Molus of Crete

In Greek mythology, the name Molus (/ˈmoʊləs/; Ancient Greek: Μῶλος Molos means "toil and moil") was the illegitimate son of Deucalion, son of Minos, king of Crete or of Minos instead. He was the father, by Melphis or Euippe,[1] of Meriones, the charioteer of Idomeneus in the Trojan War.

Mythology

Pseudo-Apollodorus' account

"To Deucalion were born Idomeneus and Crete and a bastard son Molus."[2]

Diodorus Siculus' account

"Minos’ sons, they say, were Deucalion and Molus, and to Deucalion was born Idomeneus and to Molus was born Meriones. These two joined with Agamemnon in the expedition against Ilium with ninety ships, and when they had returned in safety to their fatherland they died and were accorded a notable burial and immortal honours. And the Cretans point out their tomb at Cnosus, which bears the following inscription:

Behold Idomeneus the Cnosian’s tomb, and by his side am I, Meriones, the son of Molus."[3]

Hyginus' account

"Meriones, son of Molus and Melphis, from Crete, with 40 ships." [Catalogue of ships for the Trojan War][4]

Notes

1. Tzetzes, Homeric Allegories, Prologue, 588
2. Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 3.3.1
3. Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca historica 5.79.4
4. Hyginus, Fabulae 97

References

• Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History translated by Charles Henry Oldfather. Twelve volumes. Loeb Classical Library. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. 1989. Vol. 3. Books 4.59–8. Online version at Bill Thayer's Web Site
• Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica. Vol 1-2. Immanel Bekker. Ludwig Dindorf. Friedrich Vogel. in aedibus B. G. Teubneri. Leipzig. 1888–1890. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
• Gaius Julius Hyginus, Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. Online version at the Topos Text Project.
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.