MELICERTA, MELICERTES, or Melicertus (fab. hist.), a son of Athamas and Ino. He was saved by his mother from the fury of his father, who prepared to dash him against a wall as he had done his brother Learchus. The mother was so terrified that she threw herself into the sea with Melicerta in her arms. Neptune had compassion on the misfortunes of Ino and her son. He changed them both into sea deities. Ino was called Leucothoe or Matuia; and Melicerta was known among the Greeks by the name of Palemon, and among the Latins by that of Portunus. Some suppose that the Ilhian games were instituted in honour of Melicerta.