Melanthus
Encyclopedia
In Greek mythology
, Melanthus (Μέλανθος) was a king of Messenia
. He was among the descendants of Neleus
(the Neleidae) expelled from Messenia, by the descendants of Heracles
, as part of the legendary "Return of the Heracleidae", later associated with the supposed "Dorian invasion
". He fled to Athens
, along with other of the expelled Neleidae, Alcmaeon
and the sons of Paeon
. Melanthus later became a king of Athens, the successor of Thymoetes
, succeeded by Codrus
.
Melanthus was also a shipmate of Acoetes
who attempted to kidnap Dionysus
.
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
, Melanthus (Μέλανθος) was a king of Messenia
Messenia
Messenia is a regional unit in the southwestern part of the Peloponnese region, one of 13 regions into which Greece has been divided by the Kallikratis plan, implemented 1 January 2011...
. He was among the descendants of Neleus
Neleus
Neleus was the son of Poseidon and Tyro and brother of Pelias. Tyro was married to Cretheus but loved Enipeus, a river god. She pursued Enipeus, who refused her advances. One day, Poseidon, filled with lust for Tyro, disguised himself as Enipeus and from their union was born Pelias and Neleus,...
(the Neleidae) expelled from Messenia, by the descendants of Heracles
Heracles
Heracles ,born Alcaeus or Alcides , was a divine hero in Greek mythology, the son of Zeus and Alcmene, foster son of Amphitryon and great-grandson of Perseus...
, as part of the legendary "Return of the Heracleidae", later associated with the supposed "Dorian invasion
Dorian invasion
The Dorian invasion is a concept devised by historians of Ancient Greece to explain the replacement of pre-classical dialects and traditions in southern Greece by the ones that prevailed in Classical Greece...
". He fled to Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, along with other of the expelled Neleidae, Alcmaeon
Alcmaeonidae
The Alcmaeonidae or Alcmaeonids were a powerful noble family of ancient Athens, a branch of the Neleides who claimed descent from the mythological Alcmaeon, the great-grandson of Nestor....
and the sons of Paeon
Paeon (son of Antilochus)
In Greek mythology, Paeon was the son of Antilochus, and a lord of Messenia. His father was one of the suitors of Helen, who together with his father Nestor, the king of Pylos, and brother Thrasymedes, fought in the Trojan War...
. Melanthus later became a king of Athens, the successor of Thymoetes
Thymoetes
In Greek mythology, there were at least three different people named Thymoetes .*Thymoetes, one of the elders of Troy , son of Laomedon. A soothsayer had predicted, that on a certain day a boy should be born, by whom Troy should be destroyed. On that very day Paris was born to Priam, king of Troy,...
, succeeded by Codrus
Codrus
Codrus was the last of the semi-mythical Kings of Athens . He was an ancient exemplar of patriotism and self-sacrifice. He was succeeded by his son Medon, who ruled not as king but as the first Archon of Athens....
.
Melanthus was also a shipmate of Acoetes
Acoetes
Acoetes was the name of two men in Greek and Roman mythology. The first Acoetes is known for helping the god Bacchus. Another, lesser-known Acoetes was father to Laocoon, who warned about the Trojan Horse.-Bacchic myth:...
who attempted to kidnap Dionysus
Dionysus
Dionysus was the god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, of ritual madness and ecstasy in Greek mythology. His name in Linear B tablets shows he was worshipped from c. 1500—1100 BC by Mycenean Greeks: other traces of Dionysian-type cult have been found in ancient Minoan Crete...
.