COCALUS (king of Kamikos in Sicily)
Figure of myth · king of Kamikos in Sicily
- Foes
- Minos
- Haunts and cult places
- Sicily
- In the sources
- 15 ancient passages
Cocalus was the king of the people in the territory of Acragas in Sicily, ruling the kingdom of Camici.1,2,3,4 He resided in the Sicilian city of Inycus.5 He established his royal residence in a city built by Daedalus on the Camicus river.6 Cocalus took up arms to support Dædalus when the craftsman was in a state of fatigue, and he was praised for his kindness toward him.7 The king provided a hiding place for Daedalus at his court and welcomed him with courtesy after he escaped Crete.8,6,1 Cocalus hosted the craftsman for a significant period while Daedalus worked in Sicily.8,6 He stored his personal treasures within the impregnable city designed by Daedalus.6
Minos waged a military campaign against Cocalus in Sicily because of Daedalus.3,9 Cocalus promised to hand over Daedalus to Minos and accepted a spiral shell from the king, promising to thread it.10,1 He handed the spiral shell over to Daedalus instead.1 Cocalus hosted a feast for Minos before his death.10 His daughters washed Minos when he arrived in Sicily.11 Cocalus's daughters plotted to kill Minos to please the imprisoned man.10,5 The king killed Minos by keeping him in hot bath water for too long, under the pretense of a conference.10,4
He told the Cretans that Minos died from slipping in the bath.4 His Sicani servants burned the ships of the Cretans.4 Minos died in Sicily during his war against Cocalus.9 The kingdom of Cocalus was destroyed along with other aboriginal cities.2
The codex facts behind this entry
Cocalus was the king of the people in the territory of Acragas in Sicily. Diodorus 4.75 +1
In the myths
Cocalus invited Minos to his home under the pretense of a conference and killed him by keeping him in hot bath water for too long. Apollodorus, Epitome 1.15 +3 Daedalus fled to Cocalus after escaping Crete, and Cocalus welcomed him with courtesy, hosting him for a significant period while the craftsman worked in Sicily. Diodorus 4.77 +2 Cocalus's daughters plotted to kill Minos to please the imprisoned man. Apollodorus, Epitome 1.15 +1
