Astraeus
Astraeus was a son of the Titan Crius and his wife Eurybia and was often numbered among the Titans himself. He married Eos, the goddess of the dawn, with whom he fathered the Anemoi (“Winds”) and the Astra (“Stars”).
Astraeus was not one of the original twelve Titans born to Gaia and Uranus, but he was the child of one of thoseTitans (Crius) and was thus sometimes called a Titan as well.
In the standard tradition, Astraeus and his wife Eos were the parents of the Anemoi (“Winds”) and the Astra (“Stars”).
#Etymology
The name “Astraeus” (Greek Ἀστραῖος, translit. Astraios) is likely related to the Greek word astēr (“star”), itself derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂ster- (“star”).1
#Pronunciation
English
Greek
Astraeus
Ἀστραῖος (translit. Astraios)
Phonetic
IPA
[uh-STREE-uhs]
/əˈstɹiːəs/
#Attributes
Astraeus’ name (which comes from the Greek word for “star”) and the starry nature of his children indicate that he was connected with celestial bodies. He is not found in ancient art, but some believe he was represented on the famous Gigantomachy relief of the Pergamon Altar (second century BCE).2
The Roman mythographer Hyginus lists Astraeus among the Giants born to Tartarus and Gaia, but this may be a mistake.3
#Family
Astraeus was one of the sons of Crius, a Titan, and Eurybia, a daughter of Gaia and Pontus. He had two brothers, Pallas and Perses.4
Astraeus married Eos, daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia and goddess of the dawn. Together they bore the Anemoi (“Winds”): Zephyrus (the west wind), Boreas (the north wind), and Notus (the south wind). They were also the parents of Eosphorus (the morning star) and the Astra (“Stars”).5 Some sources named additional children, including Eurus (the east wind)6 and Astraea, a virgin goddess of justice and innocence.7
#Family Tree
Parents
father
mother
- Eurybia
Siblings
brothers
Consorts
wife
Children
sons
daughter
- Anemoi
- Astra
- Eosphorus
- Astraea
#Mythology
Astraeus does not have a mythology of his own. Instead, he serves a genealogical function as the husband of Eos and the father of the Anemoi and the Astra.
#Further Reading
#Primary Sources
Greek
Hesiod: Astraeus’ genealogy is outlined in Hesiod’s Theogony (seventh century BCE).
Apollodorus: Astraeus’ genealogy and mythology are summarized in the Library (first century BCE or first few centuries CE).
Roman
Hyginus: The Fabulae, a Latin mythological handbook (first or second century CE), names Astraeus as one of the Giants.
#Secondary Sources
Gantz, Timothy. Early Greek Myth: A Guide to Literary and Artistic Sources. 2 vols. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996.
Graf, Fritz. “Astraeus.” In Brill’s New Pauly, edited by Hubert Cancik, Helmuth Schneider, Christine F. Salazar, Manfred Landfester, and Francis G. Gentry. Published online 2006. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e204640.
Graves, Robert. The Greek Myths. London: Penguin, 1955.
Rose, H. J. A Handbook of Greek Mythology. London: Methuen, 1929.
Simon, Erika. “Astraios I.” In Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae, Vol. 2, 297. Zurich: Artemis, 1984.
Smith, William. “Astraeus.” In A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. London: Spottiswoode and Company, 1873. Perseus Digital Library. Accessed November 2, 2021. https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DA%3Aentry+group%3D50%3Aentry%3Dastraeus-bio-1.
Theoi Project. “Astraios.” Published online 2000–2017. https://www.theoi.com/Titan/TitanAstraios.html.