In
Greek mythology,
Idomeneus (; ) was a
Cretan commander, father of
Orsilochus, Cleisithyra, Leucus and Iphiclus, son of
Deucalion and Cleopatra, grandson of
Minos and king of Crete. He led the Cretan armies to the
Trojan War and was also one of
Helen's suitors as well as a comrade of the Telamonian
Ajax.
Meriones was his charioteer and brother-in-arms. In
Homer's
Iliad, he is found among the first rank of the Greek generals, leading his troops and engaging the enemy head-on, and escaping serious injury. Idomeneus was one of
Agamemnon's trusted advisors. He was one of the primary defenders when most of the other
Achaean heroes were injured, and even fought
Hector briefly and repulsed his attack. Like most of the other leaders of the Greeks, he is alive and well as the story comes to a close. He was one of the Achaeans to enter the
Trojan Horse. Idomeneus killed thirteen men and at least one Amazon woman,
Bremusa, at Troy.
