ADMETUS (mortal king of Pherae)
Figure of myth · king of Pherae in Thessaly, in Greek mythology
- Parents
- Pheres
- Consorts
- Alcestis
- Children
- Eumelus
- Haunts and cult places
- Pherae
- In the sources
- 67 ancient passages
Described as one of the most loyal names of Phoebus, he was also called fortunate, though his later years were marked by age and deep sorrow.1,2 He was known for his hospitality, having hosted guests from many parts of the world and claiming his house never learned to scorn visitors.3,4
Admetus wooed Alcestis, the daughter of Pelias, and secured her hand by presenting yoked animals to her father.5 However, he neglected to perform a sacrifice to Artemis during their wedding rites.5 Apollo, filled with love for him, served as a herdsman for a year and saved Admetus from death by deceiving the goddesses of fate.6,7,8,9,10,11 This divine intervention promised escape from death only if someone willingly died in his place.5,10
When the appointed day arrived, Alcestis chose to die in his stead, leaving Admetus to weep as he held his dying wife and begged her not to leave him.5,10,12,13,14 Grief-stricken, he lamented that he wished he had never married her, feeling that death had taken a hostage and given it to Hades.15,16,17 He vowed to remain unmarried and reject any future bride to protect his children from a stepmother, commanding that all musical instruments remain silent for twelve months.14,18,19 Wearing black robes and with his head shorn, he found the desolation of his widowed home unbearable, refusing to enter the place where he felt unable to dwell.20,21,17,22
Despite his profound grief, Admetus welcomed Heracles into his home, concealing his wife's impending death by claiming he was burying a stranger.23,3,24,25 He ordered his servants to hide their tears and prepare separate rooms to mask the family's weeping from the visiting hero.3,4 Accusing his father of cowardice for refusing to die in his place, Admetus acknowledged that his parents had sacrificed their own lives to save him when he was young, yet he hated them for being friends in word but not in deed.26,27,14,18 The guest, sent by Eurystheus, was destined to forcibly take Alcestis from Death.28
Beyond his domestic life, Admetus participated in great heroics, joining the nobles who sailed on the Argo and assembling with other heroes to hunt the Calydonian boar.29,30 In later years, he drove white mares with dark flecks in a chariot race, shouting to urge them on while struggling to keep them under control.2,31 His legacy was one of enduring grief, a sorrow he would never forget, as he prepared to throw himself upon a full-length figure of his wife in his bed and call her name.12,32,18 Though he had children who shared in his sorrow, his heart remained fixed on the loss of the woman who had given her life for his sake.33,18,19
The codex facts behind this entry
Admetus was the king of Pherae in Thessaly. Argonautica 1 ¶8 +2 Admetus is the son of Pheres and the only child of his parents. Apollodorus 1.8.2 +1
In the myths
Admetus concealed his wife's impending death from Heracles by claiming he was burying a stranger to prevent causing the hero additional grief. Euripides, Alcestis 1006-1036 +3 Admetus wished to die alongside his wife to accompany her to the underworld, asking her to prepare a home for him in the afterlife. Euripides, Alcestis 136-212 +3 Admetus welcomed Heracles into his home as a guest despite his wife's recent death and personal grief. Euripides, Alcestis 1006-1036 +2 Admetus acknowledges that his wife died specifically for his sake by giving her own life to save his. Euripides, Alcestis 328-370 +1 Apollo served Admetus as a herdsman for one year. Apollodorus 3.10.4 +1 Apollo saved Admetus from death by deceiving the goddesses of fate. Euripides, Alcestis 1-27 +1 Admetus accuses his father of cowardice for refusing to die in his place. Euripides, Alcestis 629-674 +1 Admetus avoided death previously, which resulted in his wife dying in his place. Euripides, Alcestis 136-212 +1 Admetus wept while holding his dying wife in his arms, begging her not to leave him. Euripides, Alcestis 136-212 +1 Admetus lamented his wife's death, wishing he had never married or shared his home with her. Euripides, Alcestis 371-392 +1
Fate
Alcestis chose to die in his place when his death day arrived. Apollodorus 1.9.15 +2 Admetus was saved from death when Alcestis voluntarily died in his place. Apollodorus 1.9.15 +1 Admetus was promised escape from death if someone died willingly for him. Apollodorus 1.9.15 +1 Admetus has a legacy of grief that he will never forget. Euripides, Alcestis 136-212 +1
