TYDEUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Tydeus was a hero of Greek mythology from the period between the two great gatherings of heroes, the adventures of the Argonauts, and the events of the Trojan War.
Tydeus though still remains a famous figure in Greek mythology, for he was counted as one of the Seven Against Thebes, and also as the father of the Greek hero Diomedes.
Tydeus though still remains a famous figure in Greek mythology, for he was counted as one of the Seven Against Thebes, and also as the father of the Greek hero Diomedes.
Tydeus Son of Oeneus
Tydeus was born in Calydon, son of King Oeneus and the king’s second wife Periboea; although some say Tydeus’ mother was his own sister Gorge. In any case, Tydeus was born in the time after Meleager, another son of Oeneus.
The prince of Calydon would be forced into exile whilst still a young man, for Tydeus was said to have committed murder; killing either his uncle Alcathous; another uncle, Melas; the sons of Melas; or his own brother Olenias. It was said that Tydeus, no matter who the victim was, was driven to murder because of a plot to overthrown his father Oeneus.
Thus, Tydeus was sent into exile by another uncle, Agrius.
The prince of Calydon would be forced into exile whilst still a young man, for Tydeus was said to have committed murder; killing either his uncle Alcathous; another uncle, Melas; the sons of Melas; or his own brother Olenias. It was said that Tydeus, no matter who the victim was, was driven to murder because of a plot to overthrown his father Oeneus.
Thus, Tydeus was sent into exile by another uncle, Agrius.
Tydeus in Argos
Tydeus would travel to Argos and found sanctuary in the court of King Adrastus, and Adrastus willingly absolved Tydeus of his crime.
Tydeus was not the only refugee in Adrastus’ court though, for also present was Polynices, the son of Oedipus. Polynices should, at that time, be king of Thebes, but his brother, Eteocles had reneged on a promise to alternate years of rule in Thebes, and so now Polynices, like Tydeus was in exile. |
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Tydeus Gains a Wife
Initially, Polynices and Tydeus did not get along, and a fight would erupt between the two about who was to sleep in the main guest chamber. The fight was so fierce that when Adrastus observed it he compared the two men to wild animals. This though brought to mind a prophecy which said Adrastus should yoke his daughters to a boar and a lion; and so Adrastus did indeed marry his daughter Argia to Polynices, whilst Tydeus would wed Deipyle.
Deipyle would give birth to two children by Tydeus, a daughter named Comaetho, and a son, Diomedes, who would become far more famous than his father.
Deipyle would give birth to two children by Tydeus, a daughter named Comaetho, and a son, Diomedes, who would become far more famous than his father.
The Seven Against Thebes
With Polynices and Tydeus marrying into the same family, Adrastus and Tydeus were now duty bound to assist Polynices in taking the throne of Thebes from Eteocles.
To this end Adrastus arranged for huge army to gather together from the kingdoms of Argos; leadership of this army was given to seven men, Adrastus, Amphiaraus, Capaeneus, Hippomedon, Pathenopaeus, Polynices and Tydeus, the Seven Against Thebes.
To this end Adrastus arranged for huge army to gather together from the kingdoms of Argos; leadership of this army was given to seven men, Adrastus, Amphiaraus, Capaeneus, Hippomedon, Pathenopaeus, Polynices and Tydeus, the Seven Against Thebes.
Tydeus Goes to WarThe army marched towards Thebes, and yet war was not inevitable, for some hoped that the size of the army would force Eteocles to relinquish the throne.
When the army of the Seven was camped upon Mount Cithaeron, Tydeus was dispatched to Thebes as an ambassador, calling for the throne of Thebes to be passed to Polynices. When Tydeus arrived in Thebes, Eteocles was in the midst of a large banquet, and even though Tydeus made his announcement, his words were but ignored. Tydeus thus abandoned his position as ambassador, and instead offered forth a challenge to fight any man at the banquet in single combat. Many men took up the challenge thrown down by Tydeus, but each was killed by the Greek hero, for it was said that Tydeus was being protected by the goddess Athena. The line of challengers eventually came to an end with no one else willing to face Tydeus alone; and so Tydeus departed from Thebes, with no sign of Eteocles giving up the throne. |
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Tydeus at Thebes
A plot against Tydeus was being plotted in Thebes, and as Tydeus left through the city gates, a force of 50 Thebans departed from another, and getting ahead of Tydeus, these Thebans lay in ambush for the hero. Fifty men though proved to be too few men to face Tydeus though, for each of the ambushers was killed by Tydeus, until only Maeon, son of Haemon and grandson of Creon, was left alive. Tydeus spared the life of Maeon, so that Maeon could bear witness to the failed ambush.
The army of the Seven advanced against Thebes, and Tydeus led his forces to one of the seven gates, be it Crenidian, Homoloidian, Dircean or Proetidian, and there, faced off against the Theban defender Melanippus, the son of Astacus
The army of the Seven advanced against Thebes, and Tydeus led his forces to one of the seven gates, be it Crenidian, Homoloidian, Dircean or Proetidian, and there, faced off against the Theban defender Melanippus, the son of Astacus
The Death of Tydeus
Tydeus might have had the blessing of Athena but a prophecy had already been made that those who accompanied Adrastus to Thebes would die, and whilst Tydeus killed many Theban defenders, he eventually faced off with Melanippus. Thus, although Tydeus killed Melanippus, the Theban defender also inflicted a mortal wound upon Tydeus.
Now some give a more gruesome end to the life of Tydeus, for these people proclaim that Athena would have granted immortality to her favoured hero, but before that moment came, Tydeus so disgusted the goddess that she changed her mind. The disgusting act of Tydeus was said to have been to consuming of the brains of Melanippus, the Theban who he had just killed.
Whilst withdrawing her favour from Tydeus, Athena would in the future, convey many favours upon the son of Tydeus, Diomedes.
After the war, Creon made it a law that the attackers should not be buried, a law that resulted in the death of his own niece, Antigone. It was though also said that Maeon did indeed bury Tydeus, in recognition for the fact that his life had once been spared by Tydeus.
Now some give a more gruesome end to the life of Tydeus, for these people proclaim that Athena would have granted immortality to her favoured hero, but before that moment came, Tydeus so disgusted the goddess that she changed her mind. The disgusting act of Tydeus was said to have been to consuming of the brains of Melanippus, the Theban who he had just killed.
Whilst withdrawing her favour from Tydeus, Athena would in the future, convey many favours upon the son of Tydeus, Diomedes.
After the war, Creon made it a law that the attackers should not be buried, a law that resulted in the death of his own niece, Antigone. It was though also said that Maeon did indeed bury Tydeus, in recognition for the fact that his life had once been spared by Tydeus.
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Colin Quartermain - Tydeus - 23rd March 2018