Lotus-eaters. For men (see LAESTRYGONIANS). Odysseus
the events here, see LOTOPHAGI. narrowly escaped, and, with his fleet
Odysseus and his companions reduced to a single vessel and its
then replenished their food supplies crew, continued to sail north and
and moved on to the land of the soon landed on the island of Aeaea,
Cyclopes. Odysseus disembarked, where the sorceress CIRCE lived.
accompanied by twelve men, and Circe sent him to consult the spirit
went into a cave. He had been care- of Tiresias. Tiresias informed him
ful to take with him goat-skins full that he would return alone to his
of wine, as a gesture of hospitality homeland on a foreign ship, that he
towards the people whom he might would have to take revenge on the
encounter. In the cave, they found suitors and later set off again, with
quantities of cheese, fresh milk and one oar on his shoulder, in search of
curds. Odysseus' companions urged a people who knew nothing about
him to take these and leave, but he sailing. There he must offer an expia-
was reluctant. At that point the in- tory sacrifice to Poseidon; he would
habitant of the cave, the Cyclops finally die during a happy old age,
POLYPHEMUS (2), returned, seized the far from the sea. After encountering
strangers and shut them away. For a number of heroes called up from
subsequent events see POLYPHEMUS the dead, Odysseus returned to
(2). Circe. He then set off again, and
Having escaped from the Cyc- sailed along the coast of the island of
lopes, Odysseus reached the island of the SIRENS; next he had to confront
Aeolus, the Warden of the Winds the Wandering Rocks, and the straits
(see AEOLUS (i) and (2)). He was between SCYLLA ( I ) and CHARYBDIS.
received hospitably and given a The ship escaped and reached Sicily
cattle-skin bag containing all the where the white cattle belonging to
winds except for a favourable breeze Helios grazed. There the wind began
which would bring him straight to fail, and the food began to run
back to Ithaca. They were already in out. The sailors killed some of the
sight of the fires lit by shepherds on cattle to eat, despite being forbidden
304 ODYSSEUS
Penelope and Odysseus took place, went to the land of the Thesproti.
but he did not reveal his identity to The queen of the country, Callidice,
her. She had dreamt that her hus- urged him to stay with her and
band would soon return, but she offered him her kingdom. Odysseus
refused to believe it and proposed to agreed, and they had a son, Poly-
arrange a competition among the poetes (3). Odysseus reigned jointly
suitors the next day, and to marry with Callidice, but when she died, he
the victor. She would give them returned to Ithaca, where he found
Odysseus' bow and the winner that Penelope had borne him a
would be the man who was best able second son, Poliporthes. Meanwhile,
to use it. Odysseus encouraged her in Telegonus (1), the son of Odysseus
this plan. and Circe, had set off in search of
The competition took place the Odysseus. He landed in Ithaca, and
next day: the object was to shoot an plundered the herds. Odysseus came
arrow through rings formed by a to the aid of his shepherds and was
number of axes placed side by side. killed by his son in the fight. When
The suitors each took the bow in Telegonus learnt who his victim
turn but not one could bend it. was, he was grief-stricken. He
Finally, the bow was handed to returned to Circe with the body and
Odysseus, who accomplished the with Penelope.
task at the first shot. Odysseus' ser- Other versions relate that Odys-
vants shut the doors of the palace, seus, accused by the kinsmen of the
Telemachus seized weapons, and the suitors, submitted the case to
massacre of the suitors began. The Neoptolemus the king of Epirus for
servant girls, whose behaviour judgement. Neoptolemus con-
towards the suitors had not been demned Odysseus to exile. He later
totally appropriate, were hanged in went to Aetolia, where he married
the palace courtyard, along with the the daughter of Thoas (4) and by her
goatherd Melanthius, who had sided had a son, Leontophonus, and died
with the suitors. Odysseus revealed of old age. Another tradition, related
himself to Penelope and, to remove by Plutarch, maintains that after the
her doubts, described their nuptial judgement of Neoptolemus, Odys-
chamber, which was known only to seus went into exile in Italy.
the two of them. Tacitus records that Odysseus'
The next day, Odysseus went to voyage had taken him as far as the
the country, where his father lived, Rhine and that he had built an altar
and disclosed his identity to him. on the banks, which still existed at
The families of the suitors demanded the time of the Roman conquest.
recompense from Odysseus, but The list of Odysseus' children was
thanks to the intervention of Athena, very varied. It was modified at the
disguised as MENTOR, peace soon whim of genealogists in order to
returned to Ithaca. give titles to all the Italian cities in
Such is the story of the Odyssey. the time of Cato. Thus, he and Circe
After the massacre of the suitors were said to have had sons like
Odysseus offered a sacrifice to Ardeas, eponym of the Latin city
Hades, Persephone and Tiresias, and Ardea, and Latinus, eponym of the
306 OEAGER
Latins, etc. (See also ROMUS and phates (Table 1), although some
EVIPPE (i).) authors postulate Mantius as his
father. He married Hypermestra (3),
Oeager (Οΐαγρος) Father of and had several children: Iphianira,
Orpheus. He is sometimes said to Polyboea and Amphiaraus. Oecles
have been the son of Ares, some accompanied Heracles on the Trojan
times of Pierus (i) or of CHAROPS (see expedition (see HERACLES, HI). He
also LYCURGUS (2)). His wife was the had to withstand the counter-attack
Muse Calliope, Polyhymnia or Clio. staged by Laomedon. He was killed
Late authors claim that he was the during the first assault. Oecles is said
father of Marsyas, Linus (2) and to have given refuge to his grandson
Cymothon. ALCMAEON (i) when the latter, to
avenge his father, killed his mother,
Oeax (Ο'ίαξ) One of three sons of Eriphyle.
NAUPLIUS (2) by Clymene (4) or
Hesione (2). His brothers were PALA- Oedipus (Οιδίπους) Oedipus be
MEDES and Nausimedon. When Pala- longed to the race of Cadmus (Table
medes was stoned to death by the 3). His great-grandfather was Poly-
Greeks, Oeax transmitted the news dorus (1), his grandfather was Lab-
to Nauplius by writing an account of dacus, his father was Laius. All
his brother's death on an oar and Oedipus' ancestors ruled Thebes -
throwing it into the sea. It is also said with some interruptions — during the
that Oeax advised Clytemnestra to time before Laius came of age (see
kill Agamemnon in order to avenge LYCUS (3)).
Palamedes' death. He may himself Oedipus' mother is called Epicaste
have died at the hand of Orestes or in the Odyssey; in the tragedies she is
Pylades. JOCASTA. In the epic version of the
Oedipus cycle, the hero's mother
Oebalus (Οϊβαλος) was called Eurygania (1), or Eurya-
ι. A king of Sparta, the son of nassa. Another variant gives her the
Cynortas or Perieres (1). In various name Astymedusa, the daughter of
traditions his legitimate children Sthenelus (4).
were Arena, or Icarius (1), Arne and At his birth, Oedipus was already
Tyndareus, with Hippocoon his ille marked by a curse. In the tradition
gitimate son by the Nymph Strato- represented by Sophocles, the curse
nice. took the form of an oracle which
2. A Teleboean hero, the son of had declared that the child Jocasta
Telon and the Nymph Sebethis. was bearing 'would kill his father'.
Oebalus established a kindgom at According to Aeschylus and Euri
Capri; his son went over to Campa pides, the oracle told Laius not to
nia and founded a kingdom between father any children, predicting that if
Sarno and Nola. Later, he is men he had a son, this son would kill him
tioned among the allies of Turnus and cause a terrible succession of
against Aeneas. misfortunes which would bring ruin
upon his house. Laius took no notice
Oecles (Οίκλής) The son of Anti- of this advice and Oedipus was con-
OEDIPUS 307
hero of the Locrian Opus. See LOC- an old family retainer is credited
RUS and Table 8. with having rescued him.)
Orestes was ordered by Apollo to
Orcus In Roman popular belief avenge his father's death by killing
Orcus was the spirit that presided Aegisthus and Clytemnestra.
over death, barely distinguishable (According to Sophocles, Electra
from Hades itself as the realm of the urged him to avenge Agamemnon;
dead. He appears in funerary paint Apollo said that this act of vengeance
ings in Etruscan tombs as a bearded, was permissible.) Orestes went to the
hairy giant. Gradually this spirit was tomb of Agamemnon at Argos and
absorbed into the Greek pantheon offered a dedicatory lock of his hair.
and Orcus was used as another name Electra visited the tomb and recog
for Pluto or Dis Pater. nized her brother's hair. Euripides
substituted the intervention of an old
Orestes ('Ορέστης) The son of Aga man; Sophocles brought into the
memnon and Clyyemnestra (Table story a gold ring which once
2). By the period of the Homeric belonged to Agamemnon and which
epics Orestes appears as the avenger Orestes showed to his sister.
of his father's death (although Orestes presented himself to Cly
Homer does not mention the temnestra in the guise of a traveller
murder of Clytemnestra by her son). charged by Strophius to bring news
It is in the tragedians that Orestes of the death of Orestes and to ask
became a major figure. whether his ashes should be brought
Telephus, having been wounded to Argos. Clytemnestra was over
by ACHILLES, was told by an oracle joyed and sent for Aegisthus. As
that he could be healed only by the soon as Aegisthus arrived at the
rust from Achilles' same lance. So he palace he was felled by Orestes. Cly
went to Aulis, where the Greek temnestra ran to him and found her
army had gathered. He was captured son, sword in hand. She begged him
by soldiers and treated as a spy. To to spare the woman who suckled
save himself he seized the little him, and Orestes was about to yield
Orestes and threatened to kill him. when Pylades reminded him of
In this way he managed to obtain a Apollo's instructions. Orestes killed
hearing, and his wound was healed. her. In Euripides Orestes killed
When Agamemnon was assassi Aegisthus while the latter was offer
nated by Aegisthus and Clytemnes ing a sacrifice to the Nymphs.
tra, Orestes was saved by his sister Orestes went mad. He was
Electra (3), who secretly took him to haunted by the Erinyes, who pur
Strophius (1), the child's uncle who sued him from the very day of Cly-
lived in Phocis. Strophius brought temnestra's funeral. He sought
up Orestes with his own son, asylum and absolution. Aeschylus
Pylades. Thus began the friendship says that, on Apollo's instruction,
which bound Orestes and Pylades Orestes fled to Delphi and was puri
together. (There are other versions fied by Apollo himself. Purification
of Orestes' escape from massacre. did not free him from the Erinyes,
Sometimes a nursemaid, a tutor or however: that could happen only
ORESTES 313
after a formal trial, which took place Orestes and Pylades were impri-
in Athens, on the spot where the soned by the inhabitants, who sacri-
Areopagus was later sited. ficed all strangers to their goddess.
Traditions vary as to the identity They were brought before Thoas
of the prosecutor. Some say it was (3), the king of the region, and then
the Erinyes in person; others that it taken to IPHIGENIA, the priestess of
was Tyndareus, the father of Cly- Artemis. She realized who they
temnestra; others that it was Erigone were, and decided to help them to
(2); yet others that it was Perileus, a steal the statue of Artemis and then
cousin of Clytemnestra. The judges to flee with them. She persuaded
were equally divided on the verdict. Thoas that she could not sacrifice the
Consequently Orestes was acquitted, strangers until she had purified both
for Athene, who was presiding over victims and statue in sea water. Iphi-
the court, gave her casting vote to genia went to the seashore with
those advocating acquittal. Orestes and Pylades, induced the
When Orestes was in Athens the guards to withdraw, on the pretext
'Day of the Jugs' originated. During that the purificatory rites must
the Athenian festival of the Anthes- remain secret, and then boarded her
teria King Demophon (2) (or Pan- brother's ship along with Pylades
dion (2)), was embarrassed by and the statue. But Poseidon cast the
Orestes' arrival. The king did not ship back on to the shore, and Thoas
want to let Orestes take part in the was about to recapture them when
festival or enter the temple but on Athene manifested herself and
the other hand he did not want to in- ordered him to withdraw. Orestes,
sult him. So he closed the temple and Pylades and Iphigenia all sailed to
served, on separate tables outside, a Attica, where they built a temple to
jug of wine for each of those present. Artemis. (See also CHRYSES (2).)
This gave rise to the Festival of the The last element in the Orestes
Jugs. legend concerns his settling in the
There was another tradition Argolid and his marriage. He
which placed the trial of Orestes in married his cousin Hermione after
the Argolid. Oeax and Tyndareus the death of her husband, NEOPTOLE-
brought Orestes to trial before the MUS. They had a son called Tisame-
citizens of Argos, who condemned nus (1). Orestes reigned over Argos,
him to death, leaving to him the where he succeeded Cylarabes, who
choice of method, whereas the died without an heir, and also at
people of Mycenae merely con- Sparta, as successor to Menelaus. He
demned him to banishment. The died at the age of ninety, after
Aeschylean version is far more wide- seventy years on the throne. He was
spread. paid divine honours.
After Orestes' acquittal Apollo Orestes' tomb was believed by
said that he would be rid of his mad- some to be at Tegea; in Rome it was
ness if he went to Tauris in search of said that Orestes died at Aricia (one
the statue of Artemis. This myth was of the places where the cult of the
used by Euripides in Iphigenia in Taurian Artemis was said to survive)
Tauris. When they arrived in Tauris, and that his bones had been trans-
314 ORESTHEUS
ferred to Rome and buried beneath However Orion was killed by Arte
the Temple of Saturn. mis, either because he challenged her
to a discus competition or because he
Orestheus (Opeafleuç) A king of tried to rape her attendant, Opis. In
Aetolia. One of his bitches gave still other accounts Orion tried to
birth to a piece of wood. Orestheus rape Artemis herself, and the goddess
had it buried and from this stump set a scorpion on him, which bit him
there grew a vine bearing huge in the head. The scorpion was
grapes. Impressed by this miracle, changed into a constellation, as was
Orestheus gave his son the name Orion.
Phytius (derived from the Greek
verb 'to grow'). Phytius was the Orithya (Όρείθυια) One of the
father of King Oeneus. daughters of Erechtheus, king of
Athens. She was abducted by
Orion (Ώριων) A giant huntsman, BOREAS.
the son of Euryale and Poseidon or
of Hyrieus. He was also said to be a Ornytus ("Ορνυτος) An Arcadian
son of Gaia. From Poseidon he hero (also called Teuthis) who led a
received the gift of walking on the contingent of Arcadians to join the
sea. He was very handsome and pro Greek side at Troy. When the winds
digiously strong. He married Side remained unfavourable at Aulis,
(2), who was so proud of her beauty Ornytus decided to return home.
that she claimed to outshine Hera; The goddess Athena asked him to
the goddess hurled her into Tartarus. stay. But he became angry and
Orion went to Chios, where Oeno- wounded the goddess in the thigh.
pion asked him to rid the island of Then he returned to his city. There
wild beasts. There Orion fell in love the goddess appeared to him in a
with Oenopion's daughter, Merope dream with her wounded thigh, and
(4). Her father was opposed to the he was instantly struck down with a
match. Some versions of the myth sickness; the city fell victim to a
say that Orion became drunk and famine. The oracle at Dodona said
tried to rape Merope, others that that the remedy consisted in raising a
Oenopion got Orion drunk and put statue to Athena, complete with the
out his eyes while he was asleep. wound in her thigh dressed with a
Orion then went to Hephaestus' purple bandage.
forge and, taking a child called
Cedalion on his shoulders, asked the Orontes (Όρόντης)
boy to lead him in the direction of ι. A Hindu hero. He commanded
the rising sun. Immediately Orion's an army for the Hindu king, Der-
sight returned. He tried to take his iades, at the time of Dionysus' ex
revenge upon Oenopion but failed, pedition to India. He was a giant 20
for Hephaestus had made him an cubits tall. He was wounded by Dio
underground chamber, where he nysus and killed himself. His body
took refuge. was carried away by the waters of
Aurora (EOS) fell in love with the Orontes, which took the hero's
Orion, and carried him off to Delos. name. In Roman times a long plaster
ORPHEUS 315
sarcophagus was found in the He sang while the Sirens were trying
Orontes, containing a human skel- to seduce the Argonauts, and he
eton of enormous size. The oracle at managed to restrain the latter by sur-
Clarus affirmed that this was the passing the Sirens in sweetness.
body of the hero Orontes. The most famous myth about
2. The god of the River Orontes, Orpheus is that of his descent into
who was a son of Oceanus and the Underworld to fetch his wife,
Tethys. He fell in love with the Eurydice (1). Eurydice was a
Nymph Meliboea (1), and the river Nymph (a Dryad) or a daughter of
overflowed its banks, flooding the Apollo. One day, as she was walking
countryside, until it was brought beside a river in Thrace, she was pur-
under control by Heracles. sued by ARISTAEUS, who desired her.
3. A Lycian king who was ship- But she stepped on a snake which bit
wrecked with Aeneas. her, and she died. Orpheus, who was
inconsolable, went down to the
Orpheus (Op<f>€vs) Orpheus was Underworld to bring her back.
the son of Oeager. His mother is With the music of his lyre he
usually said to have been the Muse charmed the monsters of Hades and
Calliope, occasionally Polhymnia or, the Underworld gods: IXION'S wheel
more rarely, Menippe, daughter of ceased to turn; SISYPHUS' stone re-
Thamyris. Orpheus is Thracian in mained poised without support;
origin. He lived in a region border- TANTALUS forgot his hunger and
ing on Olympus, and is often thirst; even the DANAIDES forgot
depicted singing there in Thracian about trying to fill their sieve. Hades
dress. and Persephone agreed to restore
Orpheus is the 'type' of the singer, Eurydice to her husband because he
musician and poet. He plays the lyre had shown such proof of love. But
and the cithara, which he is often they set a condition: Orpheus was to
said to have invented. If not given return to the light of day, followed
this distinction, he is said to have in- by his wife, without looking back at
creased the number of strings on the her before they left the Underworld.
instrument from seven to nine Orpheus had almost reached day-
'because of the number of the light when a terrible doubt seized
Muses'. Orpheus could sing so him. Was Eurydice really behind
sweetly that wild beasts would him? He turned around. Eurydice
follow him about; trees and plants died a second time. Orpheus tried to
would bow down to him and the rescue her again, but the entry to the
wildest of men would become Underworld was barred to him. He
gentle. had to return to the human world
Orpheus took part in the expedi- unconsoled.
tion of the ARGONAUTS. During a It was generally said that Orpheus
storm he calmed the crew and stilled was killed by the women of Thrace,
the waves with his singing. As he who resented his fidelity to Eurydice
alone was an initiate of the Samoth- as an insult to themselves. It was also
racian Mysteries, he persuaded his said that Orpheus wanted nothing to
companions to become initiates too. do with women, and surrounded
3i6 ORTHOPOLIS
himself with young men: he was the robe, it continued to sing for the
inventor of pederasty and his lover benefit of the Blessed Ones. It was
was Calais, son of Boreas. Some around this myth that Orphic theo
authorities said that Orpheus insti logy formed. Orpheus was thought
tuted mysteries based on his experi to have brought back from his des
ences in the Underworld but forbade cent into the Underworld informa
the admission of women. The men tion both about how to reach the
met him in a locked house, leaving land of the Blessed Ones and about
their weapons outside. One night the how to avoid the obstacles which
women took the weapons and killed threaten the soul after death. A large
Orpheus. Another version says that number of poems are attributed to
when Aphrodite quarrelled with him, ranging from popular verses
Persephone about Adonis, Orpheus' that people would inscribe on
mother, Calliope, adjudicated; she plaques and bury with the dead to
decided that each goddess should hymns, a theogony and a long epic,
keep Adonis for alternate parts of the the Argonautica. Orpheus was some
year. Aphrodite was angered by this times said to have shared with Dio
decision and made the women of nysus the founding of the Eleusinian
Thrace fall in love with Orpheus, Mysteries.
but as none was willing to stand A tradition recorded by various
aside in favour of any of the others authors makes Orpheus the ancestor
they all tore him apart. When the of Homer and Hesiod.
Thracian women had torn his body
to pieces they threw his remains into Orthopolis (Όρθόπολις) The son
the river, which bore them down to of Plemnaeus, the king of Sicyon.
the sea. The poet's head and his lyre None of this king's previous children
arrived at Lesbos, whose inhabitants had survived birth: as soon as they
paid funerary honours to the poet. gave their first cry they died.
This is why the island of Lesbos Demeter took pity on him, lifted the
excelled in lyric poetry. In other tra curse and reared the king's only sur
ditions his tomb was located at the viving child. Orthopolis, the boy
mouth of the River Meles in Asia thus saved, had a daughter, Chry-
Minor, at Leibethra in Thessaly, or sorthe.
in Pieria.
After the murder of Orpheus a Orthrus ("Ορθρος) Geryon's mon
plague spread throughout Thrace. strous dog, which Heracles killed
The oracle declared that the inhabit when he made off with Geryon's
ants would have to seek Orpheus' flocks. He was the offspring of
head in order to pay it due honour. Typhon and Echidna and therefore
Some fishermen found the head at brother of Cerberus. By mating
the mouth of the Meles. It was with Echidna, he fathered the
bloody and still singing. Theban Sphinx. He also allegedly
After Orpheus' death his lyre fathered Phix, a Boeotian monster,
became a constellation. The soul of and the Nemean lion. Sometimes
Orpheus was taken to the Elysian Orthrus is said to have several heads,
Fields where, dressed in a long white sometimes a snake's body.
OXYNIUS 317
Ρ
was the son of Aetolus (or of
Hephaestus). He owed his name to
the wrestling skills of his father.
3. The son of Ino-Leucothea (1). In
his human childhood this Palaemon
Pactolus (Πακτωλός) The god of was called MELICERTES; his father was
the river of that name in Asia Minor. Athamas. On his mother's side
During the Mysteries of Aphrodite Palaemon was the first cousin of
he unwittingly deflowered his own Dionysus (Table 3). After the suicide
sister. When he realized what he had of his mother, Melicertes became the
done he threw himself into the River sea-god Palaemon and Ino the god
Chrysorhoas (the 'golden stream', so dess LEUCOTHEA (i). The Megarians
called because its water has spangles said that though the body of the
of gold in it). In memory of this mother was cast up on to the shore
suicide the river afterwards took the near their city and buried by the
name of Pactolus (see also MID AS). daughters of Cleson, the body of the
child was borne by a dolphin as far as
Paean (Παιάν) 'Paean' is frequently the Isthmus of Corinth. There it was
no more than the ritual epithet of recovered by Sisyphus who buried
Apollo the healer. In the Homeric it, raised an altar to the boy near a
poems, however, an independent pine tree and paid divine honours
god of healing named Paean or under the name of Palaemon to
Paeon appears. It was he who took mark the child's divine patronage of
care of Hades when the latter was the Isthmian games.
wounded. At Rome Palaemon was identified
with the god Portunus.
Paeon (Παίων)
ι. The eponym of the Paeonians.
According to Pausanias he is one of Palamedes (Παλαμήδης) One of
the brothers of Endymion and there the sons of Nauplius (2) and Cly-
fore a brother of Aetolus, Epeius (i) mene (4) or Hesione (4). His two
andEurycyde (i). brothers were Oeax and Nausime-
2. A son of Antilochus and a don. He appeared among the pupils
grandson of Nestor. His children taught by the Centaur Chiron. At
were driven out of Messenia at the the time of the abduction of Helen
time of the return of the Heraclids. he consoled Menelaus (to whom he
With his cousins he settled in Athens was related: see Table 2). In certain
and from him was descended the accounts he took part in an embassy
Athenian clan of the Paeonids. to Troy to try to negotiate a peaceful
3. See PAEAN. settlement of the war. He was even
320 PALANS
supposed to have carried a letter to ing for the 'Vine-growers', the three
Helen from Clytemnestra asking her daughters of Oenopion.
to come back to her husband. In a Eventually Odysseus contrived his
second embassy, sent from Tenedos, revenge. In one version Odysseus,
Palamedes appears alongside Mene- having captured a Trojan, forced
laus, Odysseus, Diomedes (2) and him to write a letter, supposedly
Acamas (3). from Priam, alleging that Palamedes
As Helen's former suitors were had offered to betray the Greeks.
preparing to go to Troy, Odysseus Then Odysseus bribed one of Pala
tried to escape his obligation. When medes' slaves to hide gold under his
Menelaus and Palamedes came to master's mattress. Finally, he
fetch him he pretended to be mad: dropped the letter in the camp. It
he harnessed his plough to an ass and was found by Agamemnon. Pala
an ox, yoked together, and started medes was arrested and stoned to
sowing salt. But to force Odysseus to death. Another version told how
reveal that he was quite sane, Pala Odysseus and Diomedes (2) per
medes placed Telemachus in front of suaded Palamedes to descend into a
the plough. Odysseus stopped his pit and then stoned him to death.
team before it killed the child. A The death was avenged, however,
variant of this tradition said that by Nauplius (2).
Palamedes threatened Telemachus Tradition credited Palamedes
with his sword. Odysseus never for with a great number of inventions,
gave Palamedes for seeing through including one or more letters of the
his ruse and thus obliging him to join alphabet, the order of the alphabet,
the expedition of Menelaus and Aga the invention of numbers, the use of
memnon. coinage, the calculation of the
Palamedes took part in the search lengths of months according to the
for Achilles, who was hiding on movement of the stars, the game of
Scyros at the court of Lycomedes. draughts, the game of dice and the
Similarly, Menelaus sent Palamedes game of five-stones.
as herald to summon Oenopion and
Cinyras. He revealed the true iden Palans A Roman hero, the son of
tity of Epipole of Carystos, the Hercules and Dyna, the daughter of
daughter of Trachion, who had Evander (3). He died while still
dressed up as a man in order to sail young, and his grandfather buried
with the Greek army. She was him on the hill to which he gave his
stoned to death. name (see also PALLAS (5)).
Palamedes raised the morale of the
Greek soldiers when they were dis Palici (Παλικοι) Twin gods, some
quieted by an eclipse; he tried to times said to have been the sons of
avert the plague which threatened Zeus by Thaleia the daughter of
the Greek camp; and he foresaw the Hephaestus, sometimes the sons of
arrival in the camp of a wolf (Apol Zeus by Aetna. While she was preg
lo's animal) which had come from nant Thaleia, fearing Hera's jealousy,
the forests of Mount Ida. He also hid in the earth, and when the time
guarded against a drought by send came the twin boys emerged from
PALLADIUM 321
the ground, which explains their sea. Everyone aboard was asleep: no
name 'the Returners' (from the one heard his cry as he fell. When
Greek πάλιν, 'again'). Their place of Aeneas awoke he wept for him.
worship was close to the Lago di When he arrived in the Under
Naftia, not far from Leontini, and world, Aeneas saw on the banks of
was the site of various volcanic phe the Styx the crowd of the unburied
nomena. The Sicilians swore their dead. Among them was Palinurus,
solemn oath by the Palici: the oath who told Aeneas that for three days
would be written on a tablet which and nights he had swum until he
was thrown into the lake. If the tab reached the Italian coast. But he was
let floated, the oath was sincere; if it immediately murdered by the bar
sank the oath was clearly invalid. It baric inhabitants of the area, who left
was said that the Palici struck blind his body at the sea's edge. Palinurus
all liars who falsely called upon their asked Aeneas, when he got back to
name. the world above, to go to Velia and
to pay him his due funeral honours.
Pales A guardian spirit of flocks The Sibyl then promised Palinurus
who was worshipped at Rome. that the local inhabitants would
Sometimes Pales is male, sometimes collect up his body, pay it divine
female. In his or her honour the fest honours and give his name to a local
ival of the Parilia was celebrated on headland.
21 April, when the shepherds lit
huge straw and brushwood fires Palladium (Παλλάδιον) A divine
through which they leapt. The day statue, endowed with magical
of the Parilia was said to be the anni properties, which was thought to
versary of the foundation of Rome represent the goddess Pallas (1). The
by Romulus. The name of Pales was Palladium does not appear in the
also said to be connected with that of Homeric poems. It was a standing
the Palatine. deity, with the rigidity of the old
xoana (idols from the archaic era). It
Palanto According to Varro, the had the power to guarantee the
daughter of a Hyperborean and be safety of the city which possessed it
loved of Hercules. She bore him a and worshipped it, and for ten years
son, who became King Latinus. it preserved Troy. Several other
cities then claimed to possess it,
Palinurus (Παλίνουρος) Aeneas' which conferred on them a repu
pilot. When the Trojan fleet left tation for inviolability.
Sicily for Italy Venus promised her Traditions all agree that the Palla
son a successful voyage. Only one dium had a divine origin, but the
man's life would be lost, she said, details vary. In Apollodorus the god
and his death would ensure the safety dess Athena was brought up as a
of all the others. The man was Pali child by the god Triton, who had a
nurus, who was steering the ship at daughter named Pallas (2). The two
night when, as Virgil describes it, the little girls practised warfare together,
god of sleep afflicted him with an but one day they quarrelled. Just as
irresistible weariness. He fell into the Pallas was about to strike Athena,
322 PALLADIUM
Zeus was afraid for his daughter and tured by Odysseus, had affirmed that
placed himself between them. He Troy could be captured only if the
held the aegis before Pallas, who was Palladium was removed from the
frightened, failed to parry the blow city. So, with the help of Diomedes
that Athena was aiming at her and (2) he got into the citadel by night.
fell, mortally wounded. To make In some versions Odysseus left Dio-
amends Athena carved a statue in the medes on watch while he disguised
likeness of her friend, equipped it himself as a beggar. Recognized by
with the aegis which had indirectly Helen despite his disguise, he suc-
caused her death, and placed her at ceeded, with her help, in carrying off
Zeus' side, paying honours to her as the Palladium. The more common
to a goddess. The statue remained on version states that, in order to scale
Olympus until Zeus tried to rape the wall, Diomedes climbed on
Electra (2), who sought refuge by Odysseus' shoulders, but once on the
the statue. Zeus hurled the Palladium top of the wall he refused to pull him
down from Olympus, and it fell in up after him. On the return journey
the Troad on the hill of ATE. At that Odysseus tried to take the Palladium
time Ilus (2) was founding Troy from Diomedes so as to receive all
(then called Ilion). The statue either the credit for the theft. He walked
fell immediately in front of his tent behind Diomedes and was about to
or into the unfinished temple of Ath- murder him when the shadow cast
ena, and of its own accord occupied by his sword (it being full moon)
the ritual position for the cult. This warned Diomedes, who turned
was taken as a sign that the gods round and unsheathed his own
approved of the foundation of the sword just in time. Some traditions
city. The Palladium was three cubits record that the two heroes got into
tall; its feet were joined together; in the city through a sewer. Others say
its right hand, which was raised, it that Theano, the wife of the Greek
held a spear, in its left a distaff and sympathizer Antenor, handed the
spindle. Other traditions say that the Palladium over to the Greeks. Other
Palladium was carved out of the legends claim that the real Palladium
bone of the shoulder blade of Pelops stayed in Troy and that Aeneas res-
(1), and that it was stolen from cued it just in time from the temple
Sparta along with Helen. of Athena and carried it off to Ida,
Versions vary concerning the then later to Italy. This Palladium
adventures of the statue, DARDANUS was taken to Rome and kept in the
was said to have taken it with him to temple of Vesta. At Rome the safety
Samothrace, where he gave it to his of the city was linked with the safe-
father-in-law, Teucer (1). It was also keeping of the statue.
said that the Trojans had a second When AJAX (1) tried to abduct
Palladium made, identical with the Cassandra, it was the Palladium to
first, to deceive robbers. They placed which she clung. Ajax pulled over
the false Palladium in the sanctuary, the statue, which only priestesses had
while the real one was kept in the the right to touch. He thus drew
temple treasury. In the epic cycles it down on himself the wrath of Ath-
was said that Helenus, when cap- ena. In this version the true Palla-
PALLAS 323
dium stayed at Troy until the very that their uncle Aegeus had no chil
end, Odysseus and Diomedes having dren (their cousin Theseus was not
stolen a false one. Both the statue, brought up in Athens), and hoped to
which Ajax also abducted, and Cas share in his succession. When The
sandra were restored to Agamem seus arrived from Troezen (see THE-
non. SEUS, 11) and was acknowledged by
As for traditions where the Palla his father, they contested their
dium was not in the keeping of Aen cousin's legitimacy, but the Athe
eas, some claim that Diomedes took nians overruled their objections and
it off to southern Italy and later gave made Theseus king. The Pallantidae
it to Aeneas when he came to settle rebelled. They split into two groups:
in Latium. Pausanias writes that the one attacked the city from the direc
Argives claimed that Agamemnon tion of the Sphettus; the other laid an
took the Palladium with him to ambush at Gargettus. But a herald
Argos (on the Argive Palladium, see called Leus revealed their plan to
also LEAGRUS). Theseus, who attacked and mas
Finally, the Athenians said that sacred the group waiting in ambush.
