Atreides

Atreides is the name of a fictional noble house in Frank Herbert's Dune series. The name is drawn from Greek mythology, referring to the descendants of Atreus, and is used in the fiction to evoke a legacy of aristocratic duty and leadership. House Atreides is one of the Great Houses of the Landsraad, historically ruling the ocean-world Caladan before being entrusted with the desert planet Arrakis (also known as Dune) by the Padishah Emperor.

The house’s sigil is a hawk, symbolizing prescient vision and noble bearing, and its heraldry emphasizes a code of honor, loyalty, and just governance. The Atreides are noted for capable rulers and a humane approach to rule, distinguishing them from rival houses. Key figures include Duke Leto Atreides, who governs Caladan; Paul Atreides, his son, who becomes Muad'Dib and leads a Fremen uprising on Arrakis; and Lady Jessica, a Bene Gesserit. Loyal retainers such as Duncan Idaho and Gurney Halleck, along with Stilgar, the Fremen leader who allies with Paul, figure prominently. The conflict with House Harkonnen and imperial machinations leads to Leto’s downfall and Paul’s rise to power, reshaping the political landscape of the Imperium.

Across the Dune saga, the Atreides line continues to influence governance, religion, and power dynamics through Paul and his successors, especially in relation to spice production on Arrakis. The name has entered popular culture as a symbol of stewardship, virtue, and resistance to tyranny.