Greek Mythology Notes

Asopus

god
Ἀσωπός
river, justice

River god of the Asopus in Boeotia, father of many nymphs.

The Myth

Asopus fathered numerous nymph daughters, many of whom were abducted by the gods. When Zeus carried off his daughter Aegina, Asopus pursued the king of the gods himself. Zeus struck him down with thunderbolts, driving him back to his riverbed. Ancient observers claimed to find charred stones in the Asopus riverbed as proof of this divine punishment.

Parents

Oceanus, Tethys

Children

Aegina, Salamis, Thebe, Sinope

Symbols

riverbedcharred stones

Fun Fact

The island of Aegina in the Saronic Gulf is named after his daughter, and remains a popular day trip from Athens.

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