Erginus

In Greek mythology, Erginus /ˈɜːrdʒᵻnəs/ (Ancient Greek: Ἐργῖνος) was king of Minyan Orchomenus in Boeotia. He was the son of Clymenus, his predecessor, and Buzyge (or Budeia);^[1][2] his brothers were Arrhon, Azeus, Pyleus, and Stratius.^[3] Erginus avenged his father's death at the hands of the Thebans; he made war against Thebes, inflicting a heavy defeat. The Thebans were compelled to pay King Erginus a tribute of 100 oxen per year for twenty years. However, the tribute ended earlier than Erginus expected, when Heracles attacked the Minyan emissaries sent to exact the tribute. This prompted a second war between Orchomenus and Thebes, only this time Thebes (under the leadership of Heracles) was victorious, and a double tribute was imposed on the Orchomenians.^[4][5][6] Erginus was slain in battle according to the version of the story given by most ancient writers (e.g., the Bibliotheca, Strabo,^[7] Eustathius). But according to Pausanias, Erginus was spared by Heracles and lived to a ripe old age, and even fathered two sons (Trophonius and Agamedes) on a younger woman.^[8]

Some authors^[9] identify him with Erginus, an Argonaut who piloted the Argo after Tiphys's death.^[10] Elsewhere, however, the Argonaut Erginus is said to be the son of Poseidon, and to have resided in the Carian city of Miletus,^{[11][12][13][14]} thus a distinct figure. Yet others suggested he was a son of Periclymenus.^[15]

Erginus was also the name of:

• A defender of Thebes against the Seven, killed by Hippomedon.^[16]
• A descendant of Diomedes, who was instructed by Temenus to steal the Palladium from Argos and did so together with Leager, a friend of Temenus'.^[17]

See also

• List of Greek mythological figures

References