SCIRON OF MEGARA IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
The name Sciron is most closely associated with a robber encountered by Theseus in Greek mythology. Sciron though was also the name of a Megarian military leader, and it is not entirely clear whether the two were the same man or not.
Sciron Son of PylasSciron the military commander was said to have been a resident of Megara. Here, Sciron was named as a son of Pylas, and thus grandson of Lelex.
Pylas was King of Megara, but he would give the throne to his son-in-law Pandion, before going into exile. After Pandion, the throne then was passed to Nisus, Pandion’s son, but this was the cause of an argument between Nisus and Sciron, for Sciron believed the throne was rightfully his. This dispute was resolved when King Aeacus was brought into to adjudicate, with Aeacus ruling that Nisus would become king, and Sciron would become commander of the Magarian army. Some tell of Endeis being the daughter of Sciron born to either Chariclo or Pandion’s daughter. Endeis would become the wife of King Aeacus, although Endeis is more commonly said to have been the daughter of Chiron. Megara at War |
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Thus, the Cretan fleet and army would come to Megara, with Megara falling to Minos’ troops after the treachery of Scylla, Nisus daughter. As military commander, it would be assumed that Sciron led the defence of Megara during the war, and that assumption would lead to the belief that Sciron was killed during this defence, but this is not specifically mentioned.
Athens would of course subsequently have to pay tribute to Minos, in the form of youths and maidens, as sacrifice to the Minotaur.
Athens would of course subsequently have to pay tribute to Minos, in the form of youths and maidens, as sacrifice to the Minotaur.
The Road of Sciron
As previously mentioned Sciron was a name associated with a robber who preyed on the unwary upon a cliff road near to Megara. Sciron was credited with building the road between Athens and Corinth, and this is perhaps where the tale of Sciron the bandit comes in, with Athenians vilifying the Megarean because of the rivalry between the two city states.
The Death of Sciron
Assuming that Sciron did not die in the war with Crete, nor was he killed when thrown from the cliff edge by Theseus, then Plutarch’s version of Sciron’s death is a possibility.
Plutarch tells of Theseus having established himself in Athens, sought to expand the territory governed by Athens. Theseus set his eyes upon Eleusis, then ruled by Diocles, who might also have been the chief priest. Sciron led the army that sought to defend Eleusis, but it was in the battle that followed that Sciron was killed by Theseus.
Plutarch tells of Theseus having established himself in Athens, sought to expand the territory governed by Athens. Theseus set his eyes upon Eleusis, then ruled by Diocles, who might also have been the chief priest. Sciron led the army that sought to defend Eleusis, but it was in the battle that followed that Sciron was killed by Theseus.
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Colin Quartermain - Sciron of Megara - 23rd May 2022