Aeolus

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In Greek mythology, Aeolus[1] (/ˈləs/; Ancient Greek: Αἴολος, Aiolos [a͜ɪ́olos], Modern Greek: [ˈe.o.los] (About this soundlisten) "quick-moving, nimble") is a name shared by three mythical characters. These three personages are often difficult to tell apart, and even the ancient mythographers appear to have been perplexed about which Aeolus was which. Diodorus Siculus made an attempt to define each of these three (although it is clear that he also became muddled), and his opinion is followed here.[2]

All three men named Aeolus appear to be connected genealogically, although the precise relationship, especially regarding the second and third Aeolus, is often ambiguous as their identities seem to have been merged by many ancient writers.

Aeolus was also the name of the following minor characters:

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Chaucer's Eolus (de Weever, Jacqueline (1996). Chaucer Name Dictionary, s.v. "Eolus". (Garland Publishing) Retrieved on 2009-10-06
  2. ^ Schmitz, Leonhard (1864), "Aeolus (1), (2) and (3)", in Smith, William (ed.), Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, 1, p. 35
  3. ^ Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1.7.3
  4. ^ Hyginus, Fabulae 238 & 242
  5. ^ Homer, Odyssey 10.2
  6. ^ Statius, Thebaid 9.765
  7. ^ Virgil, Aeneid 6.163 ff., 9.774 & 12.542

References[edit]