Sarpedon

Family: Aenus · Role: warrior · First appears: Apollodorus, Library 2.5

🌐 Also appears in: The Iliad (as Sarpedon) · The Aeneid (as Sarpedon)

Sarpedon, a warrior of Aenus, is given different parentages in the accounts: he is called the son of Poseidon and brother of Poltys, while another tradition names Zeus and Laodamia as his parents; he is also counted among the children Europa bore to Zeus, alongside Minos and Rhadamanthys. At Crete, Asterius brought up Europa’s children. When grown, Sarpedon and Minos—and, in the same disputes, Rhadamanthys—quarrelled over Miletus, who was more friendly to Sarpedon; another account says they loved Atymnius. “As the boy was more friendly to Sarpedon, Minos went to war and had the better of it, and the others fled.”

Sarpedon then allied himself with Cilix in his war against the Lycians, securing a share of the country and becoming king of Lycia. Later, while Patroclus drove the fleeing Trojans toward the wall, Sarpedon was among those killed: “he killed many, amongst them Sarpedon, son of Zeus”.

Relationship record

Life events

Europa bore Minos, Sarpedon, and Rhadamanthys to Zeus.(Apollodorus, Library 3.1 · 📍 Crete)
- With: Europa Minos Rhadamanthys
- “There Zeus bedded with her, and she bore Minos, Sarpedon, and Rhadamanthys;”
Sarpedon allied with Cilix and became king of Lycia.(Apollodorus, Library 3.1 · 📍 Lycia)
- With: Cilix
- “And Sarpedon allied himself with Cilix, who was at war with the Lycians, and having stipulated for a share of the country, he became king of Lycia .”
Patroclus killed Sarpedon while driving the fleeing Trojans toward the wall.(Apollodorus, Epitome 4)
- With: Patroclus
- “And having chased them within the wall, he killed many, amongst them Sarpedon, son of Zeus”

Apollodorus, Library 2.5

parent: Poseidon “Sarpedon, son of Poseidon and brother of Poltys.”
siblings with Poltys “Sarpedon, son of Poseidon and brother of Poltys.”

Apollodorus, Library 3.1

parent: Zeus “but according to Homer, Sarpedon was a son of Zeus by Laodamia, daughter of Bellerophon.”
parent: Laodamia “but according to Homer, Sarpedon was a son of Zeus by Laodamia, daughter of Bellerophon.”
guardian: Asterius (prince of the Cretans) “Now Asterius, prince of the Cretans, married Europa and brought up her children.”
rivals with Minos “But when they were grown up, they quarrelled with each other; for they loved a boy called Miletus , son of Apollo by Aria, daughter of Cleochus.”
rivals with Rhadamanthys “But when they were grown up, they quarrelled with each other; for they loved a boy called Miletus , son of Apollo by Aria, daughter of Cleochus.”
friends with Miletus “As the boy was more friendly to Sarpedon, Minos went to war and had the better of it, and the others fled.”
with Cilix (alliance) “And Sarpedon allied himself with Cilix, who was at war with the Lycians, and having stipulated for a share of the country, he became king of Lycia .”
parent: Europa “There Zeus bedded with her, and she bore Minos, Sarpedon, and Rhadamanthys;”
courtship with Miletus “But when they were grown up, they quarrelled with each other; for they loved a boy called Miletus , son of Apollo by Aria, daughter of Cleochus.”
enemies with Minos “As the boy was more friendly to Sarpedon, Minos went to war and had the better of it, and the others fled.”
friends with Cilix “And Sarpedon allied himself with Cilix, who was at war with the Lycians, and having stipulated for a share of the country, he became king of Lycia .”
courtship with Atymnius “But some say that they loved Atymnius, the son of Zeus and Cassiepea, and that it was about him that they quarrelled.”

Apollodorus, Epitome 3

child: Zeus “Sarpedon, son of Zeus”

Apollodorus, Epitome 4

enemies with Patroclus “he killed many, amongst them Sarpedon, son of Zeus”

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