Alcathous

🗡 heroἈλκάθους

City Foundation, Athletic Victory

Son of Pelops who rebuilt the walls of Megara and won the throne by slaying the Cithaeronian lion.‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌

The Legend of Alcathous

Alcathous was a son of Pelops and Hippodamia, making him a brother of Atreus and Thyestes.‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌ Exiled or fleeing Elis after a troubled youth, he arrived at Megara where the city was terrorized by the Cithaeronian lion, a beast that had already killed Euippus, the son of the Megarean king Megareus. The king promised his daughter Evaechme and succession to the throne to whoever slew the lion. Alcathous accomplished the feat and claimed both prize and kingdom. As king, he rebuilt the walls of Megara, allegedly with the aid of Apollo, who set his lyre against a stone — which thereafter gave a musical ring when struck. Alcathous became a founding civic figure of Megara, and the citadel of the city was named Alcathöa in his honor. He later killed his own son Callipolis for interrupting a sacrifice, a dark episode that the Megareans nonetheless preserved in their local traditions.

Parents

Pelops (father); Hippodamia (mother)

Children

Callipolis, Ischepolis, Periboea, Evaechme, Iphinoe

Symbols

lionlyrecity walls

Fun Fact

Apollo reputedly helped Alcathous build Megara's walls by leaning his lyre on a stone — that stone was still said to ring musically when struck centuries later.

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