Anteia
Queen of Tiryns who falsely accused Bellerophon of assault, setting in motion his legendary trials
The Legend of Anteia
Anteia, also known as Stheneboea, was the wife of King Proetus of Tiryns and daughter of Iobates, king of Lycia. When the young hero Bellerophon came to Tiryns as a guest, Anteia became infatuated with him and attempted to seduce him. Bellerophon, respecting the sacred bond of guest-friendship, refused her advances. Humiliated and enraged, Anteia went to Proetus and falsely accused Bellerophon of attempting to violate her. Proetus, unwilling to kill a guest directly and risk divine punishment, sent Bellerophon to Iobates bearing a sealed letter requesting his execution. This set Bellerophon on his path of impossible tasks, including slaying the Chimaera. In Euripides' lost tragedy, Anteia eventually killed herself when she learned of Bellerophon's survival and glory.
Parents
Iobates
Symbols
Fun Fact
Anteia's false accusation follows the same narrative pattern as Potiphar's wife in the biblical Joseph story
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