Editing Cinyras

{{Short description|Mythical founder of the city of Paphos in Greek mythology}}
[[Image:Virgil Solis - Myrrha Cinyras.jpg|right|thumb|280px|[[Myrrha]] and Cinyras. [[Engraving]] by [[Virgil Solis]] for [[Ovid]]'s ''[[Metamorphoses]]'']]

In [[Greek mythology]], '''Cinyras''' ({{IPAc-en|'|s|ɪ|n|ɪ|r|ə|s}};<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/dictionary-of-classical-mythology/page/62/mode/2up |page=63 |title=Dictionary of Classical Mythology|first=J. E. |last=Zimmerman |publisher=Harper & Row |location=New York |year=1964}}</ref> {{langx|grc|Κινύρας}} &ndash; ''Kinyras'') was a famous hero and king of [[Cyprus]]. Accounts vary significantly as to his genealogy and provide a variety of stories concerning him; in many sources he is associated with the cult of [[Aphrodite]] on Cyprus, and [[Adonis]], a consort of Aphrodite, is mentioned as his son. Some scholars have proposed a connection with the minor [[Ugaritic deity]] [[Kinnaru]], the god of the lyre.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Brown|first=John Pairman|title=Kothar, Kinyras, and Kythereia|journal=Journal of Semitic Studies|year=1965|volume=10|issue=2 |pages=197–219|doi=10.1093/jss/10.2.197 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Albright|first=William Foxwell|title=Yahweh and the Gods and Canaan|year=1968|publisher=School of Oriental and African Studies|location=London|pages=136, 280–84}}</ref> The city Cinyreia on Cyprus was believed to have taken its name from Cinyras.<ref>[[Nonnus]], ''[[Dionysiaca]]'' 13.451'';'' [[Pliny the Elder]], ''[[Natural History (Pliny)|Naturalis Historia]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0137%3Abook%3D5%3Achapter%3D35 5.35.1]</ref> According to [[Strabo]], he had previously ruled in the city of [[Byblos]] in [[Phoenicia]].<ref>{{Cite book |date=2014 |section=Map 1: The ancient world |title=The ''Geography'' of Strabo |translator-first=Duane W. |translator-last=Roller |page=xvi |isbn=9781139814706 |doi=10.1017/9781139814706.002}}</ref>

== Biography ==
The name Cinyras does not appear again until he is mentioned by [[Pindar]] as "beloved of [[Apollo]]," and the priest of [[Aphrodite]].<ref>[[Pindar]], ''Pythian Ode'' 2 lines 15-17 with [[scholia]]</ref> Pindar mentions Cinyras as being fabulously rich in ''Nemean Ode 8'' line 18.<ref>So does [[Plato]] in ''Laws'', 660e (quoting Tyrtaeus): "…though he be richer even 'than Cinyras or [[Midas]]'…”; see also Libanius, ''Autobiography'' 273.</ref>

Later, in [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] and [[Rome|Roman]] literature and in the Christian fathers such as [[Clement of Alexandria]], the story of Cinyras is elaborated. They say that on Cyprus, Cinyras was revered as the creator of [[art]] and of [[musical instrument]]s, such as the [[flute]]. In one source, he is also noted for his physical beauty.<ref>[[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], ''Fabulae'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#270 270]</ref> It is believed that his name comes from the Phoenician word [[kinnor]] (Greek: κινύρα) – an eastern string instrument. It is quite possible that it was a deliberate play on words, because the legend says that Cinyras was a singer and he posed a musical challenge to Apollo and tested his abilities, for which the god [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]] took his life.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Diccionari de mitologia grega i romana - 9788496061972 - ATRIL - La Central - 2020|url=https://www.lacentral.com/grimal-pierre/edicions-1984/diccionari-de-mitologia-grega-i-romana/9788496061972|access-date=2020-10-14|website=www.lacentral.com|isbn=978-84-96061-97-2 |language=es}}</ref>

If Cinyras was the Cinyra, mentioned by Pliny, who was the son of Agriopas and a Cyprian, he was credited with inventing tiles and discovering copper-mines, both of which were found in the island. He was also regarded as the inventor of [[tongs]], the hammer, the lever, and the anvil.<ref>Pliny the Elder, ''Naturalis Historia'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0137:book=7:chapter=57&highlight=arabus#note10 7.56.3]</ref>

