(Ραδάμανθος), a son of Zeus and Europa according to Homer (Il. xiv., 322), and according to others a son of Hephaestus (Paus. viii. 53 § 2). Having fled from his brother to Boeotia, he there married Alcmene, and led a life of such signal integrity and justice that at his death he was appointed one of the three judges of the infernal regions, and had his abode in Elysium.

RHÆTIA, a country of ancient Europe, was bounded on the N. by Vindelicia, on the E. by Noricum, on the S. by Italy, and on the W. by the district of the Helvetii. It was a most romantic territory. The Alpes Rhaeticae, and Mons Adula traversed it in all directions. Between the offshoots of these hills lay many a well-watered pastoral valley. The pastures were covered with flocks; and at intervals there appeared those vineyards out of which the favourite wine of Augustus was produced. The Rhaetians, when they were invaded by the Romans, shortly before the Christian era, were chiefly composed of fierce Celtic free-booters. They struggled savagely with the legions for their mountain homes. The very women shot arrows; and when their missiles failed, threw their children in the face of their foes. Yet the Rhaetians lost every vestige of independence. Their armies were completely routed in 15 B.C. by Drusus and Tiberius. Their language not long afterwards was displaced by the Latin. Their country continued to be a Roman province, at one time by itself, at another time in conjunction with Vindelicia (to which it then extended its name). Nor after the fall of the empire did they recover their liberty. The Ostrogoths kept them in subjection until the Boioarii finally settled down in their country. The chief town in Rhætia was Tridentum (Trent).