Reading this post by Galina on Wiccanate privilege and cosmic money shots, I was reminded of one my favorite Greek myths:
Jove, Neptunus, and Mercury came as guests to King Hyrieus in Thrace. Since they were received hospitably by him, they promised him whatever he should ask for. He asked for children. Mercury brought out the hide of the bull which Hyrieus had sacrificed to them; they ejaculated on it, and buried it in the earth, and from it Orion was born. (Hyginus, Fabulae 195)
With such an origin it’s hardly surprising to learn that Orion was a total prick, but thankfully Dionysos was there to gave him a proper comeuppance:
Orion was a hunter with an immense body, who on numerous occasions undertook tasks for King Oenopion. But on one occasion he violated his daughter, as a result of which the enraged king invoked the power of Father Liber who was his father. The god then sent the satyrs, who poured sleep upon Orion and in this manner bound him and handed him over to Oenopion for his judgment and retribution. So Oenopion took out his eyes while he slept. (Servius, Commentary on Vergil’s Aeneid 10.763)
Tagged: dionysos, hermes, poseidon, zeus