Demophon (2) was given the statue The others scattered and the war was
by Diomedes. Knowing that Aga over.
memnon coveted it Demophon
entrusted it to Buzyges, who took it Pallas (Πάλλας)
back to Athens and had a copy of the ι. A stock epithet of Athena, who
statue made which he placed in his was frequently called Pallas Athena.
own tent. After the fall of Troy Aga 2. A daughter of the god Triton.
memnon came to Demophon's tent Athena was brought up with her in
and asked for the Palladium. After a childhood, and accidentally killed
prolonged struggle, Demophon her (see PALLADIUM).
appeared to capitulate and gave the 3. A Titan, son of Crius and Eury-
king the worthless statue. Another bia and brother of Perses and
version said that Diomedes went Astraeus (Table 8). According to
ashore at night at Phaleron in Attica Hesiod's Theogony he coupled with
but, not knowing precisely where he Styx, who bore him Zelos, Nike,
was, attacked the Athenians. Demo Cratos and Bia (Zeal, Victory,
phon came to his subjects' aid, killed Power and Force). Other traditions
many of Diomedes' men and cap make him the father of Eos, who is
tured the Palladium. But on his way usually considered to be the
back Demophon's horse knocked daughter of Hyperion and THEIA.
down an Athenian, who died. 4. One of the sons of Lycaon (2).
Demophon was brought before a He is the eponym of the Arcadian
special court which took the name of city of Pallantion and is sometimes
the Court of the Palladium and said to be the grandfather of Evander
which, at a later date, continued to (3). According to Dionysius of Hali-
sit in judgement in cases of this kind. carnassus, Pallas had a daughter
named Chryse, whom he gave in
Pallantidae (77αλλάντιδαι) The marriage to DARD ANUS. Pallas gave
fifty sons of Pallas (7). They thought his son-in-law the care of various
324 PALLENE
Arcadian deities, including the PAL teacher noticed her sorrow and suc
LADIUM. In this way the mythogra- ceeded in making her confess its
phers established a link between cause. He bribed Dryas' charioteer to
Rome and Troy, even before the take out the axle-pin which secured
foundation of Rome, since the epo his master's wheel. Dryas was killed.
nymous hero of the Palatine (see Sithon found out that Pallene was
PALLAS) was the nephew of the first implicated in the treachery and de
queen of Troy (see DARD ANUS). cided to punish her with death. He
5. In the Aeneid Virgil introduces had a funeral pyre built for the body
Pallas, the son of Evander (3) and the of Dryas and persuaded his daughter
eponym of the Palatine. Pallas was to climb upon it. However, either
the companion of Aeneas in the war Aphrodite appeared in person to
against Turnus. He was killed by forestall the murder, or heavy rain
Turnus. There was also a tradition fall prevented the pyre from catch
that Pallas himself buried Evander ing fire. The will of the gods having
on the Palatine and therefore died been made clear, Pallene was par
after his father. This Pallas can be doned and she married Clitus. She
compared with PALANS, who died gave her name to the peninsula of
young and gave his name to the Pallene, in the Thracian Chersonese.
Palatine. 2. One of the daughters of ALCYO-
6. A giant, the father of ATHENA NEUS (i).
(according to some authors), who
tried to rape his own daughter. Ath Pamphos (Πάμφως) According to
ena killed him, removed his skin and Pausanias Pamphos was a very early
dressed herself in it. This Pallas had poet who wrote hymns for the
wings, which Athena fixed to her Athenians.
feet.
7. The youngest son of Pandion Pamphylus (Πάμφυλος) One of
(2). With his fifty sons, the PALLANTI- the sons of Aegimius, who gave his
DAE, he rebelled against Theseus. All name to a Dorian tribe, the Pamphy-
fifty brothers were slain by Theseus. lians. He fought on the Heraclid side
against Tisamenus (1). He married
Pallene (Παλλήνη) Orsobia, daughter of Deiphontes.
ι. The daughter of Sithon, king of
the Thracian Chersonese, and of Pan (Πάν) A god of shepherds and
either Anchiroe (or Anchinoe) or of flocks. He was depicted as half-man
the Nymph Mendeis. half-animal, with a reed pipe, a shep
Sithon did not want to give Pal herd's crook and a branch of pine or
lene in marriage to any of her a crown of pine leaves. He had a
numerous suitors. He forced them to wrinkled face with a very prominent
fight against him and killed them. chin. On his forehead were two
But finally he offered her as the prize horns. His body was hairy; the lower
in a contest to be fought by single parts were those of a male goat. His
combat between Dryas (2) and Cli- feet had cloven hooves. He was a
tus (2). Pallene was in love with Cli- swift runner and climbed rocks with
tus, and wept bitterly. Her old ease; he was adept at hiding in the
PANDAREOS 325
could die swiftly, like the daughters the arrival in Attica of Dionysus and
of Pandareos. After the death of then- Demeter.
parents the gods were sorry for these Pandion arranged Procne's mar
girls: Aphrodite brought them food, riage with Tereus, in exchange for
Hera gave them wisdom and beauty, which Tereus committed himself to
Artemis endowed them with ele helping Pandion in his battles with
gance, and Athena equipped them the Thebans. Pandion died of grief as
with manual dexterity. However, a result of the misfortunes of his
when Aphrodite returned to Olym daughters (see PHILOMELA). After
pus to ask Zeus to find them suitable Pandion's death Erechtheus received
husbands, the Harpies carried the the throne, Butes the priesthood.
girls off and gave them as slaves to 2. The great-grandson of Pandion
the Erinyes. (1). His father was Cecrops (2), while
Traditions vary concerning the his mother was Metiadusa. He inher
daughters of Pandareos; sometimes ited the throne from his father and
there are two: Camiro and Clytia, or was the eighth king of Attica.
Cleothera and Merope (3). Some During his reign Orestes arrived
times there are three: Cleothera, there, having been purged of the
Merope (3) and Aedon. (For this stain of his mother's death, where
legend see AEDON.) upon Pandion introduced the Fest
ival of the Jugs during the
Pandarus (Πάνδαρος) He came Anthesteria. (This anecedote is
from the city of Zeleia. Apollo him sometimes assigned to the reign of
self had taught him archery. Despite Demophon (2). See ORESTES.) Pan
his father's advice, Pandarus went to dion was driven from his throne by
Troy as a foot soldier, refusing to his cousins, the sons of Metion, and
take a chariot and horses. When fled to Megara, to the court of King
Paris and Menelaus were fighting in Pylas, who gave him his daughter
single combat, the goddess Athena Pylia in marriage. When Pylas was
incited Pandarus to fire an arrow at forced to leave Megara the throne
Menelaus. In this way the truce was passed to Pandion. (Some accounts
broken and the war restored. Pan date his marriage to Pylia to before
darus then fought Diomedes (2) but the rebellion of Metion.) By Pylia
was killed. His death was thought to Pandion had four sons: Aegeus, Pal
be punishment for his treachery in las (7), Nisus (1) and Lycus (5).
breaking the truce. 3. One of the sons of PHINEUS (3)
and CLEOPATRA (1).
Pandion (Πανδίων)
ι. The son of Erichthonius and Pandora (Πανδώρα)
Praxithea. He married his maternal ι. The first woman, created by
aunt, Zeuxippe, and had four chil Hephaestus and Athena, on the
dren by her: Erechtheus, Butes (2), instructions of Zeus. Each god and
Procne and Philomela. He was also goddess endowed her with a special
credited with a bastard called quality — beauty, grace, dexterity,
Oeneus (not the same as the Calydo- cogency, etc. Hephaestus' bequests
nian hero). To his reign was dated were lying and deceit. Pandora was
PANTHOUS 327
was killed during the capture of the abandoned him on Mount Ida. Paris
city. was reared by shepherds who found
him and gave him the name of Alex
Paraebius (Παραίβιος) Paraebius' ander ('the Protector' or 'the Pro
father had cut down a pine tree tected') because he had not died on
sacred to the Hamadryads. The the mountainside. A variant tradi
Nymphs punished him by con tion claims that Paris was left out to
demning him and his son to poverty. die on the mountainside by a servant
King Phineus (3) told Paraebius that of Priam named Agelaus, and on the
he could overcome the curse if he king's orders. A female bear came to
built an altar and made expiatory suckle the child and when Agelaus
sacrifical offerings to the Nymphs. found Paris still alive, he took the
This Paraebius did, and the curse was child in. Under Agelaus' care Paris
brought to an end. Paraebius there developed into a young man of great
after remained one of Phineus' most beauty and courage. He protected
faithful servants. his flocks against thieves, thus earn
ing himself the name Alexander.
Paralus (Πάραλος) An Athenian One day some of Priam's servants
hero who supposedly invented war went to fetch a bull from the herd
ships. In his honour the official Athe that Paris was guarding. Knowing
nian trireme was called the Paralos. that the animal was to be the prize at
the funeral games which had been
Parcae The three Roman goddesses instituted in memory of Priam's son,
of Destiny, identified with the Greek who was supposed to have died at an
MOiRAE. The Parcae were originally early age (i.e. Paris himself), he fol
the attendant spirits of childbirth. lowed the servants back to the city.
They were depicted as spinning He decided to take part in the games
thread and measuring out, at whim, and to win back his favourite animal.
the lifespan of all mortals. They were He came first in all the events, in
sisters; they presided over birth, competition with his own brothers,
marriage and death. In the Forum who did not know who he was. In
the statutes of the three Parcae were anger Deiphobus drew his sword on
popularly called the Three Fates (the Paris, who sought refuge at the altar
tria Fata). of Zeus, where his sister Cassandra
recognized him; Priam welcomed
Paris (Πάρις) The second son of him and restored to him his place in
Priam and Hecuba, who was also the royal household. In some ver
called Alexander. Hecuba saw her sions Paris' identity was revealed
self in a dream giving birth to a torch though a deliberate move on his
which set fire to the citadel of Troy. part. He brought with him the gar
The seer Aesacus warned that the ments which he was wearing when
child about to be born would cause he was abandoned, and proved who
the destruction of Troy and advised he was.
Priam to have it killed at birth. (For At the wedding of Peleus and
another tradition, see HECUBA.) In Thetis, Eris (Strife) threw a golden
stead of killing the child Hecuba apple into the midst of the guests,
PARRHASIUS 329
saying that it should be the prize Greeks and Trojans agreed to settle
'for the fairest'. Athena, Hera and the Trojan War by a single combat
Aphrodite each claimed it. Zeus between Paris and Menelaus. Paris
instructed Hermes to take them to was only saved by Aphrodite, who
Mount Ida so that Paris could judge. hid him in a thick cloud. Later, Hec
One after another each goddess pro tor had to fetch him from Helen's
mised him protection and special side and order him to join the battle.
gifts if he declared in her favour: Paris obeyed, killed Menestheus,
Hera guaranteed to make him ruler wounded Diomedes (2), Machaon
of all Asia; Athena promised him and Eurypylus (1), and took part in
wisdom and victory in all combats; the attack on the Greek trenches. He
Aphrodite offered him the love of killed Euchenor and Deiocus.
the most beautiful woman in the The Iliad sometimes depicts Paris
world, Helen of Sparta. Paris as wearing heavy armour, but he is
awarded the golden apple to Aphro usually said to be an archer, and as an
dite. The episode is known as the archer he killed Achilles (see
Judgement of Paris. ACHILLES a n d POLYXENA).
Until the Judgment, Paris had Paris himself was killed by one of
loved a Nymph named OENONE. Philoctetes' arrows which pierced his
When Aphrodite promised him groin. He was carried off the battle
Helen's love he abandoned Oenone field and sent to Oenone, who had
and left for Sparta. He was accom an antidote to the poison with which
panied by Aeneas. Hecuba and Cas Philoctetes' arrows were tipped. But
sandra predicted the outcome of the by the time she took pity on him it
escapade; no one believed them. was too late (see OENONE).
Aeneas and Paris were welcomed at
Sparta by Helen's brothers, the Dios Parnassus (Παρνασσός) The epo
curi, who took them to Menelaus, nymous hero of Mount Parnassus.
her husband. Menelaus received He was the son by Poseidon of a
them hospitably and introduced Nymph named Cleodora. He was
them to Helen. Then he himself left also attributed a mortal father named
for Crete to attend the funeral of Cleopompus. Parnassus founded the
Catreus. old oracle of Python, which was
Aided by the presents that he later occupied by Apollo. He also
lavished on her, by the oriental invented divination by birds.
luxury with which he was sur
rounded, and by his beauty, which Parrhasius (Παρράσίος) The son of
had been enhanced by Aphrodite, Lycaon (2) or Zeus. He founded the
Paris won Helen's love. Helen Arcadian city of Parrhasia. Plutarch
eloped with Paris. (For their adven records that the Nymph Phylonome
tures on the voyage from Sparta to had twins by Ares, but, because she
Asia Minor, see HELEN.) was afraid of her father, abandoned
When he got back to Troy, Paris them. But a she-wolf suckled the
was very well received despite the two babies, who were later found
dark prophecies of Cassandra. and taken in by the shepherd Tyli-
At the beginning of the Iliad the phus. He gave them the names
330 PARSONDES
Lycastus (2) and Parrhasius and the Medes and the Cadusians. This
brought them up as his own sons. went on until Cyrus conquered the
Later the twins seized power in Cadusians.
Arcadia.
Parthenopaeus (Παρθ€νοπαΪος) One
Parsondes (Παρσώνδης) A Persian of the Seven against Thebes. In
warrior and hunter, and the favour some traditions he is an Arcadian,
ite of Artaeus, king of the Medes. He the son of Atalanta and Meleager or
asked the king to give him the place Melanion; in others he is an Argive,
of the satrap of Babylon, Nanerus, the son of Talaus and Lysimache
but Artaeus refused. Nanerus learned (Table 1). According to Hyginus,
of this and decided to take his re he was abandoned as an infant with
venge. He promised a reward for the Telephus, accompanied him to
capture of Parsondes. One day Par Mysia, and took part in the expedi
sondes met some of Nanerus' reti tion against Idas (see TELEPHUS and
nue. They gave him too much to AUGE).
drink, chained him up and delivered His name (reminiscent of parthe-
him to his enemy. Nanerus handed nos, 'virgin') derived either from the
Parsondes to his eunuchs, so that long period during which his
they could shave him and force him mother preserved her virginity, or
to live the life of a woman in the from his having been abandoned in
harem. Parsondes learned to play the infancy on Mount Parthenion.
cithara, dance and adorn himself, and Handsome and brave, Partheno
became one of the satrap's wives. paeus took part in the expedition of
After seven years he got a message to the Seven, contrary to the advice of
King Artaeus, who had believed him Atalanta. At the games held at
dead. Artaeus demanded Parsondes' Nemea in honour of Archemorus-
freedom. Nanerus eventually handed Opheltes (see AMPHIARAUS and HYP-
over Parsondes, who had become SIPYLE) he won the archery contest.
so like a woman that the king's He was killed at Thebes by Pericly-
envoy hardly recognized him among menus (1) or by Asphodicus,
Nanerus' 150 wives. Amphidicus or Dryas, the grandson
Parsondes demanded vengeance, of Orion.
for he said it was the hope of revenge
which had kept him going during Parthenope (Παρθενόπη) One of
his captivity. However, Nanerus the SIRENS.
corrupted the king with bribes, and
Artaeus refused justice to Parsondes. Parthenus (Παρθένος)
Parsondes fled, at the head of ι. A daughter of Staphylus (3).
3,000 men, to the land of the Cadu- Staphylus entrusted Parthenos and
sians, for his sister had married one her sister Molpadia (2) with the task
of the most powerful lords of that of looking after his wine. But the
region. War broke out. Parsondes girls fell asleep, and some pigs found
was victorious, the Cadusians made their way into Staphylus' cellar and
him their king and from that time on broke all the wine jars. When the
there was constant warfare between girls awoke they fled in fear and
PATROCLUS 331
threw themselves off the top of some because Helios had disclosed to
rocks into the sea. Apollo, out of Hephaestus her affair with Ares.
affection for them, gathered them up Pasiphae sought the help of Dae
as they fell and bore them away to dalus, who constructed a life-like
cities in the Chersonese. Parthenos hollow wooden cow. Pasiphae
went to Boubastos, where she wooed the bull in this disguise and
received divine honours, and Molpa- the monstrous coupling took place.
dia to Castabos (see HEMITHEA ( I ) ) . The fruit of their mating was the
2. One tradition gives her as the MINOTAUR. (For the standard version
daughter of Apollo and Chrysothe- of the legend of Daedalus and the
mis. She died young and was Labyrinth after the victory of The
changed into a constellation (Virgo) seus, see DAEDALUS.)
by her father. Another version Pasiphae was very jealous and pos
makes her the daughter of Zeus and sessed great skill as a sorceress, like
Themis and identifies her with Dike her sister Circe and her niece Medea.
(Justice), who lived on earth during She put a curse on Minos so that all
the Golden Age. In Eclogue iv Virgil the women to whom he made love
sees in the return of the constellation were devoured by serpents which
of Virgo a presage of the coming of emerged from all over his body. He
an age of justice. She was also said to was cured of this curse by PROCRIS.
be the daughter of Astraeus and
Hemera or of Icarius (i) (in which Patroclus (Πάτροκλος) In the Iliad,
case she was identified with Erigone Patroclus was the friend of Achilles.
(i)). Alternatively she was identified The son of Menoetius (i), he was
with Demeter or with Thespia, one related to Achilles who was great-
of the daughters of the river-god grandson of Aegina, Patroclus'
Asopus. paternal grandmother. (For the
name of Patroclus' mother, see
Pasiphae (Πασιφάη) The wife of MENOETIUS (i).) When Patroclus was
Minos and daugher of Helios and young he went to the court of
Perseis. Her brothers were Perses and Peleus. The standard explanation is
Aeetes; her sister was Circe. that as a child, over a game of
Minos, when reclaiming the Cre knucklebones, he killed one of his
tan throne, prayed to Poseidon to companions, Clitonymus (or Cleso-
send a bull from the sea as a sign of nymus), son of Amphidamus. He
the justice of his claim, promising in then had to go into exile and was
return that he would sacrifice it. But given hospitality by Peleus, who
when Poseidon granted his prayer accepted him as a companion to his
Minos refused to fulfil his part of the own son, Achilles. The two were
bargain. To punish him, Poseidon brought up together.
afflicted Pasiphae with an irresitible The friendship of Patroclus and
passion for the animal. But this pas Achilles was proverbial. Indeed, it
sion was also said to be the revenge was said that they were lovers.
of Aphrodite either because Pasiphae When Achilles left Mysia to fight
had despised the goddess' cult or Telephus, Patroclus was at his side.
because Aphrodite was angered With Diomedes (2) he rescued the
332 PATRON
jealous of Phocus' physical skills, de- lion, a snake and finally a cuttlefish.
cided to kill him. Telamon slew him Peleus, who had been advised by
by throwing a discus at his head. Chiron, held on to her firmly, and
(Other versions present the murder eventually she became a goddess and
as accidental or claim that the culprit woman again. The marriage took
was Peleus.) Aeacus banished both place on Mount Pelion. The gods
Peleus and Telamon from Aegina. were present; the Muses sang the
Telamon went to Salamis; Peleus epithalamium and each brought a
went to the court of Eurytion (3) at gift for the newly-weds. Among the
Phthia in Thessaly. Eurytion purified presents were an ash-wood spear
him of the murder, gave him his given by Chiron and two immortal
daughter Antigone (3) in marriage horses, Balius (1) and Xanthus (7),
along with a third of the kingdom. donated by Poseidon. (These horses
By Antigone Peleus had a daughter, turn up again later, harnessed to the
Polydora. chariot of Achilles.)
Peleus was pursued by the anger The marriage was not a success.
of Phocus' mother, Psamathe (1), Thetis bore Peleus some children,
who sent a wolf to prey on his but one after another perished as she
flocks, though at the request of The- attempted to make them immortal.
tis she changed the wolf into stone. When Peleus tried to save Achilles
Peleus took part in the hunting of by snatching him from the fire into
the Calydonian boar but accidentally which Thetis was plunging him, she
killed Eurytion. Again he had to go fled and refused to return.
into exile. He sought refuge at the In his old age, and while Achilles
court of Acastus, who purified him. was at Troy, Peleus was attacked by
There he had an adventure which Archandrus and Architeles, the sons
nearly cost him his life. See ACASTUS. of Acastus. He fled to Cos, where he
Peleus then married Thetis, the met his grandson Neoptolemus.
daughter of Nereus. Zeus and Posei- There he was given hospitality by
don had been rivals for her hand, but Molon, and there he died. In another
Themis (or Prometheus) warned version, represented by Euripides'
them that the Parcae had ordained Andromache, Peleus outlived Neo-
that the son of Thetis would be more ptolemus and intervened on Andro-
powerful than his father. The two mache's behalf in the ploys of
gods abandoned their courtship and Hermione (see MOLOSSUS).
plans were made for marrying The- Peleus also plays a part in the
tis to a mortal. A different version adventures of the Argonauts, the ex-
claims that Thetis refused to sleep pedition of Heracles against Troy (in
with Zeus out of regard for Hera, which he accompanied his brother
who had brought her up, and that in Telamon) and the Amazon War,
his anger Zeus decided to marry her which is connected with that expedi-
to a mortal as a punishment. Thetis tion. He also appears among the con-
refused at first. She had the gift of testants at the funeral games held in
taking any shape she pleased, so she honour of Pelias. He was defeated in
adopted a number of disguises: fire, the wrestling competition by ATA-
water, wind, a tree, a bird, a tiger, a LANTA.
PELOPIA 335
whom Pelopia bore as the result of winged horses. Poseidon also helped
involuntary incest with her father, Pelops in his duel with Oenomaus
Thyestes. She lived at Sicyon, at the for the possession of HIPPODAMIA ( I ) .
court of King Thesprotus. While Hippodamia and Pelops had a
pregnant with Aegisthus Pelopia large number of children. All the
married Atreus (see Table 2). authorities list Atreus, Thyestes and
2. One of the daughters of Pelias Pleisthenes. To these are sometimes
and Anaxibia (see Table 6). She had a added Chrysippus (also said to be the
son, CYCNUS (3), by ARES. son of Pelops by Axioche), Astyda-
3. The daughter of Niobe (2). mia, Copreus and Hippothoe.
The name of Pelops is associated
Pelops (Πέλοφ) with the Olympic Games. He was
ι. The son of Tantalus (1) (Table supposed to have been their first
2). Pelops was a native of Asia founder, the games having been later
Minor, and emigrated to Europe reintroduced by Heracles in his
because of the war waged by Ilus (2) honour. They were sometimes
against Tantalus. thought to be funeral games dedi
Tantalus killed Pelops, cut him cated to Oenomaus.
into small pieces and made him into At the time of the Trojan War
a stew, which he served to the gods. Helenus revealed that Troy could
Some mythographers claimed that not be captured unless the bones of
Tantalus did this since there was a Pelops (or one of his shoulders) were
famine in his kingdom and he had no brought to the city. These bones
other victim to offer to the gods, but were therefore brought from Pisa to
it was usually said that he wanted to the Troad.
test how perceptive the gods really 2. The son of Agamemnon by
were. All the gods recognized the Cassandra.
meat and none of them touched it
except Demeter, who was famished Penates Roman deities who
and ate a shoulder before realizing guarded hearth and home. They
what it was (variants say that it was were often associated with Vesta, but
Ares or Thetis who was guilty of they remained distinct from the
this). The gods reconstructed the LARES. Each home had its own
body of Pelops and restored it to life. Penates and so did the Roman state.
In place of the shoulder which had These Penates, represented by two
been eaten they made him an ivory statues of seated youths, were
one. brought to Italy by Aeneas; they had
After his resurrection Pelops was a temple known as the Velia at
beloved of Poseidon, taken to Rome.
Olympus by him, and became his
cup-bearer. Soon, however, he was Peneius (Πην€ΐός) A river-god of
sent back to earth because Tantalus Thessaly and a son of Oceanus and
had been using him to steal nectar Tethys; the founder of the race of
and ambrosia from the gods. Posei Lapiths. He was married to Creusa
don remained his protector none the (1) (or Philyra) by whom he had
less, and made him a present of some three children, Stilbe (1), Hypseus
PENELOPE 337
and Andreus. Two other daughters blushed and covered her face with
are attributed to him in later versions her veil. Icarius understood that she
of the legend: Daphne and Cyrene. had made her choice, so he with
drew and built a sanctuary to
Peneleos (Πηνέλεως) A Boeotian Modesty on the site of this incident.
hero, listed among Helen's suitors. When Menelaus came to assemble
He was the son of Hippalcimus or the former suitors of Helen to go to
Hippalmus. He is sometimes men Troy to avenge his dishonour,
tioned as one of the Argonauts. He Odysseus pretended to be mad, since
led a Boeotian force to Troy, where Penelope had just given him a son,
he killed Ilioneus and Lycon and was Telemachus. His pretence was dis
himself wounded by Polydamas. He covered by PALAMEDES, however,
died at the hand of Eurypylus (4) (see and he set off entrusting his house
Ή8ΑΜΕΝυ5 (2)). A different tradition and his wife to his old friend
names Peneleos as one of the captains Mentor. Penelope became the sole
who hid in the Wooden Horse and mistress of Odysseus' fortune. All
took part in the capture of Troy. the young men of the neighbour
hood asked for her hand, and when
Penelope {Πηνελόπη) The wife of she refused they moved into Odys
Odysseus, noted for her fidelity. seus' palace, hoping that their extra
Penelope was the daughter of Icarius vagant revels would force the young
(2) (or Icadius according to a tradi woman to give in by bringing about
tion recorded by Aristotle), either by her financial ruin under her very
the Naiad Periboea (i), Poly caste (2), eyes. Penelope thought of a trick.
Dorodoche or Asterodia. The She told them that she would choose
number of Penelope's brothers and a husband from among them when
sisters varies considerably (see e.g. she had finished weaving Laertes'
LEUCADIUS), as do their names. shroud, and the work which she did
The mythographers give two by day she unravelled by night.
main versions of the marriage After three years of this, however,
between Odysseus and Penelope. In she was betrayed by a maidservant.
one version Odysseus was the Odysseus eventually returned and
winner of a race between her suitors massacred the suitors (see ODYSSEUS,
organized by Icarius. It is also said IV). Penelope hesitated but even
that Penelope's uncle Tyndareus, tually recognized her husband, and
who wanted to reward Odysseus for Athena graciously lengthened the
suggesting that the suitors of his duration of the night that followed.
daughter Helen swear an oath not to It was said in another tradition
fight once Helen had made her that NAUPLIUS (2) spread the rumour
choice, obtained his niece's hand for that Odysseus had died at Troy, that
Odysseus. Icarius asked Odysseus to it was then that Odysseus' mother,
settle near him with his wife. Odys Anticleia, committed suicide, and
seus refused. Icarius persisted, how that Penelope threw herself into the
ever, so Odysseus asked Penelope to sea but was saved by birds who
choose between her father and her brought her back to the shore.
husband. Penelope remained silent, Among other post-Homeric tradi-
338 PENIA
tions there is the legend that Pene cended from Cadmus. He was the
lope succumbed in succession to all son of Echion and Agave (Table 3).
of her 129 suitors and that during The standard version makes Pen
this orgy she conceived the god PAN. theus the direct heir of Cadmus (see
Another version said that Odysseus CADMUS), but a variant tradition
on his return realized that Penelope places Polydorus on the throne
had been unfaithful to him and between Cadmus and Pentheus, who
banished her. She fled via Sparta to dethroned him. According to
Mantinea where she died. According another version, Pentheus was not
to another version Odysseus killed king of Thebes.
Penelope to punish her for her adul Having conquered Asia, the god
tery with the suitor Amphinomus. Dionysus decided to come back to
According to some traditions his homeland, Thebes, to institute
Odysseus had a second son, Poli- the worship of his cult and to punish
porthes, by Penelope after his return. his mother's sisters, particularly
Then he set off for the land of the Agave, for having slandered Semele.
Thesproti. On his return he was At Thebes he inflicted madness on all
killed by another son, Telegonus (1), the women, inducing them to go up
who did not recognize him. Telego into the mountains in Bacchant cos
nus then carried Penelope off to the tume and celebrate the god's myster
island of his own mother, CIRCE, and ies. Pentheus tried to prevent the
there married her. Circe bore them spread of this cult, calling Dionysus a
both off to the Kingdom of the charlatan and an impostor. Despite
Blessed. several miracles, which he witnessed,
Pentheus clapped Dionysus in
Penia (IJevia) The personification chains, but the god freed himself and
of Poverty. Socrates, reporting the set the royal palace on fire. He sug
words of Diotima in Plato's Sym gested to Pentheus that he should
posium, says that after a feast among climb the mountain to spy on the
the gods Penia married Poros and by women and witness the excesses in
him gave birth to Eros. which they indulged. Pentheus
accepted this suggestion, disguised
Penthesilea (77ei>0eaiA€ia) An
himself and hid in a pine tree. The
Amazon, the daughter of Ares and women saw him, uprooted the tree
Otrere. She had a son named Cays- and tore him to pieces. Agave
trus and a grandson, Ephesus. After impaled his head on a thyrsus and
Hector's death Penthesilea went to went back to Thebes, proudly carry
Troy to help Priam, taking with her ing what she thought was a lion's
an army of Amazons. At Troy she head. When she came to her senses
made her mark in numerous exploits she saw that she had killed her own
but was defeated by Achilles, who son. This myth, which was cast in
wounded her in the right breast and theatrical form by both Euripides
then fell in love with her as she died. and Aeschylus, was very well known
Thersites made fun of this passion, in classical art and literature.
and Achilles slew him.
Pentheus (77ev0ei;?) A Theban des Penthilus (Πένθιλος) An illegiti-
PERIBOEA 339
mate son of Orestes by Erigone (2). dix was attributed among other
Penthilus had two sons, Damasios things the invention of the saw; he
and Echelas or Echelaus, who was inspired by a snake's teeth. He is
founded colonies at Lesbos and on also said to have invented the
the coast of Asia Minor. He suppo potter's wheel. This young man is
sedly founded the Lesbian city of sometimes called Talos (2) or even
Penthile. Calus. He was given the name of
Perdix because Athena, taking pity
Penthus (Πένθος) A deity personi on him as his uncle pushed him off
fying Grief. When Zeus allotted the Acropolis, turned him into a par
their functions to the various gods, tridge. This bird joyfully attended
Penthus could not be found. By the the funeral of Icarus, son of Daeda
time he appeared Zeus had already lus, who also died of a fall.
distributed everything, and so had
noting left to entrust to him except Pergamus (Πέργαμος) The epony
the task of presiding over the mous hero of the city of Pergamon,
honours paid to the dead, mourning he was the youngest son of Neopto-
and tears. So Penthus favours those lemus and Andromache. Pergamus
who weep for the dead and observe came back from Asia with his
strict mourning. Because they are so mother and in a duel killed Areius,
good at weeping he sends them the the king of the city of Teuthrania.
most distressing experiences possible, He then took the throne and gave
and the surest way of keeping him at the city his own name.
a distance is to moderate distress at Pergamus is also the name of the
misfortunes. citadel of Troy, but the myth cited
above is intended to explain the
Peparethus (Π€πάρηθος) One of name of the Hellenistic city of Per
the four sons of Ariadne by Diony gamon, the capital of the kingdom
sus. He gave his name to the island of of the Attalids.
Peparethor.
Periboea (Περίβοια)
Peratus (Πέρατος) A king of ι. The Naiad who bore Icarius (2)
Sicyon, the successor to Leucippus children, including Penelope.
(3). As Leucippus' only child was a 2. The youngest daughter of Eury-
daughter, he gave his kingdom to medon (1) who, mating with Posei
Peratus, a son of his daughter Cal- don, gave birth to Nausithous (1),
chiaia by Poseidon. Peratus' own son king of the Phaeacians.
was Plemnaeus. 3. One of the first pair of Locrian
girls drawn by lot to be sent as slaves
Perdix (Πέρδι,ξ) As a nephew of of the Athena at Ilion, in order to ap
Daedalus, Perdix served an apprenti pease her wrath at the sacrilege com
ceship in his uncle's workshop and mitted by Ajax (1) (the other was
soon surpassed him in skill. In jea Cleopatra (3)). This offering went on
lousy Daedalus pushed him from the for a thousand years. The girls who
top of the Acropolis. Daedalus was were thus dedicated to the service of
tried before the Areopagus. To Per Athena simply cleansed the sanctu-
340 P E R I C L Y M E N U S
ary. They wore only a common defended the city and killed Parthe-
tunic and went barefoot. If they nopaeus by throwing a block of
were seen outside the sanctuary they stone down on to his head from the
could be put to death. city walls. Pursuing the enemy, he
4. The wife of Polybus (3), king of chased Amphiaraus and would have
Corinth, who took in OEDIPUS and killed him had not Zeus made the
brought him up. earth open up and swallow
5. Mother of Ajax (2) and wife of Amphiaraus.
TELAMON. Her father was Alcathus, 2. An inhabitant of Pylos and a son
king of Megara (Table 2). Together of Neleus (1), who took part in the
with Theseus, she was sent as part of expedition of the Argonauts. From
the tribute to Minos by Aegeus. his grandfather Poseidon (Table 6)
Minos fell in love with her during he inherited the ability to change his
the voyage. She called on Theseus to shape. When Heracles attacked
help her. Theseus claimed that, as a Pylos, Periclymenus changed him
son of Poseidon, he was as noble as self into a bee to attack the hero, but,
Minos, who was a son of Zeus. thanks to Athena's advice, Heracles
Minos prayed to Zeus, who sent recognized him in time and killed
down a flash of lightning. Then him. It was also said that Periclyme
Minos threw a ring into the sea and nus changed into an eagle and was
ordered Theseus, if he really was a shot down by Heracles with an
son of Poseidon, to retrieve it. The arrow.
seus dived after the ring and Posei
don handed it to him. Theseus was Perieres (Π€ριήρης)
later said to have married Periboea ι. Usually a son of Aeolus (1)
(also known as PHEREBOEA). (Table 5), and the hero from whom
6. The mother of Tydeus. There the Aeolians of Messenia were des
are several traditions concerning the cended. He reigned over Andania,
marriage of Periboea and Oeneus. married Gorgophone, daughter of
Some said that Oeneus obtained her Perseus (Table 7), and had by her
as part of the booty after the sacking Aphareus, Leucippus (1) and, in
of Olenos. Others said that she had some versions, Tyndareus and Icar-
been seduced by Hippostratus, the ius (2). In this tradition Perieres is the
son of Amarynceus, or by Ares, and common ancestor of the Tyndaridae
that her father, Hipponous, had sent (the Dioscuri, Helen and Clytemnes-
her to Oeneus to be put to death, tra), the Leucippidae (Phoebe (2) and
but instead of killing her Oeneus Hilaera) and of Penelope, Lynceus
married her. A third version claimed (2) and Idas.
that the seducer was Oeneus himself According to another tradition
and that Hipponous forced him to Perieres was the son of Cynortas and
marry the girl. consequently directly related to Zeus
and Taygete. The genealogies often
Periclymenus (Π€ρι,κλύμ,€νος) give this Perieres the name of Oeba-
ι. A son of Poseidon and of Chlo- lus (1).
ris, the daughter of Tiresias. When 2. A Theban, the charioteer of
the Seven attacked Thebes, he Menoeceus. At Onchestos he slew
PERSEPHONE 341
the king of the Minyans, which led Attica and, having slain him, took
to a war betwen the Thebans and his club and kept it for himself.
