Cacus

Latin > English

Cacus Caci N M :: Cacus, giant son of Vulcan; (lived on Mt Aventius); servant (L+S)

Wikipedia EN

In Roman mythology, Cacus (Ancient Greek: Κάκος, derived from κακός, meaning bad) was a fire-breathing giant and the son of Vulcan (Plutarch called him son of Hephaestus). He was killed by Hercules after terrorizing the Aventine Hill before the founding of Rome.

Cacus lived in a cave in Italy on the future site of Rome. To the horror of nearby inhabitants, Cacus lived on human flesh and would nail the heads of victims to the doors of his cave. He was eventually overcome by Hercules.

According to Solinus, Cacus lived in a place called Salinae, which later became was the location of the Porta Trigemina.

According to Evander, Hercules stopped to pasture the cattle he had stolen from Geryon near Cacus' lair. As Hercules slept, the monster took a liking to the cattle and slyly stole eight of them – four bulls and four cows – by dragging them by their tails, so as to leave a trail in the wrong direction. When Hercules awoke and made to leave, the remaining herd made plaintive noises towards the cave, and a single cow lowed in reply.

Latin > English (Lewis & Short)

Cācus: i, m., = Κᾶκος,
I son of Vulcan, contemporary with Evander, a giant of immense physical strength, who dwelt in a cave on Mount Aventinus, and troubled the whole region around by his robberies; he robbed even Hercules of the cattle of Geryon, and was on that account slain by him, Ov. F. 1, 543 sq.; Liv. 1, 7, 5 sq.; Verg. A. 8, 190 sq., and Serv. in h. l.; Prop. 4 (5), 9, 7; 4 (5), 9, 16; Col. 1, 3, 6; Juv. 5, 125; Sol. 1, §§ 7 and 18.

Latin > French (Gaffiot 2016)

(1) Cācus,¹² ī, m. (Κάκος), brigand qui vomissait des flammes, tué par Hercule : Virg. En. 8, 190 ; Liv. 1, 7, 5 ; Ov. F. 1, 543.

Latin > German (Georges)

Cācus, ī, m. (Κάκος), Sohn des Vulkan, wahrsch. urspr. ein unterweltlicher Feuergott, nach der spätern Sage ein Straßenräuber in Italien, von Herkules wegen des Rinderdiebstahls erschlagen, Verg. Aen. 8, 190 sqq. Liv. 1, 7, 5 sqq. Col. 1, 3, 6. Solin. 1. § 7 u. 18. Verr. Flacc. bei Serv. Verg. Aen. 8, 190 (u. Serv. z. St.). Mythogr. Lat. 1, 66; 2, 153 u.a. Vgl. Prellers Röm. Mythol.³ Bd. 2. S. 287.

Translations

bg: Как; br: Kakos; ca: Cacus; cs: Kákos; de: Cacus; el: Κάκος; en: Cacus; eo: Kakoso; es: Caco; eu: Kako; fi: Cacus; fr: Cacus; hu: Cacus; hy: Կակոս; it: Caco; ja: カークス; lt: Kakas; nl: Cacus; pl: Kakus; pt: Caco; ru: Какус; simple: Cacus; sr: Како; uk: Как; zh: 卡库斯