== Family ==
According to the ''[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Bibliotheca]]'', Cinyras was a descendant of [[Eos (mythology)|Eos]] and [[Cephalus]]. His parents were [[Sandocus]], son of [[Astynous]] (himself son of [[Phaethon (son of Eos)|Phaethon]]), and [[Pharnace (mythology)|Pharnace]], daughter of King [[Megassares]] of [[Hyria (Boeotia)|Hyria]]. Cinyras' father, Sandocus was an immigrant from [[Syria]] who settled in [[Cilicia]] and founded a city [[Celenderis]]. Cinyras upon his arrival in Cyprus with some of his people, founded the town of Paphos and married [[Metharme]], daughter of King [[Pygmalion (mythology)|Pygmalion]] of Cyprus. His children according to Pseudo-Apollodorus were Adonis and [[Oxyporos]], and also daughters [[Braesia (mythology)|Braesia]], [[Laogora]] and [[Orsedice]]. These maidens, by reason of the wrath of Aphrodite, cohabited with foreigners, and ended their life in Egypt. Another daughter, [[Laodice (Greek myth)|Laodice]] who married [[Elatus]], son of [[Arcas]], and had by him two sons [[Stymphalus]] and [[Pereus]].<ref>[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg001.perseus-eng1:3.14.3 3.14.3], [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg001.perseus-eng1:3.9.1 3.9.1].</ref>

[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] mentions a daughter of Cinyras as the consort of [[Teucer]],<ref>[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], 1.3.2</ref> who is known to have received the kingdom of Cyprus from [[Belus (Tyre)|Belus]] of [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre]] for having assisted him in the invasion of the island.<ref>[[Maurus Servius Honoratus|Servius]], Commentary on [[Virgil|Virgil's]] ''[[Aeneid]]'' 1.619–621</ref> Her name is not given in Pausanias' account, but [[Tzetzes]] writes that Teucer married [[Eune]] "daughter of Cyprus".<ref>[[Tzetzes]] on [[Lycophron]], 450</ref>

[[Stephanus of Byzantium]] informs us that Cinyras' mother was named [[Amathousa]], and it was either from her or [[Amathes|Amathous]], a son of [[Heracles]], that [[Amathous]], the oldest city of Cyprus, received its name.<ref>[[Stephanus of Byzantium]], s.v. ''[https://topostext.org/work/241#A82.9 Amathous]''</ref> Stephanus also mentions three otherwise unknown children of Cinyras: a daughter Cyprus, who had the island named after her, and two sons, [[Koureus]] and [[Marieus]], eponyms of the towns Kourion and Marion respectively.<ref>Stephanus of Byzantium, s.v. ''[https://topostext.org/work/241#K395.15 Kypros]'', ''[https://topostext.org/work/241#K380.4 Kourion]'', ''[https://topostext.org/work/241#M433.10 Marion]''</ref>

[[Hesychius of Alexandria|Hesychius]] says Cinyras was a son of [[Apollo]],<ref>[[Hesychius of Alexandria]], s. v. Kinyras; also scholia on [[Theocritus]], Idyll 1. 109</ref> while Hyginus consistently calls him a son of [[Paphos (mythology)|Paphos]] (presumably the eponym of [[Paphos]]),<ref>Hyginus, ''Fabulae'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#58 58], [https://topostext.org/work/206#242 242] & [https://topostext.org/work/206#275 275]</ref> and a [[scholia]]st on Pindar makes him a son of [[Eurymedon (mythology)|Eurymedon]] and the [[nymph]] [[Paphia (mythology)|Paphia]].<ref>[[Scholia]] ad [[Pindar]], ''Pythian Ode'' [https://archive.org/details/scholiaveterainp02drac/page/n54/mode/1up?view=theater 2.28]</ref> In other sources, he is the husband of [[Galatea (mythology)|Galatea]]{{Citation needed|date=May 2017}}. Cinyras was also called the father of [[Myrrha]].<ref name=":0" /> Hesychius also mentions a daughter of Cinyras, [[Myrice (mythology)|Myrice]] who mourned so much she was transformed into a [[tamarisk]] tree.<ref>[[Hesychius of Alexandria]] s.v. [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_0nMoAAAAYAAJ/page/549/mode/2up?view=theater {{lang|grc|μυρίκη}}]</ref>

Another son, [[Amaracus]], who served as the royal perfumer of the court is mentioned by [[Maurus Servius Honoratus|Servius]].<ref>[[Maurus Servius Honoratus|Servius]], ''Commentary on Virgil's Aeneid'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0053%3Abook%3D1%3Acommline%3D693 1.693]</ref>

