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Alcides was the first name of Heracles 1 until a
Pythian priestess first called him Heracles 1. This
priestess told him to serve
Eurystheus for twelve
years, and to perform the
LABOURS imposed
on him; and when the tasks were accomplished, he
would become immortal.
Amphitryon was
married with Alcmena,
and during his absence Zeus
took his form and lay with her. Before
Amphitryon returned
home from war, Zeus came,
and prolonging the one night threefold, he assumed
the likeness of
Amphitryon and made
love to Alcmena. But
when Amphitryon
arrived and she told him that he had come the night
before and slept with her,
Amphitryon went to
Tiresias, and the seer
told him how Zeus had
enjoyed her.
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LABOURS
in red
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Summary of Heracles 1's exploits
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1. Eight months old kills the Serpents
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When Heracles 1 was about to be born,
Zeus declared that a
descendant of Perseus
1, then about to be born, would be king of
Mycenae. But
Hera, out of jealousy,
persuaded Ilithyia, goddess of childbirth, to
retard Alcmena's
delivery, and contrived that
Eurystheus, also a
descendant of Perseus
1, should be born a seven-month child. This is
how Heracles 1 lost the throne of
Mycenae.
When Heracles 1 was eight months old,
Hera, desiring his death,
sent two serpents to his bed. But he strangled the
beasts with his hands. And when he was eighteen
years old, he slew the Lion of Cithaeron, which
harried the kine of
Amphitryon and
Thespius.
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2. Education
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Heracles 1 was taught to drive the chariot by
Amphitryon, to
wrestle by Autolycus 1, the art of archery by
Eurytus 4, to fence by
Castor 1, and to play
the lyre by Linus 4.
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3. Presents
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He received a sword from
Hermes, bow and arrows
from Apollo, a golden
breastplate from
Hephaestus, and a
robe from Athena.
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4. Death of Linus 4
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For being struck by Linus 4, Heracles 1 flew
into a rage and slew him with a blow of the lyre.
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5. Daughters of Thespius
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King Thespius of Thespiae in Boeotia entertained
Heracles 1 for fifty days, and each night bedded
one of his daughters with him. The children of
Heracles 1 by the daughters of Thespius were called
Thespiades. Two of them remained in
Thebes, and seven in
Thespiae. All the other Thespiades joined Iolaus 1
in the founding of a colony in Sardinia.
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6. Death of Erginus 1
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King Erginus 1 of the
Minyans imposed a tribute
to the Thebans after his father was killed by
Perieres 2, a Theban. But it happened that Heracles
1 met the king's heralds on their way to
Thebes to demand this
tribute, and he cut off their ears, noses, and
hands, and send them back to Erginus 2. Indignant
at this outrage, Erginus 2 marched against
Thebes. But Heracles 1,
having received weapons from
Athena and taken the
command, killed Erginus 2, defeated the
Minyans, and forced them
to pay double the tribute to
Thebes. In this war
Amphitryon was
killed.
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7. Marriage
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As a prize for his courage, Heracles 1 received
in marriage Megara, daughter of
Creon 2, and they had
several children: Therimachus, Deicoon 1,
Creontiades, and Ophites 1 (but some affirm that
their children were eight in number).
About this time, Lycus 6, son of
Poseidon and descendant
of Lycus 5 from Dirphys in Euboea, killed
Creon 2, and seized power
in Thebes. It is told
that he planned to murder Megara too, but was in
time detected by Heracles 1 who killed him.
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8. Domestic violence
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Hera, still persecuting
Heracles 1, drove him mad, and as a result he
killed his wife Megara and his children by her,
flinging them into the fire. But some assert that
only his children were killed, and that Megara
later married another man (see below). And others
say that Heracles 1 was about to kill
Amphitryon too, when
Athena threw a stone at
him, and rendered him unconscious.
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9. Delphi
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When he recovered his reason, he decided to go
into exile, and arriving at
Delphi, the Pythian
priestess told him to dwell in
Tiryns, serving
Eurystheus for twelve
years and to perform ten
LABOURS (which
became twelve).
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10. Nemean Lion (1st
Labour)
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His first Labour was to destroy the Nemean Lion.
Heracles 1 shot an arrow at him, but when he
perceived that the animal was invulnerable, he
broke its neck with his bare hands.
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11. Hydra (2nd
Labour)
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As a second labour he was ordered by
Eurystheus to kill
the Lernaean Hydra, offspring of Typhon and
Echidna, a monster with nine heads, one of them
being immortal. He chopped all heads, and the
immortal one he buried, putting a heavy rock on it.
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12. Cerynitian Hind (3rd
Labour)
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As a third labour he was ordered to bring the
Cerynitian Hind alive to
Mycenae. This hind had
golden horns, and was sacred to
Artemis. Therefore
Heracles 1 did not wish to wound it, but at the end
he shot it just as it was about to cross a river.
He caught it and hastened through
Arcadia towards
Mycenae. But
Artemis and
Apollo met him, and
rebuked him for attempting to kill her sacred hind.
