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'''Aeacus''' was a son of [[Zeus]], the father of [[Peleus]], and grandfather of [[Achilles]].

In [[Greek Mythology]], '''Aeacus''' was the first king of the island of [[Aegina]].  He was the son of [[Zeus]] and Aegina, daughter of the river god Asopus and the woman for whom the island was named.  Zeus used an eagle to carry Aegina off to the island, originally called Oenone, where she bore him Aeacus.  Her father Asopus searched for her, asking King [[Sisyphus]] of [[Corinth]] for help.  Sisyphus had seen the eagle and told the river god about it.  Zeus was enraged that Sisyphus had informed on him.  In the Underworld, the king was forced to roll a rock uphill that would roll back down over him forever.

 

When he grew up, Aeacus became the island's king.  Because of his parentage, Aeacus was hated by [[Hera]], wife of Zeus.  She sent a terrible plague or drought that killed many of the island's people.  Aeachus travelled to the temple of Zeus.  He prayed that Zeus send rain and that he make Aegina's people as numerous as a nearby troop of ants.  Zeus sent rain and miraculously transformed the ants into men.  These were the [[Myrmidons]], legendary warriors of Aegina named for the ant (''myrmex'').

 

Aeacus' sons were Telamon and [[Peleus]]. Peleus was a hero and the father of [[Achilles]].  Achilles was sometimes named with the epithet ''Aeacides'', "descendant of Aeacus."  In the [[Attica|Attic]] mythological tradition, Aeacus was honored after his death for his famous wisdom.  He was made one of the three judges of the Underworld, alongside [[Rhadamanthus]] and King [[Minos]].  In Greece's pagan period, Aeacus' legendary prayer to Zeus was honored with a temple on Aegina and an annual festival, the Aiakeia.

 

 

Hamilton, Edith (1942).  Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes.  New York: Warner Books.

[[Category:Greek Mythology]]

[[Category:Greek Mythology]]