Icarius (Spartan)

Icarius was the son of either Perieres and Gorgophone[1][2] or of Oebalus and Bateia[3] and thus brother of Hippocoon and Tyndareus. By Periboea, he became the father of Penelope, Perileos, Thoas, Damasippus, Imeusimus, Aletes and Iphthime.[4] According to other traditions, Icarius was the father of Penelope, Alyzeus and Leucadius by Polycaste.[5]

His other possible wives were Dorodoche (daughter of Ortilochus) and Asterodia (daughter of Eurypylus);[6] the latter was said to have born him five sons - Amasichus, Phalereus, Thoon, Pheremmelias, Perilaos - and a daughter Laodice[7] or Laodamia.[8] In some accounts, by Erymede, daughter of a son Damasiclus, he became the father of Elatus, father of Taenarus.[9]

Icarius was a Spartan king and a champion runner who would not allow anyone to marry his daughter unless he beat him in a race. Odysseus succeeded and married Penelope.[10] After they got married, Icarius tried to persuade Odysseus to remain in Sparta. He did leave with Penelope, but Icarius followed them, imploring his daughter to stay. Odysseus told her she must choose whether to be with her father or with her husband. Penelope did not answer, but modestly covered her face with a veil. Icarius correctly understood that this was a sign of her will to leave with Odysseus, let them go and erected a statue of Aidos (Modesty) on the spot.[11] Icarius was apparently still alive at the time of the events of the Odyssey.