Maera
In its own language: Μαῖρα
from Ancient Greek Maîra, 'sparkler'
The hound of Erigone in Greek myth, set among the stars as Procyon
Maera is the hound of Erigone, whose father Icarius was an Athenian, in Greek mythology; her Ancient Greek name Maîra means 'sparkler'. The tale says she led Erigone to her father's grave, and that Zeus or Dionysus set her in the sky as the star Procyon.
- In Greek myth, Maera is Erigone's hound; Erigone was the daughter of the Athenian Icarius.
- Her Ancient Greek name Maîra means 'sparkler'.
- Shepherds killed Icarius after wine he shared made them drunk and fearful of poison.
- Dionysus was said to have sent a plague on Athens until rites honored Icarius and Erigone.
- Zeus or Dionysus was said to have made Maera the star Procyon.
What it is
Maera is a dog of Greek mythology, the hound of Erigone, whose father was the Athenian Icarius. Her name in Ancient Greek, Maîra, is glossed as 'sparkler'. In the tale she does one decisive thing: when Erigone, worried about her missing father, sets out to look for him, Maera leads the search and brings her to the grave. Both mistress and dog die of grief there, Erigone by hanging and Maera by leaping from a cliff. Zeus or Dionysus then sets the family in the sky: Icarius as Boötes, Erigone as Virgo, and Maera as the star Procyon.
Where it comes from
The story is Greek and is set at Athens. Icarius, the father at its centre, is described as a follower of Dionysus, the god of wine, who is said to have taught him how wine is made. From that gift the plot unfolds: wine shared with shepherds met on the road, drunkenness mistaken for poisoning, and a killing. The tale closes by fixing its people in the heavens, with Zeus or Dionysus placing Icarius as Boötes, Erigone as Virgo and Maera as the star Procyon, and by crediting the Athenians with honorific rites for the father and daughter.
Maera, drawn and placed
- Living
- Revived
- Fading
- Historical
- Legendary
- Performed
- Lineage
- Greek mythology
Peoples and places
The tale is anchored at Athens: Icarius is an Athenian, and it is the Athenians who, in the story, are struck by the plague and then made to pay rites in honor of Icarius and Erigone. The only other people in it are the shepherds Icarius meets on his travels, to whom he gives wine. Their intoxication and fear drive the killing that sets the whole story in motion.
At a glance: who, where and when
Peoples
What people believe
The tale assumes a world where a god answers the death of his own follower. Dionysus, angered at the killing of Icarius, is said to have afflicted Athens with a plague that drove all the unmarried women mad, so that they hanged themselves in imitation of Erigone. The city's suffering ends only when honorific rites are paid to the father and daughter. Grief itself is fatal in the story: Erigone hangs herself at the grave, and Maera leaps from a cliff. Zeus or Dionysus then lifts the three into the sky, Icarius as Boötes, Erigone as Virgo and Maera as the star Procyon.
Questions people ask about Maera
Who is Maera?
In Greek mythology she is the hound of Erigone, daughter of the Athenian Icarius. Her name, Maîra in Ancient Greek, means 'sparkler'. The tale gives her one decisive role: she leads Erigone to her father's grave.
Where does the story come from?
The tale is Greek and is set at Athens. Icarius, the father at its centre, is described there as a follower of Dionysus, the wine god, who is said to have taught him how to make wine.
What does Maera do in the myth?
When Icarius is killed by shepherds who fear his wine has poisoned them, Erigone sets out with Maera to find him. Maera leads her to the grave; both die of grief, Erigone by hanging and Maera by leaping from a cliff.
Why did Athens suffer a plague in the story?
On hearing of Icarius's death, Dionysus is said to have brought a plague on Athens that drove the unmarried women mad, so that they hanged themselves in imitation of Erigone. The plague ended only when the Athenians paid rites to Icarius and Erigone.
How is Maera remembered in the sky?
Zeus or Dionysus is said to have set Icarius, Erigone and Maera among the stars: Icarius as the constellation Boötes, Erigone as Virgo, and Maera as the star Procyon.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Maera (hound)", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryJaadu rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Names and customs differ from one community to the next, and some knowledge is closed to outsiders and left out here. This page describes belief and practice. It does not say that any of it works, it is not a how-to, and it is not medical advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-19.
More from Greece
All the entries from Greece
🇷🇸 Serbia and 5 moreVampire
An undead being from European folklore that feeds on the life force of the living.Being · Cursing and harm Legendary
🇬🇷 GreeceCirceΚίρκη
A Greek goddess and witch known for turning men into beasts with her potionsBeing · Cursing and harm · Love and attraction Legendary
🇬🇷 Greece and 3 moreHellhound
A mythological canine that guards the underworld or serves demonic forces across global folkloreBeing · Protection · Cursing and harm Legendary
🇬🇷 Greece and 1 moreHecateἙκάτη
A Greek goddess of magic, crossroads, and the moon, often shown in three forms.Being · Protection · Power and authority Historical
Related elsewhere
All being
🇪🇬 Egypt and 1 moreSphinx
A composite creature of human head and lion body found in Egyptian and Greek mythBeing · Protection Legendary
🇪🇬 Egypt and 1 moreLilithלִילִית
A feminine figure from Mesopotamian and Jewish mythology, often depicted as a night demon or spirit.Being · Cursing and harm Legendary
🇨🇳 China and 1 moreLoong龍
A water deity and imperial symbol in Chinese culture, depicted as a coiled serpent with four legs.Being · Protection · Luck and prosperity Historical
🇨🇳 China and 5 moreGuanyin觀音 (Guānyīn)
The Bodhisattva of compassion, worshipped across East Asia as a listener to human sufferingBeing · Protection · Healing Living