Aegialeus in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Aegialeus

6 passages from 2 ancient authors that tell of Aegialeus, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Aegialeus was the name of various individuals appearing in Greek mythology. Among the most important ones are the kings of Sicyon and Argos, as well a... For the story in one place, read our article on Aegialeus.

Apollodorus (2)

Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 2.1.1–5Inachus, Io and the DanaidsThe line of Inachus of Argos runs through Phoroneus and Apis to Argus the All-seeing, whom Hermes kills while he guards Io, whom Zeus has turned into a cow. Io wanders to Egypt and bears Epaphus, whose descendants include the twins Belus and Agenor. Belus's twin sons Aegyptus and Danaus quarrel over the kingdom, Danaus flees to Argos with his fifty daughters, and they are married to Aegyptus's sons and kill them on the wedding night, all but Hypermnestra, who spares Lynceus.
Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 3.7.1–7Creon, Antigone, the Epigoni and AlcmaeonCreon takes the kingdom and forbids the burial of the Argive dead; Antigone buries Polynices and is entombed alive, and Theseus's Athenians recover the dead for Adrastus. Ten years later the sons of the fallen, the Epigoni, take Thebes under Alcmaeon, and the Thebans flee after Tiresias's death. Alcmaeon kills his mother Eriphyle, is driven mad, marries Arsinoe and Callirrhoe, and is killed over Harmonia's necklace and robe; his sons by Callirrhoe avenge him and colonize Acarnania.

Pausanias (4)

Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.5.1–8Acro-Corinth, the Asopus and the early kings of SicyonOn the summit of Acro-Corinth stands a temple of Aphrodite with a spring said to be a gift of Asopus to Sisyphus. Pausanias discusses the river Asopus, its daughters and the stories that rivers flow underground from distant places, then notes Tenea and a temple burnt in Corinthian territory. He starts the Sicyonian king list with Aegialeus and Apis, through Peratus, Plemnaeus and Orthopolis to Corax and Lamedon.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 1.44.1–10Megara to the Isthmus: Nisaea, Pagae and the Sciron roadPausanias notes the grave of Orsippus, the sanctuary of Tutelary Apollo, the old gymnasium and the port of Nisaea with the tomb of Lelex. He describes Pagae, with its Saviour Artemis and the shrine of Aegialeus, and Aegosthena, with the sanctuary of Melampus and the tomb of Autonoe. The Sciron road leads past the Molurian rock, with the story of Ino and Melicertes, the rocks of Sciron, the temple of Zeus the Hurler and the tomb of Eurystheus, to the border with Corinth.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 9.19.1–8The road to Chalcis: Teumesus, Glisas, Mycalessus and AulisPausanias describes places on the road to Chalcis: Teumesus, with the story of the Teumesian fox and a sanctuary of Telchinian Athena, and the ruins of Glisas with the mound of the Argive dead. He passes the tomb of Chalcodon and the ruins of Harma and Mycalessus, where the image of Mycalessian Demeter keeps autumn fruits fresh all year. At Aulis he describes the temple of Artemis and the sacrifice of Iphigenia, the remains of the plane-tree and the bronze threshold of Agamemnon's hut.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 10.10.1–8Delphi: offerings of the Athenians and Argives, and the Tarentine offerings and founding of TarentumPausanias describes the Athenian offering from the spoils of Marathon, with the statues of Athena, Apollo, Miltiades and the tribal heroes by Phidias, and the Argive offerings of the Seven against Thebes and the Epigoni and of the descendants of Danaus. He then describes the bronze horses and captive women of the Tarentines, and tells how Phalanthus understood the oracle of rain under a clear sky when his wife Aethra wept, and took Tarentum.