Haemus was vain and haughty and compared himself and his wife, Queen
Rhodope, to
Zeus and
Hera. The gods changed him and his wife into mountains (respectively
Haemus Mons, now known as the
Balkan Mountains, and the
Rhodope Mountains). In
ancient Greek, the
Balkan Peninsula was thus known as the "Peninsula of Haemus" (), a name which retains some currency in
modern Greek. Another classic etymology derives the name 'Haemos' from the myth about the fight of Zeus and the dragon
Typhon: :He was again driven to Thrace and hurled entire mountains at Zeus in the battle around Mount Haemus. When these bounced back upon him under the force of the thunderbolt, blood gushed out on the mountain. From this, they say, the mountain is called haemus ("bloody"). == Notes ==