But Heracles 1 put the blame on
Eurystheus, pleaded
necessity, and so he appeased
Artemis' anger, carrying
the hind alive to
Mycenae.
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13. Erymanthian Boar (4th
Labour)
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As a fourth labour he was ordered to bring alive
the Erymanthian Boar, which ravaged Psophis.
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14. Death of Chiron
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While Heracles 1 was hunting the Erymanthian
Boar, he was received by Pholus 1 the Centaur. On
this occasion, a jar of
wine belonging to the
CENTAURS in common was
opened, and when the
CENTAURS learned that
their jar had been taken, a fight broke up, in the
course of which Heracles 1 repelled them. The
defeated CENTAURS took
then refuge with the wise Centaur
Chiron, and Heracles 1
shot Chiron involuntarily
with his poisoned arrows. The wound proving
incurable, Chiron
renounced immortality in favour of
Prometheus 1.
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15. Augeas' Stables (5th
Labour)
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The fifth labour was to carry out the dung of
the cattle of King Augeas of
Elis in a single day.
Heracles 1 went to Augeas, and without revealing
the command of
Eurystheus, said that
he would carry out the dung in one day, if Augeas
would give him the tenth part of the cattle. Augeas
was incredulous, but promised to do so. Having
taken Augeas' son Phyleus 1 to witness, Heracles 1
made a breach in the foundations of the
cattle-yard, and diverting the courses of two
rivers, he turned them into the yard. However, when
Augeas learned that the task had been accomplished
at the command of
Eurystheus, he
refused to pay the reward. Arbitrators were then
called, and since Phyleus 1 bore witness against
his father, Augeas ordered both his son and
Heracles 1 to leave Elis.
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16. Death of the Centaur Eurytion 3
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Mnesimache's father, Dexamenus 1, betrothed her
by force to Eurytion 3, but when he came to fetch
his bride, she called for Heracles 1's help, and he
slew the Centaur.
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17. The Stymphalian Birds
(6th Labour)
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The sixth Labour was to chase the man-eating
birds who used their feathers as arrows. Their
place of abode was the Stymphalian Lake in
Arcadia. To help him in
this task, Athena gave
Heracles 1 brazen castanets, which she had received
from Hephaestus. By
clashing these on a certain mountain that overhung
the lake, he scared the birds, which could not
abide the sound, but fluttered up in a fright. In
that way Heracles 1 shot them down. Some of these
birds were also found by the
ARGONAUTS in other
places.
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18. The Cretan Bull (7th
Labour)
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The seventh Labour consisted in bringing the
Cretan Bull. Some say that this is the bull that
ferried Europa to
Crete, but others affirm
that it was the same bull that
Poseidon sent up from
the sea to Minos 2 [see
Minotaur]. Heracles 1
came to Crete and
requested aid, but Minos
2 replied that he should fight the beast
himself. Nevertheless, Heracles 1 caught it and
brought it to
Eurystheus, who
having seen the bull let it go free.
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19. MARES OF DIOMEDES 1
(8th Labour)
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The eighth Labour consisted in bringing the
man-eating mares that Diomedes 1, king of the
Bistonians in Thrace, owned. Heracles 1 sailed with
some volunteers to Thrace, and having overpowered
the grooms, he drove the mares to the sea,
committing them to the guardianship of Abderus.
However, the beasts killed Abderus by dragging him
after them. But Heracles 1 slew Diomedes 1 and
defeated his army, or as others say, he let the
mares devour their master. He also founded a city
Abdera beside the grave of his friend Abderus. When
Heracles 1 returned from Thrace, he gave the mares
to Eurystheus. But
Eurystheus again let
them go free, and they were destroyed by the wild
beasts in Mount Olympus.
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20. The Belt of Hippolyte
2 (9th Labour)
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The ninth Labour was to fetch the Belt of
Hippolyte 2, queen of the
AMAZONS. She had the
belt of Ares for being the
best among the AMAZONS.
Heracles 1 was sent to fetch it because Admete 2,
daughter of
Eurystheus, desired
to get it. When he arrived to the land of the
AMAZONS, a fight broke
out, and Heracles 1 killed Hippolyte 2, stripping
her of her belt. And having defeated the rest, he
sailed away to Troy. After
several adventures (see below), he came to
Mycenae and gave the
Belt to Eurystheus.
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21. Death of the sons of
Minos 2
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When Heracles 1 sailed in order to fetch the
Belt of Hippolyte 2, he came to the island of
Paros, where the sons of
Minos 2 lived. But on
landing on the island, some of Heracles 1's men
were killed. Indignant at this, Heracles 1 killed
the sons of Minos 2, and
besieged the rest. And when he left, he took the
sons of Androgeus as hostages.
