Tithonus

Mortal man

In Greek mythology, Tithonus ( or ; Ancient Greek: Τιθωνός, romanized: Tithonos) was the lover of Eos, Goddess of the Dawn. He was a prince of Troy, the son of King Laomedon by the Naiad Strymo (Στρυμώ).

Explore on the graph
Mentions
2
Connected characters
14
Books
2

Mentions in the Iliad

A. T. Murray, Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, 1924 · Homer, Iliad with an English Translation · CC BY-SA 3.0 US

“Now Dawn rose from her couch from beside lordly Tithonus, to bring light to immortals and to mortal men; and Zeus sent forth Strife unto the swift ships of the Achaeans, dread Strife, bearing in her hands a portent of war.”
Il. 11.1–4
“And Ilus again begat a son, peerless Laomedon, and Laomedon begat Tithonus and Priam and Clytius, and Hicetaon, scion of Ares. And Assaracus begat Capys, and he Anchises; but Anchises begat me and Priam goodly Hector.”
Il. 20.235–239

Connections

Brother · Sources
Brother · Sources

Братство или сестринство выведено из общего родителя: Лаомедонт. Матери и отцы, не указанные в источнике, не предполагаются.

Rise, thou son of Laomedon, the chieftains of the horse-taming Trojans, and of the brazen-coated Achaeans, summon thee to go down into the plain, that ye may swear oaths of faith with sacrifice. But Alexander and Menelaus, dear to Ares, will do battle with long spears for the woman's sake;
Il. 3.250
And Ilus again begat a son, peerless Laomedon, and Laomedon begat Tithonus and Priam and Clytius, and Hicetaon, scion of Ares. And Assaracus begat Capys, and he Anchises; but Anchises begat me and Priam goodly Hector.
Il. 20.237

Il. 3.250 · Il. 20.237

Brother · Sources
Brother · Sources

Братство или сестринство выведено из общего родителя: Лаомедонт. Матери и отцы, не указанные в источнике, не предполагаются.

Then Euryalus slew Dresus and Opheltius, and went on after Aesepus and Pedasus, whom on a time the fountain-nymph Abarbarea bare to peerless Bucolion. Now Bucolion was son of lordly Laomedon, his eldest born, though the mother that bare him was unwed;
Il. 6.23
And Ilus again begat a son, peerless Laomedon, and Laomedon begat Tithonus and Priam and Clytius, and Hicetaon, scion of Ares. And Assaracus begat Capys, and he Anchises; but Anchises begat me and Priam goodly Hector.
Il. 20.237

Il. 6.23 · Il. 20.237

Brother · Sources
Brother · Sources

Братство или сестринство выведено из общего родителя: Лаомедонт. Матери и отцы, не указанные в источнике, не предполагаются.

And Ilus again begat a son, peerless Laomedon, and Laomedon begat Tithonus and Priam and Clytius, and Hicetaon, scion of Ares. And Assaracus begat Capys, and he Anchises; but Anchises begat me and Priam goodly Hector.
Il. 20.237
And Ilus again begat a son, peerless Laomedon, and Laomedon begat Tithonus and Priam and Clytius, and Hicetaon, scion of Ares. And Assaracus begat Capys, and he Anchises; but Anchises begat me and Priam goodly Hector.
Il. 20.237–238

Il. 20.237 · Il. 20.237–238

Brother · Sources
Brother · Sources

Братство или сестринство выведено из общего родителя: Лаомедонт. Матери и отцы, не указанные в источнике, не предполагаются.

And Ilus again begat a son, peerless Laomedon, and Laomedon begat Tithonus and Priam and Clytius, and Hicetaon, scion of Ares. And Assaracus begat Capys, and he Anchises; but Anchises begat me and Priam goodly Hector.
Il. 20.237
And Ilus again begat a son, peerless Laomedon, and Laomedon begat Tithonus and Priam and Clytius, and Hicetaon, scion of Ares. And Assaracus begat Capys, and he Anchises; but Anchises begat me and Priam goodly Hector.
Il. 20.237–238

Il. 20.237 · Il. 20.237–238

Brother · Sources
Brother · Sources

Братство или сестринство выведено из общего родителя: Лаомедонт. Матери и отцы, не указанные в источнике, не предполагаются.

And Ilus again begat a son, peerless Laomedon, and Laomedon begat Tithonus and Priam and Clytius, and Hicetaon, scion of Ares. And Assaracus begat Capys, and he Anchises; but Anchises begat me and Priam goodly Hector.
Il. 20.237
And Ilus again begat a son, peerless Laomedon, and Laomedon begat Tithonus and Priam and Clytius, and Hicetaon, scion of Ares. And Assaracus begat Capys, and he Anchises; but Anchises begat me and Priam goodly Hector.
Il. 20.237–238

Il. 20.237 · Il. 20.237–238

Wife · Sources
Wife · Sources
Now Dawn rose from her couch from beside lordly Tithonus, to bring light to immortals and to mortal men; and Zeus sent forth Strife unto the swift ships of the Achaeans, dread Strife, bearing in her hands a portent of war.
Il. 11.1

Il. 11.1

See all 14
Grandfather · Sources
Grandfather · Sources

Происхождение выведено по цепочке родителей: Ил → Лаомедонт → Титон.

