Galaxy/The codex of Astydamia

In Greek mythology, Astydamia (Ancient Greek Ἀστυδάμεια), also called Hippolyta or Cretheis, is queen of Iolcus as wife of Acastus. After Peleus refuses her advances she falsely accuses him; Acastus abandons him on Pelion, and Peleus later sacks Iolcus and dismembers her.

Adapted from Wikipedia, "Astydamia (wife of Acastus)" · CC BY-SA 4.0

I.Peleus at Iolcus

Pindar's Nemean odes already tell how crafty Hippolyta tried to seduce Peleus and, refused, lied to Acastus; the king left Peleus unarmed for wild beasts until Chiron (or Hermes / Hephaestus) saved him. Apollodorus names the queen Astydamia: Peleus comes for purification after killing Eurytion; she writes a fraudulent letter that drives Antigone to hang herself, then charges Peleus with assault. Acastus hides Peleus' sword on a hunt and deserts him among centaurs.

Years later Peleus returns with Jason and the Dioscuri, sacks Iolcus, cuts Astydamia in pieces, and marches the army between her limbs — a vengeance sometimes read against purification rites that pass between halved victims.

II.Homonym care

The atlas id astydamia-acastus is Acastus' Iolcian queen alone. Distinct from astydamia-pelops (daughter of Pelops, wife of Alcaeus, mother of Amphitryon) and from other Astydameia namesakes tied to Heracles.

AT A GLANCE

Greek nameAstydamia (Ἀστυδάμεια)
Typemortal
Domainsqueen of Iolcus · wife of Acastus · the Peleus betrayal
SymbolsFalse accusation of Peleus · Hunt on Mount Pelion · Dismemberment at Iolcus
Cult centersIolcus
EtymologyGreek Ἀστυδάμεια, "tamer of the city" (ἄστυ + δαμάω). Pindar knows her as Hippolyta; scholia use Cretheis ("daughter of Cretheus").
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