Phalanthus of Tarentum
# Phalanthus of Tarentum

In Greek mythology, Phalanthos (Ancient Greek: Φάλανθος) is a divine hero, the leader of the Spartan Partheniae and the founder of Taranto, Magna Graecia. He is said to have been condemned to death by the ephors. He was married to Aethra, who, while picking his lice, wept on her husband's head, because her husband's efforts have come to nothing after her husband fears an oracle tells the impossibility of his project to take control of the city. From this her husband realized the oracle (which was to hit the city when it rains, but as his wife's name was Aethra which means bright sky, her tears would be equivalent of raining bright skies), which was fulfilled, helped him conquer Tarantum.

It is said that before Phalanthus reached Italy, he suffered a shipwreck in the Crisaean sea, and was brought ashore by a dolphin.