And Ilus again begat a son, peerless Laomedon, and Laomedon begat Tithonus and Priam and Clytius, and Hicetaon, scion of Ares. And Assaracus begat Capys, and he Anchises; but Anchises begat me and Priam goodly Hector.
Il. 20.236
And Ilus again begat a son, peerless Laomedon, and Laomedon begat Tithonus and Priam and Clytius, and Hicetaon, scion of Ares. And Assaracus begat Capys, and he Anchises; but Anchises begat me and Priam goodly Hector.
Il. 20.237

Il. 20.236 · Il. 20.237

Great-grandfather · Sources
Great-grandfather · Sources

Происхождение выведено по цепочке родителей: Трос → Ил → Лаомедонт → Титон.

And Erichthonius begat Tros to be king among the Trojans, and from Tros again three peerless sons were born, Ilus, and Assaracus, and godlike Ganymedes that was born the fairest of mortal men; wherefore the gods caught him up on high to be cupbearer to Zeus by reason of his beauty, that he might dwell with the immortals.
Il. 20.231–232
And Ilus again begat a son, peerless Laomedon, and Laomedon begat Tithonus and Priam and Clytius, and Hicetaon, scion of Ares. And Assaracus begat Capys, and he Anchises; but Anchises begat me and Priam goodly Hector.
Il. 20.236
And Ilus again begat a son, peerless Laomedon, and Laomedon begat Tithonus and Priam and Clytius, and Hicetaon, scion of Ares. And Assaracus begat Capys, and he Anchises; but Anchises begat me and Priam goodly Hector.
Il. 20.237

Il. 20.231–232 · Il. 20.236 · Il. 20.237

Ancestor · Sources
Ancestor · Sources

Происхождение выведено по цепочке родителей: Зевс → Дардан → Эрихтоний → Трос → Ил → Лаомедонт → Титон.

at the first Zeus, the cloud-gatherer, begat Dardanus, and he founded Dardania, for not yet was sacred Ilios builded in the plain to be a city of mortal men, but they still dwelt upon the slopes of many-fountained Ida. And Dardanus in turn begat a son, king Erichthonius,
Il. 20.215
at the first Zeus, the cloud-gatherer, begat Dardanus, and he founded Dardania, for not yet was sacred Ilios builded in the plain to be a city of mortal men, but they still dwelt upon the slopes of many-fountained Ida. And Dardanus in turn begat a son, king Erichthonius,
Il. 20.219
And Erichthonius begat Tros to be king among the Trojans, and from Tros again three peerless sons were born, Ilus, and Assaracus, and godlike Ganymedes that was born the fairest of mortal men; wherefore the gods caught him up on high to be cupbearer to Zeus by reason of his beauty, that he might dwell with the immortals.
Il. 20.230

Il. 20.215 · Il. 20.219 · Il. 20.230 · Il. 20.231–232 · Il. 20.236 · Il. 20.237 · Il. 20.303–305

Ancestor · Sources
Ancestor · Sources

Происхождение выведено по цепочке родителей: Кронос → Зевс → Дардан → Эрихтоний → Трос → Ил → Лаомедонт → Титон.

one king, to whom the son of crooked-counselling Cronos hath vouchsafed the sceptre and judgments, that he may take counsel for his people. Thus masterfully did he range through the host, and they hasted back to the place of gathering from their ships and huts with noise, as when a wave of the loud-resounding sea
Il. 2.205–206
and the mother fluttered around them, wailing for her dear little ones; howbeit he coiled himself and caught her by the wing as she screamed about him. But when he had devoured the sparrow's little ones and the mother with them, the god, who had brought him to the light, made him to be unseen; for the son of crooked-counselling Cronos turned him to stone;
Il. 2.319
Even in such wise as the son of crooked-counselling Cronos sendeth a star to be a portent for seamen or for a wide host of warriors, a gleaming star, and therefrom the sparks fly thick; even so darted Pallas Athene to earth, and down she leapt into the midst; and amazement came upon all that beheld,
Il. 4.75

Il. 2.205–206 · Il. 2.319 · Il. 4.75 · Il. 9.37 · Il. 9.171 · Il. 9.236 · Il. 9.419 · Il. 9.502 · Il. 9.686 · Il. 10.71 · Il. 15.187 · Il. 16.431 · Il. 18.293 · Il. 20.215 · Il. 20.219 · Il. 20.230 · Il. 20.231–232 · Il. 20.236 · Il. 20.237 · Il. 20.303–305

