 photo: Egor Kamelev Greek Myth. Ascalabus son of Misme (also known as Abas son of Metaneira) was changed by the Greek goddess Demeter into a lizard. While searching for her daughter Persephone in Attica, Demeter came to the small thatched roof cottage of an old peasant woman named Misme. Misme offered the goddess a sweet barley drink of barley (pennyroyal and barley groats), and Demeter accepted. It was all going well until Misme's son Ascalabus mocked the goddess for drinking so much, so quick. He laughed at her and ordered for a cask to be brought up. In response to his rudeness, Demeter threw what remained of her drink in his face and turned the boy into a lizard. Sources:
Antoninus Liberalis (2 CE) Metamorphoses, Greek Ovid (1 BCE - 1 CE) Metamorphoses, Latin/Roman
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 Greek Folklore.
Abaeus is a surname of Apollo's. It's derived from the town of Abae in Phocis, where the god had a pretty rad temple.  Greek Mythology. "My suitor was the river Achelous, who took three forms to ask me of my father: a rambling bull once, then a writhing snake of gleaming colors, then again a man with ox-like face: and from his beard's dark shadows stream upon stream of water tumbled down. Such was my suitor" ~ Deianeira, Sophocles, The Trachinia Achelous, god of fresh water, prince of all rivers, deity of the Achelous river, son of Gaia and Oceanus and father of the sirens. Often portrayed as a man-faced bull, sometimes with a serpent-like body. He is described as having long hair wreathed with reeds and has been depicted as both old and in his prime.
An important deity, invoked in prayers, sacrifices and oaths, Acheleous ran into trouble when Hercules became his rival for love. Achelous sought to marry Deianira, daughter of the king of Calydon and famed beauty. But he wasn't the only suitor. To determine who would become Deianira's husband, The king held a contest of strength which attracted the attention of Hercules. During the match, Hercules broke off one of Archelous' horns (which later became the legendary cornucopia/horn of plenty) forcing him to surrender. Roman Folklore.
From Virgil's The Aeneid, Achates was the best friend of the Trojan Hero Aeneas. Achates is renown for his loyalty and being a faithful companion.  Acestes was the son of a Trojan woman Egesta, and a Sicilian river deity named Crimisus.
When the Trojans refused to pay thanks to Poseidon and Apollo, whom helped them with their wall. The gods punished Troy by sending monsters to infest the city and devour it's citizens. Egesta's father feared for his daughter's safety. He sent her to Sicily where she met the river god Crimisus and conceived the hero Acestes. In Virgil's epic, The Aeneid, Jupiter shows favour to Acestes during a a trial of skill by setting aflame the arrow Acestes had shot. Acestes went on to become one of the founders the Sicilian city of Segesta. Greek Mythology.
Absyrtus was a Colchian prince (modern day Georgia), grandson of Helios (sun god), and a younger brother of Medea--a sorceress who married the Greek hero Jason. Apsyrtus had golden armour and a golden shield that reflected the sun's rays. To look upon him in his gear could cause eye pain. His weapon was a quivering spear and he drove the golden cart of his grandfather Helios. During the brother's war (between his father and uncle) he fought bravely on the frontline. He was murdered by his own sister, Medea in the town of Tomi (Romania). In order to escape her father, Medea killed Absyrtus, sliced him up and scattered his pieces on the road. She'd hoped this would slow down her father, as he'd need to collect all the parts of his son in order to give a proper burial. Welsh Folklore.
Welsh village located in the south-west on Isle of Anglesey. Former capital of the Kingdom of Gwynedd. Aberffraw (Aberffro in Welsh) is where Branwen ferch Llŷr (daughter of the Welsh Sea god) and Matholch (an Irish King) were married. During the wedding festivities, Branwen's half-brother, Efnysien maimed Matholwch's horses prompting the events described in the Mabinogi's second branch. |
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