Medon

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In mythology and history, there were at least eight men named Medon (Ancient Greek: Μέδων, gen.: Μέδοντος).

Mythological

Odyssey

Medon is the faithful herald of Odysseus in Homer’s Odyssey. Following the advice of his son Telemachus, Odysseus spares Medon’s life after murdering the suitors of Penelope who had been plaguing his halls in his homeland of Ithaca.[1] Medon attempts to return the favor by speaking on behalf of his master, claiming that Odysseus' violence was not unwarranted by the gods.[2] Ovid mentions the "cruel" Medon as one of the suitors;[3] he is also included on the list of suitors in the Bibliotheca.[4]

Trojan War

Medon, a "cunning craftsman" of Cilla, husband of Iphianassa and father of Metalcas and Zechis, of whom the former was slain in the Trojan War by Neoptolemus, and the latter by Teucer.[5]

Phylace's Medon

Medon, half-brother of Ajax the Lesser and son of Oileus, king of Locris, by Rhene[6] or Alcimache.[7] He resided in Phylace, to where he had to flee after he had killed a relative of his stepmother Eriopis.[8] In the Trojan War, he took over Philoctetes' army after Philoctetes was bitten by a snake and left on Lemnos because the wound festered and smelled bad.[9] Medon was killed by Aeneas.[10]

Roman mythology

Medon, a Centaur at the wedding of Pirithous and Hippodamia.[11]

Historical

First archon

Medon, the son of Codrus, was the first archon of Athens. He was lame, which was why his brother Neileus would not let him rule, but the Delphian oracle bestowed the kingdom upon Medon.[12]

Hellanicus' Medon

Medon, the son of Pylades and Electra and brother of Strophius.[13]

Tyrrhenian pirate

Medon, one of the Tyrrhenian pirates who attempted to enslave Dionysus and were changed into fish.[14]

Epigoni War

Medon, son of Eteoclus and accordingly a participant in the war of the Epigoni.[15]

Argos King

Medon (Μήδων), a son of Ceisus and grandson of Temenus. He was a king of Argos but his powers were limited to the minimum in favor of the people's self-government.[16]

References

  1. ↑ Odyssey 22: 355-380
  2. ↑ Od. 24: 346-354
  3. ↑ Ovid, Heroides, 1. 91
  4. ↑ Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, Epitome of Book 4, 7. 26 ff
  5. ↑ Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy, 8. 296; 10. 125
  6. ↑ Homer, Iliad, 2. 728
  7. ↑ Scholia on Iliad, 13. 694
  8. ↑ Homer, Iliad, 13. 694 - 697
  9. ↑ Il. 2. 720 - 730
  10. ↑ Il. 15. 332
  11. ↑ Ovid, Metamorphoses, 12. 303
  12. ↑ Pausanias, Description of Greece, 7. 2. 1
  13. ↑ Pausanias, Description of Greece, 2. 16. 7, citing Hellanicus
  14. ↑ Ovid, Metamorphoses, 3. 671; Hyginus, Fabulae, 184
  15. ↑ Scholia on Iliad, 4. 404
  16. ↑ Pausanias, Description of Greece, 2. 19. 2

Sources

  • Homer. Odyssey. Trans. Stanley Lombardo. Canada: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., 2000. Print.
Characters in the Iliad
Achaeans
Trojans
Characters in the Odyssey

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