Althaemenes
Cretan prince who fled to Rhodes to avoid a prophecy that he would kill his father, only to fulfil it
The Legend of Althaemenes
Althaemenes was a son of Catreus, king of Crete, and grandson of Minos. An oracle foretold that Catreus would be killed by one of his own children. Upon learning this, Althaemenes voluntarily exiled himself to Rhodes, hoping to prevent the prophecy from coming true. He settled on the island and founded the city of Cretinia, becoming a respected leader. He also established a temple to Zeus Atabyrios on Mount Atabyros. Years later, his aged father Catreus sailed to Rhodes to find his son and bequeath him the kingdom. When the ship arrived at night, the local herdsmen mistook the visitors for pirates and raised the alarm. Althaemenes rushed to defend the shore and killed his own father without recognising him. Upon realising what he had done, he prayed to the gods and was swallowed by the earth.
Parents
Catreus
Symbols
Fun Fact
Althaemenes founded a temple on Rhodes with bronze bulls that would bellow miraculously to warn of approaching danger
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