A.guardian, ruler, Hom. (only in Il.), always of Zeus, as connected with special places, Ἴδηθεν μεδέων ruling from Ida, Il.3.276, etc.; “Δωδώνης μ.” 16.234; also Κυλλήνης μ., of Hermes, h.Merc.2; “Πάν, Ἀρκαδίας μ.” Pi.Fr.95; “Ἀπόλλων Τελμεσσοῦ μ.” SIG1044.8 (Halic., iv/iii B. C.); τῷ μεδεῦντι Νείλεω δήμου (i. e. Apollo) Call.Fr.95; δελφίνων μ., of Poseidon, Ar.Eq.560 (lyr.); “σοὶ τῷ πάντων μ.” E.Fr.912.1 (anap.): c. dat. loci, Pi.O.7.88; “μ. καὶ χθονὶ καὶ πελάγει” AP6.30 (Maced.): generally, ruler, “ἡμετέρῳ μεδέοντι” Call.Jov.86.
2. fem. μεδέουσα, guardian goddess, of Aphrodite, “Σαλαμῖνος μεδέουσα” h.Hom.10.4; of Mnemosyne, “Ἐλευθῆρος μεδέουσα” Hes.Th.54; of Pallas, τῆς ἱερωτάτης μεδέουσα χώρας (Attica) Ar.Eq.585 (lyr.), cf. 763; νεὼς Ἀθηναίας τῆς Ἀθηνῶν μεδεούσης prob. in IG12(1).977.10 (Carpathos, iv B. C.), cf. Supp.Epigr.1.375,376 (Samos), 3.3.5 (Athens), Plu.Them.10: generally, [“Ἑλένη] μ. θαλάσσης” E.Or.1690 (anap.); “τόξων μ. Ἄρτεμιν” Id.Hipp.167 (lyr.). —Aeol. participial form μέδεις (as if from μέδημι), Alc.5 (wrongly expld. as 2sg. ind. by Apion ap.A.D.Synt.92.7); other forms in late poets, “μεδέουσι” Q.S.5.525; “μεδέεις” Epigr.Gr.975; “μεδέοιεν” IG14.1363.10.