In Greek mythology, Sinope (/sɪˈnpi/; Ancient Greek: Σινώπη[1]) was one of the daughters of Asopus and thought to be an eponym of the city Sinope on the Black Sea.

Sinop in Turkey, Black Sea coast.

Family

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Sinope's mother was Metope, daughter of the river-god Ladon.[2] In one account, she was called the daughter of Ares and Parnassa[3] or Aegina[4] (usually her sister[5]). In the account of her being the offspring of Ares, Sinope was probably one of the Amazons.[6]

Mythology

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According to Corinna[7] and Diodorus Siculus,[8] Sinope was carried away by the god Apollo to the place where later stood the city honouring her name. Diodorus adds that she bore to Apollo a son named Syrus, supposedly afterwards king of the Syrians, who were named after him.[9]

However, the Argonautica[10] and Valerius Flaccus[11] relate that Sinope was abducted to the site by Zeus, who, in his passion, swore to fulfil her dearest wish.[12] Sinope declared she wished to remain a virgin. Sinope later tricked Apollo and the river Halys in the same fashion and remained a virgin all her life.

Notes

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  1. ^ Σινώπη, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus
  2. ^ Diodorus Siculus, 4.72.1
  3. ^ Scholia on Apollonius, 2.946
  4. ^ Natalis Comes 8.13
  5. ^ Diodorus Siculus, 4.72.1 & 5
  6. ^ Pseudo-Scymnos, Circuit de la terre 940 ff.
  7. ^ Frag. 654
  8. ^ Diodorus Siculus, 4.72.2
  9. ^ Plutarch, Lucullus 23.6
  10. ^ Apollonius, 2.946-951, on Perseus (Greek text)
  11. ^ Valerius Flaccus, 5.109
  12. ^ Cf. also Dionysius Periegeta 775-779 (eponym)

References

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