HYRIEUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Hyrieus was a king of Greek mythology, famous for being extremely wealthy, and also for being the “father” of the hunter Orion.
Hyrieus Son of Poseidon
Hyrieus was said to be the son of the sea god Poseidon and the Pleiad nymph Alycone, making him brother to the likes of Aethusa, Anthas and Hyperenor.
Hyrieus would build, and rule, the city of Hyria in Boeotia, which of course was named after Hyrieus.
Hyrieus would build, and rule, the city of Hyria in Boeotia, which of course was named after Hyrieus.
The Treasure Vault of Hyrieus
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Hyria under Hyrieus would prosper, and gold flowed into the royal palace, and so Hyrieus decided to build a secure treasure house for his gold. To this end Hyrieus employed the noted architect brothers Agamedes and Trophonius, who had already constructed Apollo’s first temple at Delphi.
From outward appearances, Agamades and Trophonius did a good job building a secure building, but Hyrieus did not know that the brothers were not to be trusted. For the pair had built a secret entrance to the treasure house, and by moving just one stone, the brothers had access to all the treasures stored within. Time after time Agamades and Trophonius entered the vault, stealing a little each time, but Hyrieus noticed that his treasure was decreasing in size when it should be growing. The seals though always remained intact, and so Hyrieus installed various traps inside the treasure house. One of these traps caught Agamades, and Trophonius was unable to release his brother, recognising that if Hyrieus found Agamades in his vault then suspicion would immediately fall upon Trophonius, Trophonius did the only thing he could do hide the fact, and cut off his brother’s head, leaving nothing behind that Hyrieus could recognise. Trophonius would shortly afterwards disappear into the earth. |
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Orion Son of Hyrieus
Hyrieus might have prospered financially but it was also said that he had no heir to pass his wealth onto.
This situation would change though when Hyrieus was visited by three gods, Poseidon, Zeus and Hermes, in disguise. Not knowing who his visitors were, Hyrieus still welcomed them, and was extremely hospitable.
The three gods would seek to reward their host, and when they found out his greatest wish was to have a son, the three gods urinated onto a bull’s hide, which was then buried by Hyrieus for nine months.
When Hyrieus then dug up the bull’s hide, inside was a new born boy, a boy who would be called Orion; and Hyrieus would raise Orion as his own son, although he was in truth a son of the three gods and Gaia, and of course Orion had his own widespread tale in Greek mythology.
This situation would change though when Hyrieus was visited by three gods, Poseidon, Zeus and Hermes, in disguise. Not knowing who his visitors were, Hyrieus still welcomed them, and was extremely hospitable.
The three gods would seek to reward their host, and when they found out his greatest wish was to have a son, the three gods urinated onto a bull’s hide, which was then buried by Hyrieus for nine months.
When Hyrieus then dug up the bull’s hide, inside was a new born boy, a boy who would be called Orion; and Hyrieus would raise Orion as his own son, although he was in truth a son of the three gods and Gaia, and of course Orion had his own widespread tale in Greek mythology.
Further Sons for Hyrieus
Some tell of Hyrieus becoming a father naturally afterwards; and by Clonia, the Naiad nymph of the fountain of Hyria, Hyrieus would become father to two sons Nycteus and Lycus, two sons who would both later become regents of Thebes.
It has to be said though, that other parentage of Nycteus and Lycus is given in Greek mythology, with some calling them sons of the Spartoi Chthonius, or perhaps sons of Poseidon and the Pleiad nymph Celaeno.
It has to be said though, that other parentage of Nycteus and Lycus is given in Greek mythology, with some calling them sons of the Spartoi Chthonius, or perhaps sons of Poseidon and the Pleiad nymph Celaeno.
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