Editing Candaon

{{Short description|Thracian god identified with Ares}}
In [[Greek mythology]], '''Candaon''' is a rare name of uncertain meaning. In the ''Alexandra'' of [[Lycophron]], a long and obscure poem, there is a reference to a human sacrifice conducted with the "three-fathered sword of Candaon".<ref>Lycophron, ''Alexandra'' l.328</ref> The [[scholia]] to Lycophron explain this as a [[transferred epithet]]: Candaon is [[Orion (mythology)|Orion]], who was begotten, in a curious manner, by Zeus, Hermes and Poseidon.<ref>''Lycophronis Alexandra.'' Recensuit Eduardus Scheer. Berlin,  Weidmann, 1881-1908. Vol II Scholia, p 130, l.9</ref>

It is not clear from the context whether the sacrifice is that of [[Polyxena]] by [[Neoptolemus]] or that of [[Iphigeneia]] by [[Agamemnon]]. In the first case, Candaon would be [[Hephaestus]], who made the sword for [[Peleus]], who gave it to Neoptolemus. In the second, "three-fathered" refers to the generations of the [[Atreidae]]; Agamemnon's sword is likely to have as long a narrative attached to it as his staff. Candaon may still be Orion; [[Pelops]] may well have acquired his sword.  Enrico Livrea suggests that both interpretations are correct, and the ambiguity of the section is intentional.<ref>Enrico Livrea, "[https://www.jstor.org/stable/639248 P. Oxy. 2463: Lycophron and Callimachus]", ''Classical Quarterly'', New Series, Vol. 39, No. 1. (1989), pp. 141-147.</ref>

Lycophron refers to Candaon again, as worshipped by the [[Crestonia]]n [[Thracians]].<ref>Lycophron, ll.937-8.</ref> This time the scholiasts identify Candaon with [[Ares]], and derive the name from καίειν "kindle" (or   καίνειν "kill") and δαίειν "blaze",<ref>p. 303, line 8 Scheer</ref> which is still plausible for Candaon as Hephaestus.<ref>Livrea, ''op. cit.'' p 141 ''n'',</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Greek deities]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

== References ==
* [[Lycophron]], ''The Alexandra''  translated by Alexander William Mair. Loeb Classical Library Volume 129. London: William Heinemann, 1921. [https://topostext.org/work/128 Online version at the Topos Text Project.]
* Lycophron, ''Alexandra'' translated by A.W. Mair. London: William Heinemann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 1921. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2008.01.0484 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.]

[[Category:Hephaestus]]
[[Category:Ares]]


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