Minyans (for this war, see ERGINUS 2. The son of COPREUS .
(1)·
Pero (Πηρώ) A daughter of Neleus
Periergus (Περίεργος) The son of (1) and Chloris (Table 6). Being very
Triopas and brother of Phorbas (1). beautiful she had many suitors, but
After the death of Triopas he went Neleus, who did not want to part
to Rhodes. with her, demanded the flocks of
Iphiclus as dowry. Thanks to her
Perigoune (Περιγουνή) The daugh brother MELAMPUS, Bias (her first
ter of Sinis. She was beloved of cousin) was able to satisfy this con
Theseus and by him had a son, Mela- dition and marry the girl. See also
nippus (4). BIAS.
ous. She was also said to have fallen in by a fisherman named Dictys,
in love with Adonis. She appears, brother of the tyrant Polydectes.
with Demeter, in the Eleusinian Dictys welcomed them and raised
Mysteries. At Rome she was identi the young Perseus, who became a
fied with PROSERPINA. handsome and courageous young
man. Polydectes conceived a passion
Persepolis (IJepaenoXis) In certain for Danae, but Perseus guarded his
traditions a son of Odysseus and mother well and the king did not
Nausicaa. In other versions he is the dare resort to violence. One day
son of Telemachus by Polycaste (i). Polydectes invited his friends,
including Perseus, to dinner and
asked what gift each was willing to
Perses (Πβρσης) A son of the Titan offer him. All the other guests said
Crius and of Eurybia. His brothers that a horse was a fitting gift, but
were Pallas (3) and Astraeus. He Perseus declared that he would bring
himself married Asteria (1). He had him the head of the Gorgon Medusa.
several children by her including The next day all the princes brought
Hecate. Another tradition makes Polydectes a horse, except for Per-
Perses a son of Helios and Perse. He seus, who brought nothing. Poly-
was said to have been king of Tauris dectes then ordered him to fetch
before depriving his brother Aeetes Medusa's head, saying that otherwise
of the kingdom of Colchis, but he he would take Danae by force. (In
was killed by Medus (1) on the in another version, Polydectes intended
stigation of Medea because he to give all these presents to Hippoda-
wanted to return the kingdom to mia (1), whom he intended to
Aeetes. Another version makes marry.) In this difficult situation Per-
Perses the father of Hecate by a con seus was helped by Hermes and Ath-
cubine. Hecate supposedly married ena. On their advice he went first in
her uncle Aeetes and became the search of the GRAEAE, who eventually
mother of Circe and Medea. showed him the way to the
Nymphs, who possessed winged
Perseus (IJepaevç) Son of Zeus and sandals, a shoulder bag called a kibisis
Danae (Table 7). For the circum- and the helmet of Hades which made
stances of Perseus' birth see ACRISIUS. its wearer invisible. The Nymphs
Danae contrived to bear Perseus gave these objects to Perseus, while
secretly and to keep him in secret for Hermes armed him with the harpe, a
several months. One day, however, sickle made of adamant. Perseus then
the child gave a cry which was heard set off to look for the Gorgons,
by Acrisius. Unwilling to believe Stheno, Euryale and Medusa. Of the
that his daughter had been seduced three, only Medusa was mortal,
by Zeus, Acrisius killed Danae's which was why Perseus had some
nurse as an accomplice and had his hope of decapitating her. While
daughter and grandson thrown into Medusa was asleep Perseus rose into
the sea in a wooden chest. The chest the air on his winged sandals, and
was cast up on the island of Seriphos, while Athena held a shield of
where mother and child were taken polished bronze over Medusa so that
PHAEACIANS 343
it acted as a mirror he struck off her while Perseus became king of Tir-
head. From Medusa's mutilated neck yns.
sprang a winged horse, PEGASUS, and Perseus is said to have successfully
a giant, CHRYSAOR. Perseus put the opposed the introduction of the cult
head of Medusa in his shoulder bag of Dionysus into Argos and even to
and set off home. The victim's two have fought the god and drowned
sisters pursued him, but to no avail, him in the lake at Lerna (see also
for Hades' helmet prevented them HALIAE). He is also said to have killed
from seeing him. Ariadne in the same battle (another
On the way back Perseus travelled version gives just Ariadne as Perseus'
through Ethiopia where he came victim). Mythographers of the
across Andromeda. She was being Roman period recorded that after
offered as a sacrifice in expiation of Danae and Perseus had been thrown
the imprudent words spoken by her into the sea by Acrisius they landed
mother, Cassiopia, and had been tied not at Seriphos but on the coast of
to a rock. Perseus fell in love with Latium. There King Pilumnus (2)
Andromeda and promised her married Danae and with her,
father, Cepheus (2), that he would founded the city of Ardea. Turnus
release her if he could have her hand was supposed to be a descendant of
in marriage. The bargain was struck this marriage.
and Perseus slew the monster. See
ANDROMEDA. Peucetius (IJ€VK€TLOS) One of the
After his marriage Perseus sons of LYCAON (2). With his brother
returned to Seriphos accompanied Oenotrus he went from Arcadia to
by Andromeda. During his absence southern Italy, where he became the
Polydectes had tried to rape Danae, ancestor of the Peucetians.
who had to seek refuge at the altars
of the gods. Perseus took his revenge Phaea (ΦαΓα) The sow killed by
on Polydectes by turning him to Theseus at Crommyon. It was
stone. He then handed over the named after the old woman who
government of Seriphos to Dictys. reared it, and was descended from
He gave the sandals, bag and Hades' Echidna and Typhon.
helmet to Hermes, who returned
them to the Nymphs. Athena set the Phaeacians (Φα(ακ€ς) A mythical
head of Medusa in the middle of her nation of sailors. They were descen
shield. Perseus then left Seriphos dants of Phaeax (1) who led them
with Andromeda and set off for his out of the land of Hyperia, from
native land, Argos, to see his grand which they were driven by the Cyc
father, Acrisius. However Perseus lopes. Phaeax took them to the
accidentally killed him at Larissa in island of Scheria (but see also NAU-
Thessaly (see ACRISIUS). Not daring SITHOUS (1)). Under King Alcinous
to return to Argos in order to claim the Phaeacians devoted themselves
the kingdom of the man he had to navigation and trading. For
killed, he exchanged places with his Odysseus' visit to their island and its
cousin Megapenthes (2) (Table 7), consequences, see ALCINOUS. The
who thus became king of Argos, Argonauts also landed on the island
344 PHAEAX
of the Phaeacians, and the marriage brought up by his mother, who kept
ofJason and Medea took place there. his father's identity a secret until the
boy reached adolescence. Phaethon
Phaeax (Φαίαξ) then requested some acknowledge
ι. The eponymous hero of the ment of his parentage and asked his
Phaeacians. He was the son of Posei father to let him drive his chariot
don and a Nymph called Cercyra. across the sky. Helios gave him per
He was king of the island of Scheria mission to do so, and Phaethon
(see PHAEACIANS). started to follow his father's route
2. The man who piloted Theseus' across the vaults of heaven. But he
ship when he sailed from Attica to soon felt afraid at finding himself so
Crete. He was a native of Salamis high up. The sight of the animals
(see also NAUSITHOUS (2)). which constitute the signs of the
Zodiac frightened him and he left his
Phaedra (Φαίδρα) The daughter of ordained path. He dropped too low
Minos and Pasiphae and the sister of and risked setting fire to the Earth;
Ariadne. Her brother Deucalion (2) then he rose too high and the stars
gave her in marriage to Theseus, des complained to Zeus. To prevent a
pite the fact that he was already universal conflagration Zeus struck
married to the Amazon Antiope (2) the boy down with his thunderbolt
(or Melanippe (3), or Hippolyta (1)). and hurled him into the River Erida-
This marriage was the occasion of an nus. His sisters, the Heliades (1), paid
attack by the Amazons (see THESEUS, him funeral honours.
v). Phaedra had two children by
Theseus, Acamas (3) and Demophon Phalanthus (Φάλανθος) The hero
(2). She fell in love with Hippolytus who founded Tarentum (but see also
(1), Theseus' son by his Amazon TARAS). During the Messenian war
wife, but Hippolytus refused to give those Lacedaemonians who had not
in to his stepmother. For the ensuing taken part in the expedition were
events and the death of Phaedra, see sold into slavery and their children
HIPPOLYTUS (1). were deprived of their political
rights. However, these people
Phaestus (Φαιστός) A son of Hera (known as Parthenians) plotted an
cles. He succeeded Ianiscus to the uprising to take place during the
throne of Sicyon and then, in re Spartiate festival of the Hyacinthids.
sponse to an oracle, went to Crete, Phalanthus was chosen as leader and
where he founded the city that bore was supposed to give the signal for
his name. He had a son named Rho- the revolt by putting on his cap. The
palus. Spartiates got wind of the matter,
however, and the herald forbade
Phaethon (Φαέθων) There are two Phalanthus to put on his cap. The
distinct traditions concerning his Parthenians fled, under the leader
genealogy. One makes him the son ship of Phalanthus, and went to Tar
of Eos and Cephalus; the other of entum, where on the instructions of
Helios and Clymene (1). In the the Delphic oracle they founded a
second version Phaethon was colony. The oracle had also told
PHEMONOE 345
Delphic oracle. She invented hexa Demeter at Lerna. When the Del-
meter verse as the form in which to phians were attacked by the Phle-
express her prophecies. She is also gyans, Philammon came to their
credited with the famous Delphic rescue at the head of an Argive
maxim: 'Known thyself. army. He died during the battle.
the Centaur CHIRON, who was loved When the Argonauts asked him to
by Cronus. In one tradition, Cronus, predict the outcome of the expedi
fearing the jealousy of his wife Rhea, tion Phineus did so, on condition
metamorphosed into a horse and that they rid him of the Harpies. The
mated with Philyra, which explains Boreades, Zetes and Calais, chased
why Chiron was half horse, half the Harpies away. It was said that the
man. In another version Philyra Harpies could die only if they were
rejected the god's advances and caught by the Boreades; conversely,
turned herself into a mare to escape the latter would die if they failed to
from him, but he turned into a stal catch the Harpies. In the chase the
lion and raped her. Chiron was born first Harpy fell into a river in the
on Mount Pelion, in Thessaly, where Péloponnèse, which was thereafter
he lived in a cave with his mother. known as the Harpys; the other
reached the Echinades Islands, which
Phineus {Φινεύς) were known thereafter as the Stro-
ι. One of the sons of LYCAON. He phades, or Islands of Return. At that
was struck down by a thunderbolt point Iris appeared and forbade the
together with his brothers. Boreades to kill the Harpies. In
2. The brother of Cepheus (2) and exchange for their lives the Harpies
the uncle of ANDROMEDA. Phineus promised to leave Phineus alone, and
wanted to marry his niece and tried from then on hid in a cave on Crete.
to foment a conspiracy against Per In another legend Phineus' first
seus when the latter won her instead. wife was Cleopatra (1), the daughter
In the ensuing battle, Phineus was of Boreas. They had two sons, Plex-
turned to stone by the sight of ippus and Pandion (3). Phineus then
Medusa's head. That he suffered this married Idaea (2) (Table 4). Idaea
fate makes it impossible to identify was jealous of her two stepsons and
him with Phineus (3), but in order to falsely accused them of trying to
make such an identification possible, rape her. Phineus, believing her, had
certain late mythographers claimed them both blinded. When the Argo-
that Phineus was merely blinded by nauts came to Phineus' court, the
Perseus, not killed by him. Boreades, who were Cleopatra's
3. A king of Thrace. Having brothers, took their revenge on Phi-
powers of divination, Phineus chose neus by blinding him in his turn.
to have a long life at the price of Asclepius restored the eyesight of
going blind. In indignation the Sun Plexippus and Pandion but was
sent the HARPIES to plague him. In punished for doing this by Zeus,
other versions Phineus abused his who struck him with his thunder-
gifts as a seer and revealed the plans bolt.
of the gods to mortals. Another These variant legends were com-
account claims he had incurred bined by mythographers, who
divine wrath by aiding PHRIXUS. recounted that Phineus had been
Everything that was put before Phi punished by Zeus for accusing his
neus was snatched away by the Har children of the crime and blinding
pies, especially his food; and what them without proof. He was then
they could not carry off they soiled. plagued by the Harpies and the
350 PHIX
Argonauts later freed him from Phlias rather than his wife. Phlias
them. was one of the Argonauts and was
the eponym of the city of Phlius in
Phix (Φιξ) According to Hesiod the Péloponnèse.
this was the name of the Sphinx.
Phlogius (Φλόγιος) A son of the
Phlegethon (Φλ€γ€θων) One of the Thessalian Deimachus. With his
rivers of the Underworld which brothers Deileon and Autolycus, he
joined the Cocytus to form the accompanied Heracles on his expedi
Acheron. There was a huge waterfall tion against the Amazons, but
where the two rivers met. The name became separated from the hero at
of the river suggests that it was a Sinope. The three of them spent
river of fire. some time there until the Argonauts
passed by and agreed to take them
Phlegyas (Φλ€γύας) A king of the with them.
LAPITHS and the eponym of the Phle-
gyans. He was the son of Ares and Phobos (Φόβος) The personifi
Dotis or Chryse. He had several chil cation of Fear, who accompanied
dren including IXION and CORONIS Ares on the battlefield. He was said
(I). According to regional traditions, to be the son of Ares and the brother
Phlegyas succeeded Eteocles on the of Deimos.
throne of Orchomenus, founded a
new city, Phlegya, and died without Phocus (Φώκος)
children. His heir was his nephew ι. A native of Glisas in Boeotia
Chryses (3). Phlegyas went to the who had a daugher called Callirhoe
Péloponnèse to reconnoitre the land (7). Thirty men wished to marry
for a marauding expedition. During her. Eventually he announced that,
this trip Coronis was seduced by according to the Delphic oracle, the
Apollo, which is why ASCLEPIUS was matter would have to be settled by
born at Epidauros. the use of arms. The suitors killed
In one account Phlegyas attempted him; Callirhoe fled, and some
to set fire to the Temple of Apollo at peasants hid her in a corn-mill. On
Delphi. Virgil depicts him in Hades the festival of the Boeotian federa
suffering torments for his impiety. tion Callirhoe came as a suppliant to
Apollodorus recounts that Phlegyas the altar of Athena Itonia and
was killed by Lycus (3) and Nycteus. accused the suitors of murdering her
His murderers went into exile at father. They fled to Hippotae. The
Thebes. Boeotians forced them to give them
selves up and then stoned them to
Phlias (Φλίας) A son of Dionysus death. The previous evening the
and Araethyrea, daughter of Minyas. murderers had heard a voice coming
According to Pausanias he was the from the mountains, calling, Ί am
husband of Chthonophyle, by here.' It was the voice of Phocus,
whom he had a son called Androda- telling them of their punishment.
mas. Sometimes Chthonophyle is 2. The eponymous hero of Phocis,
said to have been the mother of a Corinthian and a descendant of
PHOENIX 351
ous children, including Argos (3), hence the brother of Achaeus and
Melas (2), Phrontis and Cytissorus. Pelasgus (3). In another version he is
Phrixus later died in Colchis. the son of Achaeus and the husband
In a tradition mentioned by Hygi- of Chrysippe, daughter of Irus.
nus, Aeetes killed Phrixus because an
oracle had predicted that the king Phthonus (Φθόνος) The personifi
would die at the hands of a descen cation of Envy.
dant of Aeolus (1). This text tells
how Phrixus and Helle, having been Phylacus (Φνλακος)
saved from the sacrifice, were driven ι. A Thessalian hero, the son of
mad by Dionysus for trying to take Deion, or Deioneus and Diomede
revenge on Ino. (Table 5). He was the father of IPHIC-
LUS (1) and Alcimede, the mother of
Phronime (Φρόνιμη) Mother of Jason. Phylacus married Clymene
Battus (2), and the daughter of King (3). He supposedly founded the city
Etearchus of Axos on Crete. Etear- of Phylacae on the River Othrys. He
chus remarried. His second wife was the owner of a magnificent herd
denounced Phronime, falsely accus (seeMELAMPUS).
ing her of a debauched lifestyle. 2. A Delphian, who appeared in
Etearchus believed her and coerced a the shape of an armed giant just as
merchant called Themison into the Persians were attacking the sanc
promising to take Phronime away tuary, and put them to flight, amid
and push her overboard into the lightning and supernatural mani
open sea. Themison, however, festations. At his side he had another
merely dipped her into the sea. He giant, Autonous (cf. HYPERBOREANS).
then took her ashore at Thera and 3. A Trojan warrior killed by Lei-
arranged for her to marry a local tus.
nobleman, Polymnestus, who was
Battus' father. Phylas (Φνλας)
ι. The king of the Thesprotians.
Phrygius (Φρύγιος) A king of Heracles made war on him with the
Miletus, who succeeded when King citizens of Calydon, captured his city
Phobius gave up his throne after the and then killed him. Phylas'
death of Cleoboea (see ANTHEUS). daughter Astyoche was captured by
When Pieria, a daughter of Phytes of Heracles and bore him a son, Tlepto-
Myonte, came to Miletus for the lemus.
festival of Artemis, he fell in love 2. The father of POLYMELA ( 1 ).
with her and, by marrying her, put 3. The king of the Dryopes, who
an end to a war between the inhabit attacked the sanctuary at Delphi.
ants of Myonte and the Milesians. Heracles then made war upon Phy
las, killed him and expelled the
Phthius (Φθΐος) The founder of Dryopes from their territory, which
Phthiotis in Thessaly. Sometimes he he gave to the Malians. Heracles had
is said to be one of the sons of a son called Antiochus by Phylas'
Lycaon (2), sometimes a son of daughter.
Poseidon by the Nymph Larissa and 4. The father of Hippotes (1) and
PICUS 355
grandfather of Aletes (i), the com times to see whether his boat was
panion of the HERACLIDS. This Phy- approaching; in memory of this the
las, son of Antiochus, married place was called the 'Nine Roads'.
Leipephile, daughter of Iolaus, who Phyllis then invoked a curse on
bore him a daughter called Thero. Demophon and hanged herself. On
the same day in Crete, Demophon
Phyleus (Φυλβύς) One of the sons opened the casket. The sight of its
of Augias. He sided with Heracles contents frightened his horse, which
against his father over the issue of the bolted. Demophon was thrown, fell
payment for cleaning the stables (see on his sword and died. In another
HERACLES, π and in). For this he was version Phyllis was metamorphosed
banished by his father and settled at into a leafless almond tree. Her lover
Dulichium. There he married embraced the tree which then grew
UMANDRA or Ctimene (2) who bore leaves. From that moment the Greek
him a son named MEGES and a word for leaves, originally 'petala',
daughter, Eurydamia. After Heracles became 'phylla'.
had conquered Augias, he placed
Phyleus on the throne of Elis. Phy
Phytalus (Φύταλος) An Attic hero
leus later gave the throne to his
who lived on the banks of the Ilissus.
brothers and returned to Dulichium.
Demeter visited Attica when she was
He took part in the Calydonian boar
looking for her daughter, and Phyta
hunt.
lus gave the goddess hospitality. In
Phylius (Φύλιος) An Aetolian hero return she gave him some young fig
who played a part in the story of trees. His descendants held the sole
CYCNUS (5).
right to the cultivation of figs for a
long time. They entertained THESEUS
Phyllis (Φνλλίς) On his way back when he was on his way back from
from Troy Demophon (or ACAMAS Corinth and purified him of the
(3)) was washed up on the coast of murders of Sinis and other brigands.
Thrace. The king of the region gave
him hospitality. The king's Picus A very early king of Latium
daughter, Phyllis, fell in love with who ruled the Aborigines. He was
him. In one version he married her; the father of Faunus and the grand
in others he promised to marry her, father of Latinus. His father was
but told her he had to return to sometimes said to be Sterces, or Ster-
Athens to settle his affairs before he culus, whose name suggests the
could do so. Phyllis agreed to the word 'dung-heap'; he was identifed
separation but gave him a casket with Saturn by the mythographers.
containing objects sacred to the Picus was an excellent seer, who pos
Great Mother, Rhea. She advised sessed a green woodpecker, the pre
him to open it only when he had eminent prophetic bird. The mytho
abandoned all hope of returning to graphers claimed that the wood
her. Demophon left her and settled pecker was in fact Picus himself and
in Cyprus. The day set for his return that he had been changed into that
arrived, but he did not appear. She shape by Circe, since he had repulsed
went down to the harbour nine Circe's advances because of his love
356 PIERIDES
either for his wife, Pomona, or for new-born babies against the evil
the Nymph Canens. tricks and wiles of the malevolent
spirit Silvanus. Pilumnus shared his
Piérides (IJtepiSes) Nine maidens functions with Intercidona and
who wanted to outshine the Muses. Deverra. Intercidona took her name
They were the daughters of Pierus from the symbolic axe-blows given
(i). They possessed especially beauti- to the door post at the birth of a
ful singing voices and challenged the child; Deverra derived hers from the
Muses to a singing contest. They broom which was used to sweep the
were unsuccessful, and to punish threshold; and Pilumnus was named
them the Muses changed them into after the pilum (pestle) with which
magpies, according to Ovid, or into the door was struck. Axe, pestle and
various birds, according to broom were symbols of civilization
Nicander. According to Pausanias, (the axe cut down trees, the pestle
the Piérides had the same names as pounded corn and the broom swept
the Muses, and the children attri- the threshing floor). These symbols
buted to the Muses, such as Orpheus, frightened Silvanus, the spirit of the
were the children of the Piérides, uncivilized wilderness. Pilumnus is
since the Muses remained eternally also mentioned alongside Picumnus,
virgin. a deity whose name is reminiscent of
PICUS.
Pierus (ilicpos)
2. Virgil mentions a Pilumnus who
i. The eponym of Pieria, often
is grandfather of Turnus and father
thought to be the father of the Pier-
of Daunus.
ides. Pierus introduced the cult of the
Muses into his region. He is some-
Pindus (Πίνδος) A son of Macedon
times said to have been the father of
(3). When Pindus was out hunting
Linus (2) or of Oeager, and therefore
one day he met a monstrous serpent.
the grandfather of Orpheus.
The creature did not attack him, and
2. The son of Magnes in some tra-
to show his gratitude Pindus used to
ditions. Pierus was loved by the
bring the serpent part of the fruits of
Muse Clio; Aphrodite had inspired
his hunting expeditions. When Pin
her with the passion as a punishment
dus was killed by his three brothers,
for deriding the goddess's own love
who were jealous of him, the serpent
for Adonis. Their son was in some
killed them and guarded Pindus'
versions said to be HYACINTHUS, in
corpse until his relatives paid him
others HYMENAEUS.
funeral honours.
Pietas The personification of feel-
ings of duty towards the gods, the Piren (Πβιρήν)
state and one's family. Her temple at ι. The son of Glaucus (3) and the
the foot of the Capitoline dates from brother of BELLEROPHON who acci
the beginning of the second century dentally killed him. See also 10.
BC. 2. The son of Argos (1) and
Evadne (3). Sometimes his name is
Pilumnus given as Piras. In some accounts he is
1. A Roman deity who protected said to be Io's father, but she is more
PISIDICE 357
turnal festivals. In this poem they are versions make her his wife.
called Coccymo, Glaucia, Protis, Although Agamemnon and Mene-
Parthenia, Maia, Stonychia, and laus are usually considered to be the
Lampado. Calypso (i) and Dione are sons of Atreus, Hesiod and Aeschy
sometimes included among the lus claim that Pleisthenes was their
Pleiades. All the Pleiades married father. To make the two traditions
gods except Merope, who married correspond it was assumed that Pleis
Sisyphus; that is why her star is the thenes was the father of the two
least bright in the constellation. heroes, and was himself the son of
The Pleiades were in Boeotia with Atreus, but he died young, entrust
Pleione when they met Orion, who ing his two sons and his daughter
fell in love with them. He pursued Anaxibia to their grandfather to
them for five years and eventually bring up. This is why Agamemnon
they were turned into doves. Zeus and Menelaus are generally desig
then turned them into stars. In other nated under the title Atridae. A tra
traditions their transformation was dition mentioned by Hyginus makes
as a result of their grief when their Pleisthenes a son of Thyestes.
father, Atlas, was condemned to
hold up the sky. In another version Plemnaeus (Πλημναΐος) A king of
the Pleiades and their sisters the Sicyon in the tradition recorded by
HYADES were changed into stars after
Pausanias. He is the son of Peratus
the death of their brother Hyas. and father of ORTHOPOLIS. He is said
When Troy fell, Electra (2) from to have introduced the cult of
whom the Trojan royal house was Demeter into Sicyon.
descended (Table 4), left her sisters in
despair, and was changed into a
comet. Pleuron (IlXevpwv) The brother of
Calydon and a son of Aetolus and
Pleione (Πληι,όνη) The mother of Pronoe. He gave his name to the
the PLÉIADES and a daughter of Ocea- Aetolian city of Pleuron and married
nus and Tethys. Her children also in- Xanthippe, daughter of Dorus, thus
cluded the HYADES and HYAS. Orion establishing ties between the Aeto-
fell in love with Pleione as well as lians and the Dorians. They had
her daughters; she too was changed several children: Agenor, Sterope
into a star. (2), Stratonice and Laophonte. There
was a sanctuary dedicated to Pleuron
Pleisthenes (Πλ€ΐ,σθ€νης) Pleis- at Sparta.
thenes appears in the genealogy of
the family of Atreus and of Pelops Plexippus (Πλήξιππος)
(1) but his parentage varies from tra ι. One of the uncles of MELEAGER
dition to tradition. He is most fre and the brother of Althaea. He was
quently said to be a son of Pelops (1) killed by his nephew during the
and Hippodamia (1), and therefore a Calydonian boar hunt.
brother of Thyestes and Atreus 2. One of the sons of PHINEUS (3)
(Table 2). In some versions AEROPE and Cleopatra (1).
(1) is said to be his mother, but other 3. One of the sons of CHORICUS .
36o PLUTO
Pluto SeePLUTON. avenged. After the fall of Troy he
returned to Greece and reached
Pluton (Πλούτων) The 'Rich Man', Colophon by land. After the death
a ritual title of HADES. He was assimi of Calchas (1) at Colophon Podalir
lated to the Latin deity Dis Pater ius asked the Delphic oracle where
who, like him, was originally the he should settle. The oracle
god of the fields, because the ground instructed him to choose an area
was the source of all wealth (see PLU- where, if the sky fell around him, he
TUS and DEMETER). would have nothing to fear. The
region corresponding to this descrip
Plutus (Πλούτος) 'Wealth', the son tion was the Chersonese at Caria
of Demeter and Iasion according to which is ringed by mountains, and
Hesiod's Theogony. He was born in Podalirius settled there. According
Crete. Plutus appears as a young to another version he was thrown up
man, or as a child bearing a horn of on the coast of Caria by a storm and
plenty. Later, as the concept of rescued by a goatherd who took him
wealth became associated with to the king of the region, whose
material goods, Plutus became the name was Damaethus. The king's
personification of wealth in general; daughter, Syrna, had just fallen from
he appears in this form in Aristo a roof and Podalirius offered medical
phanes' comedy. Plutus is repre assistance. He cured the girl, married
sented as being blind, since hs visits her, and was presented with the Car-
the good and the wicked without ian peninsula, where he founded the
making any distinction. According city of Syrnos.
to Aristophanes Zeus blinded Plutus There was a sanctuary dedicated
to prevent him from rewarding only to Podalirius in Italy at the foot of
the virtuous and to oblige him to Mount Drion. Another sanctuary on
favour the wicked too. the top of the mountain was dedi
cated to Calchas. Podalirius was said
Podalirius (Ποδαλ€ίριος) The to have founded it, and it was
brother of Machaon and, like him, a believed that if one sacrificed a black
son of Asclepius. His mother's name ram to either Podalirius or Calchas
is sometimes given as Epione, some and then slept in the animal's skin
times as Lampetia (2). Podalirius and one had prophetic dreams.
Machaon were both Helen's suitors
and participated in the Trojan War. Podarces (Ποδάρκης)
Both were skilled in healing: ι. The name given to Priam when
Machaon was said to have been prin he was young (see HERACLES, HI,
cipally a surgeon and Podalirius a PRIAM and Table 4).
general practitioner. Podalirius 2. A son of Iphiclus (1) who
dressed the wounds of Acamas (3) accompanied his brother Protesilaus
and Epeius, who were badly hurt in to Troy; after the latter's death he
the boxing contest at the funeral
succeeded him as commander of the
games in honour of Achilles, and
also cured PHILOCTETES. Podalirius contingent from Phylace. He killed
outlived his brother, whose death he the Amazon Clonia and was himself
killed by Penthesilea. The Greeks
POLIPORTHES 361
paid him special funeral honours and course of this work a builder insulted
gave him a separate tomb. Poemandrus, who hurled a large
stone at him. He missed and killed
Podarge (Ποδάργη) One of the his own son Leucippus (7). As a
HARPIES. She gave birth to Xanthus result of this crime Poemandrus had
(7) and Balius (1), the steeds of to leave Boeotia, but as the region
Achilles, fathered by Zephyrus. She was still under siege he asked the
is also said to have been the mother enemy to let him leave safely.
of Phlogaeus and Harpagus, the Achilles granted this request and sent
horses belonging either to Diomedes Poemandrus to Elephenor at Chalcis.
(1) (but see also HERACLES, II) or to Elephenor purified Poemandrus,
the Dioscuri. who then built a sanctuary to
Achilles.
Podes (Ποδής) A Trojan, and a
friend of Hector, who was killed by Poine (Ποινή) The personification
Menelaus in the fighting over the of Vengeance or Punishment; she is
body of Patroclus. sometimes identified with the Eri
nyes or Furies whom she accom
Poeas (Ποίας) The son of Thauma- panied. In later Roman mythology
cus. He was married to Methone and Poena is the mother of the Furies and
was the father of Philoctetes. He appears among the demons of the
appears among the Argonauts. One Underworld. Poine was also por
tradition makes him the conqueror trayed as a monster sent by Apollo to
of TALOS (1), although this role is avenge the death of Psamathe (2) (cf.
more generally attributed to Medea. COROEBUS ( i ) ) .
Poeas was with Heracles in his dying
moments. Some mythographers say Polhymnia (Πολυμνία) One of the
that it was he who lit Heracles' nine Muses, a daughter of Zeus and
funeral pyre when everybody else Mnemosyne. Various traditions
refused, and in recompense Heracles attribute to her several inventions,
bequeathed to Poeas his bow and including the lyre and agriculture. In
arrows, PHILOCTETES, however, is some accounts she is said to be the
more frequently credited with this Muse of Dancing, in others the Muse
role. of Geometry or even of History. An
isolated tradition claims that she was
Poemandrus (Ποίμανδρος) A Boeo Orpheus' mother by Oeager,
tian hero, the son of Chaeresilaus and although Orpheus' mother is more
Stratonice. He married Tanagra, the usually said to be Calliope. Plato
daugher of Aeolus (1) or Asopus. refers to a legend in which she is the
Poemandrus founded Poemandria mother of Eros.
(later called Tanagra). Achilles
attacked the town when the inhabit Poliporthes (Πολιττόρθης) Poli-
ants refused to take part in the Tro porthes or Ptoliporthes was a son of
jan War. He carried off Stratonice, ODYSSEUS and Penelope, born while
but Poemandrus escaped and began his father was ruling the Thespro-
fortifying the city. During the tians.
