Tectamus

Tectamus /ˈtɛktəməs/^[1] (Ancient Greek: Τέκταμος "craftsman",^[2] derived from tectainomai "to build", "plan", from tecton, "carpenter", "builder") was a king of Crete and hero of ancient Hellenic mythology. He was also called Tectaphus,^[3] Teutamus (Τεύταμος), Tectauus (Τεκταῦος) and Tectaeus (Τεκταῖος).

Name

Joseph Vendryes had suggested that the name Teutamus, after the legendary Pelasgian founder, may contain the Proto-Indo-European root *teutéh_a- ('tribe, people').^[4] Later scholars proposed a relation of Pelasgian Teutamus with similar names that appear in Italy in later times.^[5]

Mythology

Tectamus was the son of Dorus and grandson of Hellen. According to Diodorus Siculus, Tectamus invaded Crete together with a horde of Aeolian and Pelasgian settlers and became the island's king.^[6] It was the third of the tribes that migrated to Crete. According to another version, Tectamus was a chief of Dorians and Achaeans.^[7] He married Cretheus' (Cres’) daughter who gave birth to his son Asterion.

In later Greek historiography

Historian Ctesias wrote of a king of "Assyrian" provenance named Teutamus, and this historical personage appears in an epic tale involving Memnon, son of Eos.^[8]