MOUNT CYLLENE (mountain in Azania)
Mountain in Corinthia Regional Unit, Greece
- Also called
- Cyllene, Mount Kyllini
- Kind of place
- Mountain
- Region
- Azania
- Patron
- Hermes
- People of myth here
- Maia, Pleiades, Hermes
- Where
- 37.94° N, 22.40° E
A cave on this mountain is where Maia gave birth to Hermes. Apollodorus 3.10.2 Cyllene is identified as the sacred domain of Hermes in Arcadia. Hymn IV to Hermes ll. 1-29 A ruined temple dedicated to Cyllenian Hermes stands on the summit of the mountain. Pausanias 8.17.1
Described in the sources
Mount Kyllini is the highest mountain in the region of Arcadia. Hymn XIX to Pan ll. 27-47 +4 Apollo came to Cyllene to accuse Maia of harboring the infant thief after discovering him by divination. Apollodorus 3.10.2 +1 A bay in Achaia is named after this mountain. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.6 ¶1 The tomb of Aepytus is situated near this mountain. Iliad 2 ¶45 The mountain is described as being covered in forest. Hymn IV to Hermes ll. 227-234 Cyllene is described as a stony ridge covered in snow. Sophocles, Ajax 693-706 The mountain was located in the region Elatus received. Pausanias 8.4.4 Cyllene is located to the right of the fields of Calaurea. Ovid Met. 7.350-401 (4) Cyllene is described as a location blessed by a winged deity. Statius, Thebaid 4.281-305 ¶1 A deep-shadowed cave is located within the rock of the mountain. Hymn IV to Hermes ll. 227-234
Stories and history
The mountain received its name from Cyllen, the son of Elatus. Pausanias 8.17.1 +1 Some writers state its perpendicular height is twenty stadia. Strabo 8.8.1 The people of Cyllene did not remain idle but joined the war effort. Statius, Thebaid 4.281-305 ¶1 Other writers estimate its perpendicular height to be about fifteen stadia. Strabo 8.8.1
Myths set at Mount Cyllene
In the age of the gods
Before the heroes. In Godsunder these are history: everyone in the world knows them.
- The Confrontation in the Cave. Apollo discovers his stolen cows and confronts the thief, Hermes, in a cave. He accuses Hermes of theft and declares him the prince of robbers before leaving with the infant. Hymn IV to Hermes ll. 227-234 +5 Apollo
- The Return to Cyllene. Hermes returns to Cyllene at dawn after spending the night under Selene's light. He disguises himself as a feeble babe to hide his actions. Hymn IV to Hermes ll. 138-154 Hermes
In the age of heroes
- The Birth of Hermes. Zeus secretly unites with Maia while Hera sleeps, leading to the birth of their son in a cave on Cyllene. The child, Hermes, is born with his divine purpose already established in heaven. Hymn IV to Hermes ll. 1-29 +3 Zeus