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Figures in the ancient sources

Asopus in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Asopus

19 passages from 5 ancient authors that tell of Asopus, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Asopus in Greek mythology is the name given to four different river gods that protected four respective rivers in Greece. As with all river gods, they... For the story in one place, read our article on Asopus.

Apollodorus (2)

  1. Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 3.12.1–7Dardanus, Priam and the royal house of TroyElectra's son Dardanus founds the line of the Trojan kings through Erichthonius and Tros, to Ganymede, Anchises and Ilus. Ilus founds Ilium on the spot where the cow lies down and receives the Palladium, and Laomedon and Priam follow him, with Tithonus and Memnon among Laomedon's line. The section lists Priam's children, including Hecuba's dream before Paris's birth, Cassandra's gift, and Paris and Oenone, and ends with the sons of Aeacus, Peleus and Telamon, the murder of Phocus and the birth of Ajax and Teucer.
  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.

Diodorus Siculus (1)

  1. Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 4.71.1–4.75.6Asclepius, Aeacus, Pelops and the kings of TroyThe historian gives the birth and healing art of Asclepius and the descendants of Asopus' daughters, including Aeacus and his sons Peleus and Telamon. He then tells of Oenomaüs and the chariot race by which Pelops wins Hippodameia, and of Tantalus, and ends with the first kings of Troy, from Teucrus and Dardanus down to Priam.

Pausanias (12)

