Glaukos (English spelling)

The name of a god or hero who often appears in Greek mythology and legends.

(1) God of the sea. He was originally a fisherman living in the Boeotian town of Antedon, but after eating a medicinal herb he became immortal and threw himself into the sea to join the ranks of the sea gods. He had prophetic powers and was the protector of sailors. He also made various contributions to the Argonaut expedition, and is said to have been the builder of the ship Argo and to have accompanied it on the expedition. He loved Scilla, the daughter of the sea god Phorcys, but was rejected. In his anger, he transformed her into a monster with six heads and twelve legs. One theory is that she was transformed into a monster by the jealousy of Circe, who was in love with Glaucus. When Menelaus was returning from Troy and approaching the Malean cape, it was Glaucus who told him of Orestes' murder of his mother. Aeschylus wrote a tragedy, Glaucus of the Sea (fragment).

(2) Son of Sisyphus, king of Ephyra (ancient name of Corinth), and Merope, daughter of Atlas. His wife was Eurynome, and he is said to be the father of Bellerophon (his real father was Poseidon). He lived in Potniae near Thebes, and raised a wild horse that he fed on human flesh. He rode the horse in a chariot race at the funeral games of Pelias held in Iolcus, but was defeated by Iolaus. He was later eaten by the mad horse and died. Aeschylus wrote a tragedy, Glaucus of Potniae (fragment).

(3) Son of Hippolochus, son of Bellerophon. Thus, great-grandson of Glaucus (2). Together with Sarpedon, he led the Lycian forces and was considered one of the bravest generals in the Trojan army. During a battle, he encountered Diomedes, grandson of Oeneus, with whom his grandfather Bellerophon had once pledged his friendship. They exchanged weapons, confirming the unchanging friendship between the two families. Diomedes' weapons were made of bronze, while Glaucus's were made of gold, giving the other an advantage. Later, he was wounded by Teucer, but was healed by Apollo. Finally, he fought alongside Hector in a battle over the body of Patroclus, and was killed by Ajax the Great, but Apollo brought the body back to Lycia.

(4) Son of Minos, King of Crete. His mother was Pasiphae. When he was still a child, he accidentally fell into a large jar of honey while playing with mice and drowned. Minos was shocked to find his son missing and gathered soothsayers to search for him. One of them, Polyeidos, found Glaucus and brought him back to life with herbs. Minos also forced Polyeidos to teach his son the art of prophecy and would not let him return to his homeland of Argos until he had done so. Polyeidos had no choice but to teach Glaucus the art of prophecy, but when it was time to leave, he ordered Glaucus to spit into his mouth, and Glaucus did as he was told and immediately forgot the art of prophecy. There is also a theory that it was Asclepius who saved Glaucus' life, and based on this, Aeschylus has "The Cretan Woman," Sophocles has "The Fortune-teller" or "Polyeid," and Euripides has "Polyeid," all of which are short fragments.

(5) One of the many sons of Priam, king of Troy; born out of a concubine.

(6) Son of Antenor of Troy. When Troy fell, he was saved by Odysseus and Menelaus, who were friendly with his father.

(7) One of the many suitors who courted Penelope, wife of Odysseus. A man from the island of Durykion.

(8) Son of Imbrasus in Virgil's Aeneid. Killed by the spear of Turnus.

(9) Son of Epicides the Spartan. He tried to defraud people of their money by testing the oracle at Delphi, which led to the downfall of his family.

[Kazuhiko Tange]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ギリシア神話、および伝説にしばしば登場する神や英雄の名。

(1)海神。もとはボイオティアの町アンテドンに住む漁師であったが、薬草を食べて不死となり、海中に身を投じて海神の仲間入りをした。預言能力をもち、船乗りたちの守護者でもある。アルゴ遠征隊のためにも種々尽力し、アルゴ船の建造者とも、また遠征に同行したともいわれる。彼は海神フォルキスの娘スキラを愛したが拒絶され、怒って彼女を六つの頭と12本の足をもつ怪物に変えた。一説には、彼女を怪物に変えたのはグラウコスに恋していたキルケの嫉妬(しっと)であったともいう。メネラオスがトロヤからの帰途マレアの岬に差しかかったとき、オレステスの母殺しを告げ知らせたのはこのグラウコスである。アイスキロスに、悲劇『海のグラウコス』（断片）がある。

(2)エフィラ（コリントスの古名）の王シシフォスとアトラスの娘メロペとの息子。妻はエウリノメで、ベレロフォンの父とされる（実の父はポセイドン）。テバイ（テーベ）近郊のポトニアイに住み、人肉を餌(えさ)に1頭の悍馬(かんば)を飼育していたが、イオルコスで催されたペリアス葬礼競技の際にこの馬を駆って戦車競技に出場し、イオラオスに敗れた。のちに狂ったこの馬に食われて死んだ。アイスキロスに悲劇『ポトニアイのグラウコス』（断片）がある。

(3)ベレロフォンの子ヒッポロコスの息子。したがって(2)のグラウコスの曽孫(そうそん)にあたる。サルペドンとともにリキア勢を率い、トロヤ軍中もっとも勇敢な将の一人とされた。戦闘中、かつて祖父ベレロフォンが友好の契りを交わしたオイネウスの孫ディオメデスと相まみえ、互いに武具を交換して両家の変わらぬ友好関係を確認したが、その際ディオメデスの武具は青銅製であったのに、グラウコスのほうは黄金製であったため相手に利を与える結果となった。のちにテウクロスに傷つけられるが、アポロンに治癒された。最後はヘクトルとともにパトロクロスの遺体をめぐる戦闘に出陣し、アイアス（大）に討ち取られたが、その死体はアポロンによってリキアへ連れ戻された。

(4)クレタ島の王ミノスの息子。母はパシファエ。まだ幼児のころ、ネズミを追って遊んでいるうちに誤って蜜(みつ)を入れる大甕(おおがめ)の中に落ち、溺死(できし)した。息子が行方不明になったのに驚いたミノスは、占い師を集めて行方を探らせたが、そのなかの1人ポリエイドスがグラウコスを発見し、薬草を用いて生き返らせた。またミノスは息子に預言術を教え込むようポリエイドスに強要し、そうするまでは故国アルゴスに帰さなかった。しかたなくポリエイドスはグラウコスに預言術を授けたが、いざ帰るというとき、自分の口中に唾(つば)を吐くようグラウコスに命じ、彼はいわれたままにそうしたのでたちまち預言術を忘れてしまったという。グラウコスの生命を救ったのはアスクレピオスだとする説もあり、これに取材してアイスキロスに『クレタの女』、ソフォクレスに『占い師』または『ポリエイドス』、エウリピデスに『ポリエイドス』があるが、すべて小断片である。

(5)トロヤ王プリアモスの数多い息子のうちの1人。妾腹(しょうふく)の子。

(6)同じくトロヤのアンテノルの息子。トロヤ落城の際、危ういところを父アンテノルとのよしみでオデュッセウスとメネラオスがこれを助けた。

(7)オデュッセウスの妻ペネロペイアに言い寄る数多くの求婚者のうちの1人。ドゥリキオンの島の男。

(8)ウェルギリウスの『アエネイス』に登場するイムブラソスの息子。トゥルヌスの槍(やり)に討たれて死ぬ。

(9)スパルタ人エピキデスの子。人から預かった金を詐取せんとしてデルフォイの神託を試したため、のちに一族の破滅を招いた。

［丹下和彦］

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