Percote
Encyclopedia
Percote was a town or city on the southern (Asian) side of the Hellespont, to the northeast of Troy
. Percote is mentioned a few times in Greek mythology
, where it plays a very minor role each time. It was said to be the home of a notable seer named Merops
, also its ruler. Merops was the father of Arisbe
(the first wife of King Priam
, and subsequently wife of King Hyrtacus
), Cleite (wife of King Cyzicus
), and two sons named Amphius and Adrastus
who fought during the Trojan War
. As an ally of Troy, Percote sent a contingent to help King Priam during the Trojan War - though this contingent was led not by Merops's sons, but by Asius
, son of Hyrtacus
, according to Homer
's Iliad
, one native from Percote was wounded in the Trojan War by Antilochus
, two natives from Percote were killed in the Trojan War by Diomedes
and Ullysses
. The Meropidae (Amphius and Adrastus) instead lead a contingent from nearby Adrastea
. A nephew of Priam, named Melanippus
, son of Hicetaon
, herded cattle (oxen) at Percote, according to Homer.
According to Phanias of Eresus
, Artaxerxes I of Persia
had given to Themistocles
the city of Percote with bedding
for his house. (see: Percale
)
Percote was no longer in existence during the time of Strabo
, and in his Geography he mentions that the exact location of Percote on the Hellespont shore is unknown. Strabo also claims that Percote was originally called Percope, and that it was part of the Troad. The inhabitants of Percote (and neighboring places like Arisbe and Adrastea) were apparently neither Trojan or Dardanian, and the origins of the Meropidae and Hyrtacidae are unclear.
Troy
Troy was a city, both factual and legendary, located in northwest Anatolia in what is now Turkey, southeast of the Dardanelles and beside Mount Ida...
. Percote is mentioned a few times in Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
, where it plays a very minor role each time. It was said to be the home of a notable seer named Merops
Merops
Merops may refer to:* Merops , a genus of bee-eaters.* MEROPS, an on-line database for peptidases.It may also refer to several figures from Greek mythology:* King of Ethiopia, husband of Clymene, who lay with Helios and bore Phaethon...
, also its ruler. Merops was the father of Arisbe
Arisbe
Arisbe may refer to:* Another name for Batea , a person in Greek mythology* Arisbe , an early wife of King Priam of Troy, also daughter of the seer Merops of Percote...
(the first wife of King Priam
Priam
Priam was the king of Troy during the Trojan War and youngest son of Laomedon. Modern scholars derive his name from the Luwian compound Priimuua, which means "exceptionally courageous".- Marriage and issue :...
, and subsequently wife of King Hyrtacus
Hyrtacus
In Greek mythology, Hyrtacus is an obscure character associated with the Trojan War. He was a comrade of King Priam of Troy. Hyrtacus married Arisbe, daughter of King Merops of Percote, after Priam had divorced her to marry Hecabe. Hyrtacus's son by Arisbe was named Asius and fought at Troy. In...
), Cleite (wife of King Cyzicus
Cyzicus
Cyzicus was an ancient town of Mysia in Anatolia in the current Balıkesir Province of Turkey. It was located on the shoreward side of the present Kapıdağ Peninsula , a tombolo which is said to have originally been an island in the Sea of Marmara only to be connected to the mainland in historic...
), and two sons named Amphius and Adrastus
Adrastus
Adrastus or Adrestus , traditionally translated as "nonparticipant" or "uncooperative", was a legendary king of Argos during the war of the Seven Against Thebes.-Mythological tradition:...
who fought during the Trojan War
Trojan War
In Greek mythology, the Trojan War was waged against the city of Troy by the Achaeans after Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus, the king of Sparta. The war is among the most important events in Greek mythology and was narrated in many works of Greek literature, including the Iliad...
. As an ally of Troy, Percote sent a contingent to help King Priam during the Trojan War - though this contingent was led not by Merops's sons, but by Asius
Asius
Asius or Asios may refer to:* Asius Hyrtacides son of Hyrtacus.* Asius .* Asius of Samos, an ancient Greek genealogical poet.* Asius , a genus of gelinine wasps.* an Osian* 11554 Asios, an asteroid...
, son of Hyrtacus
Hyrtacus
In Greek mythology, Hyrtacus is an obscure character associated with the Trojan War. He was a comrade of King Priam of Troy. Hyrtacus married Arisbe, daughter of King Merops of Percote, after Priam had divorced her to marry Hecabe. Hyrtacus's son by Arisbe was named Asius and fought at Troy. In...
