Kandaon, the Thracian War-Lord
Thracian · deity · Thracian (Crestonian); known from Hellenistic learned poetry (Lycophron, 3rd c. BCE) and its scholia · Recorded classification
Thracian war-god (Kandaon/Cotys-adjacent war aspect, per the prompt). Native theonym transmitted only in Greek/Latin learned tradition (Κανδάων / Candaon). Classified 'deity'. The scholia give competing glosses (Ares vs. Orion), reflecting the obscurity of the name; the Ares-of-Thrace reading underlies the broader Greek belief that savage Ares was originally Thracian.
Domains
- war and battle
- the hunt
Powers
- demands sacrifice by the war-sword
Relations
- interpretatio: AresLycophron's gloss-tradition renders Kandaon as the Thracian Ares. Preserves the war-god slot Hdt 5.7 gives Thrace; the native god's wolf-associations have no equivalent in the Greek Ares.Lycophron, Alexandra 938 with Tzetzes' scholia (Kandaon as Thracian Ares) (primary)
Sources
- Kandaon/Candaon is a Thracian god identified with Ares, said to be worshipped by the Crestonian Thracians, attested through Lycophron's Alexandra and its scholia.: Lycophron, Alexandra, with scholia (Candaon = Ares of the Crestonians) (primary)