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Ancient

Apollodorus

1.9.17

... the Argonauts had intercourse with the women, and Hypsipyle bedded with Jason and bore sons, Euneus and Nebrophonus.

First Vatican Mythographer

130 Pepin, p. 62

The Story of the Lemnian Women and Hypsipyle.

Although the Lemnian women paid a tenth part of their produce to all the gods each year, they decided that Venus alone must be passed over. In anger, ... Later, the Argonauts came to Lemnos, and the Lemnian women received them with hospitality and had intercourse with them. Hypsipyle had two sons by Jason: Euneus and Thoas. Although the Argonauts were detained for many days, they departed after Hercules chided them. Moreover, after the Lemnian women learned that Hypsipyle had saved her father, they tried to kill her. As she fled, she was captured by robbers and carried off to Nemea. She was sold into servitude to Lycurgus, the king of that territory.

196 Pepin, p. 83

The Story of the Sons of Jason and Hypsipyle, and Phaeton.

The Jasonids were the sons of Jason and Hypsipyle. One of them had a maternal name, Thoas, because his mother was the daughter of Thoas; the other son was called Euneus, after his father the sailor, since ‘‘good’’ in Greek is eu and ‘‘ship’’ is neus . Euneus means ‘‘sailing well,’’ as it were. Also, Phaeton, or Thion, was the son of Liber. He ruled on the island of Chios and was the father of King Thoas. Hypsipyle, the daughter of Thoas, was the only one to save her father when a conspiracy was formed against all the men. Her great-grandfather Liber protected her.

Greek Anthology

Book 3: Epigrams in the Temple at Cyzicus

10 [= Palatine Anthology 3.10 = Euripides Hypsipyle test. Iv]

10 On the western side on the first part of the tenth tablet are carved Eunous and Thoas, the children of Hypsipyle,¹ being recognized by their mother. They are showing her the golden vine that was the token of their birth and saving her from her punishment at the hands of Eurydice for the death of Archemorus.

Thoas, show her this, Bacchus’ plant, for you will save from death your mother, the slave Hypsipyle. She had endured the wrath of Eurydice since the earth-born snake slew feeble Archemorus.² And you go too, Eunous, and leave the fields of Asopis, to take your mother to most holy Lemnos.

¹ Pseudo-Apollodorus (Library 1.9.17) calls the children Euneus and Nebrophonus.

² Archemorus is usually called Opheltes. See Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library 3.6.4.

Hyginus

Fabulae

15

[Grant:] WOMEN OF LEMNOS: ... Hypsipyle bore sons to Jason, Euneus and Deipylus.

Euripides

Hypsipyle

test. iiia (Hypothesis) [= P. Oxy. 2455 frs. 14–15, 3652 cols. i and ii.1-15]

Hypsipyle, which begins: ‘(Dionysus), who with (thyrsuses) and fawnskins . . . ’; the plot (is as follows) . . . (about fourteen lines largely lost, perhaps including . . . Amphiaraus . . . arriving . . .) . . . (Hypsipyle) showed (them) the spring . . . (torn asunder by?) a [line 20] serpent . . . the sons born . . . arrived (in the) vicinity in search of their mother, and having lodged with Lycurgus’ wife wanted to compete in the boy’s funeral games; and she having received the [line 25] aforesaid youths as guests approved them, but (planned) to kill their mother (as) having killed (her) son on purpose. . But when Amphiaraus . . . (she?) thanked him . . . (several lines lost) . . . [line 30] the(ir?) mother . . . they found . . . (several lines lost) . . .

test. iv [= Greek Anthology 3.10 = Palatine Anthology 3.10]

On the west side (i.e. of the monument at Cyzicus to Apollonis, mother of Attalus and Eumenes of Pergamum), at the beginning of the tenth plaque are carved Eunoos and Thoas, the sons of Hypsipyle, making themselves known to their mother and displaying the golden vine which was their family’s emblem, and rescuing her from the vengeance of Eurydice prompted by the death of Archemorus.