362 POLITES
the Erythraeans, fell in love with his protect HELEN from the amorous ad
captive. Polycrite was the sister of vances of the king, she took her to
the leader of the Naxians, Polycles. the island of Pharos in the Nile delta,
By means of a note concealed in a and gave her herbs as a protection
cake she warned her brother that she against the bite of the countless ser
had persuaded her lover to hand pents which inhabited the island.
over the camp to the Naxians during
the night. The Naxians entered the Polydectes (Πολνδ4κτης) Accord
camp and massacred their enemy. ing to some writers, a son of Magnes
However, Polycrite, on returning to (Table 5), and one of the Naiads;
Naxos, received so many gifts and according to others, he was the son
wreaths that she suffocated as she was of Peristhenus, a grandson of Naup-
entering the town. She was buried at lius (1) and Androthea, daughter of
the spot on which she died. At Poly- Pericastor. He had a brother, DICTYS,
crite's request, Diognetus' life had with whom he settled on the island
been spared during the attack on the of Seriphos. It was with Dictys — or,
camp, although in another version in other traditions, with Polydectes
he was killed during the fighting and himself— that DANAE sought refuge
was buried beside Polycrite. when she and her son PERSEUS were
cast up on the island. Polydectes fell
Polyctor (Πολύκτωρ) One of the in love with Danae, and in order to
children of PTERELAUS and Amphi- remove Perseus he sent him off to
mede. With his brothers Ithacus and look for the head of Medusa.
Neritus he came from Cephalonia to A version related by Hyginus
colonize Ithaca and caused the states that it was at the funeral games
stream from which the inhabitants of organized by Perseus in honour of
Ithaca obtained their water to flow. Polydectes that he accidentally killed
his grandfather Acrisius (see also
Poly damas (Πολυδάμας) A Trojan ACRISIUS).
hero, the son of PANTHOUS and
Phrontis or Pronome, or else of
An tenor and Theano. He was born Polydeuces (Πολυδεύκης) The
the same night as Hector, and Hec Greek form of Pollux, one of the
tor's prowess in battle was equalled DIOSCURI.
by Polydamas' soundness in council.
Polydamas proposed the attack on Polydora (Πολύδωρα) The daugh
the Achaean camp; suggested to ter of PELEUS and Antigone (3). Poly
Hector that he should summon the dora had, by the river-god
Trojan chiefs; advised the Trojans to Spercheius, a son named Menesthius.
take refuge in Ilion after their defeat She subsequently married Borus,
and, after Hector's death, to hand who sometimes passed for the
over Helen. He had a son, Leocritus. human father of Menesthius. Some
accounts give as her mother Poly-
Polydamna (Πολύδαμνα) Accord mela (3). There was also a tradition
ing to one tradition the wife of the in which Polydora was not the
Egyptian king, Thon. In order to daughter but the wife of Peleus.
364 POLYDORUS
his brother Abas (4) was slain by tion, but in return asked the god for
Diomedes (2). certain sexual favours. Dionysus
promised to bestow these on him on
Polymede (Πολυμήδη) A daughter his return. However, when he
of Autolycus who married Aeson returned, Polymnus was dead. In
and became the mother of Jason order to fulfil his promise, the god
(Table 6). When her husband was carved a fig branch in the shape of a
condemned to death by Pelias, she phallus and on Polymnus' tomb per
cursed the latter and hanged herself. formed an act designed to satisfy his
She left a child called Promachus, shade.
but Pelias killed him. Aeson's wife
was also known as Alcimede. Polynices (Πολυνείκης) One of the
two sons of OEDIPUS. His brother was
Polymela (Πολυμήλα) Eteocles. Sometimes he is the son of
ι. The daughter of Phylas (2) who Eurygania (1), but in the tradition
became by Hermes the mother of followed by the tragic writers, he is
EUDORUS. She later married Echecles, the son of Jocasta. Eteocles is some
a descendant of Actor. times given as his elder, and some
2. The daughter of Aeolus, the god times as his younger brother. Their
of winds. She was Odysseus' mistress rivalry led to the war of the Seven
while he was staying at her father's against Thebes and the expedition of
court (see AEOLUS ( I ) and (2)). Aeolus ADRASTUS against the city. When
wanted to punish her, but Diores, his Oedipus blinded himself on the dis
son, was in love with his sister and covery of his incest and parricide, his
obtained Aeolus' permission to sons insulted him instead of pitying
marry her. him. Polynices put before him, des
3. A daughter of Actor who, pite being expressly forbidden to do
according to certain traditions, so, Cadmus' silver table along with
married Peleus before his marriage his gold cup. This was a way of
to Thetis (see POLYDORA). Sometimes making fun of him and reminding
she is the daughter of Peleus. him of his origins as well as of his
4. The daughter of Autolycus, crime. Oedipus cursed them both,
better known as POLYMEDE. predicting that they would be in
capable of living in peace either
Polymestor (Πολυμήστωρ) The during their lifetime or after death.
king of Thrace, husband of Ilione, Later, during a sacrifice, the two
the daughter of Priam. For the dif brothers sent their father the thigh
ferent versions of this legend, see bones of the victim instead of a
DEIPYLUS, HECUBA a n d POLYDORUS choice piece. Oedipus hurled the
(2).
bones to the ground and pronounced
a second curse against them, predict
Polymnus (Πόλυμνος) When DIO- ing that they would kill each other.
NYSUS descended into the Under Finally, a third curse was pro
world he sought the way from a nounced when the brothers had
peasant called Polymnus (or Pro- locked Oedipus away in a remote
symnus) who gave him the informa dungeon so that he might be forgot-
366 POLYPHEMUS
ten, and were refusing him the at Nemea, Polynices won the wres
honours to which he was entitled. tling at the funeral games organized
He predicted that they would divide in honour of Archemorus (see
up their heritage by the sword. More AMPHIARAUS). During the fighting
simply, it was said that Oedipus outside Thebes, Polynices was killed
cursed his sons because they had not by his brother, but as he was dying,
tried to save him when Creon (2) Polynices killed Eteocles. Thus
had banished him from Thebes. Oedipus' curse was fulfilled. For the
Left as the sole rulers of Thebes, circumstances surrounding the burial
Eteocles and Polynices decided to of Polynices, see AISTTIGONE.
share the power by reigning altern
ately, each for a year. Eteocles was Polyphemus (Πολύφημος)
the first to reign (or the second, ι. One of the Lapiths, the son of
depending on whether he was con Elatus (2) and Hippe. Poseidon was
sidered the elder or the younger, in his divine father and Caeneus his
which case he then took over from brother. He married Laonome (1).
Polynices after the first year). How Polyphemus took part in the fight of
ever, at the end of a year, he refused the Centaurs and Lapiths. He also
to hand over power to his brother. participated in the Argonauts' ex
Thus, evicted from his homeland, pedition, but remained in Mysia,
Polynices went to Argos, bearing where he founded the city of Cios.
with him the dress and necklace of He died in the war against the Cha-
Harmonia (1). At that time Adrastus lybes.
reigned in Argos. Polynices pre 2. One of the CYCLOPES. He was a
sented himself at his palace one son of Poseidon and the Nymph
stormy night at the same time as Thoosa. The Odyssey depicts him as
Tydeus (see ADRASTUS). Adrastus a horrible giant, the most savage of
gave them his two daughters in mar all the Cyclopes. He was a cave-
riage (Table 1). Thus Polynices dwelling shepherd who lived off the
married Argia, and Adrastus pro produce of his flock of sheep. He
mised to help him recover his king knew how to use fire, but ate raw
dom. This was the origin of the flesh. He knew what wine was but
expedition of the Seven against appeared unaware of its affects.
Thebes. Amphiaraus, the soothsayer, Odysseus and a dozen of his com
foreseeing the fate of the expedition, panions were captured by him and
tried to dissuade Adrastus. However, imprisoned in his cave. He began to
Polynices went to IPHIS ( I ) and asked devour them in pairs. Odysseus gave
him how he could force Amphiaraus him some of MARON'S wine, and the
to join the expedition. Iphis revealed Cyclops found it so good that he got
that Amphiaraus was bound by an drunk and became more amiable. He
oath to accept all the decisions of his asked Odysseus what his name was,
wife, ERIPHYLE. Polynices then to which he replied, 'Nobody'. Out
offered her Harmonia's necklace, of gratitude for the wine, Polyphe
asking her in return to persuade her mus promised to eat him last.
husband. Thus the expedition was Drowsy with the wine, Polyphemus
organized. On their way to Thebes, fell asleep and Odysseus and his
POLYPOETES 367
Polyxo organized funeral games in divinity linked with fertility and the
which young children took part. cycle of the seasons.
Polyxo took vengeance on HELEN to
avenge her husband. When Mene- P o m p o (Πόμπων) A daughter of
laus, returning from Egypt with Numa Pompilius and the ancestor of
Helen, arrived within sight of the gens Pomponia. According to one
Rhodes, Polyxo gathered all the in tradition Numa's father was Pompi
habitants of the island on the shore, lius Pompo.
armed with torches and stones.
Wind drove Menelaus to the shore. Pontus (Πόντος) The personifi
He concealed Helen in the ship, cation of the Sea. He was the son of
dressed up his most beautiful ser Gaia and Aether, but by Gaia he
vant-girl in Helen's clothing and fathered Nereus, Thaumas, Phorcys,
allowed the Rhodians to murder the Ceto and Eurybia. He is occasionally
false Helen. Polyxo subsequently made the father of Briareus and of
allowed Menelaus and the real Helen four Telchines, namely Actaeus,
to leave in peace. In a different ver Megalesius, Hormenus and Lycus
sion, after the death of Menelaus,
Helen's stepsons Nicostratus and (5)·
Megapenthes (1) evicted her from
Sparta. She fled to Polyxo, who pre Porphyrion (Πορφυρίων) One of
tended to give her a friendly wel the giants who fought against the
come, but secretly planned her gods. He fell under the arrows of
revenge. While Helen was bathing Apollo. There exists another legend
she dressed her servants up as the Eri in which Porphyrion tried to assault
nyes and set them on her. Helen was Hera but was killed by Zeus and
so terrified that she hanged herself. Heracles (see GIANTS).
Underneath this 'Tree of Helen'
grew a magical plant, Helenium, a Porthaon (Πορθάων) A son of
remedy for snake bites. On Rhodes Agenor and Epicaste, and con
Helen was known by the name Den- sequently the grandson of Pleuron.
dritis (from δένδρον = tree). He ruled over Pleuron and Calydon,
3. The nurse of HYPSIPYLE of Lem- and married Euryte, by whom he
nos. She advised her to meet the had Oeneus, Agrius, Alcathous (2),
Argonauts. Melas (3), Leucopeus, and Sterope
(2). He was the ancestor of Meleager.
His name is sometimes written
Pomona The Roman Nymph of Parthaon or Portheus.
fruit. She had a sacred wood, the
Pomonal, on the road from Rome to Portheus {IJopdevs)
Ostia. A special priest was in charge 1. A form of the name PORTHAON.
of her cult. She was the wife of 2. The father of Echion (3), the
PICUS. It was for love of her that first of the Greek heroes to emerge
Picus was said to have rejectd Circe's from the Wooden Horse, but who
advances. Ovid makes her the wife fell while jumping out and was
of Vertumnus, who was, like her, a killed.
370 PORTUNUS
Portunus A Roman divinity who and cause springs to flow. His power
seems, initially, to have been a god also extended over springs and lakes.
of doors, but who in the historic age Rivers, on the other hand, had their
was a god of the sea watching over own divinities. His relationship with
harbours. He had a priest, and a Zeus was not always friendly. He
special festival, the Portunalia. His joined in the gods' conspiracy to put
temple was situated in the Forum Zeus in chains, but withdrew before
Boarium. Portunus was identified the threats of Briareus (see AEGAEON).
with PALAEMON (3) and thus was For a year Poseidon, with Apollo
regarded as the son of MATER and the mortal Aeacus, participated
MATUTA. in the construction of the walls of
Troy. However, LAOMEDON refused
to give Poseidon the agreed salary,
Porus (Πόρος) The personification and in order to take vengeance he
of Expediency and the son of Metis. summoned a sea-monster which
Married to Penia (Poverty), he was caused havoc among the Trojans.
the father of Eros. That was the origin of Poseidon's re
sentment against the Trojans, and
Poseidon (Ποσ€ΐ8ών) The god of that is why we see him intervene
the sea and one of the Olympians, during the Trojan War on the side of
the son of Cronus and Rhea. He is the Achaeans. However, when at the
sometimes considered older and beginning of the Iliad the Achaeans
sometimes younger than his brother decided to fortify their camp by sur
ZEUS. The tradition in which Zeus rounding the ships with a wall,
forces his father Cronus to restore to Poseidon protested in the assembly
life the children he had swallowed, of the gods against this decision
implies that Zeus is the youngest of because he believed it was likely to
the line. Gradually, with the devel diminish the glory he had earned in
opment of birthright, Zeus, who building the walls of Troy. Zeus
was considered the sovereign ruler, managed to calm him down,
assumed the role of eldest son. Thus, although Poseidon promised to des
in legends of the Classical period troy the wall built by the Achaeans.
Poseidon was more often considered For a while, he remained uninvolved
to be younger than his brother. in the struggle, but when the Trojans
Poseidon was regarded as having got the upper hand he came to the
been brought up by the TELCHINES assistance of the Achaeans, taking on
and by Cephira, the daughter of the appearance of Calchas (i) to
Oceanus. When he reached man encourage the two Ajaxes and urge
hood he fell in love with HALIA ( I ) , on Teucer (2) and Idomeneus until,
the sister of the Telchines, and had on instructions from Zeus, he aban
by her six sons and a daughter called doned the battle. Nevertheless it was
RHODUS.
Poseidon who saved Aeneas when
Poseidon presided over the Sea. Achilles was about to kill him (see
AENEAS). Along with all the gods,
He could command the waves, pro
voke storms, create landslides on the Poseidon sought the descruction of
the descendants of Priam and, like
coast with a flourish of his trident,
PRAX 371
them also, spared and protected the evil and violent. For example, by
descendants of Anchises. Thoosa he produced the Cyclops
When the mortals were organized Polyphemus (2); by Medusa, the
into cities, the gods each decided to giant CHRYSAOR and PEGASUS; by
choose one or several towns where Amymone, NAUPLIUS (2); by Iphi-
they would each be particularly media, the ALOADAE. CERCYON ( I ) ,
honoured. Sometimes two or three SCIRON, Lamus (1), the king of the
divinities chose the same city, which LAESTRYGONIANS, and ORION. The
provoked conflicts amongst them sons whom he had by HALIA ( I )
which they submitted to arbitration. committed all sorts of excesses and
In these judgements, Poseidon was in he had to bury them underground in
general unlucky. He entered into a order to save them from punish
dispute with Helios about the city of ment.
Corinth. The giant Briareus, as Poseidon was the progenitor of a
judge, decided in favour of Helios. great many mythical geneaologies
Similarly, Poseidon wanted to rule (see, for example, Tables 3 and 6).
over Aegina, but lost out to Zeus. Particularly noteworthy is the love
Dionysus prevailed over him at affair between Poseidon and
Naxos, Apollo at Delphi, and Ath Demeter, which produced a daugh
ena at Troezen. But the two most ter, whose name it was forbidden to
famous 'quarrels' were over Athens utter, and the horse AREION. Posei
and Argos. For the dispute over don had a legitimate wife, the god
Athens see ATHENA. Phoroneus was dess AMPHITRITE, a Nereid, by whom
appoined to arbitrate in the quarrel he had no children.
between Poseidon and Hera for He was represented armed with a
Argos. Here again, the decision went trident, the weapon used by tuna
against Poseidon. In his fury, he fishermen, and riding a chariot
blighted the Argolid with a curse drawn by monstrous animals, half
and dried up all the rivers of the horse and half serpent. This chariot
country. Shortly after, Danaus and was surrounded by fish, dolphins
his fifty daughters arrived in the and all sorts of sea creatures, as well
Argolid and found no water to as by the Nereids and various minor
drink. Thanks to AMYMONE, with divinities, such as Proteus.
whom Poseidon was in love, the
curse was lifted, and the rivers began Pothos (Πόθος) The personifi
to flow again. Another version cation of Love and Desire. He
maintained that Poseidon, irritated appears in Aphrodite's retinue beside
with Phoroneus and Inachus, had Eros and Himerus. He was said to be
flooded the Argolid with salt water, a son of Aphrodite. In Syrian myth
but Hera forced him to bring the sea ology he was supposed to be the son
back within its bounds. Poseidon of Cronus and Astarte (Aphrodite).
did, however, enjoy full possession
o f ATLANTIS. Prax (Πράξ) A descendant of Per-
Poseidon had numerous love gamus, the son of Neoptolemus.
affairs, all fruitful, but his children, Prax came back from Illyria to the
like those of Ares, were generally Péloponnèse and gave his name to
372 PRAXITHEA
the region called Prakiae. He consec withdrew with his sons to Achaea,
rated a sanctuary to Achilles on the where he founded the city of Patras.
road leading from Sparta to Arcadia. Heroic honours were later bestowed
on him and Patreus.
Praxithea (Πραξίθέα)
ι. The wife of Erechtheus. She was Priam (Πρίαμος) The youngest of
regarded by some as the daughter of the sons of Laomedon (Table 4). The
the river-god Cephissus, and by Trojan War occurred during his
others as the daughter of Phrasinus reign, when he was quite elderly.
and Diogenia, herself a daughter of The Iliad does not mention his
Cephissus. Praxithea was a model of mother; later tradition usually made
patriotism: she sacrificed her her the daughter of the river-god
daughters after an oracle declared Scamander and gave her the name
their death necessary to ensure an Strymo, but other versions called her
Athenian victory (see ERECHTHEUS). Placia or Leucippe (1).
2. The Nymph married to Erich- Before the siege of Troy Priam
thonius and, by him, mother of Pan- fought the Amazons along with
dion (i). Otreus, on the banks of the Sangar-
3. Metanira, the wife of Celeus and ius. At the time of the taking of Troy
mother of Demophon (i) and Trip- by Heracles Priam, who was still a
tolemus, was sometimes called Prax child, was taken prisoner by the hero
ithea. She was also said to be the along with his sister Hesione. Hera
nurse of Demophon. cles gave Hesione in marriage to his
friend Telamon, and offered her
Presbon (Πρέσβων) A son of whatever she wished as a wedding
Phrixus and of Iophassa (see PHRIXUS present. She asked for her brother,
for other traditions relating to his who was then called Podarces. Hera
marriage). Presbon had a son, Cly- cles agreed, and sold him to her in a
menus (2). After the death of Phrix symbolic fashion. Podarces then
us, Presbon returned to Orchomenus took the name of Priam, which
to reclaim the kingdom of his grand means 'the ransomed'. Heracles gave
father, Athamas. The latter had on him, as the last surviving son of Lao
his deathbed entrusted it to his great- medon, the entire land of Troy.
nephews, Haliartus and Coronus, Priam gradually extended his power
because he believed that his own over all the region and the islands of
male line was extinct. On learning of the Asiatic coast.
Presbon's return, Haliartus and Cor Priam married first Arisbe, the
onus welcomed him and restored his daughter of Merops, who bore him a
kingdom to him. Presbon was the son named AESACUS, but then aban
grandfather of ERGINUS ( I ) . doned her in order to take Hecuba as
his second wife. It was by the latter
Preugenes (Πρ€υγ€νης) An Achaean that he had the majority of his chil
from the valley of the Eurotas. He dren. The first born was Hector, the
was the son of Agenor and had two second Paris. Then followed Creusa
children, Patreus and Atherion. (4), Laodice (4), Polyxena, Cassan
After the arrival of the Dorians, he dra, Deiphobus, Helenus, Pammon,
PRIAPUS 373
the son of Aphrodite and Adonis, was pursuing escape, and a javelin
attributing likewise his deformity to which never missed its target.
the malevolence of Hera. AMPHITRYON later borrowed the dog
According to Diodorus, Priapus to chase the fox of Teumessa. Later,
was connected with the myth of Procis returned to Athens where she
Osiris. He was said to be the deifica was reconciled with Cephalus.
tion by Isis of Osiris' virility. Dio However, Cephalus, being suspi
dorus also classes Priapus and cious, decided to put her to the test
Hermaphroditus together. by disguising himself and offering
her presents (see CEPHALUS for the
Prochyte (Προχύτη) A Trojan outcome).
woman related to Aeneas, who was
buried on the island of Prochyte to Procrustes {Προκρούστης) A rob
which she gave her name. ber, also called Damastes or Polype-
mon, who lived on the road from
Procles (Προκλής) The son of Aris- Megara to Athens. He used to force
todemus and Argia, and the twin all travellers to lie down in one of
brother of Eurysthenes. Procles two beds which he possessed: the tall
married Lathria, the daughter of the in the little bed (which required cut
king of Cleonae and had a son called ting off their feet) and the short in
Sous who was the ancestor of Lycur- the large bed (they were stretched
gus, the Spartan legislator. violently to make them fit). Pro
crustes was killed by Theseus (see
Procne (Πρόκνη) The daughter of THESEUS ( 2 ) ) .
Pandion (i), the king of Athens, and Proculus An Alban noble to whom
the sister of PHILOMELA. Romulus appeared after his apothe
osis, indicating his wish to be
Procris (Πρόκρις) One of the honoured under the name of Quiri-
daughers of Erechtheus. She was nus.
married to Cephalus, but deceived
him with Pteleon, who had bought Proetides (Προιτίδες) The
her favours by presenting her with a daughters of PROETUS and Sthene-
golden crown. When Cephalus boea (Table 7). According to some
became aware of this deception, Pro traditions, there were two of them,
cris fled to Minos. The latter fell in Lysippe (1) and Iphianassa (1); other
love with her and tried to seduce her. traditions add a third, Iphinoe. The
Minos had been cursed by his wife, girls were stricken with madness by
Pasiphae: on giving himself to Hera, sometimes because they
another woman, he would bring claimed to be more beautiful than
forth serpents and scorpions which the goddess; sometimes they were
would kill his mistress. In order to said to have mocked her temple,
free him from this spell, Procris gave claiming that their father's palace
him a herb which she had got from contained greater riches; sometimes
Circe. Then, as the price for her because they had stolen gold from
favours, she demanded two presents: the goddess' dress for their own use.
a dog which never let the game he The girls believed that they had been
PROMACHUS 375
of Talaus (Table i), and the brother tum'. Valerius therefore took some
of Adrastus and Eriphyle. He had a water from the Tiber. His children
daughter, Amphithea, who married drank it and were cured. When
ADRASTUS, and had a son, LYCURGUS Valerius began work on an altar to
(3). According to one tradition, P r o - Dis and Proserpina, he discovered a
nax was killed by his cousin stone bearing an inscription in their
AMPHIARAUS at Argos. It was also honour. This was the altar that the
said that the Nemean games were oracle had spoken of.
originally funeral games in his
honour. P r o s y m n a (Πρόσυμνα) Prosymna
and her sisters Acraea and Euboea
P r o p o d a s (Προπόδας) A king of were the nurses of Hera. She gave
Corinth. Under the reign of his two her name to the city of Prosymna.
sons, Doridas and Hyanthidas, the
Dorians led by Aletes (1) came into Protesilaus (Πρωτ€σίλαος) A Thes-
the country. salian hero, the son of Iphiclus (1), or
Actor, and Astyoche. He was the
P r o p o e t i d e s (Προποίτ(8€ς) Young brother of Podarces (2). His home
girls originally from Amathonta, was the Thessalian city of Phylace.
who denied Aphrodite's divinity. Protesilaus figures among the suitors
The goddess inflicted them with of Helen and so took part in the
desires which could not be satisfied. Trojan War. He was the first Greek
They became the first prostitutes. to be killed by the Trojans; as he was
They ended up being transformed leaping from his ship to set foot in
into stone. Asia, he was struck down by Hector.
Protesilaus had played an import
P r o s e r p i n a At Rome, the goddess ant role in the first expedition, which
of the Underworld. Originally a rus had resulted in the Mysian landing.
tic goddess presiding over germina He snatched away TELEPHUS' shield,
tion, she was assimilated to the thus allowing ACHILLES to wound
Greek PERSEPHONE. Her cult was him. When he set out for Troy, P r o
officially introduced, along with that tesilaus had just married Laodamia
of Dis Pater, in 294 BC. The Taren- (2), but the ritual sacrifices had not
tine Games were celebrated in their been carried out. It was as a punish
honour. The following myth was ment for this sacrilege that Laodamia
told about Tarentum: when the chil became a widow. See LAODAMIA (2).
dren of Valerius became ill, the gods
informed him that he and his chil P r o t e u s (Πρωτ€υς) In the Odyssey,
dren should g o down the Tiber as far a god of the sea, charged with tend
as Tarentum, where they should ing the flocks of sea-creatures
drink water from the altar of Dis and belonging to Poseidon. He usually
Proserpina. Valerius set off for Tar lived on the island of Pharos near the
entum in the south of Italy, and on mouth of the Nile. He had the abil
the first evening camped at a bend in ity to change himself into whatever
the Tiber. The local people then told form he desired. He used this power
him that this place was called 'Taren particularly when he wanted to
378 PROTHOUS
elude those asking him questions: he and reigned there. His two sons were
possessed the gift of prophecy, but called Polygonus and Telegonus (2).
refused to provide information to
those mortals who sought it from Prothous (Πρόθοος)
him. On the advice of the sea- ι. One of the sons of Agrius.
goddess Idothea (i), Proteus' own 2. The leader of a contingent of
daughter, MENELAUS went to ques Magnesians at Troy. He came from
tion him. Although Proteus meta Thessaly. When the Greeks returned
morphosed himself successively into from Troy, he perished in the ship
a lion, a serpent, a panther, an wreck off Cape Caphareus.
enormous boar, water and a tree,
Menelaus did not let him escape. The Protogenia (Πρωτογ€ν€ία)
old man, finally defeated, spoke to ι. A daughter of Deucalion (1) and
him. Pyrrha (1) whose name means 'first
The same version is given by Vir born' (Table 5). She and Zeus had
gil in the episode of ARISTAEUS in the two sons, Aethlius and Opus.
fourth book of the Georgics, 2. One of the HYACiNTHiDS.
although the scene is changed from 3. The daughter of Calydon (1)
Pharos to Pallene. From Herodotus and Aeolia (1), and, by Ares, the
onwards, Proteus also appears as a mother of Oxylus (1).
king of Egypt rather than as a demon 4. A daughter of Erechtheus (see
of the sea. Proteus was reigning at CHTHONIA ( 2 ) ) .
Memphis at the time when Helen
and Paris were driven by a storm on Psamathe (Ψαμάθη)
to the coast of the country. See ι. A Nereid who had a son, by
HELEN. This legend was taken up and Aeacus, named Phocus (3). She had
modified by Euripides in his Helen, taken on diverse shapes to escape the
where Proteus is king of the island of advances of Aeacus, but nothing pre
Pharos. His wife is called PSAMATHE vented him from achieving his aim.
(I). Their two children are Theocly- When Phocus was killed by his half-
menus (2) and Idothea (1). While brothers Telamon and PELEUS, Psa
Paris was taking a phantom of mathe sent a monstrous wolf against
Helen, created by Hera, to Troy, the the latter's flocks. Later, Psamathe
real Helen was entrusted by Hermes abandoned Aeacus and married PRO-
to Proteus. It was also said that it was TEUS.
Proteus who created the phantom 2. An Argive woman, the
Helen and gave her to Paris. daughter of CROTOPUS. By Apollo
A legend related by Conon main she had a son, Linus (1) (see also COR-
tains that Proteus, an Egyptian, had OEBUS).
left his country because of the tyr
anny of BusiRis. He followed the Psophis (Ψώφις)
sons of Phoenix (2) in their search for ι. A son of Lycaon (2).
Europa (5), and settled at Pallene, 2. A seventh-generation descen
where he married Chrysonoe, the dant of Nyctimus.
daughter of Clitus (2). With Clitus' 3. The daughter of Xanthus (1),
help he seized the land of the Bisaltes himself the son of Ery man thus (2).
PSYLLUS 379
They are usually depicted with senia. He was driven out of there by
enormous sexual organs. Neleus (1), but then founded Pylos
in Elis.
Pylades (Πυλάδης) The great
friend of Orestes. He was his first Pylenor (Πνλήνωρ) A Centaur,
cousin, being the son of Strophius (1) who was wounded by Heracles
and Anaxibia (Table 2). The two during the fight at Pholus' home (see
cousins were brought up together at CENTAURS). His wound was infected
Strophius' court, where Orestes had by the blood of the Lernaean Hydra,
been put while Clytemnestra was in which Heracles' arrows had been
living with Aegisthus during Aga dipped. He washed his wound in the
memnon's absence. Pylades advised River Anigrus, which from then on
his friend in his vengeance, and it possessed evil properties and an
was said that he fought against the unhealthy smell.
sons of Nauplius (2) when they came
to Aegisthus' aid. At the time of Pylia (Πυλία) The wife of Pandion
Orestes' voyage to Tauris Pylades (2) and daughter of PYLAS, the king
was of great help to him. He married of Megara.
Electra (3), the elder sister of Orestes,
and had two children by her, Medon Pyraechmes (Πυραίχμης)
(3) and Strophius (2). ι. In the Iliad, one of the two
leaders of the Paeonian contingent
Pylaemenes (Πυλαιμένης) A Paph- which had come to help Priam. Pyr
lagonian, and an ally of the Trojans. aechmes killed Eurodorus, the ad
Pylaemenes was killed either by viser of Patroclus. He was himself
Menelaus or by Achilles. Although killed either by Patroclus or by Dio-
his death is recounted in Book ν of medes (2), and was buried at Troy.
the Iliad, he makes an appearance in 2. A slinger who ensured the vic
Book xiii, in the funeral cortège of tory of OXYLUS (2) over the Eleans.
his son Harpalion. 3. A king of Euboea, who attacked
Boeotia but was defeated by Hera
Pylaeus (Πυλαίος) The son of cles and torn apart by his horses. This
Lethus. With his brother Hippo- fight took place beside a stream
thous he commanded at Troy a con called Heracleius. Horses neighed
tingent of Pelasgians from Larissa. each time they drank from this
water.
Pylas (Πνλας) A king of Megara.
He was the son of Cleson and the Pyramus (Πύραμος) According to
grandson of LELEX (2). He gave his one tradition Pyramus and Thisbe
daughter Pylia in marriage to Pan- loved each other so much that they
dion (2). Later Pylas killed Bias, his slept together before they were
father's brother, and had to go into married. Thisbe became pregnant. In
exile. He left his kingdom to Pan- despair, she committed suicide. On
dion, while he himself, at the head of learning of this, her lover did like
a band of Leleges, entered the Pélo- wise. The gods metamorphosed
ponnèse and founded Pylos in Mes- them: Pyramus became the Cilician
382 PYRENE
river which bore his name, and storm, but then assaulted them. The
Thisbe a spring whose water flowed goddesses flew away and Pyreneus,
into that river. trying to follow them, fell on to
In Ovid's Metamorphoses Pyramus some rocks and was killed.
and Thisbe were two young Baby
lonians who loved each other but Pyrgo (Πυργώ)
could not marry because of parental ι. The wife of ALCATHOUS. She was
opposition. They saw each other abandoned by him so that he could
secretly through a crack in the wall marry Evaechme, the daughter of
which separated their two houses. Megareus. Her tomb could be seen
One night they arranged a rendez at Megara.
vous at the tomb of Ninus. A mul 2. The nurse of Priam's children.
berry tree grew there. Thisbe was
She accompanied Aeneas from Troy
the first to arrive but saw a lioness.
She fled, but lost her scarf, which the and it was she who, at the instigation
lioness seized in her bloody mouth of Iris, advised the Trojan woman to
and tore into pieces. When Pyramus set fire to the ships.
arrived and saw the scarf, he assumed Pyrias (Πυρ(ας) A boatman from
that Thisbe had been eaten by a wild Ithaca who took pity on an old man
animal, and ran himself through captured by pirates. The old man
with his sword. When Thisbe was carrying vessels full, apparently,
returned, she found him dead, and of pitch. These jars later came into
killed herself with the same sword. the possession of Pyrias, who rea
The fruit of the mulberry, which lized that under the pitch they con
had until then been white, turned tained jewels and treasures. In his
red with all this spilt blood. gratitude Pyrias sacrificed an ox to
his unknown benefactor. From this
Pyrene (Πυρήνη) came the proverb: 'Pyrias is the only
ι. A young girl whose father was man to have sacrificed an ox to his
King Bebryx. When Heracles benefactor.'
crossed his territory on his way to
capture Geryon's oxen, he became Pyrrha (Πνρρα)
drunk and raped Pyrene, who gave 1. Daughter of Epimetheus and
birth to a serpent. Pyrene fled to the Pandora. She married DEUCALION ( I )
mountains, where she was torn apart and became through him mother of
by wild animals. Heracles later the human race after the flood (Table
found her body, paid her funeral 5). They created human beings by
honours, and gave the name throwing stones over their
Pyrenees to the nearby mountains. shoulders. Deucalion created men,
2. According to Apollodorus, the Pyrrha women.
mother of CYCNUS (3) and of DIO- 2. The name which ACHILLES bore
MEDES ( i ) . when he hid among the women of
Scyros. His son Neoptolemus was
Pyreneus (Πυρηνεύς) A king of nicknamed Pyrrhus, 'the Redhead'.
Daulis who invited the Muses to
enter his palace to shelter from a Pyrrhicus (Πύρριχος) The in-
PYTHON 383
Q
within the city. Further, according
to Dumézil the Quirites, whose
name is obviously connected with
that of the god, were essentially citi-
zens of the city, and it was known
that this name, when applied to sol-
Quirinus A very early Roman god, diers, was a deadly insult. It should
one of three archaic divinities whose finally be noted that certain func-
worship made up the Indo-European tions assumed by the priest of Quiri-
background of Roman religion. In nus were directed towards the
hierarchical order, he was the last of worship of rural divinities (notably
the three, behind Jupiter and Mars. Consus). Myths about Quirinus are
Ancient sources are nearly unani- rare. One was connected with the
mous in making him a god of war of foundation of the city of Cures by
Sabine origin, deriving his name MODIUS FABIDIUS, a son of the god.
either from the Sabine town of The main point concerns the assimi-
Cures, or connecting it with the lation of Romulus and Quirinus.
