In Greek mythology, Dion (/ˈdaɪɒn, ən/; 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.

Dion
King of Laconia, Sparta
Legendary King of Sparta
PredecessorTisamenus
BornLaconia
ParentsOrestes, Hermione

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]

Regnal titles Preceded byTisamenus King of Sparta C. 1100s BC Succeeded byunknown

Notes

  1. ^ Emendation of "Iphitea, daughter of Prognaus".
  2. ^ «ne proditrices numinum esse vellent, neve quaererent quod esset nefas scire»
  3. ^ Maurus Servius Honoratus, Commentaries on the Eclogues of Virgil. VIII. 30
  4. ^ Dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities. Ed. by William Smith (1870) Archived 2012-10-12 at the Wayback Machine, v. 1, page 1027
  5. ^ Ausführliches Lexikon der griechischen und römischen Mythologie. Hrsg. von H.W. Roscher. Leipzig, Teubner, 1890-1897. Repr.: Hildesheim, Olms, 1965. Band I. A-H., S. 1028
  6. ^ Realencyclopädie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft, Band V, Halbbände 9-10, Demogenes-Ephoroi (1905), p. 834

References

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