Aristaeus

Half-Olympian son of Apollo by the Lapith princess Cyrene; pastoral civilizing-hero of the Greek world. Credited with the invention of beekeeping, cheese-making, olive cultivation, hunting techniques, and the protection of herds. The Eurydice-snakebite tradition (Virgil Georgics 4) makes Aristaeus the indirect cause of Orpheus's descent to Hades, and supplies the etiology of the bugonia bee-from-bull-carcass rite. Father of Actaeon by Autonoë daughter of Cadmus — the line that connects Apollo through Aristaeus into the Cadmean royal house of Thebes. Apotheosed near Mt. Haemus per Diodorus; cult-honors persisted at Ceos, Boeotia, Sicily, and Sardinia among other locations.

Parentage

• paternal: Apollo
• maternal: Cyrene

Children

• Actaeon

Domains

• beekeeping and honey
• pastoralism and herd protection
• olive cultivation and cheese making

Powers

• Heal with medicinal herbs
• Prophesy and give oracles
• Summon the cooling Etesian winds

Epithets

• Ἀρισταῖος Νόμιος greek · Aristaîos Nómios'Aristaeus the Herdsman / of the Pastures' — pastoral cult-titlePindar, Pythian 9.65 (primary)
• Ἀρισταῖος Ἀγρεύς greek · Aristaîos Agreús'Aristaeus the Hunter' — paired cult-title with NomiosPindar, Pythian 9.65 (primary); Diodorus Siculus 4.81.1-2 (primary)

Relations

• spouse: Autonoe
• spouse: Autonoë · GreekDaughter of Cadmus and Harmonia of Thebes.Apollod. 3.4.4 (primary)
• father of: Actaeon · GreekTorn apart by his own hounds for seeing Artemis bathing.Apollod. 3.4.4 (primary)

Sources

• existence: Pindar Pythian 9.59-65; Apollonius Rhodius Argonautica 2.500-527; Apollodorus 3.10.2, 3.4.4; Diodorus 4.81-82; Virgil Georgics 4.317-558; Hyginus Fabulae 161, 247 (primary)
• parentage: Pind. Pyth. 9.59-65; Apollod. 3.10.2 (primary)