Eumolpus in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Eumolpus

5 passages from 3 ancient authors that tell of Eumolpus, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. In Greek mythology, Eumolpus was the son of Poseidon, god of the sea, and Chione, goddess of snow. When Chione got impregnated by Poseidon, she was af... For the story in one place, read our article on Eumolpus.

Apollodorus (1)

Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 3.15.1–3.16.2Erechtheus, Aegeus, Minos's war on Athens and the birth of TheseusPandion's sons divide his inheritance and Erechtheus becomes king; his daughters include Procris, killed accidentally by Cephalus, and Orithyia, carried off by Boreas. The section covers Cleopatra and Phineus, Eumolpus and the war with Erechtheus, who sacrifices his daughter, and Aegeus and his marriages. Minos, to avenge Androgeus, takes Megara through Scylla's treachery and imposes the tribute of youths and maidens for the Minotaur. It ends with the birth of Theseus to Aethra and his first two labours, where the surviving text of the Library breaks off.

Euripides (1)

Euripides, Phoenician Women 834–895Fourth episode: Teiresias arrives and hints at a hidden remedyTeiresias comes, led by his daughter, and Creon helps him to a seat. He tells how he has just given the Athenians victory over Eumolpus. He says that the troubles of Thebes began with Laius, and hints that there is one way to save the city, but says that he will not tell it.

Pausanias (3)

Pausanias, Description of Greece 1.38.1–9Eleusis: the Rhiti, Eumolpus, Triptolemus and EleutheraePausanias describes the salt streams called Rhiti, boundary between Eleusinians and Athenians, the palace of Crocon and the tomb of Eumolpus, with the war between Eleusis and Athens that fixed the mysteries’ arrangements. At Eleusis he notes shrines of Hippothoon and Zarex, the Cephisus where Theseus slew Procrustes, the temple of Triptolemus, the Callichorum well and the Rarian plain, but declines to describe the sanctuary itself. He ends with Eleutherae and the cave of the infant sons of Antiope.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 1.27.1–10Athens Acropolis: Athena Polias, the Arrephoroi, Tolmides and the bull of MarathonIn the temple of Athena Polias Pausanias lists a wooden Hermes, Daedalus’ folding chair, Persian spoils and the sacred olive, then the temple of Pandrosus and the secret night rite of the Arrephoroi. He describes figures of Erechtheus and Eumolpus, the statue of Tolmides with a summary of his campaigns, and bronze groups of Theseus lifting the rock, and of Theseus and the bull of Marathon, told through Troezenian and Cretan tales.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.14.1–4Phlius: the mysteries of Demeter at Celeae and the tomb of DysaulesPausanias describes the Phliasian mysteries of Demeter at Celeae, held every third year and modelled on Eleusis. He disputes the Phliasian account that Dysaules brought them after being expelled from Eleusis by Ion, citing the Homeric hymn to Demeter, and discusses the tomb of Dysaules, the earlier tomb of Aras and the chariot of Pelops on the roof of the Anactorum.