The Story of Aristaeus
Aristaeus was the son of Apollo and the nymph Cyrene, a fearless huntress whom Apollo carried off from Thessaly to the coast of Libya. As a child he was cared for by nymphs, and in some tellings he was taught by the wise centaur Chiron. He grew up to become a rustic god who loved the countryside and its work.
The nymphs taught Aristaeus how to curdle milk into cheese, how to keep bees and how to grow olives, and he passed these skills on to mortals. He married Autonoe, a daughter of Cadmus of Thebes. Their son was the hunter Actaeon, who was later turned into a stag by Artemis.
His most famous story is told by the Roman poet Virgil. Aristaeus pursued Eurydice, the wife of Orpheus, and as she ran from him she stepped on a snake and died of its bite. As punishment, the nymphs who had been her friends killed all of his bees, and Aristaeus went in despair to his mother.
Cyrene sent him to the shape shifting sea god Proteus, who had to be held tight while he turned into fire, water and wild beasts before he would answer. Proteus told him the cause of his loss and how to make amends. Aristaeus sacrificed cattle to the angry nymphs, and from the carcasses new swarms of bees came buzzing out.
Aristaeus was worshipped on the island of Ceos, where he was said to have ended a deadly drought and plague during the hot days of the Dog Star by building an altar to Zeus, who sent cooling winds. Farmers, herdsmen and beekeepers across Greece honored him as their patron. To them he was a kindly god who had made country life richer.
Famous Myths About Aristaeus
The Death of the Bees
Aristaeus pursued Eurydice, and as she fled from him she was bitten by a snake and died. As punishment, the nymphs killed all his bees, and he had to consult Proteus to learn how to make amends.
Father of Actaeon
Aristaeus married Autonoe, a daughter of Cadmus, and their son was the hunter Actaeon. Actaeon later saw Artemis bathing and was turned into a stag.
Aristaeus's Family Tree
Parents of Aristaeus
Partners of Aristaeus
Children of Aristaeus
Frequently Asked Questions About Aristaeus
Who is Aristaeus in Greek mythology?
Aristaeus is the god of beekeeping, cheese making, olive growing and herding, who taught these skills to humans.
Who are Aristaeus's parents?
Aristaeus is the son of Apollo and the nymph Cyrene.
Why did Aristaeus lose his bees?
Eurydice fled from Aristaeus and was bitten by the snake that killed her, so the nymphs punished him by killing his bees. On his mother's advice he caught the sea god Proteus, learned the cause and made sacrifices, and new swarms rose from the offerings.
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