Sabine name for lance, curis. He was After an appearance of Romulus to
apparently the god of the Quirinal Julius PROCULUS, the Romans built a
hill where, according to tradition, temple to ROMULUS dedicated to
there was a Sabine community. Quirinus. At the same time, HERSI-
The modern scholar G. Dumézil LIA, Romulus' wife, took the name
has put forward the hypothesis that Hora Quirini.
Quirinus, far from being originally a
the meantime been deposed as king.
However, at the games being celeb-
rated at Veii, Ratumena won the
chariot race. His horses bolted and
raced to Rome, entering through the
gate later named Porta Ratumena,
R
Ramnes An augur of the Rutulian
army, under Turnus' command. He
where he was thrown from his
chariot and killed. The horses con-
tinued onwards to the statue of
Jupiter Tonans, to whom they
appeared to pay homage. In terror
the Veians handed over the clay
chariot, the guarantee of the great-
was killed by Nisus (2) while he was ness of Rome.
asleep. Ramnes was the name of one
of the three primitive tribes of Rea Silvia See RHEA SILVIA.
Rome.
the daughter of Poseidon and HALIA fight between the Lapiths and the
(I). By Helios she had seven sons, the Centaurs, at the time of Pirithous'
HELIADES ( 2 ) . wedding. Virgil relates that he was
killed by Dionysus. Apollodorus also
Rhoecus ('Ροΐκος) calls one of the Centaurs Rhoetus.
ι. There was an oak tree that was 3. One of the companions of PHI-
so old that it was on the point of fall NEUS (2) at the time of the marriage
ing. Rhoecus had his servants erect a of Perseus and Andromeda. He was
support for it, and thus saved the life killed by the hero.
of the Hamadryads whose existence 4. The father of ANCHEMOLUS.
was linked to that of the oak. In gra
titude, the divinities offered him Rhopalus ('Ρόπαλο?) A king of
whatever he wanted. He asked for Sicyon. The son of Phaestus. He
their favours, which they granted ruled after Zeuxippus who suc
him, but warned him against any ceeded PHAESTUS when the latter was
unfaithfulness to them. They added exiled to Crete. His son and succes
that a bee would be their messenger. sor was Hippolytus (3), who surren
One day, the bee came to find Rhoe dered Sicyon to a Mycenaean army
cus. However Rhoecus greeted the which attacked it on Agamemnon's
bee brusquely, with the result that it orders. In another tradition Rhopa
stung him in the eyes and blinded lus was a son of Heracles and the
him. father of Phaestus.
2. One of the Centaurs killed by
ATALANTA. Rhytia (Ψυτία) In the tradition fol
lowed by Pherecydes, the mother of
Rhoeo ÇPoico) The daughter of the nine Corybantes of Samothrace,
STAPHYLUS (3) and sister of Hemithea whose father was Apollo.
(1). When LYRCUS ( I ) was staying
with them, she fell in love with him. Robigo Robigo and Robigus were
Zeus later fell in love with her, and two divinities, the first feminine, the
she became pregnant by him. second masculine, which watched
Staphylus, not believing that a god over the growing wheat and averted
was responsible for this, locked his blight (robigo in Latin). A festival was
daughter in a chest and put it in the celebrated in their honour each year
sea. The chest was washed up on the in Rome on 25 April.
coast of Euboea (or Delos). Rhoeo
gave birth to a son called ANIUS ( I ) R o m a Roma or Rhome (after the
and then married Zarex, the son of Greek work meaning 'strength'),
Carystus. An isolated tradition was a heroine who gave her name to
makes Rhoeo the mother ofJason. Rome. The oldest tradition makes
her a Trojan prisoner who was
Rhoetus (Τοΐτος) accompanying Odysseus and Aeneas
1. One of the Giants who took part when the two heroes reached the
in the struggle against the gods. He banks of the Tiber, having been
was killed by Dionysus. driven by a storm. The captives were
2. A Centaur who took part in the tired of wandering and Roma per-
ROMULUS 389
suaded them to set fire to the ships, this version the twins were brought
which put an end to the voyage. The to Italy when very young. Other
immigrants settled on the Palatine, traditions make Romulus the son of
where their town prospered; in ROMA and of Latinus. His mother
gratitude they honoured the name was sometimes called Aemilia and
of the heroine. Another tradition was thus the daughter of Aeneas and
makes Rhome the daughter of Asca- Lavinia (for another legend see TAR-
nius. When the Trojans had taken CHETIUS).
possession of the site of the future Mars was the father of Romulus
Rome, Rhome set up a temple of and Remus. He seduced Rhea Silvia
Faith on the Palatine. The town in the sacred wood where she had
which grew up on this hill bore the gone to look for water. It was also
name Rome, in memory of the said that she was assaulted by the god
young girl. A variant tradition while she was asleep. Amulius,
claimed that Rhome was the wife of Rhea's uncle, noticed that she was
Ascanius. She is also mentioned as pregnant and put her in prison.
the wife of Aeneas, being the When the children were born, the
daughter of TELEPHUS. She was also king exposed them on the banks of
said to be the daughter of Telema- the Tiber, at the foot of the Palatine.
chus and sister of Latinus. A further It was also said that a servant of
tradition mentions a Roma who was Amulius put the children in a basket
the daughter of Evander (3) or Italus which he then floated on the river,
(2) and Leucaria. Finally, certain but the river had burst its banks, and
writers maintained that Roma was a a counter-current took it upstream
soothsayer who advised Evander to on to the north-west summit of the
choose this spot to found the town of Palatine. The basket deposited the
Pallantea, the original nucleus of two children under a fig tree, the
Rome. Ficus Ruminalis, which was later
held to be sacred. There, Romulus
Romis (Ψώμις) According to Plu and Remus were found by a she-
tarch, an early king of Latium who wolf, which had just given birth. She
drove out the Etruscan immigrants took pity on them and suckled them.
and founded the city of Rome. The she-wolf was an animal sacred
to Mars, and it was believed that this
Romulus The eponymous founder wolf was sent by the god to look
of Rome. He was usually said to be a after his children. Moreover, a
descendant of Aeneas via the kings of woodpecker (Mars' bird) helped the
Alba. He and his twin brother wolf to feed them. One of the king's
Remus were sons of RHEA SILVIA ( I ) shepherds, FAUSTULUS, then saw the
(or ILIA) and grandsons of NUMITOR. children and brought them home to
There are many variants, however. his own wife, ACCA LARENTCA (2),
The series of Alban kings was some who brought them up.
times omitted and Rhea was made Faustulus sent the two youths to
the daughter of Aeneas. Some study at Gabii. Romulus and Remus
authors made Romulus and Remus later came back to the Palatine,
the sons of Aeneas and Dexithea. In where they became involved in rob-
390 ROMULUS
S
abducted by Poseidon, by whom she
had a son, CYCHREUS, to the island
which subsequently took the name
of Salamis (off the coast of Attica).
Hermes and a Nymph called Rhene. the name the Libyans and Egyptians
He emigrated from Arcadia to gave to Heracles. He led a force of
Samothrace with DARD ANUS. Libyans to an island known as Ieh-
nooussa, which subsequently took
Sanape (Σανάπη) An Amazon who the name of Sardinia.
gave her name to the town of
Sinope, on the Black Sea. She had an Saron (Σάρων) A legendary king of
excessive liking for wine, which Troezen. He erected a magnificent
earned her the name of Sanape, temple to Artemis on the shore of
meaning 'drunkard' in the local dia the Gulf of Troezen. He was a great
lect. This name was corrupted into hunter; one day a hind which he was
Sinope, and became that of the city. chasing leapt into the sea. He swam
in pursuit of it until he drowned. His
Sancus His full name was Semo body was washed up by the waves
Sancus, a divinity of the earliest not far from the temple he had
Roman religion. He was also identi founded. The gulf was then called
fied with Dius Fidius. His worship the Saronic Gulf.
was said to have been introduced by
the Sabines. He was sometimes con Sarpedon (Σαρπηδών)
sidered to be the father of s ABUS. ι. A giant, the son of Poseidon,
who was killed by Heracles (see
Sangarius {Σαγγάριος) The god of POLTYS).
the river of that name in Asia Minor. 2. One of the sons of Europa (5)
He was a son of Oceanus and Tethys. and Zeus (Table 3). He was brought
He was sometimes made out to be up by Asterius, who married Eur
the father of Hecuba, whom he sired opa, with his two brothers, Minos
on either Metope (i), Eunoe or Eva- and Rhadamanthys. He later quar
gora. He was also the father of relled with Minos, either over who
ALPHAEUS. Sangarius plays a role in should obtain the Cretan throne, or
the myth of his daughter NANA and because they were both in love with
the birth of ATTIS (see also AGDISTCS). the same boy, Miletus. Sarpedon left
Crete and went to Asia Minor. He
Saon (Σάων) A Boeotian who con settled in the region of Miletus in
sulted the oracle at Delphi during a Lycia. He became king there, and
drought. The oracle ordered him to was sometimes credited with the
go to Lebadea to question the oracle foundation of Miletus.
of Trophonius. At Lebadea, he dis 3. The Iliad spoke of a Sarpedon,
covered that no one there knew of leader of a Lycian contingent, who
an oracle, but he saw some bees and, fought alongside the Trojans. He
following them, went into a cave was said to be the son of Zeus and
where the hero Trophonius gave Laodamia (1), the daughter of Bel-
him all the instructions necessary for lerophon. Sarpedon played a major
the foundation of a cult as well as an role in the attack on the Achaean
oracle in his honour. camp and the assault on the walls. He
was killed by Patroclus, and a great
Sardus (Σάρδος) A son of Maceris, battle was fought around his body.
394 SATURN
To distinguish Sarpedon (2) from and gave him a son Taras. She gave
Sarpedon (3) Diodorus constructed her name to Cape Satyrion. It was
the following genealogy: Sarpedon sometimes claimed that she was the
(2), the son of Europa (5), went to mother of ITALUS ( I ) .
Lycia. He had a son called Evander
(1) who married Deidamia (or L a o - S a t y r s (Σάτυροι) Demons of nature
damia (1)) the daughter of Bellero- who appeared in Dionysus' train.
phon. The fruit of this marriage was They were represented sometimes
Sarpedon (3), grandson of the first, with the lower part of the body
who took part in the Trojan War. resembling that of a horse and the
upper part that of a man, and some
S a t u r n A very old Italian god iden times with their animal half in the
tified with CRONUS. He was said to form of a goat. They had a long,
have come from Greece to Italy in thick tail, like that of a horse, and a
very early times, when JUPITER perpetually erect penis of enormous
(Zeus) dethroned him and hurled proportions. They were depicted as
him from Olympus. He established dancing, drinking with Dionysus
himself on the Capitol, on the site of and pursuing the Maenads and the
the future Rome, and founded a vil Nymphs. They were gradually
lage there which bore the name of represented with less obviously bes
Saturnia. He was welcomed there by tial characteristics: their lower limbs
the god JANUS. The reign of Saturn became human, they had feet and
over Latium (thus called because the not hooves. Only the tail remained,
god had hidden himself there; from as evidence of their old form, MAR-
the verb latere) was extremely pros SYAS was a Satyr (see also SILENUS).
perous. This was the GOLDEN AGE.
Saturn taught people how to culti
vate the ground. At this time the Saurus (Σανρος) A bandit from Elis
Italian population was composed of who robbed travellers until he was
ABORIGINES, who owed their first killed by Heracles.
laws to Saturn. He was depicted
armed with a scythe and his name S c a m a n d e r (Σκάμανδρος) The river
was associated with the invention of flowing through the plain of Troy. It
viticulture. He was however some also bore the name of Xanthus (11)
times considered as a god of the (Tawny), either because of the
Underworld. colour of its water, or else because it
The days sacred to Saturn were was said that its water stained red the
the Saturnalia, the end of December fleece of the sheep which bathed in
and of the year. They were marked it. Aphrodite dipped her hair in its
by festivals during which the social water to give it golden highlights
order was inverted: slaves gave before submitting herself to the
orders to their masters and the latter Judgement of Paris.
waited at the table. Heracles, finding himself in the
Troad, was thirsty, and begged
S a t y r i a (Σατυρία) A daughter of Zeus, his father, to show him a
Minos. She was loved by Poseidon, spring. Zeus made a little stream
SCIRON 395
was missing Semiramis, asked her to ing square terraces one on top of the
join him. She noticed that the attack other, like the steps in an amphi-
was being directed from the plain, theatre. Each of these terraces rested
while both attackers and defenders on vaulted galleries, covered with a
were ignoring the citadel. She took thick layer of lead, on top of which
charge of a group of soldiers, scaled was put rich soil. Inside these galler-
the cliffs and turned the flank of the ies the royal apartments were laid
enemy defences. The besieged sol- out. A system of hydraulic machines
diers surrendered. Ninus was full of brought the water from the river to
admiration for Semiramis and very the gardens.
soon her beauty made him want to Semiramis set out at the head of a
have her as his wife. He offered to large army to go to Media. On the
give Onnes his own daughter Sosana way she built a vast park opposite
in exchange but Onnes refused. Mount Bagistan, and continued on
Ninus threatened to tear his eyes out, her route, leaving behind her a trail
whereupon in despair Onnes hanged of works of art of all sorts, notably at
himself. Ninus then married Semira- Ecbatana, which she filled with
mis and they had a son, Ninyas. fountains. She travelled all over Asia
Semiramis succeeded Ninus on the and then went to Egypt to consult
throne. the oracle of Ammon. She asked the
She began her reign by building a oracle when she would die. It replied
mausoleum to Ninus at Nineveh. that she would meet her end when
She then decided to have a city built her son Ninyas conspired against
for herself on the Babylonian plain. her. She then conquered Ethiopia
The new city was marked out on and returned home to Bactra. She
horseback on the river bank. Its peri- planned to conquer India, and suc-
meter was 66 kilometres long, and ceeded in crossing the Indus, but her
six harnessed chariots could ride troops were soon put to flight, and
abreast along the walls. The city was she herself was injured. Shortly
defended by 250 towers. The Euph- afterwards Ninyas along with the
rates was crossed by a bridge 900 eunuchs of the palace plotted against
metres long and was lined with great her. Recalling the prophecy of the
quays for 30 kilometres. At each end oracle, Semiramis handed the empire
of the bridge was built a fortified over to Ninyas and disappeared. It
castle, the queen's residence, linked was said that she was changed into a
by a subterranean passage under the dove and borne up to heaven, where
river. In the citadel of the western she was deified.
castle the queen had her famous
Hanging Gardens built. However, Serestus One of Aeneas' com-
according to Diodorus it was not panions. He was separated from
Semiramis who built the Hanging Aeneas during a storm but rejoined
Gardens, but a Syrian king. One of him at Carthage. He secretly took
his concubines asked him for a rep- the fleet away when Aeneas wanted
resentation of the 'paradises', the vast to leave Dido. He guarded the camp
pleasure gardens of her homeland. at the mouth of the Tiber in Aeneas'
These were created by superimpos- absence and later fought alongside
SIBYL 399
him when the camp was besieged by of his kingdom by a son of his
Turnus. daughter. He consequently locked
her up in a tower, but this did not
Sergestus A companion of Aeneas. prevent her from conceiving a son.
He was separated from Aeneas The guardians of the tower, fearing
during a storm and rejoined him at for their lives, hurled the child from
Carthage. During the regattas the top of the tower as soon as he
organized in honour of Anchises, he was born. However, an eagle res
commanded the Centaur. He took cued the child before he hit the
part in the final assault against ground and carried him off to a gar
Turnus. den whose keeper brought him up
and gave him the name of Gilgamus.
Servius Tullius The sixth king of This Gilgamus, the hero Gilgamesh,
Rome. It was said that he was the son later ruled over Babylon.
of a slave of Tarquin the Elder, who
conceived him by uniting with a Seven against Thebes Adrastus,
phallus of ash (see LARES). Another Amphiaraus, Capaneus, Hippome-
version maintained that he was the don, Parthenopaeus, Polynices and
posthumous son of Tullius who Tydeus. See ADRASTUS.
reigned at Corniculum when the
town was taken by the Romans. His Sibyl (Σφύλλη) A priestess who
mother was at Rome as a prisoner ofmade known the oracles of Apollo.
Tarquin when she gave birth to her According to certain traditions, the
son. One day, while the little Servius
first Sibyl was a young girl of this
was sleeping, his head was sur name, the daughter of Dardanus and
rounded by flames. Tarquin's wife, Neso. Possessing the gift of pro
Tanaquil, prevented the child from phecy she had a great reputation as a
being woken up or the flames from soothsayer and the name of Sibyl
being extinguished, and when the was given generally to all prophe
child woke up the flames went out. tesses. Another tradition maintains
From that point onwards Tanaquil that the earliest Sibyl was a daughter
and Tarquin brought up their cap of Zeus and Lamia (i) who was
tive's son with the greatest of care.
called Sibyl by the Libyans and who
When he reached manhood, Tar uttered prophecies. The second Sibyl
quin gave him his own daughter in was Herophile, a native of Marpessus
marriage and designated him as his in the Troad. She was born before
successor. When Tarquin was assassi
the Trojan War and predicted that
nated, Tanaquil took steps to assure
Troy would be destroyed through
that Servius could assume power the fault of a woman born in Sparta
without difficulty. Later Servius had
(Helen). There was a hymn sung at
his elevation ratified by democratic
Delos which she had composed in
election. honour of Apollo. This Sibyl spent
most of her life on Samos but also
Sevechorus (Σ€υήχορος) A legend visited Claros, Delos and Delphi.
ary king of Babylon. An oracle had She carried with her a stone which
told him that he would be deprived she mounted before prohesying. She
400 SICELUS
died in the Troad, but her stone Tarquinius Superbus, bringing with
could be seen at Delphi in the time of her nine collections of prophecies.
Pausanias. She offered to sell them to the king
The most famous of all the Greek but Tarquinius found them too ex
Sibyls was the one from Erythrae, in pensive. At each refusal the Sibyl
Lydia. Her father was Theodorus, a burnt three of them. In the end Tar
shepherd of Mount Ida, and her quinius bought the last three and
mother was a Nymph. Immediately deposited them in the temple of
after her birth she grew suddenly Capitoline Jupiter. Until the time of
and began to prophesy in verse. Augustus, these 'Sibylline books'
While still young she was dedicated were consulted in times of trouble or
by her parents to Apollo. She pre of any extraordinary event. Re
dicted that she would be killed by an ligious instructions were found in
arrow of her god. She lived for the side them: the introduction of a new
lifetime of nine men, each of n o cult, an expiatory sacrifice, etc., all
years. One tradition maintained that designed to cope with an unforeseen
this Sibyl of Erythrae was the same situation. In the Aeneid, the
as the Sibyl of Cumae in Campania. Cumaean Sibyl was Aeneas' guide
This Italian Sibyl was sometimes for his descent into the Underworld.
referred to as Amalthea, sometimes There was another Sibyl of lesser
as Demophile or even as Herophile. reputation at Samos called Phyto.
She pronounced oracles in a cave. For the Hebrew Sibyl, see SABBE.
Apollo had given her as many years
to live as the number of grains of Sicelus (Σικ€λός) The eponymous
sand she could hold in her hand, but king of the Siceli, who migrated
on the condition that she never from southern Italy to Sicily.
returned to Erythrae. She settled in According to Dionysius of Halicar-
Cumae. In one version the Eryth- nassus, Sicelus originally lived at
raeans inadvertently sent her a letter Rome but was evicted from there.
with a seal made from the earth of He took refuge with King Morges,
their country and on seeing this frag who gave Sicelus part of his king
ment of her homeland she died. It dom, whose inhabitants then took
was also related that in asking Apollo the name of Siceli. Sicelus was some
for a long life, she had omitted to ask times considered to be a son of Italus
him for youth. The god offered it to or even of Poseidon.
her in exchange for her virginity but
she refused. So as she aged she Sicinnus (Σίκιννος) The inventor of
became smaller and wizened, with the dance peculiar to the Satyrs, the
the result that she ended up looking Sicinnis. This was sometimes attri
like a cicada, and she was hung up in buted to a Phrygian Nymph, Sicin
a cage like a bird, in the temple of nis, an attendant of Cybele.
Apollo at Cumae. Children would
ask her: 'Sibyl, what do you want?' Sicyon (Σικνών) The second
and she would reply: Ί want to die.' founder and eponym of Sicyon in
The Cumaean Sibyl was said to have the Péloponnèse. The town had been
come to Rome during the reign of founded by Aegialeus. There were
SILVIUS 401
several traditions about Sicyon's very ugly, with a snub nose, thick
genealogy. He was sometimes made lips and the gaze of a bull. He was
a son of Marathon and a brother of very fat and was usually described as
Corinthus, but he was usually con riding an ass, on which he could
sidered to be the son of Metion and barely stay upright as he was so
grandson of Erechtheus, king of drunk.
Athens. He was thus the brother of
Daedalus. King Lamedon sum Sillus (Σίλλος) A grandson of Nes
moned him as an ally, and gave his tor through his father, Thrasymedes.
daughter Zeuxippe (2) to him in He had a son named Alcmaeon (2).
marriage. At the time of the invasion of the
Péloponnèse by the Heraclid, he fled
Side (Σίδη) to Attica, where his son became the
ι. One of the daughters of Danaus progenitor of the noble Athenian
and eponym of the town of Side in family of the Alcmaeonidae.
the Péloponnèse.
2. According to a legend recorded Silvanus A Roman divinity of the
by Apollodorus, ORION married a woods (silvae). He was not clearly
woman called Side, who was hurled distinguished from Faunus, and
became identified with Pan. He was
into the Underworld by Hera for
an old man, but possessed all the
daring to rival the goddess' beauty.
strength of youth. His worship was
Sidero (Σιδηρώ) The second wife linked to that of Heracles and also to
of Salmoneus and stepmother of the Lares. Silvanus lived ordinarily
Tyro. She maltreated Tyro very in sacred woods, near villages or in
badly. She was later killed by Pelias, the open country. At the time of the
one of Tyro's sons, in the sanctuary expulsion of the Tarquins, the Etrus-
of Hera. can and Roman armies had fought
each other, but the result of the day's
Silenus (Σίλψός) A general term fighting was unclear. At night a
applied to an old Satyr, but also the divine voice could be heard pro-
name of a character who brought up claiming that the Romans had won
Dionysus. He was said to be a son of as they had lost one man less than
Pan, or of Hermes and a Nymph, or their opponents. The Etruscans lost
alternatively to have been born from courage and fled. Once the dead had
drops of Uranus' blood when he was been counted, it was realized that the
mutilated by Cronus. Silenus was mysterious voice — Silvanus' — had
exceptionally wise, but had to be spoken the truth (see AIUS LOCUTIUS
forced to reveal this wisdom to men. for an analogous legend).
He was once captured by Midas, to
whom he passed on many wise Silvius A son of Aeneas and LAVI-
words. Virgil imagines in the sixth NIA, and half-brother of Ascanius.
Eclogue that shepherds could force Ascanius had first of all made way
Silenus to sing. Silenus was said to be for him in Lavinium and, so as not to
the father of the Centaur Pholus by a offend him, had gone off" to found
Nymph of the ash trees. Silenus was Alba. When he died Ascanius left the
402 SIMOIS
throne of Alba to Silvius; the latter tradition, see SCIRON). Sinis had a
ruled for 29 years and left his king daughter, Perigoune. While Theseus
dom on his death to his son, Aeneas was killing her father, she hid herself
Silvius. in an asparagus patch. She and The
Other traditions make Silvius the seus then had a child, MELANIPPUS (4).
son of Ascanius, who was himself the Their descendants were particularly
son of Aeneas and Lavinia. Finally he fond of asparagus as their ancestor
was sometimes considered to be the owed her life to this plant.
son of Aeneas and Silvia, the wife of
Latinus, whom Aeneas married after Sinon (Σίνων) Son of Aesimus and
the latter's death. the first cousin of Odysseus. When
the Greeks had constructed the
Simois (Ζϊμ,όβι?) A river in the Wooden Horse, they had to per
Trojan plain. It is described, in suade the Trojans to take it into the
Hesiod, as a son of Oceanus and town. So they weighed anchor and
Tethys. It played a role in the Iliad, slipped away to wait secretly behind
where SCAMANDER called for his help the island of Tenedos. Sinon had
in driving back ACHILLES and stop been left behind, however, and got
ping the massacre of the Trojans. himself captured by the Trojan shep
Simois had two daughters: Astyoche herds. He was taken before Priam
and Hieromneme. The first was the and interrogated. He said that he had
wife of Erichthonius and mother of been persecuted by Odysseus and
Tros; the second was the wife of had fled so as not to be offered as a
Assaracus and mother of Capys sacrifice to the gods. He claimed to
(Table 4). be a relation of Odysseus' enemy
PALAMEDES and that Calchas (1), in
Sinis (Σίνις) One of the robbers league with Odysseus, had decreed
killed by Theseus (see THESEUS, II). that Sinon should be sacrificed to the
He was a son of Poseidon, and a gods. Sinon said that he had escaped
giant endowed with prodigious and hidden in a marsh before he was
strength. He was nicknamed 'the captured. The Trojans asked why
bender of pine-trees', because he the Greeks had left the Wooden
used to bend trees to the ground and Horse on the shore. Sinon said it was
tie a man between them. He would an offering to Pallas Athena, as
then let the trees spring up again, expiation for Odysseus' sacrilege in
which would tear the man apart. stealing the PALLADIUM; various
According to another tradition, he extraordinary happenings had frigh
would force any traveller to help tened the Greeks and Calchas had
him bend a pine-tree, but would told them that the goddess
then let the tree go so that the man demanded an offering in the form of
would be catapulted into the dis a horse to replace the stolen statue.
tance and killed. Sinon added that Calchas interpreted
It was supposedly in honour of the gods' wishes as promising the
Sinis that Theseus founded the Isth Trojans supremacy over the Greeks
mian games, considered as funeral if they worshipped the horse in their
games for Sinis (for an analogous city. The Trojans believed Sinon's
SIRENS 403
story, and the omen of LAOCOON'S another sang, and the third played
death confirmed their decision. the flute. The Sirens lived on an
Sinon was freed, a hole made in the island in the Mediterranean and
walls, and the horse brought into the attracted passing sailors with their
city. At nightfall Sinon opened the music: the ships would approach too
side of the horse to allow the con close to the rocky coast and thereby
cealed soldiers to emerge and mas come to grief. The Sirens would
sacre the sleeping Trojans. At the then devour the sailors. The Argo
same time he signalled to the Greek nauts sailed close to the Sirens, but
ships with a lighted flare from the Orpheus sang whilst they were
top of the city. within earshot of them, so none of
the sailors were lured towards them
Sinope (Σινώπη) The eponymous except BUTES (3) (see also ERYX). In
heroine of the town of Sinope, on their vicinity Odysseus, advised and
the Asiatic coast of the Euxine Sea. warned by Circe, ordered his sailors
She was a daughter of Asopus. to block up their ears with wax, he
Apollo abducted her and took her to had himself tied to the mast and for
Asia Minor, where she gave birth to bade his men to untie him, no matter
a son, Syrus, who gave his name to how strongly he pleaded. As soon as
the Syrians. Another tradition made he heard the Sirens' song Odysseus
her a daughter of Ares and Aegina. felt an overwhelming desire to go to
Zeus fell in love with her and swore them, but his companions prevented
to grant her whatever she wanted. him. In frustration at having failed,
The girl asked him to preserve her the Sirens threw themselves into the
virginity. Zeus respected her wishes sea and drowned.
and gave her the land of Sinope as a Ovid relates that the Sirens were
dwelling. She later extracted the once ordinary girls, companions of
same promises from Apollo and Persephone. When she was abducted
Halys, the river-god, nor did she by Pluto, they asked the gods for
allow any mortal to take what the wings to help them in their search
gods had not been able to obtain. for their companion. Other authors
attribute this transformation to the
Sirens (Zei/o^ves·) Sea demons, half anger of Demeter since they failed to
woman and half bird. They were prevent the abduction of her
said to be the daughters of Achelous daughter. It was also said that Aph
and either Melpomene, Sterope (3) rodite deprived them of their beauty
or Terpsichore. Phorcys is some because they scorned the pleasures of
times named as their father, while love. It was also said that after their
Libanius relates that they were born transformation they tried to rival the
of the blood of Achelous when he Muses, who removed all their
was wounded by Heracles. feathers. Traditionally the Sirens'
There were two Sirens in the island was off the coast of southern
Odyssey, but later traditions name Italy, near the Sorrento peninsula.
four or more often three. They were The tomb of the Siren Parthenope
remarkable musicians; according to was said to be in Naples, where her
Apollodorus, one played the lyre, body had been cast up on the shore.
404 SIRIS
oracle of Apollo how he could kill his father in Asia, Smicrus was
'his enemy'. Apollo told him that he befriended by a son of Eritharses
would find men to take revenge if he who was keeping watch over a herd
slept with his own niece, Tyro, who of goats in the country. Eritharses
was Salmoneus' daughter. Tyro had offered him a home and treated him
twins by Sisyphus but, learning of as his own son. One day Smicrus and
the oracle, killed her two children his adopted brother found a swan,
while they were young. The text and fought with the local children to
breaks off here, but when it resumes see to whom the bird would belong.
we find Sisyphus in the Under The goddess Leucothea (1) appeared
world, rolling his stone. before them, and ordered them to
The foundation of the Isthmian ask the Milesians to set up a gym
Games is sometimes attributed to nastic competiton in her honour.
Sisyphus, in honour of his nephew Smicrus later married the daughter
MELICERTES. Sisyphus was married to of a noble Milesian, by whom he had
MEROPE (1). His descendants included BRANCHUS. Another variant states
Glaucus (3) and Bellerophon. that the apparition urged Eritharses
to pay the greatest possible attention
Sithon (Σίθων) A king of Thrace to Smicrus. Eritharses gave Smicrus
and eponym of the Sithonian penin his daughter in marriage and it was
sula, the middle one of the three she who was the mother of Bran
peninsulas of the Chersonese in chus.
Thrace. He was a son of Ares, or of
Poseidon and the Nymph Ossa. He Smintheus (Σμινθ€υς)
married Anchinoe (or Anchiroe), the ι. One of the companions of Eche-
daughter of Nilus, and had two las, the son of PENTHILUS. An oracle
daughters by her, Rhoeteia and Pal- had foretold that his daughter would
lene (1). Nonnus related that Diony be drowned at sea. The young girl's
sus fell in love with Pallene and lover, Enalus, hurled himself into the
killed Sithon with a stroke of his sea with her. Touched by such devo
thyrsu's before marrying the girl. An tion, the gods saved them both.
allusion in Ovid suggests that Sithon 2. A cult title of Apollo.
became a woman.
Smyrna (Σμύρνα)
Smaragus (Σμάραγος) One of the ι. An Amazon who founded
evil demons who enjoyed shattering several cities in Asia Minor, notably
vases in potters' kilns. Artisans Ephesus and Smyrna.
would pray to them before firing 2. The mother of ADONIS, who was
any pottery. also called Myrrha. She was some
times said to be the daughter of
Smerdius (Σμέρδιος) The son of Theias, or the daughter of King
Leucippus (4) and the king of Naxos. Cinyras.
