Argus (son of Arestor)

In Greek mythology, Argus (/ˈɑrɡəs/; Greek: Ἄργος Argos) was the builder and eponym of the ship Argo, and consequently one of the Argonauts; he was said to have constructed the ship under Athena's guidance.[1] Arestor, a member of the Argive royal house, is given as his father by Apollonius Rhodius[2] and John Tzetzes,[3] but Hyginus says Argus' parents were Polybus and Argia.[4] In Valerius Flaccus' Argonautica, Argus is said to have originated from Thespiae.[5] Argus was also credited with creating a wooden statue of Hera that was a cult object in Tiryns.[6]

He should not be confused with the hundred-eyed giant Argus Panoptes.

References

  1. Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica, 1. 4 with scholia, 1. 112; 1. 226
  2. Argonautica 1. 112
  3. Tzetzes on Lycophron 883: "[son] of Arestor or Alector"
  4. Hyginus, Fabulae, 14
  5. Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica, 1. 93 & 124
  6. Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica, 1. 1119, 2. 613; Clement of Alexandria, Protrepticus, 4. 14. 7 referring to Demetrius' Argolica