Polydamas
Also known as: Polydamas of Scotussa · Family: Scotusa · Role: athlete · First appears: Book 6 · Chapter 5
In Book 6, Chapter 5, Polydamas, son of Nicias, was described as the largest man of his time; his statue was made by Lysippus. At Mount Olympus, he slew a large lion unarmed, seeking to emulate Hercules, then seized a wild bull until it escaped and left its hoofs in his hands, and stopped a speeding chariot with one hand. After Darius heard of his exploits, he summoned him to Susa with promises of rewards, where Polydamas slew three Persian Immortals in single combat.
On one occasion, when a cave roof began to collapse, Polydamas stayed behind as his companions fled, trying to hold up the rock; he was crushed to death. Book 6, Chapter 26 records that he killed Otus of Cyllene, companion of Phyleides. In Book 7, Chapter 27, Promachus was said to have defeated Polydamas at Olympia. Book 10, Chapter 27 identifies Leocritus as his son.
Relationship record
Life events
- Polydamas slew a large lion unarmed on Mount Olympus.(Book 6 · Chapter 5 · 📍 Mount Olympus)
- “Polydamas unarmed slew a large and stout lion on Mount Olympus:”
- Polydamas seized a wild bull until it escaped, leaving its hoofs in his hands.(Book 6 · Chapter 5)
- “He approached a herd of cattle, and seized the strongest and wildest bull by one of its hind feet, and held on fast by its hoofs, and would not let it go though it kicked and struggled, till at last the bull exerting all its strength got away from him, and left its hoofs in his hands.”
- Polydamas stopped a speeding chariot with one hand.(Book 6 · Chapter 5)
- “It is also recorded of him that he stopped a chariot which the driver was urging on at full speed, by laying hold of it behind with one hand, and thus stopped both horses and charioteer.”
- Darius summoned Polydamas to Susa by promising rewards.(Book 6 · Chapter 5 · 📍 Susa)
- With: Darius
- “when he became king sent messengers, for he had heard of the exploits of Polydamas, and by promising rewards attracted him to his court at Susa.”
- Polydamas slew three Persian Immortals in single combat.(Book 6 · Chapter 5 · 📍 Susa)
- “And there he slew in single combat three of the Persians called Immortals who had challenged him.”
- Polydamas remained beneath a collapsing cave roof and was crushed to death.(Book 6 · Chapter 5)
- “And when they perceived the impending disaster all his companions fled, but Polydamas determined to remain, and stretched out his hands in the intention of holding up this mass of rock and not being buried under it, but he was crushed to death.”
- Polydamas killed Otus, companion of Phyleides and leader of the Epeans.(Book 6 · Chapter 26 · 📍 Cyllene)
- Promachus was said to have defeated Polydamas at Olympia.(Book 7 · Chapter 27 · 📍 Olympia)
- With: Promachus (son of Dryon)
- “It is said also that he beat at Olympia Polydamas of Scotussa”
Book 6 · Chapter 5
- with Lysippus (Lysippus sculpted Polydamas's statue.) “The statue which stands on a lofty pedestal is by Lysippus. It is the statue of Polydamas, the son of Nicias, the largest man of our times.”
- parent: Nicias “It is the statue of Polydamas, the son of Nicias, the largest man of our times.”
- patron: Darius (Darius attracted Polydamas to his court by promising rewards.) “And Darius, the illegitimate son of Artaxerxes, (who with the help of the Persian commonalty had deposed Sogdius, Artaxerxes’ legitimate son, and usurped his kingdom), when he became king sent messengers, for he had heard of the exploits of Polydamas, and by promising rewards attracted him to his court at Susa.”
- with Hercules (Polydamas emulated Hercules.) “Polydamas unarmed slew a large and stout lion on Mount Olympus: moved to this exploit from a desire to emulate the actions of Hercules, who as the tradition goes vanquished the Nemean lion.”
- with Darius (Darius attracted Polydamas to his court by promising rewards.) “And Darius, the illegitimate son of Artaxerxes, (who with the help of the Persian commonalty had deposed Sogdius, Artaxerxes’ legitimate son, and usurped his kingdom), when he became king sent messengers, for he had heard of the exploits of Polydamas, and by promising rewards attracted him to his court at Susa.”
Book 6 · Chapter 26
- with Otus (Polydamas killed Otus.) “And Polydamas killed Otus of Cyllene, the companion of Phyleides, the leader of the brave Epeans.”
- with Homer (Homer's Iliad mentions Polydamas.) “Homer has not mentioned Cyllene in his Catalogue of the people of Elis, but subsequently in the Iliad shews that he knew that there was such a town as Cyllene. ‘And Polydamas killed Otus of Cyllene, the companion of Phyleides, the leader of the brave Epeans.’”
Book 7 · Chapter 27
- rivals with Promachus (son of Dryon) (They competed against one another at Olympia.) “It is said also that he beat at Olympia Polydamas of Scotussa, who contended a second time at Olympia, after coming home safe from the King of the Persians.”
Book 10 · Chapter 27
- child: Leocritus “Leocritus, the son of Polydamas,”
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Extracted from the original text of Pausanias' Description of Greece. Made with Rho MD.