Eumolpus
Family: Eleusis · Role: father of Immaradus · First appears: Book 1 · Chapter 5
Book 1 describes Eumolpus as the son of Poseidon and Chione, and names Immaradus as his son. He was opposed to Erechtheus: statues of the two stood apart “as for a fight.” When Eumolpus died, Ceryx was said to be his only surviving son, though heralds disputed his parentage and claimed that Hermes and Aglaurus were his parents.
Before the war was fought out, the matter was submitted to arbitration, and Eumolpus remained at Eleusis. In Book 2, Demeter taught him, Triptolemus, Diocles and Celeus the performance of her rites and mysteries. By Book 6, he had placed a statue of Gorgias at Olympia; the account identifies him as a great-grandson of Deicrates. Book 8 names Naus as his great-grandson.
Relationship record
Life events
- Eumolpus died, leaving Ceryx as his only surviving son.(Book 1 · Chapter 38)
- With: Ceryx
- “But on the death of Eumolpus Ceryx the youngest son was the only one left”
- Heralds disputed Ceryx’s paternity, claiming Hermes and Aglaurus were his parents.(Book 1 · Chapter 38)
- The dispute was submitted to arbitration, and Eumolpus remained at Eleusis.(Book 2 · Chapter 14 · 📍 Eleusis)
- “before the war was fought out the matter was submitted to arbitration, and Eumolpus remained at Eleusis”
- Demeter taught Triptolemus, Diocles, Eumolpus, and Celeus the performance of her rites and mysteries.(Book 2 · Chapter 14)
- With: Demeter Triptolemus Diocles Celeus
- “She shewed Triptolemus, and Diocles tamer of horses, and powerful Eumolpus, and Celeus leader of the people, the due performance of her rights and mysteries”
- Eumolpus placed a statue of Gorgias at Olympia.(Book 6 · Chapter 17 · 📍 Olympia)
- With: Gorgias
- “Gorgias of Leontini, whose statue was placed at Olympia by Eumolpus, great-grandson of Deicrates who had married Gorgias’ sister.”
Book 1 · Chapter 5
- child: Immaradus “their commander Immaradus, the son of Eumolpus”
Book 1 · Chapter 27
- enemies with Erechtheus (They are represented as opponents.) “there are large brazen statues of two men standing apart as for a fight: the one they call Erechtheus and the other Eumolpus”
- child: Immaradus (Eumolpus is Immaradus's father.) “it was Eumolpus’ son, Immaradus”
Book 1 · Chapter 38
- parent: Poseidon “This Eumolpus they say came from Thrace, and was the son of Poseidon and Chione:”
- parent: Chione “This Eumolpus they say came from Thrace, and was the son of Poseidon and Chione:”
- child: Immaradus “and also Immaradus the son of Eumolpus: and peace was concluded on these conditions,”
- child: Ceryx (The passage presents and then disputes Eumolpus's paternity.) “But on the death of Eumolpus Ceryx the youngest son was the only one left, who (the heralds say) was not the son of Eumolpus at all, but the son of Hermes by Aglaurus the daughter of Cecrops.”
Book 2 · Chapter 14
- mentor: Demeter “where in his list of those who were taught the mysteries by the goddess he ignores Dysaules. These are his lines. ‘She shewed Triptolemus, and Diocles tamer of horses, and powerful Eumolpus, and Celeus leader of the people, the due performance of her rights and mysteries.’”
Book 6 · Chapter 17
- with Gorgias (Eumolpus placed Gorgias's statue at Olympia.) “whose statue was placed at Olympia by Eumolpus”
- with Deicrates (Eumolpus is identified as Deicrates' great-grandson.) “Eumolpus, great-grandson of Deicrates”
Book 8 · Chapter 15
- younger kin: Naus (Eumolpus is Naus's great-grandfather.) “For they say that Naus, who was the great grandson of Eumolpus, came to them in obedience to the oracle at Delphi, and brought these mysteries.”
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Extracted from the original text of Pausanias' Description of Greece. Made with Rho MD.