Hesperus in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Hesperus

6 passages from 3 ancient authors that tell of Hesperus, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Hesperus was the personification of the Evening Star in Greek mythology, son of Eos, goddess of dawn, and Cephalus. His mother had another son by the ... For the story in one place, read our article on Hesperus.

Callimachus (1)

Callimachus, Hymns 6.1–138Hymn to Demeter: Erysichthon's hungerThe women greet the Basket of Demeter as it passes, and the poet recalls how the goddess wandered in search of her stolen daughter and drank only when Hesperus persuaded her. Erysichthon, son of Triopas, fells a poplar in her grove at Dotium, and Demeter, first in the likeness of her priestess Nicippe and then in her own shape, warns and condemns him. She sends him a ravenous hunger that eats his household bare until he begs at the crossways. The hymn ends with prayers to Demeter for harvest and peace.

Diodorus Siculus (1)

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 4.25.1–4.27.5Heracles: Hades, Orpheus and the HesperidesHeracles is initiated at Athens in the Eleusinian Mysteries, and the historian digresses briefly on Orpheus. Heracles then descends to Hades, where Persephone welcomes him, and brings back Cerberus. For the last labour, the golden apples of the Hesperides, writers disagree about whether the prize was apples or golden-coloured sheep; the section also gives the story of Atlas and the Atlantides, whom Heracles rescues from pirates sent by Busiris, and Atlas's teaching him astronomy.

Nonnus of Panopolis (4)

Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 7.255–368Book 7: Zeus woos SemeleZeus, struck by Eros's arrow, goes back to heaven and calls on Helios to hasten the night. He crosses to Thebes in two bounds and comes to Semele in the shapes of a bull, a lion, a panther, a bridegroom and a snake. He tells her that she will bear a son who will make men forget their troubles, and that she will be called immortal.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 6.0–85Book 6: The gods desire Persephone; Demeter asks AstraiosAll the gods in Olympos woo Persephoneia, and Demeter fears most that Hephaistos will win her. She goes to the seer Astraios, whose sons the Winds entertain her at a banquet. Afterwards she asks him for an oracle, and he consults his sphere of the heavens.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 12.0–92Book 12: The Seasons read the tablets of FateThe Seasons reach the house of Helios, and Autumn asks him when the vine will grow. He sends her to the tablets of Harmonia, on which Phanes had written the oracles of the world. She reads the stories of Cronos and the flood, and then of men and women who are to be changed into birds, stones and springs.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 26.101–182Book 26: Tectaphos and his daughter; more Indian contingentsThe Indian muster continues. The archer Tectaphos, kept alive in prison by milk from his daughter's breast, marches with other leaders. Habrathods, whom Deriades had shamed by cutting off his hair, fights openly for Deriades but secretly sends word to Dionysos. Further tribes include the Arachotes, the Dersaioi and the Cyraioi in their hide boats.