Telephus
Family: Arcadians · Role: military leader · First appears: Book 1 · Chapter 4
At the Mysian plain, Telephus led an expedition against Agamemnon’s forces; the Greeks, unable to find Ilium, ravaged the plain, mistaking it for Trojan territory. Later accounts say Auge gave birth to Telephus in secret, and he was exposed on Mount Parthenium and suckled by a doe.
As a boy, Telephus was brought up by a doe. His later story includes a single combat with Achilles on the plain of Caicus. In battle, Telephus slew Thersander, while his son Eurypylus killed Machaon and Peneleos. At Pergamum, those who sacrificed to Telephus could not enter the temple of Æsculapius before bathing; a votive bowl attributed to Telephus was shown at Patara in the temple of Apollo.
Relationship record
Life events
- Telephus leads an expedition against Agamemnon's forces, and the Greeks ravage the Mysian plain.(Book 1 · Chapter 4 · 📍 Mysian plain)
- With: Agamemnon
- “and their venture under Telephus against the forces of Agamemnon, when the Greeks, unable to find Ilium, ravaged the Mysian plain, thinking it was Trojan territory.”
- Auge secretly gave birth to Telephus, who was exposed and suckled by a doe.(Book 8 · Chapter 48 · 📍 Mount Parthenium)
- With: Auge
- “which states that Auge gave birth to Telephus unbeknown to her father, and that he was exposed on Mount Parthenium and suckled by a doe”
- Telephus was exposed as a boy and brought up by a doe.(Book 8 · Chapter 54 · 📍 Mount Parthenium)
- “where they say he was exposed as a boy and brought up by a doe”
Book 1 · Chapter 4
- enemies with Agamemnon “their venture under Telephus against the forces of Agamemnon”
Book 3 · Chapter 26
- child: Eurypylus (son of Telephus) “The writer of the epic poem called the Little Iliad says that Machaon was killed by Eurypylus the son of Telephus.”
Book 5 · Chapter 13
- with Æsculapius (Sacrificing to Telephus entails temporary exclusion from the temple of Æsculapius.) “Those who sacrifice to Telephus at Pergamum north of the river Caicus are in a similar predicament: they may not enter the temple of Æsculapius till they have had a bath.”
Book 8 · Chapter 45
- with Achilles (They are depicted in single combat.) “a representation of the single combat between Telephus and Achilles on the plain of Caicus”
- rivals with Achilles “a representation of the single combat between Telephus and Achilles on the plain of Caicus”
Book 8 · Chapter 48
- parent: Auge “Auge gave birth to Telephus unbeknown to her father”
Book 9 · Chapter 5
- enemies with Thersander (son of Polynices) (Telephus killed Thersander in battle.) “Thersander, who was the bravest of the Greeks in the battle, was slain by Telephus”
- child: Eurypylus (son of Telephus) (Parent-to-child direction.) “Peneleos was killed by Eurypylus the son of Telephus”
- with Thersander (son of Polynices) (interaction) “Thersander, who was the bravest of the Greeks in the battle, was slain by Telephus,”
- with Peneleos (interaction) “Peneleos was killed by Eurypylus the son of Telephus,”
Book 9 · Chapter 31
- parent: Hercules “There is also a doe suckling Telephus the son of Hercules, and a cow, and a statue of Priapus well worth seeing.”
Book 9 · Chapter 41
- with Hephæstus (Hephæstus made the bowl, which Telephus dedicated as a votive offering.) “a brazen bowl (which they say was by Hephæstus), the votive offering of Telephus”
- with Apollo (Telephus's votive offering was kept in Apollo's temple.) “The Lycians indeed show at Patara in the temple of Apollo a brazen bowl (which they say was by Hephæstus), the votive offering of Telephus,”
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Extracted from the original text of Pausanias' Description of Greece. Made with Rho MD.