Cycnus
Cycnus changed into a swan
AbodeLiguria
Personal information
ParentsSthenelus
ConsortPhaethon (lover)
ChildrenCinyras, Cupavo

In Greek mythology, Cycnus (Ancient Greek: Κύκνος "swan") or Cygnus, was a king of Liguria, a beloved and kin 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.[2] Cycnus's talent as a musician may serve the association with the concept of the swan song suggested in Hyginus's account.[9]

Notes

  1. William Smith, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology Cycnus
  2. 1 2 Servius on Aeneid 10.189
  3. Ovid, Metamorphoses 2.367-380
  4. Wedderburn, Pete (3 September 2015). "Animals grieve just as people do". The Telegraph. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  5. "Lonely Irish swan 'hugs' cars after its mate was killed". IrishCentral.com. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  6. "The care and treatment of swans and waterfowl with an established worldwide reputation". The Swan Sanctuary. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  7. Virgil, Aeneid 10.189
  8. Pausanias, 1.30.3
  9. Hyginus, Fabulae 154

References

Ancient

Modern

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.