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{{Distinguish|Croesus}}[[File:Fragonard coresus sacrificing himselt to save callirhoe.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''[[Coresus Sacrificing himself to Save Callirhoe]]'' (1765) by [[Jean-Honoré Fragonard]] (1732–1806)]]In [[Greek mythology]], the name '''Coresus''' ([[Ancient Greek]]: Κόρησος) may refer to:
*Coresus, an [[autochthon (ancient Greece)|autochthon]], who, together with Ephesus (son of Cayster), was believed to have founded the sanctuary of the Ephesian [[Artemis]]. The [[Amazons]] were so closely associated with this sanctuary that, according to [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]]' remark, [[Pindar]] erroneously credited them, and not Coresus and Ephesus, with having founded it.<ref>[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], 7.2.7</ref> Cayster, father of Ephesus, was thought to have been the son of the Amazon [[Penthesilea]].<ref>''[[Etymologicum Magnum]]'' 447.40 under ''Kaystros''</ref>
*Coresus, a priest of [[Dionysus]] in [[Calydon]], who was in love with Callirhoe. The girl would not answer her feelings, so Coresus, in despair, prayed to Dionysus that he may be avenged. The population of the city was then struck with a sort of madness that resembled the state of intoxication, which was lethal to many of them. They consulted the oracle at [[Dodona]] as to how to put an end to the calamity; the answer was that they had to propitiate the god by sacrificing either Callirhoe or someone who would consent to die in her stead. No one, and not even Callirhoe's foster parents, would do anything to save her life, so she was brought to the altar. Coresus was to perform the sacrificial rite, but, unable to kill his loved one, he slew himself instead. At the sight of him lying dead, Callirhoe was overcome with remorse and, soon after, cut her throat at a spring that later received her name.<ref>Pausanias, 7.21.1–5</ref>
==Notes==
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== References ==
* [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''Description of Greece'' with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918. {{ISBN|0-674-99328-4}}. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0160 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library]
* Pausanias, ''Graeciae Descriptio.'' ''3 vols''. Leipzig, Teubner. 1903.  [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0159 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
{{Greek myth index}}
[[Category:Autochthons of classical mythology]]
[[Category:Characters in Greek mythology]]