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BIOGRAPHIES

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Miletus
(myth) Greece
Miletus
Half-god

Miletus was the son of Apollo and Areia, hence he was a half-god. He was one of the most extraordinarily beautiful men in Greek mythology. Men who were loved by men are almost always characterized as being "extraordinarily beautiful", probably not to feminize them, but rather it seems that it may tell us that people of that time believe that only men who were "extraordinarily beautiful" would attract the romantic affections of other men.

Minos was the stern ruler of Crete, and fell in love with Miletus. But also Minos' brother, Sarpedon, feel in love with him. Miletus decided that he wanted to be with Sarpedon, but the two of them had to flee to Asia Minor (now Turkey) because Minos wasn't too happy about their decision. There he founded the city of Miletus, which became one of the most important cities of the ancient world.

Miletus later married Tragasia and had Caumus (a boy) and Byblis (a girl) by her. Byblis feel in love with Caumus, her brother, and he fled to Lycia. As a result, Byblis killed herself and was turned into a fountain.

Source: Michael Jordan Encyclopedia of Gods: Over 2,500 Deities of the World, Facts on File, Inc., 1993

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