Autochthe Explained

In Greek mythology, Autochthe was a Mycenaean princess and a member of the Perseid dynasty.

Family

Autochthe was a daughter of King Perseus^[1] and Queen Andromeda of Mycenae, and thus likely the sister of Perses, Alcaeus, Sthenelus, Heleus, Mestor, Electryon and Gorgophone.^[2]

Mythology

Autochthe married Aegeus and had by him several daughters, but no sons.^[3] Some traditions held that she was the only spouse of Aegeus, yet in other accounts, the latter was said to have married and divorced several times because none of his wives (Meta, daughter of Hoples, and Chalciope, daughter of Rhexenor or Chalcodon) bore him male heirs, which put his kingdom at risk of being usurped by his brothers.^[4]

This marriage between Autochthe and Aegeus might have been political as well, since marriage with one of the Perseids would mean alliance between Argos and Athens.

References

• 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. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.
• Tzetzes, John, Book of Histories, Book V-VI translated by Konstantinos Ramiotis from the original Greek of T. Kiessling's edition of 1826. Online version at Theoi.com.
• Wissowa, Georg, Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft, Band II, Halbband 2, Stuttgart, J. B. Metzler, 1896. Online version at Wikisource.

Notes and References

1. RE, s.v. Autochthe; Tzetzes ad Lycophron, 494.
2. Book: Bell, Robert E. . Women of Classical Mythology: A Biographical Dictionary . ABC-CLIO . 1991 . 9780874365818 . 89–90.
3. Tzetzes, Chiliades 5.678 (19)
4. Tzetzes ad Lycophron, 494