Learn more about the story of the god Aeolus , one of the most iconic names in Greek mythology. Aeolus can refer to three different figures, and the names are often confused with one another. Today we'll talk about Aeolus, son of Hellen; Aeolus, son of Poseidon; and Aeolus, son of Hippotes.
God Aeolus
In Greek mythology we find many names of famous people who have been responsible for marking history and today we will be getting to know one of them as the god Aeolus. Certainly when we hear about the name Eolo or Eolo, the representation of not one or two but three completely different people comes to mind.
Aeolus does not allude to a single character from Greek mythology, but refers to three people with different characteristics. The data offered by the mythographers have even led to one being confused with the other. On the one hand we find Aeolus, son of Helen, Aeolus, son of Poseidon and finally there is Aeolus, son of Hippotes. Let's learn more about them in the next article.
God Aeolus: Son of Helen
Let's talk first about the god Aeolus, son of Helen. This character was born from the union between Helen and the nymph Orseís. He was the brother of Doro and Juto. He is considered by many to be the king of Aeolis, which was eventually called Thessaly. Aeolus, son of Helen, is also credited with founding the Aeolian branch of the Hellenic nation.
Eolo, son of Helén, was the one in charge of marrying Enárete, daughter of Dimaco, with whom he procreated several children, although until now it has never been possible to decipher the exact number of children he had and the names of those children usually change a lot. depending on one author or another.
There are some authors who claim that among the sons of the god Aeolus are Cretheus, Sisyphus, Deyoneus, Salmoneus, Atamante, Parieres and possibly Magnes and Etlio. Also the god Aeolus had several daughters with Enarete, among whom may be named Cálice, Cánace, Pisídice, Perimede and Alcíone.
Although it is not clearly confirmed, many authors have come to ensure that Macareo was also another of the sons of the god. Let us remember that Maccareo had on countless occasions romantic relationships with his own sister, Cánace. Furious at what had happened, Eolo sent Cánace a sword so that he could take his own life. Maccareo also took his own life and threw the incestuous son to the dogs.
Eolo, son of Helen, also had a daughter he never recognized and who was named Arne, although many knew her by the name of Melanippe. That daughter of Aeolus was born from the relationship he had with Hipe, the daughter of the centaur Chiron. It is speculated that Arne would be the mother of the second Aeolus (son of Poseidon), who we will learn more about in the next part.
son of poseidon
The second god whom the authors refer to is precisely this one, the son that the god Poseidon had with Arne. History reports that he had Beoto as a twin. At the time that Arne revealed to his father that he was expecting a son of Poseidon, he did not believe a single word and ordered a foreigner from the city of Metaponto to take Arne to his city.
This is how Aeolus and his twin Beoto were born in another city and were adopted by another man from Metaponto, who is known to have had no more children. Once Aeolus and Beoto grew up, they took complete control over the kingdom during a revolt. Then a dispute occurred between Arne and Autolite, who was the wife of the metapont.
As expected, Aeolus and Beoto came to the defense of their mother Arne and proceeded to assassinate Autolyte. When the metapont found out what had happened, the twins were forced to equip some ships and escape from the city, along with their father Arne and other close friends.
Beoto moved to the country of his grandfather Eolo. He eventually became his successor and contacted his mother Arne to move to that country. Aeolus, meanwhile, went to a group of islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea, which were named the Aeolian Islands in his honor. He himself is credited with founding the city of Lípara.
There are other versions in which certain characters are given a different name, especially the twins' mother, Arne. In some texts she is named Melanippe, daughter of Desmontes or Aeolus. In these versions it is said that the woman was chained by her father and it was a king of Icaria named Metaponto who would have taken care of the twins who had been abandoned.
The woman from Metaponto, who in this version is called Teano, had conceived other children and filled her children's minds to attack until they killed Eolo and Beoto, however the story goes that in the combat the twins were victorious and After being notified by Poseidon that their real mother was in prison, they ran to free her.
Son of Hippotes
There is also a third and final god in Greek mythology. The latter is said to be the son of Hipotes, who, according to Diodorus Sicurus in his Historical Library, was the son of Mimante, one of the sons of Aeolus Hellenida. Some texts narrate the way in which, upon reaching the island of Lípara, where King Líparo ruled, he helped to seize the area of Sirrento, while he married the daughter of King Cíane.
After that marriage, Aeolus became king of the island. They describe him as kind, affectionate, a fighter for justice and pious with foreigners. The god was also in charge of teaching sailors about the handling of sails and it was even said that he had the power to predict the winds. In these stories it is also said that Aeolus had six children in all.
According to what was expressed in the Odyssey, the god Aeolus son of Hipotes was considered the Lord of the Winds. His place of residence was located on the floating island of Aeolia, where he lived in the company of his children. The story tells that the god Zeus was the one who gave him the power to control the winds.
Aeolus wielded power over the winds. It was He who decided when to release them or imprison them. On one occasion he tried to help Odysseus, who visited him on his return to Ithaca. Eolo offered him a kind treatment and gave him a favorable wind, as well as a skin that contained all the winds and that had to be used with great care.
However, those who were in the crew thought that there was gold inside the bag and proceeded to open it, which unleashed an immense storm. The ship was forced to return to the coast of Eolia due to strong winds. This time the god did not want to help them again.
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