Achelous
Family: Greek gods · Role: river god · First appears: Book 1 · Chapter 41
In Book 1, Chapter 41, Theagenes diverted the water and erected an altar to Achelous. In Book 2, Chapter 2, Pirene was described as his daughter in one account, though another version named Œbalus as her father.
In Book 3, Chapter 18, Achelous wrestled with Hercules. In Book 8, Chapter 24, Alcmæon found land formed by Achelous’s silting, settled there, and married Callirhoe, his daughter. Book 10, Chapter 8, also names Castalia as his daughter.
Relationship record
Life events
- Alcmæon married Callirhoe, daughter of Achelous, in Acarnanian tradition.(Book 8 · Chapter 24)
Book 1 · Chapter 41
- with Theagenes (Theagenes erected an altar to Achelous.) “Theagenes when he was king diverted the water into another direction, and erected here an altar to Achelous”
Book 2 · Chapter 2
- child: Pirene (Achelous is identified as Pirene’s father.) “The Corinthian seaports got their names from Leches and Cenchrias, who were reputed to be the sons of Poseidon by Pirene the daughter of Achelous: though in Hesiod’s poem the great Eœæ Pirene is said to be the daughter of Œbalus.”
Book 3 · Chapter 18
- enemies with Hercules “and the wrestling of Hercules with Achelous”
- with Hercules (interaction) “the wrestling of Hercules with Achelous”
Book 6 · Chapter 19
- enemies with Hercules “figures in cedar overlaid with gold, to represent the battle of Hercules and Achelous.”
Book 8 · Chapter 24
- child: Callirhoe “Callirhoe the daughter of Achelous”
Book 10 · Chapter 8
- child: Castalia (Achelous is Castalia's father.) “Castalia was the daughter of Achelous”
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Extracted from the original text of Pausanias' Description of Greece. Made with Rho MD.