KING CATREUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Catreus was one of the mythical kings of Ancient Greece, a ruler of Crete, whose death was arguably as important as anything that happened in his life.
Catreus son of Minos
Catreus was the son of the famous king of Crete, Minos, and his wife, Pasiphae; although it is occasionally stated that Crete, daughter of King Asterion, was his mother.
Being a son of King Minos, ensured that Catreus had plenty of siblings including the likes of Ariadne, Deucalion, Glaucus and Phaedra. Catreus though, did become king of Crete subsequent to his father.
Catreus himself would be father to three daughters, Aerope, Apemosyne, Clymene, and one son Althaemenes. The mother of Catreus’ children is not noted.
Being a son of King Minos, ensured that Catreus had plenty of siblings including the likes of Ariadne, Deucalion, Glaucus and Phaedra. Catreus though, did become king of Crete subsequent to his father.
Catreus himself would be father to three daughters, Aerope, Apemosyne, Clymene, and one son Althaemenes. The mother of Catreus’ children is not noted.
The Prophecy of Catreus
Nothing of note is to be said about the reign of King Catreus, although at some point the king of Crete did receive a prophecy which stated that one of his own children would kill him.
Initially Catreus did nothing about the prophecy, but at some point his son Althaemenes discovered what had been predicted. Not wishing to be the cause of his father’s death, Althaemenes went into self-imposed exile on the island of Rhodes. Althaemenes would take Apemosyne with him, and would become king of a region called Cretinia. Catreus then also acted to separate himself from his two remaining children, and Aerope and Clymene were given over to Nauplius. Nauplius was a named hero, having been part of the crew of the Argo, and Catreus’ idea was that Nauplius would transport his daughters to some far away land, possibly to then sell them as “slaves”. Nauplius did indeed take the daughters of Catreus away from Crete, although he married Clymene, who bore to him Palamedes; Aerope was deposited in Mycenae, and there she married Atreus, and was mother to Agamemnon and Menelaus. |
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The Death of Catreus
Despite being separated by many miles the prophecy concerning the death of Catreus did in the end come true.
Years passed by until Catreus was advanced in age, the king of Crete then wished to pass on the throne to his son Althaemenes. Catreus therefore set sail for Rhodes, but when he and his men landed on the island, locals mistook them for pirates and started to attack them.
Catreus was unable to make it clear who he was, and at that point Althaemenes arrived on the scene, wishing to assist his subjects, Althaemenes threw his spear, and in so doing killed his own father. Thus, Catreus was killed at the hand of his own child, just as had been predicted years before; Althaemenes was subsequently swallowed up by the earth as he prayed.
Years passed by until Catreus was advanced in age, the king of Crete then wished to pass on the throne to his son Althaemenes. Catreus therefore set sail for Rhodes, but when he and his men landed on the island, locals mistook them for pirates and started to attack them.
Catreus was unable to make it clear who he was, and at that point Althaemenes arrived on the scene, wishing to assist his subjects, Althaemenes threw his spear, and in so doing killed his own father. Thus, Catreus was killed at the hand of his own child, just as had been predicted years before; Althaemenes was subsequently swallowed up by the earth as he prayed.
The Funeral of Catreus
Arguably the most important aspect of King Catreus’ role in Greek mythology comes after his death, for the body of the deceased king was returned to Crete for funeral rites and games.
Important people attended Crete from across the ancient world, but of note was the presence of Menelaus on the island. As a male member of the line of Catreus, being the son of Aerope, it was of course expected that Menelaus be present. This though meant being away from his kingdom of Sparta, at a time when the Trojan prince Paris was visiting.
Paris would of course take advantage of the king’s absence to abduct Helen, and sail away with the king’s wife and a large amount of Spartan treasure, an act that bring forth the Trojan War.
Important people attended Crete from across the ancient world, but of note was the presence of Menelaus on the island. As a male member of the line of Catreus, being the son of Aerope, it was of course expected that Menelaus be present. This though meant being away from his kingdom of Sparta, at a time when the Trojan prince Paris was visiting.
Paris would of course take advantage of the king’s absence to abduct Helen, and sail away with the king’s wife and a large amount of Spartan treasure, an act that bring forth the Trojan War.
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