Menestheus

• I A son of Iphicrates the Athenian, Nep. lphicr. 3.—
• II A king of the Athenians, a leader in the Trojan war, Just. 2, 6.—
• III A charioteer of Diomedes, Stat. Th. 6, 661; 712.—
• IV = Mnestheus, q. v.

(Μενεσθεύς), a son of Peteus, an Athenian king, who led the Athenians against Troy, and surpassed all other mortals in arranging the war-steeds and men for battle (Hom. Il. 2.552, &c., 4.327; Philostr. Her. 2.16; Paus. 2.25.6). With the assistance of the Tyndarids, he is said to have driven Theseus from his kingdom, and to have died at Troy (Plut. Thes. 32, 35; Paus. 1.17.6). A second personage of this name occurs in Virgil. (Aen. 10.129.) [L.S.]

(Μενεσθεύς), son of Iphicrates, the famous Athenian general, by the daughter of Cotys, king of Thrace. Hence he said that he owed more to his mother than to his father; for that the latter, as far as in him lay, had made him a Thracian; the former had made him an Athenian. (Nep. Iph. 3; comp. Vol. II. p. 617a.) He was born probably about B. C. 377 (see Rehdantz, Vit. Iphic. Chabr. Timoth. 2.4); and, as he grew up, his great height and size caused him to be thought older than he really was, so that he was called on, while yet a boy, to undertake λειτουπγιαι, a demand which Iphicrates resisted. (Arist. Rhet. 2.23.17.) He married the daughter of Timotheus; and in B. C. 356 was chosen commander in the Social war, his father and his father-in-law, according to C. Nepos, being appointed to aid him with their counsel and experience. They were all three impeached by their colleague, Chares, for alleged misconduct and treachery in the campaign; but Iphicrates and Menestheus were acquitted in B. C. 355. (Nep. Tim. 3; Dion Hal. Dem. p. 667; Rehdantz, Vit. Iphic. &c., 6.7, 7. §§ 5, 7; comp. Diod. 16.21; Wess. ad loc.; Isocr. περί ἀντιδ. § 137.) Menestheus was distinguished for his military skill; and we find him again appointed commander of a squadron of 100 galleys, sent out, in B. C. 335, to check the Macedonians, who had intercepted some Athenian ships on their voyage down from the Euxine. We do not know the exact period of his death, but it took place before B. C. 325. (Plut. Phoc. 7; Pseudo-Dem., περί τῶν πρὸς Ἀλεξ. συνθ. p.217, Epist. iii. p. 1482; Rehdantz, Vit. Iphic. &c., 7.8.) [Iphicrates.] [E.E]

a sculptor whose name has been preserved by a fragment of a statue, bearing ΜΕΝΕΞΘΕΥΞ ΜΕΝΕΞΘΕΩΞ ΑΦΠΟΔΙΞΙΕΥΞ ΕΠΟΙΕΙ. (Gruter, p. 1021, 2.) [P.S]

(Μενεσθεύς). (1) The son of Peteos, who seized the government of Attica, while Theseus pined away in the nether world, and commanded the Athenians before Troy, where he fell. (See Demophoön; Theseus.)

(2) The charioteer of Diomedes.

(3) The son of the Athenian general Iphicrates. With his father and his father-in-law he was impeached by their colleague Chares for misconduct in their command during the Social War (B.C. 356); but Iphicrates and Menestheus were acquitted (Diod.xvi. 21).

• suitor of Helen: Apollod. 3.10.7; Paus. 2.25.6
• brought back by the Dioscuri from exile and given the sovereignty of Athens: Apollod. E.1.22; Paus. 1.17.5
• courts favour of people: Paus. 1.17.6
• Athenians lean to Menestheus rather than to Theseus: Paus. 3.18.5
• leader of the Athenians against Troy: Apollod. E.3.11; Paus. 1.1.2, Paus. 2.25.6
• in Wooden Horse: Paus. 1.23.8
• sails to Mimas: Apollod. E.6.15
• reigns as king in Melos: Apollod. E.6.15
• his death: Paus. 1.3.3