  1. 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.
  2. Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.12.1–6Titane, the Sicyonian coast and the origins of PhliusAt Titane there is also a sanctuary of Athena and an altar of the winds with its rites. Pausanias returns to Sicyon by the coast, noting the temple of Hera, the harbour, a sanctuary of Poseidon and the rivers Helisson and Sythas. He then begins the history of Phliasia, with the first inhabitants Aras, Aoris and Araethyrea, the discovery of the Asopus by Asopus, and Phlias, son of Dionysus.
  3. Pausanias, Description of Greece 3.22.1–13Laconian coast: Cranae, Helos, Acriae, Geronthrae, Asopus and BoeaePausanias describes the stone of Orestes near Gythium, Cranae and Migonium, then Trinasus, Helos and Acriae with its temple of the Mother of the Gods. He then describes Geronthrae, Marius and Asopus, with its giant bones and the cape Onugnathus, and finally Boeae, founded by Boeus, where a hare led the settlers to a myrtle sacred to Artemis Saviour.
  4. Pausanias, Description of Greece 5.22.1–7Olympia: dedications of Zeus by Apollonia, Metapontum, Phlius and LeontiniPausanias lists images of Zeus given by states and individuals, among them a statue from the Cynaethians and the semicircular base with Zeus, Thetis and Day and the Homeric pairs of antagonists, given by Apollonia. He explains the Abantis inscription, then notes the Zeus of the Metapontines, the Phliasian group of Asopus’ daughters, and the Zeus given by men of Leontini.
  5. Pausanias, Description of Greece 9.1.1–8Plataea: the origin of the Boeotians and the two captures of the cityPausanias begins Boeotia with Plataea, on the border with Attica, and gives the origin of the Boeotians from Boeotus, son of Itonus. He says the Plataeans were the Athenians' allies at Marathon and Salamis and defended themselves against Mardonius. He tells of the capture of Plataea by the Lacedaemonians under Archidamus and the second capture by the Thebans under Neocles, who led an armed assembly to the city while the Plataeans were in the fields. Philip restored the Plataeans to their land after Chaeronea.
  6. Pausanias, Description of Greece 9.4.1–4Plataea: the temple of Athena Warlike and the road to ThebesPausanias describes the sanctuary of Athena Warlike at Plataea, built from the Marathon booty, with its gilded wooden image by Phidias and wall paintings by Polygnotus and Onasias, and the statue of Arimnestus at its foot. He notes the sanctuary of Eleusinian Demeter and the tomb of Leitus, the only Boeotian leader to return from Troy, and the Gargaphian fountain, which Mardonius filled in. On the road to Thebes he mentions the river Oeroe and the ruins of Scolus, with an unfinished temple of Demeter and the Maid.
  7. Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.6.1–7Sicyon: Epopeus and Antiope, and the later kings of SicyonPausanias relates how Epopeus carried off Antiope, daughter of Nycteus, and how Lycus and Lamedon settled the quarrel, with Antiope giving birth to Zethus and Amphion at Eleutherae. He continues the Sicyonian kings, including Sicyon himself, Polybus and Adrastus, Phaestus, Zeuxippus, Hippolytus under Agamemnon and Lacestades, whose rule was shared with the Dorian Phalces.
  8. Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.7.1–9Sicyon: Dorian rule, roadside tombs and the sanctuaries of Dionysus and PersuasionSicyon became Dorian, Demetrius son of Antigonus moved the city to its old acropolis, and an earthquake later damaged it. Pausanias describes the tomb of Lycus the Messenian, the Sicyonian style of burial, the grave of Eupolis, the tomb of Xenodice, the Dripping Spring, and the theatre with a statue said to be Aratus. He then describes the temple of Dionysus and its night procession, the ruined temple of Artemis of the Lake, the sanctuary of Persuasion with its legend of Apollo and Artemis, and the temple of Apollo with the flutes of Marsyas.
  9. Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.11.1–8Sicyon to Titane: sanctuaries around the city and Asclepius at TitaneOutside Sicyon Pausanias describes the temple of Athena built by Epopeus, the sanctuaries of Hera, Demeter and Carnean Apollo, the grove Pyraea with Protecting Demeter, and the grove of the Eumenides. He then climbs to Titane, where Titan is said to have lived, and describes the sanctuary of Asclepius founded by Alexanor, with its veiled images of Asclepius and Health, the cults of Alexanor and Euamerion, and the offerings and colonnade.
  10. Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.15.1–5Cleonae and Nemea; Mycenae and the early Argive legends of Inachus and PhoroneusOn the road to Argos Pausanias describes Cleonae, with its Athena by Scyllis and Dipoenus and the tomb of Eurytus and Cteatus, and the Nemean region: the lion’s cave, the temple of Nemean Zeus, the grave of Opheltes and Mount Apesas. He then begins the Argive legends, covering Inachus, the dispute of Poseidon and Hera over the land, and Phoroneus, who first gathered mankind.
  11. Pausanias, Description of Greece 9.3.1–9Plataea: the Daedala festival of HeraPausanias tells how Hera, angry with Zeus, returned only when Cithaeron advised Zeus to carry a wooden image in a cart and claim it was his new bride, Plataea. The festival of the Daedala commemorates the reconciliation. The Plataeans find the oak for the image by watching which tree a crow perches on after taking boiled flesh. The Little Daedala is held by Plataea alone and the Great Daedala jointly with the Boeotians, with fourteen images carried on wagons to the top of Mount Cithaeron, where they are burned on a great wooden altar with cattle sacrificed to Hera and Zeus.
  12. Pausanias, Description of Greece 9.20.1–5Tanagra: Poemander, Corinna, the tomb of Orion, Hermes and the Triton of DionysusPausanias gives the Tanagrans' account of their founder Poemander and of the city's name, which came from Tanagra, also called Graea, a daughter of Aeolus or of Asopus. He mentions the tomb of Orion, Mount Cerycius, where Hermes was born, and the place called Polus. In the temple of Dionysus he describes the image by Calamis and the headless Triton, killed either in a fight with Dionysus or when he was lured by a bowl of wine.

Nonnus of Panopolis (3)

  1. Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 7.150–254Book 7: Semele washes in the AsoposSemele goes out to sacrifice at the altar of Zeus and is drenched with the blood of the victims. She bathes her robes in the river Asopos while Erinys looks on and laughs. Zeus sees her and takes the shape of an eagle to come nearer, and a naiad of the river wonders aloud whether she is Selene or a goddess.
  2. 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.
  3. Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 23.225–320Book 23: Dionysos threatens the river and sets it on fireDionysos warns the river that Zeus may strike it as he struck Eridanos, but Hydaspes only rages the more. The god sets the water on fire with a burning fennel stalk, driving the Naiads out of their homes. Oceanos then threatens to flood the sky, drown the stars and constellations, and calls on Tethys and the sea to join him against Dionysos.

Bacchylides (1)

  1. Bacchylides, Epinicians (Odes of Victory) 9.1–104Ode 9: Automedes of Phlius, pentathlon at NemeaThe poet calls on the Graces to help him sing of Phlius and of Nemea, where Hera reared the lion that Heracles was to overcome and the Argive heroes held the first games in memory of Archemorus. He praises Automedes, who outshone his rivals in the pentathlon, and sings the river Asopus and its daughters, the brides of gods. The middle of the ode is restored from fragments. It ends with the city that Zeus granted to the people of Phlius and with Automedes, son of Timoxenus.