What is "aethon"

The ancient Greek word aithôn means "burning", "blazing" or "shining." Less strictly, it can denote the colour red-brown, or "tawny." It is an epithet sometimes applied to animals such as horses at Hom. Il. 2.839 ; oxen at Od.18.372; and an eagle at Il. 15.690 (cf. Hyginus' calling the eagle that tormented Prometheus an aethonem aquilam at Fabulae 31.5.).

In English, it may be written Aethon, Aithon, and sometimes Ethon.

The eagle who tormented Prometheus, Aethon was the child of the monsters Typhon and Echidna.

In Greek and Roman mythology there are a number of characters known as Aethon. Most are horses, variously belonging to:

• Helios ( Ovid, Metamorphoses 2.153)
• Ares ( Quintus Smyrnaeus, Posthomerica 8.239)
• Hector ( Homer, Iliad 8.184)
• Pallas ( Vergil, Aeneid 11.89)

The name is twice applied to humans. In Odyssey 19.183, it is the pseudonym a disguised Odysseus assumes during his interview with Penelope upon his return to Ithaca. According to fr. 43a.5 of Hesiod's Catalogue of Women, Erysichthon of Thessaly was also known as Aethon due to the "burning" hunger (aithôn limos) he was made to endure by Demeter (cf. Callimachus' Hymn to Demeter 6.65ff.)