{| class="wikitable" 
|+<big>Comparative table of Cinyras family</big>
! rowspan="2" |Relation
! rowspan="2" |Names
! colspan="7" |Source
|-
|''Scholia'' on Pindar
|Apollodorus
|Ovid
|Pausanias
|Hyginus
|Stephanus
|Hesychius
|-
| rowspan="5" |''Parentage''
|Eurymedon and Paphia
|✓
|
| 
| 
|
|
|
|-
|Sandocus and Pharnace
|
|✓
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|Paphos
|
|
|✓
|
|✓
|
|
|-
|Amathousa
|
|
|
|
|
|✓
|
|-
|Apollo
|
|
|
|
|
|
|✓
|- 
| rowspan="2"  |''Consort''
|Metharme
| 
|✓
|
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
|Cenchreis
|
|
|✓
|
|
|
|
|- 
| rowspan="11" |''Children''
|Adonis
| 
|✓
|✓
|
|
|
|
|-
|Oxyporos
|
|✓
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|Braesia
|
|✓
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|Laogora
|
|✓
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|Orsedice
|
|✓
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|Laodice
|
|✓
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|Myrrha
|
|
|✓
|
|
|
|
|-
|''a daughter'', consort of Teucer
|
|
|
|✓
|
|
|
|-
|Cyprus
|
|
|
|
|
|✓
|
|-
|Koureus
|
|
|
|
|
|✓
|
|-
|Marieus
|
|
|
|
|
|✓
|
|}

== Mythology ==

=== Trojan War ===
In the earliest testimony for this character in ancient Greek literature (the account of [[Homer]]), Cinyras was a ruler on [[Cyprus]] who gave a [[corselet]] to [[Agamemnon]] as a guest-gift when he heard that the Greeks were planning to sail to Troy.<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' 11.20–23</ref> [[Eustathius of Thessalonica|Eustathius]] in his commentary on this passage relates that Cinyras promised assistance to Agamemnon, but did not keep his word: having promised to send fifty ships, he actually sent only one commanded by the son of [[Mygdalion]], while the rest were sculpted from earth, with figures of men (also made of earth) imitating the crew. He was cursed by Agamemnon and subsequently punished by [[Apollo]], who beat him in a musical contest (similar to that between Apollo and [[Marsyas]], to see who was a better musician with a [[lyre]]) and killed him, whereupon Cinyras' fifty daughters threw themselves into the sea and were changed into sea birds (alcyones).<ref>[[Eustathius of Thessalonica|Eustathius]] on ''Iliad'' p. 87; cf. also scholia on the same passage</ref>

=== Myrrha ===
According to [[Ovid]], Cinyras' daughter [[Myrrha]], impelled by an unnatural lust for her own father (in retribution for her mother Cenchreis' hubris), slept with him, became pregnant, and asked the gods to change her into something other than human; she became a tree from whose bark [[myrrh]] drips.<ref name=":0">[[Ovid]], ''[[Metamorphoses]]'' 10.294–559 & 708–739 [http://mythfolklore.net/3043mythfolklore/reading/ovid/pages/07.htm Myrrha]</ref> From this incestuous union sprang the child Adonis. Cinyras was said to have committed suicide over the matter.<ref>Hyginus, ''Fabulae'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#242 242]</ref> Other authors equate Cinyras and Myrrha with king [[Theias]] of [[Assyria]] and his daughter Smyrna, and relate the same story of them.<ref>Apollodorus, 3.14.4; [[Antoninus Liberalis]], [https://topostext.org/work/216#34 34]</ref> Hyginus uses the name Cinyras for the father, but Smyrna for the daughter.<ref>Hyginus, ''Fabulae'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#58 58]</ref>

=== Priesthood of Paphian Aphrodite ===
Clement of Alexandria in his ''[[Protrepticus (Clement)|Protrepticus]]'' talks about the "Cyprian Islander Cinyras, who dared to bring forth from night to the light of day the lewd orgies of Aphrodite in his eagerness to deify a strumpet of his own country."

In his ''[[Histories (Tacitus)|Histories]]'', [[Tacitus]] relates the account of divination rites at the famous Temple of Venus at Paphos; according to traditional tales, this temple was founded by King Aerias, but others say Cinyras consecrated the temple, which was built right on the spot where the goddess had first stepped on the land after her birth from the sea. Here Tacitus describes him as having come to Cyprus from Cilicia, whence he introduced the worship of Paphian Aphrodite. The divination practices at the temple are said to have been introduced by Tamiras of Cilicia. The office of priesthood became hereditary in the families of both Cinyras (Cinyradae) and Tamiras, but the descendants of the latter were eventually displaced by those of the former; in the times of Tacitus, only the priest of Cinyras' line was consulted.<ref>[[Tacitus]], ''Histories'' 2.3</ref><ref>Pindar, ''Pythian Ode'' 2.26</ref><ref>Scholia ad [[Theocritus]], ''1.109''</ref> The footnotes to this story also state that Cinyras is ''"Another mythical king of Cyprus. [[Hesychius of Alexandria|Hesychius]] calls him a son of Apollo, and Ovid makes him the father of Adonis."''

