Acestes

Acestes, also known by the Greek variant Aegestus (Ancient Greek: Ἀκέστης), is a figure of Roman mythology, particularly associated with the founding of the Sicilian city of Segesta. His lineage is rooted in both the divine and the Trojan past, making him a significant character in the mythical history of Sicily and its connection to the Trojan War.

Mythological Origins and Founding of Segesta

According to Roman tradition, Acestes was the son of Crinisus, a river-god of Sicily, and Egesta (or Segesta), a Trojan woman. The legend states that Egesta was sent to Sicily by her father, Hippotes or Ipsostratus, to escape the monsters that plagued her homeland of Troy, sent by the gods as punishment for the Trojans' failure to reward Poseidon and Apollo for building their city walls. Upon her arrival in Sicily, Crinisus, in the form of a bear or a dog, sired a son with Egesta, who became known as Acestes.

Acestes is revered as the hero who founded the town of Segesta. During the aftermath of the Trojan War, when Aeneas and his surviving followers arrived in Sicily, Acestes offered them hospitality. Those among Aeneas's people who wished to settle rather than continue their journey were permitted to remain with Acestes. Together, they founded the city of Acesta, which is identified with Segesta.

Variations in Tradition

The tradition of Acestes varies in some accounts. Dionysius of Halicarnassus, who refers to him as Aegestus, presents a different lineage. In this version, Aegestus's grandfather quarreled with Laomedon, the king of Troy, who had him killed. His daughters were then given to merchants to be taken to a distant land. A noble Trojan man married one of these daughters in Sicily, and she later gave birth to Aegestus. During the Trojan War, Aegestus obtained permission from Priam to return and fight against the Achaeans. When Troy was on the verge of falling, he fled back to Sicily with Elymus, bringing three ships that had previously been lost by Achilles. Upon Aeneas's arrival in Sicily, he was hospitably received by Aegestus and Elymus, and together they established the towns of Aegesta and Elyme. Dionysius's account is considered a more rationalistic interpretation of the original legend.

The Arrow of Acestes

Acestes is also featured in the "Arrow of Acestes" episode in Virgil's Aeneid. During a trial of skill, Acestes shoots an arrow that miraculously bursts into flames in mid-air. This event is interpreted as a divine sign from Jupiter, signifying Acestes's deserved honor and perhaps his divine or heroic status.