Melicertes, or Melicerta, in fabulous history, 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; but Neptune took compassion on the misfortunes of Ino and her son, and changed them both into sea deities. Ino was called Leucothea or Matuta; and Melicerta was known amongst the Greeks by the name of Palaimon, and amongst the Latins by that of Portunus. Some suppose that the Isthmian games were instituted in honour of Melicerta.