Plemnaeus
Plemnaeus was a king of Greek mythology, with Plemnaeus most closely associated with the city of Sicyon on the Gulf of Corinth. Plemnaeus is remembered not for his kingly deeds, but for the favour bestowed upon him by the goddess Demeter.
KING PLEMNAEUS
Plemnaeus, is today, also often spelled as Plemnaios, but in either case, Plemnaeus was normally described as a son of Peratus, who was himself a son of Poseidon.
Plemnaeus would succeed his father as the King of Aegialea, for this was the name by which Sicyon was known at the time.
DEMETER FAVOURS PLEMNAEUS
Eusebius of Caesarea describes Plemnaeus as a successful king, ruling for 48 years, but his personal life was less successful, for he had no heir to succeed him.
Plemnaeus was married to an unnamed woman, but though his wife became pregnant on a number of occasion, each baby born would die as soon as it cried for the first time.
Demeter observed the plight of Plemnaeus and his wife, and in disguise as a nursemaid, the goddess came to Sicyon.
When Plemnaeus’ wife next gave birth, Demeter took the new born, and cared and reared it, and thus new child for Plemnaeus survived.
This baby was Orthopolis, a son, who would eventually succeed Plemnaeus as king.
PLEMNAEUS OFFERS THANKS TO DEMETER
Pausanias, in the Description of Greece, described a temple in Corinth dedicated to Demeter and Persephone. This temple was on the Acrocorinth, and was said to have been built by Plemnaeus as thank you to Demeter for allowing his son and heir to survive.
Sources
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.5.8
"Greek Legends and Myths"
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