Ancestor · Sources
Ancestor · Sources

Происхождение выведено по цепочке родителей: Дардан → Эрихтоний → Трос → Ил → Лаомедонт → Титон.

at the first Zeus, the cloud-gatherer, begat Dardanus, and he founded Dardania, for not yet was sacred Ilios builded in the plain to be a city of mortal men, but they still dwelt upon the slopes of many-fountained Ida. And Dardanus in turn begat a son, king Erichthonius,
Il. 20.219
And Erichthonius begat Tros to be king among the Trojans, and from Tros again three peerless sons were born, Ilus, and Assaracus, and godlike Ganymedes that was born the fairest of mortal men; wherefore the gods caught him up on high to be cupbearer to Zeus by reason of his beauty, that he might dwell with the immortals.
Il. 20.230
And Erichthonius begat Tros to be king among the Trojans, and from Tros again three peerless sons were born, Ilus, and Assaracus, and godlike Ganymedes that was born the fairest of mortal men; wherefore the gods caught him up on high to be cupbearer to Zeus by reason of his beauty, that he might dwell with the immortals.
Il. 20.231–232

Il. 20.219 · Il. 20.230 · Il. 20.231–232 · Il. 20.236 · Il. 20.237

Ancestor · Sources
Ancestor · Sources

Происхождение выведено по цепочке родителей: Рея → Зевс → Дардан → Эрихтоний → Трос → Ил → Лаомедонт → Титон.

Out upon it, verily strong though he be he hath spoken overweeningly, if in sooth by force and in mine own despite he will restrain me that am of like honour with himself. For three brethren are we, begotten of Cronos, and born of Rhea,—Zeus, and myself, and the third is Hades, that is lord of the dead below. And in three-fold wise are all things divided, and unto each hath been apportioned his own domain.
Il. 15.187
at the first Zeus, the cloud-gatherer, begat Dardanus, and he founded Dardania, for not yet was sacred Ilios builded in the plain to be a city of mortal men, but they still dwelt upon the slopes of many-fountained Ida. And Dardanus in turn begat a son, king Erichthonius,
Il. 20.215
at the first Zeus, the cloud-gatherer, begat Dardanus, and he founded Dardania, for not yet was sacred Ilios builded in the plain to be a city of mortal men, but they still dwelt upon the slopes of many-fountained Ida. And Dardanus in turn begat a son, king Erichthonius,
Il. 20.219

Il. 15.187 · Il. 20.215 · Il. 20.219 · Il. 20.230 · Il. 20.231–232 · Il. 20.236 · Il. 20.237 · Il. 20.303–305

Ancestor · Sources
Ancestor · Sources

Происхождение выведено по цепочке родителей: Эрихтоний → Трос → Ил → Лаомедонт → Титон.

And Erichthonius begat Tros to be king among the Trojans, and from Tros again three peerless sons were born, Ilus, and Assaracus, and godlike Ganymedes that was born the fairest of mortal men; wherefore the gods caught him up on high to be cupbearer to Zeus by reason of his beauty, that he might dwell with the immortals.
Il. 20.230
And Erichthonius begat Tros to be king among the Trojans, and from Tros again three peerless sons were born, Ilus, and Assaracus, and godlike Ganymedes that was born the fairest of mortal men; wherefore the gods caught him up on high to be cupbearer to Zeus by reason of his beauty, that he might dwell with the immortals.
Il. 20.231–232
And Ilus again begat a son, peerless Laomedon, and Laomedon begat Tithonus and Priam and Clytius, and Hicetaon, scion of Ares. And Assaracus begat Capys, and he Anchises; but Anchises begat me and Priam goodly Hector.
Il. 20.236

Il. 20.230 · Il. 20.231–232 · Il. 20.236 · Il. 20.237

In art

AuroreetTithon
AuroreetTithonJean-Baptiste Marie Pierre · 1747Musée Sainte-CroixInv. INV 7228

Jean-Baptiste Marie Pierre. AuroreetTithon. Musée Sainte-Croix. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q97365103

Aurora, Tithonus and Cephalus
Aurora, Tithonus and CephalusFrench School / Unidentified painter · 1600National TrustInv. 129977

French School / Unidentified painter. Aurora, Tithonus and Cephalus. National Trust. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52226485

Image author: French School / Unidentified painter

Image date: 1600

Eos adbucting Tithonos-MAHG MF 140
Eos adbucting Tithonos-MAHG MF 140angular face painter · 600 BCMuseum of Art and History GenevaInv. MF 140

angular face painter. Eos adbucting Tithonos-MAHG MF 140. Museum of Art and History Geneva. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q87598120

04 / PROVENANCE

Sources and verification

The character is matched to the catalogue.

Wikidata Q737306

Reference material remains distinct from the poem’s assertions. Characters who share a name retain separate pages.