In
Greek mythology
A major branch of classical mythology, Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the ancient Greeks, and a genre of Ancient Greek folklore. These stories concern the origin and nature of the world, the lives and activities of ...
, Bulis ( grc, Βοῦλις, Boulis) is a minor figure who partook in accidental incest with her own son,
Aegypius.
Family
Bulis married a man named Antheus and had a son, Aegypius.
Mythology
Bulis' son Aegypius became the lover of a much older woman,
Timandra. Timandra's son
Neophron
Neophron of Sicyon (Νεόφρων, -ονος) was one of the most prolific of the ancient Greek dramatists, to whom are accredited one hundred and twenty pieces, of which only a few fragments of his ''Medea'' remain. This, it is said, Euripides u ...
disapproved of that affair, so in retribution he seduced Bulis himself. One day he brought Bulis into his house, having made sure Timandra was away. He made an excuse for himself and left around the time that Aegypius visited in order to see Timandra. Unbeknownst to each other, mother and son laid together. When they realized what had happened, Bulis grabbed a sword with the intention to blind him and kill herself. Aegypius prayed to the heavens to make him vanish; and
Zeus
Zeus or , , ; grc, Δῐός, ''Diós'', label=genitive Boeotian Aeolic and Laconian grc-dor, Δεύς, Deús ; grc, Δέος, ''Déos'', label=genitive el, Δίας, ''Días'' () is the sky and thunder god in ancient Greek religion, ...
transformed all four into birds. Bulis herself became a ''poynx'' (), perhaps a type of
heron
The herons are long-legged, long-necked, freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae, with 72 recognised species, some of which are referred to as egrets or bitterns rather than herons. Members of the genera ''Botaurus'' and ''Ixobrychu ...
(as the word ''poynx'' occurs only in
Antoninus Liberalis
Antoninus Liberalis ( el, Ἀντωνῖνος Λιβεράλις) was an Ancient Greek grammarian who probably flourished between AD 100 and 300.
His only surviving work is the ''Metamorphoses'' (Μεταμορφώσεων Συναγωγή, ''Me ...
alone), which lives on the eyes of fishes birds and snakes, since she was so fond of taking out eyes.
Antoninus Liberalis
Antoninus Liberalis ( el, Ἀντωνῖνος Λιβεράλις) was an Ancient Greek grammarian who probably flourished between AD 100 and 300.
His only surviving work is the ''Metamorphoses'' (Μεταμορφώσεων Συναγωγή, ''Me ...
, ''Metamorphoses'
5
/ref>
See also
* Jocasta
In Greek mythology, Jocasta (), also rendered Iocaste ( grc, Ἰοκάστη ) and also known as Epicaste (; ), was a daughter of Menoeceus, a descendant of the Spartoi Echion, and queen consort of Thebes. She was the wife of first Laiu ...
* Cinyras
In Greek mythology, Cinyras (; grc, Κινύρας – ''Kinyras'') was a famous hero and king of Cyprus. Accounts vary significantly as to his genealogy and provide a variety of stories concerning him; in many sources he is associated wit ...
References
Bibliography
* Antoninus Liberalis
Antoninus Liberalis ( el, Ἀντωνῖνος Λιβεράλις) was an Ancient Greek grammarian who probably flourished between AD 100 and 300.
His only surviving work is the ''Metamorphoses'' (Μεταμορφώσεων Συναγωγή, ''Me ...
, ''The Metamorphoses of Antoninus Liberalis'' translated by Francis Celoria (Routledge 1992)
Online version at the Topos Text Project.
*
Metamorphoses into birds in Greek mythology
Incest in Greek mythology
Women in Greek mythology
Deeds of Zeus
{{Greek-myth-stub