The Story of Phosphorus
Phosphorus was the god of the morning star, the bright planet Venus seen just before sunrise. He is usually called the son of Eos, the goddess of the dawn, and the Titan Astraeus. His name means light bringer, and Hesiod calls him Eosphoros, the bringer of dawn.
The Greeks pictured him as a radiant youth carrying a torch, running ahead of his mother to announce the coming day. In Ovid's tales, he is the father of King Ceyx, whose love for his wife Alcyone ended in tragedy at sea and in their transformation into birds. Ovid also names him as the father of Daedalion, who was turned into a hawk.
At first the Greeks thought the morning star and the evening star were two different gods, Phosphorus and Hesperus. Later thinkers, often said to be Pythagoras or Parmenides, realized that both were the same planet. The Romans called him Lucifer, the light bearer, long before that name took on any other meaning.
Phosphorus's Family Tree
Parents of Phosphorus
Partners of Phosphorus
Children of Phosphorus
Frequently Asked Questions About Phosphorus
Who is Phosphorus in Greek mythology?
Phosphorus is the god of the morning star, the bright planet Venus seen just before sunrise. His name means light bringer.
Who are Phosphorus's parents?
Phosphorus is usually called the son of Eos, the goddess of the dawn, and the Titan Astraeus.
Are Phosphorus and Hesperus the same?
The morning star and the evening star are both the planet Venus. The Greeks first saw them as two gods, Phosphorus and Hesperus, and later realized they were the same body.
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