SALAMIS
Greek Name
Σαλαμις
Transliteration
Salamis
Latin Spelling
Salamis
Translation
Of Salamis (island)
SALAMIS was the Naiad-nymph of a spring, well or fountain of the main town of the island of Salamis (in southern Greece). She was a daughter of the river-god Asopos who was abducted to the island by Poseidon. Their son Kykhreus (Cychreus) was the first king of Salamis.
PARENTS
[1.1] ASOPOS (Corinna Frag 654, Apollodorus 3.161, Pausanias 1.35.2)
[1.2] ASOPOS & METOPE (Diodorus Siculus 4.72.1-5)
OFFSPRING
[1.1] KYKHREUS (by Poseidon) (Apollodorus 3.161, Pausanias 1.35.2, Diodorus Siculus 4.72.1-5)
ENCYCLOPEDIA
SA′LAMIS (Salamis), a daughter of Asopis, and by Poseidon the mother of Cenchreus or Cychreus. (Paus. i. 35. § 2; Apollod. iii. 12. § 7; Diod. iv. 72.) From her the island of Salamis was believed by the ancients to have received its name.
Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.
CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES
Corinna, Fragment 654 (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric IV) (C5th B.C.) :
"Of these nine daughters [of Asopos] . . . Korkyra (Corcyra) and Salamis and lovely Euboia (Euboea) were stolen by father Poseidon."
Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 3. 161 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"Kykhreus (Cychreus) the son of Poseidon and Asopos' daughter Salamis."
Pausanias, Description of Greece 1. 35. 2 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"It is said that the first to give this name [Salamis] to the island was Kykhreus (Cychreus), who called it after his mother Salamis, the daughter of Asopos."
Pausanias, Description of Greece 5. 11. 5 :
"[In the temple of Zeus at Olympia are paintings :] Salamis carrying in her hand the ornament made for the top of a ship's bow."
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 4. 72. 1-5 (trans. Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.) :
"Asopos made his home in Phlios (Phlius) [Sikyonia], where he married Metope, the daughter of Ladon, to whom were born two sons, Pelasgos and Ismenos, and twelve daughters, Korkyra (Corcyra) and Salamis, also Aigina (Aegina), Peirene, and Kleone (Cleone), then Thebe, Tanagra, Thespeia, and Asopis, also Sinope, and finally Ornia and Khalkis (Chalcis) . . .
Salamis was seized by Poseidon and taken to the island which was named Salamis after her; and she lay with Poseidon and bore Kykhreus (Cychreus), who became king of this island."
SOURCES
GREEK
- Greek Lyric IV Corinna, Fragments - Greek Lyric C5th B.C.
- Apollodorus, The Library - Greek Mythography C2nd A.D.
- Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History - Greek History C1st B.C.
- Pausanias, Description of Greece - Greek Travelogue C2nd A.D.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.