Cycnus of Liguria explained

Type:	Greek
Cycnus
Abode:	Liguria
Parents:	Sthenelus
Consort:	Phaethon (lover)
Children:	Cinyras, Cupavo

In Greek mythology, Cycnus (Ancient Greek: Κύκνος "swan") or Cygnus was a king of Liguria, a beloved and lover of Phaethon, who lamented his death and was subsequently turned into a swan and then a constellation.^[1]

Mythology

Family

Cycnus was the son of Sthenelus and the lover of Phaethon (Servius explicitly writes "amator", or lover). According to Ovid, he was a distant relative of Phaethon on his mother's side. Servius also mentions that Cycnus had a son named Cupavo.^[2]

Transformation

After Phaethon died, Cycnus sat by the river Eridanos mourning his death. The gods turned him into a swan to relieve him of his sorrow. Even then he retained memories of Phaethon's death, and would avoid the sun's heat because of that.^[3] Swans are known for mourning their mate for many days when they die, which suggests that Cygnus and Phaethon were lovers.^{[4] [5] [6]} According to Virgil, Cycnus lamented Phaethon's death till he grew old, so his gray hair became gray feathers upon his transformation.^[7] Pausanias mentions Cycnus, king of the Ligyes (Ligurians), as a renowned musician who after his death was changed into a swan by Apollo.^[8] Servius also writes of Cycnus as a musician and a friend of Phaethon, and states that he was changed into a swan and later was placed among the stars by Apollo (that is, as the constellation Cygnus), who had also once blessed him with talent in singing. Cycnus's talent as a musician may serve the association with the concept of the swan song suggested in Hyginus's account.^[9]

References

Ancient

• Pausanias, Pausanias Description of Greece with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
• Vergil, Aeneid. Theodore C. Williams. trans. Boston. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1910. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
• Ovid, Metamorphoses, Volume I: Books 1-8. Translated by Frank Justus Miller. Revised by G. P. Goold. Loeb Classical Library No. 42. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1977, first published 1916. . Online version at Harvard University Press.
• Hyginus, Gaius Julius, The Myths of Hyginus. Edited and translated by Mary A. Grant, Lawrence: University of Kansas Press, 1960.
• Maurus Servius Honoratus, In Vergilii carmina comentarii. Servii Grammatici qui feruntur in Vergilii carmina commentarii; recensuerunt Georgius Thilo et Hermannus Hagen. Georgius Thilo. Leipzig. B. G. Teubner. 1881. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.

Modern

• Smith, William, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, London (1873). Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.

External links

• CYCNUS from The Theoi Project

Notes and References

1. William Smith, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology Cycnus
2. [Maurus Servius Honoratus|Servius]
3. [Ovid]
4. News: Animals grieve just as people do. Wedderburn. Pete. The Telegraph. 3 September 2015 . en-GB. 25 July 2019.
5. Web site: Lonely Irish swan 'hugs' cars after its mate was killed. 22 October 2018. IrishCentral.com. en. 25 July 2019.
6. Web site: The care and treatment of swans and waterfowl with an established worldwide reputation.. The Swan Sanctuary. en-GB. 25 July 2019.
7. [Virgil]
8. [Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]
9. [Hyginus]