Cilix

Cilix (/;s;l;ks/; Ancient Greek: ;;;;; K;lix) was, according to Greek mythology, a Phoenician prince as the son of King Agenor and Telephassa or Argiope.



Etymology

In her book Who's Who in Classical Mythology, author Adrian Room writes an entry on Cilix describing the nature of the name's etymology. Room writes that "we can perhaps see in his name a blend of ceras, 'horn' and helix, 'twisted', or even a link with cyllos, 'crooked'". This is referring to the horns of Zeus in the form of a white bull, who carried off Cilix's sister Europa to the coast of Crete. Cilicia's etymology is broken up into two parts according to the two parts of its terrain. Cilicia Trachea is "rugged Cilicia", in Greek ;;;;;;; ;;;;;;;; it is also the Assyrian Hilakku, classical "Cilicia". Cilicia Pedias is "flat Cilicia", in Ancient Greek: ;;;;;;; ;;;;;;, and in Assyrian Kue.

Family

Cilix was the brother of Cadmus, Phoenix and Europa.[1][2] He was the father of Thebe, wife of Corybas, the son of Iasion and Cybele.[3]

While some sources claim that Thasus is related to Cilix, as a brother or nephew, Thasus' genealogy is not fully agreed upon. Hawthorne's tale specifically calls Thasus a "playfellow", and mentions no blood relation to Agenor. There is little information about this, and the only widely agreed on information is that Thasus founded the town of Thasos.

Mythology

When Europa was carried off by Zeus, Agenor sent his three sons out to find her, telling them not to return until they find her. The search was unsuccessful. Cilix eventually settled down in Asia Minor. The land was called Cilicia after him.[1][2][4] Cilix's son, Thasus (who might have also been a son of Poseidon), who accompanied his uncle Cadmus in his journey.[1] Thasus was said to become king of island Thasos.

Cilix

A hero with a name that means 'horns',
A keen traveller,
An inhabitant of Asia Minor,
The son of Cybele,
He was a bright and strong hero,
Fast and dynamic.
He would follow the wind and get close to the sea,
Looking for endless tranquility.