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22. Defeats the Bebrycians
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In his way to the
AMAZONS, he came to
Mysia, to the court of King Lycus 3 of the
Mariandynians. Heracles 1 was entertained by him;
and in a battle between him and the king of the
Bebrycians, Heracles 1 sided with Lycus 3 and slew
many of the latter's enemies, among others King
Mygdon, brother of Amycus 1. And he took much land
from the Bebrycians and gave it to Lycus 3, who
called it all Heraclea.
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23. Rescues Hesione
2 and gives her as a prize
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Apollo and
Poseidon, desiring to
put King Laomedon 1 of Troy
to the test, assumed the likeness of men, and
undertook to fortify Troy
for wages. But when they had fortified it, the king
would not pay their wages. Therefore,
Apollo sent a pestilence,
and Poseidon sent
sea-monster that snatched away the people of the
plain. But as oracles foretold deliverance from
these calamities if Laomedon 1 would expose
Hesione 2 to be
devoured by the sea-monster, he exposed her by
fastening her to the rocks near the sea. Seeing her
exposed, Heracles 1 promised to save her on
condition of receiving from Laomedon 1 the mares
which Zeus had given in
compensation for the rape of
Ganymedes. On Laomedon
1's saying that he would give them, Heracles 1
killed the monster and saved
Hesione 2. But when
Laomedon 1 would not give the stipulated reward,
Heracles 1 made war on
Troy, and having killed
Laomedon 1, he assigned the girl as a prize to
Telamon.
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24. Death of Sarpedon 2
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In Aenus he was entertained by Poltys. And as he
was sailing away, he shot Sarpedon 2, son of
Poseidon and brother of
Poltys.
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25. Conquers Thasos
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After Aenus he came to Thasos, and having
subjugated the Thracians who inhabited the island,
he gave it to the sons of Androgeus to dwell in
(see 21).
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26. Kills the sons of
Proteus 2
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In Torone he was challenged to wrestle by
Polygonus and Telegonus 2 and he killed both in the
wrestling match.
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27. The Cattle of Geryon
(10th Labour)
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As the tenth labour he was ordered to fetch the
Cattle of Geryon. Geryon lived in the island of
Erythia, and had the body of three men grown
together and joined in one at the waist, but parted
in three from the flanks and thighs. The cattle was
guarded by Orthus, a two-headed hound. When the dog
and Geryon's herdsman Eurytion 4 saw Heracles 1
coming, they attacked him, but Heracles 1 killed
them both. Hoerver, Menoetes, who was there
pasturing the cattle of
Hades, reported to Geryon
the presence of Heracles 1, and Geryon attacked
him; yet Heracles 1 killed him too, and took his
cattle away. After several adventures (see below),
he gave the cattle to
Eurystheus.
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28. Killing of wild beasts
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While he travelled through Europe to fetch the
Cattle of Geryon he killed many wild beasts.
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29. The Pillars
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Coming to Tartessus (a Phoenician city near
Gades [Cádiz] in Spain), he erected two
pillars at the boundaries of Europe and Libya
[Africa].
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30. Gift of Helius
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It is told that Helius
gave him a golden goblet so that he could cross the
Ocean. Shortly after having sailed in the goblet,
Heracles 1 gave it back to
Helius.
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31. Bandits
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In Liguria, Ialebion and Dercynus, sons of
Poseidon, attempted to
rob him of the Cattle of Geryon, but he killed them
both.
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32. Eryx 1
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In Italy, King Eryx 1 challenged Heracles 1 to
wrestle for the sake of a bull (which he had taken
from the Cattle of Geryon, and mingled with his own
herds). Heracles 1 killed him in the wrestling,
took the bull, and drove the herd to the Ionian
Sea.
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33. Hera's gadfly
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Finally, he had difficulties to collect the
cattle, which had been dispersed by a gadfly sent
by Hera.
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34. Apples of the
HESPERIDES (11th Labour)
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Eurystheus ordered
Heracles 1, as the eleventh Labour (because he did
not acknowledge Augeas' Stables nor the Hydra), to
fetch the Golden Apples of the
HESPERIDES. These
apples were not, as some have said, in Libya, but
among the Hyperboreans. They were presented by
Gaia to
Zeus after his marriage
with Hera, and guarded by
an immortal dragon with a hundred heads. Some say
that Heracles 1 sent Atlas
to fetch the apples, first relieving him of his
burden, but others say that he killed the dragon,
and took the apples himself.
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34. Cycnus 2
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When Heracles 1 was in his way to fetch the
apples, Cycnus 2, son of
Ares, challenged him to
single combat near the river Echedorus in
Macedonia, but a thunderbolt was hurled between the
two, and parted them.
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35. Meets Nereus
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Heracles 1 seized Nereus while he slept, and
though he changed into all kinds of shapes,
Heracles 1 hold him and did not release him until
Nereus told the whereabouts of the apples and the
HESPERIDES.
