LAELAPS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Laelaps was a legendary dog that appeared in the tales of Greek mythology, for Laelaps was the hunting dog that was destined to always catch what it hunted.
Laelaps A Gift from Zeus
Laelaps was a hunting dog of no known parentage, and although some suggest that Laelaps was the same dog who guarded the baby Zeus upon Crete, there are no surviving tales about how the god came into existence.
Laelaps comes to prominence following upon the abduction of Europa by Zeus. In the form of a bull, Zeus had taken Europa to the island of Crete, and had there made love to the beautiful princess. Europa would become pregnant with three sons of Zeus, Minos, Rhadamanthys and Sarpedon, but of course Zeus could not stay by the side of his pregnant lover.
Zeus would thus leave Europa alone on the island of Crete, but he left with his lover gifts which might be of future use. One gift was a javelin, which when thrown would always hit its target, a second gift was Talos, the man of bronze who would be a physical protector of Europa, and the third gift was Laelaps, the hunting dog that would always capture its quarry.
Laelaps comes to prominence following upon the abduction of Europa by Zeus. In the form of a bull, Zeus had taken Europa to the island of Crete, and had there made love to the beautiful princess. Europa would become pregnant with three sons of Zeus, Minos, Rhadamanthys and Sarpedon, but of course Zeus could not stay by the side of his pregnant lover.
Zeus would thus leave Europa alone on the island of Crete, but he left with his lover gifts which might be of future use. One gift was a javelin, which when thrown would always hit its target, a second gift was Talos, the man of bronze who would be a physical protector of Europa, and the third gift was Laelaps, the hunting dog that would always capture its quarry.
Laelaps Owned by Minos
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Europa prospered upon Crete, marrying King Asterion, but eventually the mortal Europa would die and whilst Talos became the protector of the island, the javelin and Laelaps were inherited by Minos, who also became the King of Crete after Asterion.
Minos had a problem though, for his jealous wife, Pasiphae, had transformed his sperm into poisonous scorpions and the like, this transformation was meant to curtail the extra-marital liaisons of Minos, for any lover of the king would be killed. |
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Laelaps and Procris
It was then that the paths of Procris and Minos crossed, and the Athenian princess promised the king that she could cure him. In gratitude Minos makes a gift of the javelin and Laelaps.
Procris would return to her husband, Cephalus, but after Cephalus accidentally kills his wife in a hunting accident, the gifts that once belonged to Europa were now owned by Cephalus.
Procris would return to her husband, Cephalus, but after Cephalus accidentally kills his wife in a hunting accident, the gifts that once belonged to Europa were now owned by Cephalus.
Amphitryon Comes For Laelaps
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It was to Cephalus that Amphitryon came when the husband of Alcmene had been tasked by Creon to rid Thebes of the menace that was the Teumessian Fox.
The monstrous, man-eating Teumessian Fox, was a deadly threat to the people of Thebes, but it was also an animal that was destined never to be caught, and so Amphitryon, as well as every other hunter who had hunted it, had failed to get even close to capturing the beast. Amphitryon therefore reckoned that the only hope he had was to make use of Laelaps, for it was of course destined to always capture its prey. Cephalus agreed to use Laelaps to hunt the Teumessian Fox, and in exchange, Amphitryon promised to Cephalus a share in the spoils for the forthcoming war with the Taphians. Laelaps in ThebesAmphitryon, Cephalus and Laelaps returned together to Thebes, and Laelaps was dispatched onto the scent of the Teumessian Fox.
There now existed a quandary for the fox that could never be caught was being chased by the dog that could never fail, and which destiny was to be fulfilled? |
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Zeus observed events around Thebes, and recognising the paradox that was occurring decided to bring the chase of Laelaps to an end, although the god did it in such a way that neither destiny became invalid.
Laelaps, and the Teumessian Fox, were both turned to stone, before their likenesses were put into the heavens, so that an eternal chase could continue, for Teumessian Fox became Canis Minor, and Laelaps became Canis Major.
Laelaps, and the Teumessian Fox, were both turned to stone, before their likenesses were put into the heavens, so that an eternal chase could continue, for Teumessian Fox became Canis Minor, and Laelaps became Canis Major.
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