Astydameia

In Greek mythology, Astydameia^{[pronunciation?]} (Αστυδάμεια) or Astydamea, Astydamia, is a name attributed to five individuals.

Queen of Iolcus

Astydameia, daughter of Cretheus (also known as Hippolyte),^[1]^[2]^[3] was the Queen of Iolcus and wife of Acastus. Her husband purified Peleus of the murder of King Eurytion of Phthia. Astydameia fell in love with Peleus but he scorned her. Bitter, she sent a messenger to Antigone, Peleus' wife, to tell her that Peleus was to marry Acastus' daughter, Sterope; Antigone hanged herself. Astydameia then told Acastus that Peleus had tried to rape her. Acastus believed the false accusations and tried to take revenge in Peleus by taking him on a hunting trip and leaving him unprotected as a group of Centaurs attacked. Peleus escaped death with the help of Chiron and Hermes; he pillaged Iolcus and dismembered Astydameia, then marched his army between the rended limbs.^[4]

For the mytheme of a woman taking revenge on the man who does not answer her feelings by falsely accusing him of sexual abuse, see also Phaedra, Stheneboea, Tenes, Phoenix and Eunostus.

Consort of Heracles

Astydameia was the mother of Ctesippus by Heracles. In one source, she is the daughter of Amyntor and Cleobule.^[5] Another account makes her the daughter of Ormenius, king of Pelasgiotis. Heracles, the same source relates, wooed her, but Ormenius would not marry her to him since Heracles was already married to Deianira. Heracles then led a war against Ormenius, killed him and took Astydameia by force.^[6]

Astydameia (or Astygeneia) is also an alternate name for Astyoche, daughter of Phylas, who bore Heracles a son Tlepolemus.^[7]

Daughter of Pelops

Astydameia was the daughter of Pelops and Hippodamia. She married Alcaeus and had children by him: Amphitryon, Anaxo, and Perimede.^[8]

Daughter of Strophius

Astydameia is briefly mentioned by a scholiast on Euripides as the daughter of Strophius and Cydragora and sister of Pylades.^[9]

Daughter of Phorbas

This Astydameia was the mother of Lepreus by Caucon, son of Poseidon. She persuaded Heracles to reconcile with her son, who had previously advised Augeas to cast Heracles in bonds.^[10]

References

^ Pindar, Nemean Ode 4. 54 (88) with scholia
^ Scholia on Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica, 1. 224
^ Scholia on Aristophanes, Clouds, 1063
^ Bibliotheca 3. 13. 1-3, 7
^ Bibliotheca 2. 7. 8
^ Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, 4. 37. 4
^ Pindar, Olympian Ode 7. 24, with the scholia, in which Pherecydes is cited for the alternative name "Astygeneia".
^ Bibliotheca 2. 4. 5-6
^ Scholia on Euripides, Orestes, 33
^ Aelian, Various Histories, 1. 24

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[1] Pindar, Nemean Ode 4. 54 (88) with scholia

[2] Scholia on Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica, 1. 224

[3] Scholia on Aristophanes, Clouds, 1063

[4] Bibliotheca 3. 13. 1-3, 7

[5] Bibliotheca 2. 7. 8

[6] Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, 4. 37. 4

[7] Pindar, Olympian Ode 7. 24, with the scholia, in which Pherecydes is cited for the alternative name "Astygeneia".

[8] Bibliotheca 2. 4. 5-6

[9] Scholia on Euripides, Orestes, 33

[10] Aelian, Various Histories, 1. 24

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