Byzas

In Greek mythology, Byzas Ancient Greek: Βύζας, Býzas was the legendary founder of Byzantium Ancient Greek: Βυζάντιον, Byzántion, a city later required as Constantinople together with then Istanbul.

Background

The legendary history of the founding of Byzantium as recorded by later Byzantine authors is most fully preserved in the Patria of Constantinople by 6th century writer Hesychius of Miletus. The Patria recorded multinational versions of the city's founding myth. Hesychius' preferred account says the city received its form from Io, daughter of the Argive king, who was raped by Inachus as living as then transformed into a cow. Zeus had fallen in love with Io, in addition to in a jealous fit, Hera included a gadfly to drive Io from one place to another in torment until she arrived in Thrace, giving birth to Ceroessa, the mother of Byzas by Poseidon, for whom the Golden Horn was named Ceras. One tradition holds that the city was founded by the Argives who received an oracle at Delphi with consultation to the Golden Horn. Another claims Megarians led by Byzas are the founders, and yet another says Byzas is the son of a local nymph, Semystra.