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36. Antaeus 1
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Next he came to Libya, where the ruler was
Antaeus 1, who used to kill strangers by forcing
them to wrestle. Antaeus 1 was son of
Gaia, according to some, or
son of Poseidon,
according to others. He became stronger when he
touched the earth, because he derived his strength
from it, but Heracles 1 killed him while holding
him in the air. And when he had vanquished Antaeus
1, he subdued Libya, which at the time was full
with wild animals. He also brought large parts of
the desert under cultivation so that it was filled
with ploughed fields, and vineyards, and olive
orchards. In this way Libya came to know
prosperity. Likewise, Heracles 1 punished those who
defied the law as well as arrogant rulers, giving
prosperity to the cities.
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37. Busiris 2
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And next he came to Egypt, whose ruler Busiris 2
used to sacrifice strangers. Him Heracles 1
sacrificed, or slew with his club.
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38. Prometheus 1
unbound
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Then he went to Ethiopia where he killed King
Emathion, son of Eos; and
after that he delivered
Prometheus 1.
Prometheus 1 moulded
men out of water and earth, and gave them fire,
having stolen it from the gods. But when
Zeus learned of it, he
ordered Hephaestus to
nail his body to a rock in Mount Caucasus.
Prometheus 1 was
nailed on the rock and kept bound for many years.
Every day an eagle came to him and devoured his
liver, which grew by night. In that way was
Prometheus 1
punished for the theft of fire. But Heracles 1 came
to Mount Caucasus, killed the eagle, and released
him.
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39. The Hound of
Hades (12th Labour)
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The twelfth Labour that
Eurystheus imposed on
Heracles 1 was to bring Cerberus 1 from
Hades [see
Underworld for a
description of this peculiar dog]. Before
performing this Labour, Heracles 1 went to
Eleusis to be initiated,
and later he descended to
Hades in Taenarum in
Laconia. In Hades, he
saw Theseus, who was not
supposed to be there yet, and he rescued him. When
Heracles 1 asked Hades for
Cerberus 1, the god told him to take it provided he
mastered him without any weapons. Heracles 1 flung
his arms round Cerberus 1's head (one of them!),
and though the dragon in the dog's tail bit him, he
did not released the beast. Having ascended in
Troezen, he showed
Cerberus 1 to
Eurystheus, and
carried the dog back to
Hades.
[See also Heracles
1 in Hades]
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After the
Labours
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40. Megara to Iolaus 1
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After the
LABOURS,
Heracles 1 came back to
Thebes and gave his wife
Megara to Iolaus 1 (which means that the death of
Megara mentioned in (8) was perhaps an exaggerated
rumour). Some say that Heracles 1 divorced her on
the ground that he had lost the children he had by
her (whom he had himself killed). Iolaus 1 and
Megara had a daughter Leipephilene, who was as
beautiful as the Olympian goddesses, or so they
say.
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41. In love with Iole
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Heracles 1 won Iole's hand through a contest in
archery, and yet he did not get the bride (see also
50).
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42. Raises Alcestis
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The MOERAE had decided
that, when King Admetus 1 should be about to die,
he might be spared if someone else would
voluntarily die in his place. And when the day of
his death came, neither his father nor his mother
would die for him, but his wife
Alcestis did die in his
stead. Yet Heracles 1 fought with
Death, and brought her
up from the
Underworld.
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43. Death of Iphitus 1
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Not long after, some cattle were stolen by the
notorious thief Autolycus 1 (his father gave him
the gift of being such a skilful thief that he
could not be caught, making him able to change
whatever he stole into some other form or colour),
and Heracles 1 was held responsible; but Iphitus 1
did not believe it and went to see Heracles 1. And
meeting him, he invited him to seek the cattle with
him. Heracles 1 promised to do so, but suddenly he
went mad again and threw Iphitus 1 from the walls
of Tiryns, killing him.
Heracles 1 then went then to see
Neleus, the founder of
Pylos, in order to be
purified for the death of Iphitus 1, but
Neleus refused. Instead
he was purified by Deiphobus 2 in Amyclae. But
Heracles 1 could not find peace after this death,
and he repaired to
Delphi. And not being
satisfied with the answers of the Pythian
priestess, he plundered the temple and carried off
the tripod with the idea of starting an oracle of
his own. And when Apollo
opposed him, Zeus threw a
thunderbolt between them.
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44. Omphale
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Heracles 1 received an oracle anyway, which
declared that the cure for his disease was for him
to be sold, to serve for three years as a slave,
and to pay compensation for the death of Iphitus 1.
So Hermes sold Heracles
1, and he was bought by Omphale, queen of Lydia.
During this servitude, he punished the CERCOPES at
Ephesus, killed Syleus in Aulis, buried Icarus, and
threw a stone against a statue by Daedalus
representing him. And some say that it is after and
not before his time with Omphale that he killed
King Laomedon 1, rescued
Hesione 2, and put
Priam 1 in the throne of
Troy (see 23.). Some say
also that it is about this time that the expedition
of the ARGONAUTS and
the Calydonian Boar Hunt took place. Heracles 1 was
one of the ARGONAUTS.
