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Melanthius was a notable ancient Greek painter of the 4th century BC. He belonged to the school of Sicyon, which was noted for fine drawing.
Melanthius is also one of the minor characters who plays an important role in the context of Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey. He is a disloyal goatherd, treating Odysseus with contempt when Odysseus meets him by the fountain dedicated to the nymphs with Eumaeus, disguised as a beggar. Melanthius also mocks him at the palace in Ithaca but meets his end at the hands of Odysseus. Melanthius, in helping the suitors, betrays Odysseus. When Odysseus wins, he seizes Melanthius, takes him to a court, chops off his nose and ears with a sword, pulls off his genitals to feed to the dogs, and then chops his hands and feet off. Melanthius is also the name of a 150-mile (245-km) wide crater that is a distinguishing feature of Tethys, a moon of Saturn.
As such, it was Melanthius who was treated cruelest by Odysseus. However, it is argued by some historians that Melanthius wasn't the most guilty of betrayal and deceipt. Rather, he was treated cruelly as Odysseus was aware that Melanthius would probably be the winner of Penelopes' hand in marriage, if he had not stopped the suitors first.
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