Rhadamanthus’s Family Tree

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Family

• Europa(parent),Zeus(parent),Minos(sibling)— Consort

  Zeus abducted Europa in the form of a white bull, carrying her across the sea to Crete where she bore him Minos and Rhadamanthus, both destined to become judges of the dead in the underworld.

  ⚠ Apollodorus (Bibliotheca 3.1.1) names a third son Sarpedon, but this is a different figure from Homer's Sarpedon son of Laodamia who fought at Troy (Iliad 6.196-205).

Rules over

• Elysium

  Rhadamanthus rules over Elysium as its judge and lord. Homer names him in the Odyssey as dwelling in the Elysian Fields, and Pindar describes him as presiding over the blessed dead.

Associated with

• Aeacus,Minos,Underworld

  Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Aeacus serve as the three judges of the dead in the Underworld, appointed by Zeus for their justice in life. Rhadamanthus judges Asian souls, Aeacus those from Europe, and Minos casts the deciding vote.

• Alcmene

  In several traditions, Rhadamanthus married Alcmene, mother of Heracles, after her mortal husband Amphitryon died. Some sources place this marriage in Elysium, uniting two figures blessed by Zeus.