Biston

Template:For Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox deityIn Greek mythology, Biston (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell; Template:Langx or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) was the son of Ares and Callirrhoe,<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref> daughter of river-god Nestus. His two brothers were Odomas and Edonus (eponyms of two Thracian tribes, the Odomanti and the Edoni).<ref>Stephanus of Byzantium s.v. Bistonia</ref> Alternately, he was called son of Paeon and grandson of Ares. In some accounts, he was the son of either the Muses Terpsichorus<ref>Etymologicum Magnum, 197. 59 s. v. Bistoniē</ref> or Calliope.Template:Cn

Mythology

Biston built the city of Bistonia on the shores of Lake Bistonis in Thrace.<ref name=":0" /> He also introduced the Thracian practice of tattooing both men and women with eye-like patterns as a magical fetish, in response to an oracle which guaranteed victory against the neighbouring Edonians tribe if so adorned. The Thracian Bistonians were famous for their warlike nature and cult of Ares whom they worshipped in the form of an upright standing sword.

See also

• Bistones
• Bistonis, the nymph who lives at Lake Bistonis.

Sources

• Stephanus of Byzantium, Stephani Byzantii Ethnicorum quae supersunt, edited by August Meineike (1790-1870), published 1849. A few entries from this important ancient handbook of place names have been translated by Brady Kiesling. Online version at the Topos Text Project.

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