Alectryon (Greek myth)

In Greek mythology, Alectryon was a young man assigned by Ares, the god of war, to guard the secret of Ares's illicit affair with Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Ares and Aphrodite were carrying on their affair in secret, as Aphrodite was married to Hephaestus, the god of the forge.

Alectryon's task was to stand watch and alert Ares if Helios, the sun god, was approaching, as Helios was known for his all-seeing eye and would likely report the affair to Hephaestus. However, Alectryon fell asleep on duty. Consequently, Helios discovered Ares and Aphrodite together and informed Hephaestus.

Enraged by the betrayal, Hephaestus crafted an unbreakable net to trap Ares and Aphrodite in the act. He then invited the other Olympian gods to witness their humiliation.

Ares, furious at Alectryon's negligence, punished him by transforming him into a rooster. This transformation ensured that Alectryon would forever crow at dawn, announcing the arrival of the sun, a constant reminder of his failure. The rooster's crow serves as a perpetual alarm, preventing others from making the same mistake Alectryon did. Thus, Alectryon’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of negligence and dereliction of duty.