Aeacus Greek Mythology

Aeacus was king of Aegina and after his death the key and judge of Hades together with Rhadamanthus and Minos. According to the myth, Zeus, transformed into an eagle or fire, approached Aegina, one of the daughters of the river god Asopus and Metopi and, being in love with her, carried her to the island of Oinoni or Oinopia, which was renamed Aegina in honor of the nymph – where gave birth to Aeacus.

Sisyphus refused to reveal the love affair to her father Asopus until the latter agreed to give him a spring (Pirene) at Acrocorinth. But because he revealed the secret of Zeus, Sisyphus continued to be punished in the Underworld. Having now learned who the rapist was, Asopus chased after Zeus, but the god forced him back into the rivers by unleashing thunderbolts. This is said to be the reason why the coals came from the streams of the river Asopus.

During his rule, Aeacus fortified Aegina, making the island impregnable by surrounding it with rocks and reefs. Aeacus, who was considered the most virtuous of the Greeks, had such a reputation as a pious man that Zeus himself listened to him. Aeacus was known for settling disputes even between gods.

It is said that because of his prayers Greece was saved from a terrible food shortage. This calamity had been brought about by the insidious actions of the ambitious Pelops, who, unable to defeat the Arcadian king Stymphalus, reconciled with him by pretending to be a friend, but then treacherously slaughtered him, incurring the wrath of the gods.

At that time it rained neither north of the Isthmus of Corinth nor in the Peloponnese, and the priestess Pythia said that Zeus listened to no one but Aeacus. So the Greeks sent emissaries from every city and he, praying and sacrificing to Zeus, caused rain. According to some, Aeacus helped Apollo and Poseidon build the walls of Troy.

Aeacus first married Endides, daughter of Chiron or Sciron and Charicles and had two sons: Peleus (father of Achilles) and Telamon (father of Aedes). Aeakos then married Neriida Psamathes, who initially transformed into a seal trying to avoid him and by whom he had a son, Phokos.

Phokos distinguished himself in sports and as they say, this distinction caused the jealousy of his half-brothers Peleus and Telamon, who conspired against him and killed him, hiding his body in the forest. Some say that Telamon during a fight dropped an iron noose on his head, but others claim that he killed Phocus with a spear while hunting. Having learned what his sons had done, Aeacus banished them. Telamonas went to Salamis and Peleus to Phthiotida and later both ruled in their place.