(Inscription:) ‘Reveal, Thoas, this plant of Dionysus; thus you will rescue your mother from death, the slave Hypsipyle, who endured Eurydice’s wrath when the serpent, offspring of the earth, killed helpless Archemorus. And you too go on your way, leaving Asopia’s rich land to bring your mother to holy Lemnos.’¹

¹ Much of the detail here may well be Euripidean, although in the play Eurydice probably forgave Hypsipyle before she and her sons recognized each other (see Introduction above).

test. va

Vatican Mythographer 2.141 (p. 123 Bode); similarly Lactantius Placidus on Statius, 4.740

Amongst the competitors at these games were Hypsipyle’s two sons, whom she had borne to Jason and left in Lemnos when she fled. They too had gone in search of their mother, and now were victorious in the foot-race. The herald proclaimed their names, and that they were the sons of Jason and Hypsipyle, and so their mother recognized them. Once they had recognized her, they obtained the king’s agreement and soon took her back to Lemnos.¹

¹ The recognition process described here may be Euripidean, although the involvement of the king is doubtful.

fr. 752c Collard and Cropp [= 764 Nauck]

<Thoas>

(to Euneos as they enter) Look—run your eyes up towards the sky, and take a look at the painted reliefs on the pediment.¹

¹ The brothers admire the decoration of the temple of Zeus as they arrive in Nemea (cf. Iphigenia in Tauris 67ff., Ion 184ff., Helen 68ff.).

fr. 752d

(to the baby Opheltes as she opens the door to the strangers) . . . will come . . . toys which (will) calm your mind from crying. (to Euneos and Thoas) Was it you, young men, who knocked at the door? (noticing their looks) O happy the mother that bore you, whoever she was!¹ Why have you come to this house, and what do you want from it?

Thoas

We need to be given shelter in the house, woman, if we may, (to stay) one night. We have what we need and will be (no) trouble to this (household); you for your part will stay just as you are.²

¹ Dramatic irony, as Hypsipyle unknowingly refers to herself.

² A less obvious dramatic irony: the twins will in fact rescue Hypsipyle from her servitude.

fr. 759a

58–110 (Collard and Cropp, pp. 310–317)

... then from the reunion celebration of Hypsipyle, Euneos, Thoas (mute) and Amphiaraus:

(singing joyfully) . . . (our fortune?) has driven (me) and my sons along a single path, this way and that, swerving us now towards fear, now towards gladness, but in time has shone out bright and fair.

Amphiaraus

(speaking) Lady, you now have the favour that I owed you. As you were generous to me when I made my request, so I have repaid you generously concerning your two sons. Keep yourself safe, now—and you two protect your mother; and prosper, while we, as we set out to do, will lead our army on and come to Thebes.

(Amphiaraus departs)

Hypsipyle

(speaking)

Good fortune to you, for you are worthy of it, stranger.

Euneos

(speaking)

Good fortune indeed—but as for you, poor mother, how greedily some god has fed on your misfortunes!

Hypsipyle

(singing her replies)

Alas, the flight that I fled, my son—if you only knew it—from sea-girt Lemnos, because I did not cut off my father’s grey head!¹

¹ See Introduction above on the Lemnian massacre and Hypsipyle’s role in it.

Euneos

Did they really order you to kill your father?

Hypsipyle

I am gripped by fear of those evil events—O my son, like Gorgons they slew their husbands in their beds!

Euneos

And you—how did you steal away and so escape death?

Hypsipyle

I came to the deep-resounding shore and the swelling sea, the lonely refuge of birds.

Euneos

And how did you come here from there, what transport did you use?

Hypsipyle

Seafarers, rowing, took me on a foreign voyage to Nauplion harbour and sold me into slavery—O my son—in this land, ship-borne, a pitiful piece of merchandise.

Euneos

Alas for your hardships—

Hypsipyle

Don’t grieve at what turned out well! But how were you and your brother raised, my son, and in whose care? Tell, tell this to your mother, O my son!

Euneos

Argo took us to the Colchians’ city.

Hypsipyle

Yes, just lately weaned as you were from my breast!

Euneos

And when my father Jason died, mother . . .

Hypsipyle

Alas, you tell me of evils and bring tears to my eyes, my son.

Euneos

. . . Orpheus took us to the region of Thrace.

Hypsipyle

What service was he doing for your hapless father? Tell me, my son!

Euneos

He taught me the music of the Asian lyre, and trained my brother in Ares’ martial arms.³

³ The politically fundamental functions of music and warfare are divided between the twins, as between Amphion and Zethus in Antiope (especially F 223.86–95). For Euneos’ connection with music at Athens see Introduction above.

Hypsipyle

And how did you travel across the Aegean to Lemnos’ shore?

Euneos

Thoas your father conveyed †the children of two†.⁴

⁴ Restoration uncertain: ‘the twin sons’ or ‘his son’s sons’, Wecklein; ‘your two sons’, Collard.

