ANTAGORAS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Antagoras was said by some to have been the son of King Eurypylus of Cos, but is famous for his encounter with the Greek hero Heracles.
Antagoras and Heracles
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Heracles, having performed the First Sacking of Tory, where he had replaced Laomedon with Priam on the Trojan throne, was returning to Greece, when he was driven by a powerful storm onto the island of Cos.
Safely beaching his six ships, Heracles spotted a shepherd, near the ancient town of Antimachia, and asked for a ram, so that he might feed his men. This shepherd was said to be Antagoras, the son of King Eurypylus, who was tending his father’s flock. Antagoras was regarded as the greatest of Cos’ athletes. Antagoras agreed to give Heracles a ram, if Heracles could best him in a wrestling bout. Thus, Antagoras and Heracles wrestled. It proved to be an even match, but as it dragged on, Heracles started to gain the upper hand. Observing this, friends of Antagoras, decided to intervene, resulting in Heracles’ crew also getting involved. The wrestling bout had become a battle. Heracles tired and greatly outnumbered decided to retreat, and sought refuge in the house of a Thracian woman. Heracles subsequently avoided Antagoras and his friends by disguising himself as a woman. |
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Tales of Heracles being bested, even with outside intervention, are not common in surviving tales of Greek mythology, and this tale is only told by Plutarch in surviving sources.
The more commonly told tale, and earlier version, of Heracles’ landing on Cos, sees Heracles besting the army of Cos, killing King Eurypylus, and having his way with Antagoras’s sister, Chalciope.
The more commonly told tale, and earlier version, of Heracles’ landing on Cos, sees Heracles besting the army of Cos, killing King Eurypylus, and having his way with Antagoras’s sister, Chalciope.
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Colin Quartermain - Antagoras - 11th September 2025