EURYTION IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY

King Eurytion in Greek Mythology

​Eurytion was a hero and king who appeared in tales of Greek mythology, and although both an Argonaut and Calydonian Hunter, Eurytion remains a peripheral figure.

King Eurytion of Phthia

​Eurytion was closely associated with Phthia, and it was commonly said that Eurytion was the son of Actor, son of Myrmidon, born to Actor’s wife, Pisidice, daughter of Aeolus. 

A less common version tells of Eurytion being a grandson of Actor; Eurytion being a son of Irus and Demonassa, and thus brother to Eurydamas. 

In either case though, Eurytion is named as King of Phthia. 

Eurytion and Peleus

​Eurytion comes to the fore in the time of Peleus, for Peleus had been exiled from Aegina by his father, Aeacus, after the death of Phocus. Peleus travelled to Phthia where Eurytion absolved Peleus of his crime. 

Eurytion was so taken with Peleus that he then gave the stranger a third of his kingdom, and also the hand in marriage of his own daughter Aegina. 

The Heroic Eurytion

​This was the time of heroes, and in Iolcus was calling forth heroes to take part in the Quest for the Golden Fleece; and Eurytion and his son-in-law Peleus become Argonauts. Then, when both Eurytion and Peleus had returned safely from Colchis, they found that Calydon was being terrorised by a gigantic boar, and so the pair became Calydonian Hunters. 

It was in Calydon that Eurytion would die, for whilst in the woods hunting the boar, Peleus would throw his spear, but it missed the Calydon Boar and instead embedded itself in the chest of Eurytion. 

Some say of Peleus seeking to pay recompense to Irus for the death of his son, but the gift of cattle and sheep was rejected, and so Peleus was exiled from Phthia. 

Contents

Colin Quartermain - Eurytion - 29th July 2021