Hierax was a just and distinguished man in the country
of the Mariandynians. He built temples for Demeter and received from her great
harvests. When the
Teucrians did not render sacrifices to Poseidon at the proper time but passed
over him negligently, Poseidon grew very angry. He destroyed the crops of
Demeter and sent a monstrous creature from the sea to attack them. Unable
to hold out against monster and famine, the Teucrians sent messages to Hierax
and asked him to protect them from the famine. He sent them <barley,> wheat
and other food. Poseidon grew angry because Hierax had put a stop to their
punishment. He turned him into a bird that is still today known as the "hierax," or
falcon, and he changed the man's character when he did away with him, for
the one who had been most greatly loved by men Poseidon turned into one much
hated by birds. The god made the one who prevented many men from dying into
one who kills many birds.
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