Demophon

Also known as: Demophoon · Family: Greeks · Role: warrior · First appears: Sophocles, Philoctetes — Scene 3

In Sophocles’ Philoctetes, Demophon joins Phoenix and Acamas in pursuing Neoptolemus with ships and men. In Euripides’ The Heraclidæ, he is king of Athens and protects Iolaus and the children of Heracles when Eurystheus drives them from Greece; he prevents Copreus from removing them from the altars and promises, “fear not that any one shall drag you and these children by force from this altar”. He orders Copreus to return to Argos and tell Eurystheus that any charge against the suppliants will meet with justice.

Demophon is the son of Theseus and the brother of Acamas. An oracle promises him victory if he sacrifices a noble Athenian virgin, and he is grieved by the demand; after Macaria’s noble death, the Heraclids march to battle, defeat their enemies, and capture Eurystheus. When another oracle commands the sacrifice of a noble-born girl, Demophon refuses to kill his own child or compel another citizen, saying, “I will neither slay my own child nor compel any other of my citizens to do so unwillingly”.

As Athens prepares for invasion, Demophon assembles its citizens, sends spies, and arranges sacrifices while the Argive army approaches and Eurystheus reconnoitres before attacking. He calls Iolaus his son and friend: Iolaus had brought the Heraclids to Athens, and Demophon promises to praise him before Theseus for receiving and aiding Heracles’ children.