Cynthus

Cynthus is a name that appears in several contexts within classical antiquity and in modern astronomical nomenclature. In Greek mythology, Cynthus is most commonly identified as a son of the god Apollo and the nymph Clonia. The child was described as being hermaphroditic and was associated with the worship of Apollo on the island of Delos, where a small sanctuary stood in his honor. Ancient authors such as Pausanias recount the cultic rituals performed at this shrine, noting that the worshipers would offer votive sacrifices to both the god and his son, reflecting a blend of divine and human aspects.

In antiquity, Cynthus was also the name of a town in the central Peloponnese, in the region of Arcadia. References in the works of Strabo and Pausanias indicate that the town was noted for its marble quarries and its participation in the Panhellenic festivals. The site, although now largely unconsolidated, is believed to have been positioned near the modern village of Kentsi, and it is still considered an area of archaeological interest for studying Arcadian urbanism in the classical period.

Beyond the Mediterranean world, the name Cynthus has been adopted in modern astronomy. A crater on the planet Venus received the designation "Cynthus" in accordance with the International Astronomical Union’s convention of naming surface features on Venus after notable mythological figures associated with the goddess of love and fertility. The crater is located at approximately 12°S, 34°E, and has a diameter of about 32 kilometers, making it one of the larger impact basins on Venus.