EETION IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Eetion was a king from the tales of Greek mythology, with Eetion particularly famous for his appearance in the Trojan War, where he appears in Homer's Iliad.
Little is said about Eetion in relation to his youth or his rule, for Eetion is famous as the father of Andromache, and the manner of his death.
Little is said about Eetion in relation to his youth or his rule, for Eetion is famous as the father of Andromache, and the manner of his death.
King Eetion in Greek Mythology
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Eetion was king of the city of Thebe, a city specifically referred to as Cilician Thebe to distinguish it from the city of Boeotia. Cilician Thebe was said to be located east of Mount Ida in Asia Minor, upon the foothills of Mount Placus.
King Eetion would be married, although Eetion's wife is never named; she did though bear to the king several children. Eetion would thus became father to seven or eight sons, and one daughter, the famous Andromache. |
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The Death of King Eetion
Eetion would find a suitable match for his daughter in the form of Hector, son of King Priam of Troy; and Andromache and Hector would be married.
This marriage would mean Eetion was allied with Troy, and during the Trojan War, Cilician Thebe would become a target for the Achaean forces. Late in the Trojan War, Thebe would be attacked by forces led by Achilles, and the city of Thebe would fall.
In the defence of Thebe, Eetion and his sons who were present were killed; the body of Eetion though was not defiled, and the deceased king was placed upon a funeral pyre in his armour.
A son of Eetion, Podes, was not present during the fall of Thebe, but he was later killed by Menelaus.
The wife of Eetion would be captured during the sacking of Thebe, as was Chryseis, the beautiful daughter of Chryses. The wife of Eetion was though seemingly ransomed, unlike Chryseis, for the mother of Andromache was later said to have died in Troy from sickness.
This marriage would mean Eetion was allied with Troy, and during the Trojan War, Cilician Thebe would become a target for the Achaean forces. Late in the Trojan War, Thebe would be attacked by forces led by Achilles, and the city of Thebe would fall.
In the defence of Thebe, Eetion and his sons who were present were killed; the body of Eetion though was not defiled, and the deceased king was placed upon a funeral pyre in his armour.
A son of Eetion, Podes, was not present during the fall of Thebe, but he was later killed by Menelaus.
The wife of Eetion would be captured during the sacking of Thebe, as was Chryseis, the beautiful daughter of Chryses. The wife of Eetion was though seemingly ransomed, unlike Chryseis, for the mother of Andromache was later said to have died in Troy from sickness.
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Colin Quartermain - Eetion - 16th September 2018