== See also ==
* [[Kothar wa-Khasis]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
* [[Antoninus Liberalis]], ''The Metamorphoses of Antoninus Liberalis'' translated by Francis Celoria (Routledge 1992). [https://topostext.org/work/216 Online version at the Topos Text Project.]
*[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], ''The Library'' with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0022 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0021 Greek text available from the same website].
*[[Gaius Julius Hyginus]], ''Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus'' translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. [https://topostext.org/work/206 Online version at the Topos Text Project.]
*[[Homer]], [[Iliad|''The Iliad'']] with an English Translation by A.T. Murray, Ph.D. in two volumes. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924. {{ISBN|978-0674995796|}}. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0134 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.]
*Homer, ''Homeri Opera'' in five volumes. Oxford, Oxford University Press. 1920. {{ISBN|978-0198145318|}}. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0133 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
*[[Maurus Servius Honoratus]], ''In Vergilii carmina comentarii. Servii Grammatici qui feruntur in Vergilii carmina commentarii;'' recensuerunt Georgius Thilo et Hermannus Hagen. Georgius Thilo. Leipzig. B. G. Teubner. 1881. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0053 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library].
*[[Nonnus|Nonnus of Panopolis]], ''Dionysiaca'' translated by William Henry Denham Rouse (1863-1950), from the Loeb Classical Library, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press, 1940.  [https://topostext.org/work/529 Online version at the Topos Text Project.]
*Nonnus of Panopolis, ''Dionysiaca. 3 Vols.'' W.H.D. Rouse. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1940-1942. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2008.01.0485 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
*[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''Description of Greece'' with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918. {{ISBN|0-674-99328-4}}. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0160 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library]
*Pausanias, ''Graeciae Descriptio.'' ''3 vols''. Leipzig, Teubner. 1903.  [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0159 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
*[[Pindar]], ''Odes'' translated by Diane Arnson Svarlien. 1990. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0162%3Abook%3DP. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.]
*Pindar, ''The Odes of Pindar'' including the Principal Fragments with an Introduction and an English Translation by Sir John Sandys, Litt.D., FBA. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1937. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0161%3Abook%3DP. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
*[[Pindar]], ''Odes'' translated by Diane Arnson Svarlien. 1990. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0162%3Abook%3DN. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.]
*Pindar, ''The Odes of Pindar'' including the Principal Fragments with an Introduction and an English Translation by Sir John Sandys, Litt.D., FBA. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1937. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0161%3Abook%3DN. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
*[[Pliny the Elder]], ''The Natural History.'' John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S. H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A. London. Taylor and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. 1855. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0137 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.]
*Pliny the Elder, ''Naturalis Historia.'' Karl Friedrich Theodor Mayhoff. Lipsiae. Teubner. 1906. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0138 Latin text available at the Perseus Digital Library.]
*[[Ovid|Publius Ovidius Naso]], ''Metamorphoses'' translated by Brookes More (1859-1942). Boston, Cornhill Publishing Co. 1922. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0028 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.]
*Publius Ovidius Naso, ''Metamorphoses.'' Hugo Magnus. Gotha (Germany). Friedr. Andr. Perthes. 1892. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0029 Latin text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
*[[Stephanus of Byzantium]], ''Stephani Byzantii Ethnicorum quae supersunt,'' edited by August Meineike (1790-1870), published 1849. A few entries from this important ancient handbook of place names have been translated by Brady Kiesling. [https://topostext.org/work/241 Online version at the Topos Text Project.]
*[[William Smith (lexicographer)|William Smith]]. ''[[Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology|A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology]], s.v. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DC%3Aentry+group%3D22%3Aentry%3Dcinyras-bio-1 Cinyras].'' London (1848).

{{Metamorphoses in Greco-Roman mythology}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Kings of ancient Cyprus]]
[[Category:Kings in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Children of Apollo]]
[[Category:Male lovers of Apollo]]
[[Category:Metamorphoses characters]]
[[Category:Suicides in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Mythological rape victims]]
[[Category:Family of Adonis]]
[[Category:Metamorphoses into birds in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Phoenician characters in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Mythological people involved in incest]]
[[Category:Mythological Cypriots]]