Greek: Aiakos, "bewailing" or "earth borne"

Greek: Aiakos, "bewailing" or "earth borne" Aeacus

Zues appeared to Aegina, the daughter of a river god named Asopus, as a flame.

Birth of Aeacus • Zues speeds her away to an island called Oenone, in the Saricona Gulf, but after her rape it was called Aegina. • Their son was Aeacus and he became king of Aegina.

Attributes of Aeacus • Thus in his birthright he linked the Olympians with the immemorial chthonic water spirits of the land. • He himself erected a temple to Zeus and helped Poseidon and Apollo to build the walls of Troy. • King Aeacus, who was regarded as the most righteous among the Hellenes, had such a reputation as a pious man that Zeus would listen to him alone and he settled disputes even for the gods.

Aeacus and Family • Aeacus was married to Endies, who bore, Telamon and Peleus. • Peleus was the father of Achilles. • His second wife was Psamanthe. Their child’s name was Phocus.

Aeacus in Ovid • We meet Aeacus in Ovid, with Minos trying to get Aeacus to fight for him (Crete) against Athens. • Aeacus had to strong of ties with Athens and fights for them instead. • And here he tells the story of how he gained his men.

Myrmidons • Juno, upset about the prosperity of her adversaries land plagued Aegina, killed nearly everyone. • Aeacus prayed to Zues for new subjects to fill his walls. • Zues made ants into men, numbering more than Aeacus’ previous men. • The new men were called the Myrmidons

The Afterlife • Aeacus, Rhadamanthys, Minos were the three Daimon judges of the Underworld, known as the shades. • All three were mortal men, sons of Zeus, who were granted this honor after death for the wisdom of their judgments. • Aeacus was the guardian of the keys of the Hades and the judge of the men of Europe, Rhadamanthys was lord of Elysion and judge of the men of Asia, and Minos was the judge of the final vote.

Greek: Aiakos, "bewailing" or "earth borne"