Alebion
Encyclopedia
In Greek mythology
, Alebion or Albion ( or ) was a son of Poseidon
and brother of Bergion
(also known as Dercynus) who attacked Heracles
with Dercynus when he passed through their country, Liguria
in North-Western Italy, on his way back to Mycenae
from Iberia
having obtained the Cattle of Geryon
as his tenth labour.
The battle that followed was fierce; Albion and Dercynus or Bergion were supported by a numerous army. Hercules and his army were in a difficult position so he prayed to his father Zeus
for help. With the aegis of Zeus, Heracles won the battle and both brothers were killed.
It was this kneeling position of Heracles when prayed to his father Zeus that gave the name Engonasin (Ἐγγόνασιν, derived from ἐν γόνασιν), meaning "on his knees" or "the Kneeler" to Hercules' constellation
.
The Scholiast on Lycophron
writes that the brother of Alebion was named Ligys. The story is also alluded to in Hyginus
and Dionysius
.
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
, Alebion or Albion ( or ) was a son of Poseidon
Poseidon
Poseidon was the god of the sea, and, as "Earth-Shaker," of the earthquakes in Greek mythology. The name of the sea-god Nethuns in Etruscan was adopted in Latin for Neptune in Roman mythology: both were sea gods analogous to Poseidon...
and brother of Bergion
Bergion
In Greek mythology, Bergion or Dercynus was a son of Poseidon and brother of Alebion. The two brothers engaged into battle with Heracles at Liguria of North-Western Italy.This version was mentioned in Aeschylus' play Promētheus Lyomenos, now lost....
(also known as Dercynus) who attacked Heracles
Heracles
Heracles ,born Alcaeus or Alcides , was a divine hero in Greek mythology, the son of Zeus and Alcmene, foster son of Amphitryon and great-grandson of Perseus...
with Dercynus when he passed through their country, Liguria
Liguria
Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and good food.-Geography:...
in North-Western Italy, on his way back to Mycenae
Mycenae
Mycenae is an archaeological site in Greece, located about 90 km south-west of Athens, in the north-eastern Peloponnese. Argos is 11 km to the south; Corinth, 48 km to the north...
from Iberia
Iberia
The name Iberia refers to three historical regions of the old world:* Iberian Peninsula, in Southwest Europe, location of modern-day Portugal and Spain** Prehistoric Iberia...
having obtained the Cattle of Geryon
Geryon
In Greek mythology, Geryon , son of Chrysaor and Callirrhoe and grandson of Medusa, was a fearsome giant who dwelt on the island Erytheia of the mythic Hesperides in the far west of the Mediterranean. A more literal-minded later generation of Greeks associated the region with Tartessos in southern...
as his tenth labour.
The battle that followed was fierce; Albion and Dercynus or Bergion were supported by a numerous army. Hercules and his army were in a difficult position so he prayed to his father Zeus
Zeus
In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus...
for help. With the aegis of Zeus, Heracles won the battle and both brothers were killed.
It was this kneeling position of Heracles when prayed to his father Zeus that gave the name Engonasin (Ἐγγόνασιν, derived from ἐν γόνασιν), meaning "on his knees" or "the Kneeler" to Hercules' constellation
Hercules (constellation)
Hercules is a constellation named after Hercules, the Roman mythological hero adapted from the Greek hero Heracles. Hercules was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations today...
.
The Scholiast on Lycophron
Lycophron
Lycophron was a Hellenistic Greek tragic poet, grammarian, and commentator on comedy, to whom the poem Alexandra is attributed .-Life and miscellaneous works:...
writes that the brother of Alebion was named Ligys. The story is also alluded to in Hyginus
Hyginus
Hyginus can refer to:People:*Gaius Julius Hyginus , Roman poet, author of Fabulae, reputed author of Poeticon astronomicon*Hyginus Gromaticus, Roman surveyor*Pope Hyginus, also a saint, Bishop of Rome about 140...
and Dionysius
Dionysius of Halicarnassus
Dionysius of Halicarnassus was a Greek historian and teacher of rhetoric, who flourished during the reign of Caesar Augustus. His literary style was Attistic — imitating Classical Attic Greek in its prime.-Life:...
.
Sources
on page 94- Albion and Bergion at Perseus Digital Library