Asopus

What, so what's going on with this, um- With, uh, the swift god

Yeah, so that's Asopus, and he's like a minor river god.

And so like a lot of these gods are tied to places or, or, you know, like geographical areas, and so he's, he's one of those there.

He, he says that, you know, his, his power is that whatever's given unto him, he returns more powerful or, or better.

Um, and they find the Black man and Latro, um, end up in Corinth, and they're begging, right? And then-

Mm-hmm

... um, Latro sees a statue of Asopus and thinks, mistakes it for the actual god, I think, and then he's trying to ask it questions.

[laughs] And, um, and then they're, they're given a lot of money.

Wherefore it proved the most excellent of all ships that have made trial of the sea with oars.

After them came Phleas from Erythrae, where he dwelt in affluence by the favor of his father Dionysus in his home by the springs of Asopus.

From Argus came Talaus and Areus, sons of Bias, and mighty Leudocus, all of whom Hero, daughter of Neleus, bare.

On her account the Aeolid Melampus endured sore affliction in the steading of Iphiclus.

In it were the Cyclops seated at their imperishable work, forging a thunderbolt for King Zeus.

By now it was almost finished in its brightness, and it still but wanted one ray, which they were beating out with their iron hammers as it spurted forth a breath of raging flame.

In it too were the twin sons of Antiope, daughter of Asopus, Amphion and Zethus.

And Thebe, still ungirt with towers, was lying near, whose foundations they were just then laying in eager haste.

I know, however, the name of him to whom thou hast promised thy daughter; but I would fain know of what race and whence he is

Ægina was the daughter of her father Asopus

And who of mortals or of gods wedded her?

Jove; and she gave birth to Aeacus, prince of Æniné

Agamemnon.

The nymph Aegina was Asopus' child.

Clytemnestra.

And did a mortal wed her, or a god? Agamemnon.

To him Clytius and Iphitus joined themselves, the warders of Ecalia.

Sons of Eurytus the ruthless Eurytus to whom the far-shooting god gave his bow but he had no joy of the gift for of his own choice he strove even with the giver after them came the sons of Aeacus not both together nor from the same spot for they settled far from Aegina in exile when in their folly they had slain their brother Phpheus Telamon dwelt in the Attic island but Peleus departed and made his home in Phthia after them from Cecropia came warlike Butes son of brave Tileon and Phalerus of the ashen spear Alcon his father sent him forth yet no other sons had he to care for his old age and livelihood but him his well-beloved and only son he sent forth that amid bold heroes he might shine conspicuous but Theseus who surpassed all the sons of Erichthius an unseen bond kept beneath the land of Taenarus for he had followed that path with Pirithous assuredly both would have lightened for all the fulfilment of their toil Tiphys son of Hegneus left the Siphean people of the Thespians well skilled to foretell the rising wave on the broad sea and well skilled to infer from sun and star the stormy winds and the time for sailing Tritonian Athena herself urged him to join the band of chiefs and he came among them a welcome comrade she herself too fashioned the swift ship and with her Argus son of Arista wrought it by her counsels wherefore it proved the most excellent of all ships that have made trial of the sea with oars after them came Phlegyas from Erythrae where he dwelt in affluence by the favour of his father Dionysus in his home by the springs of Asopus from Argos came Talaus and Areius sons of Bias and mighty Leodocus all of whom Pero daughter of Neleus bare on her account the Aeolid Melampus endured sore affliction in the steading of Iphiclus nor do we learn that Heracles of the mighty heart disregarded the eager summons of Iason's son but when he heard a report of the heroes gathering and had reached Lercaean Argos from Arcadia by the road along which he carried the boar alive that fed in the thickets of Lympia near the vast Erymanthian swamp the boar bound with chains he put down from his huge shoulders at the entrance to the marketplace of Mycenae and himself of his own will set out against the purpose of Eurystheus and with him went Hylas a brave comrade in the flower of youth to bear his arrows and to guard his bow next to him came a scion of the race of divine Danaus Nauplius he was the son of Clytoneus son of Nobilus Nobilus was son of Lernus Lernus we know was the son of Prytus son of Nauplius and once Amymone daughter of Danaus wedded to Poseidon bare Nauplius who surpassed all men in naval skill Idmon came last of all them that dwelt at Argos for though he had learned his own fate by augury he came that the people might not grudge him fair renown he was not in truth the son of Abas but Leto's son himself begat him to be numbered among the illustrious Aeolids and himself taught him the art of prophecy to pay heed to birds and to observe the signs of the burning sacrifice moreover Aetolian Leda sent from Sparta strong Polydeuces and Castor skilled to guide swift-footed steeds these her dearly loved sons she bare at one birth in the house of Tyndareus nor did she forbid their departure for she had thoughts worthy of the bride of Zeus the son of Aphareus Lynceus and proud Idas came from Oeni both exulting in their great strength and Lynceus too excelled in keenest sight if the report is true that that hero could easily direct his sight even beneath the earth and with them Pylean Periclymenus set out to come eldest of all the sons of godlike Neleus who were born at Pylos Poseidon had given him boundless strength and granted him that whatever shape he should crave during the fight that he should take in the stress of battle moreover from Arcadia came Amphidamas and Cepheus who inhabited Tegea and the allotment of Ophietus two sons of Aldus and Enceus followed them as the third whom his father Lycurgus sent the brother older than both but he was left in the city to care for Alectryone now growing old while he gave his son to join his brothers Antaeus went clad in the skin of a Maenalian bear and wielding in his right hand a huge two-edged battle-axe for his armour his grandsire had hidden in the house's innermost recess to see if he might by some means still stay his departure There came also Ogyges, whom fame declared to be the son of Helios.

