According to the account preserved in Antoninus Liberalis (as summarized on Wikipedia), Agron was the son of Eumelus and brother to Byssa and Meropis. The family dwelt at Meropis in Kos and, although they worshipped Gaia, they refused to participate in religious festivals and scorned Athena, Artemis, and Hermes. The three gods visited the family at night—Hermes disguised as a shepherd and Athena and Artemis as country maidens—and, after the family ridiculed or refused honor to them, the gods transformed the members of the family: Meropis into an owl (by Athena), Byssa into a bird called 'byssa' sacred to Leucothea, Agron into a plover (by Hermes), and Eumelus into a night raven. The narrative is presented as an etiological metamorphosis explaining the origin or character of these birds.
As a human the source provides no physical description beyond his familial identity (son of Eumelus, brother of Byssa and Meropis). After divine punishment, the source states simply that Hermes changed Agron into a plover; no further details of plumage, size, or other avian features are supplied in the account.
The source attributes no supernatural powers to Agron either before or after transformation. As a human he is characterized by behavior: impiety and scorn toward Athena, Artemis, and Hermes and refusal to attend their festivals. As a bird he is an etiological figure (a plover) without described magical abilities in the source.
Weaknesses
- conditionfailure to observe and honor the gods (narrative vulnerability)
Wards
- conditionproper participation in religious festivals and honors to Athena, Artemis, and Hermes
Community Record
- [1]Agron (mythology) — Wikipedia (summary of Antoninus Liberalis). Wikipedia contributors. "Agron (mythology)." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agron_(mythology)wiki
