Helenus
- son of Priam and Hecuba, a celebrated soothsayer, Cic. Div. 1, 40, 89; Verg. A. 3, 295; 329 sq.; Ov. M. 13, 99; Just. 17, 3.
(Ἕλενος). A famous soothsayer, son of Priam and Hecuba, and the only one of their sons who survived the siege of Troy. He was so chagrined, according to some, at having failed to obtain Helen in marriage after the death of Paris that he retired to Mount Ida, and was there, by the advice of Calchas, surprised and carried away to the Grecian camp by Odysseus. Among other predictions, Helenus declared that Troy could not be taken unless Philoctetes (q.v.) could be prevailed to quit his retreat and repair to the siege. After the destruction of Troy, he, together with Andromaché, fell to the share of Pyrrhus, whose favour he conciliated by deterring him from sailing with the rest of the Greeks, who (as he foretold) would be exposed to a severe tempest on leaving the Trojan shore. Pyrrhus not only manifested his gratitude by giving him Andromaché in marriage, but nominated him as his successor in the kingdom of Epirus, to the exclusion of his own son Molossus, who did not ascend the throne until after the death of Helenus. A son named Cestrinus was the offspring of the union of Helenus with Andromaché (Verg. Aen. iii. 294 foll.).
- Apollod. 3.12.5, Paus. 2.23.5, Paus. 10.25.5
- reputed wise: Paus. 5.22.2
- claims Helen in marriage against Deiphobus: Apollod. E.5.8
- captured by Ulysses, he tells how Ilium may be taken: Apollod. E.5.8, Apollod. E.5.10
- gets Hecuba and buries her: Apollod. E.5.23
- goes with Neoptolemus to Molossia, founds a city, and marries Deidamia: Apollod. E.6.11
- goes with Pyrrhus to Epirus: Paus. 2.23.6
- marries Andromache and has son Cestrinus by her: Paus. 1.11.1, Paus. 2.23.6
- his oracles: Paus. 1.11.1
- his tomb shown at Argos: Paus. 2.23.5
- painted by Polygnotus: Paus. 10.25.5
- statue at Olympia: Paus. 5.22.2
- Apollod. E.7.29