KING BELUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
The mythologies of Ancient Greece and Ancient Egypt are of course separate subjects, but the Ancient Greeks would use their own stories to explain the history and events of the lands south of the Mediterranean. Thus the gods of the Greek pantheon were used as equivalents of the Egyptian pantheon, and equally as important, the lineage of kings of Egypt would also play an important role in the history of the Greek people, and one such king was Belus.
Belus - Descendant of Io
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The Naiad Io was considered to be one of the three main ancestors of the Greek peoples (alongside Deucalion and Atlas), and it was in the land south of the Mediterranean that Io would settle, and give birth to a son of Zeus called Epaphus.
Epaphus would wed the Naiad Memphis, a daughter of the Potamoi Neilos (the Nile). Epaphus would thus become father to a daughter named Libya, who gave her name to the land of Libya, which at the time equated to Africa. |
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Libya would become a lover of the Greek god Poseidon, and thus Libya bore the god twin sons Agenor and Belus.
King Belus
Belus would inherit the kingdom of Epaphus, thus he became ruler of Africa (for at the time only the land north of the Sahara was known). Agenor would leave the land and settle in the land that became Phoenicia; and of course, Agenor became father to Europa and Cadmus.
Belus would also become a father, for he married another daughter of Neilos, a Naiad called Anchinoe. The two most famous sons of Belus were Danaus and Aegyptus.
Belus would also become a father, for he married another daughter of Neilos, a Naiad called Anchinoe. The two most famous sons of Belus were Danaus and Aegyptus.
After Belus
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Danaus would succeed his father as king of Africa, whilst Aegyptus was given the region of Arabia. Despite being a large kingdom, Aegyptus was not satisfied with Arabia, and subsequently conquered the land of the Malampods, which was probably part of Danaus’ kingdom. Aegyptus would name this conquered country after himself, Egypt.
Danaus, and his 50 daughters, would leave Africa, fearful of the might of Aegyptus, and settle in Argos. Numerous descendants followed, and these descendants were called the Danaans, a name often used for the Greek people as a whole. |
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Other Children of Belus
There are many versions of who else were children of Belus; and these versions are often contradictory.
Agenor is sometimes named not as a brother of Belus, but as a son of the king and Anchinoe.
Cepheus and Phineus are also later named as sons of Belus in some sources, although this seems to be a later addition to the myth, for they were previously named as sons of Phoenix, who himself was possibly a son of Agenor, but also occasionally named son of Belus.
There are also some named daughters of Belus, including Damno, who was potentially wife of Agenor; although more commonly the wife of Agenor is named Telephassa or Argiope. Another daughter was said to be Thronia, who by Hermes, bore Arabus, who gave his name to Arabia. A third daughter of Belus is called Lamia, a Queen of Libya, who was a lover of Zeus.
Agenor is sometimes named not as a brother of Belus, but as a son of the king and Anchinoe.
Cepheus and Phineus are also later named as sons of Belus in some sources, although this seems to be a later addition to the myth, for they were previously named as sons of Phoenix, who himself was possibly a son of Agenor, but also occasionally named son of Belus.
There are also some named daughters of Belus, including Damno, who was potentially wife of Agenor; although more commonly the wife of Agenor is named Telephassa or Argiope. Another daughter was said to be Thronia, who by Hermes, bore Arabus, who gave his name to Arabia. A third daughter of Belus is called Lamia, a Queen of Libya, who was a lover of Zeus.
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