Adrastus

A son of the Phrygian king Gordius, who had unintentionally killed his brother, and was in consequence expelled by his father and deprived of everything. He took refuge as a suppliant at the court of king Croesus, who purified him and received him kindly.

After some time he was sent out as guardian of Attis, the son of Croesus, who was to deliver the country from a wild boar which had made great havoc all around. Adrastus had the misfortune to kill prince Atys, while he was aiming at the wild beast. Croesus pardoned the unfortunate man, as he saw in this accident the will of the gods and the fulfillment of a prophecy; but Adrastus could not endure to live longer and killed himself on the tomb of Attis.

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References

Sources

  • Herodotus. Histories i, 34-35.
  • Smith, William. (1870). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. London: Taylor, Walton, and Maberly.

This article incorporates text from Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) by William Smith, which is in the public domain.