In Greek and Roman mythology, Ocnus or Bianor was a son of Manto and Tiberinus. He founded Mantua (modern Mantova). Alternatively, he was the son or brother of Auletes and founded Felsina (modern Bologna[1]) or Perusia or Cesena.[2]
Ocnus was condemned to spend eternity in the netherworld, weaving a rope of straw. As depicted in the picture by Polygnotos, standing behind him is his donkey which eats the rope as fast as it is made.[1]
Ocnus personifies hesitation, frustration, delay and the wasting of time and effort.
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology by William Smith (1870).
![[1]](http://staff.washington.edu/fox/lib/ocnus1.jpg){kind=link}