Hippothoon (;
Ancient Greek: Ἱπποθόων, -ωντος) or Hippothous is a figure in
Greek mythology, often described as the King of
Eleusis, succeeding to the throne after the death of Cercyon. He is the
Attica hero and the
eponym of the
Athens phyle called Hippothoontis (Ιπποθοωντίς).
Family
Hippothoon was the son of
Poseidon and
Alope, Cercyon's daughter.
Mythology
Although Cercyon had Alope buried alive, Poseidon turned her into the spring, Alope, near Eleusis.
[Hyginus, Fabulae 187] Hippothoon was stated to be present in the missions of
Triptolemus and was mentioned along with
Eumolpus as an Eleusinian hero who was worshiped according to honorary decrees dating to the 4th century BC. He was also described as the host of Demeter, instead of
Celeus, during her wandering in search of
Persephone.
[Scholiast on Nicander, Alexipharmaca 130]
According to Pausanias, a heroon was dedicated to him for worship by hereditarily assigned priests.[Pausanias, Graeciae Descriptio 1.38.4]
Notes
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Gaius Julius Hyginus, Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. Online version at the Topos Text Project.
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Pausanias, Description of Greece with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918. . Online version at the Perseus Digital Library
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Pausanias, Graeciae Descriptio. 3 vols. Leipzig, Teubner. 1903. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
