Idas

Family: Messene · Role: father of Cleopatra · First appears: Apollodorus, Library 1.7

🌐 Also appears in: The Metamorphoses of Ovid (as Idas)

Idas was the son of Aphareus and Arene, and the brother of Lynceus. At Messene, he carried off Marpessa in a winged chariot, then rivalled Apollo for her hand; after Zeus allowed her to choose, she chose Idas as her husband, fearing that Apollo might desert her in old age. Idas and Marpessa were the parents of Cleopatra, and Idas also married Hippodice.

At Messene, Idas unfairly divided the captured cattle, swallowed both his own share and Lynceus’s, and drove the herd away, prompting Castor and Pollux to reclaim it. When Lynceus discovered Castor’s hiding place, Idas killed Castor; Pollux slew Lynceus, and Zeus struck Idas with a thunderbolt, while carrying Pollux to heaven.

Relationship record

Life events

• Marpessa chose Idas as her husband after Zeus allowed her to decide between Idas and Apollo.(Apollodorus, Library 1.7 · 📍 Messene)
  • With: Marpessa Apollo Zeus
  • “As they fought for the girl's hand, Zeus parted them and allowed the maiden herself to choose which of the two she would marry; and she, because she feared that Apollo might desert her in her old age, chose Idas for her husband.”
• Idas seized the cattle after unfairly dividing the spoil, prompting the Dioscuri to reclaim it.(Apollodorus, Library 3.11 · 📍 Messene)
  • With: Castor Pollux Lynceus
  • “And before they knew where they were, Idas had swallowed his own share first and likewise his brother's, and with him had driven off the captured cattle to Messene. But the Dioscuri marched against Messene , and drove away that cattle and much else besides.”
• Idas killed Castor after Lynceus discovered his hiding place.(Apollodorus, Library 3.11)
  • With: Castor Lynceus
  • “But Lynceus spied Castor and discovered him to Idas, who killed him.”
• Zeus killed Idas with a thunderbolt and carried Pollux to heaven.(Apollodorus, Library 3.11)
  • With: Zeus Pollux
  • “And Zeus smote Idas with a thunderbolt, but Pollux he carried up to heaven.”

Apollodorus, Library 1.7

• admired: Marpessa “but Idas, son of Aphareus, carried her off in a winged chariot”
• parent: Aphareus “Idas, son of Aphareus”
• married with Marpessa “she ... chose Idas for her husband.”
• rivals with Apollo “As they fought for the girl's hand”
• courtship with Marpessa “she, because she feared that Apollo might desert her in her old age, chose Idas for her husband.”

Apollodorus, Library 1.8

• siblings with Lynceus “Idas and Lynceus, sons of Aphareus”
• child: Cleopatra “Cleopatra, daughter of Idas and Marpessa”

Apollodorus, Library 2.1

• married with Hippodice “Idas got Hippodice”

Apollodorus, Library 3.10

• parent: Arene “Aphareus and Arene, daughter of Oebalus, had sons Lynceus and Idas and Pisus”

Apollodorus, Library 3.11

• with Castor (Idas killed Castor.) “Lynceus spied Castor and discovered him to Idas, who killed him.”
• with Zeus (interaction) “And Zeus smote Idas with a thunderbolt,”
• enemies with Castor “But Lynceus spied Castor and discovered him to Idas, who killed him.”
• enemies with Pollux “Pollux chased them and slew Lynceus by throwing his spear, but in pursuing Lynceus he was wounded in the head with a stone thrown by him, and fell down in a swoon. And Zeus smote Idas with a thunderbolt”

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Extracted from the original text of Greek Mythology. Made with Rho MD.