Eumelos of Corinth

Eumelos of Corinth (Eumēlos ho Corinthios) (ca. 8th century BCE) was an ancient Greek epic poet. Several more or less reliable fragments of his poem Corinthiaca have survived. The poem recounts the legendary history of Eumelos’ native city (Ephyra, i.e., Corinth).

In one fragment (fr. 2c), there is some information that is different from other Greek sources: Aeëtes and Aloeus were born to Helios from Antiope. Their father divided the land between the sons—Aloeus received the region of Asopos, while Aeëtes received Ephyra. Aeëtes left his domain in the care of a certain Bunos until a relative of his returned there, while he himself set out for Colchis.

This account points to an ancient connection between Ephyra–Corinth and Colchis. Moreover, it is the first mention of the term “Colchis” and identifies it with the legendary kingdom of Aeëtes. If this fragment indeed dates back to the time of Eumelos, then it already reflects the earliest versions of the Argonauts’ legend.

Literature: უ რ უ შ ა ძ ე  ა., ძველი კოლხეთი არგონავტების თქმულებაში, თბ., 1964; H u x l e y  G. l., Greek epik poetry from Eumelos to Panyassis, L., 1969; Greek Epic fragments, ed. M.L. West, 2007.

R. B. Gordeziani