Erodius
Son of Autonous turned into a heron by Zeus and Apollo.
Erodius is a figure in Greek mythology, the son of Autonous and Hippodamia. He was transformed into a heron by Zeus and Apollo after a family tragedy. The myth is preserved only in the works of the second-century author Antoninus Liberalis.
Quick Facts
- Parents
- Autonous and Hippodamia
- Siblings
- Acanthus
- Anthus
- Schoeneus
- Acanthis
- Transformed into
- Heron
- Transforming deities
- Zeus and Apollo
Facts from the source article.
Did You Know?
- Robert S. P. Beekes notes the word's many variants indicate a pre-Greek origin, but its resemblance to Latin ardea is not coincidental.
- Because his father neglected husbandry, the land produced only rushes and thistles, leading him to name four children after plants and Erodius for what the land had done.
Mythology
Erodius loved his father's horses and let them graze in meadows. His brother Anthus led the mares away, causing them to go mad and devour Anthus as the family watched. Zeus and Apollo transformed the family into birds; Erodius became a heron, as did the manservant, though a different sort.
Analysis
The myth relies on puns between bird and plant names in ancient Greek. The original manuscript page is lost, creating textual crux. The heron Erodius became was smaller than the servant's, and avoided the bird Anthus turned into. Possible identifications include the grey heron, great egret, and Eurasian bittern. Some scholars suggest the myth originated from Agathon's lost play Anthos, while H. J. Rose and Celoria disagree with a theatrical origin.
More in Metamorphoses Into Birds in Greek Mythology
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