EUMELUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Eumelus was a named hero of the Achaean forces, famed for leading 11 ships to Troy, but his role in the Trojan War is all but non-existent in surviving sources.
Eumleus Son of Admetus
Eumelus Suitor of Helen
The royal lineage of Eumelus, and heroic skills, sufficed to see Eumelus in Sparta when King Tyndareus announced that Helen was to be wed. Eumelus is commonly named as a Suitor of Helen, although of course it was Menelaus who was eventually chosen. The Oath of Tyndareus though had been put in place by the Spartan king, at the direction of Odysseus, and so Eumelus was now honour bound to protect Menelaus.
Eumelus though, would would find himself a suitable wife in the form of Iphthime, daughter of Icarius. This marriage would make him brother-in-law to Odysseus who had married Iphthime’s sister, Penelope.
Eumelus though, would would find himself a suitable wife in the form of Iphthime, daughter of Icarius. This marriage would make him brother-in-law to Odysseus who had married Iphthime’s sister, Penelope.
Eumelus and the Trojan War
|
As previously mentioned Eumelus is hardly mentioned in the most famous surviving story of the Trojan War, Homer’s Iliad.
Homer’s Catalogue of Ships tells of Eumelus heeding Agamemnon’s invocation of the Oath of Tyndareus, by bringing 11 ships to Aulis; leading, Troops from Pherae by Lake Boebea, from Boebeïs, Glaphyrae, well-built Iolcus. Euripides’ Iphigeneia in Aulis also give a brief mention to Eumelus, for he was was described as racing Achilles on the beach. It was an unusual race though, for Achilles was on foot and in armour, whilst Eumelus was on a chariot pulled by four horses. It was a charioteer that Eumelus was particularly known, aided in part by the fact that his horses had once belonged to the god Apollo. The second mention of Eumelus by Homer, also comes during a chariot race, for at the funeral games for Patroclus, Eumelus competed, and was fully expect to win. A slight of the gods though, saw Eumelus punished, and his chariot broke, resulting him in coming last. Fragmentary evidence of other lost sources, tell of Eumelus perhaps regaining his honour as a master charioteer by winning the chariot race at the funeral games of Achilles. |
|
Eumelus is also commonly named amongst the Achaeans who secreted themselves in the Trojan Horse, allowing for the Sacking of Troy, and the culmination of the Trojan War.
Perhaps though, Eumelus was a figure talked of in much greater detail in antiquity, meaning that Homer had no need to expand on the virtual of the King of Pherae, for his audience would be well aware of it.
Perhaps though, Eumelus was a figure talked of in much greater detail in antiquity, meaning that Homer had no need to expand on the virtual of the King of Pherae, for his audience would be well aware of it.
|
|
Colin Quartermain - Eumelus - 28th January 2024