Cretheus

In Greek mythology, Cretheus (Template:IPAc-en; Ancient Greek: Κρηθεύς Krētheus) was the king and founder of Iolcus.

Family

Cretheus was the son of King Aeolus of Aeolia (son of Hellen) by either Enarete<ref name=":0">Hesiod, Ehoiai fr. 10(a); Apollodorus, 1.7.3</ref> or Laodice.<ref>Scholia on Homer, Odyssey 11.235</ref> He was the brother of Sisyphus, Athamas, Salmoneus, Deion, Magnes, Perieres, Canace, Alcyone, Peisidice, Calyce and Perimede.<ref name=":0" />

Cretheus's wives were Tyro, his niece, and Demodice or Biadice.<ref>Hyginus, De Astronomica 2.20; she unsuccessfully tried to seduce Phrixus and falsely accused him of an attempt to rape her, cf. the stories of Phaedra and Hippolytus, Stheneboea and Bellerophon, Astydamia and Peleus, Phthia/Clytia and Phoenix, Philonome and Tenes, Ochne and Eunostus</ref> With Tyro, he fathered Aeson, Pheres, and Amythaon.<ref>Homer, Odyssey 11.259; Apollodorus, 1.9.11; Tzetzes on Lycophron, 175</ref>

Mythology

When Cretheus found out that Tyro had an affair with Poseidon, he left her and married Demodice.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He also had several daughters, namely Hippolyte, future wife of Acastus<ref>Pindar, Nemean Ode 4.57</ref> (otherwise known as Astydamia<ref>Apollodorus, 3.13.2</ref>), Myrina who married Thoas,<ref>Scholia on Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 1.601</ref> and possibly Phalanna, eponym of Phalanna.<ref>Stephanus of Byzantium, s.v. Φάλαννα</ref>

References

• Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History translated by Charles Henry Oldfather. Twelve volumes. Loeb Classical Library. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. 1989. Vol. 3. Books 4.59–8. Online version at Bill Thayer's Web Site
• Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica. Vol 1-2. Immanel Bekker. Ludwig Dindorf. Friedrich Vogel. in aedibus B. G. Teubneri. Leipzig. 1888–1890. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
• Hesiod, Theogony from The Homeric Hymns and Homerica with an English Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White, Cambridge, MA.,Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1914. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.
• Homer, The Odyssey with an English Translation by A.T. Murray, Ph.D. in two volumes. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1919. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.
• Hyginus, Astronomica from The Myths of Hyginus translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. Online version at the Topos Text Project.
• Pindar, Odes translated by Diane Arnson Svarlien. 1990. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
• Pindar, The Odes of Pindar including the Principal Fragments with an Introduction and an English Translation by Sir John Sandys, Litt.D., FBA. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1937. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.