Itys
Family: Thrace · Role: son of Tereus and Progne · First appears: Fable 59
Life events
- Itys is born to Tereus and Progne.(Fable59)
- Progne and Philomela murder Itys and dismember his body.(Fable60)
- With: Progne Philomela
- “Progne strikes[68] him with the sword, extending his hands, and as he beholds his fate, crying now ‘Alas!’ and now ‘My mother!’ and clinging to her neck, where his breast joins his side; nor does she turn away her face. Even one wound {alone} is sufficient for his death; Philomela cuts his throat with the sword; and they mangle his limbs, still quivering and retaining somewhat of life.”
- Progne serves Itys's remains to Tereus, who unknowingly eats them at the banquet.(Fable60)
- With: Progne Tereus
- “His wife sets Tereus, in his unconsciousness, before this banquet; and falsely pretending rites after the manner of her country, at which it is allowed one man only to be present, she removes his attendants and servants. Tereus himself, sitting aloft on the throne of his forefathers, eats and heaps his own entrails into his own stomach.”
- Progne reveals that Tereus has eaten Itys, and Philomela displays his bloody head.(Fable60)
- With: Progne Philomela Tereus
- “Progne is unable to conceal her cruel joy; and now, desirous to be the discoverer of her having murdered him, she says, ‘Thou hast within {thee}, that for which thou art asking.’ He looks around, and inquires where he is; as he inquires, and calls him again, Philomela springs forth, just as she is, with her hair disordered by the infernal murder, and throws the bloody head of Itys in the face of his father”
Fable 59
- parent: Tereus “With these omens were Progne and Tereus wedded; with these omens were they made parents. Thrace, indeed, congratulated them, and they themselves returned thanks to the Gods, and they commanded the day, upon which the daughter of Pandion was given to the renowned prince, and that upon which Itys was born, to be considered as festivals.”
- parent: Progne “With these omens were Progne and Tereus wedded; with these omens were they made parents. Thrace, indeed, congratulated them, and they themselves returned thanks to the Gods, and they commanded the day, upon which the daughter of Pandion was given to the renowned prince, and that upon which Itys was born, to be considered as festivals.”
Fable 60
- parent: Progne “While Progne was uttering such expressions, Itys came to his mother.”
- parent: Tereus “Tereus himself, sitting aloft on the throne of his forefathers, eats and heaps his own entrails into his own stomach. And so great is the blindness of his mind, {that} he says, ‘Send for Itys.’ Progne is unable to conceal her cruel joy; and now, desirous to be the discoverer of her having murdered him, she says, ‘Thou hast within {thee}, that for which thou art asking.’ He looks around, and inquires where he is; as he inquires, and calls him again, Philomela springs forth, just as she is, with her hair disordered by the infernal murder, and throws the bloody head of Itys in the face of his father; nor at any time has she more longed to be able to speak, and to testify her joy by words such as are deserved. The Thracian pushes from him the table with a loud cry, and summons the Viperous sisters[70] from the Stygian valley; and at one moment he desires, if he {only} can, by opening his breast to discharge thence the horrid repast, and the half-digested entrails. And then he weeps, and pronounces himself the wretched sepulchre of his own son;”
- with Progne (interaction) “No {more} delay {is there}; she drags Itys along, just as the tigress of the banks of the Ganges {does} the suckling offspring of the hind, through the shady forests. And when they are come to a remote part of the lofty house, Progne strikes[68] him with the sword, extending his hands, and as he beholds his fate, crying now ‘Alas!’ and now ‘My mother!’”
- with Philomela (interaction) “Even one wound {alone} is sufficient for his death; Philomela cuts his throat with the sword; and they mangle his limbs, still quivering and retaining somewhat of life.”
- elder kin: Philomela “Why does she not call her sister, whom he calls mother?”
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Extracted from the original text of The Metamorphoses of Ovid. Made with Rho MD.