In Greek mythology, Elara /ˈɛlərə/, Elare or Alera (Ancient Greek: Ἐλάρα, Ἐλάραη or Ἀλέρα),[1] also called Larissa[2], was a mortal princess, the daughter of King Orchomenus and mother of the giant Tityos by Zeus. In some accounts, she was described as the daughter of Minyas instead.[3][4]

Myth

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Zeus fell in love with Elara and hid her from his wife Hera's jealous rage by placing her deep beneath the Earth. This was where she gave birth to Tityos, a giant who is sometimes said to be the son of Gaia, the Earth goddess, for the reason being an earth-born (γηγενής gigenis "native") and brought up under the earth. It is further added that Elara died in labour because of the enormous size of her baby.[5][6]

The cave through which Tityos was believed to have come to the surface of Earth was located on Euboea and referred to as Elarion.[7]

Eponymy

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One moon of Jupiter is named Elara.[8]

 
Moon Elara

Notes

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  1. ^ "Ἐλάρα, DGE Diccionario Griego-Español". dge.cchs.csic.es.
  2. ^ Pseudo-Clement, Recognitions 10.21–23
  3. ^ Scholiast on Homer, Odyssey 7.324
  4. ^ Eustathius on Homer, Odyssey 7.324, p. 1581
  5. ^ Apollodorus, 1.4.2
  6. ^ Scholia on Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 1.761 citing Pherecydes
  7. ^ Strabo, 9.3.15
  8. ^ Marsden, B. G. (7 October 1974). "Satellites of Jupiter". IAU Circular. 2846.

References

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