Rhadamanthe

In the Greek Mythology, Rhadamanthe or Rhadamante (in Greek old Ῥαδαμάνθυς / Rhadamánthus ) is the son of Zeus and Europe (the girl of Agénor). It is famous for its virtue and its justice.

Myth

It is born in Crete with his brothers Minos and (according to the authors) Sarpédon. A minority version, brought back by Pausanias which allots it to Cinéthon, makes of Rhadamante the son of Héphaïstos, itself wire of Talos.

It is raised by Astérion, king de Crète, to whom Zeus had entrusted Europe. According to the Pseudo-Apollodore, it disputes in its youth with his/her brothers for the love of a boy, Milétos (or Atymnios).

It is famous for its wisdom and its sagacity. Diodore presents it with Minos like a civilizing hero, reigning on a vast territory of which it dictates the laws:

“It held under its domination of large islands and almost all the coasts of Asia which had been given voluntarily to him on the reputation of its probity. ”

After Astérion bequeathed the throne of Crete to Minos, this one benefits from it to draw aside quickly his/her brothers, fascinating shade of their fame: Rhadamante is exiled then with Œchalie, in Béotie, where he marries Alcmène, widow of Amphitryon. It has of them two wire, Érythros and Gortys.

After its death, it is established judge of the Enfers, with Minos and Éaque. At Homère, it runs peaceful days in the Îles of the Happy. According to later versions, it only reigns on the Champs Elysées.

Sources

(33).
(II, 4,9; II, 4,11; III, 1,1-2).
(france 141 MW).
(V, passim ).
(IV, 564; VII, 322-324).
(CLV).
(VII, 3,7; VIII, 53,4-5).
( Olympic , II, 74-77; Pythiques , II, 73-74).
Plato (523-524).
Théognis de Mégare, elegiac Poems (701).

Random links: