Pterelaus and Comaetho: The Golden Hair

Catalogue ID: 03-heroes/250-pterelaus-comaetho-golden-hair-apollodorus

Cycle: Heroes — Amphitryon / Teleboan war / Taphian kingship

Version line: Apollodorean — Poseidon’s immortalizing hair; daughter’s betrayal

Sources: Apollodorus, *Library* 2.4.5–7

Source file: /workspace/greek-myth-catalogue/03-heroes/250-pterelaus-comaetho-golden-hair-apollodorus.md

Characters

Amphitryon — besieger; beneficiary and executioner
Comaetho — daughter who removes the hair; slain by Amphitryon
Hades — giver of the immortalizing hair
Pterelaus — Taphian king; immortalized by a golden hair
Taphians — people conquered after the charm fails
Taphius — father of Pterelaus (genealogical)

Places

Midea — Amphitryon’s homeward return
Taphos — Pterelaus’s realm

Themes

Narrative

Pterelaus, king of the Taphians (Teleboans), was son of Taphius and grandson of Poseidon. Poseidon had fixed in his grandson’s head a single golden hair that made him immortal so long as it remained. Amphitryon, warring to avenge Electryon’s sons, could not take the Taphian cities while Pterelaus lived under that charm. Comaetho, daughter of Pterelaus, fell in love with Amphitryon (or was swayed by him) and pulled out her father’s golden hair. Pterelaus became mortal and died; the Taphians were conquered. Amphitryon put Comaetho to death for the betrayal and sailed home with the spoils that fulfilled his bargain with Alcmene. Catalogue the hair-charm and the daughter’s treason apart from Zeus’s night with Alcmene.