DRAKONES RHODIOI
Greek Name
Δρακονες Ροδιοι
Transliteration
Drakones Rhodioi
Latin Spelling
Dracones Rhodii
Translation
Dragons of Rhodes
THE DRAKONES RHODIOI (Dragons of Rhodes) were giant serpents which terrorised the island of Rhodes. They were slain by the hero Phorbas who, along with the greatest of the serpents, was set amongst the stars as the constellation Ophiochus.
PARENTS
Presumably GAIA, though nowhere stated
CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 5. 58. 4 (trans. Oldfather) (Greek historian
C1st B.C.) :
"When the land of Rhodes brought forth huge Serpents, it came to pass that the Serpents caused the death of
many of the natives; consequently the survivors dispatched men to Delos to inquire of the god how they might rid
themselves of the evil. And Apollon commanded them to receive Phorbas [of Thessalia (Thessaly)] and his
companions and to colonize together with them the island of Rhodes . . . and the Rhodians summoned him as the
oracle had commanded and gave him a share in the land. And Phorbas destroyed the Serpents, and after he had
freed the island of its fear he made his home in Rhodes."
Pseudo-Hyginus, Astronomica 2. 14 (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.)
:
"Polyzelus the Rhodian [Greek historian of uncertain date], however, points out that this [the
constellation Ophiuchus] is Phorbas, who was of great assistance to the Rhodians. The citizens called their
island, overrun by a great number of snakes, Ophiussa. In this multitude of beasts was a snake of immense size,
which had killed many of them; and when the deserted land began finally to lack men, Phorbas, son of Triopas by
Hiscilla, Myrmidon's daughter, when carried there by a storm, killed all the beasts, as well as that huge snake.
Since he was especially favored by Apollo, he was put among the constellations, shown killing the snake for the
sake of praise and commemoration. And so the Rhodians, as often as they go with their fleet rather far from
their shores, make offerings first for the coming of Phorbas, that such a happening of unexpected valor should
befall the citizens as the opportunity for glory which brought Phorbas, unconscious of future praise, to the
stars."
SOURCES
GREEK
- Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History - Greek History C1st B.C.
ROMAN
- Hyginus, Fabulae - Latin Mythography C2nd A.D.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.