Chapter 13: Herakles
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♠ Stesichoros fr 184 PMG – Poetae Melici Graeci, p. 100, ed. D. L. Page. Oxford 1962.
♠ Str 3.2.11 – Strabo, Geography
It appears the ancients knew the Guadalquiver under the name of the Tartessus, and Gades with the neighbouring islands under that of Erythia; and it is thought that we should understand in this sense the words of Stesichorus concerning the pastoral poet Geryon, that he was born ‘al- most opposite to the renowned Erythia, in a rocky cave near to the abundant springs of the silver-bedded river Tartessus.’ Greek Text
♠ Peisandros fr 5 PEG – Poetae Epici Graeci 1, p. 168, ed. A. Bernabé. Leipzig 1987.
♠ Stesichoros 185 PMG – Poetae Melici Graeci, p. 100, ed. D. L. Page. Oxford 1962.
same as
♠ Stesichoros 17 SLG – Supplementum Lyricis Graecis, ed. D. Page, p. 12. Oxford 1974.
♠ ApB 2.5.10 – Apollodoros, Bibliotheke (Library)
So journeying through Europe to fetch the kine of Geryon he destroyed many wild beasts and set foot in Libya, and proceeding to Tartessus he erected as tokens of his journey two pillars over against each other at the boundaries of Europe and Libya. But being heated by the Sun on his journey, he bent his bow at the god, who in admiration of his hardihood, gave him a golden goblet in which he crossed the ocean. And having reached Erythia he lodged on Mount Abas. However the dog, perceiving him, rushed at him; but he smote it with his club, and when the herdsman Eurytion came to the help of the dog, Hercules killed him also. But Menoetes, who was there pasturing the kine of Hades, reported to Geryon what had occurred, and he, coming up with Hercules beside the river Anthemus, as he was driving away the kine, joined battle with him and was shot dead. And Hercules, embarking the kine in the goblet and sailing across to Tartessus, gave back the goblet to the Sun. Greek Text
♠ Pherekydes 3F18a FGrH – Die Fragmente der griechischen Historiker 1, p. 66, ed. F. Jacoby, 2d ed. Leiden 1957.
And Herakles took aim at him with his bow, in order to shoot him, but Helios commanded him to stop, and he in fear did so. (Transl. T. N. Gantz) Greek Text
♠ Str 3.5.4 – Strabo, Geography
Pherecydes appears to have given to Gades the name of Erythia, the locality of the myths concerning Geryon: others suppose it to have been the island situated near to this city, and separated from it by a strait of merely one stadium. This they do on account of the excellence of its pasturage. For the milk of the cattle which feed there does not yield any whey, and they are obliged to mix it with large quantities of water when they make cheese on account of its richness. After fifty days the beasts [pasturing there] would be choked unless they were let blood. The pasturage of the country is dry, but it fattens wonderfully: and it is thought that from this the myth concerning the oxen of Geryon took its rise. The whole sea-shore however is possessed in common. Greek Text
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Edited by Elena Bianchelli, Retired Senior Lecturer of Classical Languages and Culture, Univ. of Georgia, January 2021
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