Tyndareüs

Tyndareiis was a king of Sparta, the son of Batia or Gorgophone. He married Leda. His name may be related to the family of words connected with dato, 'to burn', 'blaze' and Latin taeda, 'torch' that are to do with light and heat.

One of these (say, taeda) would then have an inserted 'n' as (perhaps) Lynceus has, from lyce. This could be a propitious name for a king, who metaphorically radiates light and armth to his people. But this theory is suspect - in spite of English 'tinder', that seems to support it.

Perhaps it would be better to settle for a belligerent name, and we would have this, as for Tydeus, in tymma, 'thump', 'blow'. As a Spartan hero and the father of Castor and Pollux, Helen (of Troy) and Clytemnestra, Tyndareus must have been involved in a good deal of 'thumping' and must have been responsible for many 'blows'.

Indeed, he was indirectly responsible for the Trojan War, since he made Helen's suitors take an oath that they would support the chosen bridegroom, whoever he was to be, and protect his marriage rights. It was this oath that led the Greeks, some years later, to go to Troy to win back Helen from Paris who held her there, having won her as his wife as a result of a gift from Aphrodite.

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