Aeacidae facts for kids

Aeacidae (Greek: Αἰακίδαι, translit. Aiakídai) is a name from ancient Greek mythology. It refers to the family members who were descendants of a hero named Aeacus. Think of it like a very old family name!

Some of the most famous heroes in Greek myths were part of the Aeacidae family. These include Peleus, who was the son of Aeacus, and his son, the mighty warrior Achilles. In the famous story The Iliad, the poet Homer often calls Achilles "Aiakides," which means "son of Aeacus" or "descendant of Aeacus."

Later, Neoptolemus, who was Achilles' son, also belonged to this family. Even some real-life rulers, like the kings of Epirus and Olympias (who was the mother of Alexander the Great), said they were part of the Aeacidae family. This showed they had a very important and heroic background.

Aeacus himself was a legendary king of the island of Aegina. This island is located in the Saronic Gulf in Greece. According to the myths, Aeacus was the son of the powerful god Zeus and a woman named Aegina. Aegina was the daughter of the river god Asopus and Metope.

Aeacus had two wives. His first wife was Endeïs. With her, he had two sons:

• Peleus, who later became the father of Achilles.
• Telamon, who was the father of another great hero, Ajax.

Aeacus' second wife was a sea nymph called Psamathe. They had one son named Phocus.

The Aeacidae Family Tree

A family tree helps us see how different people in a family are related. This chart shows the main members of the Aeacidae family, starting with Aeacus and showing his children and grandchildren.

See also

In Spanish: Éaco para niños