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45. Return from Troy
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On his return from Troy
(see 23. and 44.), Hera
sent storms against him, and that is why
Zeus, to protect his son,
hung her from Olympus. Heracles 1 sailed to Cos,
and the Coans, thinking he was leading a piratical
squadron, received him with a shower of stones. But
he took the city by night, and slew King Eurypylus
4, son of Poseidon.
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46. Fighting the
GIANTS
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After all this, Heracles 1 sided with the
OLYMPIANS during the
revolt of the GIANTS. His
participation in this war was necessary, because
the GIANTS could not be
killed only by the immortals. A mortal was needed.
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47. Uses Augeas' trick as a pretext for ravaging
the Peloponnesus
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Now the time came to remind Augeas of his trick
(see 15.). He collected an Arcadian army and
marched against Augeas. In the war, he killed the
MOLIONIDES and Augeas, and then he gave the throne
to Phyleus 1, Augeas' son. And having captured
Elis, he attacked
Pylos. And after taking
this city, he slew Periclymenus 1, who used to
change his shape in battle. And he also slew
Neleus and all his sons,
except Nestor who was too
young (or was away). During the fight, he also
wounded Hades, who helped
the Pylians, and smote Hera
on the right breast with a three-barbed arrow, and
wounded Ares in his thigh.
Having conquered the Pylians, he attacked Hippocoon
2, who had expelled Icarius 1 and
Tyndareus from
Lacedaemon, becoming himself king of the
Lacedaemonians. On this occasion, he killed all the
Hippocoontides because they had murdered Oeonus for
having killed their dog that had attacked him. In
this war, King Cepheus 2 of Tegea, who was
reluctant to go to war, perished in battle together
with his sons, helping Heracles 1 against the
Lacedaemonians. Having defeated his enemies,
Heracles 1 restored
Tyndareus on the
throne of Lacedaemon.
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48. Debauches Auge 2
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Passing by Tegea, Heracles 1 seduced Auge 2, who
later hid her babe in the precinct of
Athena, whose priesthood
she held. But the land remaining barren, and the
oracles declaring that there was impiety in the
precinct of Athena, she
was delivered by her father to Nauplius 1 to be put
to death, and from him Teuthras 1, prince of Mysia,
received her and married her.
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49. Meets his fate: Deianira 1
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Heracles 1 and Achelous wrestled for the hand of
Deianira 1, daughter of Oeneus 2 and Althaea, or of
Dionysus 2 and
Althaea, or of Dexamenus 1, son of Oeceus. Achelous
assumed the likeness of a bull; but Heracles 1
broke off one of his horns, and married her. Later,
Heracles 1 and Deianira 1 came to the river Evenus,
at which the centaur Nessus 2 sat and ferried
passengers across for hire. Heracles 1 crossed the
river by himself, but entrusted Deianira 1 to
Nessus 2 to carry over. But he, in ferrying her
across, attempted to violate her. When Heracles 1
heard her crying, he shot Nessus 2 in the heart
when he emerged from the river. But being at the
point of death, Nessus 2 called Deianira 1 to him,
and gave her a love-charm mixed with the blood that
flowed from his wound and the seed he had dropped
on the ground, saying that with its help she would
be able to influence her husband.
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50. Some of his last exploits
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These are some of Heracles 1's last exploits:
He marched against the Thesprotians and took
Ephyra.
He met Astyoche 2, who gave him a son Tlepolemus
1.
Feasting with Oeneus, he accidentally killed
Eunomus 1, and went into exile to Trachis, where he
helped King Ceyx to conquer
the Dryopians.
Later he met Aegimius 1, king of the Dorians,
who had a dispute about boundaries with the
LAPITHS, and was helped
by Heracles 1 in the war against them. Aegimius 1
adopted Hyllus 1, son of Heracles 1, on the death
of the latter. In that war, Heracles 1 killed
Coronus 1, general of the
LAPITHS, and Laogoras,
king of the Dryopians.
After this, passing by Itonus, he was challenged
to single combat by Cycnus 3, son of
Ares and Pelopia 3, and he
killed him.
When Heracles 1 came to Ormenium, king Amyntor 1
took arms and forbade him to march through, but
Heracles 1 slew him. Then he decided to punish
Eurytus 4, father of Iphitus 1, perhaps for not
having accepted the compensation for the death of
the latter that Heracles 1 had offered him. So he
killed Eurytus 4, pillaged the city (Oechalia) and
took Iole captive (see 41.).
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51. Death and Apotheosis
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At this point, Deianira 1 learned about Iole and
Heracles 1, and believing that the blood of Nessus
2 was in truth a love-charm (see 49.), she smeared
a tunic with it and gave it to Heracles 1. When
Heracles 1 put it on and proceeded to offer
sacrifice the tunic was warmed, and the poison of
the Hydra (introduced into the blood of the Centaur
by Heracles 1's arrow) began to corrode his skin.
Seeing that he was dying, Heracles 1 constructed a
pyre for himself and gave orders to kindle it.
