Eurytus and Cteatus

In Greek mythology, Eurytus (/ˈjʊərɪtəs/; Ancient Greek: Εὔρυτος) and Cteatus (/ˈtətəs/; Ancient Greek: Κτέατος) were twin brothers and also named the Moliones or Molionidai for their mother, Molione.

Family

Eurytus and Cteatus were the sons of either Actor or Poseidon and nephew of Augeas. Eurytus and Cteatus married the twin daughters of Dexamenus, Theraephone and Therenice, respectively. Their respective sons, Thalpius and Amphimachus, were counted among the Achaean leaders in the Trojan War.[1]

Mythology

Greek legend maintains that the brothers were born conjoined with only one body but two heads, four arms and four legs,[2] though Homer makes no mention of this.

Both brothers went on expeditions of war to the Neleus and the Pylians, and later led an army marching against their uncle Augeas at the behest of Heracles. However after the latter made peace, the brothers attacked Heracles and were subsequently killed by him outside Cleonae.[3][4]

Notes

  1. Homer, Iliad, 2. 615
  2. Hesiod, Catalogue of Women frr. 17(a)–18.
  3. Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, ii.7.2
  4. Smith (1846). Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. Taylor, Walton, Maberly. p. 1111.
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