Gorgophonus is attested as a son of King Electryon, himself a son of the hero Perseus, and of Anaxo (daughter of Alcaeus). His place in the mythic genealogy is as one of Electryon's many sons whose slaughter at the hands of the sons of the Taphian king Pterelaus, who claimed the kingdom of their ancestor Mestor, forms part of the chain of violent events that lead to Amphitryon's exile and the later conditions surrounding Alcmena and the birth of Heracles. Sources present Gorgophonus only as a named member of this household lineage; they do not provide a separate life-story or individual deeds beyond his inclusion in the roster and his death in the cattle-raid/feud episode.
No physical description of Gorgophonus is given in the supplied materials. He appears solely in genealogical lists of Electryon's children; there are no ancient or modern descriptions of his age, stature, clothing, or distinguishing marks in the cited sources.
The supplied sources attribute no supernatural abilities, cult, or individual exploits to Gorgophonus. He functions in the material as a named mortal casualty within a dynastic feud. The name itself is etymologically 'Gorgon-killing', which elsewhere can function as an epithet, but in the attested genealogical lists this bearer is not credited with the Gorgon's slaying and exhibits no recorded powers or special behaviors.
Weaknesses
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Wards
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Electryon
Electryon (Ancient Greek Ἠλεκτρύων) is a mythic king of the Perseid line in Greek tradition, ruler of Mycenae and Tiryns whose conflict over stolen cattle, the deaths of his sons, and his own death set the succession events that lead to Amphitryon, Alcmena, and the birth of Heracles. He is presented in classical sources as a mortal dynast rather than a supernatural being; versions differ on whether his death was accidental or the result of homicide.
Perseus
Perseus is a legendary hero of ancient Greek myth, a mortal son of Zeus and Danaë famed as a slayer of monsters and founder of the Perseid dynasty; his narrative emphasizes divine intervention (gifts from Hermes, Athena, and Hades), heroic cunning, and eventual placement among the stars as a constellation.
Amphitryon
Amphitryon is a mortal nobleman of Greek mythic-historical tradition: son of Alcaeus of Tiryns, husband of Alcmene, and the acknowledged stepfather of Heracles. He appears in heroic-age narratives as a warrior, dynastic actor, and the human whose identity is impersonated by Zeus in literary treatments that explore paternity and identity.
Community Record
- [1]Gorgophonus — Wikipedia. Wikipedia, entry 'Gorgophonus' (provides name, meaning, parentage, and account of death)wiki
- [2]Gorgophonus — Wikidata. Wikidata item Q17375981 (identifier and linked data for the genealogical figure)wiki
- [3]LP0003 The Son of Amphitryon (Archive audio summary). Archive.org audio summary referencing Electryon's sons and the war with Pterelaus' sons (narrative context)other
- [4]Gorgophonus entry — Theoi / Myths of the Ancient World (Myths.uvic). Mythographic summary listing Gorgophonus among Electryon's sons and noting his death in the conflict with Pterelaus' descendantsliterary
- [5]ToposText — People: Gorgophonus. ToposText entry for Gorgophonus listing genealogical placement among Electryon's childrenliterary
- [6]Electryon in Greek Mythology — Greek Legends and Myths. Summary of Electryon's family and the conflict with the sons of Pterelaus that led to many deaths among Electryon's sonsother
- [7]ATHENA: THE EPITHETS — HellenicGods.org. Reference showing 'Gorgophonus' as a lexical epithet meaning 'slayer of the Gorgon' applied elsewhere (epithet-list), demonstrating the lexical element's independent attestationsother