ERATO

ERATO was a Dryad-nymph of the Akakesion (Acacesium) Hill near Mount Lykaios (Lycaeus) in Arkadia (southern Greece). She was a prophetess of the god Pan and the wife of Arkas (Arcas), eponymous king of Arkadia.

Erato is probably the same as Khrysopeleia, the nymph-wife of Arkas in Apollodorus' account. She was also related to Sose, an Arkadian prophetess of the god Pan.

PARENTS

Nowhere stated

OFFSPRING

AZAN, APHEIDAS, ELATOS (by Arkas) (Pausanias 8.4.2 & 10.9.5)

ENCYCLOPEDIA

E′RATO (Eratô), a nymph and the wife of Arcas, by whom she became the mother of Elatus, Apheidas, and Azan. She was said to have been a prophetic priestess of the Arcadian Pan. (Paus. viii. 27. § 9.)

Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.

CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES

Pausanias, Description of Greece 8. 37. 11 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"[In the sanctuary of Despoine near Akakesion (Acacesium) in Arkadia :] You will ascend by stairs to a sanctuary of Pan . . . Beside this Pan a fire is kept burning which is never allowed to go out. It is said in days of old this god also gave oracles, and that the Nymphe Erato became his prophetess, she who wedded Arkas (Arcas), the son of Kallisto (Callisto)."

Pausanias, Description of Greece 8. 4. 2 :
"His [King Arkas of Arkadia's] wife, according to the legend, was no mortal woman but a Dryas Nymphe (Dryad nymph) . . . This Nymphe they call Erato, and by her they say that Arkas had Azan, Apheidas and Elatos (Elatus)."

Pausanias, Description of Greece 10. 9. 5 :
"[Inthe sanctuary of Delphoi :] Are offerings of the Tegeans [Arkadians] from spoils of the Lakedaimonians [Spartans]: an Apollon, a Nike (Victory), the heroes of the country, Kallisto (Callisto), daughter of Lykaon (Lycaon), Arkas (Arcas), who gave Arkadia its name, Elatos, Apheidas, and Azan, the sons of Arkas, and also Triphylos. The mother of this Triphylos was not Erato [i.e. the mother of his other sons], but Laodameia, the daughter of Amyklas (Amyclas), king of Lakedaimon (Lacedaemon)."

SOURCES

GREEK

• Pausanias, Description of Greece - Greek Travelogue C2nd A.D.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.