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Intro

In Greek mythology, Rhadamanthus (/ˌrædəˈmænθəs/) or Rhadamanthys (Ancient Greek: Ῥαδάμανθυς) was a wise king of Crete. He was considered a demigod due to his father being Zeus and his name means showing stern and inflexible judgement. He would later become one of the judges of the dead and a important figure in Greek mythology.

Exile

The three brothers would go on to fight for the throne once king Asterius died. With Minos eventually getting the throne, he would drive out his two brothers from Crete. He had been jealous of Rhadamanthus popularity, so Rhadamanthus fled to Boeotia, where he wedded Alcmene, widow of Amphitryon and mother of Heracles. Also, according to some traditions, he was a tutor to Heracles. This is also mentioned by Tzetzes, a medieval historian.

In general, the particular sphere of activity of Rhadamanthus tends to be the Aegean islands, apart from Crete itself, where Minos was active. He is also often connected by ancient authors with central Greece.

Afterlife

According to later legends (c. 400 BC), on account of his inflexible integrity(and as a reward for creating law and order on earth) he was made one of the judges of the dead in the lower world, together with Aeacus and Minos. He was supposed to judge the souls of easterners, Aeacus those of westerners, while Minos had the casting vote (Plato, Gorgias 524A). He is portrayed in Books 4 and 7 of Homer's Odyssey. Virgil (69–18 BC) makes Rhadamanthus one of the judges and punishers of the unworthy in the Underworld (Tartarus) section of the Aeneid.

Homer represents him as dwelling in the Elysian Fields (Odyssey iv. 564), the paradise for the immortal sons of Zeus. Pindar says that he is the right-hand man of Cronus (now ruling Elysium) and was the sole judge of the dead. Lucian depicts Rhadamanthus as presiding over the company of heroes on the Isles of the Blest in True History.

References

“Name and Myth.” Signifying Europe, by Johan Fornäs, Intellect, Bristol, UK; Chicago, USA, 2012, pp. 5–42. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv9hj915.5. Accessed 17 Nov. 2020.