Polycaon
Encyclopedia
In Greek mythology
, the name Polycaon (also Polykaon) may refer to:
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...
, the name Polycaon (also Polykaon) may refer to:
- Son of LelexLelexIn Greek mythology, Lelex was a King of Laconia. He was married to the Naiad nymph, Cleochareia. He had several sons, including Myles, Polycaon, Pterelaus, and Cteson. The parentage of Lelex is variously stated...
, king of LaconiaLaconiaLaconia , also known as Lacedaemonia, is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the southeastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. Its administrative capital is Sparti...
, by the Naiad nymphNymphA nymph in Greek mythology is a female minor nature deity typically associated with a particular location or landform. Different from gods, nymphs are generally regarded as divine spirits who animate nature, and are usually depicted as beautiful, young nubile maidens who love to dance and sing;...
, CleochareiaCleochareiaIn Greek mythology, Cleochareia was a naiad, a river nymph. She was married to King Lelex of Laconia. She is the ancestress of the Spartan royal family and gave birth to two children: Myles and Polycaon. Her son, Myles, had a son named Eurotas . Eurotas had a daughter named Sparta, who married...
. Polycaon married an ambitious woman named MesseneMessene (mythology)In Greek mythology, Messene was the daughter of Triopas, king of Argos. She was married to Polycaon, son of king Lelex, of Laconia. Messene was said to have been very ambitious. After her father-in-law died, her husband's brother Myles inherited the throne to Laconia...
, daughter of King TriopasTriopasIn Greek mythology, Triopas, Triophas or Triops was the name of several characters, whose relations are unclear. He belonged to the house of Phoroneus....
, of ArgosArgosArgos is a city and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 11 kilometres from Nafplion, which was its historic harbour...
. After his father's passing, his brother MylesMylesIn Greek mythology, Myles was brother to Polycaon, and was the father of Eurotas who fathered Sparta after whom the city of Sparta was named. After his father died, Myles ruled Laconia. During Myles' life, he was often referred to and known as the Miller; hence he has been regarded as the inventor...
inherited the throne of Laconia. Messene, not wanting to be the wife of a simple anonymousAnonymityAnonymity is derived from the Greek word ἀνωνυμία, anonymia, meaning "without a name" or "namelessness". In colloquial use, anonymity typically refers to the state of an individual's personal identity, or personally identifiable information, being publicly unknown.There are many reasons why a...
man, collected an armed force from both Argos and Laconia. The newly married couple invaded the territory of which would be named after Polycaon's wife, MesseniaMesseniaMessenia 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...
. After establishing the newly conquered kingdom, they founded the city AndaniaAndaniaAndania is a former municipality in Messenia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Oichalia, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 3,084 . The seat of the municipality was in Diavolitsi....
, where they built their palace.
- Son of ButesButesIn Greek mythology, the name Butes referred to nine different people.*An Argonaut, son of Teleon and Zeuxippe . When the Argonauts were sailing past the Sirens, he was the only one to not resist the charm of their singing and swim off to them. But Aphrodite saved Butes by transferring him to...
. He married Evaechme, daughter of HyllusHyllusIn Greek mythology, Hyllus was the son of Heracles and Deianira, husband of Iole, nursed by Abia....
and IoleIoleIn Greek mythology, Iolë was the daughter of Eurytus, king of the city Oechalia. According to the brief epitome by the so-called Apollodorus, Eurytus had a beautiful young daughter named Iole who was eligible for marriage. Iole was claimed by Heracles for a bride, but Eurytus refused her hand in...
(thus a granddaughter of HeraclesHeraclesHeracles ,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...
).