Asopus

Family: Greek mythology · Role: river god · First appears: Book 1 · Chapter 35

In Book 1, Chapter 35, Salamis was said to have been named for Salamis, Asopus’s mother. By Book 2, Chapter 5, he gave Sisyphus water after Sisyphus agreed to reveal that Zeus had carried off Ægina, one of Asopus’s daughters. In Book 2, Chapter 12, Asopus—said to be the son of Celusa and Poseidon—found the river’s water, and the river took its name from him.

In Book 5, Chapter 22, the Phliasians dedicated votive statues of Asopus, Zeus and Asopus’s daughters, including Nemea, Ægina, Harpina, Corcyra and Thebe. Later accounts connected more daughters with places: Platæa gave her name to the town, and in Book 9, Chapter 3, Cithæron advised Zeus to claim he intended to marry her. Thespia was also said to have given her name to a town, though another account attributed the name to Thespius.

Relationship record

Life events

• The island was originally named Salamis after Salamis, the mother of Asopus.(Book 1 · Chapter 35 · 📍 Salamis)
  • With: Salamis
  • “The name Salamis was they say originally given to this island from Salamis the mother of Asopus”
• Asopus gives Sisyphus water after Sisyphus reveals that Zeus carried off Ægina.(Book 2 · Chapter 5 · 📍 Acro-Corinthus)
  • With: Sisyphus Zeus Ægina
  • “for he, though he knew that Zeus had carried off Ægina the daughter of Asopus, refused to tell him unless he would give him this water on Acro-Corinthus. And Asopus giving this water he vouchsafed the required information”
• Asopus discovers the water of the river later named after him.(Book 2 · Chapter 12)
  • “It was in his reign that Asopus (said to be the son of Celusa and Poseidon) found the water of the river which they still call Asopus from the name of the person who found it.”
• The Phliasians erected votive statues of Zeus, Asopus, and Asopus’ daughters.(Book 5 · Chapter 22)
  • With: Zeus Nemea Ægina Harpina Corcyra Thebe
  • “The Phliasians also erected as votive offerings statues of Zeus and Asopus’ daughters and Asopus himself.”
• Cithæron advises Zeus to stage a wooden bride and claim marriage to Platæa.(Book 9 · Chapter 3 · 📍 Platæa)
  • With: Zeus Cithæron Platæa
  • “He recommended Zeus to make a wooden statue and dress it up and draw it in a waggon with a yoke of oxen, and give out that he intended to marry Platæa the daughter of Asopus.”
• Thespia receives its name, according to competing accounts, from Thespia or Thespius.(Book 9 · Chapter 26 · 📍 Thespia)
  • With: Thespia Thespius Erechtheus
  • “The town got its name they say from Thespia the daughter of Asopus. Others say that Thespius the son of Erechtheus came from Athens, and gave his name to it.”