Rhadamanthus

Rhadamanthus (also transliterated as Rhadamanthys or Rhadamanthos) in Greek mythology was a son of Zeus and Europa and brother of Minos, king of Crete and Sarpedon. He was raised by Asterion. He had two sons, Gortys and Erythrus.

Related Topics:
Transliterated - Greek mythology - Zeus - Europa - Minos - Crete - Sarpedon - Asterion

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According to one account Rhadamanthus ruled Crete before Minos, and gave the island an excellent code of laws, which the Spartans were believed to have copied.

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Driven out of Crete by his brother, Minos, who was jealous of his popularity, he fled to Boeotia, where he wedded Alcmene. Homer represents him as dwelling in the Elysian fields (Odyssey, iv. 564).

Related Topics:
Boeotia - Alcmene - Homer - Elysian fields

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According to later legends, on account of his inflexible integrity he was made one of the judges of the dead in the lower world, together with Aeacus and Minos. He was supposed to judge the souls of Asians, Aeacus those of Europeans, while Minos had the casting vote (Plato, Gorgias, 424A).

Related Topics:
Aeacus - Minos - Asian - Europeans - Plato

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Dante makes Rhadamanthus one of the judges of the damned in the Inferno section of Divine Comedy. "Rhadamanthine" has since come to describe any just but inflexible judgment.

Related Topics:
Dante - Inferno - Divine Comedy

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The Trans-Neptunian_Object 38083 Rhadamanthus is named after this figure.

Related Topics:
Trans-Neptunian_Object - 38083 Rhadamanthus

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