Anaxagoras was the son of Argeos and Pyrante. He succeeded his father as King of Argos. He was the third Preotid King of Argos because his grandfather, Megapenthes, swapped the Kingdom of Mycenae for that of Argos.
Anaxagoras had two children by his wife Hyrmine. His sons were Alector and Iphis. Both succeeded their father as king over his third. His grandson (through Ihpis) was Sthenelius, who inherited the Melampid third of Argos. Sthenelius' son Cylabares inherited the last third, reuniting Argos.
Division of Argos[]
In order to reward Melampus, Anaxagoras divided Argos into three parts. He retained one, gave one to Melampus and one to Bias (Melampus' brother).
In one version, Melampus cured Alector of an illness placed upon the boy by a hamadryad, who had been injured by Anaxagoras' knife when it was tossed aside during a sacrifice (because Alector was frightened of the blade). Melampus demanded two thirds of Argos, one for himself and one for Bias.
In another version, Dionysus had driven the Argive women mad. Melampus came to Anaxagoras with a proposition; he could cure the women in exchange for a third of Argos. The king refused but, as the women became madder and more dangerous, he relented. However, Melampus increased his price to two thirds. Melampus held up his side of the agreement by curing the women at a sanctuary of Artemis, and Anaxagoras gave up two thirds of Argos for Melampus and Bias.
Family[]
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Preceded by: Argeos |
King of Argos Mythic |
Succeeded by Alector (one third) Melampus (one third) Bias (one third) |