InGreek mythology,Asterion (/əˈstɪəriən/;Ancient Greek:Ἀστερίων, gen.:Ἀστερίωνος, literally "starry") was a river-god ofArgos.
Asterion was presumably[original research?] one of the sons ofOceanus andTethys. He had three daughters,Euboea,Prosymna, andAcraea, who were the nurses ofHera.[1]
Asterion was one of the three river-gods (the other two beingInachus andCephisus) who awarded the territory ofArgolis toHera overPoseidon. Poseidon, in anger, made the waters of all three rivers disappear so that they don't flow unless it rains, and are dry in summer.[2]
The River Asterion in Argos[3] is mentioned in theDionysiaca (47.493) ofNonnus, who couples the reference with a rite in which young men dedicate locks of their hair.
Asterion in theherbal ofDioscurides, isSilene linifolia.[4] Of this herb, found near theHeraion of the Argolid,Pausanias noted "On its banks grows a plant, which also is called asterion. They offer the plant itself to Hera, and from its leaves weave her garlands."[1]
