Oenopion- Greek DemigodDemigod"King of Chios"

King of Chios

Oenopion was born to Dionysus and Ariadne after the god rescued the Cretan princess from her abandonment on Naxos. His very name — from oinos, wine — marked his inheritance. His father taught him the arts of viticulture and winemaking, and according to Diodorus Siculus, Oenopion was among the sons of Ariadne whom Dionysus settled across the Aegean islands. Oenopion received Chios, where he became king and planted the vines that would make Chian wine prized across the Aegean.

The Blinding of Orion

The giant hunter Orion came to Chios and was taken with Oenopion's daughter Merope. Oenopion promised her in marriage if Orion would clear the island of its dangerous wild beasts, but even after the hunter fulfilled the task, the king kept delaying the wedding. Driven to fury by wine and frustration, Orion forced himself on Merope. Oenopion called upon his father for help, and Dionysus sent satyrs who plied the hunter with wine, cup after cup, until Orion collapsed into a stupor. While the giant lay unconscious, Oenopion put out his eyes and cast him blind onto the beach.

The Hunter's Return

Blinded Orion wandered east, guided by the sound of hammering to Hephaestus's forge on Lemnos. The smith god took pity on him and lent him his servant Cedalion as a guide. Cedalion rode on the giant's shoulders and directed him toward the rising sun, whose rays restored his sight. Orion returned to Chios for revenge, but Oenopion had vanished — hidden by his people in an underground chamber that Hephaestus himself had built, according to Apollodorus. The hunter searched the island in vain and eventually departed for other lands. Oenopion emerged and reigned over Chios once more.