ARGANTHORNE IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Arganthone was a beautiful maiden spoken of in tales of Greek mythology. A huntress of some renown, Arganthone was seduced by King Rhesus who she eventually married.
Who was Arganthone?
Arganthone was a female hunter from the city of Cius in Bithynia, north-west Asia Minor; the parentage of Arganthone is unknown.
Arganthone would detest indoor life, and instead much preferred to hunt in the foothills of Mount Arganthonius, alone save for her hunting dogs.
Arganthone would detest indoor life, and instead much preferred to hunt in the foothills of Mount Arganthonius, alone save for her hunting dogs.
Arganthone and Rhesus
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Rhesus was a Thracian king, who spend much of his time travelling through surrounding lands. Once, when in Bithynia, Rhesus heard of the beauty of Arganthone, and set out to see her by himself. Rhesus would take the seduction of Arganthone slowly, for first he gained her trust, telling her that he too disliked to hunt with men. Arganthone and Rhesus then went on many hunts together. A comradeship developed, but soon Arganthone found herself falling in love with Rhesus, and soon thereafter the pair were wed.
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The Death of Arganthone
Eventually, in the tenth year of the Trojan War, Rhesus departed to aide King Priam. Some say that it was the love of Arganthone that delayed his departure, rather than the war with the Scythians.
Rhesus would arrive at Troy to great aplomb, but he would never take to the battlefield, for he was killed in his camp, when Diomedes and Odysseus undertook night-time spying of the Trojan camp.
News of Rhesus’ death was eventually received by Arganthone, and she returned to the place where the pair had first met. Arganthone then refused to eat, eventually starving to death.
Rhesus would arrive at Troy to great aplomb, but he would never take to the battlefield, for he was killed in his camp, when Diomedes and Odysseus undertook night-time spying of the Trojan camp.
News of Rhesus’ death was eventually received by Arganthone, and she returned to the place where the pair had first met. Arganthone then refused to eat, eventually starving to death.
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Colin Quartermain - Arganthone - 25th January 2026