Sostratus of Dyme

Sostratus (Ancient Greek: Σώστρατος) is a lover of the hero Heracles mentioned in Pausanias' Description of Greece.[1]

According to Pausanias in his description of Dyme, he was from that ancient Achaean city and held in reverence by its inhabitants. He writes that on the side of a public road there was tomb of Sostratus, according to legend raised by Heracles in honour of his friend. Atop the mound was a slab with figure of Heracles in relief, where the Dymeans offered sacrifices.[2]

Modern researchers and archaeology identified him with Polystratus, a hero of Dyme who assisted Heracles in the war against the Elean king Augeas and was killed there. Archaeological excavations uncovered a pillar identical to that described by Pausanias but with the name Polystratus on it.[3]

Notes

  1. ↑ RE, s.v. Herakles, "VIII. Liebesverhältnisse und Ehen".
  2. ↑ Pausanias, 7.17.8.
  3. ↑ Kostas Triantafylloy, Patras Historic Dictionary, 3rd edition, 1995.

References

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