Hippodamia (wife of Autonous)
Wife of Autonous turned into a lark by Zeus and Apollo.
Hippodamia was the wife of Autonous, son of Melaneus, and the mother of Anthus, who was devoured by his father's horses. After this tragedy, Zeus and Apollo turned all family members into birds, with Hippodamia becoming a lark. Her name, meaning 'she who masters horses,' derives from the Greek words for horse and to tame.
Quick Facts
- Deity of
- Transformed into a lark
- Consort
- Autonous
- Children
- Acanthis (mythology)
- Anthus
- Erodius
- Schoenous and Acanthus
Facts from the source article.
Mythology
According to the story, Autonous and Hippodamia had sons Erodius, Anthus, Schoeneus, Acanthus, and a daughter Acanthis, who was granted great beauty by the gods. Autonous owned many herds of horses pastured by Hippodamia and their children. Erodius was fond of the horses, but when Anthus drove the mares from their pastures, they became infuriated and devoured him despite his cries to the gods. His father, panic-stricken, failed to drive off the mares, as did the servant. The mother battled the mares but could not stop the slaughter. After bewailing Anthus, Zeus and Apollo pitied the family and turned them all into birds. Autonous became a quail because he had quailed at driving off the horses. Hippodamia was turned into a crested lark because she had headed for the mares to fight for her son. Anthus, Erodius, Schoeneus, Acanthus, and Acanthyllis were turned into birds bearing their names. The servant became a heron, smaller than the dark variety, which does not associate with the anthus bird, just as the anthus bird avoids horses. To this day, when the heron hears a horse neigh, it flies away imitating the cry.
More in Metamorphoses Into Birds in Greek Mythology
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