Cycnus was the son ofSthenelus and the lover ofPhaethon (Servius explicitly writes "amator", or lover). According toOvid, he was a distant relative of Phaethon on his mother's side.[6] Servius also mentions that Cycnus had a son named Cupavo.[7] It is also possible that he had two sons, Cupavo and Cinyras.[8]
After Phaethon died, Cycnus sat by the riverEridanos mourning his death. The gods turned him into aswan to relieve him of his sorrow. Even then he retained memories of Phaethon's death, and would avoid the sun's heat because of that.[9] Swans are known for mourning their mate for many days when they die, which suggests that Cygnus and Phaethon were lovers.[10][11][12]
According toVirgil, Cycnus lamented Phaethon's death till he grew old, so his gray hair became gray feathers upon his transformation.[13]Pausanias mentions Cycnus, king of the Ligyes (Ligurians), as a renowned musician who after his death was changed into a swan byApollo.[14] Servius also writes of Cycnus as a musician and a friend of Phaethon, and states that he was changed into a swan and later placed among the stars by Apollo (that is, as the constellationCygnus). Both Pausanias and Servius state it was Apollo who had blessed Cycnus with talent in singing.[7] Cycnus' profession as a musician may be a direct reference to the concept of theswan song suggested inHyginus' account.[15]
^Palomba, N. (2017).Frammenti di storia bresciana. Cavinato Editore.
^Barchi, A. (1832).Annotazioni alla cronologia bresciana civile ed ecclesiastica dall'origine di Brescia fino ai nostri giorni. N. Bettoni and companions.
^Bravo, P. (1839).Delle Storie Bresciane. Venturini.
Pausanias,Pausanias Description of Greece with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918.Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
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