Ancient biographical and philosophical sources present Hippasus chiefly as a Pythagorean of Magna Graecia (often associated with Metapontum and variously placed in chronological relation to Pythagoras). Later accounts and exegetical traditions attach to him the role of the member who divulged secret numerical or geometric knowledge (accounts vary between the disclosure of irrational magnitudes and methods for constructing a dodecahedron), and these traditions narrate that such divulging led to expulsion or legendary drowning as divine or communal punishment. Separately, the name Ἵππασος occurs several times in mythic catalogues as distinct, ordinary characters (a centaur slain at Pirithous's wedding; a son of Priam; a Thessalian warrior; a son of Ceyx), without forming a single unified origin myth.
The sources provide no sustained physical or supernatural description for Hippasus the philosopher; he is treated as a mortal historical figure. The mythic name-bearers listed in epic catalogues are recorded only by role and fate (for example, a centaur killed by Theseus) and lack distinctive physical description in the cited materials beyond their conventional mythic types.
Attributions in the sources are intellectual and social rather than supernatural. A scholium on Plato's Phaedo attributes early musical experimentation to Hippasus — the use of bronze disks to determine musical ratios (4:3, 3:2, 2:1). Later biographical traditions associate him (variably and inconsistently) with the discovery or disclosure of incommensurable magnitudes (irrational numbers) or with techniques for inscribing a regular dodecahedron in a sphere. Ancient testimonies disagree about exact authorship, and some sources describe the act of disclosure as an impious breach of Pythagorean secrecy, bringing legendary punishment (expulsion or drowning).
Weaknesses
- conditionsocial sanction and legendary divine retribution (expulsion, drowning)
Wards
None recorded.
Pishacha
Flesh-eating spirits of Hindu mythology that haunt cremation grounds and are associated with disease, madness, and possession. The lowest class of demon in the Vedic hierarchy.
Anansi
The spider trickster god of Akan folklore — cunning, mischievous, and wise. Keeper of stories and teacher of human beings, brought through the slave trade into Caribbean and African-American tradition.
Hindu deities
Hindu deities (Deva/Devi) are the diverse gods and goddesses recognized across Hindu traditions, ranging from Vedic forces of nature to later personalized major gods and goddesses. They function as patrons of rites, embodiments of moral and cosmic principles, and focal points for temple cults, festivals, and devotional traditions while often also being interpreted as aspects of a single Ultimate Reality (Brahman).
Hindu god
Hindu gods (Deva/Devi/Ishvara/Bhagavān and related terms) are the diverse gods and goddesses venerated within Hinduism; they occupy flexible roles within a broad cosmology and are approached in multiple theological models (polytheistic, monotheistic, monistic, pantheistic, etc.). Specific deities in the sources include Mitra (an Aditya invoked in the Rigveda and Mitanni inscription) and Ganesha (the elephant-headed patron of beginnings and intellectuals) (Sources 1, 6, 8).
Hine-nui-te-pō
Hine-nui-te-pō is a Māori atua (supernatural being) of night and death who, having once been Hine-tītama, descended to Rarohenga and functions as guardian who receives and shepherds human wairua (souls) into the first level of the underworld, preparing them for the next stage of their journey.
Hineahuone
First woman created by Tāne from clay, becomes his partner and gives birth to Hinetītama. (Note: 1. The source material only describes Hineahuone as being "made" or "created", but does not explicitly state that she was crafted from clay from the earth, implying primordial power. 2. The descriptio)
Hippalcimus
Hippalcimus (Ancient Greek: Ἱππάλκιμον) is a mythological human figure from Greek tradition, attested in genealogical notices and in catalogues of the Argonauts. Sources record variant filiations and name-forms but do not attribute individual exploits or supernatural traits to him.
Hippalcus
Hippalcus (also attested as Hippalcmus) is a minor figure in Greek mythic genealogies recorded as a son of Pelops. Available sources preserve him only as a genealogical link within the Pelopid family and do not provide narratives, cultic associations, or supernatural attributes.
Hippe
Hippe is a mythic woman in Greek tradition, described as a daughter of Chiron who possessed prophetic gifts and was transformed into a mare and placed among the stars as a constellation associated with the Horse (Pegasus/The Horse). Sources preserve variant names and narratives (Hippe/Melanippe/Euippe/Ocyrhoe) that converge on themes of prophetic speech, disclosure of forbidden divine knowledge, and metamorphosis as aetiology for a star‑figure.
Hippeia
Hippeia (Ἱππεία) is a Greek name applied both to a mortal woman in heroic genealogies and to a cultic epithet of the goddess Athena meaning 'of horses' or 'equestrian'. As an epithet (Hippeia Athena) the name marks Athena's association with horses and chariotry; as a proper name it appears in mythic genealogies (wife of Elatus).
Hippo (term; zoological and toponymic usages)
Hippo is not presented in the provided sources as a single supernatural entity. The term appears primarily as (1) an English short form for the hippopotamus (the large semiaquatic mammal), (2) an ancient North African place-name (Hippo Regius, Hippo Diarrhytus), and (3) an epithet indicating origin or episcopal see (e.g., Augustine of Hippo). Modern technical and popular-culture uses also occur.
Hippocoon
Hippocoon is a personal name in Greek myth borne by several distinct mortal figures — most prominently a Spartan king who usurped the throne from Tyndareus and was killed by Heracles, but also minor genealogical figures, a Thracian kinsman in Iliadic tradition, and an archer in Virgil's Aeneid. The name (Ancient Greek Ἱπποκόων) recurs across heroic, royal, and epic-competition narratives rather than designating a single supernatural entity.
Hippodamia (wife of Pirithous)
Hippodamia is a named mortal woman attested in modern mythographic listings as the wife of Pirithous within Greek heroic legend. The supplied sources list her among several mythic figures called Hippodamia but provide no independent narrative, description, or cultic material for this particular wife of Pirithous.
Hippodamia of Pisa
Hippodamia of Pisa is a mortal princess of Greek myth, daughter of King Oenomaus of Pisa and wife of Pelops. Her marriage by chariot-contest forms the pivot of the Pelops–Oenomaus cycle and makes her ancestress of the Atreid line (including Atreus and Thyestes); she is also associated in sources with cult-memory at Olympia/Pisa.
Community Record
- [1]Hippasus (Wikipedia). Wikipedia, article 'Hippasus' (summary of ancient sources including Iamblichus, Pappus, scholia)wiki
- [2]Hippasus (mythology) (Wikipedia). Wikipedia, article 'Hippasus (mythology)' listing mythic name-bearerswiki
- [3]Scholium on Plato's Phaedo (as cited). Scholium on Plato's Phaedo: attribution that Hippasus 'made use of bronze disks to discover the fundamental musical ratios, 4:3, 3:2, and 2:1.' (quoted in research notes)literary
- [4]Iamblichus (biographical tradition as cited). Iamblichus: account relating that Hippasus was said to have published/described the sphere from twelve pentagons and 'perished at sea' for impiety; used in later tradition to connect Hippasus with punitive drowning (quoted in research notes).literary
- [5]Pappus (summary as cited). Pappus (as summarized in later tradition): report that the Pythagorean who first divulged the secret 'perished by drowning.' (not always naming Hippasus explicitly) (quoted in research notes).literary
- [6]Secondary and modern discussions (collected notes). Modern summaries and discussions collecting variant traditions about Hippasus of Metapontum and issues of attribution (as listed in research notes).other