Pleisthenes

In Greek mythology, Pleisthenes (Ancient Greek: Πλεισθένης) is the name of several different people descended from Tantalus.

Son of Pelops

Pleisthenes is the name of a son of Pelops (son of Tantalus), and of Hippodamia, rulers of Pisa. Two of his brothers are Atreus, and Thyestes.

Son of Atreus

Pleisthenes is the name of a son of Atreus and Aerope. According to Hesiod, Pleisthenes married Cleolla, daughter of Dias, and is the father of Agamemnon, Menelaus, and Anaxibia.Aeschylus also followed this tradition when he called the Atreidai "the race of Pleisthenes" (τὸ Πλεισθένους γένος). According to Hyginus, Pleisthenes was raised by Atreus's brother Thyestes, accompanied Thyestes into exile, and was sent by Thyestes to kill Atreus. Not realizing that he, rather than Thyestes, was the young man's father, Atreus killed Pleisthenes.

Agamemnon and Menelaus are commonly considered the sons of Atreus; hence they are often given the name Atreidai, or "the sons of Atreus". One explanation for this discrepancy is that, after the early death of Pleisthenes, Atreus raised his grandsons, the sons of Pleisthenes, as his own sons.