Cychreus
(
Κυχρεύς), or CENCHREUS, a son of Poseidon and Salamis, became king of the island of Salamis, which was called after him Cychreia, and which he delivered from a dragon.
He was subsequently honoured as a hero, and had a sanctuary in Salamis. (
Apollod. 3.12.7;
Diod. 4.72.)
According to other traditions, Cychreus himself was called a dragon on account of his savage nature, and was expelled from Salamis by Eurylochus; but he was received by Demeter at Eleusis, and appointed a priest to her temple. (Steph. Byz.
s. v. Κυχρεῖος.) Others again said that Cychreus had brought up a dragon, which was expelled by Eurylochus. (
Strab. ix. p.393.)
There was a tradition that, while the battle of Salamis was going on, a dragon appeared in one of the Athenian ships, and that an oracle declared this dragon to be Cychreus. (
Paus. 1.36.1; comp. Tzetz.
ad Lycoph. 110, 175;
Plut. Thes. 10,
Solon. 9.)
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L.S]