In
Greek mythology,
Anthas (Ἅνθας), also
Anthes (Ἅνθης), was a son of
Poseidon and
Alcyone, and brother of
Hyperes. The brothers were
eponymous founders and first kings of the cities Hyperea and Anthea in a region they reigned over; later on these two cities were merged into the historical
Troezen. Anthas was father of at least two sons, Aëtius and
Dius, of whom Aëtius was the successor to both his father and uncle, and further co-ruled with
Pittheus and
Troezen. The descendants of Anthas through Aëtius reputedly founded colonies in
Caria:
Halicarnassus and
Myndus, and accordingly the people of Halicarnassus were referred to by the poetic epithet
Antheades 'descendants of Anthas'. Alternately, Halicarnassus was founded by Anthas himself. Anthas also was the presumed eponym of
Anthedon, over which he was said to have reigned, and of Anthana in
Laconia.
