Laestrygonians

The Laestrygonians (Latin Laestrygones ) are mentioned by Homer in the Odyssey and Ovid. You are a magical race of giants and cannibals, which operates only livestock, but no agriculture and is described as extremely uncivilized. Progenitor of the Laestrygonians is Laistrygon, a son of Poseidon and Gaia.

Ulysses reached the land on the seventh day after the visit to the island of Aeolus and before the visit to Circe on the island Aeaea. He loses here a large part of his crew and his ship, as he is attacked by the Laestrygonians.

As a king of Laestrygonians Poseidon son Lamos is called. His descendant Antiphates is specified as a king whose daughter take the three scouts of Odysseus at the source Artakie. Antiphates can be a scout Odysseus ' dish as " feast ", the other two managed to escape.

Odysseus manages to escape on his ship with a small portion of his companions, as it was not run as a single in the harbor; the rest of his men are devoured by the Laestrygonians.

The capital of the Laestrygonians means Telepylos (far gate), probably named after the port with a narrow driveway.

The location of the country of Laestrygonians is uncertain. It is said that the sun rises twice a day, because Helios on his return comes over here. A shepherd who does not sleep, could therefore earn double.

The later Greeks sought the residence of Laestrygonians in Sicily, especially below the Etna in the realm of the city Leontinoi, the Roman authors on the southern coast of Lazio in the area of ​​Formiae. Even the Marmara Sea at the entrance to the Black Sea is given. The location near the Black Sea fits best to the Argonauts. Others have Mezapos identified in Stavri in the Peloponnese in Greece location.