DEUCALION OF CRETE IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Deucalion of Crete in Greek Mythology
Deucalion was a character associated with Crete in Greek mythology. Deucalion was a son of Minos and father of Idomeneus.
Deucalion Son of Minos
Deucalion was a son of Minos, the famous King of Crete; although, Deucalion’s mother is both named as Pasiphae, wife of Minos, and Crete, the daughter of King Asterius.
Deucalion had many siblings, including Ariadne, Androgeus, Catreus, Glaucus and Phaedra.
Deucalion would marry a woman called Cleopatra by whom it was said that he had two children, Idomeneus and Crete. Deucalion also had an illegitimate son, Molus, and perhaps a further son called Aethon, for this was a named used by Odysseus when he returned to Ithaca in disguise.
Deucalion had many siblings, including Ariadne, Androgeus, Catreus, Glaucus and Phaedra.
Deucalion would marry a woman called Cleopatra by whom it was said that he had two children, Idomeneus and Crete. Deucalion also had an illegitimate son, Molus, and perhaps a further son called Aethon, for this was a named used by Odysseus when he returned to Ithaca in disguise.
Deucalion and Theseus
There are two distinct versions told of the Deucalion myth told about in ancient sources.
A tale tells of Deucalion being killed by Theseus, after the Athenian had killed the Minotaur in the Labyrinth. In this tale, when Theseus followed the Golden Thread out of the maze he encountered Deucalion and a force of Cretans, and killed them all. In this version Catreus would succeed Minos as King of Crete, and then Idomeneus succeeded his uncle in the time of the Trojan War. |
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King Deucalion of Crete
Another version of the Deucalion myth tells of a longer life for the son of Minos; one where he is not killed by Theseus.
After the death of Minos, Deucalion became king, an it was said that Deucalion arranged the marriage of his sister, Phaedra, to Theseus, ending hostilities between Athens and Crete.
Some also tell of Deucalion being both one of the Argonauts and also a hunter of the Calydonian Boar, although his name doesn’t appear in the best known sources about Jason and the Argo.
King Deucalion would be succeeded as King of Crete by his son, Idomeneus, although this version of the Deucalion myth doesn’t explain Menelaus’ absence from Sparta when Helen was taken by Paris, for it Menelaus was normally said to be at the funeral of Catreus.
After the death of Minos, Deucalion became king, an it was said that Deucalion arranged the marriage of his sister, Phaedra, to Theseus, ending hostilities between Athens and Crete.
Some also tell of Deucalion being both one of the Argonauts and also a hunter of the Calydonian Boar, although his name doesn’t appear in the best known sources about Jason and the Argo.
King Deucalion would be succeeded as King of Crete by his son, Idomeneus, although this version of the Deucalion myth doesn’t explain Menelaus’ absence from Sparta when Helen was taken by Paris, for it Menelaus was normally said to be at the funeral of Catreus.
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Colin Quartermain - Deucalion of Crete - 28th February 2020