Eleuther

Eleuther (Greek Ἐλευθήρ " Eleuthér " = liberator ) was in Greek mythology, king of the city and is regarded as Eleutherai namesake of the city and the mountain Eleutherai Eleuther.

Descent

Eleuther was a son of Apollo and Aithusa, grandson of Poseidon and great-grandson of Aeolus. Since he was descended on his grandmother and his great-grandmother Alkyone Enarete from the non- divine Deimachos, he was a demigod and was considered a hero.

Progeny

Eleuther was father of Iasios. His son was the father of Chairesilaos Poimandros, the founder of Tanagra. He also had daughters, the number and name are but not delivered.

Life

Little is known about Eleuthers life. He is said to have founded the city Eleutherai, introduced the cult of Dionysus Melanaigis or Eleuthereus and won as a singer at the Pythian games a prize. If Eleuther is a historical figure, he would have after 586 BC, the year of introduction of the Pythian Games, have lived (see Pythian games).

City's founder, King and namesake

Eleuther is named after him Eleutherai city, which was in ancient times on the border between Attica and Boeotia, founded and also have been king of the city. Eleuther was also the name of a mountain in the area of Eleutherai.

Dionysus Melanaigis

As Dionysus Eleuthers daughters appear in a black goatskin, they mock him because of his clothes. Then he beats her with madness. To redeem his daughters, Eleuther based on the advice of the oracle the cult of Dionysus Melanaigis ( Dionysus with the black fur ).

Dionysus Eleuthereus

For the worship of Dionysus Melanaigis he had produced the famous wooden statue that was later moved to Athens and was referred there by their origin from Eleutherai as Dionysus Eleuthereus. In Eleutherai but remained a copy of the statue. According to another view of the epithet can Eleuthereus also in the meaning " liberator from the madness " be understood, because Dionysus freed the daughters of Eleuther by madness, or in the meaning " worry -solver ", because it by the numbing effect of the wine man of sorrows, suffering and sorrow freed.

Pythian Games

Eleuther should once have won a prize at the Pythian Games in Delphi, " because he strongly and pleasantly sung: although he had not aufgesetzet the song itself."

Iconography

There are no known artistic representations of Eleuther.