DARDANUS (mythological Greek character)

He was a brother of Iasion, who lived on Samothrace.^1,10 Accounts list Eetion as a sibling born to the same mother and Harmonia as a sister, though only Iasion is explicitly placed on the island.^11,10,1 After his brother was struck by lightning, Dardanus left Samothrace in a many-benched ship to travel to the mainland coast.^1,12,11

Arriving in Teucria, he constructed a city at the base of Mount Ida and named the entire country Dardania after Teucer died.^6,12,1 He also founded and named the settlement Dardania, organized the kingdom located near the later city of Troy, and named the local peoples Dardanians after his own name.^{13,14,15,6,10} Some kings later moved the inhabitants of Dardanus to the nearby city of Abydos, while other kings resettled the people back to their original dwelling place.¹⁶ He sent colonists who became the Dardani living beyond Thrace, and the Corani people claim descent from him.^10,17

Dardanus married Batia, the daughter of King Teucrus, and also married the noble Cretan woman named Arisba.^1,18,19 He was the father of Ilus, who was a ruler in ancient times and had a monument raised to him.^20,21 His other children included Erichthonius, Zacynthus, Idaea, Deimas, Idaeus, Assaracus, Ganymede, and Tros.^18,13,22,11 Zeus bestowed a golden cup upon Dardanus, which he passed to Erichthonius, and according to Arctinus, Zeus gave him a Palladium.^5,23

He succeeded to the throne of the land of Troy and ruled over many nations throughout Asia.^18,10 Dardanus instructed the Trojans in the Samothracian mysteries, and his arms, shadowy chariots, and lances are fixed in the earth nearby.^12,15 His steeds graze freely in the fields without bridles, and a promontory near Dardanus is named Gyges.^15,24 The deceptive dwelling associated with Dardanus was destroyed by a powerful bow, and he is expected to weep over Patroclus day and night.^25,26