Galaxy/The codex of Aretaon

In Greek mythology, Aretaon is the father of the Phrygian leaders Ascanius and (in Apollodorus) Phorcys, who bring men from far Ascania to fight for Troy. Wikipedia also records a defender of Troy named Aretaon slain by Teucer, who may or may not be the same man.

Adapted from Wikipedia, "Aretaon" · CC BY-SA 4.0

I.Father of the Ascanians

Homer's Catalogue sets Phorcys and godlike Ascanius at the head of the Phrygians from Ascania but does not name their father. Apollodorus supplies Aretaon as sire of both captains among the Trojan allies.

A separate Homeric Aretaon — a Trojan defender killed by Teucer — appears in the same Wikipedia article; whether that casualty is identical with the Phrygian father is left open in the sources.

II.Homonym care

The atlas id aretaon-phrygian is the Apollodoran father of ascanius-phrygian and phorcys-phrygian. Not a Roman or later figure; the son's name Ascanius must never be merged with Aeneas' heir ascanius-dardanian.

AT A GLANCE

Greek nameAretaōn (Ἀρηταῶν)
Typehero
Domainsfather of Phorcys and Ascanius · Phrygian house · Ascania
SymbolsPhrygian command · Ascania
Cult centersAscania · Troy
EtymologyAncient Greek Ἀρετάων.
READ MOREWikipedia