Menestheus
{{distinguish|Menesthius|Mnestheus|Menestheus (mythology)}}
In Greek mythology, Menestheus ({{IPAc-en|m|ᵻ|ˈ|n|ɛ|s|θ|iː|ə|s}}; Ancient Greek: Μενεσθεύς) was a legendary king of Athens during the Trojan War. He was set up as king by the twins Castor and Pollux when Theseus travelled to the Underworld after abducting their sister, Helen, and exiled Theseus from the city after his return.Apollodorus, Epitome 1.23; Plutarch, Theseus 32.1 ff.; Pausanias, 1.17.5
Family
Menestheus was the son of Peteus,Pausanias, 2.25.6; Plutarch, Theseus 32.1 son of Orneus,Stephanus of Byzantium, s.v. [https://topostext.org/work/241#O496.5 Orneiai] son of Erechtheus, one of the early kings of Athens. His mother was called Polyxene or Mnesimache.{{Cite book|last=Tzetzes, John|title=Allegories of the Iliad|publisher=Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library|year=2015|isbn=978-0-674-96785-4|location=Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, London, England|pages=43, Prologue 554–555|translator-last=Goldwyn|translator-first=Adam|translator-last2=Kokkini|translator-first2=Dimitra}}
Mythology
Menestheus was one of the suitors of Helen of Troy,Apollodorus, 3.10.8 and when the Trojan War started he brought "fifty black ships" to Troy.Homer, Iliad 2.557; Hyginus, Fabulae 97 In the Iliad, it is noted that no one could arrange chariots and shield-bearing warriors in battle orders better than Menestheus, and that only Nestor could vie with him in that respect.Homer, Iliad 2.552 In Herodotus, he is referred to as 'the best man to go to Troy and to draw up and marshal the troops'Herodotus, 7.161.3 by the Athenian sent to request aid from Gelon, the dictator of Syracuse.
Yet, further, he is characterised as not valiant. When Agamemnon was reviewing his troops he found Menestheus in the back rows seemingly avoiding action.Homer, Iliad 4.327 Later, when Sarpedon attacked the portion of the Greek wall that he was in charge of, Menestheus shivered and had to call on Telamonian Ajax and Teucer for aid.Homer, Iliad 12.331 ff. Menestheus was one of the warriors in the Trojan Horse.Quintus Smyrnaeus, 12.314; Pausanias, 1.23.8 After Troy was sacked, he sailed to Mimas, then to Melos where he became king.Apollodorus, Epitome 6.15b = Tzetzes on Lycophron, 911
When Menestheus died, Athens passed back to the family of Theseus, with Theseus' youngest son Demophon ascending to the throne.Plutarch, Theseus 35.5
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{{Succession box
| title = King of Athens
| before = Theseus
| after = Demophon
| years =
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Eponym
- 4068 Menestheus, Jovian asteroid
Notes
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References
- 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].
- Herodotus, The Histories with an English translation by A. D. Godley. Cambridge. Harvard University Press. 1920. {{ISBN|0-674-99133-8}}. [https://topostext.org/work/22 Online version at the Topos Text Project.] [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0125 Greek text available at Perseus Digital Library].
- Homer, The Iliad with an English Translation by A.T. Murray, Ph.D. in two volumes. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924. {{ISBN|978-0674995796|}}. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0134 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.]
- Homer, Homeri Opera in five volumes. Oxford, Oxford University Press. 1920. {{ISBN|978-0198145318|}}. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0133 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
- Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus, Lives with an English Translation by Bernadotte Perrin. Cambridge, MA. Harvard University Press. London. William Heinemann Ltd. 1914. 1. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2008.01.0067 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2008.01.0075 Greek text available from the same website].
- 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].
- Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy translated by Way. A. S. Loeb Classical Library Volume 19. London: William Heinemann, 1913. [http://www.theoi.com/Text/QuintusSmyrnaeus1.html Online version at theio.com]
- Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy. Arthur S. Way. London: William Heinemann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 1913. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2008.01.0490 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
- Tzetzes, John, Allegories of the Iliad translated by Goldwyn, Adam J. and Kokkini, Dimitra. Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library, Harvard University Press, 2015. {{ISBN|978-0-674-96785-4}}
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