TERMERUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Termerus was one of the many bandits who, according to Greek mythology, inhabited the ancient world. Bandits of course were destined to meet heroes, and in the case of Termerus, it was Heracles who faced the bandit.
hERACLES AND tERMERUS
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Termerus is primarily found in a single surviving source, for the bandit appears in Plutarch’s Life of Theseus; here, Plutarch using Termerus as context for the actions of Theseus in dispatching six bandits as he walked from Troezen to Athens as part of his Six Labours.
Termerus is commonly said to have founded the polis of Termera (or Termerum) in Caria, although Heracles encountered Termerus in Thessaly. |
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Heracles was searching for information of the location of the Garden of the Hesperides, as the hero sought to complete the eleventh Labour set by King Eurystheus. As he did so, so Heracles came across Termerus.
Termerus was famed for killing the unwary, by smashing his head against theirs, crushing their skulls in the process. Termerus’ skull though, was certainly not harder than Heracles’, for Termerus was killed in the same manner by which he had killed.
Termerus was famed for killing the unwary, by smashing his head against theirs, crushing their skulls in the process. Termerus’ skull though, was certainly not harder than Heracles’, for Termerus was killed in the same manner by which he had killed.
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Colin Quartermain - Termerus - 12th March 2022