Patricide


Patricide is the act of killing one's father, or a person who kills his or her father. The word patricide derives from the Latin word pater and the Latin suffix -cida. Patricide is a sub-form of parricide, which is defined as an act of killing a close relative. In many cultures and religions patricide was considered one of the worst sins. For example, according to Marcus Tullius Cicero, in the Roman Republic it was the only crime for which the civilian could be sentenced to death.

Patricides in myths and religions

Patricide is a common archetype that is prevalent throughout many religions and cultures, and particularly in the mythology and religion of Greek culture. Some key examples of patricide from various cultures are included as follows:
In the United States between 1980 and 2010 fathers were more likely than mothers to be killed by their children. Teenage sons were most often the perpetrators in parental killings.

In fiction

Films

In the Throne of Glass series, Dorian Havilliard kills his father.
In the Heroes of Olympus, Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano was responsible for killing her father when she was a child.

Familial killing terms