Nobody would do so but Poeas, who passed by and set
a light to it. Heracles 1 gave him his bow, which
Philoctetes later
inherited. Thereafter he obtained immortality, and
being reconciled to Hera,
he married her daughter
Hebe in heaven.
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Hebe: married
Heracles 1 in heaven
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Others with identical name
|
Heracles 2 is one of the so called
DACTYLS.
Heracles 3, also called Maceris, is a Libyan,
celebrated mainly because of his journey to
Delphi.
Heracles 4 was born very much earlier than
Heracles 1; because both bore the same name, the
deeds of Heracles 4, son of
Zeus and Lysithoe, were
transferred to Heracles 1, the majority of men
being ignorant of actual facts, as some have
observed. His main deeds and honours, it is said,
were concerned with Egypt, where he also founded a
city.
Heracles 5 is said to have compiled the sacred
books of Phrygia.
Heracles 6, a son of
Zeus and Asteria 1, is
chiefly worshipped at Tyre.
In addition, an Egyptian Heracles has been
presented by other authors. For example, Flavius
Philostratus, in his
Life
of Apollonius of Tyana 2.33, says that it
was this Heracles who overrun the Indians together
with Dionysus 2. He
also adds that it was this Heracles, and not
Heracles 1, who marked the frontier of the world at
Gadira, erecting the famous pillars at the western
end of the Mediterranean sea. He also says [2.3]
that Prometheus 1
was delivered by another Heracles, not the Theban
Heracles 1. These were the views of Apollonius of
Tyana, as reported by F. Philostratus. Apollonius
regarded Heracles 1 as an averter of disease,
interpreting the labour of Augeas' stables thus:
"...
[Heracles] is the wise and courageous god, who once
purged of the plague the city of
Elis, by washing away with the
river-tide the foul exhalations which the land sent
up under the tyranny of Augeas." [Flavius
Philostratus,
Life
of Apollonius of Tyana 8.7]
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Mates
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Offspring
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Notes
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Phialo
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Aechmagoras
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Phialo was an Arcadian who was exposed with her
child by her father and was discovered by
Heracles 1 who loosed
her from her bonds and saved the baby.
Pau.8.12.2-4.
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Scythian Monster
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Agathyrsus
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This mate was half damsel and half serpent. She
would not restore the cattle of Geryon to
Heracles 1 unless he
had intercourse with her.
Hdt.4.10
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Alcaeus 6
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Alcaeus 6 was father of Belus 3 who some count
among the HERACLIDES.
Belus 3 is father of Ninus, the founder of Nineveh
and king of Assyria. Ninus is father of Agron 2 who
was the first of the
HERACLIDES to become
king of Sardis (Lydia).
Hdt.1.7.
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Gelonus
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Hdt.4.10.
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Scythes 2
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Scythes 2 was the first king of Scythia.
Hdt.4.10.
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Omphale
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Agelaus 1
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Omphale was queen of Lydia who bought
Heracles 1 as a slave,
and whom he served for one year (some say she was
the daughter of King Iardanus, others that she was
her slave).
From Agelaus 1 descends the family of
Croesus.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Tyrsenus
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Tyrsenus is the inventor of the trumpet. He
emigrated in ancient times from Lydia to Tyrrhenia
(Italy), which was called after him.
DH.1.27.1-2, 1.28.1; Hdt.1.94; Pau.2.21.3;
Strab.5.2.2-4.
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---
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Agylleus
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Agylleus competed in wrestling in the funeral
games of Opheltes 1, the little boy that was nursed
by Hypsipyle, when the
SEVEN AGAINST
THEBES met her. He came from Cleonae, a city
northeast of Nemea.
Stat.Theb.6.837, 10.249.
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Alexiares
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Heracles 1 married
Hebe after his death.
Apd.2.7.7.
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Anicetus
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Antiope 1
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Alopius
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Antiope 1 is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Eone
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Amestrius
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Eone is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Aglaia 3
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Antiades
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Aglaia 3 is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Procris 1
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Antileon
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Procris 1 is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Nicippe 2
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Antimachus 1
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Nicippe 2 is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Meda 1
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Antiochus 1
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Meda 1 is daughter of King Phylas 1 of Ephyra.
Antiochus 1 is father of Phylas 2, who is counted
among the HERACLIDES.
Apd.2.8.3; Pau.1.5.2.
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Laothoe 1
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Antiphus 3
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Laothoe 1 is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Eurypyle 1
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Archedicus
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Eurypyle 1 is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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---
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Archelaus 2
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Hyg.Fab.162.
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Patro
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Archemachus 2
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Patro is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Epilais
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Astyanax 1
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Epilais is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Calametis
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Astybies
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Calametis is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Stratonice 2
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Atromus
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Stratonice 2 is one of the daughters of
Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Rhea 2
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Aventinus 1
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Rhea 2 was a priestess in Italy. Aventinus 1 was
an ally of Turnus against
Aeneas in Italy.
