InGreek mythology, KingCercaphus (Ancient Greek: Κέρκαφος) ofRhodes was one of theHeliadae, sons ofHelios andRhodos, personification of the island.[1]
Cercaphus and his brothersOchimus,Tenages,Macareus,Actis,Triopas,Candalus (Nonnus[2] addsAuges andThrinax) surpassed all other men asastrologers andseafarers. The most highly endowed of them, Tenages was killed byMacareus,Actis,Triopas andCandalus who were envious of him. When their treacherous act became known, these four murderers took flight to other lands and established themselves as kings and founders there.[3]
The remaining two who had no hand in the murder, Cercaphus andOchimus, stayed at the island of Rhodes and made their homes in the territory ofIalysus, where they founded the city of Achaea. There Ochimus being the eldest of the seven became the king. Cercaphus married his nieceCydippe (also known as Cyrbia or Lysippe[4]), daughter of Ochimus andHegetoria, and subsequently inherited the island.[5] According to an alternate version, because of his love for the maiden who was already engaged by Ochimus toOcridion, Cercaphus persuaded the herald (for it used to be the custom to use heralds to fetch the brides) to bring Cydippê to him when he received her. When this had been accomplished, Cercaphus kidnapped the girl and did not return her until Ochimus had grown old.[6]
After the death of Cercaphus, his three sons by Cydippe:Lindus,Ialysus andCamirus succeeded to the supreme power. During their lifetime there came a great devastating deluge, in which their mother Cydippe was buried beneath the flood and laid waste. Later on, they divided the island among themselves, and each founded a city they named after themselves (modernLindus, Ialysos andKameiros).[7]