During his reign Theseus, returning
from Crete, abandoned Ariadne. Sol The Sun, whose worship was
reputedly introduced in Rome at the
Smicrus (Σμικρός) Abandoned by same time as that of the Moon by the
406 SOLOIS
first Sabine king, Titus Tatius. For fore sent in search of Sopatrus and he
the Hellenic legends about the sun, was discovered conscience-stricken
see HELIOS. in Crete. Sopatrus accompanied
them home and devised the follow
Solois (Σολο€ΐς) A young Athenian ing plan. During a general meeting
who accompanied Theseus in his ex of all Athenians, he had a bull
pedition against the Amazons. On brought in, and girls offered him
his return, Theseus brought back water with which he purified a knife
Antiope (2), and while on board which had been sharpened by other
Solois fell in love with her. Antiope Athenians. He killed the animal,
refused to give in to Solois who, in which was cut up and skinned by
desperation, threw himself over others, so that everyone took part in
board and was drowned. Theseus the murder. Afterwards the flesh of
then remembered an oracle of the the bull was shared out, the skin was
Pythian priestess by which he had stuffed with hay, and this artificial
been ordered to found a city on the bull was then harnessed to a plough.
day when he was afflicted by a great Finally, a tribunal was set up to
sadness during a voyage in a foreign judge the murderer, in which it was
land. Obeying this command, The proven that the guilty agent was the
seus founded the city of Pythopolis, knife, which was condemned to be
in Bithynia, in honour of the Pyth hurled into the sea. This was done.
ian Apollo. He called the nearby The bull having been 'resurrected' in
river Solois, in memory of the the form of the stuffed animal and
young Athenian, whose brothers, the guilty party executed, the famine
along with another Athenian, Her- ceased. This rite of sacrifice was thus
mus, he settled in the city. established in Athens, where it was
celebrated by Sopatrus' descendants,
Sopatrus (Σώπατρος) When mor the Sopatrides.
tals lived only on fruit and veget
ables and did not yet offer blood Sophax (Σόφαξ) When Heracles
sacrifices to the gods, a foreigner had murdered Antaeus, he slept with
named Sopatrus lived in Athens. his wife TINGE. She gave birth to
During a sacrifice, just as Sopatrus Sophax, who reigned in Mauretania.
had placed his offering on the altar, a Sophax had a son Diodorus, who
bull appeared which consumed the extended his father's empire and
plants and grain of the sacrifice. founded the dynasty of the Maureta-
Sopatrus seized an axe and killed the nian kings.
animal. Then, regretting his action, Soranus The god worshipped at
he went into voluntary exile in the summit of Mount Soracte. Sora
Crete. After his departure the nus, sometimes identified with Dis
country was struck by famine. The Pater, was more generally con
gods decreed that only Sopatrus sidered to be Apollo, and it is as such
could provide the remedy. The that he was invoked by Virgil in the
slaughtered animal had to be Aeneid.
brought back to life, and the mur
derer punished. Envoys were there Sparta {Σπάρτα) The eponym of
STAPHYLUS 407
the city of Sparta, daughter of the Sphinx was sent by Hera to Thebes
river-god Eurotas and Cleta, and to punish LAIUS for loving CHRYSIP-
wife of LACEDAEMON. She was the PUS. The Sphinx lived in a mountain
mother of Amyclas and EURYDICE west of Thebes, where it ravaged the
(2). She was sometimes also said to countryside, devouring mortals who
be the mother of Himerus and Asine. passed by. It would ask riddles of
passers-by and eat those who could
Spartoi (Σπαρτοί) The 'sown men' not answer them. In particular it
who sprang up from the teeth of the asked, 'What creature has only one
dragon killed by CADMUS. voice, walks sometimes on two legs,
sometimes on three, sometimes on
four, and which, contrary to the
Spercheius (Σπ€ρχ€ίός) The god of general law of nature, is at its weak
the river of the same name, a son of est when it uses the most legs?' There
Oceanus and Tethys. Peleus dedi was also another riddle: 'There are
cated Achilles' hair to him to ensure two sisters; one gives birth to the
that his son should return safely from other, and she in turn gives birth to
Troy. Spercheius was Achilles' the first.' The answer to the first rid
brother-in-law, because he had dle is 'Man' (as a baby he crawls on
married Peleus' daughter, POLY- all fours, then walks on two legs, and
DORA. He was the father of DRYOPS
ends up supporting himself on a
and perhaps of the Nymphs of the stick). The answer to the second is
Othrys. 'Day and Night' (day and night are
feminine nouns in Greek and there
Sphaerus (Σφαίρος) The name fore 'sisters'). Oedipus eventually
given posthumously to CILLAS, the solved the riddles, and in despair the
charioteer of Pelops (1). He gave his monster threw itself from the top of
name to the island of Sphaeria, near a rock and was killed. In other tradi
Troezen, and while making a sacri tions Oedipus killed it with his spear.
fice to him AETHRA was surprised by In another version the Thebans
Poseidon (see also AEGEUS and THE- assembled every day to try to solve
SEUS, I ) . the riddle together, but unsuccess
fully. At the end of each day the
S p h i n x (Σφίγξ) A monster with the Sphinx would eat one of them. It
face of a woman, the chest and feet was said to have eaten Haemon (1),
of a lion and wings like a bird of the son of Creon (2).
prey. The Sphinx was particularly
associated with the myth of OEDIPUS S t a p h y l u s (Σταφυλός)
and the Theban cycle, and was men ι. A shepherd of the Aetolian king
tioned as early as Hesiod's Theogony. Oeneus. He noticed that one of the
It was sometimes said to be the off goats returned later than the others
spring of Echidna and Orthrus, but and seemed more frolicsome. He fol
usually its father was TYPHON. lowed it and saw that it was eating
Another tradition makes it a fruit which he did not recognize. He
daughter of Laius, king of Thebes, or told the king what had happened,
of the Boeotian Ucalegon (2). The and the latter had the idea of pressing
408 STENTOR
the grapes and making wine. The the daughter of Porthaon and Eur-
new liquid was given the name of yte. She married Achelous.
the king (οΐνος in Greek means 4. The daughter of CEPHEUS ( I ) .
'wine'). The fruit itself was then 5. A daughter of Acastus, the king
called 'staphylus'. of Iolcus (Table 6). When PELEUS
2. A son of Silenus. He was repu took refuge at Acastus' court, Asty-
tedly the first to introduce the damia, Acastus' wife, who was in
custom of mixing water and wine. love with the hero, claimed in a
3. A child of Dionysus and letter which she sent to Antigone (3),
Ariadne, although one tradition Peleus' wife, that Peleus wanted to
made him the son of Theseus. He marry Sterope. This caused Anti
was the brother of Thoas (1), Oeno- gone's suicide.
pion and Peparethus, to whom were
sometimes added Latramys, Steropes (Στερόπης) One of the
Evanthes and Tauropolis. Staphylus CYCLOPES.
married Chrysothemis (2) by whom
he had Molpadia (2), Rhoeo and Stheneboea (Σθενέβοια) The wife
Parthenus (2) (and, according to cer of King Proetus. She was usually said
tain authors, Hemithea (1)). to be the daughter of Iobates and to
Through RHOEO he was the grand have married PROETUS when the
father of ANIUS (1). For the other sis latter, evicted by ACRISIUS, migrated
ters, see PARTHENUS (1) and LYRCUS to Asia Minor. She was also said to
(1). Staphylus was said to be one of be the daughter of Amphianax, king
the Argonauts. of Lycia, or of the Arcadian king
4. A character in the Dionysiaca of Aphidas. In the Iliad, the same hero
Nonnus. ine was called Anteia rather than
Stheneboea. The latter was the name
Stentor (Στέντωρ) In the Iliad a most commonly used by the tragic
Stentor could shout as loudly as 50 writers. Stheneboea provided Pro
men. His name became proverbial. etus with several daughters, the PRO-
He was a Thracian who had engaged ETIDES, and a son, Megapenthes (2).
in a shouting match against Hermes Her happiness was disrupted by the
(the gods' herald), and when he had arrival in Tiryns of Bellerophon,
lost he was put to death. whose beauty fascinated her. She
made advances to him but was
Sterope (Στβρόπη) rejected. In anger she denounced
ι. One of the Pleiades. She married him to Proetus for having tried to
Ares, by whom she had a son, Oeno- seduce her. For the consequences of
maus. One tradition maintained that this, see BELLEROPHON.
she married Oenomaus himself. The end of the story, after Beller-
Another tradition said that she was ophon's victories, was dramatized by
married to Hyperochus, who fath Euripides in his lost tragedy Sthene
ered OENOMAUS. boea: the hero returned from Lycia
2. One of the daughters of determined to avenge himself, but
Pleur on. Proetus stalled for time and allowed
3. The mother of the SIRENS and Stheneboea to escape on Pegasus,
STROPHIUS 409
Bellerophon's winged horse. How the same Sthenelus who was the
ever, Stheneboea was unseated by father of the COMÈTES ( Ι ) .
Pegasus, fell into the sea and was 4. One of the sons of Perseus and
killed. Another tradition maintained Andromeda (Table 7). He married
that Stheneboea committed suicide Nicippe, the daughter of Pelops (1)
on learning of Bellerophon's return. and had several children, including
EURYSTHEUS and Iphis (2). He ruled
Sthenelas (Σθβνέλας) A son of Cro- over Mycenae, which had been
topus, of the family of Phorbas. He founded by Perseus.
succeeded his father on the throne of
Argos. Stilbe (Στίλβη)
ι. The daughter of the Thessalian
Sthenelus (Σθένβλος) river-god Peneius and of the Nymph
ι. The son of Actor, and com Creusa (1). By Apollo she became
panion of Heracles, whom he fol
the mother of Centaurus and
lowed in his expedition against the
Amazons. He was wounded, died on Lapithes. She was also said to have
the way back in Paphlagonia and had another son, Aeneus, the father
was buried near the coast. Later, ofCyzicus.
when the Argonauts were passing 2. The daughter of Eosphorus,
nearby, Persephone granted Sthene sometimes said to be the mother of
lus permission to return briefly to Autolycus.
earth to see them. The Argonauts
made a sacrifice to him, as to a hero. Stirus or Styrus An Albanian
prince who, in Valerius Flaccus'
2. A son of Androgeos and con
Argonautica, claimed the hand of
sequently a grandson of Minos, and a
Medea. As the Scythian king, Anau-
brother of Alceus. See EURYMEDON
sis, also wanted to marry the girl,
(2). they fought and were both
3. Son of Capaneus, one of the EPI- wounded. After Medea's abduction
GONI. His mother was Evadne (2). by Jason, Stirus followed her, but
He had inherited one third of the was drowned in the storm raised by
kingdom of Argos from IPHIS ( I ) . He Hera.
figures amongst Helen's suitors and
thus took part in the Trojan War.
But from the fall of Thebes onwards Striges Winged female demons,
(prior to the Trojan War), he with talons like those of birds of
became the great friend of Diomedes prey, who fed off the blood and
(2). At Troy he distinguished himself entrails of children (see CARNA).
in battle, especially in the service of
Diomedes, whose squire he seems to Strophius (Στρόφιος)
have been. He had earlier been ι. The son of CRISUS. His mother
wounded in the foot, and could fight was Antiphatia, the daughter of
only from a chariot. After returning Naubolus. Through his wife, Anaxi-
from Troy, he accompanied DIO bia, he was Agamemnon's brother-
MEDES (2) to Aetolia to restore the in-law (Table 2). PYLADES was his
throne to Oeneus. It was probably son. See also ORESTES.
4io STRYMO
which the young girl died, not being called the Syrinx. It was also related
able to bear the absence of her lover. that there was a grotto near Ephesus
The region in which Syleus lived where Pan had brought the first Syr
was sometimes given as Lydia, and inx. Young girls who claimed they
sometimes as Aulis, Thermopylae or were virgins were shut up in it and,
Pelion in Thessaly. A tradition if they really were pure, the sounds
existed according to which HERACLES of a Syrinx would soon be heard,
was sold as a slave to Syleus and not and the girl would appear, crowned
to Omphale as a punishment for with pine. If a girl was not pure,
spilling the blood of Iphitus (i). funeral cries could be heard from
within and when the grotto was
Syme {Σύμη) A daughter of IALY- opened, she would have disappeared.
sus and Dotis, she was abducted by
Glaucus (4). Having taken possession
Syrna (Σύρνα) The eponym of the
of the island of Syme between
city of Syrnos and daughter of
Rhodes and Cnidos, he gave it his
Damaethus, the king of Caria. See
wife's name. Syme had a son by
PODALIRIUS.
Poseidon called Chthonius.
Syrinx (Σύριγξ) An Arcadian Syrus (Σύρος) The eponym of the
Hamadryad who was loved by Pan. Syrians. According to some he was
The god pursued her, but just as he the son of SINOPE, but according to
was about to catch her, she changed others Syrus was one of the sons of
herself into a reed on the banks of the Agenor and Telephassa, and thus a
River Ladon. As the wind's breath brother of Cadmus, Phoenix (2) and
was making the reeds sigh, Pan had Cilix. The invention of arithmetic
the idea of joining reeds of different and the introduction of the doctrine
lengths together with wax. He thus of metempsychosis were attributed
made a musical instrument which he to him.
but would content themselves with
spinning wool. The cry of Talassio
was said to recall this agreement.
τ
dom of Argos which had been
allocated to his father by PROETUS.
His mother was Pero. Talaus' wife is
sometimes called Lysimache, and is
Tages An Etruscan labourer was said to be the daughter of Abas (3)
ploughing when he saw a clod of (see Table 1); she is also called Lysia-
earth rise up and become a child nassa, the daughter of POLYBUS (2).
which he named Tages. Tages was Talaus figures among the Argonauts.
said to be the son of the Genius
Iovialis. He was gifted with great Talos (Τάλως)
wisdom and possessed powers of ι. A figure of Cretan legend, a
prophecy. He predicted the future bronze robot. Talos was considered
for the villagers who had come run to be either the work of Hephaestus,
ning to the field where he was born, who made a present of him to
instructed them in the rules of harus- Minos, or of Daedalus, the official
pication, then died. His words were artist to the king, or else the last rep
written down and formed the basis resentation on earth of the Bronze
of Etruscan books devoted to pro Age.
phecy. Talos was indefatigably vigilant,
and had been chosen by Minos, or
Talassio A ritual cry, made during Zeus, for the task of protecting the
marriages at the moment when the island of Crete. Each day he walked
bride was carried over the threshold. fully armed three times around the
Talassus was one of Romulus' com island, preventing strangers from
panions. At the time of the rape of entering it and the inhabitants from
the Sabine women, the royal shep leaving without Minos' permission.
herds had abducted a young girl and, Talos' favourite weapons were
on bringing her back, cried out, so enormous stones which he hurled
that no one should take her from great distances. However, if anyone
them: 'She is for Talassus' (in Latin: got through his first barrage, Talos
Talassio). As Talassus' marriage was would leap into a fire, make himself
a happy one, this cry of good omen red-hot, embrace his victims and
was preserved in the marriage ritual. burn them. He was invulnerable
Another explanation was also given, except in the lower part of his leg,
connecting the word with the Greek where there was a vein closed at the
Ταλασία (wool-spinning). After the top by a nail. When the ARGONAUTS
rape of the Sabine women, it was arrived, Medea succeeded through
agreed that the women would not be her magic in opening up the vein
made to perform any menial tasks, and Talos died. Another version
414 TALTHYBIUS
don and Hippothoe (Table 7). His the Corinth racetrack. It was the soul
son was PTERELAUS. Taphius was the of the hero GLAUCUS (3), who had
eponymous hero of the island of been devoured by his horses.
Taphos.
Tarchetius (Ταρχέτιος) According
Taras (Τάρας) The eponym of Tar- to Plutarch's Life of Romulus, Tarche
entum in southern Italy. He was a tius was a king of Alba, in whose
son of Poseidon and a local Nymph, house a phallus appeared one day.
Satyra or Satyria, who was often said The goddess Tethys told him that a
to be the daughter of Minos (hence young girl should be united with the
the tradition of the Cretan origin of phallus and that the first child of this
Tarentum). For another founder of union would have a glorious life.
Tarentum, see PHALANTHUS. Tarchetius ordered one of his
daughters to follow Tethys' instruc
Taraxippus (Ταράξίππος) tions, but she sent a servant-girl in
ι. 'Horse-troubling', a demon her place. As punishment Tarchetius
which haunted the racecourse at bound the two girls to a spinning
Olympia and frightened the horses stool and promised to release them
near a bend where there was an altar. only when they had finished a speci
It was said that it was the soul of the fied piece of work. When they were
hero ISCHENUS, or that of Olenius, a asleep Tarchetius sent other servants
famous Olympian chariot-driver, or who undid their work. The servant-
else of Dameon, daughter of Phlious, girl who had given herself to the
who took part in Heracles' expedi phallus eventually gave birth to
tion against Augias and who was twins. Tarchetius wanted to put
killed by Cteatus at the same time as them to death, but she gave them to
her horse. It was also said that Tarax a man called Teratius who exposed
ippus was Alcathous (2), son of them. They were suckled by a she-
Porthaon, who had been put to wolf, and later dethroned and killed
death by Oenomaus when he tried Tarchetius.
to obtain the hand of Hippodamia
Tarchon (Τάρχων) An Etruscan
(1). Taraxippus had a dual link with
hero, founder of the cities of Tarqui-
the legend of Oenomaus. It was said
nia, Mantua and Cortona. He was
that Pelops (1) had buried at this spot
sometimes considered to be the
a 'charm' which he used to frighten
brother of Tyrrhenus and son of
Oenomaus' horses and thus win the
Telephus. He led the Etruscan im
race. The second legend was that
migrants from Lydia to Italy. He
Pelops was buried in the Olympia
was born with white hair, a sign of
racecourse and continued to disrupt
great destiny. In the Aeneid, Virgil
the races there. It was, however, also
makes Tarchon an ally of Evander
suggested that there was a laurel
(3) and, consequently, of Aeneas.
growing near the altar and that the
shadows caused by the leaves blow Tarpeia A Roman heroine, epo
ing in the wind were sufficient to nym of the Capitol (Tarpeius Mons)
startle horses racing on the track. or, more particularly, of the Tar-
2. Another Taraxippus existed on peian rock, from which certain
4i6 TARTARUS
criminals were thrown. She was the Theogony, Tartarus is the deepest
daughter of Sp. Tarpeius, who had region of the world, placed beneath
been put in charge of the Capitol by the Underworld itself. There was the
Romulus after the rape of the Sabine same distance between Hades (the
women; while the Sabine king, Underworld) and Tartarus as
Tatius, was encamped with his army between Heaven and Earth. It was in
at the foot of the Capitol Tarpeia fell Tartarus that successive generations
in love with him. She promised to of the gods locked away their
turn the citadel over to him either on enemies (see CYCLOPES, CRONUS,
the condition that he agreed to ZEUS, GYGES (i)). Tartarus remained a
marry her, or that he and his soldiers place feared by the Olympians.
give her 'what they were wearing on When any one of them defied Zeus
their left arms', meaning their gold he would threaten to lock the rebel
bracelets. Tatius accepted and Tar away there. When APOLLO killed the
peia betrayed the Capitol. But in Cyclopes with his arrows, he only
stead of marrying the young girl just escaped this punishment because
Tatius had her crushed to death of Leto's pleading: instead of being
beneath his men's shields, which hurled into Tartarus, her son was
they wore on their left arms. only condemned to enter into the
There was a local cult devoted to service of a mortal. The ALOADAE
Tarpeia on the Capitol. There was and SALMONEUS were thrown into
also a story that she was Tatius' Tartarus, which became increasingly
daughter and had been abducted by identified with the Underworld
Romulus. Therefore her treason was where serious criminals were tor
revenge against her abductor. In one tured. Tartarus was the antitype of
version the Sabines put her to death the Elysian Fields, where the Blessed
because of her refusal to reveal to lived. In Hesiod's Theogony, Tartarus
Tatius what Romulus' battle plans is personified and represents one of
were. It was also said that Tarpeia the primordial elements of the
had planned to deliver the Sabines world, along with Eros, Chaos and
into the hands of the Romans. She Gaia. By Gaia Tartarus produced
pretended to betray Romulus, asking several monsters: Typhon, Echidna
in return for what the Sabines were and, according to some sources,
wearing on their left arms. She Zeus' eagle and Thanatos.
meant their shields and hoped that
once the Sabines had entered the Tatius Titus Tatius was tradition
citadel, deprived of their main pro ally second king of Rome. He was of
tection, they would be easily killed Sabine origin from the town of
by the Romans. She was betrayed, Cures. He was commander-in-chief
however, and when Tarpeia asked of the Sabine confederacy, which
Tatius for his and his soldiers' shields, wanted to avenge the abduction of
he had her crushed to death beneath their women (see TARPEIA). After the
them. two peoples were reconciled
through the initiative of HERSILIA and
Tartarus (Τάρταρος) In the the Sabine women, it was decided
Homeric poems and in Hesiod's that Tatius and Romulus would
TECTAPHUS 417
share the power in the city which Taygete (Ταϋγέτη) One of the
was thus formed. This city would Pleiades. She yielded to Zeus' ad
keep the name of Rome from its vances only when unconscious, but
founder, but its citizens would be was so ashamed when she recovered
called Quirites in memory of Tatius' that she hid herself under Mount
homeland. Tatius would dwell on Taygetus, in Laconia. In due course
the Capitol and Romulus on the she gave birth to Lacedaemon. It was
Palatine. This joint reign lasted for also said that in order to protect her
five years, but in the fifth year some from Zeus, Artemis disguised the
of Tatius' relations and compatriots girl as a doe. When she was restored
quarrelled with some Laurentine to her original form, Taygete in gra
ambassadors who were on their way titude dedicated the Ceryneian Hind
to Rome and killed them. Romulus to the goddess (see HERACLES, II).
wanted to punish this attack on the
rights of his people but Tatius suc Tecmessa (Teκ μη οσα) The daugh
cessfully saved his relations. How ter of the Phrygian king Teleutas,
ever friends of the victims killed who was abducted by Ajax (2). She
Tatius during a sacrifice which the journeyed to Troy with the hero and
two kings were offering at Lavi- gave him a son, Eurysaces. Tecmessa
nium. Romulus brought Tatius' plays an important role in Sophocles'
body back to Rome and gave him tragedy Ajax.
great funeral honours. He was
buried on the Aventine, near the Tectamus (Τέκταμος) The son of
Armilustrium. Dorus (1) (Table 5). He invaded
Crete at the head of the Pelasgians
Taurus (Ταύρος) It was related that and Aeolians. There he married the
the Minotaur was not an animal but daughter of Cretheus and had by her
a certain Taurus, whose name means a son, ASTERION. He consolidated his
'the Bull', leader of Minos' armies authority over the entire island. Tec
and a cruel man. The young people tamus represents the Dorian com
sent from Athens as tribute were not, ponent of the Cretan population.
it was said, put to death by Minos,
but proposed as prizes at the funeral Tectaphus (Τέκταφος) An Indian
games given in honour of Andro- prince. Taken prisoner by Deriades,
geos. The first winner of these games he had been locked away and left to
was Taurus, who seriously mis die in hunger. But Tectaphus'
treated those whom he won. The daughter, Aeria, who had just given
seus undertook the expedition to birth, obtained the guards' per
Crete to take vengeance on him. mission to go into the prison,
Minos was happy to be rid of a simply, she claimed, to bring her
general who had become a nuisance father a supreme consolation. She
and who also had fallen in love with was searched but no food was found
the queen, Pasiphae. That was why on her. She was thus allowed to
Minos assisted Theseus' enterprise enter, where she gave her father milk
and even gave him his daughter from her breast. Deriades learned of
Ariadne in marriage. this act of piety and freed his enemy.
4i8 TEGEATES
Tegeates (Τ€γ€ατης) A son of CLES, HI). Heracles gave him HESIONE
Lycaon (2) and the founder of the (3), the daughter of LAOMEDON. B y
city of Tegea. He married Atlas' Hesione he had a son, Teucer (2).
daughter MAERA ( I ) . They had Telamon was still alive at the end of
several sons, including Scephrus and the Trojan War in which his sons
LEiMON. Another tradition made Ajax and Teucer took part. When
Tegeates the father of CYDON, Teucer returned without Ajax, Tela
Archedius, Gortys and CATREUS. See mon threw him out. We have only
a l s o RHADAMANTHYS. very vague information concerning
Telamon's death.
T e g y r i u s (Teyupioç) A king of
Thrace, who welcomed EUMOLPUS Telchines (TeXxîveç) Actaeus, Meg-
(1) and Ismarus when they were alesius, Hormenus and Lycus (5),
banished from Ethiopia. demons from Rhodes, sons of Pontus
and Gaia. Along with Caphira they
T e l a m o n (Τελαμών) Father of helped bring up Poseidon, who sub-
Ajax (2). In one tradition his parents sequently had children by their sister
were Actaeus and Glauce (3), the H ALIA (1). The Telchines conceived
daughter of CYCHREUS; in the other, the idea of sculpting statues of the
Telamon is the son of Aeacus and gods; they could cause rain, hail or
Endeis (Cychreus' granddaughter), snow to fall; they could assume any
and thus the brother of Peleus and form they chose and were very re-
Alcimache, who married OILEUS, luctant to reveal their talents. They
thus establishing a link between the had a premonition about the Flood
two Ajaxes. For Telamon's early and scattered around the world;
childhood see PELEUS. After the Lycus (5) went to Lycia, where he
murder of his half-brother Phocus, built the temple of Lycian Apollo on
he was exiled along with Peleus and the banks of the Xanthus. The Tel-
settled in Salamis, from where he chines were depicted with the lower
unsuccessfully tried to reinstate him part of their body as a fish or serpent,
self in his father's favour. In this tra or else as web-footed. Their gaze
dition Telamon married Glauce (3) was terrifying and they could cast
at Salamis, and when her father evil spells: Ovid says that for this
Cychreus died without sons he reason Jupiter drowned them in the
inherited the kingdom. When sea.
Glauce died Telamon married PERI-
BOEA (5) or Eriboea (Table 2). They T e l c h i s (Τβλχι?) In the tradition
had one son, Ajax (2). related by Pausanias, one of the kings
Telamon took part in the Calydo- of Sicyon, the son of Europs and
nian boar hunt and in the voyage of father of Apis. In the tradition
the ARGONAUTS, where he rowed related by Apollodorus, Telchis and
alongside Heracles. He reproached Thelxion were heroes who rid the
the Argonauts for abandoning Hera country of the tyranny of Apis.
cles in Mysia after the HYLAS episode.
Telamon also played a part in the T e l e b o a s (Τηλ€βόας) The epony
sack of Troy by Heracles (see HERA mous hero of the Teleboeans who
TELEMACHUS 419
riage. There was another legend, him up and gave him the name Tele
according to which Odysseus had phus, which recalls the Greek word
been warned by an oracle to mistrust βλαφος, meaning 'deer' or 'hind'. On
his son. He therefore had Telema- reaching manhood, Telephus inter
chus exiled. In fact, the oracle rogated the oracle at Delphi in order
alluded to Telegonus (i) and nothing to locate his mother. He was told to
could prevent destiny from being go to Mysia, where he found her at
fulfilled nor Odysseus from being the court of King Teuthras (1). It
accidentally killed by the son he and was said that earlier, while at Tegea,
Circe produced. Telemachus then he had accidentally killed his
reigned over Ithaca. mother's two brothers, Hippothous
Telemachus was much used by and Pereus, thus fulfilling an ancient
mythographers who studied and oracle. This murder was the subject
commented on the legend of Odys of Sophocles' lost tragedy the Alea-
seus. Developing the Homeric epi dae. Hounded from Arcadia, Tele
sode of Telemachus and Polycaste phus consulted the Delphic oracle,
(i), they affirmed the existence of which ordered him to go to Mysia
two children born of this union: Per- without uttering a single word
sepolis and Homer himself. Sim during the journey and until Teuth
ilarly, they conceived of a marriage ras had purified him.
between Telemachus and Nausicaa, At the same time as Telephus
from which Persepolis was born. arrived at Teuthras' court, the Argo
The Attic orator Andocides claimed naut Idas tried to rob Teuthras of his
amongst his distant ancestors Tele kingdom. Teuthras asked Telephus,
machus and Nausicaa. who had come into Mysia accom
panied by PARTHENOPAEUS, for his
Telemus (Τήλβμος) A soothsayer help. He promised him the hand of
from the land of the Cyclopes who Auge, whom he had considered his
predicted to Polyphemus (2) that adopted daughter ever since she had
Odysseus would blind him. landed in Mysia. Telephus won the
victory, and the promised marriage
was arranged. However Auge, faith
Telephassa (Τηλάφασσα) The wife ful to the memory of Heracles, did
of Agenor and the mother of Cad not want to marry a mortal, and
mus, Cilix, Phoenix (2), Thasos and entered the nuptial chamber carry
Europa (5) (Table 3). She set off in ing a sword. An enormous serpent,
search of Europa after the latter had sent by the gods, rose up between
been abducted by Zeus. She died in her and her son, and Auge and Tele
Thrace where Cadmus buried her. phus recognized each other. Incest
and crime were avoided, and mother
Telephus (Τήλϊφος) The son of and son returned to Arcadia.
Heracles and Auge. For the circum It was more commonly accepted
stances of his birth and exposure, see that Telephus, having been recog
AUGE. He was found by some shep nized by Auge, remained in Mysia,
herds of King Corythus (2) being where Teuthras made him his heir.
suckled by a hind. Corythus brought He gave him his daughter Argiope
TEMENUS 421
in marriage. At this point Telephus PYLUS (4) did. But by this time Tele
fought against the Greeks who were phus was already dead.
going to Troy and was wounded by Telephus was linked with Italian
Achilles. The Greeks, being unaware myths through his two sons Tarchon
of the correct route to Troy disem and Tyrsenus (or Tyrrhenus). Tar
barked in Mysia, believing them chon and Tyrsenus emigrated to
selves to be in Phrygia. Some Etruria after the capture of Troy.
authors claim that they did it deli Likewise ROMA, one of the heroines
berately, wanting to diminish the to whom the foundation of Rome
power of the Mysians before attack was attributed, was sometimes con
ing Troy so as to prevent Priam sidered a daughter of Telephus and
from seeking help from them. Tele wife of Aeneas.
phus went to meet the invaders and
killed many of them, but when Tellus The personification of the
Achilles appeared before him, Tele productive power of the earth in
phus fled. In the chase, he caught his Rome. She was sometimes honoured
foot in a vine and tripped. Achilles under the name of Terra Mater, the
wounded him in the thigh with his Earth Mother, and identified with
lance. It was claimed that Dionysus the Greek goddess GAI A. In the
himself caused him to fall over Ancient period she was paired with a
because Telephus had not paid him masculine numen, Tellumo.
the honours to which he was
entitled. The Greeks then re-
embarked. Telphousa (Τέλφουσα) The Nymph
The Greeks spent eight years gath of a spring in Boeotia. On his return
ering another army, which assem from the Hyperboreans, Apollo was
bled once again at Aulis, but they did enchanted by the coolness of the spot
not know how to reach the Troad. and wanted to set Up his sanctuary
Telephus, whose wound was not there. Telphousa was afraid that the
healing, came from Mysia to Aulis number of her conquests would
and offered to show the Greeks the diminish if a great god established
way if Achilles agreed to heal him, as himself near her, so she advised him
Apollo had predicted to Telephus to go to Delphi. Apollo did this, but
that he who had wounded him after his victory over Python, realiz
would heal him. Achilles agreed; he ing that he had been tricked, he
applied some of the rust from his returned to reproach Telphousa and,
lance to Telephus' wound, which as a punishment, concealed the
then healed. Telephus then guided spring under the cliffs. He then dedi
the fleet to Troy. In his tragedy Tele cated an altar to himself in the place.
phus, Euripides relates how, on Cly-
temnestra's advice, Telephus seized Temenus (Τήμ€νος)
the infant Orestes and threatened to ι. A native of Stymphalus in the
kill him if the Greeks did not agree Péloponnèse. He was the son of
to having Achilles cure him. Pelasgus and it was he who brought
Telephus played no part in the up the goddess Hera. He dedicated
Trojan War, although his son EURY- three sanctuaries in her honour: to
422 TEMON
Hera the Child, Hera the Married land. Temon fled, promising Apollo
Woman, and Hera the Widow. a hecatomb if he extricated him
2. One of the two sons of Phegeus. from this difficulty. Apollo pro
He and his brother Axion killed Alc- tected him and he escaped. Later,
maeon. Phegeus' sons were more Phemius, the king of the Aenians,
usually called Pronous and Agenor. engaged King Hyperochus of the
3. A Heraclid, the son of Aristo- Inachians in single combat. Phemius
machus and great-grandson of Hyl- killed him with a stone when Hyper
lus in one tradition, the son of ochus turned round to chase away
Cleodaeus and grandson of Hyllus in the dog which had accompanied
another. Along with his brother him. The Aenians then took posses
CRESPHONTES he was given the task of sion of the country. In memory of
conquering the Péloponnèse (see these events, they devoted a special
HERACLIDS). After the victory Teme- cult to stones and, during the sacri
nus was given Argos: he asked Eri- fices, they would offer the descen
gaeus, a descendant of Diomedes (2), dants of Temon a cut of meat called
to remove the Palladium, which had 'the beggar's meat'.
been brought by Diomedes to
Argos, and he thus deprived the city Tenerus (Τήν€ρος) The king of
of its protection (see LEAGRUS). Thebes, son of the Nymph MELIA
Temenus gave his daughter Hyr- and Apollo. He was a priest of the
netho in marriage to the Heraclid temple of Apollo Ptoius and a
Deiphontes, thus arousing the hatred famous soothsayer.
of his own sons, who assassinated
him (see DEIPHONTES). Tenes (Τένης) The eponymous
hero of the island of Tenedos, off the
Temon (Te/χων) The Aenians, Trojan coast. He was generally con
evicted from Pelasgiotis by the sidered to be the son of CYCNUS (3)
Lapiths, wanted to settle on the and, more rarely, of Apollo. His
banks of the Inachus. An oracle had mother was Procleia, a daughter of
warned the Inachians that they Laomedon, and he had one sister,
would lose their country if they sur Hemithea (2). When Procleia died,
rendered the smallest part of it, and Cycnus remarried, to a woman
had promised the Aenians that if the called Philonome, who slandered
inhabitants gave up as much as a tiny Tenes to Cycnus, claiming that he
part of their land, then the Aenians had tried to rape her, whereas in fact
could become rulers of the whole he had remained unmoved by her
country. Thus an Aenian called advances. Cycnus believed her, and
Temon disguised himself as a beggar put both his children in a chest
and went to the king of the which he then abandoned at sea. The
Inachians. The king made fun of him chest was protected by the gods, par
and gave him a lump of earth instead ticularly by Poseidon (the grand
of bread. The old men of the father of Tenes), and was washed up
country recalled the ancient oracle, on the coast of the island of Leu-
and asked him to prevent Temon cophrys, which was subsequently
from leaving with a piece of their called Tenedos. The inhabitants of
TERMINUS 423
the island took Tenes as their king. harsh. Terambus scorned this advice
Later, when Cycnus realized his and began slandering the Nymphs,
error, he had Philonome buried alive claiming that they were not the
and tried to bring about a reconcilia daughters of Zeus. He also said that
tion with his son, but Tenes refused, Poseidon, who was in love with one
and when Cycnus visited Tenedos, he of them, Diopatra, had transformed
cut the moorings of his father's boat the other Nymphs into poplar trees
to signify that all was over between while he satisfied his passion for her.
them. When the Greeks, sailing to The Nymphs said nothing, but with
Troy, appeared off Tenedos, Tenes the onset of winter Terambus' flocks
tried to prevent them from disem disappeared and he alone was left on
barking by bombarding them with the mountain. Then the Nymphs
stones, but Achilles wounded him in took their revenge by transforming
the chest and he died. him into a wood-eating stag-beetle,
There was another tradition, a creature which had enormous
according to which Tenes was killed horns in the shape of a lyre (see CER-
while trying to protect Hemithea AMBUS).
under the open sky, an opening was prophecy had been fulfilled, they
made in the roof for his exclusive founded a temple to Apollo Smin-
use. The Terminalia were celebrated theus (Apollo of the Mice) at this
in his honour on 23 February each spot, and settled there. Attic mytho-
year. graphers claimed that Teucer came
originally from Attica and that he
Terpsichore (Τ€ρφιχόρη) One of migrated to the Troad from there.
the nine MUSES, a daughter of Zeus Teucer was the ancestor of the
and Mnemosyne. She was some Trojan royal family. He welcomed
times said to be the mother of the DARDANUS and gave him his
SIRENS by the river-god Achelous, daughter Batieia (or Arisbe) (see
and also of LINUS (2) and of Rhesus. Table 4).