Hypsipyle

Is he really safe, then?

Euneos

Yes, through Bacchus’ contriving.

Hypsipyle

. . . (of/from?) hardships . . . expectation of life . . . brought (his?) son for your mother . . . (to/for?) me.

Euneos

. . . Thoas’(?) wine-dark grape-bunch.⁵

⁵ Possibly a gold ornament used as a recognition token (see Introduction above).

Ovid

Heroides

6.114–115

If noble blood and generous lineage move you—lo, I am known as daughter of Minoan Thoas! Bacchus was my grandsire;

6.119–128

And now, too, I have brought forth; rejoice for us both, Jason! Sweet was the burden that I bore—its author had made it so. I am happy in the number, too, for by Lucina’s kindly favour I have brought forth twin offspring, a pledge for each of us.^a If you ask whom they resemble, I answer, yourself is seen in them. The ways of deceit they know not; for the rest, they are like their father. I almost gave them to be carried to you, their mother’s ambassadors; but thought of the cruel stepdame turned me back from the path I would have trod. ’Twas Medea I feared. Medea is more than a stepdame; the hands of Medea are fitted for any crime.

^a Nebrophonus and Euneus, according to Apollodorus; according to Hyginus, Euneus and Deiphilus.

6.143

my twin babes

Second Vatican Mythographer

141 Bode [= Euripides, Hypsipyle test. va = 164 Pepin, pp. 166–167]

Pepin, pp. 166–167

164. On Venus.

After the Sun detected the adultery of Venus and Mars, Vulcan bound both of them in bed with very fine chains on the island of Lemnos where he lived. Although the women there paid a tenth part of their produce to all the gods each year, they said that Venus alone should be passed over. In honor of Vulcan they condemned her for her adultery. In anger, Venus let loose a goatish stench upon them. Their husbands cursed them and abandoned Lemnos out of loathing for their wives. They went to the Thracians and took their daughters for themselves in marriage. When this became known to the women of Lemnos, they all swore an oath against the whole race of men. Venus urged them on, and they killed all the men when they returned from Thrace. Among them only Hypsipyle had mercy on Thoas, her father. Not only did she spare him, but even followed him as he fled to the seashore. Then Liber, who was actually his father, appeared to Thoas and guided him to the island of Chion by a prosperous voyage. When the Argonauts came to Lemnos, the Lemnian women received them with hospitality and had intercourse with them. Hypsipyle had two sons by Jason: Euneus and Thoas. Although the [p. 167] Argonauts were detained there for many days, they departed after Hercules chided them. After the Lemnian women learned that Hypsipyle had saved her father, they tried to kill her. As she was fleeing, she was captured by robbers and carried off to Nemea. There she was sold into servitude to Lycurgus, the king of that region. In his service, she nursed his son Opheltes, later called Archemorus. The boy was killed by a serpent. Angered by this loss of his child, King Lycurgus wanted to exercise the right of ownership over Hypsipyle and to sacrifice her in honor of his son. He was prevented by the Greeks to whom she showed a spring when they were thirsty, while in the meantime the boy perished. Also, the Greeks had received an oracular response that they would not reach Thebes unless the shades of Archemorus were placated. For this reason they established funeral games. Jason’s two sons by Hypsipyle were present at these games. She had left them on Lemnos when she fled, and they were now seeking their mother. They prevailed in running races, and when the herald announced their names as sons of Jason and Hypsipyle, their mother knew them. After they recognized her and persuaded the king, they soon took her back to Lemnos.

Statius

Thebaid

5.38–39

I am Hypsipyle, child of famous Thoas;

5.454–467

Mayhap, captains, you would care to know my own transgression; Fate may be its excuse. I swear by the ashes and Furies of my kin, it was not by my will or guilt that I kindled stranger torches (the gods care and know), though Jason had charm to capture young maidens. Bloody Phasis has its own laws; other are the loves you Colchians engender.

And now the stars, shedding their chill, grow warm with the long sunshine and the rapid year turns back. Now comes new progeny and births to answer prayer. Lemnos is loud with unhoped-for children. I too with the rest bring forth twins, memorials of a forced bed though they be, and made a mother by my ungentle guest I revive their grandsire’s name.⁴¹ What fortune befell them after I left I may not know. Full four times five years are they growing up, if only the Fates allow and Lycaste raised them as I asked.