He reigned over the Eleans, glorying in his wealth, and greatly he desired to behold the Colchian land and Aeetes himself, the ruler of the Colchians.

Asterius and Amphion, sons of Hyperasius, came from Achaean Pylae, which once Peleus, their grandsire, founded on the brows of Aegialus.

For indeed in the middle the fashion thereof was red, but at the ends it was all purple; and on each margin many separate devices had been skilfully inwoven.

In it were the Cyclops seated at their imperishable work, forging a thunderbolt for King Zeus; by now it was almost finished in its brightness, and it still but wanted one ray, which they were beating out with their iron hammers as it spurted forth a breath of raging flame.

In it too were the twin sons of Antiope daughter of Asopus, Amphion and Zethus; and Thebe still ungirt with towers was lying near, whose foundations they were just then laying in eager haste.

Zethus on his shoulders was lifting the peak of a steep mountain, like a man toiling hard; and Amphion after him, singing loud and clear on his golden lyre, moved on, and a rock twice as large followed his footsteps.

But taken from me was this drowsiness suddenly by a people that behind our backs already had come round to us.

And as of old Ismenus and Asopus beside them saw at night the rush and throng, if but the Thebans were in need of Bacchus, so they along that circle curved their step from what I saw of those approaching us who by goodwill and righteous love are ridden.

Full soon they were upon us because running moved onward all that mighty multitude, and two in the advance cried out lamenting, Marry in haste unto the mountain ran, and Caesar that he might subdue Lerde thrust at Marseilles and then ran into Spain.

Quick, quick, so that the time may not be lost by little love.

And swifter were the entrails torn away than drop the lids over your royal eyeballs.

Like birds that skim the earth they glide along o'er the wild plains, that by Asopus's stream shoot up for Thebes the rich and yellow corn.

And Hisiae and Erathae that beneath Cithaeron's crag dwell lowly.

Like fierce foes invading, all with ravaged waste and wide confounded.

But I would fain know of what race and whence he is

Ægina was the daughter of her father Asopus

And who of mortals or of gods wedded her?

Jove.

And that patrician shade for whom is named Pietola more than any Mantuan town, Had laid aside the burden of my lading; Whence I, who reason manifest and plain In answer to my questions had received, Stood like a man in drowsy reverie.

But taken from me was this drowsiness Suddenly by a people that behind Our backs already had come round to us; And as of old Ismenus and Asopus Beside them saw at night the rush and throng.

If but the Thebans were in need of Bacchus.

So they along that circle curved their step, from what I saw of those approaching us, who by good will and righteous love are ridden.

Here is the greatest distance in all this region between the sea and the hills on which Trachis stands, for the plain is twenty-two thousand plethora in extent.

In the mountains which hem in the Trachinian land there is a ravine to the south of Trachis, through which the river Asopus flows past the lower slopes of the mountains.

There is another river south of the Asopus, the Phoenix, a little stream which flows from those mountains into the Asopus.

Near this stream is the narrowest place; there is only space for a single cartway.

Thermopylae is fifteen furlongs away from the river Phoenix.

Between the river and Thermopylae there is a village named Anthela, past which the Asopus flows out into the sea, and there is a wide space around it in which stands a temple of Amphictyonid Demeter, seats for the Amphictyons, and a temple of Amphictyon himself.

King Xerxes lay encamped in Trachis and Malis and the Hellenes in the pass.

This place is called Thermopylae by most of the Hellenes, but by the natives and their neighbors, Pylae.