Aletes of Mycenae

For other mythological heroes, seeAletes (mythology).

InGreek mythology,Aletes(Ancient Greek:Ἀλήτης) was the son ofAegisthusandClytemnestra,the king and queen ofMycenae.He had two sisters:ErigoneandHelen.

Mythology

When Aletes and his siblings were young, their parents were killed byOrestes,who was their half-brother and the son of Clytemnestra andAgamemnon(this was in revenge for Clytemnestra killing Agamemnon, which she did in revenge for Agamemnon killing their daughterIphigenia). The infant Helen was also killed or at least died young.

In most accounts, Orestes leaves Mycenae after he kills his mother and is pursued by theFuries.He wanders, is purified, and eventually marries his cousinHermione,who lives in Sparta (he is also said to have traveled toCrimeato visit Iphigenia, who in some stories miraculously survived her father's attempt to sacrifice her toArtemis).

Meanwhile, Aletes has come of age, and he assumes the throne at Mycenae. Orestes returns with troops, kills Aletes, and takes the throne. Orestes is said to have a son,Penthilus,with his half-sister Erigone, though stories differ as to whether this was by rape or if they married. Some say Erigone hanged herself.

References

• Gaius Julius Hyginus,Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginustranslated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies.Online version at the Topos Text Project.