In Greek mythology, Xanthus or Xanthos (/ˈzænθəs/; Ancient Greek: Ξάνθος, from ζανθός, 'yellow, golden yellow', referring to hair) was an Argive prince who later on became king of Pelasgia (i.e. Lesbos).
Family
According to Diodorus Siculus, Xanthus is the son of a Pelasgian king, Triopas of Argos. The Roman Fabulae specifies his mother as Oreaside, and names his brother as Inachus. A scholium on Euripides names his mother, by Triopas, as Sosis.
Mythology
Xanthus colonized a piece of Lycian land, making it his residence in there and became the ruler of the Pelasgians who had accompanied him. Later on, Xanthus crossed over to Lesbos, which was uninhabited, and divided the land among the settlers. He named the island, which had formerly been called Issa, Pelasgia after the people who had settled it.
Seven generations later after the flood of Deucalion had taken place and much of mankind had perished, it came to pass that Lesbos was also laid desolate by the deluge of waters. And after these events Macareus, son of Crinacus, came to the island, and recognizing the beauty of the land, he made his home in it.
Notes
- Beekes, s.v. ζανθός.
- RE, s.v. Xanthos (2); Diodorus Siculus, 5.81.2
- Hyginus, Fabulae 145
- RE, s.v. Xanthos (2).
- Diodorus Siculus, 5.81.2.
- Diodorus Siculus, 5.81.3-4
References
- Beekes, Robert S. P., Etymological Dictionary of Greek, Leiden, Brill, 2009. ISBN 978-90-04-17418-4. Internet Archive.
- Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History translated by Charles Henry Oldfather. Twelve volumes. Loeb Classical Library. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. 1989. Vol. 3. Books 4.59–8. Online version at Bill Thayer's Web Site.
- Gaius Julius Hyginus, Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. Online version at the Topos Text Project.
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