ALEUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY

Aleus was a king of ancient Arcadia according to the tales of Greek mythology. Aleus is today regarded somewhat of a cruel king, primarily for his dealings with his daughter Auge, 

​Aleus Son of Aphidas

Aleus was named as son of Aphidas, King of Tegea, some tell of this parentage making Aleus brother to Stheneboea. This parentage of course also makes Aleus was grandson of the famous Arcas. 

Aleus would become father to three sons, Amphidamas, Cepheus and Lycurgus, and also two daughters, Auge and Alcidice. The mother of Aleus’ children is given as either Neaera or Cleobule. 

Aleus would succeed Aphidas as the king of Tegea.

​Aleus King of Arcadia

​Aleus is named as the founder of the town of Alea in ancient Arcadia. The town was located between Orchomenus and Stymphalus, and there Aleus was said to have also built the sanctuary dedicated to Athena Alea. 

It was also in his time that Arcadia was reunited, for it had been divided amongst the sons of Arcas. Aleus becoming king of all Arcadia when Aepytus was killed by a snake bite, and Stymphalus was killed by Pelops. 

Aleus would make Tegea the capital of his united kingdom of Arcadia. 

​Aleus and Auge

​When Heracles passed through Tegea, he spied Auge the beautiful daughter of Aleus; Auge was the priestess of Athena, in the temple that Aleus had built. Heracles would have his way with Auge, and of course the result was that Auge fell pregnant. 

Auge attempted to keep her pregnancy secret, but it was of course eventually discovered. Various versions of the Auge and Telephus myth are told.

​One tale tells of Aleus placing Auge and Telephus in a chest, a chest which was thrown in the sea, to drown the pair, although of course both would survive. 

Another tells of Aleus selling his own daughter into slavery, whilst Aleus placed his own grandson on Mount Parthenion, to die from exposure, although of course Telephus was rescued. 

Eventually both Auge and Telephus were to be found in Mysia, and Aleus’ grandson was adopted by King Teuthras, who made Telephus his heir. 

A single surviving source tells of Aleus receiving a prophecy that said a grandson born of one of his daughters, would kill Aleus’ sons. This is said to mean that Telephus killed his uncles, although when, where or how this occurred is not clear. 

​Aleus and Ancaeus

​A second famous tale of Aleus occurred when the King of Arcadia was an old man. At the time Jason was gathering heroes for his quest for the Golden Fleece. Aleus’ sons, Amphidamas and Cepheus, volunteered, and whilst Lycurgus would have also gone, his duty saw him remain in Arcadia. In his stead, Lycurgus’ son, Ancaeus would decide to join up with his uncles. 

Aleus, did not wish for his grandson to go on a dangerous quest, and so hid away all of Ancaeus weapons and armour. Ancaeus though was not put off by his grandfathers’ actions, and embarked on the Argo in a bearskin, wielding an ace. 

Ancaeus would survive the voyage of the Argonauts, but during the subsequent hunt for the Calydonian Boar, he was gored to death. 

Aleus would be succeeded as King of Arcadia by his son, Lycurgus. 

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Colin Quartermain - Aleus  - 14th October 2025