Hyperion

ee PER ion

‘Υπεριον

Father of the Sun

No matter which text you believe, Hyperion is, without doubt, the father of Helios (the Sun), Eos (the Dawn) and Selene (the Moon). In the Homeric Hymn to Helios, Eryphaesa is listed as their mother.

In Theogony by Hesiod, the mother of Eos, Helios and Selene is listed as Theia. She and Hyperion are Titans of the same generation as Kronos (Cronos), and like Kronos, the children of Gaia (Earth) and Ouranos (the Heavens). Hyperion is the eldest son, his name means ‘The One Above.’ (Theogony, lines 134 and 372-374)

Hyperion in The Iliad

(listed by book and line)

The line numbers listed here correspond fairly well with the Lattimore and Murray/Wyatt translations of The Iliad. Other translations (Fitzgerald, Fagles et al) do not correspond as well but, with a small amount of effort, you should be able to find the reference you need regardless of the translation you use. Lattimore (ISBN 0226469409); A.T. Murray/William F. Wyatt Vol. I & II (ISBN 0674995791 and 0674995805); Robert Fitzgerald (ISBN 0374529051); Robert Fagles (ISBN 0140275363)

• 08.480 - Zeus tells Hera that he will give Hector glory in battle and that he does not care what she does or where she goes, she cannot change his mind; even if she goes to Tartaros (Tartarus) where the sun god, Hyperion, cannot shine, Zeus says he will not heed her desires

Hyperion in The Odyssey

(listed by book and line)

The line numbers listed here correspond fairly well with the Lattimore and Murray/Dimock translations of The Odyssey. Other translations (Fitzgerald, Fagles et al) do not correspond as well but, with a small amount of effort, you should be able to find the reference you need regardless of the translation you use. Richmond Lattimore (ISBN 0060931957); A.T. Murray/George E. Dimock Vol. I & II (ISBN 0674995619 and 0674995627); Robert Fitzgerald (ISBN 0374525749); Robert Fagles (ISBN 0140268863)

• 01.022 - Poseidon (lord of the Sea) has gone to the land of the Aithiopians (Ethiopians), the most distant of men who live where Hyperion sets and rises
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• 12.133 - The nymphs, Lampetia and Phaethousa, daughters of Neaira and Hyperion, watch over the herd of Helios on the island of Thrinakia (Thrinacia)
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• 12.176 - As Odysseus and his crew sailed past the island of the Sirens, he let the light of Hyperion soften some wax so he could put it in the ears of the sailors and make them immune to the Siren’s song
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• 12.263 - After surviving Charybdis and Skylla (Scylla), Odysseus and his crew came to the island of the Sun God, Hyperion
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• 12.347 - After Odysseus’ crew had disobeyed orders and eaten the oxen of the Sun God, Helios Hyperion, they vainly promise to build a temple to the god when they return home to Ithaka (Ithaca)
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• 12.375 - When his daughter, Lampetia, tells him that Odysseus’ crew have eaten his cattle, Hyperion, the Sun God, demands justice from Zeus