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Philomelus (/ˌfɪləˈmiːləs/; Greek: Φιλόμηλος, romanized: Philómēlos), Philomêlos or Philomenus /fɪˈlɒmɪnəs/ was a minor Greek demi-god, patron of husbandry, tillage/ploughing and agriculture. His name means 'friend of ease' from philos and mêlos.

Family

Philomelus the son of Demeter and Iasion, and the brother of Plutus. His son Parias gave his name to the Parians and the city of Parion (a town in Mysia on the Hellespont).

Mythology

Plutus was very wealthy, but would share none of his riches to his brother. Out of necessity, Philomenus bought two oxen, invented the wagon or plough, and supported himself by ploughing his fields and cultivating crops. His mother, admiring him for this, put him in the heavens as the constellation Boötes, his wagon or plough being the constellation Ursa Major.

Note

1. Hyginus, De Astronomica 2.4.7

References

• Gaius Julius Hyginus, Astronomica from The Myths of Hyginus translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. Online version at the Topos Text Project.

External links

• William Smith, ed. (1870). "Philomelus" . Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.

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