IDAS (argonaut and son of Aphareus)

Idas joined the group of noble men assembled to hunt the Calydonian boar, coming from Messene to participate in the perilous quest.^7,8 He wounded the deadly boar that had attacked Idmon, and the beast fell impaled on his sharp spear.⁹ After dividing the stolen cattle by cutting a cow into four parts, Idas ate his own share and his brother's share of the divided cow first, driving the captured cattle to Messene.¹⁰

The theft of his herd by Castor and Polydeuces led to a confrontation where Idas killed Castor by shooting him with a spear.^11,10,12,13 Accounts differ on the outcome of this clash, with some writers stating that Polydeuces killed Idas during the confrontation over the stolen cattle.^11,10,12 Regardless of the mortal blow, Zeus struck Idas with a thunderbolt of consuming fire, causing his death and ending the strife.^10,14,15 Idas fell onto his back in a long stretch, gasping among the victims of the battle, having acted out of anger over his stolen oxen.^16,17,18

Before his death, Idas was the husband of Marpessa, whom he carried off in a winged chariot and brought back not against her will.^7,19,20,21 Idas and Apollo fought over the right to marry Marpessa, who chose Idas because she feared Apollo would abandon her, until Zeus separated the two men.⁸ Idas and Marpessa had a daughter named Cleopatra, linking their line to the next generation of myth.^7,22 Though his life ended in violence and divine wrath, Idas remained a figure of swift action and fierce pride, remembered for his role in the great hunts and his tragic end.^{23,24,10,14,16,17}