Rhadamanthus

Rhadamanthus (/ˌrædəˈmænθəs/) or Rhadamanthys (Ancient Greek: Ῥαδάμανθυς) was a wise king of Crete in Greek mythology. As a son of Zeus and Europa, he was considered a demigod and later became one of the judges of the dead. His name, with its obscure etymology, became synonymous with stern and inflexible judgment.

According to the main mythological tradition, Rhadamanthus was the brother of Sarpedon and Minos (who also became a king and later a judge of the dead). The brothers were raised by their stepfather Asterion. Rhadamanthus fathered two sons: Gortys, associated with the Cretan city of Gortyn, and Erythrus, founder of Erythrae.

An alternative tradition, reported by Pausanias and attributed to the Spartan poet Cinaethon, portrays Rhadamanthus as the son of Hephaestus, grandson of Talos, and great-grandson of Cres (the personification of Crete). The lyric poet Ibycus described Rhadamanthus as Talos's lover rather than descendant, with the Byzantine encyclopedia Suda adding that these two figures introduced homosexuality to Crete.

Some sources, including Plutarch, identify Rhadamanthus as the husband of Ariadne and father of Oenopion, Staphylus, and Thoas. This Ariadne was the daughter of Minos, making this a marriage between uncle and niece. This account differs from the more familiar story where Dionysus rescues Theseus's Ariadne.

Beyond his role as an underworld judge, Rhadamanthus was known for his legislative activities. He reportedly created a law requiring Cretans to swear oaths by animals and another law exempting people from penalties if they were defending themselves against aggressors. In Plato's Laws, Rhadamanthus is described as "the justest of men" and praised for his administration of justice, with his legal system serving as a model for Sparta.