In Greek mythology, Orion was described as a very handsome giant and hunter. In some versions, Orion was the son of sea god, Poseidon and Euryale, and gifted with the ability to walk on water by his father, Poseidon. According to other version, Orion was the son of Hyrieus (son of Poseidon and Alcyone). Once Zeus, Poseidon and Hermes came as guests to King Hyrieus in Thrace. Since they were received hospitably by him, they promised him whatever he should ask for. He asked for children. The three gods Zeus, Poseidon and Hermes filled a sacrificial bull-hide with their urine or sperm and buried it in the earth to provide Hyrieus with a son. Nine months later, Hyrieus found a newborn baby boy inside and named him Orion. In time Orion grew tall as a giant, and he was granted by Poseidon the ability to walk on water.
Orion married lovely woman, named Side, who was killed (sent to underworld) by goddess Hera because she thought she could rival the goddess in beauty. Orion had sex with Cephisides, the fair Naiad nymphs, of the River Cephisus in Boiotia and had the fifty sons of high strength, from them.
Later Orion walked to Chios over the Aegean, and King Oenopion (son of Dionysus and Ariadne) welcomed him with a banquet. Orion served King Oinopion as huntsman and wished to marry Merope2, (the daughter of Oenopion). But Oenopion, disliking the idea, made Orion drunk, put out his eyes as he slept, and then cast him on the beach. According to other version, once Orion got drunk, went into the chamber of the Merope2, and had sex with her. Oenopion with assistance of Dionysus, who caused Orion to be thrown into a deep sleep by satyrs, in which Oenopion blinded him.
In any case, Orion was informed by an oracle that he should recover his sight, if he would go towards the east and expose his eye-balls to the rays of the rising sun, Orion following the sound of a Cyclops' hammer, went to Lemnos, where Hephaestus gave him his servant Cedalion to serve him as a guide. Orion set him on his shoulders, and bade him lead him to the sunrise, and when they arrived Orion was healed by the sun's rays.Orion returned to Chios to punish Oenopion, but the king hid away underground and escaped Orion's wrath. Then Orion went to Crete, where he lived as a hunter with Artemis, goddess of hunt.
In some versions, Eos, the goddess of dawn, who loved Orion for his beauty, carried him off, but as the gods were angry at this, Artemis killed him with an arrow in Ortygia.
In some versions, Orion was beloved by Artemis, and Apollo, indignant at his sister's affection for him, asserted that she was unable to hit with her bow a distant point which he showed to her in the sea. She thereupon took aim, and hit it, but the point was the head of Orion, who had been swimming in the sea.
In some versions, Orion harbored an improper love for Artemis, and tried to seduce her. Artemis shot him, or sent a monstrous scorpion which killed him.
In some versions, Orion hunted with the goddess Artemis and her mother Leto, and in the course of the hunt, threatened to kill every beast on Earth. Mother Earth, Gaea, objected and sent a giant scorpion to kill Orion. The creature succeeded, and after his death, the goddesses asked Zeus to place Orion among the constellations. Zeus consented and, as a memorial to the hero's death, added the Scorpion to the heavens as well.
In some version, Asclepius,the god of the medicine, wanted to recall him to life, but was slain by Zeus with a flash of lighting.
Index
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| Orion |
Later Orion walked to Chios over the Aegean, and King Oenopion (son of Dionysus and Ariadne) welcomed him with a banquet. Orion served King Oinopion as huntsman and wished to marry Merope2, (the daughter of Oenopion). But Oenopion, disliking the idea, made Orion drunk, put out his eyes as he slept, and then cast him on the beach. According to other version, once Orion got drunk, went into the chamber of the Merope2, and had sex with her. Oenopion with assistance of Dionysus, who caused Orion to be thrown into a deep sleep by satyrs, in which Oenopion blinded him.
In any case, Orion was informed by an oracle that he should recover his sight, if he would go towards the east and expose his eye-balls to the rays of the rising sun, Orion following the sound of a Cyclops' hammer, went to Lemnos, where Hephaestus gave him his servant Cedalion to serve him as a guide. Orion set him on his shoulders, and bade him lead him to the sunrise, and when they arrived Orion was healed by the sun's rays.Orion returned to Chios to punish Oenopion, but the king hid away underground and escaped Orion's wrath. Then Orion went to Crete, where he lived as a hunter with Artemis, goddess of hunt.
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| Orion carrying Artemis |
In some versions, Eos, the goddess of dawn, who loved Orion for his beauty, carried him off, but as the gods were angry at this, Artemis killed him with an arrow in Ortygia.
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| Apollo and Artemis |
In some versions, Orion was beloved by Artemis, and Apollo, indignant at his sister's affection for him, asserted that she was unable to hit with her bow a distant point which he showed to her in the sea. She thereupon took aim, and hit it, but the point was the head of Orion, who had been swimming in the sea.
In some versions, Orion harbored an improper love for Artemis, and tried to seduce her. Artemis shot him, or sent a monstrous scorpion which killed him.
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| Death of Orion |
In some versions, Orion hunted with the goddess Artemis and her mother Leto, and in the course of the hunt, threatened to kill every beast on Earth. Mother Earth, Gaea, objected and sent a giant scorpion to kill Orion. The creature succeeded, and after his death, the goddesses asked Zeus to place Orion among the constellations. Zeus consented and, as a memorial to the hero's death, added the Scorpion to the heavens as well.
In some version, Asclepius,the god of the medicine, wanted to recall him to life, but was slain by Zeus with a flash of lighting.
Index
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