Acanthis (mythology)

Mythology

Acanthis was the daughter of Autonous and Hippodamia, and sister to Anthus, Erodius, Schoeneus, and Acanthus. Autonous, son of Melaneus, had amassed many herds of horses tended by his wife and children, but neglected farming, so his lands yielded only rushes and thistles. He named his children after such plants: Acanthus, Schoeneus, and Acanthis, while his eldest son Erodius was named for the erosion of the lands. Erodius was fond of the horse herds he pastured in meadows. When Anthus drove the mares from their pastures, they became furious and devoured him as he cried to the gods. His father wavered and failed to drive off the mares, while the mother struggled but could not prevent the tragedy. Zeus and Apollo took pity on the family and transformed them all into birds. Autonous became a quail, the mother a crested lark, and Anthus, Erodius, Schoeneus, Acanthus, and Acanthyllis were metamorphosed into birds retaining their original names. The servant who attended Anthus became a heron, smaller than the dark variety, which does not associate with the anthus bird, just as the anthus bird avoids horses due to Anthus's painful experience. Even today, when this heron hears a horse neigh, it flies away mimicking the sound.