Editing Penthilus (son of Orestes)

{{Short description|Mythical son of Orestes}}
{{Other uses|Penthilus of Messenia}}

'''Penthilus''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|ɛ|n|θ|ᵻ|l|ə|s}}; [[Ancient Greek]]: Πένθιλος) is the illegitimate or legitimate son of half-siblings [[Orestes (mythology)|Orestes]] and [[Erigone (daughter of Aegisthus)|Erigone]] in [[Greek mythology]].<ref>[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''Graeciae Descriptio'' [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.+2.18.6&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0160 2.18.6] with [[Cynaethus|Cinaethus]] as the authority</ref><ref>[[John Tzetzes|Tzetzes]] on [[Lycophron]], ''Alexandra'' 1374</ref><ref>[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], Epitome 6.28, [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+Epit.+e.6.28&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022 f.n. 2]</ref> 

== Family ==
Penthilus' grandmother was [[Clytemnestra]]. His maternal and paternal grandfathers were [[Aegisthus|Aigisthos]] and [[Agamemnon]] respectively. Penthilus fathered two sons, [[Echelatus (mythology)|Echelatus]] ([[Echelas]]<ref name="pausanias.3.2.1" /> or [[Archelaus (mythology)|Archelaüs]]<ref name=":0">[[Strabo]], ''[[Geographica]]'' 13.1.3</ref>), and [[Damasias (mythology)|Damasias]] (Damasius), father of [[Agorius (mythology)|Agorius]].<ref>Pausanias, ''Graeciae Descriptio'' 5.4.3 & 7.6.2</ref>

== Mythology ==
Orestes killed both Clytemnestra, who was his own mother and Aigisthos. Erigone is said to have hanged herself or married Orestes after the latter's first wife, [[Hermione (mythology)|Hermione]], died. Orestes was ruler over much of the [[Peloponnese]] and died of a snakebite at age 70. One story says that as a child, Penthilus was torn apart and devoured by wolves in the [[Taygetus]] mountains, near Sparta. His father established a festival of mourning, the so-called Penthilia in his honour.

According to [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], Penthilus grew up and founded a city either on [[Lesbos]] or in [[Thrace]].<ref name="pausanias.3.2.1">Pausanias, ''Graeciae Descriptio'' 3.2.1</ref> Penthilus was the mythical ancestor of the [[Penthilides]], an ancient dynasty of kings on Lesbos.<ref>[[Aristotle]], ''Politics'' 5.8.13 = 5.1311b, [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Aristot.+Pol.+5.1311b&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0058 f.n. 5]</ref> His son, Echelas was the father of [[Gras (mythology)|Gras]], the founder of the city [[Aeolis]], between [[Ionia]] and [[Mysia]].<ref name="pausanias.3.2.1" /><ref name=":0" /> In some accounts, Penthilus instead led a colony of [[Aeolians]] to Thrace.<ref name=":0" />

== Notes ==
<references />

== References ==

* [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|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. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0022 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0021 Greek text available from the same website].
* [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''Description of Greece'' with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918. {{ISBN|0-674-99328-4}}. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0160 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library]
* Pausanias, ''Graeciae Descriptio.'' ''3 vols''. Leipzig, Teubner. 1903.  [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0159 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
* [[Strabo]], ''The Geography of Strabo.'' Edition by H.L. Jones. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0198%3Abook%3D6%3Achapter%3D1%3Asection%3D1 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.]
* Strabo, ''Geographica'' edited by A. Meineke. Leipzig: Teubner. 1877. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0197 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.]

{{Greek-myth-stub}}
[[Category:Characters in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Mythology of the Peloponnese]]
[[Category:Mythological city founders]]