Megapenthes (son of Proetus)

For other uses, see Megapenthes.

In Greek mythology, Megapenthes (/ˌmɛɡəˈpɛnˌθiːz/; Ancient Greek: Μεγαπένθης Megapénthēs means "great sorrow") was a king of Argos.

Family

Megapenthes was the son and successor of Proetus^[1] and father of either Argeus^[2] or Anaxagoras (in some accounts, Anaxagoras was his grandson through Argeus). He also had a daughter Iphianeira, who married Melampus.^[3]

Mythology

Megapenthes exchanged kingdoms (Argos for Tiryns) with his cousin Perseus^[4] whom he killed much later.^[5]

Regnal titles
Preceded by Proetus	King of Tiryns	Succeeded by Perseus

Regnal titles
Preceded by Perseus	King of Argos	Succeeded by Argeus or Anaxagoras

Notes

1. Apollodorus, 2.2.2; Scholia ad Euripides, Phoenissae 180;
2. Pausanias, 2.18.4; Scholia ad Euripides, Phoenissae 180 recounted Capaneus genealogy with the following list: Capaneus—Hipponous—Anaxagoras—Argeius—Megapenthes—Proitos—Abas—Lynceus—Aegyptus
3. Diodorus Siculus, 4.68.4; Pausanias, 2.18.4
4. Apollodorus, 2.4.4; Pausanias, 2.16.3
5. Hyginus, Fabulae 244

References

• 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.
• Pseudo-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.