In Greek mythology, Menoetius (Ancient Greek: Μενοίτιος Menoítios, ‘destroyed strength,’ ‘ruined fortitude’ or ‘doomed power’) was a son of the Titan Iapetus and the Oceanid Asia and brother of Atlas, Prometheus, and Epimetheus. The name Menoetius derives from the ancient Greek word μενοίτιος (menos), which means maybe power, spirit, passion, and batterage.
| Menoetius | |
|---|---|
| God of Fury | |
| Native name | Μενοίτιος |
| Parents | Iapetus and Clymene or Asia |
| Sibling(s) | Atlas, Prometheus, and Epimetheus |
He was a glorious warrior, but he insulted Zeus and Zeus hurled a bolt of lightning at him on Mount Triphilus (or Sipylus). According to other sources, he was merely crippled and banished to Tartaros. Perhaps he is identical with Menoites or Menoitios, the shepherd of Hades on Erytheia, who notified Geryon when Heracles stole his flock.
Hesiod mentions the “proud Menoetius” (v. 510) and reports that he is struck down by Zeus and plunged into Erebus “to punish his wickedness and boundless audacity” (v. 515). Apollodorus places the scene in the context of the Titanomachy and speaks of Tartarus rather than Erebus. Menoetius was a titan god who represented violent hatred and rash acts.
Menoitios had three siblings of the Titans: Prometheus, Atlas, and Epimetheus. He was one of the participants in the revolt of the Titans against the Olympian gods. He sided with Cronus during the Titanomachy and after attacking Olympus, Zeus knocked him down to Tartarus as punishment for his arrogance and pride.
According to the ancient author Hesiod, he sent him to Erebus, where sinful souls were also punished. No names of his wives or offspring are known. Nothing more is known of this character, and he had such a secondary character that even Hyginus omitted him from his list of Japetonids. But the same author also deviates from the common tradition and names their mother as one of the Nereids.
Other Menoetius
A less important bearer of the name Menoetius was the king of Opus, the father of Patrocles. He took part in the expedition of the Argonauts; he was a favorite of Heracles.
The third Menoetius was shepherd of the herds of Hades on the island of Erytheia. He told Geryon that Heracles had driven away his cows. When Heracles took a cow to the underworld for dead souls, Menoetius wrestled with him and his ribs were broken.
References
- Libraries of Apollodorus 1,2,3
- Hesiod Theogony 507–514
