Character · Individual
Read-only identity and editorial metadata.
Tydeus of Aetolia
Descriptive reference · Reported
Phase 6 currently covers 24 processed books.
Agamemnon's account places Tydeus at Mycenae as a guest.
“Tydeus did not shrink thus, but was ever ahead of his men when leading them on against the foe— so, at least, say they that saw him in battle, for I never set eyes upon him myself. They say that there was no man like him. He came once to Mycenae, not as an enemy but as a guest, in company with Polynices”
Minerva recalls that Tydeus went as an envoy to the city of Thebes and feasted there.
“Tydeus was a little man, but he could fight, and rushed madly into the fray even when I told him not to do so. When he went all unattended as envoy to the city of Thebes among the Cadmeans, I bade him feast in their houses”
Diomed recalls Tydeus reaching Thebes as an envoy and later returning from there.
“my noble father Tydeus when he went to Thebes as envoy sent by the Achaeans. He left the Achaeans by the banks of the river Aesopus, and went to the city bearing a message of peace to the Cadmeians; on his return thence”
Diomed reports that Tydeus lies buried at Thebes.
“Tydeus, who lies buried at Thebes”
Diomed recalls Tydeus being by the banks of the river Aesopus when he left the Achaeans.
“He left the Achaeans by the banks of the river Aesopus”
Diomed reports that his father Tydeus migrated to Argos.
“I am by lineage son to a noble sire, Tydeus, who lies buried at Thebes. For Portheus had three noble sons, two of whom, Agrius and Melas, abode in Pleuron and rocky Calydon. The third was the knight Oeneus, my father’s father, and he was the most valiant of them all. Oeneus remained in his own country, but my father (as Jove and the other gods ordained it) migrated to Argos”
Agamemnon repeats reports that Tydeus led from the front, fearlessly defeated the Cadmeans in every contest with Minerva’s help, slew all but Maeon from the force sent to ambush him, and spared Maeon in obedience to omens.
“Tydeus did not shrink thus, but was ever ahead of his men when leading them on against the foe— so, at least, say they that saw him in battle, for I never set eyes upon him myself. They say that there was no man like him. He came once to Mycenae, not as an enemy but as a guest, in company with Polynices to recruit his forces, for they were levying war against the strong city of Thebes, and prayed our people for a body of picked men to help them. The men of Mycenae were willing to let them have one, but Jove dissuaded them by showing them unfavourable omens. Tydeus, therefore, and Polynices went their way. When they had got as far the deep-meadowed and rush-grown banks of the Aesopus, the Achaeans sent Tydeus as their envoy, and he found the Cadmeans gathered in great numbers to a banquet in the house of Eteocles. Stranger though he was, he knew no fear on finding himself single-handed among so many, but challenged them to contests of all kinds, and in each one of them was at once victorious, so mightily did Minerva help him. The Cadmeans were incensed at his success, and set a force of fifty youths with two captains—the godlike hero Maeon, son of Haemon, and Polyphontes, son of Autophonus—at their head, to lie in wait for him on his return journey; but Tydeus slew every man of them, save only Maeon, whom he let go in obedience to heaven’s omens. Such was Tydeus of Aetolia”
Minerva remembers Tydeus as small, combative, high-spirited, and victorious in every Cadmean challenge with her aid.
“Tydeus was a little man, but he could fight, and rushed madly into the fray even when I told him not to do so. When he went all unattended as envoy to the city of Thebes among the Cadmeans, I bade him feast in their houses and be at peace; but with that high spirit which was ever present with him, he challenged the youth of the Cadmeans, and at once beat them in all that he attempted, so mightily did I help him.”
Diomed remembers that he cannot remember Tydeus because he lost him in childhood.
“I do not remember Tydeus, for he was taken from us while I was yet a child, when the army of the Achaeans was cut to pieces before Thebes”
Diomed recounts that Tydeus went to Thebes as a peace envoy and, with Minerva’s aid, performed daring deeds on returning.
“my noble father Tydeus when he went to Thebes as envoy sent by the Achaeans. He left the Achaeans by the banks of the river Aesopus, and went to the city bearing a message of peace to the Cadmeians; on his return thence, with your help, goddess, he did great deeds of daring, for you were his ready helper.”
Diomed reports that Tydeus migrated to Argos, married into Adrastus’ family, maintained his own abundant house with rich cornland, orchards, and many sheep, and excelled all Argives with the spear.
“but my father (as Jove and the other gods ordained it) migrated to Argos. He married into the family of Adrastus, and his house was one of great abundance, for he had large estates of rich corn-growing land, with much orchard ground as well, and he had many sheep; moreover he excelled all the Argives in the use of the spear.”
Evidence records not already represented by a claim.
“Tydeus”
“Such was Tydeus of Aetolia”
“the son of Tydeus flinging himself alone into the thick of the fight”
“Son of Tydeus”
“Son of Tydeus”
“Tydeus, who lies buried at Thebes”
“the son of Tydeus”
“Diomed son of Tydeus”
“mighty Diomed son of Tydeus”