Dictionary - Definition of IDOMENEUS

Idomeneus

For the Epicurean philosopher, see Idomeneus of Lampsacus.

In Greek mythology, Idomeneus (pronounced /ˌаɪdəˈmɪniəs/; Greek: Ἰδομενεύς, Idomeneus, "strength of Ida") was a Cretan warrior, father of Orsilochus, son of Deucalion, grandson of Minos and king of Crete. He led the Cretan armies to the Trojan War and was also one of Helen's suitors. Meriones was his charioteer and brother-in-arms. In Homer's Iliad, he is found among the first rank of the Greek generals, leading his troops and engaging the enemy head-on, and escaping serious injury. Idomeneus was one of Agamemnon's trusted advisors. He was one of the primary defenders when most of the other Danaan heroes were injured, and even fought Hector briefly and repulsed his attack. He was one of the Achaeans to enter the Trojan Horse. Like most of the other leaders of the Greeks, he is alive and well as the story comes to a close.

After the war, his ship hit a horrible storm. Idomeneus promised Poseidon that he would sacrifice the first living thing he saw when he returned home if Poseidon would save his ship and crew. The first living thing was his son, whom Idomeneus duly sacrificed. The gods were angry at his murder of his own son and they sent a plague to Crete. The Cretans sent him into exile in Calabria, Italy.^[1]

According to the hypothetical reading of Achterberg et al. (2004), Idomeneus may be mentioned on the Phaistos Disk (spelled i-du-ma-na, word B.IX) as the governor of Mesara.

Idomeneo, a 1780 opera seria by Mozart, is based on the story of Idomeneus. In this version, Poseidon (Neptune in the opera) spares Idomeneo's son on condition that Idomeneo relinquish his throne to the new generation.

References

Virgil. Aeneid. Book III, 400.

Sources

Achterberg, Winfried; Best, Jan; Enzler, Kees; Rietveld, Lia; Woudhuizen, Fred, The Phaistos Disc: A Luwian Letter to Nestor, Publications of the Henry Frankfort Foundation vol XIII , Dutch Archeological and Historical Society, Amsterdam 2004.

Characters in the Iliad

Achaeans	Acamas • Achilles • Actor • Adrastus • Agamemnon • Agapenor • Ajax the Greater • Ajax the Lesser • Antilochus • Ascalaphus • Automedon • Balius and Xanthus • Bias • Diomedes • Elephenor • Eudoros • Euryalus • Eurybates • Hecamede • Idomeneus • Machaon • Mecisteus • Medon • Mégês Phyleïdês • Menelaus • Menestheus • Meriones • Nestor • Nireus • Odysseus • Patroclus • Philoctetes • Phoenix • Podarces • Promachus • Protesilaus • Schedius • Stentor • Sthenelus • Talthybius • Teucer • Thersites • Thoas • Thrasymedes • Tlepolemus

Trojans	Aeneas • Aesepus • Agenor • Alcathous • Amphimachus • Anchises • Andromache • Antenor • Antiphates • Antiphus • Archelochus • Asius • Asteropaios • Astyanax • Axylus • Briseis • Calchas • Calesius • Cassandra • Chryseis • Chryses • Clytius • Dares Phrygius • Deiphobus • Dolon • Epeius • Epistrophus • Eteoneus • Euneus • Euphemus • Euphorbus • Eurypylus • Glaucus • Gorgythion • Halizones • Hector • Hecuba • Helen • Helenus • Kebriones • Lycaon • Lykomedes • Melanippus • Mentes • Mydon • Mygdon of Phrygia • Othryoneus • Pandarus • Paris • Pedasus • Phorcys • Podalirius • Polites • Poludamas • Polybus • Polydorus • Priam • Pyraechmes • Rhesus of Thrace • Sarpedon • Theano

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; from the article "Idomeneus". Image Credit.
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Domain	Definition
Literature	1: Compare the story of Jephthah in Judges xi. 2: Idomeneus (4 syl.). King of Crete, and ally of the Greeks in the siege of Troy After the city was burnt he made a vow to sacrifice whatever he first encountered, if the gods granted him a safe return to his kingdom. It was his own son that he first met, and when he offered him up to fulfil his vow he was banished from Crete as a murderer. (Homer: Iliad.). Source: Brewer's Dictionary.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.		Top

Expressions	Definition
Idomeneus of Lampsacus	Idomeneus (in Greek Iδoμενευς), of Lampsacus, was a friend and disciple of Epicurus, flourished about 310–270 BC. We have no particulars of his life, save that he married Batis, the sister of Sandes, who was also a native of Lampsacus, and a pupil of Epicurus. Idomeneus wrote a considerable number of philosophical and historical works, and though the latter were not regarded as of very great authority, still they must have been of considerable value, as they seem to have been chiefly devoted to an account of the private life of the distinguished men of Greece. (references)
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.		Top

The following table is compiled from various sources, across various languages. When English abbreviations or acronyms come from a non-English source, this is noted.
Entry	Source	Expression	Field
IDOMENEUS	English	Information and Data on Open Media for Networks of Users	N/A
Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references).				Top

Topics by Level of Interest: IDOMENEUS
Topics sorted by level of Interest	Level (1=low, 600=high)	Topics sorted Alphabetically	Level (1=low, 600=high)
Idomeneus of Lampsacus	12	2759 Idomeneus	11
2759 Idomeneus	11	Idomeneus	7
Idomeneus	7	Idomeneus of Lampsacus	12
Source: the editor, created by/for EVE to gauge likely levels of human interest in linguistically triggered topics (compiled across various sources, such as Wikipedia and specialty expression glosses).

Language	Translations (or nearest inflections or synonyms, in parentheses)
Français	Idoménée (Idomeneus). Additional references: Français, France, Algeria, Idomeneus. (volunteer & more translations)
French	Idoménée (Idomeneus). Additional references: French, France, Algeria, Idomeneus. (volunteer & more translations)
Italian	Idomeneo (Idomeneus). Additional references: Italian, Italy, Croatia, Idomeneus. (volunteer & more translations)
Source: Eve, based on a combination of meta analysis and graph theory (for near and back translations).		Top

Specialty Definition: IDOMENEUS

Common Expressions: IDOMENEUS

Abbreviations & Acronyms: IDOMENEUS

Extended Definition: IDOMENEUS

Idomeneus

References

Sources

Topics by Level of Interest: IDOMENEUS

Translations: IDOMENEUS

Constructed Language Translations: IDOMENEUS

Language	Translations for “Idomeneus” or closest synonym(s); back translations in parentheses.
Athag	Athagidathagomathagenathageus (Idomeneus). Additional references: Athag, Idomeneus. (volunteer)
Double Dutch	Agidagomagenageus (Idomeneus). Additional references: Double Dutch, Idomeneus. (volunteer)
Leet	10\|0{V}&//&\|_\|z (Idomeneus). Additional references: Leet, Idomeneus. (volunteer)
Oppish	Opidopomopenopeus (Idomeneus). Additional references: Oppish, Idomeneus. (volunteer)
Pig Latin	Idomeneusway (Idomeneus). Additional references: Pig Latin, Idomeneus. (volunteer)
Terran B	Idomeneo (Idomeneo, Idomeneus). Additional references: Terran B, Idomeneus. (volunteer)
Ubbi Dubbi	Ubidubomubenubeus (Idomeneus). Additional references: Ubbi Dubbi, Idomeneus. (volunteer)
Source: compiled by the editor.		Top