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EMILY VARTO

Dalhousie University

Ancestral hero and legendary first king of AEGINA, son of ZEUS and the nymph AEGINA DAUGHTER OF ASOPUS, for whom Zeus named the ISLAND (Pind. Nem. 8.6–8, 13; Isthm. 8.16–24; Apollod. Bibl. 3.12.6; Diod. Sic. 4.72.5–6; Paus. 2.29.2). Aeacus was the father of PELEUS and TELAMON, thus grandfather of Achilles and AJAX (Alcmeonis, PEG F1; Pind. Isthm. 6.19–27, Pyth. 8.100; Bacchyl. 13.96–104), although in HOMER Aeacus is only the father of Peleus and grandfather of Achilles, who is sometimes called “Aeacides” (Il. 2.874–75, 11.804–5, 16.15, 18.433, 21.188–89). Aeacus was known as a pious and just arbitrator (Paus. 1.39.5; Diod. Sic. 4.6.1–2; Plut. Thes. 10), becoming a judge (Pl. Grg. 524a) or doorkeeper (Ar. Ran. 465–78) in the underworld.

Athenian traditions often associate Aeacus and his descendants, the Aeacidae—especially Ajax—with Aegina, SALAMIS, and ATHENS (Thomas 1989, 161–73; Fowler 2013, 474–80; Duplouy 2006, 61–64). The family of MILTIADES THE ELDER traced their ancestry back to Aeacus and Aegina as well as Salamis through Philaeus, son of Ajax, who was the first Athenian of that family (Hdt. 6.35; Pherecydes BNJ 3 F2). Herodotus recounts how the Aeginetans sent images of the Aeacidae to assist the Thebans in attacking Athens, on the grounds that THEBE (1) and Aegina were both daughters of ASOPUS, but when the attack failed, the Aeginetans themselves launched an attack on Athens (5.80–81). In the midst of their hostilities with Aegina, the Athenians consecrated a sanctuary to Aeacus in the AGORA on the advice of the Delphic ORACLE (5.89). Later, before the Battle of Salamis, the Athenians ask the Aeacidae for aid, calling upon Ajax and Telamon in particular, and bringing cult images of Aeacus and the Aeacidae from Aegina (8.64, 83–84).

SEE ALSO: Genealogies; Heroes and Hero Cult; Myth; Thebes (Boeotian)