, according to Homer
Homer
In the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
's Iliad
Iliad
The Iliad is an epic poem in dactylic hexameters, traditionally attributed to Homer. Set during the Trojan War, the ten-year siege of the city of Troy by a coalition of Greek states, it tells of the battles and events during the weeks of a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles...
, one native from Percote was wounded in the Trojan War by Antilochus
Antilochus
In Greek mythology, Antilochus was the son of Nestor, king of Pylos. One of the suitors of Helen of Troy, he accompanied his father and his brother Thrasymedes to the Trojan War. He was distinguished for his beauty, swiftness of foot, and skill as a charioteer...
, two natives from Percote were killed in the Trojan War by Diomedes
Diomedes
Diomedes or Diomed is a hero in Greek mythology, known for his participation in the Trojan War.He was born to Tydeus and Deipyle and later became King of Argos, succeeding his maternal grandfather, Adrastus. In Homer's Iliad Diomedes is regarded alongside Ajax as one of the best warriors of all...
and Ullysses
Odysseus
Odysseus or Ulysses was a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey. Odysseus also plays a key role in Homer's Iliad and other works in the Epic Cycle....
. The Meropidae (Amphius and Adrastus) instead lead a contingent from nearby Adrastea
Adrasteia (Mysia)
Adrasteia or Adrastea was the name of a region, city, and valley of Mysia, which was watered by the Granicus River. In the eponymous city was an oracle of Apollo and Artemis. The temple had been destroyed by the time of Strabo, and the stones used to build a large altar...
. A nephew of Priam, named Melanippus
Melanippus
In Greek mythology, there were nine people named Melanippus :#One of the sons of Agrius, killed by Diomedes.#Son of Perigune and Theseus, the father of Ioxus who, together with Ornytus, led a colony to Caria and became the ancestor of the family Ioxides.#Son of Astacus, defended Thebes in Seven...
, son of Hicetaon
Hicetaon
In Greek mythology, Hicetaon was a son of King Laomedon of Troy. After Paris kidnapped Helen of Troy, Hicetaon suggested that she be returned to Menelaus to avoid war. His son was Melanippus, who died in the war Hicetaon had sought to avert....
, herded cattle (oxen) at Percote, according to Homer.
According to Phanias of Eresus
Phanias of Eresus
Phaenias of Eresus was a Greek philosopher from Lesbos, important as an immediate follower of and commentator on Aristotle. He came to Athens about 332 BCE, and joined his compatriot, Theophrastus, in the Peripatetic school. His writings on logic and science appear to have been commentaries or...
, Artaxerxes I of Persia
Artaxerxes I of Persia
Artaxerxes I was the sixth king of kings of the Achaemenid Empire from 465 BCE to 424 BCE. He was the son of Xerxes I of Persia and Amestris, daughter of Otanes.*Artaxerxes I was the sixth king of kings of the Achaemenid Empire from 465 BCE to 424 BCE. He was the son of Xerxes I of Persia and...
had given to Themistocles
Themistocles
Themistocles ; c. 524–459 BC, was an Athenian politician and a general. He was one of a new breed of politicians who rose to prominence in the early years of the Athenian democracy, along with his great rival Aristides...
the city of Percote with bedding
Bedding
Bedding refers to the materials laid above the mattress of a bed for hygiene, warmth, to protect the mattress, and for decorative effect. Bedding is the removable and washable portion of a human sleeping environment. It is more easily and economically replaced than the bed itself...
for his house. (see: Percale
Percale
Percale or Percalcos is a closely woven plain-weave fabric often used for bed covers.The term describes the weave of the fabric, not its content, so percale could be a blend of 50% cotton and 50% polyester, 100% cotton, or a blend of other fabrics in any ratio...
)
Percote was no longer in existence during the time of Strabo
Strabo
Strabo, also written Strabon was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.-Life:Strabo was born to an affluent family from Amaseia in Pontus , a city which he said was situated the approximate equivalent of 75 km from the Black Sea...
, and in his Geography he mentions that the exact location of Percote on the Hellespont shore is unknown. Strabo also claims that Percote was originally called Percope, and that it was part of the Troad. The inhabitants of Percote (and neighboring places like Arisbe and Adrastea) were apparently neither Trojan or Dardanian, and the origins of the Meropidae and Hyrtacidae are unclear.