In Greek mythology, Minyas (/ˈmɪniəs, ˈmɪnjəs/; Ancient Greek: Μινύας) was the founder of Orchomenus, Boeotia.^[1]

Family

As the ancestor of the Minyans, a number of Boeotian genealogies lead back to him, according to the classicist H.J. Rose.^{[citation needed]} Accounts vary as to his own parentage: one source stated that he was thought to be the son of Orchomenus and Hermippe, his real father being Poseidon;^[2] in another account he was called the son of the latter and Callirhoe^[3] or Tritogeneia, daughter of Aeolus^[4] or Euryanassa, daughter of Hyperphas^[5] or lastly, Chrysogone, daughter of Almus.^[6] Yet others variously gave Minyas' father as Chryses (son of Poseidon and Chrysogeneia),^[7] Thessalus (son of Poseidon),^[8] Eteocles,^[9] Sisyphus,^[10] Aeolus,^[1] Ares^{[citation needed]}, Aleus^{[citation needed]} and Halmus (Almus)^{[citation needed]}.

Minyas was married to Euryale, Clytodora, or Phanosyra (daughter of Paeon). Of them, Clytodora bore him a daughter Clymene (also called Periclymene,^[11][12] mother of Iphiclus and Alcimede by Phylacus or Cephalus). Clytodora was also given as the mother by Minyas of Orchomenus, Presbon, Athamas,^[13] Diochthondas^[14] and Eteoclymene.^[15] Minyas' other children include Cyparissus, the founder of Anticyra,^[16] and three daughters known as the Minyades who were turned into bats.^[17] In some accounts, Minyas was also said to be the father of Persephone, mother of Iasus. The latter was the father of Amphion, who in turn was the father of Chloris and Phylomache, respectively the wives of Neleus^[18] and Pelias. Also, Elara, the mother of the giant Tityus was also described sometimes as Minyas' daughter.^[19]

Mythology

According to Apollonius Rhodius^[21] and Pausanias,^[22] Minyas was the first king to have made a treasury, of which the ruins were still extant in Pausanias' times.