Dion (mythology) explained

Birth Place:Laconia
King of Laconia, Sparta
Dion
Succession:Legendary King of Sparta
Predecessor:Tisamenus
Parents:Orestes, Hermione

In Greek mythology, Dion (; Ancient Greek: Δίων) was a King in Laconia and husband of Amphithea, the daughter of Pronax.[1] By his wife, he became the father of Orphe, Lyco, and Carya.

Mythology

The god Apollo, who had been kindly received by Dion and Amphithea, rewarded them by conferring upon their three daughters the gift of prophecy, on condition, however, that they should not betray the gods nor search after forbidden things.[2]

Dion erected a temple to Dionysus, who also visited his house and fell in love with Carya. When Orphe and Lyco tried not to let their sister consort with the god (thus breaking the restrictions imposed by Apollo), Dionysus changed them into rocks and Carya into a walnut tree. The Lacedaemonians, on being informed of it by Artemis, dedicated a temple to Artemis Caryatis.[3] [4] [5] [6]

References

Notes and References

  1. Emendation of "Iphitea, daughter of Prognaus".
  2. «ne proditrices numinum esse vellent, neve quaererent quod esset nefas scire»
  3. https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2007.01.0091%3Apoem%3D8%3Acommline%3D29 Maurus Servius Honoratus, Commentaries on the Eclogues of Virgil. VIII. 30
  4. http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/1033.html Dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities. Ed. by William Smith (1870)
  5. https://archive.org/stream/Roscher/Roscher1AH#page/n16/mode/1up Ausführliches Lexikon der griechischen und römischen Mythologie. Hrsg. von H.W. Roscher. Leipzig, Teubner, 1890-1897. Repr.: Hildesheim, Olms, 1965
  6. Realencyclopädie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft, Band V, Halbbände 9-10, Demogenes-Ephoroi (1905), p. 834