THE HERO TEUCER IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Teucer was a noted Greek hero who fought for the Achaean force at Troy, and unlike a number of other famous heroes of the Trojan War, Teucer would survive the fighting.
Teucer son of Telamon
Teucer was a prince of the Grecian Salamis island, for Teucer was the son of King Telamon and Queen Hesione. Being a son of Telamon made Teucer half-brother to Telamonian Ajax (Ajax the Greater); Ajax being the son of Telamon’s first wife, Periboea.
Teucer was often referred to as illegitimate, or “bastard” Teucer, simply because he was not born to Telamon’s first wife.
Teucer was often referred to as illegitimate, or “bastard” Teucer, simply because he was not born to Telamon’s first wife.
Teucer's Wider Family
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Telamon himself was a named hero for he was named as a Calydonian Hunter and also an Argonaut, alongside his brother Peleus. Telamon though was also a companion of Heracles, and fought alongside Heracles during the first siege of Troy.
It was for his part in fighting alongside Heracles that Telamon was given Hesione as a wife, for Hesione was a daughter of King Laomedon of Troy, the Trojan king being killed by Heracles. |
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This of course means that King Priam of Troy was Teucer’s uncle, whilst the children of Priam, including Hector and Paris, were Teucer’s cousins.
Teucer Goes to Troy
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Teucer’s name only becomes famous in Greek mythology because of his presence at Troy amongst the Achaean forces. The former Suitors of Helen had been obliged by the Oath of Tyndareus to gather their armies together in order that Helen could be retrieved from Troy.
Teucer is not mentioned as a Suitor of Helen though by either Hesiod or Hyginius, although his name does appear in the Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus); Teucer’s half-brother Ajax though was named by all three as a Suitor. Ajax therefore brought 12 ships from Salamis to Troy, and Teucer was a commander of these troops. Teucer was often named as the greatest archer amongst the assembled Greek forces, although Philoctetes, when he re-joined the war, might have this title, and also Odysseus was more than competent with the bow. |
Unknown Artist. Print - Sculpture by Hamo Thornycroft
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Teucer and Ajax
Ajax and Teucer would work in tandem during the Trojan War for Teucer would unleash his arrows from behind the mighty shield of Ajax. Arrow after arrow would find its mark amongst the Trojan ranks but every time that Teucer would fire at Hector, the mightiest of all the Trojan defenders, his arrow would be deflected. For unknown to Teucer, Apollo was at that time protecting Hector from death.
Hector would indeed at one point injure the shooting arm of Teucer, preventing more damage being done to the Trojan defences, at least in the short term.
Agamemnon was ecstatic about having the skill of Teucer upon his side, and promised Teucer great riches when the city of Troy fell.
Hector would indeed at one point injure the shooting arm of Teucer, preventing more damage being done to the Trojan defences, at least in the short term.
Agamemnon was ecstatic about having the skill of Teucer upon his side, and promised Teucer great riches when the city of Troy fell.
Teucer and Ajax the Great
The Downfall of Ajax the Great
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The bond between Ajax and Teucer though would be broken shortly after the death of Achilles. Ajax the Great and Odysseus would combine to retrieve the fallen body, and armour of their comrade, but subsequently the greater eloquence of Odysseus saw Ajax lose out when it came to taking the armour of Achilles.
Some said that Ajax simply committed suicide because of the disgrace of losing to Odysseus, whilst others say that madness led Ajax to plan to kill his own comrades, but Athena instead had Ajax kill a flock of sheep instead. Then when Ajax realised what he had done, then the Greek hero committed suicide. Teucer would protect the body of his brother, and ensured that Ajax had a proper funeral, although Agamemnon and Menelaus both argued against Ajax being deserving of the rites. Teucer though found an unlikely ally in Odysseus, and so Ajax was buried upon the Troad. This though would have an adverse impact on the future of Teucer. Teucer and the Downfall of TroyUpon the death of Ajax, Teucer became commander of the Salamineans. The Trojan War was soon to end though, for Odysseus’ idea of the Wooden Horse was put into operation. Teucer was named, alongside the likes of Philoctetes and Menelaus, amongst the 40 Greek heroes who entered the belly of the horse. Thus Teucer was present when the city of Troy finally fell to the besieging Achaean forces.
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By the end of the war Teucer was said to have slain 30 named Trojan heroes, with Homer naming but a few – “Whom first then of the Trojans did peerless Teucer slay? Orsilochus first and Ormenus and Ophelestes and Daetor and Chromius and godlike Lycophontes and Amopaon, Polyaemon's son, and Melanippus.”
Teucer Returns Home
Teucer was not amongst those who committed sacrilege during the Sacking of Troy, and as a result his return to Salamis was both uneventful and quick. This though did not mean it was a happy return, for Telamon refused to allow his son to step foot once again on his homeland.
Telamon would blame Teucer for the death of his brother Ajax, the failure to return the body and armour of Telamon’s son, and also for failing to bring the son of Ajax, Eurysaces, back to the islands. Eurysaces though did at some point reach Salamis, for he would succeed his grandfather as king.
Telamon would blame Teucer for the death of his brother Ajax, the failure to return the body and armour of Telamon’s son, and also for failing to bring the son of Ajax, Eurysaces, back to the islands. Eurysaces though did at some point reach Salamis, for he would succeed his grandfather as king.
Teucer The Founding King
Some say Teucer would travel onto Corinth, where after a meeting with Idomeneus and Diomedes, there was an agreement to attack to regain their kingdoms; although of course Salamis was not Teucer’s to take. In any case the plans came to nothing, for Nestor dissuaded the trio from acting.
Consequently, Teucer travelled onwards, possibly following a promise made by the Greek god Apollo that he was destined for a new kingdom. Teucer indeed came into a new kingdom when he aided King Belus of Tyre in his attempts to take the island of Cyprus. With Teucer’s help the island fell, and was subsequently presented to the Greek hero by Belus.
On Cyprus, Teucer married Eune, the daughter of Cyprus, and the couple had a daughter Asteria. Teucer would found the city of Salamis, named for his homeland, and would constructed a magnificent temple dedicated to Zeus.
Some vague myths do have Teucer trying to take the kingdom of Salamis from his nephew Eurysaces, and when repulsed travelled onwards to Galicia where he founded the city of Pontevedra
Consequently, Teucer travelled onwards, possibly following a promise made by the Greek god Apollo that he was destined for a new kingdom. Teucer indeed came into a new kingdom when he aided King Belus of Tyre in his attempts to take the island of Cyprus. With Teucer’s help the island fell, and was subsequently presented to the Greek hero by Belus.
On Cyprus, Teucer married Eune, the daughter of Cyprus, and the couple had a daughter Asteria. Teucer would found the city of Salamis, named for his homeland, and would constructed a magnificent temple dedicated to Zeus.
Some vague myths do have Teucer trying to take the kingdom of Salamis from his nephew Eurysaces, and when repulsed travelled onwards to Galicia where he founded the city of Pontevedra
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