Catreus- Greek FigureMortal"King of Crete"
Also known as: Κατρεύς
Titles & Epithets
Description
An oracle warns that his own children will destroy him, and so the king of Crete scatters his heirs across the sea, yet fate finds him on the shore of Rhodes where his son Althaemenes strikes him down unrecognized.
Mythology & Lore
The Oracle
Catreus, son of Minos and king of Crete, learned from an oracle that one of his children would kill him. His son Althaemenes, horrified by the prophecy, left Crete for Rhodes and took his sister Apemosyne with him. Catreus sent his remaining daughters overseas to keep them far from the curse.
Years passed. Catreus grew old and wanted to pass his kingdom to Althaemenes. He sailed to Rhodes. His ships landed at night, and the Rhodians took them for raiders. Althaemenes rushed to the shore with weapons. He struck his father down without recognizing him. When he learned what he had done, he prayed to be swallowed by the earth. The earth took him.