Cycnus of Kolonai

Greaterwell-documentedAncient Greek epic-cyclelocal Troad legendary genealogiesKolonai (southern Troad, Asia Minor)Troadnear Tenedos (regional associations)

Cycnus (Ancient Greek Kyknos/Kyknōs) is a heroic-age king of Kolonai in the southern Troad, presented in Greek epic-cycle and local tradition as a son of Poseidon who fought on the Trojan side and was slain by Achilles in accounts outside the Iliad.

Origin

In the epic and local genealogical listings Cycnus is presented as a son of Poseidon by a mortal mother; maternal attributions vary across sources (Calyce/Kalyke daughter of Hecaton; Harpale; or Scamandrodice). He is placed as king of Kolonai during the generation of the Trojan War. Epic-cycle material (e.g., the Cypria as cited in traditions) recounts that he fought on the Trojan side and was killed by Achilles on the first day of the war. Local traditions sometimes link him to regional dynasties and to Tenedos/Tennes in variant genealogies.

Appearance

Primary sources and summaries preserved in the collected material do not provide a detailed physical description (height, dress, facial features). The name Kyknos/Cycnus literally means 'swan' (Cygnus), and some later retellings or secondary references employ swan-transformation imagery, but a stable metamorphosis motif for this Kolonai king is not consistently attested across the cited sources.

Abilities

Multiple sources identify Cycnus as of divine parentage (son of Poseidon) which situates him among heroic demigods. Some accounts or genealogical summaries state that Poseidon made him invulnerable to weapons; other narrative sources nevertheless report Achilles killing him. He is depicted as a local king who takes the field allied with Troy in the Trojan War cycle and whose principal narrative role is his confrontation and death at Achilles' hands in non-Homeric epic material.

Weaknesses & Wards

Weaknesses

  • condition
    mortality despite divine favour (killed by Achilles)

Wards

  • other
    no traditional wards recorded
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Community Record

Sources
  1. [1]
    Cycnus (son of Poseidon) — Wikipedia. "Cycnus...was the king of the town of Kolonai in the southern Troad."wiki
  2. [2]
    Kolonai — Wikipedia. "the king of Kolonai during the Trojan War was Cycnus. He was killed on the first day of the Trojan Wars by Achilles. This story does not appear in the Iliad, but does in the Cypria..."wiki
  3. [3]
    CYCNUS & TENNES - Trojan Princes of Greek Mythology (Theoi Project). Summary and genealogical notes identifying Cycnus as son of Poseidon by Calyce (or Harpale or Scamandrodice) and as ally of the Trojans.folk
  4. [4]
    POSEIDON FAMILY - Greek Mythology (Theoi Project). "Cycnus...whom his father made invulnerable to weapons" (family listing and summary).folk
  5. [5]
    ToposText — Cycnus / people entry. Catalogue entry linking Cycnus to Kolonai and epic-cycle references.other
  6. [6]
    Kingdoms of Anatolia - Kolonae. Local/historical listing associating Cygnus with Kolonae and offering regional chronology (noting uncertain historical identifications).other
  7. [7]
    Constellation Cygnus: the swan | Baring the Aegis (blog). Secondary retelling using swan/transformation language for Cycnus in a later account (illustrative of later metamorphosis imagery but not a primary source).other
well-documented