Elara (mythology)

In Greek mythology, Elara was a mortal princess, the daughter of King Orchomenus and mother of the giant Tityos by Zeus.

Myth

Zeus fell in love with Elara and hid her from his wife Hera's jealousy by placing her deep beneath the Earth. This was where she gave birth to Tityos, a giant who is sometimes said to be the son of Gaia, the Earth goddess, for this reason. It is further added that Elara died in labour because of the enormous size of her baby.[1][2]

The cave through which Tityos was believed to have come to the surface of Earth was located on Euboea and referred to as Elarion.[3]

Eponymy

One moon of Jupiter is named Elara.[4]

Moon Elara

References

  1. ↑ Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1. 4. 2.
  2. ↑ Scholia on Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica, 1. 761
  3. ↑ Strabo, Geography, 9. 3. 15
  4. ↑ Marsden, B. G. (7 October 1974). "Satellites of Jupiter". IAUC Circular 2846.
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