TRIOPAS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Triopas in Greek Mythology
Triopas was a Thessalian king in Greek mythology. Triopas was not famous for his rule but for his punishment by Demeter, after the king destroyed one of her temples.
Triopas Son of Helios
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Triopas was commonly said to be one of the seven sons of the sun god Helios, and Rhodos, the nymph daughter of Poseidon.
Thus, Triopas was brother to Actis, Candalus, Cercaphus, Macar, Ochimus and Tenages; some sources also add two further brothers, Auges and Thrinax. Alternatively, Triopas was the son of Poseidon and Canace, which would make Triopas brother to Aloeus, Epopeus, Hopleus and Nireus. |
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Some tell of Triopas marrying Hiscilla, the daughter of Myrmidon, and Triopas thus became father of Erysichthon, Phorbas, and Iphimedeia.
Triopas Exiled
The story of Triopas as a son of Helios allows for a more detailed tale. The seven sons of Helios were closely associated with the island of Rhodes, and it was said by some that they drove the Telchines from the island.
Known as master seamen and astrologers, Tenages’ skills outstripped those of his brothers, which resulted in the jealousy of the other Heliadae. Four, Actis, Candalus, Macar and Triopas, acted on this jealousy and killed their brother.
The four murderers were forced to flee from Rhodes, going their separate ways; Actis would end up in Egypt, Candalus on Cos and Macar on Lesbos.
Triopas first sailed the short distance to Chersonesus, the peninsula of Caria, before crossing the sea to Thessaly.
Known as master seamen and astrologers, Tenages’ skills outstripped those of his brothers, which resulted in the jealousy of the other Heliadae. Four, Actis, Candalus, Macar and Triopas, acted on this jealousy and killed their brother.
The four murderers were forced to flee from Rhodes, going their separate ways; Actis would end up in Egypt, Candalus on Cos and Macar on Lesbos.
Triopas first sailed the short distance to Chersonesus, the peninsula of Caria, before crossing the sea to Thessaly.
Triopas Angers Demeter
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In Thessaly, helped the sons of Deucalion to force out the Pelasgians from the region, and subsequently, Triopas would become a king of Thessaly.
When building his palace though, Triopas would obtain building material by pulling down an ancient temple of Demeter. Such sacrilege would not go unpunished, and Demeter sent forth Limos, hunger, and from that day forth, Triopas would suffer from insatiable hunger. |
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Such punishment was also said to have been inflicted upon Triopas’ son, Erysichthon, when he defiled a grove sacred to Demeter.
For the act of sacrilege Triopas was also driven out of his own kingdom by his own subjects, and Triopas would return to Caria, and there he built a new city, Triopion (Triopium).
Demeter though had not forgotten, nor forgiven Triopas’ sacrilege, and the goddess also sent a snake to harass the former Thessalian king further.
Eventually, Triopas would die, and some then say that Demeter placed his likeness amongst the stars as the constellation Ophiuchus, the snake-bearer, as a warning to others.
For the act of sacrilege Triopas was also driven out of his own kingdom by his own subjects, and Triopas would return to Caria, and there he built a new city, Triopion (Triopium).
Demeter though had not forgotten, nor forgiven Triopas’ sacrilege, and the goddess also sent a snake to harass the former Thessalian king further.
Eventually, Triopas would die, and some then say that Demeter placed his likeness amongst the stars as the constellation Ophiuchus, the snake-bearer, as a warning to others.
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Colin Quartermain - Triopas - 2nd February 2020