Demophon in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Demophon

16 passages from 6 ancient authors that tell of Demophon, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Demophon is a name that refers to two different characters in Greek mythology. One of them was the son of King Celeus and Queen Metanira. During the g... For the story in one place, read our article on Demophon.

Homer (1)

Homer, The Homeric Hymns 2.180–289Hymn 2 to Demeter (3): the nurse of DemophoonIn Celeus' house Demeter sits silent in her grief, refuses red wine, and asks for a drink of barley, water and mint. She nurses the child Demophoon and hides him in the fire by night to make him immortal, until Metaneira sees and cries out. Demeter reveals herself as the goddess and orders the people of Eleusis to build her a temple and altar.

Apollodorus (2)

Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome E.6.1–29The returns from Troy: Nauplius, Agamemnon's murder and OrestesThe Greeks quarrel at an assembly over whether to leave at once, and the section follows the returns: Calchas and Mopsus at Colophon, the storm at Tenos in which Ajax dies, Nauplius's false beacon at Caphereus, Neoptolemus in Molossia, and the fates of Demophon and Phyllis, Podalirius and the Locrian maidens. Agamemnon is murdered by Clytemnestra and Aegisthus, and Orestes avenges him, is tried at Athens, and brings the image of Artemis from the Taurians. The section ends with Menelaus's wanderings and his return to Sparta.
Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 1.5.1–3Demeter and Persephone: Eleusis and TriptolemusHades (Pluto) carries Persephone off with Zeus's help, and Demeter searches for her until she reaches Eleusis in the likeness of a woman, where Iambe makes her smile and she nurses Metanira's child Demophon and tries to make him immortal in the fire. She gives Triptolemus a chariot of winged dragons and wheat to sow over the earth. When Zeus orders Persephone's release, a pomegranate seed binds her to spend a third of every year with Hades.

Euripides (9)

Euripides, Children of Heracles 236–287First episode: Demophon refuses to give up the suppliantsDemophon gives three reasons for helping the suppliants: they are at the altar of Zeus, they are kinsmen, and it would be shameful to see the free city's altar seized by force. Copreus threatens the city with war, and Demophon answers that he is not afraid of Argos, and sends him away, saying that he will not let him drag the suppliants off by force.
Euripides, Children of Heracles 120–180First episode: Copreus claims the exiles for EurystheusDemophon asks who has been wreathing the altar, and the Chorus tells him that the sons of Heracles sit there as suppliants. Copreus declares that he is an Argive, sent by Eurystheus to take back his own subjects, who have been condemned by their city. He says that Demophon has no right to protect them and warns that Argos will go to war, and he offers the friendship of Argos.
Euripides, Children of Heracles 427–473Second episode: Iolaus offers himself in the children's placeIolaus says that they are like sailors who have escaped one storm to meet another, and that there is no hope. He offers himself to Eurystheus, asking only that the children should be spared, but Demophon says that this is not possible, since Eurystheus wants the children and not him. The Chorus says that Athens must not be blamed, and Demophon asks Iolaus for any other plan.
Euripides, Children of Heracles 84–119Iolaus tells the Chorus who the children are; Demophon arrivesIolaus tells the Chorus that he is from Mycenae and that the children are the sons of Heracles, and Copreus says that Iolaus and the children are subjects of Eurystheus, who have a right over them. The Chorus says that he should have addressed the king of the land and not have used force at the altar, and Demophon, with his brother Acamas, comes in haste.
Euripides, Children of Heracles 181–235First episode: Iolaus pleads for the children as Theseus' kinIolaus tells the king that he has the right to speak, as a suppliant in a free land, and that the exiles have nothing more to do with Argos. He tells Demophon that Heracles and Theseus were the sons of first cousins, and that he himself sailed with Theseus and Heracles as their squire, and begs him to save the children. The Chorus pities them.
Euripides, Children of Heracles 333–380Demophon prepares for war; the Chorus sings in defiance of ArgosDemophon says that he will muster the citizens and send scouts, and tells Iolaus to enter the house with the children. Iolaus refuses to leave the altar, and says that Athena, the goddess of Athens, will not brook defeat. The Chorus, in a song, says that Athens will not be frightened by the Argive's boasts, and warns him not to bring war against the city.
Euripides, Children of Heracles 381–426Second episode: the oracle demands a noble maidenDemophon returns and tells Iolaus that the Argive army has come with Eurystheus, and that the seers have said that Athens will win the war if a noble maiden of a noble house is sacrificed to the daughter of Demeter. He says that he cannot kill his own child or ask any citizen to give up his, and that the suppliants must find some way to save themselves. The Chorus asks whether heaven forbids the city to help strangers.
Euripides, Children of Heracles 288–332Iolaus thanks Athens and praises noble birthThe Chorus says that it is time to prepare, since the herald will make the most of his treatment when he reports to his master. Iolaus tells the children that nothing is better than to be born of a good father, tells them to honour Athens as their saviour, and promises Demophon that he will praise him at Theseus' side. The Chorus says that its land is ready to help the helpless and sees a struggle near.
Euripides, Children of Heracles 539–573Second episode: Macaria will die freely, not by lotIolaus says that she is Heracles' true child, but wishes that the lot might decide who is to die. Macaria answers that there is no merit in dying by lot, but she will give her life freely, and she asks Iolaus to stand by her and veil her body, and that she may die in the arms of women. Demophon agrees to this and tells her to say her last words.

Pausanias (2)

Pausanias, Description of Greece 1.28.1–11Athens: Acropolis offerings, the Areopagus and the courts of justicePausanias lists offerings on the Acropolis, including Phidias’ bronze Athena from the Marathon spoils and the Lemnian Athena, then the Pelasgian wall and a cave sanctuary of Apollo. Below it he describes the Areopagus, the sanctuary of the Venerable Ones (the Furies) and the tomb of Oedipus. He ends with the Athenian law courts, from the Parabystum and the Heliaea to the Palladium, Delphinium, Prytaneum and Phreattys, with the stories of Demophon, Theseus, the Ox-slayer’s axe and Teucer.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 10.25.1–11Delphi: the Cnidian Lesche and Polygnotus' painting of Troy after its capture (1)Pausanias describes the building dedicated by the Cnidians at Delphi, called the Lesche or Club-room, with its paintings by Polygnotus. On the right wall the painting shows Troy after its capture and the Greeks setting sail, with Menelaus' crew and the pilot Phrontis, then Helen and her handmaids, Helenus, the wounded Meges and Lycomedes, Aethra and Demophon, and the captive Trojan women, Andromache, Medisicaste and Polyxena, with Nestor.

Quintus Smyrnaeus (1)

Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy (Posthomerica) 13.415–563Troy burns; Aethra rescuedThe gods mourn Troy, all but Hera and Athena, though Athena turns away in anger as Aias son of Oileus outrages Cassandra in her temple. Fire destroys the city and Trojans die in their burning houses, and the glow is seen from Ida and Tenedos. Aethra is found by her grandsons Demophoon and Acamas, who promise to take her home to Greece. Laodice is swallowed by the earth, and the Pleiad Electra hides herself from sight.

Epic Cycle (1)

Epic Cycle, Summaries and Fragments 8.1–8Sack of IliumProclus' summary tells how the Trojans debated what to do with the wooden horse, some wishing to hurl it from the rocks, some to burn it and some to dedicate it to Athena. The fragments say that one Palladium was given to Dardanus, that Astyanax was hurled from the wall, and that Agamemnon gave gifts to the sons of Theseus. One fragment describes the gifts of the Earth-Shaker to Machaon and Podaleirius.