CATTLE OF HELIOS (sacred herd of the sun god)
Monster · group of animals in Greek mythology
- In the sources
- 6 ancient passages
Cattle of Helios, the sacred herd belonging to the Sun god, stood as a divine possession on the Island of Thrinacia.1 Some accounts place their stable instead at Messina and Mylæ, while others list the oxen among details that are manifestly fabulous.2,3 The crew of the hero consumed the cattle due to their own foolishness.4,5 Because they ate the animals, the god prevented the men from reaching home.4 Later, the flesh of the animals spoke with a human voice that proved bitter to Odysseus.6
The codex facts behind this entry
In the myths
The crew of the hero consumed the cattle of Helios due to their own foolishness. Odyssey 1 ¶1 +1
Fate
The flesh of the animals will later speak with a human voice that is bitter to Odysseus. Euripides, The Trojan Women 424-443 The god prevented the men from reaching home because they ate the animals. Odyssey 1 ¶1
