INOPOS

INOPOS was a river-god of the island of Delos in the Greek Aegean.

The Inopos was a small stream on Delos Island whose waters were believed to be drawn through the sea from the River Nile. Other personified Aegean island rivers included the Imbrasos of Samos, and Amnisos of Krete.

PARENTS

Presumably either OKEANOS or the River NEILOS

OFFSPRING

THE DELIADES (Callimachus Hymn to Delos)

CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES

Callimachus, Hymn 4 to Delos 252 ff (trans. Mair) (Greek poet C3rd B.C.) :
"[The birth of Apollon on the island of Delos :] The child [Apollon] leapt forth and the Nymphai Deliades (Nymphs of Delos), offspring of an ancient River [i.e. Inopos], sang with far-sounding voice the holy chant of Eileithyia. And straightway the brazen sky echoed back the far-reaching chant and Hera grudged it not, because Zeus had taken away her anger. In that hour, O Delos, all thy foundations became of gold : with gold thy round lake flowed all day, and golden foliage thy natal olive-tree put forth and with gold flowed coiled Inopos in deep flood."

Callimachus, Hymn 3 to Artemis 170 ff :
"The Nymphai (Nymphs) encircle thee [Artemis] in the dance, near the springs of Aigyptian (Egyptian) Inopos." [N.B. The Inopos was believed to draw its waters from the Nile hence it is titled "Egyptian."]

Strabo, Geography 10. 5. 2 (trans. Jones) (Greek geographer C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"A river named Inopos flows through the island [of Delos]--not a large river, for the island itself is small."

SOURCES

GREEK

• Callimachus, Hymns - Greek Poetry C3rd B.C.
• Strabo, Geography - Greek Geography C1st B.C. - C1st A.D.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.