AMPHIARAUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Amphiaraus was a famous seer from the tales of Greek mythology. Amphiaraus was also a King of Argos, famed for being one of the Seven Against Thebes.
Amphiaraus Son of Oecles
Amphiaraus was the son of King Oicles of Argos, born to Oicles wife, Hypermnestra, a sister of Leda and Althaea. Through his father, Amphiaraus was great-grandson of Melampus, and related to many other Argive royals, whilst through his mother he was cousin to Castor and Pollox, and Meleager.
Some refer to Amphiaraus as a son of Apollo, although this is more likely to be due to the fact that Amphiaraus had great prophetic ability, rather than due to the fact that Apollo had a relationship with Hypermnestra. Melampus, Amphiaraus’ great-grandfather was one of the most famous seers of Greek mythology.
Some refer to Amphiaraus as a son of Apollo, although this is more likely to be due to the fact that Amphiaraus had great prophetic ability, rather than due to the fact that Apollo had a relationship with Hypermnestra. Melampus, Amphiaraus’ great-grandfather was one of the most famous seers of Greek mythology.
The Heroic Amphiaraus
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Although not universally agreed upon, it was said in some ancient sources that Amphiaraus was both an Argonaut and a hunter of the Calydonian Boar.
Idmon was generally considered to be the seer amongst the Argonauts, and in the Argonautica by Apollonius of Rhodes, Amphiaraus is omitted from the crew list of the Argo but is included in a list within the Bibliotheca by Pseudo-Apollodorus. |
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Similarly, Pseudo-Apollodorus, Hyginus and Ovid name Amphiaraus as one of the Calydonian Hunters, but Pausanias does not.
King Amphiaraus
Argos was divided into three at the time of Amphiaraus; the kingdom having been divided in the time of Melampus, Bias and Anaxagoras. So, Amphiaraus was one king, with the other two kings of Argos at the time being Adrastus, grandson of Bias, and Iphis, grandson of Anaxagoras.
A story of disagreement between the kings of Argos is occasionally told, which saw Amphiaraus force Adrastus into exile; Adrastus ending up in Sciyon.
Reconciliation between Adrastus and Amphiaraus occurred though, when Adrastus arranged the marriage of his sister, Eriphyle, to Amphiaraus.
To avoid future conflict between the two men, who were now brothers-in-law, it was decided that Eriphyle would adjudicate in any dispute.
A story of disagreement between the kings of Argos is occasionally told, which saw Amphiaraus force Adrastus into exile; Adrastus ending up in Sciyon.
Reconciliation between Adrastus and Amphiaraus occurred though, when Adrastus arranged the marriage of his sister, Eriphyle, to Amphiaraus.
To avoid future conflict between the two men, who were now brothers-in-law, it was decided that Eriphyle would adjudicate in any dispute.
Amphiaraus and Eriphyle
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Amphiaraus would become father of a number of children. Two sons of Amphiaraus were particularly famous, these being Alcmaeon and Amphilochus, whilst the daughters of Amphiaraus and Eriphyle were Alexida, Demonissa and Eurydice.
During the Roman period, an additional son of Amphiaraus was also named, this being Catilus, who along with his sons, Tiburtus and Coras, were the mythical founders of the city of Tibur (Tivoli). |
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The Seven Against Thebes
Amphiaraus is most famous for being one of the Seven Against Thebes, when Adrastus organised an army to put Polynices back on the throne of Thebes.
Amphiaraus foresaw the folly of such an expedition, and his own death, and initially refused to take part in the war. Polynices though bribed Eriphyle with the Necklace of Harmonia, and as this was a dispute between Adrastus and Amphiaraus, Eriphyle decided that Amphiaraus should go to war.
Amphiaraus had to honour his previous oath, but before he left he told his two young sons, Alcmaeon and Amphilochus, that they were to kill their mother because of her treachery.
Amphiaraus foresaw the folly of such an expedition, and his own death, and initially refused to take part in the war. Polynices though bribed Eriphyle with the Necklace of Harmonia, and as this was a dispute between Adrastus and Amphiaraus, Eriphyle decided that Amphiaraus should go to war.
Amphiaraus had to honour his previous oath, but before he left he told his two young sons, Alcmaeon and Amphilochus, that they were to kill their mother because of her treachery.
Amphiaraus at Thebes
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Amphiaraus was noted as a skilled spearman, and during the first Nemean Games, which the Seven instigated on their way to Thebes, Amphiaraus also won the quoit throwing contest.
At Thebes, the Seven faced off against the seven gates of Thebes, with Amphiaraus opposite either the Homoloidian Gate, or the Proetidian Gate. During the following battle, Amphiaraus killed many of the Theban defenders, but the Argive army could not penetrate the walls of Thebes. During the fighting, there was an example of how much Amphiaraus disliked those he was fighting upon, for having already chastised Polynices, Amphiaraus then managed to snatch the chance of immortality away from Tydeus. Tydeus had killed Melanippus but had himself been mortally wounded. Athena though came to Tydeus, for the goddess favoured the prince of Claydon, and was prepared to make Tydeus immortal. Amphiaraus though, cut off the head of Melanippus and presented it to Tydeus, Tydeus then feasted upon the brains of the vanquished Theban, much to the disgust of Athena, who now simply let Tydeus die. |
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The End of Amphiaraus
The battle though was also the end of Amphiaraus, for the war went badly for the Seven, and Amphiaraus was forced to flee on his chariot from the deadliest place in the battle. This though, left his back exposed, and it became a target for Periclymenus. Before a mortal wound could be inflicted though, Zeus threw down a thunderbolt, opening up the earth in front of Amphiaraus’ chariot, and so Amphiaraus was swallowed up by the earth.
Revenge for Amphiaraus came ten years later, when the Epigoni, the sons of the Seven went to war with Thebes. Amphiaraus sons, Amphilochus (who was now a king of Argos) and Alcmaeon fought in the war, and this time the Argives were successful.
Alcmaeon also did as Amphiaraus had willed, for Alcmaeon killed Eriphyle.
Revenge for Amphiaraus came ten years later, when the Epigoni, the sons of the Seven went to war with Thebes. Amphiaraus sons, Amphilochus (who was now a king of Argos) and Alcmaeon fought in the war, and this time the Argives were successful.
Alcmaeon also did as Amphiaraus had willed, for Alcmaeon killed Eriphyle.
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Colin Quartermain - Amphiaraus - 26th September 2021