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Aethra (Greek mythology) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Aethra(Greekmythology)
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

InGreekmythology,AethraorAithra(AncientGreek:, pronounced[i tra],English/ir/,the"brightsky"[1])wasaname appliedtofourdifferentindividuals:

Contents
1MotherofTheseus 2Oceanid 3WifeofHyperion 4WifeofPhalanthus 5References

Demophon(?)freeingAethra,Attic whitegroundkylix,470460BC, StaatlicheAntikensammlungen(Inv. 2687).

MotherofTheseus
AethrawasadaughterofKingPittheusofTroezenandthemotherofTheseus(hisfatherwastheking AegeusofAthens,orinsomeversions,Poseidon).AegeuswenttoTroezen,acitysouthwestofAthensthat hadasitspatronsAthenaandPoseidon,wherePittheusgotAegeusdrunkonunmixedwineandputhimto bedwithhisdaughter.FollowingtheinstructionsofAthenainadream,sheleftthesleepingAegeusand wadedacrosstotheislandofSphairiathatlayclosetoTroezen'sshore.Thereshepouredalibationto Sphairos,Pelops'charioteer,andwaspossessedbyPoseidoninthenight.Whenshewasthusdoubly pregnant,AegeasdecidedtogobacktoAthens.Beforeleaving,hecoveredhissandals,shieldandsword underahugerock,thatservedasaprimitivealtartoStrongZeus,andtoldherthatwhentheirsonwould growup,heshouldmovetherockandbringhisweaponsback.Aethradidasshewastold,andTheseus, recoveringtheweaponsthatwerehisbirthright,grewtobeagreathero,killingtheMinotaur,amongother adventures. Later,whenTheseuskidnappedHelen,hegavehertoAethraforsafekeeping.Helen'sbrothers,theDioscuri, tookHelenbackandkidnappedAethrainrevenge.ShewenttoTroywithHelenandremainedthereuntil foundbyhergrandson,Acamas,duringthefallofthecity. Withsignificantalterationstothecharacter,aversionofthisAethraappears(as"Aithra"),asorceressand concubineofPoseidon,inRichardStrauss'sfamousoperaDiegyptischeHelena(TheEgyptianHelen).

Oceanid
AethraisalsothenameofoneoftheOceanids,the3000daughtersofOceanusandTethys.Sheissometimes calledthewifeofAtlasandmotherofthePleiadesandtheHyades(moreusuallytheoffspringofPleione).[2]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aethra_(Greek_mythology)

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Aethra (Greek mythology) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WifeofHyperion
AfigurecalledAethra(possiblytheOceanid)is,inonesource,calledthewifeofHyperion,ratherthanTheia, andmotherofHelios,Eos,andSelene.[3]

WifeofPhalanthus
AnotherAethrawasthewifeoftheSpartanPhalanthus.Shefulfilledtheprophecygiventoherhusbandby hertears,afterwhichheconqueredTarentumforhimself.[4]

References
1. 2. 3. 4. ^RobertGraves,TheGreekMyths,(19551960)index,s.v."Aethra". ^Hyginus.Astronomica,2.21(http://www.theoi.com/Text/HyginusAstronomica2.html#21). ^Hyginus.Fabulae,Preface(http://www.theoi.com/Text/HyginusFabulae1.html). ^Pausanias.DescriptionofGreece,Book10(http://www.indiana.edu/~dmdhist/Pausaniasdelphi.htm).

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