ECHEMUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Echemus was a legendary king of Arcadia in Greek mythology. The King of Tegea would be famed for his fight with Hyllus, son of Heracles.
Echemus the Arcadian
Echemus was a member of the wider royal family of Arcadia, born a son of Aeropus, Echemus was grandson of King Cepheus and great-grandson of King Aleus
Echemus and Timandra
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Echemus would wed Timandra, the daughter of King Tyndareus of Sparta, and his wife, Leda. Timandra. Timandra would bear a son for Echemus, a boy called Ladocus. Ladocus would give his name to Laodicium, a place that would become a suburb of Megalopolis.
Timandra would subsequently leave Echemus, and marry King Phyleus of Dulchium. Echemus would become King of Tegea when King Lycurgus died. Lycurgus was the long-lived king who had outlived his four sons. |
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Echemus and the Heraclids
Echemus was a noted fighter, and some tell of him being the winner of the first wrestling contest at the inaugural Olympic Games.
The fighting prowess of Echemus was exhibited though when the Heraclids, the descendants of Heracles, camped their forces upon the Isthmus of Corinth. Buoyed by death of King Eurystheus, Hyllus led an army to regain the lands that had once been promised to Heracles. Overconfident, Hyllus misinterpreted a prophecy about “the third fruit”, and acted too quickly.
As King of Tegea Echemus was seen as the primary defender of the region, and so Echemus gathered a force of Arcadians and Achaeans. A battle between the Heraclids and forces of Echemus was avoided though, when it was decided that the outcome of the battle would be decided in single combat.
Echemus thus faced Hyllus, son of Heracles.
Details of the fight between the two are not recorded, but it is known that Echemus won the fight, for Hyllus was killed; and thus, the Heraclids withdrew, not returning for a further two generations.
The place where the forces gathered was said to have been on the boundary between Corinth and Megara, and Pausanias wrote of Hyllus’ tomb being situated nearby.
The fighting prowess of Echemus was exhibited though when the Heraclids, the descendants of Heracles, camped their forces upon the Isthmus of Corinth. Buoyed by death of King Eurystheus, Hyllus led an army to regain the lands that had once been promised to Heracles. Overconfident, Hyllus misinterpreted a prophecy about “the third fruit”, and acted too quickly.
As King of Tegea Echemus was seen as the primary defender of the region, and so Echemus gathered a force of Arcadians and Achaeans. A battle between the Heraclids and forces of Echemus was avoided though, when it was decided that the outcome of the battle would be decided in single combat.
Echemus thus faced Hyllus, son of Heracles.
Details of the fight between the two are not recorded, but it is known that Echemus won the fight, for Hyllus was killed; and thus, the Heraclids withdrew, not returning for a further two generations.
The place where the forces gathered was said to have been on the boundary between Corinth and Megara, and Pausanias wrote of Hyllus’ tomb being situated nearby.
Arcadia After Echemus
The timing or manner of Echemus’ death is not recorded, but it was not Echemus’ son, Ladocus, who succeeded him, for it was said that the next King of Tegea was Agapenor. Agapenor was grandson of the Lycurgus, the man who Echemus had succeeded.
The tomb of Echemus was said to have been located in Tegea, for Pausanias recording seeing it there, and commented upon the relief carved on it; a relief depicting the fight between Echemus and Hyllus.
The tomb of Echemus was said to have been located in Tegea, for Pausanias recording seeing it there, and commented upon the relief carved on it; a relief depicting the fight between Echemus and Hyllus.
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Colin Quartermain - Echemus - 7th March 2026