Etearchus was the King of the ancient Cretan city of Axus or Oaxos, flourishing in the early 7th century BC.
According to Herodotus, at one point Etearchus, influenced by the slanders of his second wife, believed that his orphaned daughter Phronime, from his first marriage, was leading a shameful life.
[1] Indeed, Themison took the young princess but, upon his return, did not want to kill her nor break his divine oath.
Therefore, he tied her with a rope and threw her into the sea, then pulled her back onto his ship.
Upon reaching his homeland, he presented her to Polymnestus, the ruler of Thera.