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Greek Mythology Notes

Asterion

🗡 heroἈστερίων
River heritage, Argonaut voyage

Argonaut from Thessaly who was the son of a river god and sailed to Colchis with Jason‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‌​‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‌

The Legend of Asterion

Asterion was the son of the river god Apidanus and Cleobule, hailing from the region near the confluence of the Apidanus and Enipeus rivers in Thessaly.‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‌​‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‌ His divine river parentage gave him a connection to the waters that made him a natural choice for a sea voyage. Asterion joined Jason's crew aboard the Argo and sailed to Colchis in pursuit of the Golden Fleece. The name Asterion, meaning starry one, appears in several mythological contexts, including as a name for the Minotaur and for a king of Crete. The Argonaut Asterion is distinct from these other figures. He served loyally during the expedition, and his Thessalian origin connected him to the heartland from which Jason himself hailed. The river heritage of his father linked him to the ancient landscape of the Greek world.

Parents

Apidanus and Cleobule

Symbols

riverstar

Fun Fact

Asterion's name means starry one and was also used as a secret name for the Minotaur in the Cretan labyrinth

Explore Further

Phanus

🗡 hero

Wine, Dionysian heritage

Son of Dionysus who sailed with the Argonauts as a representative of the god of wine's lineage

Menesthius

🗡 hero

Myrmidon leadership, river god heritage

Son of the river god Spercheius who commanded one of the five Myrmidon divisions at Troy

Phalerus

🗡 hero

Seamanship, Athenian heritage

Athenian Argonaut after whom the ancient port of Phaleron near Athens was named

Coronus

🗡 hero

Lapith heritage, combat

Son of the Lapith lord Caeneus who sailed with the Argonauts as a representative of his people

Thessalus

🗡 hero

Kingship, Heracles heritage

Son of Heracles and legendary ancestor after whom the region of Thessaly was named

Eurydamas

🗡 hero

Combat, Argonaut voyage

Argonaut from the shores of Lake Xynias who sailed with Jason to Colchis

Nausithous

🗡 hero

None recorded

Founder and first king of the Phaeacians on the island of Scheria

Leodocus

🗡 hero

Combat, Argonaut voyage

Argonaut who joined Jason's expedition to Colchis aboard the legendary ship Argo

Actor

🗡 hero

Combat, brotherhood

Argonaut who sailed with his brother Erytus and joined Jason's quest for the Golden Fleece

Antiphus

🗡 hero

Coan leadership, Heracles heritage

Son of the Thessalian king Thessalus who co-commanded the forces from Cos and nearby islands

Butes

🗡 hero

Beekeeping, Resistance, Sirens

Argonaut and Athenian hero who alone leaped toward the Sirens and was saved by Aphrodite.

Alector

🗡 hero

Kingship, Argos

Argive nobleman and father of several notable figures in the Trojan War tradition