KING EURYTUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Eurytus is a lesser known king of Greek mythology, for he was ruler of Oechalia, but Eurytus was also a king twice encountered by the Greek hero Heracles.
King Eurytus of Oechalia
Eurytus is said to have been the son of Melaneus and Stratonice (or Oechalia), making him a grandson of Apollo, via his father. Eurytus also had one sister called Ambracia.
Melaneus had established the kingdom of Oechalia on land given to him by Perieres, a son of Aeolus, but there is no agreement about where this kingdom was, with Euboea, Messenia and Thessaly all claiming that they were once home to the kingdom.
Nevertheless, Eurytus inherited the kingdom of Oechalia from his father; Eurytus also inherited great skill with the bow, as might be expected from a grandson of Apollo, and Eurytus was thus named as one of the greatest archers of his day.
Melaneus had established the kingdom of Oechalia on land given to him by Perieres, a son of Aeolus, but there is no agreement about where this kingdom was, with Euboea, Messenia and Thessaly all claiming that they were once home to the kingdom.
Nevertheless, Eurytus inherited the kingdom of Oechalia from his father; Eurytus also inherited great skill with the bow, as might be expected from a grandson of Apollo, and Eurytus was thus named as one of the greatest archers of his day.
The children of EurytusEurytus would marry a woman called Antioche (also known as Antiope), who was possibly daughter of King Pylas.
By Antioche, Eurytus would become father to a number of sons, Iphitus, Molion, Clytius and Toxeus, and possible Deion and Didaeon. Of these sons, Clytius and Iphitus are probably the most famous, for they are occasionally named as Argonauts. |
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Eurytus also had one beautiful daughter, Iole, and when the time came for Eurytus to find her a husband, the king of Oechalia decided that only someone who could best him and his sons in an archery contest would be worthy of her hand in marriage.
Heracles and Iole
Heracles would come Oechalia and compete for the hand in marriage of the beautiful Iole. Some say that it was actually Eurytus who had trained Heracles in the skills of the archer, although some also say that the role of the trainer was Rhadamanthys. In either case, the skill of Heracles was greater than that of Eurytus or any of his sons.
Eurytus then decided to renege on his promise, and the king forbade Heracles to wed Iole. Eurytus was worried about the safety of his daughter with Heracles, for Heracles had after all killed his first wife, Megara, and his children during a fit of madness.
It was a decision that the sons of Eurytus, bar Iphitus agreed to. Iphitus believed that the promise made should be upheld.
Eurytus then decided to renege on his promise, and the king forbade Heracles to wed Iole. Eurytus was worried about the safety of his daughter with Heracles, for Heracles had after all killed his first wife, Megara, and his children during a fit of madness.
It was a decision that the sons of Eurytus, bar Iphitus agreed to. Iphitus believed that the promise made should be upheld.
The Cattle of Eurytus and the Death of Iphitus
An angry Heracles then departed Oechalia and would eventually arrive in Tiryns.
The departure of Heracles from Oechalia coincided with the disappearance of the prized cattle, or mares, of King Eurytus. Heracles was of course blamed for the theft of the livestock, but Iphitus did not believe that Heracles committed the theft, and indeed, in all likelihood, the rustling had been done by Autolycus, the thief son of Hermes. Iphitus would catch up with Heracles in Tiryns, but rather than accuse the hero of theft, Iphitus asked Heracles to help him in the search for the cattle. It seems though, that another bout of madness, or a fit of anger, overtook Heracles, for Heracles threw Iphitus from the walls of Tiryns, killing the son of Eurytus. For the murder of Iphitus, the Oracle of Delphi commanded Heracles to serve Queen Omphale of Lydia for a year, some say Omphale would become Heracles’ second wife, and the Oracle also told Heracles to pay compensation to King Eurytus for the death of his son. The compensation offered to King Eurytus was refused though, and so again the king of Oechalia had angered Heracles. |
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The Death of Eurytus
Later, at a time when Heracles had wed Deianira, the hero would decide to have his vengeance upon King Eurytus, and so Heracles marched with an army against the small kingdom.
The defences of Oechalia were no match for Heracles, and soon the city had fallen to the demi-god, and King Eurytus and his sons were put to the sword by Heracles.
Heracles would then return, but he was not alone, for he took Iole, the daughter of King Eurytus and the woman who he had once been promised, as his concubine. The jealousy that this aroused in Deianira would ultimately lead to the death of Heracles.
The defences of Oechalia were no match for Heracles, and soon the city had fallen to the demi-god, and King Eurytus and his sons were put to the sword by Heracles.
Heracles would then return, but he was not alone, for he took Iole, the daughter of King Eurytus and the woman who he had once been promised, as his concubine. The jealousy that this aroused in Deianira would ultimately lead to the death of Heracles.
A Different Death for King Eurytus
Some say however that it was not Heracles who killed King Eurytus for this deed was done by Apollo, the grandfather of the king. It was said that Eurytus was so proud of his skill with the bow that he challenged Apollo to a contest. The impudence of King Eurytus was such that Apollo struck him down.
Now if Heracles was not the man to kill Eurytus then it was also said that it was the bow of Eurytus that was given to Odysseus by Iphitus, prior the death of the son of Eurytus.
Some also tell the Clytius was not killed by Heracles, for the son of Eurytus was said to have died at the hand of King Aeetes during the voyage of the Argo.
Now if Heracles was not the man to kill Eurytus then it was also said that it was the bow of Eurytus that was given to Odysseus by Iphitus, prior the death of the son of Eurytus.
Some also tell the Clytius was not killed by Heracles, for the son of Eurytus was said to have died at the hand of King Aeetes during the voyage of the Argo.
Colin Quartermain - Aeetes - 14th March 2016
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