Hellen

In Greek mythology, Hellen (/ˈhɛlɪn/; Ancient Greek: Ἕλλην Hellēn) was the progenitor of the Hellenes (Ἕλληνες). His name is also another name for Greek, meaning a person of Greek descent or pertaining to Greek culture, and the source of the adjective "Hellenic".

Not to be confused with Helen of Troy or Helenus. For other similar terms, see Helen (disambiguation).

Mythology

Hellen was the son of Deucalion (or sometimes Zeus) and Pyrrha, and was the brother of Amphictyon. By the nymph Orseis[1] he became the father of three sons: Aeolus, Xuthus, and Dorus and a daughter Xenopatra.[2]

According to the Hesiodic Catalogue of Women, his sons were themselves progenitors of primary tribes of Greece: Aeolus the Aeolians, Dorus the Dorians, and Xuthus the Achaeans and Ionians through his sons Achaeus and Ion.[3]

According to Thucydides,[4] Hellen's descendants conquered the Greek area of Phthia and subsequently spread their rule to other Greek cities. The people of those areas came to be called Hellenes, after the name of their ancestor. The ethnonym Hellenes dates back to the time of Homer. In the Iliad, "Hellas" (Ἑλλάς) and "Hellenes" were names of the tribe (also called "Myrmidones") settled in Phthia, led by Achilles.

In some accounts, Hellen was credited to be the father of Neonus, father of Dotus who gave his name to Dotium in Thessaly.[5]

Genealogy of Hellenes

Genealogy of Hellenes

Prometheus Clymene Epimetheus Pandora Deucalion Pyrrha Hellen Dorus Xuthus Aeolus Tectamus Aegimius Achaeus Ion Makednos Magnes

See also

• Names of the Greeks

Notes

1. Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1.7.3
2. Scholia, on Hellanicus fr. 124
3. Hesiod. Catalogue of Women, fr. 9 and 10(a)
4. History of the Peloponnesian War, 1.3.2
5. Stephanus of Byzantium, s. v. Dōtion (5th century AD)

References

• Hesiod, Catalogue of Women from Homeric Hymns, Epic Cycle, Homerica translated by Evelyn-White, H G. Loeb Classical Library Volume 57. London: William Heinemann, 1914. Online version at theio.com
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.