Itonus

In Greek mythology, Itonus (/aɪˈtoʊnəs/; Ancient Greek: Ἴτωνος means "willow—man"[1]) was the king of Iton in Phthiotis and son of Amphictyon. He was married to Melanippe, a nymph, and had a son Boeotus[2] and two daughters, Chromia and Iodame.[3][4][5]

For the town of ancient Thessaly, see Itonus (Thessaly).

He founded a sanctuary of Athena, where his daughter Iodame served as priestess. Itonis and Itonia, surnames of Athena, were believed to have been derived from his name.[6][7][8] According to Graves, the myth of Itonus represents a claim by the Itonians that they worshipped Athene even before the Athenians did and his name shows that she had a willow cult in Phthiotis — like that of her counterpart, the goddess Anatha, at Jerusalem until Jehovah's priests ousted her and claimed the rain—making willow as his tree at the Feast of Tabernacles.[1]

Itonus was also the name of the son of another Boeotus (the son of Poseidon). He was the father of Electryon, Hippalcimus, Archilycus (Areilycus) and Alegenor; his grandsons were the Trojan War heroes Leitus, Peneleos, Prothoenor, Arcesilaus and Clonius.[9]

References
  1. Robert Graves. The Greek Myths, section 9 s.v. Zeus And Metis
  2. Scholia on Homer, Iliad B, 494, p. 80, 43 ed. Bekk. as cited in Hellanicus' Boeotica
  3. Pausanias, Description of Greece, 9. 1. 1
  4. Pausanias, Description of Greece, 5. 1. 4
  5. Tzetzes on Lycophron, 1206
  6. Pausanias, Description of Greece, 9. 34. 1 - 2
  7. Etymologicum Magnum, 479. 47, under Itonis
  8. Scholia on Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica, 1. 721
  9. Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, 4. 67. 6
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