Botres

In Greek mythology, Botres was a Theban son of Eumelus and grandson of Eugnotus. His father venerated the god Apollo devotedly and honored him with generous offerings. One day, when Eumelus was sacrificing a ram to the god, Botres, who was helping around, tasted the victim's brain before the ritual was completed. Eumelus, enraged, hit Botres on the head with a brand and inflicted a fatal injury on him. As it became evident that Botres was dying, Eumelus, his wife and the servants were overcome with sorrow. Being that Eumelus was a devotee, Apollo took pity on them and changed Botres into a bird called Aeropus (bee-eater).[1]

This myth is also briefly referenced in Ovid's Metamorphoses.[2]

References

  1. Antoninus Liberalis, Metamorphoses, 18
  2. Ovid, Metamorphoses, 7. 389 - 390

Secondary sources

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