Philoctetes

First appears: Apollodorus, Library 3.10

🌐 Also appears in: The Metamorphoses of Ovid (as Philoctetes) · Greek Tragedy — The Same Myth, Three Voices (as Philoctetes)

Philoctetes was the son of Poeas and, among the Olizonians, commanded seven ships. When Troy was besieged, he shot Paris with the bow of Heracles; Oenone refused to heal Paris, who was carried back to Troy and died.

After the war had lasted ten years, and by the orders of Agamemnon, Odysseus abandoned Philoctetes on Lemnos because of his festering snakebite, leaving him with Heracles’ bow. Later, Calchas declared that Troy could not be taken without the bow and arrows, so Odysseus and Diomedes went to Lemnos and, by craft, obtained them and persuaded Philoctetes to sail to Troy. Cured by Podalirius, Philoctetes returned and shot Paris.

Relationship record

Life events

• Philoctetes wounded Alexander, Oenone refused to heal him, and Alexander died after returning to Troy.(Apollodorus, Library 3.12 · 📍 Troy)
  • With: Alexander Oenone
  • “But she, nursing her grievance, refused to heal him. So Alexander was carried to Troy and died.”
• Ulysses abandoned Philoctetes on Lemnos because of his festering snakebite.(Apollodorus, Epitome 3 · 📍 Lemnos)
  • With: Odysseus
  • “Ulysses, by the orders of Agamemnon, put him ashore on the island of Lemnos , with the bow of Hercules which he had in his possession”
• Philoctetes, cured by Podalirius, returned and shot Paris.(Apollodorus, Epitome 5)
  • With: Odysseus Diomedes Podalirius Paris
  • “So he went, and after being cured by Podalirius, he shot Alexander.”

Apollodorus, Library 3.12

• enemies with Paris “he was shot by Philoctetes with the bow of Hercules”
• with Paris (interaction) “he was shot by Philoctetes with the bow of Hercules”

Apollodorus, Epitome 3

• parent: Poeas “Of the Olizonians, Philoctetes, son of Poeas: seven ships.”
• with Agamemnon (ordered his exile) “Ulysses, by the orders of Agamemnon, put him ashore on the island of Lemnos”
• child: Poeas “Philoctetes, son of Poeas”
• employer: Agamemnon “Ulysses, by the orders of Agamemnon, put him ashore on the island of Lemnos”

Apollodorus, Epitome 5

• with Odysseus (interaction) “having by craft got possession of the bow and arrows he persuaded him to sail to Troy”
• with Podalirius (interaction) “after being cured by Podalirius, he shot Alexander.”
• with Calchas (interaction) “Calchas prophesied to them that Troy could not be taken unless they had the bow and arrows of Hercules fighting on their side. On hearing that, Ulysses went with Diomedes to Philoctetes in Lemnos”
• with Diomedes (interaction) “Ulysses went with Diomedes to Philoctetes in Lemnos , and having by craft got possession of the bow and arrows he persuaded him to sail to Troy .”
• with Paris (interaction) “after being cured by Podalirius, he shot Alexander.”

⭐ Constellation map → · 📖 Read the original → · 🗂 Character index → · 🕰 Chronicle → · 📍 Places → · 🌳 Family orrery →

Extracted from the original text of Greek Mythology. Made with Rho MD.