ANCAEUS OF SAMOS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
In tales of Greek mythology Ancaeus was King of Samos, and famed for being one of the legendary Argonauts.
Ancaeus Son of Poseidon
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Ancaeus was the son of Poseidon and Astypalea (or Althaea); Ancaeus was thus brother to Eurypylus, who would become King of Cos. Some tell though of him being son of King Altes.
Ancaeus himself, would become King of Samos, and would marry Samia, Naiad daughter of the Potamoi Meander, the Carian River god. Ancaeus would become father to a number of children by Samia, including Alitherses, Enudos, Parthenope, Perilaus and Samos. |
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Ancaeus the Argonaut
Ancaeus was well known for his skill at the helms of ships, and this, as well as his fighting ability saw him welcomed onboard the Argo by Jason.
The main mention of Ancaeus during the adventures of the Argonauts, occurred when they make port upon the island of King Lycus, ruler of the Mariandynians. On the his isle, the seer Idmon, died after a boar attack, and the helmsman, Tiphys, died from an illness, and so Ancaeus took up the role.
The Clashing Rocks had already been navigated, but there was still many trials and tribulations for the Argo to, and from, Colchis, where Ancaeus steered the ship.
The mythology of Ancaeus son of Poseidon, is often confused with that of Ancaeus son of Lycurgus, who was also named by some as an Argonaut.
The main mention of Ancaeus during the adventures of the Argonauts, occurred when they make port upon the island of King Lycus, ruler of the Mariandynians. On the his isle, the seer Idmon, died after a boar attack, and the helmsman, Tiphys, died from an illness, and so Ancaeus took up the role.
The Clashing Rocks had already been navigated, but there was still many trials and tribulations for the Argo to, and from, Colchis, where Ancaeus steered the ship.
The mythology of Ancaeus son of Poseidon, is often confused with that of Ancaeus son of Lycurgus, who was also named by some as an Argonaut.
The Death of Ancaeus
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Before departing with the Argonauts, King Ancaeus had planted a vineyard. A local seer though had warned the king, that he would never taste the wine born from his vines. Now, Ancaeus faced many dangers during the voyage of the Argo, but he returned safely to Samos.
His grapes had ripened and wine was being produced, when Ancaeus called forth the seer, to show how wrong he was, and put the cup of wine to his lips, news came to the king though, of a wild boar ravaging his land. Ancaeus put down the cup, set forth to kill the beast, but it was the king who died, gored by the boar. Thus, Ancaeus never did taste his wine. |
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This event from Greek mythology, is given as one origin for the English saying - There is many a slip between the cup and the lip.
Ancaeus as a Suitor of Helen
Some tell of Ancaeus also being one of the Suitors of Helen, although most of the Suitors would be much younger than Ancaeus; and of course, dying after the return of the Argonauts, would mean he could not be a suitor.
The positioning of Ancaeus as a Suitor of Helen is one told of by Hyginius, but neither he, nor other sources tell of Ancaeus fighting at Troy, something that he would have been duty bound, if he had taken the Oath of Tyndareus.
The positioning of Ancaeus as a Suitor of Helen is one told of by Hyginius, but neither he, nor other sources tell of Ancaeus fighting at Troy, something that he would have been duty bound, if he had taken the Oath of Tyndareus.
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Colin Quartermain - Ancaeus of Samos - 11th September 2025