Idas in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Idas

16 passages from 8 ancient authors that tell of Idas, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Idas was the son of Aphareus and Arene in Greek mythology, and brother of Lynceus. The two brothers were suitors of Hilaeira and Phoebe, who were also... For the story in one place, read our article on Idas.

Apollodorus (2)

Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 3.11.1–2Castor and Pollux (the Dioscuri) and the children of MenelausMenelaus has Hermione by Helen and sons by other women. Castor and Pollux, the Dioscuri, carry off the daughters of Leucippus, and a quarrel over a cattle raid with Idas and Lynceus ends with Castor killed, Lynceus and Idas dead, and Pollux taken up by Zeus. Pollux refuses immortality without his brother, so they share their time between gods and mortals, and Menelaus inherits the kingdom of Sparta.
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.

Pindar (1)

Pindar, Nemean Odes 10.1–90Nemean 10: for Theaeus — Castor and PolydeucesPindar praises Argos, the city of Danaüs and Hera, and its famous heroes, among them Proetus, and the victories of Theaeus in wrestling. He tells how Idas killed Castor in a quarrel over cattle, how Polydeuces prayed to Zeus to die with his brother, and how Zeus allowed them to share their fate by living alternately under the earth and on Olympus.

Apollonius Rhodius (4)

Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 1.448–558The feast, Orpheus' song and the departure from PagasaeAt the feast on the shore Idas jeers at Idmon's prophecy and Idmon answers him, and Orpheus ends the quarrel by singing of the origin of earth, sky and sea. At dawn the heroes embark, Tiphys takes the helm and Argo leaves Pagasae to the music of Orpheus' lyre while Cheiron shows Achilles to his father Peleus from the shore.
Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 3.439–575The heroes decide to ask Medea for helpMedea, tormented by love, fears for the stranger's life. Argus tells Jason that Medea knows magic and should be asked for help, and after Peleus, Telamon and Idas offer to face the contest, an omen of a dove escaping a hawk, which Mopsus reads as the will of Cypris, persuades the heroes. Idas scorns the plan, and Argus is sent back to the city.
Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 3.1163–1277Hecate's rites and the arming of Jason and AeetesJason tells the heroes Medea's counsel, and Telamon fetches the dragon's teeth from Aeetes. By night Jason sacrifices to Hecate, and in the morning Aeetes arms himself and goes to the field of the contest. Jason steeps his weapons in the charm, and Idas cannot break his spear.
Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 1.122–233The catalogue of the Argonauts, continuedHeracles leaves the Erymanthian boar at Mycenae and joins the expedition with Hylas. The catalogue goes on with Nauplius, Idmon, Castor and Polydeuces, Idas and Lynceus, Euphemus, Meleager, and Zetes and Calais, the winged sons of Boreas, and ends with Acastus and Argus. The poet adds that the whole company was called the Minyae.

Theocritus (1)

Theocritus, Idylls 22.1–223Idyll 22: The DioscuriA hymn to Castor and Pollux, helpers of sailors and of men in battle. At a spring in the land of the Bebryces Pollux boxes with the giant Amycus and beats him, and Amycus swears never again to wrong strangers. Castor fights Lynceus and kills him, and Zeus strikes down Idas with a thunderbolt. The hymn ends with a prayer to the sons of Tyndarus and with praise of song.

Ovid (1)

Ovid, Metamorphoses 5.1–148Perseus' wedding feast: the battleWhile Perseus is telling his story at the wedding feast, her former suitor Phineus bursts into the hall with an armed band and claims Andromeda. Perseus pleads that Phineus did nothing when she was chained to the rock, but Phineus hurls a spear, and a fierce battle begins, in which many are killed. Perseus kills many, but the numbers against him are too great.

Pausanias (5)

Pausanias, Description of Greece 4.2.1–7Messenia: Perieres, Oechalia, Aphareus and the founding of AreneThe sons of Polycaon are not named by any poet Pausanias consulted, and after the line ends the Messenians fetch Perieres to be king. He discusses the rival claims to Oechalia and then Aphareus’ founding of Arene and his welcome to Neleus, who settled at Pylus. He also covers Lycus’ revelation of the mysteries at Andania, and Idas and Lynceus, with Idas’ daughter Cleopatra and the fates of Marpessa, Cleopatra and Polydora.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3.13.1–9Sparta: Carneus, the Dionysiades, and the hill of Argive HeraPausanias notes the tombs of Cynortas, Castor, Idas and Lynceus, a temple of the Saviour Maid and the worship of Domestic Carneus, with explanations of the Dorian worship of Carnean Apollo. He lists the image of Aphetaeus, the colonnaded square, the temple of Dionysus Colonatas with its women’s race, the shrine of Pleuron, the temples of Argive Hera and Protectress Hera on the hill, and the statue of the wrestler Hetoemocles.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 4.3.1–10Messenia: Nestor, the sons of Aesculapius and the Dorian conquest under CresphontesAfter the death of Lynceus and Idas, Nestor rules all Messenia, and Pausanias gives the Messenian claims that the sons of Aesculapius were Messenian. He tells how the Dorians drove out the descendants of Neleus, how Cresphontes won Messenia through the trick of the lots, and how he was murdered. Aepytus is restored, and the line of Glaucus, Isthmius, Dotadas and Sybotas follows.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 5.14.1–10Olympia: Zeus Averter of Flies, the white poplar and the altars in order of sacrificePausanias notes the wonders of the altar, including the kites and Hercules’ sacrifice to Zeus Averter of Flies, and explains the use of white poplar wood. He lists the altars of Olympia in the order the Eleans sacrifice on them, from Hestia and Olympian Zeus to Artemis, Athena, Alpheus, Hephaestus, Hercules and his brothers, then the altars of Hera, the Muses and the Nymphs near the Pelopium.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 5.18.1–8Olympia: the Chest of Cypselus, second and third fieldsPausanias describes the second field of the chest, with Night nursing Death and Sleep, Justice and Injustice, Idas and Marpessa, Alcmena, Menelaus and Helen, Medea, the Muses, Atlas and Hercules, and Perseus pursued by the Gorgons. The third field shows armies meeting, which he reads as the migration of Melas to Corinth.

Bacchylides (1)

Bacchylides, Dithyrambs 19.1–20.11Dithyrambs 19–20: Io and Argus; Idas and MarpessaDithyramb 19 tells of Io, driven by the gadfly, and asks whether Hermes slew the watcher Argus or lulled him to sleep. She came to the banks of the Nile and bore Epaphus, and from that race sprang Cadmus and Dionysus. Dithyramb 20, a fragment, tells how the maidens of Lacedaemon sang of Idas bringing home Marpessa in a chariot given by Poseidon.

Epic Cycle (1)

Epic Cycle, Summaries and Fragments 5.1–38CypriaProclus' summary of the Cypria opens with Zeus planning the Trojan War with Themis, the quarrel of the three goddesses, Alexandrus, Helen and the gathering of the Greeks at Aulis. The fragments cover the earth burdened by men, the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, Helen's birth to Nemesis, Castor and Polydeuces, and Alexandrus carrying Helen to Ilium.