Demophoon

Family: Eleusis · Role: son of Celeus and Metaneira · First appears: Homeric Hymn II · To Demeter · Part 2

In Part 2 of the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, Demophoon is the son of Celeus and Metaneira, and the brother of Callidice. At the palace, Metaneira asked Demeter to nurse him, and she agreed: “Gladly will I take the boy to my breast, as you bid me, and will nurse him.”

Demeter secretly tried to make Demophoon immortal, but Metaneira discovered her at night. Demeter told her that the interruption had cost her son immortality, though “unfailing honour always rest upon him.”

Relationship record

Life events

• Metaneira asked Demeter to nurse Demophoon, and Demeter agreed.(Homeric Hymn II · To Demeter · Part 2 · 📍 palace)
  • With: Metaneira Demeter
  • “Gladly will I take the boy to my breast, as you bid me, and will nurse him.”
• Demeter secretly tried to make Demophoon immortal, but Metaneira discovered her at night.(Homeric Hymn II · To Demeter · Part 2 · 📍 palace)
  • With: Demeter Metaneira
  • “And she would have made him deathless and unageing, had not well-girded Metaneira in her heedlessness kept watch by night from her sweet-smelling chamber and spied.”
• Demeter revealed that Metaneira's interruption had cost Demophoon immortality, though he would retain lasting honour.(Homeric Hymn II · To Demeter · Part 2 · 📍 palace)
  • With: Demeter Metaneira
  • “I would have made your dear son deathless and unageing all his days and would have bestowed on him everlasting honour, but now he can in no way escape death and the fates. Yet shall unfailing honour always rest upon him”

Homeric Hymn II · To Demeter · Part 2

• parent: Celeus “So the goddess nursed in the palace Demophoon, wise Celeus’ goodly son whom well-girded Metaneira bare.”
• parent: Metaneira “So the goddess nursed in the palace Demophoon, wise Celeus’ goodly son whom well-girded Metaneira bare.”
• siblings with Callidice “She has an only son, late-born, who is being nursed in our well-built house, a child of many prayers and welcome”

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Extracted from the original text of Hesiod and Homerica. Made with Rho MD.