Melanthius

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Melanthius was a noted Greek painter of the 4th century BC. He belonged to the school of Sicyon, which was noted for fine drawing.

Melanthius was also one of the minor characters who plays an important role in the context of Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey. He is a disloyal goatherd, treating Odysseus with contempt when Odysseus meets him by the fountain dedicated to the nymphs with Eumaeus, disguised as a beggar. Melanthius also mocks him at the palace in Ithaca and he meets his end at the hands of Odysseus. Melanthius helps the suitors and betrays Odysseus. When Odysseus wins, Odysseus seizes Melanthius, takes him to a court, chops Melanthius' nose and ears off with a sword, pulls off Melanthius' genitals to feed to the dogs, and chops Melanthius' hands and feet off.

Melanthius is also the name of a 150-mile (245-km) wide crater that is the distiguishing feature of Tethys, a moon of Saturn.

[edit] References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.