In Greek mythology, Icarius (; Ancient Greek: Ἰκάριος, romanized: Ikários) was a Spartan king and a champion runner.
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Family
Icarius was the son of either Perieres and Gorgophone or of Oebalus and Bateia and thus brother of Hippocoon and Tyndareus. By the naiad Periboea, he became the father of Penelope, Perileos, Thoas, Damasippus, Imeusimus, Aletes and Iphthime. According to other traditions, the mother of Penelope, Alyzeus and Leucadius was Polycaste, daughter of Lygaeus.
His other possible wives were Dorodoche (daughter of Ortilochus) and Asterodia (daughter of Eurypylus). The latter was said to have born him the following children:
Polymelos, Damasiclus (Amasiclus), Penelope and Laodice; or
Amasichus, Phalereus, Thoon, Pheremmelias, Perilaos, Penelope and Laodamia (also called Mede or Hypsipyle).
In some accounts, Icarius was the father of Elatus who fathered Taenarus by Erymede, daughter Damasiclus. Otherwise, Taenarus was called Icarius’ son with no mention of the birth mother.
Mythology
Hippocoon, a natural son of Oebalus, expelled his two brothers, Tyndareus and Icarius, from Lacedaemon: they fled to Thestius at Pleuron, and dwelt beyond the river Achelous. Subsequently, when Heracles had slain Hippocoon and his sons, Tyndareus returned to Sparta, while Icarius remained in Acarnania. According to Apollodorus, however, Icarius also returned. Another tradition relates that Icarius, who sided with Hippocoon, assisted him in expelling Tyndareus from Sparta. While in Acarnania, Icarius became the father of the above progeny.