Assaracus

For the taxonomic synonym of a genus of plants, see Narcissus (plant).

In Greek mythology, Assaracus (/əˈsærəkəs/; Ancient Greek: Ἀσσάρακος Assarakos) was a king of Dardania.^[1]

Family

Assaracus was the second son of Tros, King of Dardania^[2] by his wife Callirhoe, daughter of Scamander,^[3] or Acallaris, daughter of Eumedes.^[4] He was the brother of Ilus, Ganymede, Cleopatra and possibly of Cleomestra.^[5] Assaracus married Hieromneme, daughter of Simoeis; others say his wife was Clytodora, daughter of Laomedon.^[4] By either of them, he became the father of his son and heir Capys.^[6]

According to a less common version, Aesyetes and Cleomestra were also mentioned as parents of Assaracus. In this account, his brothers were Alcathous and Antenor.^[7] According to the Roman mythographer Hyginus, Ganymedes was not a brother of Assaracus, but rather his son.^[8]

Mythology

Assaracus inherited the throne of Dardania when his elder brother Ilus preferred to reign instead over his newly founded city of Ilium (which also became known as Troy). When he died, the kingship passed to his son Capys. As a tribute to all his good work, Assaracus was buried in the midst of Troy, close to the temple of Athena and the later palace of Priam.^[9]

Family tree

v t e Trojan race

Oceanus Tethys Atlas Pleione Scamander Idaea Simoeis Zeus/Jupiter Electra Teucer Dardanus Batea Ilus Erichthonius Astyoche Callirrhoe Tros Ilus Ganymede Assaracus Hieromneme Laomedon Themiste Capys Priam Anchises Aphrodite/Venus Latinus Creusa Aeneas Lavinia Ascanius Silvius Aeneas Silvius Latinus Silvius Alba Atys Capys Capetus Tiberinus Silvius Agrippa Romulus Silvius Aventinus Procas Numitor Amulius Ares/Mars Rhea Silvia/Ilia Hersilia Romulus Remus