In
Greek mythology, there were two people named Icarius, or Ikários (and another named
Icarus).One Icarius was the son of
Oebalus and
Gorgophone and, by
Periboea, father of
Penelope and
Perileos. He was a champion runner and would not allow anyone to marry his daughter unless he beat him in a race.
Odysseus succeeded.The other Icarius was from
Athens. He was cordial towards
Dionysus, who gave his shepherds wine. They became intoxicated and killed Icarius, thinking he had poisoned them. His daughter,
Erigone, and her dog,
Marea, found his body. Erigone hanged herself over her fathers'grave, thereby condemning other Athenian virgins to do the same.Dionysus was angry and punished Athens with a plague, inflicting
insanity on all the unmarried women, who all committed suicide. Icarius was placed in the stars as the constellation
Boötes. There is a mosaic in Paphos, Cyprus, from a Roman vila from the mid 2nd century a.d which is called "Dionysus House". The mosaic "First wine drinkers" describes Dionysus gives the gift of vine and wine to Icarius as a reward for Icarius generous hospitality.
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[Greek heroic] Icarius is the son of Oebalus, and father of Penelope. He offered the hand of his daughter to those who could defeat him in a running contest, and Odysseus succeeded. It is also the name of a legendary Athenian. See: Icarius.