HELLEN IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
In Greek mythology, Hellen was the man who gave his name to the Hellenic people, a name now synonymous with the Greek people.
Hellen Son of Deucalion
Hellen is most commonly named as the son of Deucalion and Pyrrha; Deucalion being the son of Prometheus who survived the Deluge, and Pyrrha being the daughter of Epimetheus and Pandora. This parentage could make Hellen brother to Amphictyon.
Occasionally, Hellen is named a son of Zeus and Dorippe, or Prometheus and Clymene, with this latter pairing then making Hellen a brother of Deucalion, rather than a son
Occasionally, Hellen is named a son of Zeus and Dorippe, or Prometheus and Clymene, with this latter pairing then making Hellen a brother of Deucalion, rather than a son
Hellen's SonsHellen would marry the Naiad nymph Orseis, the nymph of a Thessalonian town spring. Hellen would thus become the father of three sons, Dorus, the eponymous ancestor of the Dorians, Aeolus, the ancestor of the Aeolians, and Xuthus.
Xuthus was father of Achaeus and Ion, and so Hellen was grandfather of the Achaeans and Ionians as well. |
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Hellen and the Hellenes
Hellen was initially considered to be a King of Phthia in Thessaly, a kingdom to which he would leave to his son Aeolus.
In antiquity, especially at the time of classical mythology, it was the people of this region, Alope, Trachis and Alope who were called Hellenes after Hellen. Later, of course, Hellen by giving his name to the Hellenes, gave his name to all Greeks.
In antiquity, especially at the time of classical mythology, it was the people of this region, Alope, Trachis and Alope who were called Hellenes after Hellen. Later, of course, Hellen by giving his name to the Hellenes, gave his name to all Greeks.
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Colin Quartermain - Hellen - 24th September 2021