He was the son of Hellen by a nymph Orseis, according to Apollodorus, 1.7.3; "And from Hellen the war-loving king sprang Dorus and Xuthus and Aeolus delighting in horses" (Hesiodic Ehoiai fr. 9. Another placement of Dorus among the Hellenes descended from Hellen was as the son of Xuthus and Creusa.