Admetus - Revision history

Irlandos: /* Mythology */

2006-09-22T14:49:32Z

Mythology

Irlandos: /* Mythology */

2006-09-22T14:47:16Z

Mythology

Irlandos at 14:46, September 22, 2006

2006-09-22T14:46:48Z

New page

In [[Greek mythology]], '''Admetus''' was a king of [[Pherae]] in [[Thessaly]], succeeding his father [[Pheres]] after whom the city was named.

Admetus was one of the [[Argonauts]] and took part in the [[Calydonian Boar]] hunt.

==Mythology==
Admetus was famed for his hospitality and justice. When [[Apollo]] was sentenced to a year of servitude to a mortal as punishment for killing the [[Cyclops#First generation|Cyclops]], the god chose Admetus' home and became his herdsman. Apollo was so impressed by Admetus' treatment that the god made all the cows bear twins.

Apollo also helped Admetus win the hand of the princess [[Alcestis]], the daughter of [[Pelias]], the king of [[Iolcus]]. Alcestis had so many suitors that Pelias set an apparently impossible task to the suitors — to win the hand of Alcestis, they must yoke a boar and a lion to a chariot. Apollo harnessed the yoke with the animals and Admetus drove the chariot to Pelias, and thus married Alcestis.

Admetus, however, neglected to sacrifice to [[Artemis]]. The offended goddess filled the bridal chamber with snakes and again, Apollo came to Admetus' aid. Apollo advised Admetus to sacrifice to Artemis, and the goddess removed the snakes.

The greatest aid Apollo gave to Admetus was persuading the [[Moirae|Fates]] to reprieve Admetus of his fated day of death. Apollo made the Fates drunk, and the Fates agreed to reprieve Admetus if he could find someone to die in his place. Admetus initially believed that one of his aged parents would happily take their son's place of death. When they were unwilling, Alcestis instead dies for Admetus.

The scene of death is described in [[Euripedes]]' play ''[[Alcestis (play)|Alcestis]]'', where [[Thanatos]], the god of death, takes Alcestis to the Underworld. As Alcestis descends, Admetus discovers that he actually does not want to live:

:''I think my wife's fate is happier than my own, even though it may not seem so. No pain will ever touch her now, and she has ended life's many troubles with glory. But I, who have escaped my fate and ought not to be alive, shall now live out my life in sorrow.''

The situation was saved by [[Heracles]], who rested at Pherae on his way towards the man-eating [[Mares of Diomedes]]. Told of Admetus' situation, Heracles entered Alcetis' tomb. He wrestled with [[Thanatos]] until the god agreed to release [[Alcetis]], then led her back into the mortal world.

The most famous of Admetus' children was [[Eumelus]], who led a contingent from Pherae to fight in the [[Trojan War]].

==Reference==
*March, J., Cassell's Dictionary Of Classical Mythology, London, 1999. ISBN 0-304-35161-X

{{Credit wikipedia}}

[[Category:Greek mythological people]]
[[Category:Argonauts]]

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 :''I think my wife's fate is happier than my own, even though it may not seem so. No pain will ever touch her now, and she has ended life's many troubles with glory. But I, who have escaped my fate and ought not to be alive, shall now live out my life in sorrow.''
-The situation was saved by [[Heracles]], who rested at Pherae on his way towards the man-eating [[Mares of Diomedes]]. Told of Admetus' situation, Heracles entered Alcetis' tomb. He wrestled with [[Thanatos]] until the god agreed to release [[Alcetis]], then led her back into the mortal world.
+The situation was saved by [[Heracles]], who rested at Pherae on his way towards the man-eating [[Mares of Diomedes]]. Told of Admetus' situation, Heracles entered Alcetis' tomb. He wrestled with [[Thanatos]] until the god agreed to release [[Alcestis]], then led her back into the mortal world.
 The most famous of Admetus' children was [[Eumelus]], who led a contingent from Pherae to fight in the [[Trojan War]].

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 The greatest aid Apollo gave to Admetus was persuading the [[Moirae|Fates]] to reprieve Admetus of his fated day of death. Apollo made the Fates drunk, and the Fates agreed to reprieve Admetus if he could find someone to die in his place. Admetus initially believed that one of his aged parents would happily take their son's place of death. When they were unwilling, Alcestis instead dies for Admetus.
-The scene of death is described in [[Euripedes]]' play ''[[Alcestis (play)|Alcestis]]'', where [[Thanatos]], the god of death, takes Alcestis to the Underworld. As Alcestis descends, Admetus discovers that he actually does not want to live:
+The scene of death is described in [[Euripides]]' play ''[[Alcestis (play)|Alcestis]]'', where [[Thanatos]], the god of death, takes Alcestis to the Underworld. As Alcestis descends, Admetus discovers that he actually does not want to live:
 :''I think my wife's fate is happier than my own, even though it may not seem so. No pain will ever touch her now, and she has ended life's many troubles with glory. But I, who have escaped my fate and ought not to be alive, shall now live out my life in sorrow.''
@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 The situation was saved by [[Heracles]], who rested at Pherae on his way towards the man-eating [[Mares of Diomedes]]. Told of Admetus' situation, Heracles entered Alcetis' tomb. He wrestled with [[Thanatos]] until the god agreed to release [[Alcetis]], then led her back into the mortal world.
 The most famous of Admetus' children was [[Eumelus]], who led a contingent from Pherae to fight in the [[Trojan War]].
 ==Reference==