[238] A third story, different both from Homer and from
Sophoklês, respecting Tyrô, is found in Hyginus (Fab. lx.): it
is of a tragical cast, and borrowed, like so many other tales in
that collection, from one of the lost Greek dramas.
Her father, the unjust Salmôneus, exhibited in his conduct the most
insolent impiety towards the gods. He assumed the name and title even
of Zeus, and caused to be offered to himself the sacrifices destined
for that god: he also imitated the thunder and lightning, by driving
about with brazen caldrons attached to his chariot and casting lighted
torches towards heaven. Such wickedness finally drew upon him the wrath
of Zeus, who smote him with a thunderbolt, and effaced from the earth
the city which he had founded, with all its inhabitants.[239]
[239] Apollod. i. 9, 7. Σαλμωνεύς τ᾽ ἄδικος καὶ ὑπέρθυμος
Περιήρης. Hesiod, Fragm. Catal. 8. Marktscheffel.
Where the city of Salmôneus was situated, the ancient
investigators were not agreed; whether in the Pisatid, or in
Elis, or in Thessaly (see Strabo, viii. p. 356). Euripidês in
his Æolus placed him on the banks of the Alpheius (Eurip. Fragm.
Æol. 1). A village and fountain in the Pisatid bore the name
of Salmônê; but the mention of the river Enipeus seems to mark
Thessaly as the original seat of the legend. But the _naïveté_ of
the tale preserved by Apollodôrus (Virgil in the Æneid, vi. 586,
has retouched it) marks its ancient date: the final circumstance
of that tale was, that the city and its inhabitants were
annihilated.
Ephorus makes Salmôneus king of the Epeians and of the Pisatæ
(Fragm. 15, ed. Didot).
The lost drama of Sophoklês, called Σαλμωνεὺς, was a δρᾶμα
σατυρικόν See Dindorf’s Fragm. 483.
Pelias and Nêleus, “both stout vassals of the great Zeus,” became
engaged in dissension respecting the kingdom of Iôlkos in Thessaly.
Pelias got possession of it, and dwelt there in plenty and prosperity;
but he had offended the goddess Hêrê by killing Sidêrô upon her altar,
and the effects of her wrath were manifested in his relations with his
nephew Jasôn.[240]
[240] Hom. Od. xi. 280. Apollod. i. 9, 9. κρατέρω θεραπόντε Διὸς,
etc.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account