2. A son of Telamon and Hesione
Tethys (Τηθνς) The personification (3) (Table 4). He was the half-
of the feminine fecundity of the sea, brother of Ajax (2) but, through his
the daughter of Uranus and Gaia, mother, belonged to the Trojan
and the youngest of the Titanides. royal family. In the Iliad he was
She married Oceanus, one of her younger than Ajax and the best
brothers, by whom she had more archer in the whole Greek army. He
than 3,000 children, who were all the took part in the expedition to Troy,
rivers of the world. Tethys brought even though Priam was his uncle.
up HERA who had been entrusted to His exploits were considerable: he
her by Rhea during Zeus' struggle killed numerous Trojan heroes,
against Cronus. As a sign of her gra wounded Glaucus (2) and was him
titude, Hera managed to reconcile self wounded by Hector but saved
Tethys and Oceanus who had fallen by Ajax. In the course of other fights
out. Tethys' dwelling was usually he just failed to kill Hector. Finally,
situated in the far West, beyond the he participated in the funeral games,
country of the Hesperides. where he took part in the archery
contest.
Teucer {Τεύκρος) In later poems, some of his other
ι. The son of the Phrygian river- adventures are described. At the time
god Scamander and Idaea (1), a of Ajax's death he was absent in
Nymph from Mount Ida (Table 4), Mysia, but he returned in time to
although other traditions make protect his brother's body against the
Teucer a foreigner who migrated to insults of the Atrides. Teucer was
the Troad from Crete, or, more pre one of the soldiers inside the
cisely, from Cretan Ida, along with Wooden Horse. His return to Greece
his father, Scamander. An oracle had was not a happy one. He got as far as
commanded them to settle on the Salamis, where Telamon reigned,
spot where they would be attacked but was separated from his nephew
by the 'sons of the earth'. One night EURYSACES. Telamon gave him an
while they were camping in the unfriendly reception; he reproached
Troad, their weapons, shields and him for not protecting Ajax, and
the strings of their bows were also for not avenging his death.
gnawed by mice. Realizing that the Teucer was then forced into exile.
THALPIUS 425
of Dexamenus, and his father was his Alcestis, now lost. Euripides made
Eurytus (4). Thalpius figures Thanatos fight with Heracles in his
amongst the suitors of Helen and the Alcestis. See also SISYPHUS for another
heroes inside the Wooden Horse. His of Thanatos' misadventures.
tomb could be seen at Elis, along
with that of his brother. Thasus (Θάσος) The eponymous
hero of the island of Thasos. He was
Thamyris (Θάμυρις) Thamyris (or a Phoenician, sometimes said to be a
Thamyras) was one of the mythical son of Agenor and brother of Cad
musicians to whom various poems mus (Table 3) and sometimes con
and musical innovations were attri nected with the family of Europa (5)
buted. He composed a Theogony, a (notably as either a son of Cilix, or of
Cosmogony and a Titanomachy. He Phoenix (2)). He took part in the
was also said to have invented the quest for Europa. He stopped at
Dorian mode. Thasos, to which he gave his name.
He was the son of the musician
PHILAMMON and the Nymph
Argiope, but other traditions made Thaumas (Θαύμα?) One of the sons
him the son of Aethlius and grand of Pontus and Gaia. He was the
son of Endymion. Similarly, his brother of Nereus, Phorcys, Ceto
mother was sometimes one of the and Eurybia, and thus belonged to
Muses, Erato or Melpomene. He was the group of primordial sea divini
of great beauty and excelled both in ties. By Electra (1) he had as
singing and playing the lyre, which daughters the Harpies and Iris.
Linus (2) taught him. He was some
times said to be Homer's teacher. Theano {Θεανώ) The daughter of
Homer related how he tried to rival the king of Thrace, who married the
the musical talents of the Muses, but Trojan ANTENOR. They had several
was defeated. The angry goddesses children: Iphidamas, Archelochus,
blinded him and deprived him of his Acamas (1), Glaucus (1), Euryma-
musical skills. He had asked, had he chus (2), Helicaon and POLYDAMAS.
won, to be granted successively the She also brought up Pedaeus, whom
favours of all the Muses. Thamyris Antenor had fathered on another
then threw his useless lyre into the woman. At Troy she undertook the
River Balyra (whose name contains functions of a priestess of Athena. At
the words meaning 'to throw' and the time of Odysseus' and Menelaus'
'lyre') in the Péloponnèse. embassy before the opening of hosti
lities, she welcomed them as her hus
Thanatos (Θάνατο?) The personifi band's guests. So, with Antenor and
cation of Death. In the Iliad he their children, she was spared during
appears as the brother of Sleep (Hyp- the fighting after the capture of the
nos). Hesiod makes these two spirits city and was able to leave Asia and
the sons of Nyx. In the theatre Tha travel to Illyria. A later tradition
natos was sometimes introduced as a related that she and Antenor
character. This innovation went betrayed the city and handed the
back to the tragedian Phrynichus in Palladium over to the Greeks.
THEMIS 427
steal the golden apples from the Hes- that she fell in love with Menelaus'
perides and the oracle concerning the pilot, CANOPUS.
progeny of Thetis. 2. The daughter of Thestor. She
had a brother, Calchas (i), and sister,
Themisto (Θεμιστώ) The daughter Leucippe (3). One day she was
of Hypseus and Creusa (ι). She abducted by pirates and sold to Icar
married ATHAMAS. They had four us, the king of Caria. Thestor set out
to look for her, but he was ship
children: Leucon, Erythrius, Schoe-
wrecked and was washed up on the
neus (3) and Ptous (see LEUCOTHEA
coast of Caria. He was arrested,
(1))·
taken to the king, and enslaved. Leu
cippe set off to look for her father
Theoclymenus (Θεοκλύμζνος) and sister, following an order from
ι. A soothsayer, a son of POLY- the oracle of Delphi. She shaved her
PHIDES (1). He was a native of Argos, hair and disguised herself as a priest.
but had to go into exile after an When she reached Caria, Theonoe
assassination. He took refuge in saw her but did not recognize her
Pylos, where he met Telemachus, and, assuming her to be a man, fell in
whom he accompanied to Ithaca. He love with her. Hindered by her dis
predicted, in Penelope's presence, guise, Leucippe declined her ad
that Odysseus was not far away. He vances, whereupon Theonoe had her
also announced the fate that awaited arrested and thrown into prison. She
the suitors. then commanded one of her slaves to
2. A son of Proteus and Psamathe kill her. This slave happened to be
(1). In Euripides' Helen, after the Thestor. The latter began to lament
death of Proteus, a king of lower the fate which forced him, having
Egypt, he succeeded him on the lost his two daughters, Theonoe and
throne. He was a cruel man who sac Leucippe, to commit a crime. Leu
rificed all those on whom he laid cippe then realized with whom she
hands. He tried to seduce Helen, was dealing, revealed who she was,
who had taken refuge at his court, and determined to kill Theonoe. She
and, when she tricked him, he tried was about to succeed when Theonoe
to kill his own sister, THEONOE ( I ) , called on her father, Thestor, which
whom he accused of complicity with led to a recognition scene. King Ica
Helen. rus showered them all with presents
and sent them back to their own
Theonoe (Θεονόη) country.
ι. The daughter of Proteus and sis
ter of THEOCLYMENUS (2). In Euri- Theophane (Θεοφάνη) The daugh
pides' Helen, she is the sympathetic ter of King Bisaltes. Many noble
adviser, who possessed powers of suitors wished to marry her but
prophecy. She helped Helen escape Poseidon fell in love with her and
from Egypt and, in doing so, in transported her to the island of
curred her brother's wrath. She was Crumissa. Her suitors set off to look
saved only by the intervention of the for her. To deceive them, Poseidon
Dioscuri. One tradition maintained transformed the young girl into a
THESEUS 429
ewe, himself into a ram and the in by Diomedes (2). Virgil refers to
habitants of the island into sheep. another tradition, according to
When the suitors reached the island which Thersandrus participated in
they found only sheep and set about the Trojan War and figured amongst
eating them. Seeing this, Poseidon the soldiers inside the Wooden
turned them into wolves. He and Horse.
Theophane, in this guise of sheep,
produced the ram with the golden Thersites (Θ€ρσίτης) Son of Agrius.
fleece which was to bear away With his brothers Onchestus,
Phrixus and Helle. Prothous (1), Celeutor, Lycopeus
and Melanippus (3) he drove his
Theras (Θήρας) Son of Autesion of uncle OENEUS from the throne of
Sparta. Theras' sister Argia's two Calydon (see DIOMEDES (2)).
sons, Procles and Eurysthenes, were According to the Iliad, Thersites
tutored by Theras when their father, was the ugliest and most cowardly of
Aristodemus, died. Theras was the Greeks at Troy. He limped and
regent in their name until they came was bandy-legged, with round
of age. He then left with a number of shoulders and only the odd hair on
Minyan exiles and settled on the his head. When Agamemnon put his
island of Calliste, which was sub men to the test by urging them to lift
sequently called Thera after him. the siege, Thersites was one of the
first to accept this solution. Odysseus
T h e r o (Θηρώ) A third-generation beat him with his staff and Thersites
descendant of Iphicles. B y Apollo, collapsed, to the accompaniment of
she had a son Chaeron, the eponym the soldiers'jeers. It was also said that
of Chaeronea in Boeotia (Table 7). he took part in the hunting of the
boar o f Calydon, but fled in terror
Thersandrus (Θέρσανδρος) on seeing the animal. The cyclical
ι. The son of Sisyphus and Merope epics tell us that when Penthesilea,
(1). He had two sons, Haliartus and the Amazon, was killed by Achilles,
Coronus, eponyms of the Boeotian the latter fell in love with her as he
cities of Haliartus and Coronea. saw her die. Thersites taunted the
2. A son of Polynices and Argia hero about this love and, with the
(Table 1). He took part in the ex point of his lance, gouged out the
pedition of the Epigoni against young woman's eyes. Achilles beat
Thebes, and it was he who gave the Thersites to death with his fists.
peplos of Harmonia (1) to ERIPHYLE.
After the capture of the city, Ther Theseus (Θησ€υς) The pre-eminent
sandrus came to power. He married Attic hero. Our main sources for his
Demonassa, the daughter of legend are the Life written by Plu
Amphiaraus, and had by her a son, tarch, and the references made by
Tisamenus (2). He took part in the Apollodorus and Diodorus. Theseus
expedition against Troy which was said to have lived a generation
resulted in the disembarkation at before the Trojan War, in which his
Mysia. He was killed by Telephus, two sons DEMOPHON (2) and ACAMAS
and his funeral rites were celebrated (3) took part. He was younger than
430 THESEUS
who fed it. Theseus killed the animal Péloponnèse, from where it had
with a blow of his sword. When he escaped (see HERACLES, II). This bull
reached the Scironian Rocks, he breathed fire from its nostrils, but
killed SCIRON. Next, he fought and Theseus captured and chained it up,
killed CERCYON (1) at Eleusis. Further offering it as a sacrifice to Apollo
on, he gave Damastes the punish- Delphinius. This sacrifice took place
ment he deserved (see PROCRUSTES). in the presence of Aegeus, and when
Theseus then reached the banks of Theseus (who had not yet declared
the river Cephissus, where he was himself) drew his sword to cut off
met by members of the Phytalides, some hair from the animal's head
who agreed to purify him of the Aegeus recognized the weapon
murders he had committed. Thus which he had left under the rock at
purified, Theseus entered Athens on Troezen. During the pursuit of the
the eighth day of the month of bull at Marathon the episode of
Hecatombaeum. Aegeus was then Hecale, related by Callimachus in a
under the spell of MEDEA, who had famous poem, took place (see
promised to deliver him from his HECALE).
sterility through her magic. Theseus Once he had been officially recog-
arrived, preceded by a great repu- nized by his father, Theseus had to
tation as a destroyer of monsters, and fight against his cousins, the 50 sons
Medea immediately guessed his real of Pallas (7) (see PALLANTIDAE). It was
identity. Aegeus, however, unaware often said that Theseus was exiled
that this stranger was his son, was from Athens and had to spend a year
afraid. Medea persuaded Aegeus to at Troezen to expiate his murder of
invite the young man to dinner on the Pallantidae. This was the version
the pretext of honouring him, but in followed by Euripides in his Hippo-
fact in order to poison him. Theseus lytus; but he added that Theseus was
accepted the invitation, but did not then accompanied by Phaedra, and
want to declare his identity immedi- that it was there that she conceived
ately. In the course of the meal, her passion for her stepson. This in-
however, he drew the sword which volves some modification of the
his father had left him to cut his more usual chronology of events,
meat. On seeing this, Aegeus making the expedition against the
knocked over the cup of poison Amazons take place before the mas-
which was prepared for Theseus, and sacre of the Pallantidae.
officially recognized his son before
all the assembled citizens. Medea was III. THE CRETAN CYCLE
exiled by Aegeus. Following the death of his son
It was also said that before she ANDROGEOS, Minos had demanded
tried to poison him, Medea from the Athenians a tribute, pay-
attempted to kill Theseus by sending able every nine years, of seven
him to fight a montrous bull which young men and seven young
was wreaking havoc on the plain of women. When the time came to
Marathon, and which was some- provide this tribute for the third
times described as being the Cretan time, the Athenians began to mur-
Bull brought back by Heracles to the mur against Aegeus. Theseus then
432 THESEUS
offered himself as one of the victims she had received as a wedding gift
to be sent to Crete. It was also said from Dionysus. It was by the light of
that Minos himself chose the victims, this crown that Theseus was able to
and that he asked for Theseus, insist- find his way in the dark Labyrinth.
ing that the young people come This divine crown was sometimes
unarmed, though he agreed that, if said to be a gift not of Ariadne but of
they succeeded in killing the MINO- Amphitrite, given to him when he
TAUR to whom they were to be had gone to Poseidon's palace to
thrown, they would have the right look for the ring of Minos. As a con-
to return. Theseus set off on an Athe- dition of helping Theseus, Ariadne
nian boat on the sixth day of the asked that he should marry her and
month of Mounichion. The pilot take her home with him. Theseus
was NAUSITHOUS (2), a man from agreed and kept his promise. After
Salamis, whom the king of that city, he had killed the Minotaur he sabo-
Scirus, had given to Theseus since his taged the Cretan ships so that no
grandson Menesthes was amongst attempt could be made to follow
the young people being sent to him, and set sail at night, accom-
Minos. Amongst the young girls panied by Ariadne and the young
were Eriboea, or Periboea (5), the Athenians who had been saved by
daughter of Alcathus, the king of his exploit.
Megara. Theseus prevented Minos According to the most famous
from having sexual relations with version of the legend, Theseus
the girl during the crossing (see PERI- reached Naxos and put into port
BOEA (5)). Later Theseus was said to there. Ariadne fell asleep, and when
have married her. she awoke, she was alone. On the
On his departure, Theseus horizon she saw Theseus' ship. Some
received two sets of sails for the boat mythographers maintain that The-
from his father, one black, one seus loved another woman, Aegle,
white. The black sails were for the the daughter of Panopeus of Phocis,
outward journey and symbolized its while others claim that Dionysus
funereal nature, but in the hope that ordered him to abandon Ariadne, as
the return journey would be a joyful he himself had fallen in love with
one, Aegeus provided Theseus with her. Others say that the god kid-
white sails with which to indicate napped her during the night, or even
that his mission had been successful. that Athena or Hermes urged The-
On arriving in Crete, Theseus and seus to abandon her. Dionysus then
his companions were confined in the married her. Another version of this
Minotaur's palace, the Labyrinth. episode claims that the ship carrying
Theseus, however, was glimpsed by Ariadne and Theseus was swept by a
ARIADNE, one of Minos' daughters; storm to Cyprus. Ariadne, who was
she fell in love with him, and gave pregnant, disembarked. Theseus
him a ball of thread so that he would boarded the ship again to keep watch
not lose his way in the Labyrinth. over it, but a gust of wind dragged it
According to another version, out to sea. The women of the island
Ariadne did not give him a ball of cared for Ariadne, and brought her
thread, but a luminous crown which letters which they had written them-
THESEUS 433
selves and which they said had come frontier between the Péloponnèse
from Theseus. Ariadne died in child- and Attica, he erected a column to
birth. Theseus later returned and mark the border between the two
established a ritual and a sacrifice in countries: the Dorian lands on one
honour of Ariadne. side, the Ionian on the other. Theseus
On his return trip Theseus founded, or rather reorganized, the
stopped at Delos, where he consec- Isthmian Games at Corinth in
rated in the temple a statue of Aph- honour of Poseidon.
rodite which Ariadne had given During the reign of Theseus the
him. There, along with the other expedition of the Seven against
young people who were saved, he Thebes took place (see ADRASTUS).
performed a complicated dance Theseus granted protection to OEDI-
which represented the windings of PUS when the latter sought refuge at
the Labyrinth. Once he arrived in Colonus; similarly, he guaranteed
sight of the coast of Attica, Theseus the burial of heroes who had fallen
forgot to lower the black sails of his outside the city. His son Demophon
boat and to hoist the white sails of (2) was to carry on the same practice
victory. Aegeus, waiting on the cliffs when the HERACLIDS returned.
for his return, saw the black sails and,
believing that his son had died, V. THE WAR AGAINST THE AMAZONS
hurled himself into the sea, which Accounts differ as to the origins of
was thereafter called the Aegean. It this war. It was often said that The-
was also said that the old king was seus had taken part in the expedition
looking out over the sea from the of HERACLES (π) and that he had been
top of the Acropolis. When he saw given Antiope (2), one of the cap
the black sail, he fell from the top of tured Amazons, as a reward for his
the cliff and was killed. exploits, but most mythographers
relate that he had gone alone to
IV. POLITICAL ACTIVITY IN ATHENS abduct Antiope. After landing in the
Once Theseus had disposed of the kingdom of the Amazons, he was
PALLANTIDAE after Aegeus' death, he warmly welcomed and they had sent
assumed power in Attica. His first him presents. Antiope brought these
act was to unite in a single city the gifts to him, and Theseus invited her
inhabitants who had previously been to come on board ship, but as soon as
spread around the countryside. she joined him, he treacherously set
Athens became the capital of the sail. The Amazons then sailed in
state which he then set up. Theseus force against Athens, took Attica and
endowed it with essential political established their camp in the city
institutions, such as the Boule, insti- itself. The decisive battle took place
tuted the festival of the Panathenaea, beside the Pnyx, at the front of the
a symbol of the political unity of Acropolis. The Amazons won an
Attica, minted money, and divided initial success, but when one of their
society into three classes: the Nobles, wings was penetrated by the Athe
the Artisans and the Farmers. He nians, they were forced to sign a
conquered Megara and incorporated peace treaty.
it into the state he had created. At the According to some writers, how-
434 THESEUS
ever, the Amazons attacked Attica Helen's hand, and Pirithous Perse-
because Theseus rejected Antiope phone's. They began by abducting
and decided to marry Phaedra, given Helen (see HELEN and also ACADEMUS,
to him by Deucalion (2), the son of AETHRA and DEMOPHON (2)) and then
Minos. Antiope, who had borne a set out to find Persephone. Helen
son by Theseus named Hippolytus, was subsequently recovered by her
wanted vengeance, and organized an brothers, the Dioscuri, who invaded
expedition against Attica. The attack Attica, took Aethra prisoner and in-
took place on the day of the mar- stalled Menestheus on the Athenian
riage of Theseus and Phaedra, but throne. Menestheus gathered around
the guests managed to close the him many nobles who were discon-
doors of the banqueting hall and kill tented with Theseus' political
Antiope. In the version which de- reforms.
scribes the expedition as an attempt In the Underworld, hunting for
by the Amazons to rescue Antiope, Persephone, Theseus and Pirithous
Theseus remained faithful to her, were victims of their rashness. They
and Antiope, who supported The- were well received by Hades, who
seus against her sisters, was killed in invited them to sit down with him
the battle. In this version, it was only to join in a feast. But they found
after her death that Theseus married themselves fixed to their seats,
Phaedra. unable to rise, and were kept as
prisoners. When Heracles went
VI. FRIENDSHIP WITH PIRITHOUS down to the Underworld, he tried to
The friendship between Theseus and free them, but of the two only The-
the Lapith hero PIRITHOUS originated seus received permission from the
when Pirithous, having heard of gods to return to earth. Pirithous re-
Theseus' exploits, decided to put mained permanently seated on the
him to the test. He set himself the chair of oblivion.
task of stealing some of Theseus'
flocks in the Marathon area, but VII. THE DEATH OF THESEUS
when the two men met they were After being rescued by Heracles,
amazed at each other's beauty. Pir- Theseus returned to Athens to find
ithous refused to fight and spontan- political affairs problematic. In des-
eously offered to make reparation to pair at ever being able to restore
Theseus for the stock which he had himself to the throne, he sent his
stolen, and declared himself Theseus' children secretly to Euboea to be
slave. Theseus refused this offer and with Elephenor, the son of Chalco-
offered Pirithous his friendship. The- don (1), and went into exile, cursing
seus took part in the fight between Athens. It was sometimes said that he
the Lapiths and Centaurs alongside tried to take refuge in Crete with
Pirithous. One day the two friends Deucalion (2), his brother-in-law,
decided to marry only daughters of but that a storm washed him up on
Zeus, since they were themselves the coast of Scyros; it was also said
sons of two of the greatest gods: that he went to Scyros of his own
Theseus of Poseidon, Pirithous of accord to find Lycomedes, to whom
Zeus. So Theseus decided to seek he was related. Moreover, he had
THESSALUS 435
of the city of Thessalonica was some daughters of Nereus and Doris. She
times attributed. was a divinity of the sea, and the
2. A son of Heracles and Chalciope most famous of all the Nereids. The
(i), or of Astyoche (in which case he tis was brought up by Hera, and
was the brother of Tlepolemus). He several episodes involving her are
was king of Cos and sent his two explicable in terms of the bonds of
sons, Phidippus and Antiphus, to affection linking the two: Thetis
take part in the Trojan War. After took in HEPHAESTUS after he was
the sack of Troy, the sons settled in hurled from Olympus by Zeus for
the country, which was called Thes- having tried to intervene on behalf
saly in memory of their father. of Hera; Thetis, at Hera's command,
3. The son of Medea and Jason; at took the helm of the Argo during the
the time of the death of Adrastus he passage of the Symplegades; Thetis
fled from Corinth to Iolcus, where rejected the love of Zeus so as not to
he assumed power. He too was said distress Hera. Other traditions, how
to have given his name to Thessaly. ever, claimed that both Zeus and
4. Son of HAEMON (2). Poseidon had wanted to possess her
until it was revealed by an oracle of
Thestius (Θέστιος) A king of Themis that the son born to Thetis
Pleuron and an Aetolian hero. His would be more powerful than his
mother was Demonice and his father father. The two gods then made
Ares. His wife was sometimes said to hasty attempts to give her to a
be Eurythemis, sometimes Deida- mortal. Other versions attribute this
mia, daughter of Perieres, sometimes prophecy to Prometheus, who stated
Leucippe (2), or again Laophonte explicitly that the son born of an
(daughter of Pleuron and therefore affair between Zeus and Thetis
his great-aunt). He had numerous would become ruler of Heaven.
children, among whom were Chiron the Centaur learnt of this,
Althaea, mother of Meleager, Leda, and advised his protégé Peleus to
Hypermestra (2), Iphiclus (2), Evip- take advantage of this opportunity
pus, Plexippus (1), Eurypylus (6) and to marry a divinity. Thetis made his
Meleager's uncles, sometimes called task extremely difficult. She had the
the Thestiades, who were killed ability to change shape at will, and
during the hunt of Calydon. Hyper she used this gift to elude Peleus,
mestra (2) is perhaps identical with though he eventually succeeded in
Hypermestra (3) the daughter of overpowering and marrying her.
Thespius, for the names Thestius and
Thetis' attempts to obtain immor-
Thespius are often interchanged in
tality for her son ACHILLES brought
the manuscripts. For the legend of
about the breakdown of the mar-
Thestius and Calydon, see CALYDON
riage between herself and Peleus.
(2). When Achilles was nine years old
Thestor (Θβστωρ) Son of Apollo and Calchas (1) announced that Troy
and Laothoe, and father of Calchas could not be taken without the help
(1), Leucippe (3) and THEONOE (2). of Achilles, Thetis, knowing that her
son would die at Troy, took him to
Thetis (Θ4τις) One of the Lycomedes, on Scyros, and con-
THOAS 437
cealed him amongst his daughters. the pretext of purifying the god of
Achilles could not escape his destiny the night's murders. Thoas put to sea
however and he set off for the war. in an old boat, and landed at Tauris.
Thetis provided Achilles with a Another tradition claims that he
companion whose task was to pre landed on Sicinos (one of the Cyc-
vent him from making fatal errors, lades), which then bore the name of
though he did not stop the killing of Oenoe. There was a story that he
TENES. She forbade Achilles to be the reached the island of Chios, where
first ashore at Troy because the first his brother Oenopion was ruler.
hero to disembark would also be the 2. A grandson of Thoas (1) and the
first to fall in battle. She gave him son of Jason and HYPSIPYLE. He was
arms and, after the death of Patroc- twin brother of EUNEUS (Table 6).
lus, had others made for him by 3. The king of Tauris at the time
Hephaestus. She tried to dissuade when IPHIGENIA became a priestess of
Achilles from killing Hector, as he Artemis there. This character was
would himself die soon after. After sometimes identified with THOAS ( I )
Achilles' death, Thetis took a strong who found refuge in Tauris after his
interest in her grandson NEOPTOLE- escape from Lemnos. When Orestes
MUS. She advised him not to return and Pylades came to the country, the
with the other Achaeans, and to wait king wanted Iphigenia to sacrifice
several days on Tenedos, thus saving them, following the local custom,
his life (see also MOLOSSUS). but they fled with her and the god
dess's statue to CHRYSES (2). Thoas
Thoas (Θόας) pursued them there, but was killed.
ι. One of the sons of Dionysus and 4. The son of Andraemon, leader
Ariadne, although he was sometimes of an Aetolian contingent in the
said to be the son of Theseus, as were Iliad. His mother was Gorge (1). He
his brothers Oenopion and Staphy- was one of Helen's suitors and, at the
lus (3). He was born on the island of end of the Trojan War, one of the
Lemnos, and he reigned over the city warriors inside the Wooden Horse.
of Myrina, whose eponym was his ODYSSEUS took refuge with him
wife. By her he had a daughter HYP- when evicted from Ithaca by Neo-
SIPYLE. When the women of Lemnos ptolemus; he married his daughter,
decided to massacre all the men on by whom he had a son called Leon-
the island as a result of the curse of tophonus. Thoas did Odysseus the
Aphrodite, Hypsipyle spared Thoas, service of mutilating him to make
who was the only man on Lemnos to him unrecognizable for one of his
survive the massacre. In one tradi espionage operations.
tion Hypsipyle hid him in a chest; in 5. The grandson of Sisyphus,
another she gave him the sword with through his father Ornytion. He suc
which she was supposed to kill him, ceeded his father as ruler of Corinth.
and brought him in disguise to the He was in turn succeeded by his own
temple of Dionysus, where she hid son Damophon, who maintained his
him. The next morning she took kingship until the coming of the
him to the coast, dressed as Diony Heraclids. This, at least, was the
sus, on the god's ritual chariot, on Corinthian tradition.
438 THON
6. Son of Icarius (2) and brother of Pelops (1) and Hippodamia (1)
Penelope (2). (Table 2). His legend is concerned
7. A giant, the brother of Agrius. primarily with his hatred for Atreus,
He was killed by the Moirae (see and the vengeance which the two
GIANTS). brothers alternately wreaked upon
one another. This tragic subject was
Thon (Θών) or Thonis (Θώνις) A used by poets and was complicated
king of Egypt who welcomed by the addition of episodes each
Menelaus and Helen on their return more atrocious than the last. For the
to Greece. Overcome by Helen's broad outline of this legend, see
beauty he tried to rape her. Menelaus ATREUS.
killed him. For a different tradition After Thyestes had been tricked
see POLYDAMNA. by Atreus into eating his own chil
dren, he fled to THESPROTUS, who
Thoosa (Θόωσα) The daughter of lived in Epirus, and from there went
Phorcys and beloved of Poseidon, by to Sicyon, where his daughter Pelo-
whom she had a son, Polyphemus pia (1) was living. An oracle had told
(2), the Cyclops. him that only a son born inces-
tuously from his daughter could take
Thrace (Θράκη) The eponymous vengeance on his brother. This son,
heroine of Thrace. AEGISTHUS, managed to kill Atreus
and gave back to Thyestes the king
Thrasymedes (Θρασνμήδης) One dom from which he had been
of the sons of Nestor. He accom ejected.
panied his father and brother ANTI-
LOCHUS to the Trojan War. He Thyia (Θνία) A Nymph, daughter
played a part in the fight around his of the river-god Cephissus, or of the
brother's body against Memnon, hero Castalius, one of the earliest in
and he was among the warriors in habitants of Delphi. Thyia was loved
side the Wooden Horse. He returned by Apollo, by whom she had a son,
successfully to Pylos at the end of the DELPHUS. Thyia was the first person
war and welcomed Telemachus to celebrate the cult of Dionysus on
there. He had a son called Sillus and a the slopes of Parnassus, and it was in
grandson, Alcmaeon (2). memory of this that the Maenads
sometimes bore the name Thyades.
Thriae (Θριαί) The Prophetesses, It was also said that Poseidon had
three sisters, daughters of Zeus, and been in love with her. Another tradi
Nymphs of Parnassus. They brought tion claimed that Thyia was a
up Apollo. The invention of divina daughter of Deucalion (1), and had
tion by means of pebbles was attri two sons by Zeus, Magnes and
buted to them. They were very fond Macedon (1).
of honey, which was offered to them
when their advice was sought. Thymoetes (Θυμοίτης)
ι. In a tradition related by Diodor-
Thy estes (Θνέστης) The twin us, a son of Laomedon and thus one
brother of Atreus and the son of of Priam's brothers. But Thymoetes
TIRESIAS 439
was more usually described as the Megara. When the Dioscuri were
husband of CILLA and consequently looking for Helen, who had been
Priam's brother-in-law. Thymoetes abducted by Theseus, they passed by
never forgave Priam for putting Megara. Timalcus joined forces with
Cilia to death, and to take vengeance them, and took part in the capture of
he was one of the first to bring the Aphidna, but was killed by Theseus.
Wooden Horse into Troy.
2. A king of Attica (see MELAN- Timandra (Τιμάνδρα) One of the
THUS). daughters of Tyndareus and Leda
(Table 2). She married ECHEMUS and
Thyone (Θυώνη) In some traditions had a son, EVANDER (3). She irritated
the name of Dionysus' mother, more Aphrodite by neglecting to offer
usually called SEMELE. This difference ritual sacrifices to her, however, was
in name was explained in two ways: struck with madness by the goddess,
either it was not the same Dionysus, and allowed herself to be abducted
or Semele was the 'mortal' name of by PHYLEUS.
the mother of the god and Thyone
the 'divine' name.
Tinge (Τίγγη) The wife of the
Tiberinus giant Antaeus. She bore a son
i. In Roman legend he has a dual SOPHAX who founded the city of
character: on the one hand he was Tingis (modern Tangiers) in her
the god of the Tiber, a poetic honour.
abstraction along Greek lines; on the
other hand, he was a king of Alba, a Tiphys (Τΐφυς) The first pilot of
tenth-generation descendant of the ship Argo. He was the son of
Aeneas. He died while fighting by Hagnias, and was originally from
the River Albula, which thereafter Siphae in Boeotia. He possessed a
became known as the Tiber. detailed knowledge of the winds and
2. The eponym of the River Tiber, the course of the stars which he had
but of divine origin. He was the son learnt from Athena herself, but was
of the god Janus and of Camasene, a never described as participating in
Nymph from Latium. He drowned fighting on land. Tiphys died from
in the river to which he gave his an illness while staying with King
name. Lycus (7) in the land of the Marian-
dyni.
