Erythras (Red Sea)

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Erythras ( Greek  Ἐρύθρας ) is a mythical king of the ancient world . According to ancient tradition, the Red Sea is named after him, which in ancient Greek was called Ἐρυθρὰ θάλασσα ( Erythra thalassa ).

The author Agatharchides narrates the story of Erythras most extensively in his work Across the Red Sea : According to legend, the Persian Erythras ran his horses because a lioness was chasing them and swam to an island. Erythras built a raft to catch them. He liked the island and founded settlements there and on the surrounding islands. Since he was the first person to cross the Red Sea, it was named after him. Agatharchides called this the true story, but also handed down alternative derivations of the name, including a myth from the city of Argos , according to which Erythras was a son of Perseus . Agatharchides rates this legend, according to which Erythras comes from the royal house of Argos, as a story of lies.

Since the Greek word ἐρυθρός ( erythros ) means “red”, the name of the sea has been translated as “red sea” in most languages. Even in ancient times, there were misunderstandings due to the double meaning of the name, and its origin was controversial. Pliny the Elder stated that the sea was named after Erythras, but also gave the dissenting opinion that it was named because of its red color, which comes about through reflections of the sunlight. Curtius Rufus also emphasized that the sea is named after Erythras: after all, it does not differ in its color from other seas, and only the ignorant think it is red.

Even Arrian headed the name of the Sea of Erythras ago and told of his grave on an island called Oarakta. Strabon named the island Ogyris and described the tomb of Erythras as a large burial mound on which palm trees grew.

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