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Akheilos (Modern Latin: Acheilus, Latin: ACHEILVS) was a demon of the sea from Greek mythology. Little is written about him, but he was the son of Zeus and the monstrous Lamia. According to myth, he was once incredibly beautiful, but in his vanity and pride boasted that he was even more beautiful than Aphrodite. As a punishment, Aphrodite cursed Akheilos to turn as ugly as he was once beautiful, and he transformed into a monstrous shark demon.[1]

Etymology[]

The name Akheilos is comprised of the prefix a-, meaning "not" or "without," and -kheilos, meaning "lips." Therefore Akheilos' name literally means "without lips" or "lipless.[2][3]"

Quotes[]

Ptolemy Hephaestion, New History Book 6 (summary from Photius, Myriobiblon 190) (trans. Pearse) (Greek mythographer C1st to C2nd A.D.) :

"It is said that there was born also a son of Zeus and the Lamia called Akhilleus (Achilleus); he was of an irresistible beauty and like others was the object of a competition, he carried it then to the judgement of Pan. Aphrodite was irritated and placed in the heart of Pan the love of Ekho (Echo) and she made him [Akhilleus] become as ugly and unattractive as he had been beautiful.[1]"

Trivia[]

In 2019, a new genus of catshark was described off of the island of Ambom in the Maluku Islands of eastern Indonesia by William T. White, Fahmi Fahmi, and Simon Weigmann. They named the new genus "Akheilos" after the mythological character.[4]

References[]

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