Vir.Aen.7.659.
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Marse
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Bucolus 1
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Marse is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Elachia
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Buleus
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Elachia is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Hippo 2
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Capylus
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Hippo 2 is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Iphis 2
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Celeustanor
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Iphis 2 is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Celtine
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Celtus 1
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Celtine, daughter of Bretannus, fell in love
with Heracles 1 and
hid away his kine (the cattle of Geryon) refusing
to give them back to him unless he would first
content her. From Celtus 1 the Celtic race derived
their name.
Parth.30.1-2.
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---
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Chromis 6
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Stat.Theb.6.346.
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Argele
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Cleolaus 1
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Argele is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Thespius' Daughter
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Creon 1
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Apd.2.7.8.
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Megara
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Creontiades
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For Megara see Heracles
1. Creontiades is one of the children
Heracles 1 in his
madness flung into the fire.
Apd.2.4.12, 2.7.8.
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Deicoon 1
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Deicoon 1 is one of the children
Heracles 1, in his
madness, flung into the fire.
Apd.2.4.12, 2.7.8.
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Ophites 1
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Ophites 1 was killed by
Heracles 1, when the
latter went mad.
Hyg.Fab.31, 72, 162.
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Therimachus
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Therimachus is one of the children
Heracles 1 in his
madness flung into the fire.
Apd.2.4.12, 2.7.8; Hyg.Fab.31.
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Astydamia 2
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Ctesippus 1
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Astydamia 2 is the daughter of King Amyntor 1 of
Ormenium or of King Ormenius 1 of Pelasgiotis. Both
kings were killed by
Heracles 1.
Apd.2.7.8; Dio.4.37.4.
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---
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Dexamenus 2
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Dexamenus 2 is father of Ambrax who was king of
Ambracia (a city in Epirus) when the exiled
Aeneas came to the city.
DH.1.50.4.
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Erato 5
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Dynastes
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Erato 5 is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Psophis 3.
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Echephron 3
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Heracles 1 refused
to take Psophis 3 to his home, though he had
intercourse with her. Some say the city Psophis in
Arcadia was named after her by Echephron 3 who
changed the name of the city Phegia (the old
Erymanthus) to Psophis, the name of his mother.
Psophis 3 was daughter of Eryx 3, a despot in
Sicania (Sicily).
Pau.8.24.2.
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Promachus 5
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Pau.8.24.2.
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Menippis
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Entelides
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Menippis is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Lysippe 1
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Erasippus
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Lysippe 1 is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Exole
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Erythras 1
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Exole is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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---
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Euhenus
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Hyg.Fab.162.
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Lyse
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Eumedes 1
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Lyse is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Clytippe
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Eurycapys
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Clytippe is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Terpsicrate
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Euryopes
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Terpsicrate is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Eubote
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Eurypylus 8
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Eubote is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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---
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Evenus 2
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See Ares, who is also
said to be the father of Evenus 2.
Apd.1.7.7-8; Hyg.Fab.242; Plu.PS.40;
Prop.1.3.18.
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Parthenope 1
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Everes 2
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Parthenope 1 was daughter of Stymphalus 1, a
king in Arcadia.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Woman 9 Celtic
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Galates
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Heracles 1 met this
Celtic woman when returning from Iberia. Galates
accomplished great feats in war and became king of
his land. Later the Galatae or Gauls were called
after him.
Dio.5.24.2.
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Deianira 1
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Glenus
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For Deianira 1 see
Heracles 1.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Macaria
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Macaria slew herself as an oracle had said that
the children of Heracles
1 [the
HERACLIDES], by then
refugees in Athens, could
only attain victory if one of them would die a
voluntary death.
Eur.Hcl. passim; Pau.1.32.6.
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Onites 1
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Apd.2.7.8.
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Ctesippus 4
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Ctesippus 4 is father of Thrasyanor, one of the
HERACLIDES.
Thrasyanor was father of Antimachus 2, who was
father of Deiphontes. All count among the
HERACLIDES.
Apd.2.7.8; Pau.2.19.1.
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Olympusa
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Halocrates
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Olympusa is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Procris 1
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Hippeus
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Apd.2.7.8.
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Anthippe
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Hippodromus
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Anthippe is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Hippocrate
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Hippozygus
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Hippocrate is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Xanthis
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Homolippus
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Xanthis is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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a) Deianira 1
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Hyllus 1
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For Deianira 1 see
Heracles 1. Hyllus 1
killed Eurystheus and
later sought to effect the return of the
HERACLIDES to the
Peloponnesus. He was killed by the Arcadian King
Echemus, according to some.
Apd.2.7.8, 2.8.1-2; Arg.4.538, 4.551;
Dio.4.36.3, 4.58.4; Hdt.6.52, 7.204, 8.131, 9.26;
Pau.3.15.10, 4.2.1, 8.5.1; Soph.Tra.61 and passim.
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b) Melite 2
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Melite 2 is a Naiad, daughter of the River God
Aegaeus.
