Cresphontes

Scion-tier son of Aristomachus, founder of the Messenian Heraclidae line. Secured Messenia in the Heraclidae lot-cast through the canonical clay-lot fraud (Apollodorus 2.8.4; Pausanias 4.3.4-5) — the foundation-narrative of the Messenian royal claim and the structural seed of the centuries-long Messenian-Spartan rivalry. Killed in a Messenian succession-coup by Polyphontes; avenged by his son Aepytus, the central tragic-narrative of Euripides' lost play Cresphontes whose recognition-scene Aristotle (Poetics 14) cites as the model for the long-lost-child-returning-to-avenge-the-father trope.

Parentage

• father: AristomachusApollodorus 2.8.2 (primary)

Children

• Aepytus

Domains

• kingship

Powers

• Rule Messenia as Heraclid king
• Won Messenia by cheating the casting of lots

Relations

• spouse: Merope
• father: AristomachusApollodorus 2.8.2 (primary)
• sibling: TemenusBrother through their shared father Aristomachus.Apollodorus 2.8.2-5 (primary)
• sibling: AristodemusBrother through their shared father Aristomachus.Apollodorus 2.8.2-5 (primary)
• spouse: Merope (daughter of Cypselus, king of Arcadia) · GreekApollodorus 2.8.5; Pausanias 4.3.6 (primary)
• father of: Aepytus / Cresphontes the Younger (avenger of Cresphontes against Polyphontes) · GreekApollodorus 2.8.5; Pausanias 4.3.7-8; Hyginus Fab. 137 (primary)
• killed by: Polyphontes (Heraclid usurper of the Messenian throne) · GreekApollodorus 2.8.5; Pausanias 4.3.7-8 (primary)

Sources

• existence: Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2.8.2-5; Pausanias, Description of Greece 4.3.3-8; Hyginus, Fabulae 137 (the Aepytus-Polyphontes-revenge cycle); Euripides, Cresphontes (fragmentary, Aristotle Poetics 14 references the recognition-scene); Polybius 4.33.2-3 (primary)
• parentage: Apollodorus 2.8.2 (primary)