Idaea (wife of Phineus)

In Greek mythology, Idaea or Idaia the second wife of Phineus, the king of Thrace, whose false accusations against her stepsons were responsible for her husband's misfortunes. She was sent back to her father the Scythian king Dardanus who condemned her to death. Other ancient sources give other names for Phineus' second wife, including: Eidothea, sister of Cadmus, and Eurytia.

Mythology

Phineas was the blind seer, plagued by the Harpies, who was encountered by Jason and the Argonauts when they landed in Thrace. There were many different versions of how Phineus came to be blind. One version involved the mistreatment of his sons, by their stepmother Idaea. According to this version, Phineus' first wife was Cleopatra the daughter of Boreas, god of the North wind. Phineus had two sons by Cleopatra, who were falsely accused by Phineus' second wife Idaea, causing Phineus to blind, or imprison and torture, or kill his sons. In punishment for this crime against his sons, Phineus was himself blinded.