Menestheus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Menestheus, the son of Peteus, son of Orneus, son of Erechtheus, was a legendary King of Athens during the Trojan War. He was set up as king by the Dioscuri when Theseus travelled to the underworld, and when Theseus returned Menestheus exiled him from Athens. He was one of the suitors of Helen, and when the war started he brought "fifty black ships" to Troy. In the Iliad he was not characterized as valiant. When Agamemnon was reviewing his troops he found Menestheus in the back rows seemingly avoiding action, later when Sarpedon attacked the portion of the Greek wall that he was in charge of Homer stated that Menestheus shivered and had to call on Telamonian Aias and Teucer for aid. He was one of the warriors in the Trojan Horse. After the sack of Troy he sailed to Mimas, then to Melos where he became king. When he died, Athens passed back to the family of Theseus.
| Preceded by: Theseus |
King of Athens | Succeeded by: Demophon |
