Idomeneus

Idomeneus (Ἰδομενεές) was a son of Deucalion. He was also the brother of Crete and the half-brother of Molus. Idomeneus was the nephew of Catreus. Idomeneus married Meda, and became the father of Cleisithyra and Idamante.

Idomeneus was a former suitor of Helen, and brought 80 ships to Troy. Meriones, son of Molus, was his lieutenant and his second-in-command, whom Idomeneus often fought side-by-side with. He was one of oldest leaders next to Nestor, and he distinguished himself in the war. Idomeneus was one of the leaders who volunteered to fight Hector in single combat. Idomeneus was also one of the leaders who hid in the Wooden Horse.

Idomeneus was said to have returned safely to Crete, and when he died he was buried alongside Meriones. Idomeneus had promised the gods that if he returned safely to Crete, he would sacrifice the first person who he met. The tragedy of his vow was that first person was his own son, Idamante. The rash king had no choice but to kill his unfortunate son.

But according to Apollodorus, Idomeneus safely returned home after the war, but in his long absence, Meda had taken a lover named Leucus, at the instigation of Nauplius. Leucus managed to gain support from ten cities in Crete, so that he was able to deprive Idomeneus of his kingdom. Meda realised her mistake in taking a lover, and she fled to the temple, seeking refuge with her daughter, but Leucus followed and murdered Meda and her daughter Cleisithyra.

Leucas then drove Idomeneus out of Crete, but Apollodorus didn't state where he was exiled to. Vergil said that Idomeneus migrated with his followers to Calabria, in southern Italy.

According to the Odyssey, Idomeneus had another brother named Aethon. The Ithacan hero Odysseus used this name, when he was disguised as a beggar. Odysseus fabricated a story for his wife of how he met her husband.