Joseph Vendryes had suggested that the name Teutamus, after the legendary Pelasgian founder, may contain the Proto-Indo-European root *teutéha- ('tribe, people').
[4] Later scholars proposed a relation of Pelasgian Teutamus with similar names that appear in Italy in later times.
According to Diodorus Siculus, Tectamus invaded Crete together with a horde of Aeolian and Pelasgian settlers and became the island's king.
[7] He married Cretheus' (Cres’) daughter who gave birth to his son Asterion.
Historian Ctesias wrote of a king of "Assyrian" provenance named Teutamus, and this historical personage appears in an epic tale involving Memnon, son of Eos.