Aetos Dios
Encyclopedia
The "Aetos Dios" [Greek. αετός Δίας], is translated from Greek into "Eagle of Zeus". There are two schools of thought regarding the origin of this eagle, coming from different Greek legends.
was one of Apollo's
priests. He was later made King on account of his many virtues. Zeus however, was jealous because King Periphas was now revered and honoured to the same extent that he was and so wished to destroy him. Apollo intervened however, and requested that Zeus instead transform the King into an eagle. Zeus accepted and transformed both King Pereiphas and his wife Phene into an eagle and an osprey respectively. The eagle also has a place amongst the stars as the constellation Aquilla
, one Ptolemy's
48 listed constellations.
(Some accounts say Phene was turned into a vulture, not an osprey, and is the reason for the constellation of Lyra (also on Ptolemy's
list). The constellation of Lyra is an instrument of Apollo, but is also sometimes depicted as a vulture. This could be because Lyra's brightest star, Vega, has Arabic roots meaning "Swooping Eagle". The Latin name for this was "vultur cadens", or "sinking vulture". The addition of the bird so close to the constellation of Aquilla, has led some to believe that Lyra was in fact the consort of Periphas in his eagle-state)
From then on the eagle would have the privilege of being able to approach the throne of Zeus
. He would serve with Zeus
and be the protector of Zeus'
sacred sceptre, while his wife would have the privilege of being a sign of good omens in the affairs of men.
. He appeared before Zeus at the start of the Titanomachy
(Battle of the Titans). Zeus took this to mean a good omen of victory, leading to him using the emblem of a golden eagle on his war standard:
Aetos Dios as the late King Periphas
PeriphasPeriphas
Periphas in Greek mythology may refer to:1. One of the sons of Aegyptus. He married Actaea, daughter of Danaus.2. A son of Oeneus....
was one of Apollo's
Apollo
Apollo is one of the most important and complex of the Olympian deities in Greek and Roman mythology...
priests. He was later made King on account of his many virtues. Zeus however, was jealous because King Periphas was now revered and honoured to the same extent that he was and so wished to destroy him. Apollo intervened however, and requested that Zeus instead transform the King into an eagle. Zeus accepted and transformed both King Pereiphas and his wife Phene into an eagle and an osprey respectively. The eagle also has a place amongst the stars as the constellation Aquilla
Aquila (constellation)
Aquila is a stellar constellation. Its name is Latin for 'eagle' and it is commonly represented as such. In mythology, Aquila was owned by the Roman god Jupiter and performed many tasks for him....
, one Ptolemy's
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy , was a Roman citizen of Egypt who wrote in Greek. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. He lived in Egypt under Roman rule, and is believed to have been born in the town of Ptolemais Hermiou in the...
48 listed constellations.
(Some accounts say Phene was turned into a vulture, not an osprey, and is the reason for the constellation of Lyra (also on Ptolemy's
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy , was a Roman citizen of Egypt who wrote in Greek. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. He lived in Egypt under Roman rule, and is believed to have been born in the town of Ptolemais Hermiou in the...
list). The constellation of Lyra is an instrument of Apollo, but is also sometimes depicted as a vulture. This could be because Lyra's brightest star, Vega, has Arabic roots meaning "Swooping Eagle". The Latin name for this was "vultur cadens", or "sinking vulture". The addition of the bird so close to the constellation of Aquilla, has led some to believe that Lyra was in fact the consort of Periphas in his eagle-state)
From then on the eagle would have the privilege of being able to approach the throne of Zeus
Zeus
In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus...
. He would serve with Zeus
Zeus
In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus...
and be the protector of Zeus'
Zeus
In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus...
sacred sceptre, while his wife would have the privilege of being a sign of good omens in the affairs of men.
Aetos Dios as creation of Gaia
In other accounts the eagle was in fact an ancient creation of the goddess GaiaGaia (mythology)
Gaia was the primordial Earth-goddess in ancient Greek religion. Gaia was the great mother of all: the heavenly gods and Titans were descended from her union with Uranus , the sea-gods from her union with Pontus , the Giants from her mating with Tartarus and mortal creatures were sprung or born...
. He appeared before Zeus at the start of the Titanomachy
Titanomachy
In Greek mythology, the Titanomachy or War of the Titans , was the ten-year series of battles fought in Thessaly between the two camps of deities long before the existence of mankind: the Titans, based on Mount Othrys, and the Olympians, who would come to reign on Mount Olympus...
(Battle of the Titans). Zeus took this to mean a good omen of victory, leading to him using the emblem of a golden eagle on his war standard:
"...For so happy an omen, especially since victory did ensue, he made a golden eagle for his war standards and consecrated it to the might of his protection, whereby also among the Romans, standards of this kind are carried." - a translated excerpt from Fulgentius'Fabius Planciades FulgentiusFabius Planciades Fulgentius was a late-antique period writer. Four extant works are commonly attributed to him, as well as a possible fifth which some scholars include in compilations with much reservation...
"Mytholgies" (Mythologiarum Libri III)