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In Greek mythology, Iasion[pronunciation?] (Ancient Greek: Ἰασίων, gen.: Ἰασίωνος) or Iasus (Ἴασος, gen.: Ἰάσου) or Eetion (Ἠετίων) was usually the son of the nymph Electra and Zeus and brother of Dardanus, although other possible parentage included Zeus and Hemera or Corythus and Electra.

Iasion founded the mystic rites on the island of Samothrace. With Demeter, he was the father of twin sons named Ploutos and Philomelus, and another son named Korybas.

At the marriage of Cadmus and Harmonia, Iasion was lured by Demeter away from the other revelers. They had intercourse as Demeter lay on her back in freshly plowed furrow. When they rejoined the celebration, Zeus guessed what had happened because of the mud on Demeter's backside, and out of envy promptly killed Iasion with a thunderbolt.[1] [2] Some versions of this myth conclude with Iasion and the agricultural hero Triptolemus then becoming the Gemini constellation.


  1. ^ Bibliotheca 3.138, Theogony 969ff, Odyssey 5.125ff.
  2. ^ Shlain, Leonard (1998). The Alphabet Versus the Goddess. Viking Penguin. ISBN 0-14-019601-3. 

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