Callidice of Thesprotia

Queen of Thesprotia in Greek mythology

For other uses, see Callidice.

In Greek mythology, Callidice (/kəˈlɪdɪsiː/; Ancient Greek: Καλλιδίκη, romanized: Kallidíkē, lit. 'beautiful justice') is a queen of Thesprotia in Epirus, an ancient region in northwestern Greece. In the Telegony, the lost sequel to the Odyssey, she marries the wandering hero Odysseus when he visits her land after the end of his marine adventures and helps her rule the kingdom and defeat her enemies. They have a son together, but after Callidice's death Odysseus returns again back to his homeland Ithaca.

## Family

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Nothing is known about Callidice's family or lineage, other than she was from the royal family of Thesprotia.

## Mythology

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In the Telegony, after Odysseus managed to get back home to Ithaca, he sailed away once more along the northern shore until he reached Thesprotia and the kingdom of Callidice.[1] The queen warmly welcomed Odysseus and urged him to stay, even offering him her kingdom.[2] Atlhough his wife Penelope was still alive and waiting for him in Ithaca, Odysseus nevertheless agreed to marry Callidice, and ruled over Thesprotia for a number of years during which Callidice bore him a son named Polypoetes.[3][4]

At some point, a war broke out between Callidice's people and a neighbouring people, the Bryges.[5] In the war that ensued Odysseus led the Thesprotians to victory.[6] They were supported by Odysseus' patron goddess Athena, while the Bryges had the help of the war-god Ares, until Apollo intervened to separate the two gods.[3] Following the war Callidice and Odysseus reigned over the land for some time until the queen's own death.[7] Afterwards, she was succeeded to the throne by their son Polypoetes, as Odysseus decided to return to his wife and son in Ithaca instead of staying to rule Thesprotia.[3][8]

## See also

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* Ancient Greece portal
* Mythology portal

* Hippolyta
* Epic Cycle

## References

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1. ^ Apollodorus E.7.34
2. ^ Grimal 1987, p. 305.
3. ^ a b c Homerica, The Telegony summary
4. ^ Grimal 1987, s.v. Callidice.
5. ^ Bell 1991, s.v. Callidice 1.
6. ^ Apollodorus E.7.35
7. ^ March 2014, p. 107.
8. ^ Michel, Raphael (October 1, 2006). "Callidice". In Cancik, Hubert; Schneider, Helmuth (eds.). Brill's New Pauly. Basel: Brill Reference Online. doi:10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e606190. ISSN 1574-9347. Retrieved October 1, 2024.

## Bibliography

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* Apollodorus, The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.
* Bell, Robert E. (1991). Women of Classical Mythology: A Biographical Dictionary. ABC-Clio. ISBN 9780874365818.
* Evelyn-White, Hugh G., Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns, and Homerica, with an English Translation, Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1914.
* Grimal, Pierre (1987). The Dictionary of Classical Mythology. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 0-631-13209-0.
* March, Jennifer R. (May 31, 2014). Dictionary of Classical Mythology. Oxbow Books. ISBN 978-1-78297-635-6.