
Menestheus was King of Athens during the early 13th century BC, succeeding Theseus and preceding Demophon.
Biography[]
Menestheus was the son of Peteus and the great-grandson of King Erechtheus of Athens, and he was one of the suitors of Helen on the eve of the Trojan War. He was thus obliged to aid her husband Menelaus against Helen's abductor Paris of Troy in 1193 BC, and he contributed 50 black ships to the Achaean cause. While he was a great organizer of soldiers, he was not known to be valiant, frequently avoiding action, and only fighting in the taking of Troy after participating in the "Trojan Horse" ruse. After the war, he sailed to Melos and became its king, and, on his death, the throne of Athens returned to Theseus' family.