In Greek mythology, Elara /ˈɛlərə/, Elare or Alera (Ancient Greek: Ἐλάρα, Ἐλάραη or Ἀλέρα),[1] also called Larissa[2], was a mortal princess, the daughter of King Orchomenus and mother of the giant Tityos by Zeus. In some accounts, she was described as the daughter of Minyas instead.[3][4]
Myth
[edit]Zeus fell in love with Elara and hid her from his wife Hera's jealous rage by placing her deep beneath the Earth. This was where she gave birth to Tityos, a giant who is sometimes said to be the son of Gaia, the Earth goddess, for the reason being an earth-born (γηγενής gigenis "native") and brought up under the earth. It is further added that Elara died in labour because of the enormous size of her baby.[5][6]
The cave through which Tityos was believed to have come to the surface of Earth was located on Euboea and referred to as Elarion.[7]
Eponymy
[edit]One moon of Jupiter is named Elara.[8]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Elara2-LB1-mag17.jpg/140px-Elara2-LB1-mag17.jpg)
Notes
[edit]- ^ "Ἐλάρα, DGE Diccionario Griego-Español". dge.cchs.csic.es.
- ^ Pseudo-Clement, Recognitions 10.21–23
- ^ Scholiast on Homer, Odyssey 7.324
- ^ Eustathius on Homer, Odyssey 7.324, p. 1581
- ^ Apollodorus, 1.4.2
- ^ Scholia on Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 1.761 citing Pherecydes
- ^ Strabo, 9.3.15
- ^ Marsden, B. G. (7 October 1974). "Satellites of Jupiter". IAU Circular. 2846.
References
[edit]- Apollodorus, The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0674991354. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.
- Pseudo-Clement, Recognitions from Ante-Nicene Library Volume 8, translated by Smith, Rev. Thomas. T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh. 1867. Online version at theio.com
- Strabo, The Geography of Strabo. Edition by H.L. Jones. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
- Strabo, Geographica edited by A. Meineke. Leipzig: Teubner. 1877. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.