Ion was the illegitimate child of Creusa and the god Apollo in Greek mythology. Creusa abandoned Ion in his cradle, and Apollo asked Hermes to take him to the Delphic Oracle. There, he was raised by a priestess. Xuthus, the husband of Creusa, visited the oracle and was told that the first person he would meet on his way back would be his son. Xuthus met Ion, and took the prophecy literally that Ion was his real son; what the oracle meant, though, was that Ion should be adopted by Xuthus. Xuthus took Ion back, but Creusa, unaware that it was her son, planned on killing him. Ion also planned on killing Creusa. Eventually, the truth was revealed and Creusa realised that Ion was her own son. Ion was believed to have founded the tribe of the Ionians, who took their name after him.
See Also: Apollo