Scaeus

In Greek mythology, Scaeus (Ancient Greek: Σκαῖος means 'on the left hand') was a Spartan prince as one of the 20 Hippocoöntids,[1] children of King Hippocoön, son of Oebalus and the naiad Bateia.

Family

Scaeus was the brother to Dorycleus, Enarophorus, Euteiches, Bucolus, Lycaethus, Tebrus, Eurytus, Hippothous, Hippocorystes, Alcinous,[2] Alcimus, Dorceus, Sebrus, Eumedes,[3] Enaesimus, Alcon and Leucippus.[4]

Mythology

Scaeus, together with his brothers, helped their father usurped the throne of Lacedaemonia and expelled the former king, Tyndareus, the son of Gorgophone and Hipocoon's (half-)brother.[5] Ultimately, the Hippocoöntids and their father were slain by Heracles who also restored Tyndareus as the rightful ruler of the Lacedeamonians.[6] The bad blood between these two parties can be attributed to the following reasons: (1) the refusal of Hippocoon and his family to cleanse the hero after the death of Iphitus when he came to Sparta,[7] (2) Scaeus and his brothers joined King Neleus of Pylos in his war with the Heracles, and (3) for the manslaughter of Oeonus, son of Licymnius and the hero's cousin, who was beaten to death by the Hippocoöntids with their clubs for stoning in self-defense their Molossian dog. For the latter incident, Heracles straightway give them battle as he was very angry but was wounded in the hip-joint[8] and he stealthily retreated. Afterwards, the son of Alcmene made an expedition against Sparta enlisting the aid of King Cepheus of Arcadia and his sons, and succeeded in avenging himself on Hippocoon, and also on Scaeus and his brothers, for their murder of Oeonus.[9]

Notes
  1. Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca historica 4.33.5
  2. Apollodorus, 3.10.5
  3. Pausanias, 3.14.6 & 3.15.1
  4. Hyginus, Fabulae 173
  5. Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca historica 4.33.5; Apollodorus, 3.10.5
  6. Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca historica 4.33.5; Apollodorus, 2.7.3 & 3.10.5; Pausanias, 3.10.6
  7. Pausanias, 3.15.3
  8. Pausanias, 3.19.7 & 8.53.9
  9. Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca historica 4.33.5; Apollodorus, 2.7.3; Pausanias, 2.18.7, 3.15.3–6 & 3.15.9

References
  • Apollodorus, The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.
  • Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History translated by Charles Henry Oldfather. Twelve volumes. Loeb Classical Library. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. 1989. Vol. 3. Books 4.59–8. Online version at Bill Thayer's Web Site
  • Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica. Vol 1-2. Immanel Bekker. Ludwig Dindorf. Friedrich Vogel. in aedibus B. G. Teubneri. Leipzig. 1888-1890. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
  • Gaius Julius Hyginus, Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. Online version at the Topos Text Project.
  • Pausanias, Description of Greece with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918. ISBN 0-674-99328-4. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library
  • Pausanias, Graeciae Descriptio. 3 vols. Leipzig, Teubner. 1903. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.


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