Tiburnus Tiburnus, or Tibartus,
the eponymous hero and founder of Tiresias (Teipeaiaç) A soothsayer.
the Latin city of Tibur (Tivoli). He Through his father, Everes, who was
was sometimes considered to be one descended from Oudaeus, he
of the three sons of Amphiaraus who belonged to the race of the Spartoi
came to Italy to found colonies (see (see CADMUS). His mother was the
also CATILLUS). Nymph CHARICLO (3). One tradition
stated that Tiresias was blinded by
Timalcus (Τίμαλκος) The eldest Pallas Athena because he had seen
son of Megareus, the king of the goddess naked, but at Chariclo's
440 TISAMENUS
request Pallas gave him the gift of of Dionysus in Boeotia, and also
prophecy in compensation. In the revealed the fate of the Nymph Echo
most famous version, however, after her metamorphosis. He also
whilst walking on Mount Cyllene predicted the death of Narcissus. In
(or Cithaeron), the young Tiresias the Odyssey, on Circe's advice,
saw two serpents mating. Tiresias Odysseus undertook the journey to
either separated the serpents, or Hades in order to consult Tiresias.
wounded them, or killed the female. Zeus had given Tiresias the privilege
Whichever was the case, the result of of retaining his gift of prophecy even
his intervention was that he became after his death. Tiresias had a
a woman. Some years later, walking daughter, the soothsayer Manto (1),
by the same spot, he again saw the who was the mother of the sooth
serpents mating. He intervened in sayer MOPSUS (2). After the capture
the same way and regained his of Thebes by the Epigoni, Tiresias
former sex. This incident made him followed the Thebans in their
famous, and one day when Hera and exodus and stopped with them near
Zeus were quarrelling over whether a spring called Telphousa. He drank
the man or the woman experienced this water, which was extremely
the greater pleasure in love-making, cold, and then died. According to
they decided to consult Tiresias, the another version, Tiresias remained in
only individual to have experienced the city with his daughter. They
both. Tiresias said that if the enjoy were taken prisoner and were sent to
ment of love was constituted out of Delphi to be consecrated to Apollo.
ten parts, the woman possessed nine On the way Tiresias, who was very
and the man one. Hera was so furi old, died of exhaustion.
ous that she struck Tiresias blind.
Zeus, in compensation, gave him the Tisamenus (Τισαμ€νός)
gift of prophecy and the privilege of 1. Son of Orestes and Hermione.
living for seven human generations. He succeeded Orestes on the throne
Tiresias revealed to Amphitryon of Sparta, but was killed fighting the
the real identity of his rival for ALC- Heraclids in one tradition, or driven
MENE; he disclosed the crimes of out but allowed to withdraw in
which OEDIPUS was unwittingly safety in another. He sought refuge
guilty and advised Creon (2) to drive with the Ionian settlers on the north
Oedipus from Thebes; at the time of coast of the Péloponnèse, but they
the expedition of the Seven against attacked him. Tisamenus was killed
Thebes, he prophesied that the city but his soldiers were victorious.
would be spared if MENOECEUS (2) They besieged the Ionians in the city
was sacrificed to appease the anger of of Hélice, but later allowed them to
Ares; he advised the Thebans, during go to Attica, where they were
the expedition against the Epigoni, received by the Athenians. Tisame-
to conclude an armistice with them nus' companions gave him a magni-
and to leave the town secretly at ficent funeral and took control of the
night in order to avoid a general region taken from Ionians, which
massacre; he advised Pentheus not to was called Achaea. Tisamenus' eldest
oppose the introduction of the cult son, Comètes (2), succeeded him.
TITYUS 441
His other sons were Diamenes, Spar- Titanides, on whom they fathered a
ton, Tellis and Leontomenes. whole cycle of divinities (Table 8).
2. A son of Thersandrus (2) and After the castration of Uranus by
Demonassa. At the time of the Cronus, the Titans seized power.
second Trojan expedition his father Oceanus refused to help Cronus,
had already died at the house of however, and remained independ-
Telephus during the landing in ent. He later helped Zeus to de-
Mysia (see THERSANDRUS (2)), but throne Cronus. This struggle, which
Tisamenus was too young to com brought the Olympians to power,
mand the Theban contingent, PENE- was known as the Titanomachia and
LEOS rather than Tisamenus avenged is related in Hesiod's Theogony. Zeus'
the king's death by killing Telephus' allies in this struggle were not only
son Eurypylus (4). When he reached the Olympians, such as Athena,
manhood, Tisamenus ruled over Apollo, Hera, Poseidon, and Pluto,
Thebes. He had one son, Autesion, but also the HECATONCHEIRES, who
but he had to be exiled, and joined had suffered under the Titans, and
forces with the Heraclids. Tisamenus even Prometheus, although he was
was succeeded by Damasichthon, the son of the Titan Iapetus.
grandson of Peneleos.
Tithonus (Τιθωνός) Although one
Tisiphone (Τ€ΐ.σιφόνη) tradition often makes him the son of
ι. The Avenger of Murder, one of Eos and Cephalus, Tithonus was
the three Erinyes. One tradition por more usually regarded as one of the
trays her as in love with CITHAERON, sons of Laomedon (Table 4) and
whom she killed by having him bit Strymo. He was therefore the elder
ten by a snake which she plucked brother of Priam. Tithonus was ex
from her hair. tremely handsome, and was noticed
2. A lost tragedy of Euripides calls by Eos, who fell in love with him
one of Alcmaeon's daughters Tisi and abducted him to Ethiopia. They
phone. She was given by her father had two sons, Emathion and MEM-
to Creon (1), and sold into slavery. NON. Motivated by her love for
Tithonus, Eos asked Zeus that he
Titanides (TiraviSes) Six of the might be granted immortality, but
daughters of Uranus and Gaia: Theia she forgot to obtain eternal youth
(or Thia), Rhea, Themis, Mnemo for him. So, while Eos remained un
syne, Phoebe (1) and Tethys. After changed, Tithonus grew older, and
they slept with their brothers, the shrank to the point where he had to
Titans, they gave birth to divinities be put in a wicker basket like a child.
of different kinds (Table 8). In the end Eos changed him into a
cicada.
Titans (7Vrâves) The generic name
borne by six of the male children of Tityus (Τιτνός) A giant, the son of
Uranus and Gaia. The youngest Zeus and Elara. Fearing Hera's jea
amongst them was CRONUS from lousy, Zeus concealed his lover when
whom the Olympians were des- she was pregnant in the depths of the
cended. They had six sisters, the earth, from where Tityus emerged at
442 TLEPOLEMUS
mus was asleep and to sow the wheat it. He fell asleep and was killed with
himself, but he fell from the chariot an axe. This was the 'rational' inter
and was killed. pretation of the victory of Dionysus.
Triptolemus later became judge The name of Triton was often
of the Dead' in the Underworld and applied to a whole range of beings
he figured alongside Aeacus, Minos who made up Poseidon's retinue.
and Rhadamanthys. The introduc The upper half of their bodies took
tion of the festival of the Thesmo- the form of men's bodies, but the
phoria at Athens was attributed to lower half were like those of fishes.
Triptolemus. For Demeter's attempt They were usually depicted as blow
to give immortality to one of the ing into shells which they used as
sons of Celeus, see DEMOPHON ( I ) . horns (see MISENUS (2)).
Often it was Triptolemus who was
said to have been the victim of the Trochilus (Τροχίλος) An Argive,
goddess's spells. For the children the son of Io and a priest of Demeter.
attributed to Triptolemus in local The invention of the chariot was
traditions, see CROCON. attributed to him, and in particular
the sacred chariot used in the Argive
Triton (Τρίτων) A sea-god, usually cult of Hera. Hounded by Agenor,
said to be the son of Poseidon and he fled and took refuge in Attica,
Amphitrite (Table 8). Although his where he married an Eleusinian
abode was generally the entire sea, woman and had two sons, Eubou-
he was often considered to be the leus (1) and Triptolemus. Later he
god of Lake Tritonis in Libya. A was said to have been placed
daughter, Pallas (2), was attributed amongst the stars, where he formed
to him, and also a priestess of Athena the constellation of the Charioteer.
called Triteia, who was loved by
Ares, by whom she had a son, Mela- Troezen (Τροιζήν)Ύ\ΐ€ eponym of
nippus (1). the city of Troezen on the Saronic
Triton was involved in the ex Gulf. According to the local tradi
pedition of the Argonauts. Disguised tion, he was the son of Pelops (1) and
as Eurypylus (5), he gave a clod of Hippodamia (1) and brother of PIT-
earth to EUPHEMUS as a present for his THEUS (Table 2). During the reign of
hospitality and indicated to the King Aetius, Pittheus and Troezen
sailors the route to take in order to migrated to the city which was to
regain the Mediterranean. Triton take the latter's name, and the three
also appeared in a Boeotian legend, of them reigned together. Troezen
at Tanagra, where, during a festival had two sons, Anaphlystus and
of Dionysus, Triton attacked the Sphettus, who migrated to Attica.
local women while they were bath
ing in the lake. But Dionysus came Troilus (Τρωίλος) The youngest
to their aid and drove off Triton. It is son of Priam and Hecuba, although
also said that Triton plundered the it was often claimed that Apollo was
shores of the lake, carrying off herds, his father. There was a prophecy
until the day when a jug of wine which stated that Troy would never
appeared on the shore. Triton drank be taken if Troilus reached the age of
444 TROPHONIUS
20, but he was killed by Achilles and by her had a daughter, Cleopa
shortly after the arrival of the tra (4), and three sons, Ilus (2), Assar-
Greeks. He was either killed by acus and Ganymede.
Achilles near the Scaean Gates (see
also POLYXENA), or was taken Turnus An Italic hero, the king of
prisoner and sacrificed to the hero. the Rutuli at the time of the arrival
Another variant claimed that of Aeneas. He was the son of King
Achilles fell in love with him. Troi- Daunus, and grandson of Pilumnus
lus fled and took refuge in the temple (2). His mother was the Nymph
of the Thymbrian Apollo. Achilles Venilia. According to the form of
tried to entice him out but finally the legend which probably goes
lost his temper and killed him inside back to Cato's Origines, Turnus
the sanctuary. became an ally of Latinus after the
marriage between the latter's
Trophonius (Τροφώνιος) The hero daughter and Aeneas. Latinus had
of Lebadeia in Boeotia, where there asked for his help in defending him
was a famous oracle. Sometimes he is self against Trojan banditry. In an
described as the son of Apollo and early battle Latinus was killed. Tur
Epicaste and thus stepson of AGA- nus fled to MEZENTius at Caere. He
MEDES; he was also said to be one of then returned to attack Aeneas, but
the children of Erginus (i). He was in the course of a second battle he
suckled by Demeter. He was known was killed. According to another
for his skill as an architect. The con version, Aeneas and Latinus were
struction of several famous buildings allies and were both attacked by
was attributed to Agamedes and Turnus and the Rutuli. During a
him: Amphitryon's house at Thebes; battle, both Latinus and Turnus were
one of the temples of Apollo at Del killed.
phi; the treasure-houses of Augias at Virgil made Turnus the brother of
Elis and of Hyrieus at Hyria; and the Juturna and engaged to Lavinia, one
temple of Poseidon at Mantinea. of Latinus' granddaughters, who had
When he put his talent to improper been promised to him by Latinus'
use it caused his downfall (see AGA wife, Amata. Turnus was a violent
MEDES). There existed several ver young man who would not allow
sions of his death. It was often said foreigners to settle in central Italy
that this was the price given by and stirred up all the neighbouring
Apollo for the construction of his peoples against the Trojans. He was
temple, as death was the finest eventually killed by Aeneas in single
reward which the gods could give to combat.
man.
Tutula See PHILOTIS.
Tros (Τρως) The eponym of the
Trojans and of Troy. He was the son Tyche (Τύχη) The personification
of Erichthonius, himself the son of of Chance or Fortune. She assumed
Dardanus, and of Astyoche, great importance which continually
daughter of the river-god Simois increased into the Hellenistic period
(Table 4). He married Callirhoe (4), and similarly at Rome (see FORTUNA).
TYNDAREUS 445
to the dragon Delphyne (i) for safe married Cretheus, by whom she had
keeping. Hermes and Pan, or, in Aeson, Pheres (i) and Amythaon
some accounts, Cadmus, stole the (Table 6). For a different legend con
tendons and restored them to Zeus' cerning Tyro whose fragmented
body. He recovered his strength and story has been partly preserved for us
began striking Typhon with by Hyginus, see SISYPHUS.
thunderbolts. Typhon fled and, in
the hope of increasing his strength, Tyrrhenus (Τυρρηνός) The epony
tried to taste the magic fruits which mous hero of the Tyrrhenians (the
grew on Mount Nysa after being Etruscans). He was sometimes said to
promised by the Moirae, who be the brother of Lydus and son of
wanted to lure him there, that these Atys and Callithea, sometimes a son
would cure him. Zeus caught up of Manes (i) and Callirhoe (i),
with him there and the pursuit con sometimes a son of Heracles and the
tinued. In Thrace, he threw moun inventor of the trumpet. In this case,
tains at Zeus, who forced them back his mother was Omphale. He was
on to the monster with his thunder also said to be a son of Telephus;
bolts. While Typhon was crossing which makes Tarchon his brother.
the sea to Sicily, Zeus hurled Mount The Tyrrhenus of Lydian origin was
Etna at him, which crushed him. exiled after the fall of Troy — or else
The flames which erupt from Etna during the famine — and settled in
are either those poured forth by the central Italy where he became the
monster or the remains of the progenitor of the Etruscan race.
thunderbolts with which Zeus struck
him down. Typhon was said to be
the father of Orthrus, the Hydra of Tyrrhus The head shepherd of Lati-
Lerna, and the Chimaera, whom he nus. He took command of the Latin
had by Echidna. peasants to avenge the death of the
sacred doe killed by ASCANIUS. After
Tyro (Τνρώ) The daughter of Sal- the death of Aeneas, LAVINIA, frigh
moneus and Alcidice. She was tened of her stepson, took refuge
brought up by Salmoneus' brother, with Tyrrhus to give birth to SIL-
Cretheus. She fell in love with the VIUS.
υ
said to be the sickle itself, which was
thrown into the sea by Cronus, and
the Phaeacians were born of the
god's blood. Alternatively, the scene
Ucalegon (Ονκαλβγων) is set in Sicily, which was fertilized
ι. A Trojan and a friend of Priam. by the god's blood, which is why
He appears in the Council of Elders that island is so fertile.
of the city. His house, which was ad In a tradition recorded by Diodor-
jacent to Aeneas', was destroyed us Siculus, Uranus was the first king
when Troy fell. of the Atlantes. He was the first to
2. The father of the Sphinx in one teach them civilization and to initiate
tradition. them into culture. He was himself a
skilled astronomer: he devised the
Ulixes See ODYSSEUS. first calendar from the movement of
the stars and predicted the principal
Ulysses See ODYSSEUS. events which would occur in the
world. On his death divine honours
Uranus (Ουρανός) The personifi were paid to him. Gradually he
cation of the Sky as a fertile element. became identified with the sky itself.
In Hesiod's Theogony he is the son of In this tradition Uranus had 45 chil
Gaia. Other poems make him the dren, 18 by Titae (who later took the
son of AETHER in a tradition which name Gaia): from their mother they
goes back to the Titanomachia. In the took the name Titans. His daughters
Orphic Theogony Uranus and Gaia were Basileia and, later, Cybele and
are two of the children of Nyx. Rhea (who was also called Pandora).
The best-known legends of Ura Basileia inherited the throne of Ura
nus are those in which he appears as nus and married Hyperion, one of
the husband of Gaia. B y her he had a her brothers, by whom she had two
large number of children (see e.g. children, Helios and Selene. Among
Table 8), namely six male Titans, the the other children of Uranus, Dio-
six female Titanides, the three Cyc dorus mentions Atlas (1) and Cro
lopes and the three Hecatoncheires. nus; according to Plato, Oceanus and
Gaia tired of endless childbirth and Tethys are also children of Uranus.
asked her sons to protect her against Hesiod preserves the memory of two
her husband. They all refused except prophecies attributed jointly to Ura
CRONUS, who ambushed his father nus and Gaia: first, the prophecy
and, with the help of a sickle which which warned Cronus that his reign
his mother had lent him, cut off Ura would end when he had been con
nus' testicles and threw them into the quered by one of his sons: second,
URANUS 449
the prophecy that put ZEUS on his this prophecy that Zeus swallowed
guard against the child he would Metis when she was pregnant with
have by METIS. It was in response to Athena.
who had a shrine near Ardea which
was established before the founda
tion of Rome. In the second century
BC she was assimilated into the
legend of the Greek APHRODITE. The
gens Julia, which claimed to be des
cended from AENEAS, assumed that
ν
Venus was one of their ancestors.
Vertumnus A god who had a statue
in Rome in the Etruscan district at
the entrance to the Forum. Vertum
nus personified the idea of change.
To him was attributed the ability to
take on as many shapes as he wished.
Ovid describes a love affair of his
Vacuna An ancient Sabine goddess w i t h POMONA.
who had a sanctuary near Horace's
villa. She has been identified with Vesta A Roman goddess who pre
Diana, Minerva, and even with Vic sided over the fire in the domestic
tory. hearth. Like the Greek HESTCA, she
Valeria During an epidemic which belonged to the group of the 12
ravaged the city of Falerii, an oracle great gods. Her cult was controlled
commanded that a virgin should be directly by the chief high priest
sacrificed every year to Juno. One assisted by the Vestal Virgins. The
year the chosen victim was a girl cult of Vesta was introduced to
called Valeria Luperca. Just as she Rome, according to most authors,
was about to kill herself with a by Romulus, even though her
sword at the altar, an eagle appeared, temple (round in shape, like the
plucked the sword from her, and earliest huts of Latium) stood not in
dropped a small stick by the ritual side the Palatine city but on the edge
hammer which was lying on the of it, in the Roman forum, and con
altar. The eagle flew off and dropped sequently outside the boundaries of
the sword on a heifer. Valeria the city attributed to Romulus. On
grasped the meaning of the signs the day of the Vestalia in mid-June,
given by the bird. She sacrificed the young asses were garlanded with
heifer and, taking the hammer with flowers and did not work. A legend
her, touched those who had been of Hellenistic origin describes how
stricken by the epidemic with it. the goddess, chaste above all others,
They were cured immediately. was protected by a donkey from the
Veiovis A Roman god, identified amorous designs of PRIAPUS.
with Apollo, who had an ancient
shrine on the Capitol and another on Virbius A demon whose worship
the Insula Tiberina. He was asso was linked with that of Diana, in the
ciated with the Underworld, and sacred woods surrounding Nemi
seems to have presided originally (Aricia). The fact that horses were
over swamps and volcanic move not allowed to enter this wood gave
ments. He was a god of the gens Julia.
Venus A very ancient Latin divinity
VULCAN 451
rise to the belief that Virbius was festival called the Vulcanalia, which
HiPPOLYTUS, who had been killed by took place on 23 August. He was
his horses, revived by Asclepius, and said to have been introduced to
transported by Artemis to Italy. This Rome by Titus Tatius, but there was
interpretation was suppported by a a tradition which attributes the con-
pun, breaking Virbius up into vir struction of his first shrine to Romu-
(man) and bis (twice): thus, he who lus. During the festival of Vulcan,
had been a man twice, and this was little fish and often other animals
seen as an allusion to the resurrection were sometimes thrown into the
of the hero. fire. These offerings represented
human lives and they were offered to
Volturnus An old Roman divinity Vulcan in order to preserve lives. He
who had a festival, the Volturnalia, has been identified with HEPHAESTUS.
on 27 August. One legend main- Vulcan was sometimes said to be the
tained that this Volturnus was the father of CACUS, or of CAECULUS, or
father of the Nymph JUTURNA. even of SERVIUS TULLIUS (more
usually considered to be the son of
Vulcan A Roman deity, possessing a the household god or Lar).
6. Son of Triopas.
7. One of Achilles' horses.
8. One of the mares of Diomedes
(1)·
9. In the Iliad, one of the horses of
Hector.
χ
10. One of Castor's horses, accord
ing to Stesichorus.
11. A river of the Troad. Accord
ing to Homer it was called SCA-
MANDER by mortals and Xanthus by
Xanthippe (Ξανθίππη) Daughter the gods.
of Dorus (i) and wife of PLEURON.
Xuthus (Ξούθος) Son of Hellen and
Xanthus (Ξάνθος) Othreis or Orseis, and the brother of
ι. Son of Erymanthus (2) and Dorus and Aeolus (1). In some tradi
father of Psophis. tions he is the father of Ion by Creusa
2. A king of Thebes who was (2), although in Euripides' Ion
killed in single combat by MELAN- Apollo is Ion's father and Xuthus his
THUS. stepfather (see ION). In this version
3. In the Iliad, a Trojan, the son of Xuthus is descended from Zeus
Phaenops, who was killed by Dio- through Aeolus (2). Pausanias says
medes (2). that Xuthus was driven out of Attica
4. A son of Niobe (2), according to by the sons of Erechtheus. He went
Pherecydes. to Aegialus in the northern Pélopon-
5. Son of Aegyptus. nèse, where he died.
him, or because Zeus forced Semele
to consume Zagreus' heart and then
give birth to a 'second Dionysus'. It
was also said that Zeus consumed the
child's heart before fathering
Zagreus/Dionysus on Semele.
ζ
Zagreus was an Orphic god, and the
preceding legend belongs to Orphic
theology. Aeschylus, on the other
hand, called Zagreus an underworld
Zeus and likened him to Hades.
Zacynthus (Ζάκυνθος) The epony
mous hero of the island of Zacynthus Zelus (Ζήλος) Zeal or Emulation, a
(modern Zante). He was said to be son of Styx and Oceanus. He was the
either the son of Dardanus (Table 4) brother of Nike, Cratos and Bia.
or an Arcadian from the city of Pso-
phis. Zephyrus (Ζέφυρος) The god of
the west wind, the son of Eos and
Zagreus (Ζαγρ€υς) The son of Zeus Astraeus and the brother of Boreas.
and Persephone, and considered the See FLORA, HARPIES and HYACINTHUS.
'first Dionysus'. Zeus was said to
have taken on the form of a serpent Zetes (Ζήτης) One of the BOR-
in order to beget him. He intended EADES.
to make Zagreus his successor and
bestow on him sovereignty over the Zethus (Ζήθος) See AMPHION.
world, but the Fates decided other
wise. Anticipating Hera's jealousy, Zeus (Ζβύς) Generally regarded as
Zeus entrusted the infant Zagreus to the greatest god of the Greek pan
Apollo and the Curetés, who theon. He was essentially the god of
brought him up in the forest of Par- Light, of clear skies as well as of
nassus, but Hera discovered where thunder.
he was and gave the Titans the task His personality, that of the king of
of abducting him. Zagreus tried to men and of gods, enthroned in the
escape from them by changing luminous heights of the sky, was
shape, metamorphosing himself, created in the Homeric poems.
notably into a bull; however the Usually he presided on Mount
Titans cut him into pieces and ate Olympus, but he also travelled. He
him, partly cooked and partly raw. could be found, for example, living
Athena could save only the heart, with the Ethiopians, a pious race
which was still beating. Several scat- above all others, whose sacrifices
tered pieces of him were gathered up found particular favour with him.
by Apollo, who buried them near Gradually the word Olympus came
the tripod at Delphi. Zeus wanted to mean merely the ethereal region
him restored to life, and this where the gods lived. Zeus not only
occurred either through Demeter, presided over celestial manifestations
who reconstituted what remained of — causing rain, thunder and lightning
454 ZEUS
— but above all he maintained order this by devouring his sons and
and justice in the world. He was re- daughters as Rhea gave birth to
sponsible for purifying murderers of them. On the birth of the sixth, Rhea
the stain of blood, and he ensured used a trick to save Zeus. She gave
that oaths were kept, and that the birth to him secretly at night and, in
appropriate duties were carried out the morning, gave Cronus a stone
to one's hosts. He was the guarantor wrapped up in a blanket. Cronus ate
of royal powers and, more generally, this stone which he thought was a
of the social hierarchy. He exercised child, and Zeus was saved. There
prerogatives not only towards were two distinct traditions about
mortals, but also towards the gods. the place of Zeus' birth. The most
He himself was subject to Fate, frequently mentioned place was in
which he interpreted and defended Crete, on Mount Aegeon, Mount
against the whims of the other gods. Ida or Mount Dicte. The other tradi-
For example, he considered the des- tion, defended by Callimachus in his
tinies of Achilles and Hector, and Hymn to Zeus, situates it in Arcadia
when the scale bearing the latter (see NEDA). However, Callimachus
went down to Hades, Zeus forbade says that Zeus' earliest years were
Apollo to intervene, and abandoned spent in a Cretan hiding place, where
the hero to his enemy. He was the his mother had entrusted him to the
distributor of good and evil. Homer CURETÉS and the Nymphs. His nurse
relates in the Iliad that at the gate of was the Nymph (or goat) Amalthea,
his palace there were two jars, one who suckled him. When this goat
containing good, the other evil. died, Zeus used its skin for his shield:
Zeus' custom with each mortal was this was the aegis whose power was
to take a portion from both jars. But first put to the test at the time of the
sometimes he used only one of them, fight against the Titans. The divine
and the resulting destiny was either child was nourished on honey: the
entirely good or, more usually, en- bees of Mount Ida produced honey
tirely evil. especially for him (for the euhemer-
For the Stoics (notably Chrysip- istic interpretations of this, see
pus, who dedicated a poem to him), MELISSA and MELISSEUS (I)). The Cre-
Zeus was the symbol of a single god, tans did not merely show the spot
the incarnation of the Cosmos. The where, according to them, Zeus was
laws of the world were nothing but born; they would also point out a so-
the thought of Zeus, but that was the called Tomb of Zeus.
extreme point of the god's evolution,
beyond the limits of mythology II. THE CONQUEST OF POWER
towards theology and philosophy. When Zeus reached adulthood, he
wanted to seize power from Cronus.
I. BIRTH OF ZEUS He asked METIS for advice, and she
Zeus was the son of the Titan CRO- gave him a drug which made Cro-
NUS and of RHEA, and the last-born nus vomit up the children whom he
(Table 8). Cronus was warned by an had swallowed. With the aid of his
oracle that one of his children would brothers and sisters now restored to
dethrone him and tried to prevent life, Zeus attacked Cronus and the
ZEUS 455
Titans. The struggle lasted ten years mis, one of the Titanides, and had
until Zeus and the Olympians were daughters by her who were called the
victorious, and the Titans were Horae, named Eirene (Peace), Euno-
expelled from Heaven. To win this mia (Good Order) and Dike (Justice).
victory Zeus, on Gaia's advice, had Then he fathered the Moirae who
had to liberate the Cyclopes and the were the agents of Destiny.
Hecatoncheires from Tartarus, Zeus fathered APHRODITE on
where Cronus had locked them up. Dione, one of the Titanides, in one
To do this, he killed their guardian, tradition. B y Eurynome (ι) he fath
Campe. The Cyclopes then gave ered the CHARITÉS. B y Mnemosyne
Zeus thunder and lightning which he had the MUSES. Finally, by Leto,
they had made; they gave Hades a he fathered Apollo and Artemis.
magic helmet which made the It was only at this moment that,
wearer of it invisible; Poseidon according to Hesiod, the 'sacred
received a trident, which could shake marriage' with Hera, his own sister,
the sea and the land at a blow. took place, but it was generally con-
Having won their victory, the gods sidered to have happened much
shared power out among themselves earlier. Hebe, Eilithyia and Ares
by drawing lots. Zeus obtained were born of this marriage. By
Heaven; Poseidon the Sea; Hades the another of his sisters, Demeter, Zeus
Underworld. In addition Zeus was had a daughter, Persephone. Zeus'
to preside over the Universe. The intrigues with mortals were count-
victory of Zeus and the Olympians less. There was hardly a region in the
was soon contested. They had to Greek world which did not boast an
fight against the GIANTS, aroused eponymous hero who was a son
against them by Gaia, who was born of one of Zeus' love affairs.
annoyed at having her sons, the Similarly, most of the great families
Titans, locked away in Tartarus. of legend were connected with Zeus.
Finally, Zeus had to overcome The Heraclids, for example, were
TYPHON. descended not only from the union
of the god and Alcmene but also,
III. MARRIAGE AND THE AFFAIRS OF ZEUS earlier, from the union of Zeus and
The earliest of his wives was Metis, Danae (Table 7). Achilles and Ajax
the daughter of Oceanus. Metis took (2) were descended from Zeus
on several forms in order to try and through the Nymph Aegina, and the
escape from the god, but finally sub ancestor of Agamemnon and Mene-
mitted, and conceived a daughter. laus, Tantalus, was said to be the son
Gaia predicted to Zeus that if Metis of Zeus and Pluto (Table 2). The
gave birth to a daughter, she would race of Cadmus was connected with
then produce a son who would de Zeus through Io and her son Epa-
throne his father. So Zeus swallowed phus (Table 3). The Trojans,
Metis and, when the time came for the through their ancestor Dardanus,
delivery of the child, Prometheus or were born of the affairs between
Hephaestus split Zeus' skull with an Zeus and Electra (2) (Table 4). The
axe, and the goddess Athena emerged Cretans claimed connections with
fully armed. Zeus then married The Europa (5) and the three sons she had
456 ZEUXIPPE
Idomene II (- Bias)
Aeolia - Calydon Pero — Bias - Idomene II Melampus - Iphianira I
(or Lysippe) (or Iphianassa(l))
Areius Leodocus Talaus - Lysimache. (see Abas (3) Mantius Antiphates - Zeuxippe (3) Abas (3)
opp. or Lysianassa )
Mecisteus Parthenopaeus Adrastus - Amphithea Aristomachus Pronax Eriphyle Amphalces Hypermestra (3) - Oecles
I I (see Amphiaraus)
Amphoterus Acarnan
I I I I I I
Argia - Polynices Hippodamia (2) - Pirithous Deipyle - Tydeus Aegiale - Diomedes (2) Aegialeus Cyanippus
Hippothoe Astydamia Chrysippus Troezen Sciron Pittheus Alcathus Thyestes Atreus - Aerope Clymene ( 4 ) - Nauplius (2)
(or Plisthenes)
Althaemenes
Castor Pollux Phylonoe Timandra Helen Clytemnestra - Agamemnon - Cassandra Menelaus - Helen Anaxibia - Strophius (1)
Chrysothemis (2) Laodice (2) Iphianassa Orestes Pelops (2) Teledamus Pylades
(or Electra (3)) (or Iphigenia)
TABLE 3
Zeus - Ιο Nilus
Epaphus — Memphis
Ares - Aphrodite
Harmonia (1) - Cadmus Phoenix (2) Cilix Thasos Europa (5) - Zeus ami Asterius Danaus Cepheus (2) Aegyptus
Autonoe - Aristaeus Ino - Athamas Agave - Echion (1) Semele - Zeus Polydorus (1) - Nycteis Illyrius
(Leucothea(l))|
I Teucer (1)
(Corythus)
Boucolion Tithonus Lampus Clytius Hicetaon Podarces Hesione (3) - Telamon Cilla Astyoche (2) Anchises - Aphrodite
(= Priam)
Dorus(l) Xuthus - Creusa (2) Aeolus (1) - Aenarete Melaenis - Apollo Itonus - Melanippe (2) Aethlius Opus
I
Thebe (2)
Cretheus Sisyphus Athamas Salmoneus Deion Magnes Perieres(l) Canace Alcyone (1) Pisidice (3) Calce
[svc Table 6)
Perimede
T A B L E 6 (sir also Table 1)
Aeson - Alcimede Pheres (1) - Periclymene Amythaon - Idomene (1) Pelias - Anaxibia
Medeus I ÎEuneus
Polyxenus (2) ' -s Nephronius Acastus Pisidice (5) Pelopia Hippothoe
Mermerus I (or Nebrophonus or Deipylus (?) or Thoas (2) - Asrydamia - Ares
Pheres (2)
Sterope (5) Cycnus (3) Alcestis
TABLE 7
Lynceus - Hypermestra (1)
Zeus - Danae
the Proetides Megapenthes (2)
I
Perseus - Andromeda
Perses Alceus - Astydamia Sthenelus (4) - Nicippe Heleius Mestor - Lysidice Electxyon - Anaxo . . . - M e d i a
Gorgophone
- Perieres (1)
Amphitryon - Alcmene Anaxo Alcyone Medusa Eurytheus Hippothoe Alcmene -
Zeus- - Antimache - Poseidon Amphitryon
Astymedusa Iphis
Taphius Licymnius - Perimede
Heracles Iphicles - Automedusa Admete
Alexander |
Iphimedon Pterelaus Oeomus Argeius Mêlas
Iolaus
Eurybius
Mentor
Leipephile - Phylas (4) Perimedes
Chromius Stratobates
Tyrannus Gorgophonus (1)
Hippotes (1) Thero - Apollo Antiochus Phylonomus
I I Chersidamas Celaenus
Aletes Chaeron Mestor ' — · { Amphimachus
Everes Lysinomus
Comaetho Chirimachus
Anactor
Archelaus
TABLE 8
Uranus — Gaia
Oceanus - Tethys Coeus - Phoebe (1) Hyperion - Thia Crius - Eurybia Iapetus - Asia Cronus Rhea
I (or Clymene (1)
|— Philyra
Hephaestus Athena