Cestrinus

In the mythic narratives that follow the fall of Troy, Cestrinus is presented as a son born to Helenus — and in some accounts to Andromache as well — after Helenus and other Trojan survivors established themselves in Epirus. When Helenus died, his son Molossus is said to have succeeded him to the Epirotan throne; upset by this succession, Cestrinus gathered a band of Epirotian volunteers, seized territory north of the River Thyamis, and thus became the eponymous ancestor of the district called Cestrine. Pausanias is cited in the tradition that locates Andromache and her family in Epirus and records related commemorative practice; the identification of Cestrinus with a Bosporan king named Genger is recorded as an alternate, less corroborated tradition.

Ancient sources provide no physical description of Cestrinus. He is attested only through genealogical records and foundation narratives; classical authors portray him in terms of lineage, political action, and eponymy rather than by bodily appearance or dress.

Sources attribute no supernatural powers to Cestrinus. His recorded roles are political and genealogical: he is born into the Trojan royal line in Epirus, disputes the succession when Molossus takes the throne of Helenus, organizes and leads a group of Epirotian volunteers to claim territory north of the Thyamis, and functions as the eponymous founder whose name explains the toponym Cestrine. One tradition (less well attested) identifies him with a ruler of the Cimmerian Bosporus called Genger; otherwise the accounts present him as a legendary mortal leader and colonizer.