Gorgus
Indubius, in Supplemento Antiquarii. Vide Gorgo.
Duo molendina, quatuor Gorgos, unam domum, etc.(Γόργος).
1. Son of the Messenian hero, Aristomenes, who betrothed him in marriage to the maiden by whose aid he had himself escaped when captured by a body of Cretan bowmen, mercenaries of Sparta. [See Vol. I. p. 308.] Gorgus is mentioned by Pausanias as fighting bravely by his father's side in the last desperate struggle, when Eira had been surprised by the Spartans. Soon after this Aristomenes declined to take the command of the Messenians, who wished to migrate to another countsy, and named Gorgus and Manticlus, son of the seer Theoclus, as their leaders. Gorgus proposed to take possession of the island of Zacynthus, while Manticlus was in favour of a settlement in Sardinia. Neither of these courses, however, was adopted, and Rhegium was fixed upon as the new home of the exiles. (Paus. 4.19, 21, 23; Müller, Dor. 1.7.10; comp. Anaxilaus.)
2. King of Salamis, in Cyprus, was son of Chersis, and great-grandson of Evelthon, the contemporary of Arcesilaus III. of Cyrene. His brother Onesilus, having long urged him in vain to revolt from the Persian king, at length drove him from the city, and, usurping the throne, set up the standard of rebellion with the Ionians in B. C. 499. Gorgus was restored to his kingdom in the next year on the reduction of the Cyprians and the death of Onesilus in battle. He joined Xerxes in his invasion of Greece, and his brother Philaon was taken prisoner by the Greeks in the first of the three battles at Artemisium in B. C. 480. (Hdt. 5.104, 115, 7.98, 8.11; Larcher ad Herod. 5.104; Clinton, F. H. sub annis 499, 498, vol. ii. App. 5.)
3. A Messenian, son of Eucletus, was distinguished for rank, wealth, and success in gymnastic contests: moreover, unlike most athletes (says Polybius), he proved himself wise and skilful as a statesman. In B. C. 218 he was sent as ambassador to Philip V. of Macedon, then besieging Palus, in Cephallenia, to ask him to come to the aid of Messenia against Lycurgus, king of Lacedaemon. This request was supported by the traitor Leontius for his own purposes; but Philip preferred listening to the recommendation of the Acarnanians to invade Aetolia, and ordered Eperatus, the Achaean general, to carry assistance to the Messenians. (Paus. 6.14; Polyb.5.5, 7.10; Suid. s. v. Γόργος) [E.E]
- Olympic victor: Paus. 6.15.9
- Hdt. 5.104, Hdt. 5.115, Hdt. 8.11
- in Xerxes' fleet: Hdt. 7.98
- Paus. 4.19.6, Paus. 4.21.2, 12
- leads Messenian colony: Paus. 4.23.2, 5, 9
- his wife: Paus. 4.19.6
- a Messenian, Olympic victor: Paus. 6.14.11