Evenus of Aetolia


In Greek mythology, Evenus a river-god of Aetolia as the son either of Oceanus and Tethys. In some accounts, he was represented as a mortal prince or king as the son of Ares either by Demonice, daughter of Agenor or by the Pleiad Sterope. Heracles was also called Evenus' father in later versions of the myth. He was the brother of Molus, Pylus and Thestius. Eurytus married Alcippe, daughter of King Oenomaus of Pisa by whom he became the father of Marpessa.

Mythology

When Idas, son of Aphareus, came from Messenia to asked for the hand of Marpessa, Evenus refused his request because he wanted her daughter to remain a virgin. Idas went to his father Poseidon and begged for the use of a winged chariot. Poseidon consented him the use of the chariot, and Idas abducted Marpessa away from a band of dancers and fled from Pleuron in Aetolia. Evenus, after chasing the couple for a long time and realizing he could not catch up to them, killed his horses and then drowned himself in a nearby river Lycormas and became immortal. The river was named later after him.
According to some writers, Evenus, like Oenomaus, used to set his daughter's suitors to run a chariot race with him, promising to bestow her on the winner; but he cut off the heads of his vanquished competitors and nailed them to the walls of his house.