Endymion in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Endymion

6 passages from 5 ancient authors that tell of Endymion, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Endymion was a handsome shepherd, hunter or king in ancient Greek mythology, who lived in the region of Elis. He was the son of Zeus, and had legendar... For the story in one place, read our article on Endymion.

Hesiod (1)

Hesiod, Fragments 1.1–13Deucalion, Hellen and their descendantsThe Catalogue of Women opens with the descendants of Deucalion and Hellen, saying that Deucalion was the son of Prometheus and Pronoea, that Hellen fathered Dorus, Xuthus and Aeolus, and that Thyia bore Magnes and Macedon to Zeus. The fragments then turn to the Aloiadae, Eurynome, Endymion, the sons of Actor and Molione, Periclymenus, and the sons of Neleus whom Heracles killed. Most are short quotations from later writers who cite Hesiod for a name or a descent.

Apollodorus (1)

Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 1.7.1–10Prometheus, Deucalion's flood and the family of HellenPrometheus moulds men from water and earth, steals fire for them and is nailed to Mount Caucasus, where an eagle eats his liver until Heracles frees him. His son Deucalion survives Zeus's flood in a chest with Pyrrha and makes new people from stones; their son Hellen gives the Greeks their name and divides the country among Dorus, Xuthus and Aeolus. The section then follows Aeolus's children: the Aloads Otus and Ephialtes who pile Ossa and Pelion on Olympus, Endymion, Aetolus, Evenus and Marpessa, and the house of Thestius.

Pausanias (2)

Pausanias, Description of Greece 5.1.1–11Elis: the early kings, Endymion, Pelops, Aetolus and AugeasPausanias opens the book on Elis with the five-fold division of Peloponnese and the peoples that settled it. He gives the line of the early Elean kings from Aethlius and Endymion to Epeus, Aetolus, Eleus and Augeas, with Endymion’s footrace for the throne and Pelops’ seizure of Pisa and Olympia. He tells how Hercules cleansed Augeas’ land of dung, was refused his reward, and so brought war on Elis.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 5.8.1–11Olympia: the early celebrations and the order in which the contests were addedPausanias lists those said to have held the games, from Clymenus, Endymion and Pelops to Augeas and Hercules, and the champions Hercules crowned. After the lapse before Iphitus, the contests were revived piecemeal, and he lists them with their first Olympiad and winner, from the foot-race of Coroebus to the later boys’ contests, races of armed men, chariots and foals.

Quintus Smyrnaeus (1)

Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy (Posthomerica) 10.74–202Heroes in the slaughter; the arms of HerculesAeneas kills Harpalion and Hyllus, while Neoptolemus slays twelve Trojans with his father's spear. Eurymenes kills many until Meges strikes him down, and Paris, Teucer and Meges also kill, with digressions on Scylaceus' fate and on Endymion's cave. Philoctetes then ravages the Trojans, and the poet describes the belt and quiver of Hercules that he carries, decorated with beasts and scenes from myth.

Nonnus of Panopolis (1)

Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 42.196–321Book 42: Pan's advice and Dionysos' failed wooingDionysos confides in the lovesick Pan, who advises him to feign modesty and indifference, praise Beroe's beauty above the goddesses', and win her by hints and silent gestures. Dionysos tries to woo her with words about vines, fields and harvest and offers to be her labourer, but she answers nothing. He then takes her hunting-net and pretends to admire it.