In Greek mythology, Alebion (Ancient Greek: Ἀλεβίων) or Albion (Ἀλβίων) of Liguria, was a son of Poseidon and brother of Bergion (also known as Dercynus). In some sources, the brother of Ialebion (Ἰαλεβίων)[1] was named Ligys.[2]

Mythology

Alebion attacked Heracles with Dercynus when he passed through their country, Liguria in North-Western Italy, on his way back to Mycenae from Iberia having obtained the Cattle of Geryon as his tenth labour.[3] The battle that followed was fierce; Albion and Dercynus (or Bergion) were supported by a numerous army. Hercules and his army were in a difficult position so he prayed to his father Zeus for help. With the aegis of Zeus, Heracles won the battle, and both brothers were killed.[1][4][5] It was this kneeling position of Heracles, when he prayed to his father Zeus, that gave the name Engonasin (Ἐγγόνασιν, derived from ἐν γόνασιν), meaning "on his knees" or "the Kneeler" to Hercules' constellation. The story is also alluded to in Hyginus[6] and Dionysius.[7]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2.5.10
  2. Scholiast on Lycophron, Alexandra p. 648
  3. Schmitz, Leonhard (1867). William Smith (ed.). Albion. Vol. 1. Boston: Little, Brown and Company. p. 94. Archived from the original on 2008-05-01. {{cite encyclopedia}}: |work= ignored (help)
  4. Pomponius Mela, 2.5.39
  5. Tzetzes, Chiliades 2.341
  6. Hyginus, De Astronomica 2.6
  7. Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Antiquitates Romanae 1.41

References

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1870). "Alebion". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. on page 94


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