Galaxy/The codex of Ascanius

In Greek mythology, Ascanius son of Aretaon is the godlike co-captain of the Phrygians from Ascania who fights as a Trojan ally beside Phorcys in Homer's Catalogue of Ships. He is not Ascanius (Iulus), the son of Aeneas who founds Alba Longa in the Roman tradition.

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

I.Phrygian captain

Homer sets Ascanius beside Phorcys at the head of the Phrygians who came from far-off Ascania, eager for the press of battle. Apollodorus names the pair sons of Aretaon in the catalogue of Trojan allies.

When Hector rallies the tribes about Patroclus, he heartens Ascanius' comrade Phorcys among the captains — Ascanius himself remains a Catalogue and ally-roll figure rather than the hero of a private aristeia.

II.Homonym care

The atlas id ascanius-phrygian is the Homeric Phrygian captain alone. Never merge with ascanius-dardanian (Aeneas' son, also called Iulus), whose Wikipedia page "Ascanius" treats the Roman foundation legend.

AT A GLANCE

Greek nameAscanius (Ἀσκάνιος)
Typehero
DomainsPhrygian command · Ascania
ParentageAretaon
SymbolsPhrygian command · Ascania
Cult centersAscania · Troy
EtymologyAncient Greek Ἀσκάνιος; the ethnonym ties him to the district Ascania in Phrygia.
READ MOREWikipedia