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Aeacus
(309 words)

[German version]

(Αἰακός; Aiakós). Son of Zeus and  Asopus' daughter Aegina, was regarded as the founding hero of the island of Aegina. The history of the inhabitants or the re-inhabitants of the island is generally associated with him; for his benefit Zeus transformed all the ants into people (Hes. fr. 205 M-W). By his wife Endeis, A. fathered   Peleus and  Telamon; many stories give him a further third son with the name Phocus (seal), whose mother was the  Nereid Psamathe. Phocus lost his life through his half-brothers, deliberately so, according to most versions; A. ther…

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Kearns, Emily (Oxford), “Aeacus”, in: Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e109370>
First published online: 2006
First print edition: 9789004122598, 20110510



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