Laelaps

Laelaps

Laelaps was a dog in Greek mythology that always caught what he hunted. According to one source, Laelaps was the gift Zeus gave to Europa. The dog was later given to King Minos; Cephalus, who was Procris' husband, decided to use Laelaps in order to catch the Teumessian fox, which could never be caught. So, a paradox formed; a dog that always caught what it hunted, was after a fox that could never be caught. When Zeus realised what was going on and that the two animals would run for eternity, he decided to turn them both to stone, and then into constellations; Laelaps became the constellation Canis Major and the Teumessian fox became Canis Minor.

See Also: Cephalus, Minos, Zeus, Europa, Teumessian fox

Laelaps Q&A

Who was Laelaps?

Laelaps was a dog in Greek mythology that always caught what he hunted. According to one source, Laelaps was the gift Zeus gave to Europa.

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