Meges

In Greek mythology, Mégês Phyleïdês (Ancient Greek: Μέγης Φυλεΐδης) was the commander of Epeans and/or Dulichians during the Trojan War.

Art Illustration depicting Meges

Family

Meges was the son of Phyleus and his mother's name is variously given as either Eustyoche,[1] Ctimene,[2] Timandra,[3] Hagnete[citation needed], or Ctesimache.[4]

Mythology

Meges was one of the suitors of Helen,[5] and commanded the armies of the Echinadians and the Dulichians during the Trojan War, having summoned forty or sixty ships; he also led a contingent of Epeans who had once migrated to Dulichium together with his father.[4][6]

Meges was credited with killing a number of opponents, including Pedaeus (a son of Antenor),[7] Croesmus,[8] Amphiclus,[9] Itymoneus, Agelaus,[10] Eurymenes,[11] and Deiopites.[12] Dolops attempted to strike him with a spear but the corselet Meges was wearing, a gift for his father from Euphetes of Ephyra, saved his life.[13] Meges helped Odysseus to collect gifts for Achilles.[14] He was one of the men to enter the Trojan Horse.[15]

According to Dictys Cretensis, Meges fell at Troy.[16] Pausanias mentions a painting of him wounded in the arm by a Trojan, Admetes the son of Augeas.[17] Tzetzes relates that Meges, along with Prothous and a number of others, perished at Euboea.[18]

Notes

  1. ^ Hyginus, Fabulae 97; Homer, Iliad 2.627
  2. ^ Grimal, Dictionnaire de la mythologie grecque et romaine.
  3. ^ Eustathius on Homer, 305.15
  4. ^ a b Tzetzes, Homeric Allegories Prologue 576 - 577
  5. ^ Apollodorus, 3.10.8
  6. ^ Homer, Iliad 2.625, 5.69, 13.692 & 15.531; Euripides, Iphigenia in Aulis 284; Hyginus, Fabulae 97
  7. ^ Homer, Iliad 5.69
  8. ^ Homer, Iliad 15.523
  9. ^ Homer, Iliad 16.313
  10. ^ Quintus Smyrnaeus, 1.279
  11. ^ Quintus Smyrnaeus, 10.108
  12. ^ Quintus Smyrnaeus, 13.212
  13. ^ Homer, Iliad 15.525 ff.
  14. ^ Homer, Iliad 19.239 ff.
  15. ^ Quintus Smyrnaeus, 12.326
  16. ^ Dictys Cretensis, 3.10
  17. ^ Pausanias, 10.25.5
  18. ^ Tzetzes on Lycophron, 902

References

External links