Icarius (Spartan)

Icarius is a relatively obscure figure in Spartan mythology. He is best known as the father of Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, and therefore the grandfather of Telemachus. Unlike some other figures associated with the Odyssey, Icarius' Spartan origin is somewhat debated, with some accounts placing his origin in Acarnania instead.

While details about Icarius' life are sparse, he appears in various accounts related to the wooing of Penelope. In one version, after Odysseus left for the Trojan War, Icarius attempted to persuade Penelope to return to him and choose another husband, presumably because he despaired of Odysseus ever returning. However, Penelope remained loyal to Odysseus and used various strategies to delay her remarriage.

According to some sources, Icarius tested the suitors vying for Penelope's hand with a footrace. The winner would win Penelope as his wife. This emphasizes the importance of athletic prowess in Spartan culture, though the validity of this particular narrative is questioned due to the discrepancies in accounts of Icarius' origin.

In the most common narratives, Icarius' significance lies almost entirely in his role as Penelope's father and the implicit social and political implications of her marital status. His attempts, if any, to influence Penelope's decision highlight the societal pressures placed on women in ancient Greece, particularly concerning marriage and lineage, even in the face of perceived spousal absence and presumed death. His story reflects the societal expectations surrounding familial duties and the management of inheritance and succession in the context of the Homeric world.