Megareus in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Megareus

6 passages from 3 ancient authors that tell of Megareus, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Megareus of Thebes was one of the participants in the battle of the Seven Against Thebes. In the myth, the twin brothers Eteocles and Polynices march ... For the story in one place, read our article on Megareus.

Aeschylus (1)

Aeschylus, Seven against Thebes 457–562Second episode: Eteoclus, Hippomedon and Parthenopaeus at the next three gatesThe Scout reports Eteoclus at the third gate, Hippomedon, who spins his huge shield, at the fourth, and Parthenopaeus of Arcadia at the fifth. For each, Eteocles names a Theban to meet him, Megareus, Hyperbius and Actor, and he says that the signs on the enemies' shields tell of their own doom.

Ovid (1)

Ovid, Metamorphoses 10.519–709Aphrodite and Adonis; Atalanta and HippomenesAdonis grows into a youth so beautiful that Aphrodite (Venus) herself, wounded by one of Eros' (Cupid's) arrows, falls in love with him and gives up heaven to be with him. She warns him to avoid dangerous beasts and tells him the tale of Atalanta, who would marry only the man who could beat her in a foot-race, the loser being killed. Hippomenes wins her with the help of Aphrodite, who gives him three golden apples to throw before her, and is later turned with Atalanta into a lion for profaning a temple of Cybele. Aphrodite ends her warning, and Adonis does not heed it.

Pausanias (4)

Pausanias, Description of Greece 1.41.1–9Megara: tomb of Alcmena, the lion of Cithaeron and the tomb of TereusPausanias describes the tomb of Alcmena, the altar of Achelous, the tomb of Hyllus, and the temple of Apollo and Artemis built by Alcathous after he killed the lion of Cithaeron. He criticises the Megarian version of the story, arguing that Alcathous came after the fall of Megara in Nisus’ reign. He then lists the shrine of Pandion, the tomb of the Amazon Hippolyte and the barrow of Tereus, whom he places at Daulis rather than Megara.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 1.39.1–6Eleusis to Megara: the Flowery Well, graves of the Seven and early MegaraOn the road from Eleusis to Megara Pausanias notes the Flowery Well where Demeter sat, the sanctuary of Metanira and the graves of the heroes who marched against Thebes, buried by Theseus. He adds the tomb of Alope and the wrestling-ground of Cercyon, then crosses into Megaris and gives the competing Megarian and Boeotian accounts of its origins, from Car, Lelex and Nisus to Sciron, Megareus and the Dorian takeover.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 1.42.1–7Megara: the Alcathoan acropolis, the singing stone and Memnon’s ColossusPausanias describes the acropolis named after Alcathous, with the tomb of Megareus, the hearth of the Prodomeis and the stone that sounds like a lyre. He compares it with the Colossus of Memnon at Egyptian Thebes, which sounds at sunrise. He also notes the Council House, temples of Athena and Apollo, the ebony statues, the sanctuary of Lawgiver Demeter, the tomb of Callipolis and the shrine of Ino.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 1.43.1–8Megara: shrines of heroes, the Aesymnium, Dionysus and Aphrodite, and the grave of CoroebusPausanias lists Megarian shrines and tombs: Iphigenia, Adrastus, Artemis, the Prytaneum burials, the rock Anaclethra, the Aesymnium Council House and the tombs of Pyrgo and Iphinoe. He describes the sanctuary of Dionysus and the temples of Aphrodite and Fortune with works by Praxiteles, Scopas and Lysippus, and tells the story of Coroebus, who killed Punishment sent by Apollo and founded Tripodisci.