A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

Smith, William

A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. William Smith, LLD, ed. 1890

(Ἀκάμας).

1. A son of Theseus and Phaedra, and brother of Demophoon. (Diod. 4.62.) Previous to the expedition of the Greeks against Troy, he and Diomedes were sent to demand the surrender of Helen (this message Homer ascribes to Menelaus and Odysseus, Il. 11.139, &c.), but during his stay at Troy he won the affection of Laodice, daughter of Priam (Parthen. Nic. Erot. 16), and begot by her a son, Munitus, who was brought up by Aethra, the grandmother of Acamas. (Schol. ad Lycophr. 499, &c.) Virgil (Aen. 2.262) mentions him among the Greeks concealed in the wooden horse at the taking of Troy. On his return home he was detained in Thrace by his love for Phyllis; but after leaving Thrace and arriving in the island of Cyprus, he was killed by a fall from his horse upon his own sword. (Schol. ad Lycophr. l.c.) The promontory of Acamas in Cyprus, the town of Acamentium in Phrygia, and the Attic tribe Acamantis, derived their names from him. (Steph. Byz. s. v. Ἀκαμάντιον; Paus. 1.5.2.) He was painted in the Lesche at Delphi by Polygnotus, and there was also a statue of him at Delphi. (Paus. 10.26.1, 10.10.1.)