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Certhe
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Iobes
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Certhe is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Meline
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Laomedon 3
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Meline is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Oria
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Laomenes
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Oria is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Hyperborean Girl
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Latinus 1
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Latinus 1 is the king of Latium who was
succeeded by Aeneas. Many
other parentages are given to him.
Apd.Ep.7.24; DH.1.43.1, 1.64.2, 1.72.5-6;
Hes.The.1011; Hyg.Fab.127; Plu.Rom.2.3;
Strab.5.3.2; Vir.Aen.7.46-48, 7.52, 7.343ff.
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Eurytele
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Leucippus 3
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Eurytele is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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---
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Leucites
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Hyg.Fab.162.
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Aeschreis
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Leucones
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Aeschreis is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Toxicrate
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Lycurgus 5
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Toxicrate is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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---
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Lydus
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King of Lydia. The Lydians are called after him.
DH.1.27.2; Hdt.1.7, 7.74; Hyg.Fab.162.
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Tiphyse
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Lyncaeus
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Tiphyse is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Asopis 1
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Mentor 1
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Asopis 1 is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Praxithea 1
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Nephus
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Praxithea 1 is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Nice
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Nicodromus
|
Nice is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Hesychia
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Oestrobles
|
Hesychia is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Euboea 1
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Olympus
|
Euboea 1 is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Olympus is said to have been the pupil of
Marsyas, but some say he
is Marsyas' father by
Hyagnis who invented the music of the double pipes
with clever holes.
Apd.1.4.2, 2.7.7ff.; Hyg.Fab.165; Nonn.10.233;
Pau.10.30.9.
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Chryseis 2
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Onesippus
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Chryseis 2 is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Autonoe 4
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Palaemon 2
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Autonoe 4 was daughter of Pireus.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Lavinia 1
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Pallas 7
|
Lavinia 1 was daughter of the wise Arcadian
Evander 2 who emigrated to Italy and founded a
city, Pallantium, on the banks of the river Tiber.
Pallas 7 died before he reached puberty. The town
of Pallantium was named after him as he died there.
DH.1.32.1, 1.43.1.
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Pyrippe
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Patroclus 2
|
Pyrippe is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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---
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Phaestus 2
|
Became king of Sicyon
after Ianiscus' death and later emigrated to
Crete in obedience to an
oracle. He was father of Rhopalus, father of
Hippolytus 5, who, being king of
Sicyon after Zeuxippus,
was attacked by the
Mycenaeans and agreed to
become subject to
Agamemnon. When the
HERACLIDES commanded
by Phalces 2 took Sicyon
they spared Lacestades, son of Hippolytus 5,
because he too was one of the
HERACLIDES.
Pau.2.6.6.
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Heliconis
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Phalias
|
Heliconis is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Eurybia 2
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Polylaus
|
Eurybia 2 is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Auge 2
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Telephus
|
Auge 2 was seduced by
Heracles 1 and she hid
her child with him in the precinct of
Athena, whose priesthood
she held. But as the land was barren, and the
oracles declared that there was impiety in the
precinct of Athena, she was delivered by her father
to Nauplius 1 to be put to death, and from him
Teuthras 1, prince of Mysia, received and married
her.
Apd.2.7.4, 2.7.8, 3.9.1; Apd.Ep.3.17-20, 5.12;
DH.1.28.1; Dio.4.33.11-12; Hyg.Fab.101; Pau.3.26.9;
Plu.Rom.2.1; QS.6.136.
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Lysidice 1
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Teles
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Lysidice 1 is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Thespius' Daughter
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Teleutagoras
|
Apd.2.7.8.
|
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---
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Temenus 4
|
Temenus 4 is father of Archelaus 5, one of the
HERACLIDES.
Hyg.Fab.219.
|
|
---
|
Thessalus 1
|
Thessalus 1 was father, by Chalciope 4, of
Antiphus 5, Phidippus, and Nesson.
Hom.Il.670ff.; Hyg.Fab.97; Strab.9.5.23.
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Epicasta 2
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Thestalus
|
Epicasta 2 is daughter of Augeas.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Chalciope 3
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Thettalus
|
Chalciope 3 is daughter of King Eurypylus 4 of
Cos.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Panope 2
|
Threpsippas
|
Panope 2 is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Phyleis
|
Tigasis
|
Phyleis is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.7.8.
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Astyoche 2
|
Tlepolemus 1
|
Astyoche 2 is daughter of King Phylas 1 of
Ephyra. Tlepolemus 1 is one of the
ACHAEAN LEADERS
against Troy. He was killed
by Sarpedon 1 during the
Trojan War.
Apd.2.7.7ff.; Dio.5.59.5; Hom.Il.2.653,
5.655ff.; Hyg.Fab.81; Pau.3.19.10; Plu.GQ.37;
Strab.8.3.5
|
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Anthea
|
---?
|
Anthea is one of the daughters of Thespius.
Apd.2.4.10, 2.7.8.
|
|