Tlepolemus

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In Greek mythology, Tlepolemus (Template:IPAc-en; Template:Langx) was the leader of the Rhodian forces in the Trojan War.<ref name="Hom. Cat.">Homer, Iliad 2.653–70.</ref>

Family

Tlepolemus was a son of Heracles and Astyoche, daughter of Phylas, king of Ephyra.<ref name="Hom. Cat." /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Though some sources say that his mother was Astydameia, daughter of Amyntor<ref name="Pind. Ol. 7">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> or Ormenus.<ref>Hesiod, Catalogue of Women fr. 232 M–W = schol. Pind. Ol. 7.42b: "Homer says that she was Astyoche, not Astydameia ... Hesiod also says that she was Astydameia, Pherecydes says Astygeneia. She was a daughter of Phylas. ... Herein Pindar says that she was daughter of Amyntor, but Hesiod and Simonides say Ormenus." ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}})</ref>

Mythology

Tlepolemus fled to Rhodes after slaying Licymnius, Heracles' aged maternal uncle.<ref name="Hom. Cat." /> According to the Bibliotheca, this was an accident—Tlepolemus was beating a servant when Licymnius ran between the two, suffering a fatal blow,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>—but Pindar states that the death was intentional and motivated by anger.<ref name="Pind. Ol. 7" /> Accompanied by his Argive wife Polyxo,<ref name="Paus. 3.19.10">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Tzetzes on Lycophron, Alexandra 911 calls her "Philozoe" ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}})</ref> Tlepolemus made passage to Rhodes and divided the island into three parts, founding three Rhodian city-states: Cameirus, Ialysus and Lindus.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Cf. Iliad 2.655–6, where Tlepolemus leads "those who dwell Rhodes, ordered in three parts: Lindos, Ialysus and shining Cameirus" ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}).</ref>

Hyginus lists Tlepolemus among the suitors of Helen;<ref>Hyginus, Fabulae 81</ref> thus bound by the oath of Tyndareus, he was among the Greek allies in the campaign against Troy, leading a force of nine ships.<ref name="Hom. Cat." />

He encountered Sarpedon on the first day of fighting recounted in the Iliad and taunted him saying that he lacked courage and could not really be the son of Zeus.<ref>Homer, Iliad 5.633–46</ref> Tlepolemus then attacked him, and although he wounded Sarpedon, he was slain by the latter.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

According to Pausanias, Polyxo killed Helen to avenge for her husband's death,<ref name="Paus. 3.19.10" /> though Polyaenus says that Menelaus had dressed up a servant in Helen's clothes and that the Rhodians killed her instead as Menelaus and Helen escaped.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

References

• Apollodorus, The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.
• Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History translated by Charles Henry Oldfather. Twelve volumes. Loeb Classical Library. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. 1989. Vol. 3. Books 4.59–8. Online version at Bill Thayer's Web Site
• Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica. Vol 1-2. Immanel Bekker. Ludwig Dindorf. Friedrich Vogel. in aedibus B. G. Teubneri. Leipzig. 1888-1890. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
• Gaius Julius Hyginus, Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. Online version at the Topos Text Project.
• Hesiod, Catalogue of Women from Homeric Hymns, Epic Cycle, Homerica translated by Evelyn-White, H G. Loeb Classical Library Volume 57. London: William Heinemann, 1914. Online version at theio.com
• Homer, The Iliad with an English Translation by A.T. Murray, Ph.D. in two volumes. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924. Template:ISBN. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
• Homer, Homeri Opera in five volumes. Oxford, Oxford University Press. 1920. Template:ISBN. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
• Pausanias, Description of Greece with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918. Template:ISBN. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library
• Pausanias, Graeciae Descriptio. 3 vols. Leipzig, Teubner. 1903. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
• Pindar, Odes translated by Diane Arnson Svarlien. 1990. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
• Pindar, The Odes of Pindar including the Principal Fragments with an Introduction and an English Translation by Sir John Sandys, Litt.D., FBA. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1937. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.