Erginus (Argonaut) Explained

In Greek mythology, Erginus (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Ἐργῖνος) was an Argonaut^[1] who piloted the Argo after the helmsman Tiphys died.^[2]

Family

Erginus is said to be the son of Poseidon,^[3] and to have resided in the Carian city of Miletus.^[4] Yet others suggested he was a son of Periclymenus.^[5] Some authors identify him with another Erginus, king of Minyan Orchomenus.^[6]

Mythology

During the funeral games which Hypsipyle celebrated at Lemnos in honour of her father Thoas, Erginus also contended for a prize. But he was ridiculed by the Lemnian women because of his grey hair, even though he was still young. However, Erginus defeated Boreads in the foot-race.^[7]

Notes

1. [Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]
2. [Scholia]
3. Apollodorus, 1.9.16
4. Apollonius Rhodius, 1.185 & 2.896; Valerius Flaccus, 1.415; Orphic Argonautica, 150; Scholia ad Pindar, Pythian Ode 4.61
5. [Hyginus]
6. Pindar, Olympian Ode 4.19
7. Pindar, Olympian Ode 4.19 with scholia

References

• Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica translated by Robert Cooper Seaton (1853-1915), R. C. Loeb Classical Library Volume 001. London, William Heinemann Ltd, 1912. Online version at the Topos Text Project.
• Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica. George W. Mooney. London. Longmans, Green. 1912. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
• 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.
• Gaius Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica translated by Mozley, J H. Loeb Classical Library Volume 286. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1928. Online version at theio.com.
• Gaius Valerius Flaccus, Argonauticon. Otto Kramer. Leipzig. Teubner. 1913. Latin text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
• Pindar, Odes translated by Diane Arnson Svarlien. 1990. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
• Pindar, The Odes of Pindar including the Principal Fragments with an Introduction and an English Translation by Sir John Sandys, Litt.D., FBA. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1937. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
• The Orphic Argonautica, translated by Jason Colavito. © Copyright 2011. Online version at the Topos Text Project.

Further reading

• William Smith. A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. s.v. Erginus. London (1848).