Aristaeus in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Aristaeus

18 passages from 6 ancient authors that tell of Aristaeus, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Aristaeus, in Greek mythology, was a minor god, protector and creator of various arts, such as cheese making and bee keeping. His parents were the god... For the story in one place, read our article on Aristaeus.

Hesiod (1)

Hesiod, Fragments 1.86–96Dionysus, Coronis and CyreneHere Hesiod describes the gifts of Dionysus, the wine that brings joy and sorrow, and the story of Coronis, to whom a crow brought word to Pytho. Apollo and Asclepius appear, and Zeus is angry with Apollo. Cyrene and her son Aristaéus follow, then Antiope, and the building of the walls of Thebes by Zethus and Amphion.

Pindar (1)

Pindar, Pythian Odes 9.1–125Pythian 9: for Telesicrates — Cyrene and ApolloPindar praises Telesicrates of Cyrene, victor in the race in armour, and tells how Apollo fell in love with the nymph Cyrene, daughter of Hypseus, who wrestled with lions, and asked Cheiron whether he might take her. Cheiron foretells that Apollo will bring her to Libya, where she will bear Aristaeus, whom Hermes will entrust to Gaia and the Horae. The ode ends with the victories of Telesicrates' family and the stories of Danaüs, who married off his daughters by a race, and of the Libyan bride, the daughter of Antaeus, won in a race.

Apollonius Rhodius (1)

Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 2.448–527Paraebius and the Etesian windsAt dawn Phineus' neighbours gather, among them Paraebius, whose family had been cursed because his father cut down a Hamadryad's oak, and Phineus tells how he lifted the curse. Paraebius brings sheep for the heroes. The poet then tells how Aristaeus, at the bidding of Zeus, brought the yearly Etesian winds from Ceos.

Diodorus Siculus (1)

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 4.81.1–4.85.7Aristaeus, Eryx, Daphnis and OrionThe historian tells of Aristaeus, son of Apollo and Cyrene, who after the death of Acteon goes to Ceos and helps the Greeks during a plague, and who is honoured as a god in Sicily. He continues with Eryx, son of Aphrodite, with the shepherd Daphnis in the Heraean mountains, and with the giant hunter Orion, whose works in Sicily, at Peloris and elsewhere, are described.

Pausanias (2)

Pausanias, Description of Greece 10.17.1–13Sardinia: its peoples, settlement, mountains and the sardonic herbPausanias describes the bronze statue of Sardus sent to Delphi and gives an account of Sardinia, its size and early names, and the peoples who settled it: Libyans under Sardus, Greeks under Aristaeus and Iolaus, Iberians, Trojans, Corsicans and Carthaginians. He describes the mountains, the unhealthy air, the absence of snakes and wolves, the swift rams and the poisonous plant that kills with laughter, the 'sardonic' laughter of Homer.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 6.9.1–9Olympia: the chariot of Gelo and Cleomedes of AstypalaeaPausanias lists statues of Aeginetan, Arcadian and Argive victors, including Chimon and the wrestler Taurosthenes, whose phantom is said to have announced his victory in Aegina. He argues that the chariot of Gelo is the offering of a private man of Gela and not of the Sicilian tyrant. He also tells how the boxer Cleomedes of Astypalaea killed an opponent, went mad, brought a school roof down on sixty children and vanished from a chest in Athena's sanctuary, after which the Pythian priestess told the Astypaleans to honour him as a hero.

Nonnus of Panopolis (12)

Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 13.201–308Book 13: Aiacos, Asterios and Aristaios joinAiacos comes with his Myrmidons, who were once ants, and Asterios brings the Cretans, who will later settle in Colchis. Aristaios comes last, because he had challenged Dionysos with his honey and lost. He is the son of Cyrene and leads the Arcadians, armed by Apollo.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 5.280–408Book 5: Actaion among his dogsAutonoe and Aristaios have a son, Actaion, a hunter who spies on Artemis bathing. The goddess turns him into a stag, and his own dogs tear him to pieces while he keeps his human mind and laments. Autonoe searches the hills and does not know his remains.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 19.158–262Book 19: Seilenos and Maron contend for the golden bowlMaron and Seilenos rise to dance for the great bowl. Maron addresses the spirit of Staphylos and mimes the cupbearing of Hebe and Ganymede to the gods. Seilenos mimes a contest between Dionysos and Aristaios, in which the gods judge Dionysos' wine better than Aristaios' honey drink.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 37.520–666Book 37: Boxing ends; wrestling and the foot-raceMelisseus knocks out Eurymedon in the boxing match. Aiacos throws Aristaios and pins him in the wrestling until the heralds stop the hold, and Erechtheus wins the foot-race after Ocythoos slips in dung.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 37.103–235Book 37: Funeral games: the prizes and the chariot-race entrantsDionysos sets out the prizes for a chariot race in honour of Opheltes and encourages the competitors, who include Erechtheus, Actaion, Scelmis, Phaunos and Achates. Aristaios advises his son Actaion on how to drive, and lots are drawn for places.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 5.122–228Book 5: Harmonia's necklace; the children of CadmosThe gods bring wedding gifts, and Aphrodite gives Harmonia a serpent-shaped necklace that Hephaistos had made. Harmonia bears four daughters, Autonoe, Ino, Agaue and Semele, and a son, Polydoros. Cadmos gives Autonoe to Aristaios.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 5.229–279Book 5: The inventions of AristaiosThe poet lists the skills of Aristaios: hunting with dogs and nets, keeping bees, pressing oil, and tending flocks. His sacrifice to Zeus brings the cooling etesian winds. His wedding to Autonoe is celebrated with dancing in the streets of Thebes.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 5.533–621Book 5: Autonoe's grief; Zeus desires PersephoneiaAutonoe gathers her son's bones and buries them. Agaue bears Pentheus, and Ino marries Athamas and bears Learchos and Melicertes. Zeus, who once begot Zagreus on Persephoneia in the shape of a dragon, watches her bathe and is caught by desire for her.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 17.315–397Book 17: The Bacchants rout the Indians; Aristaios heals the wounded; Blemys submitsThe fighting on the Taurus is renewed, and the Bacchic women and Satyrs defeat the armoured Indians with ivy and vine. Aristaios heals the wounded Bassarids with herbs and charms, and Astraeis flees. Blemys, chief of the Erythraian Indians, kneels to Dionysos, who sends him away to Arabia and the Nile to become king of the Ethiopians.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 27.75–143Book 27: Deriades' threats; the Indians march outDeriades goes on to threaten Aiacos, the Cyclopes, the Telchines and Erechtheus, and imagines forging his own thunderbolts. He tells his men to cut down the Bassarids while he and Morrheus deal with Dionysos and Aristaios, and the Indians march out on elephants, horses and foot.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 29.167–290Book 29: Hymenaios fights on; the women join the battleThe fighting goes on: Aristaios, the sons of Cabeiro, the Corybants and many Bacchic women, among them Eupetale, Terpsichore and Staphyle, drive back the Indians, while old Trygie is left behind. Dionysos heals the wounded Bacchants with wine and ivy and fights on with greater fury.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 5.409–532Book 5: Actaion's ghost appears to his fatherActaion's ghost appears to Aristaios in a dream in the shape of a stag and tells how he came to his death. He asks his father not to punish the dogs, and to bury him with a carved likeness on his tomb.