Megapenthes (son of Menelaus)

Megapenthes was, according to Greek mythology, an illegitimate son of Menelaus and a slave woman whose name is not consistently recorded in sources. He is sometimes said to be the son of Pieris. He was born after Menelaus returned to Sparta from the Trojan War.

Megapenthes is often mentioned in conjunction with his legitimate half-brother, Pleisthenes (or Pleisthenes II, to distinguish him from the similarly named son of Atreus). He lacks a prominent role in the major mythological narratives like the Iliad or the Odyssey. However, he appears in some accounts, particularly regarding the dynastic arrangements and succession in Sparta after Menelaus's death.

Some accounts suggest that Megapenthes played a role in the exile of Helen after Menelaus died, implying that he had some power or influence in the Spartan kingdom. The details surrounding this are vague and often contradictory depending on the source. The absence of substantial narratives involving Megapenthes has left him a relatively minor figure in classical mythology, often relegated to genealogical lists and brief mentions.