heroine of Greek mythology, mother of Ajax
Periboea
Periboea is a heroine of Greek mythology, daughter of Alcathous and mother of Ajax the Great by Telamon. Her story is tied to Theseus and the Minotaur in the accounts of Crete.
The myth
According to the tradition, Periboea was a daughter of Alcathous, a son of Pelops, and her story is intertwined with that of Theseus. Some accounts say she was one of the youths the Megarians had to send to Athens as tribute for the Minotaur. During the voyage to Crete, King Minos became infatuated with her and touched her improperly, but she called out to Theseus, who defended her and thwarted the king. Theseus later killed the Minotaur, and the youths returned home.
Other versions say Periboea became the wife of Theseus, while others make her the wife of Telamon. In a story attributed to a pseudo-Plutarchic text, Telamon visited Alcathous and assaulted Periboea before fleeing during the night. Her father, suspecting a citizen had dishonoured her, ordered her cast into the sea, but the guard pitied her and sold her instead. Telamon bought her in Salamis, and in time she bore him a son, Ajax.