⁴¹ One of them was called Thoas.

5.471–474

The Minyae long to go and Jason calls on his comrades—the brute; would that he had sailed straight past my shores in the first place, uncaring for his children and pledged word!

6.340–345

And see, the young sons of Jason, new glory of their mother Hypsipyle, come to a chariot on which both rode: ³⁷ Thoas—family name from his grandfather—and Euneos, ³⁸ called from Argo’s omen. Twins, they had everything the same: face, chariot, horses, dress, nor less concord in their prayers; each wishes to win or to be outrun only by his brother.

³⁷ Either of the twins being the other’s alter ego, a chariot occupied by one contained both (SB2).

³⁸ ‘He of the good ship’ (reference to Argo).

6.433–435

Close together come the twins, now Euneos in front, now Thoas; they yield, they lead, nor ever does ambition for glory cause these loving brothers to clash.

6.466

Thoas begs piebald Podarces to take off.

6.475–476

As he eagerly presses to pass Haemonian Admetus, Thoas crashes, nor did his brother bring him any aid;

Modern

Collard and Cropp

p. 251

As a young woman she had borne twin sons to Jason during the Argonauts’ visit to Lemnos, but Jason took these sons with him to Colchis and Hypsipyle later had to flee the island after refusing to kill her father when the other women of Lemnos massacred their menfolk. Seized by marauders, she was sold as a slave to Lycurgus, priest at the rural sanctuary of Zeus at Nemea, and later became nurse to Opheltes, son of Lycurgus and his wife Eurydice. Meanwhile Jason died, probably at Colchis, and left his sons to be raised by his comrade Orpheus in Thrace. They were eventually reunited there with their grandfather, returned with him to Lemnos, and set out to find their mother. In the play, they reach Nemea just as the army of the Seven is passing by on its march to Thebes, and Hypsipyle admits them to the house without recognizing them. ... Hypsipyle’s sons compete in the games, a recognition is effected, and thus redeemed she returns with them to Lemnos at the end of the play.

p. 252

[the play] begins with Hypsipyle telling her personal history in a prologue speech (F 752, 752a–b). As she re-enters the house Euneos and Thoas arrive seeking a night’s shelter (F 752c);

p. 253

How the recognition between mother and sons came about is unclear; some later accounts mention a continuing threat to Hypsipyle from Eurydice or from Lycurgus on his return, or even from her own unrecognized sons, but this is difficult to accommodate in the play after Amphiaraus’ seemingly decisive intervention, nor is there any hint of it in Amphiaraus’ parting words (F 759a.1584–6). Probably the focus was on the games, the recognition process, and the redemption of Hypsipyle from slavery. The games will have been reported by a messenger, and the twins’ identity may have been revealed when they were proclaimed by name as sons of Jason and Hypsipyle after winning the [p. 254] foot-race (see test. va below with note). A gold ornament in the shape of a vine or grape-bunch probably served as a proof of their identity (see test. iv below with note).

Gantz

p. 346

In any event, the union of Iason and Hypsipyle produces at least one child Euneos, and usually a second, who is variously Thoas (Euripides, see below), or Nebrophonos (ApB 1.9.17), or Deipylos (Fab 15).

p. 511

... Euripides in his partially preserved Hypsipyle ... Hypsipyle the former parmour of Jason is involved because she has become the child's nurse, after being exiled from Lemnos and captured by pirates. ... the serpent somehow manages to kill the child. ... Hypsipyle's recognition of her sons, who have come to find her ...

Grimal

s.v. Thoas 2

A grandson of the preceding Thoas and the son of Jason and and Hypsipyle. He was the twin broter of EUNEUS (Table 21). The twins succeeded in freeing their mother who was a slave of King Lycurgas. In this connection Thoas figured in Euripides' lost tragedy Hypsipyle, but surviving fragments do not make it clear exactly what role he played.

p. 513

Thoas ... (2) Euripides, Hypsipyle (fragments ed. G Bond, 1963.

Parada

s.v. Thoas 9

Took part in the chariot race at Opheltes 1's funeral games.

Jason - Hypsipyle

D. Stat. Theb. 6.466 *Stat. Theb. 6.342

Hard

p. 318

As for Hypsipyle, she was finally rescued from here cativity by Euneos and Thoas, the two sons whom she had borne to Jason.

p. 384

Jason stayed at the palace with Hypsipyle, who bore him two sons, Thoas (or Nebrophonos) and Euneos.