Phosphorus in Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology
(*Fwsfo/ros), or as the poets call him ἑωσφόρος or
Φαεσφόρος (Lat. Lucfer), that is, the bringer of light or of
Eos, is the name of the planet Venus, when seen in the
morning before sunrise (Hom. Il. 23.226; Virg. Gerl. 1.288;
Ov. Met. 2.115, Trist. 1.3. 72.) The same planet was called
Hesperus (Vesperugo, Vesper, Noctif or Nocturnus) when it
appeared in the heavens after sunset. (Hom. Il. 22.318 ;
Plin. Nat. 2.8; Cic. De Nat. Deor. 2.20; Catull. 62, 64;
Hor. Carm. 2.9.10.) Phosphorus as a personification is
called a son of Astraeus and Eos (Hes. Th. 381), of Cephalus
and Eos (Hygin. Poet. Astr. 2.42), or of Atlas (Tzetz. ad
Lyc. 879). By Philonis he is said to have been the father of
Ceyx (Hyg. Fab. 65; Ov. Met. 11.271), and he is also called
the father of Daedalion (Ov. Met. 11.295), of the Hesperides
(Serv. ad Aen. 4.484), or of Hesperis, who became by his
brother Atlas the mother of the Hesperides. (Diod. 4.27;
Serv. ad Aen. 1.530.)
Phosphorus also occurs as a surname of several goddesses of
light, as Artemis (Diana Lucifera, Paus. 4.31.8; Serv. ad
Aen. 2.116), Eos (Eur. Ion 1157) and Hecate. (Eur. Hel.
569.)
[L.S] - A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and
mythology, William Smith, Ed.
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