Rarus

In Greek mythology, Rarus (Ancient Greek: Ρᾶρος[1]) or Rar (Ρᾶρ) was a son of Cranaus,[2] eponym of the Rharian Field near Eleusis, and a possible father of Triptolemus by an unnamed daughter of Amphictyon.[3][4][5] According to Suda, Rarus was the father of Celeus and through him grandfather of Triptolemus. He received Demeter hospitably as she was searching for her daughter Persephone, and the goddess, in reward, taught his grandson the art of cultivating crops.[6] According to Robert Graves, Rarus name whether it means ‘an abortive child’, or ‘a womb’, is an inappropriate name for a king, and will have referred to the womb of the Corn-mother from which the corn sprang.[7]

References
  1. It was specifically stressed by ancient grammarians, e. g. Herodianus 1. 546-547; 2. 940; scholia on Iliad, 1. 56, that the initial Ρ of his name was supposed to have a spiritus lenis on it - unlike all other Greek words beginning with ρ. Thus the correct Latin transliteration is Rarus and not Rharus.
  2. Hesychius of Alexandria s. v. Kranaou hyios
  3. Pausanias, Description of Greece, 1. 14. 3
  4. Hesychius of Alexandria s. v. Raros, also noting that the adjective ρᾶρος meant "strong"
  5. Photius, Lexicon, s. v. Rar
  6. Suda s. v. Rarias
  7. Robert Graves. The Greek Myths, section 24 s.v. Demeter's Nature and Deeds


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