InGreek mythology,Menestheus (/mɪˈnɛsθiːəs/;Ancient Greek: Μενεσθεύς) was a legendaryking of Athens during theTrojan War. He was set up as king by the twinsCastor and Pollux whenTheseus travelled to the Underworld after abducting their sister,Helen, and exiled Theseus from the city after his return.^[1]

Menestheus was the son ofPeteus,^[2] son ofOrneus,^[3] son ofErechtheus, one of the early kings of Athens. His mother was calledPolyxene orMnesimache.^[4]

Menestheus was one of the suitors ofHelen of Troy,^[5] and when theTrojan War started he brought "fifty black ships" toTroy.^[6] In theIliad, it is noted that no one could arrange chariots and shield-bearing warriors in battle orders better than Menestheus, and that onlyNestor could vie with him in that respect.^[7] InHerodotus, he is referred to as 'the best man to go to Troy and to draw up and marshal the troops'^[8] by the Athenian sent to request aid fromGelon, the dictator ofSyracuse.

Yet, further, he is characterised as not valiant. WhenAgamemnon was reviewing his troops he found Menestheus in the back rows seemingly avoiding action.^[9] Later, whenSarpedon attacked the portion of the Greek wall that he was in charge of, Menestheus shivered and had to call onTelamonian Ajax andTeucer for aid.^[10] Menestheus was one of the warriors in theTrojan Horse.^[11] After Troy was sacked, he sailed toMimas, then toMelos where he became king.^[12]

When Menestheus died, Athens passed back to the family ofTheseus, with Theseus' youngest son Demophon ascending to the throne.^[13]

• 4068 Menestheus, Jovian asteroid

• Apollodorus,The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4.Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.Greek text available from the same website.
• Herodotus,The Histories with an English translation by A. D. Godley. Cambridge. Harvard University Press. 1920.ISBN 0-674-99133-8.Online version at the Topos Text Project.Greek text available at Perseus Digital Library.
• Homer,The Iliad with an English Translation by A.T. Murray, Ph.D. in two volumes. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924.ISBN 978-0674995796.Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
• Homer,Homeri Opera in five volumes. Oxford, Oxford University Press. 1920.ISBN 978-0198145318.Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
• Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus,Lives with an English Translation by Bernadotte Perrin. Cambridge, MA. Harvard University Press. London. William Heinemann Ltd. 1914. 1.Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.Greek text available from the same website.
• Pausanias,Description of Greece with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918.ISBN 0-674-99328-4.Online version at the Perseus Digital Library
• Pausanias,Graeciae Descriptio.3 vols. Leipzig, Teubner. 1903.Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
• Quintus Smyrnaeus,The Fall of Troy translated by Way. A. S. Loeb Classical Library Volume 19. London: William Heinemann, 1913.Online version at theio.com
• Quintus Smyrnaeus,The Fall of Troy. Arthur S. Way. London: William Heinemann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 1913.Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
• Tzetzes, John,Allegories of the Iliad translated by Goldwyn, Adam J. and Kokkini, Dimitra. Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library, Harvard University Press, 2015.ISBN 978-0-674-96785-4

• Achaean Leaders
• Kings of Athens

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