LION OF CITHAERON IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
The Lion of Cithaeron was a monstrous beast who appeared in the tales of Greek mythology. The Lion of Cithaeron was a mythological beast either encountered by Heracles or Alcathous.
The Cithaeronian Lion
There is no parentage for the Lion of Cithaeron given in ancient sources, but as its name suggests it was a mythological creature closely associated with Cithaeron. Cithaeron being a small mountain range that created a natural boundary between Boeotia and Attica.
Heracles and the Lion of Cithaeron
In the most famous version of the myth, the Lion of Cithaeron was a beast encountered by the hero Heracles.
Heracles was but 18 years of age at the time, and he found himself tending to the herds and flocks of Amphitryon, for Amphitryon felt that if Heracles remained in Thebes, he would always find trouble. Trouble though, found Heracles for the Lion of Cithaeron would feed upon the animals that Heracles was tending. Heracles though, was actually invited to hunt the Lion of Cithaeron by King Thespius, for the lion was also ravaging Thespius’ lands. Thespius though, had an ulterior motive for inviting Heracles to hunt the Lion of Cithaeron, for he wanted grandchildren sired by the demi-god. For fifty days, Heracles the Cithaeronian Lion, and for fifty nights he lay with the fifty daughters of Thespius. Eventually, Heracles cornered the Lion of Cithaeron near to Thespiae, and the son of Zeus killed the mythological beast, and subsequently, Heracles adorned himself with the skin of the beast. Heracles’ exploits against the Cithaeronian Lion were of course overshadowed by his subsequent encounter with another lion, the Nemean Lion. |
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Alcathous and the Lion of Cithaeron
Some ancient sources though, claim that the Lion of Cithaeron was killed by another; the other being Alcathous, son of Pelops.
The Lion of Cithaeron had proved itself to be a man eater, and indeed one of the lion’s victims was Euippus, son of Megareus, King of Megara. Megareus promised the hand in marriage of his daughter, Evaechme, to the man who killed the lion, and also said that that man would be made his heir.
Thus it was aid by some that Alcathous dispatched the beast; and when he later became king, Alcathous built a temple sanctuary dedicated to Artemis and Apollo, both deities being closely associated with hunting.
Others though, not wishing to credit another for deeds believed to be Heracles, said instead that Alcathous came afterwards to Cithaeron, and killed a lion other than the famed creature.
The Lion of Cithaeron had proved itself to be a man eater, and indeed one of the lion’s victims was Euippus, son of Megareus, King of Megara. Megareus promised the hand in marriage of his daughter, Evaechme, to the man who killed the lion, and also said that that man would be made his heir.
Thus it was aid by some that Alcathous dispatched the beast; and when he later became king, Alcathous built a temple sanctuary dedicated to Artemis and Apollo, both deities being closely associated with hunting.
Others though, not wishing to credit another for deeds believed to be Heracles, said instead that Alcathous came afterwards to Cithaeron, and killed a lion other than the famed creature.
Apollo and the Lion of Cithaeron
A third version of the tale of the Lion of Cithaeron, say instead that it was the god Apollo who killed the lion, and Alcathous thus built the sanctuary to give thanks to the god for freeing the land of the mythological beast.
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Colin Quartermain - Lion of Cithaeron - 9th October 2022