Tellias

Also known as: Tellias of Elis · Family: Phocis · Role: commander in chief and seer · First appears: Book 10 · Chapter 1

In Book 10, Chapter 1, Tellias of Elis serves as commander in chief and seer as the Phocians march against the Thessalians, with Rhœus leading the infantry and Daiphantes the cavalry. When the engagement comes, the Phocians win a celebrated victory; afterward, they send statues of Tellias and the other battle commanders to Apollo at Delphi, made by Aristomedon the Argive.

When the Thessalian camp is pitched at the entrance to Phocis, Tellias devises a night attack: five hundred Phocians whiten themselves and their armour with plaster, surprising the enemy when the moon is full and causing a tremendous slaughter.

Relationship record

Life events

• Rhœus, Daiphantes, and Tellias assume command of the Phocian forces against the Thessalians.(Book 10 · Chapter 1)
  • With: Rhœus Daiphantes
  • “And forthwith the Phocians marched forth against the Thessalians, under the command of Rhœus of Ambrosus and Daiphantes of Hyampolis, the latter in command of the cavalry, and the former in command of the infantry. But the commander in chief was Tellias, the seer of Elis, on whom all the hopes of the Phocians for safety were placed.”
• The Phocians win a celebrated victory over the Thessalians under Rhœus, Daiphantes, and Tellias.(Book 10 · Chapter 1)
  • With: Rhœus Daiphantes
  • “And when the engagement came on, then the Phocians bethought them of their resolves as to their women and children, and saw that their own safety was by no means certain, they were consequently full of desperation, and the omens of the god being auspicious, won one of the most famous victories of their time.”
• The Phocians send statues of Tellias and the battle commanders to Apollo, made by Aristomedon.(Book 10 · Chapter 1 · 📍 Delphi)
  • With: Rhœus Daiphantes Aristomedon
  • “In consequence of this victory the Phocians sent to Apollo to Delphi statues of the seer Tellias and of the other commanders in the battle, and also of the local heroes. These statues were by Aristomedon the Argive.”
• Tellias devises a plaster disguise enabling a surprise attack that causes a tremendous Thessalian slaughter.(Book 10 · Chapter 1 · 📍 Phocis)
  • “For when the enemy’s camp was pitched at the entrance to Phocis, five hundred picked Phocians waited till the moon was at its full, and made a night attack on the Thessalians, having smeared themselves and likewise their armour with plaster so as to look white. A tremendous slaughter of the Thessalians is said to have ensued, who looked upon what they saw as a divine appearance, and not as a ruse of the enemy. It was Tellias of Elis who contrived this trick on the Thessalians.”

Book 10 · Chapter 1

• with Rhœus (Tellias was commander-in-chief over Rhœus.) “And forthwith the Phocians marched forth against the Thessalians, under the command of Rhœus of Ambrosus and Daiphantes of Hyampolis, the latter in command of the cavalry, and the former in command of the infantry. But the commander in chief was Tellias, the seer of Elis, on whom all the hopes of the Phocians for safety were placed.”
• with Daiphantes (Tellias was commander-in-chief over Daiphantes.) “And forthwith the Phocians marched forth against the Thessalians, under the command of Rhœus of Ambrosus and Daiphantes of Hyampolis, the latter in command of the cavalry, and the former in command of the infantry. But the commander in chief was Tellias, the seer of Elis, on whom all the hopes of the Phocians for safety were placed.”
• with Aristomedon (Aristomedon made a statue of Tellias.) “In consequence of this victory the Phocians sent to Apollo to Delphi statues of the seer Tellias and of the other commanders in the battle, and also of the local heroes. These statues were by Aristomedon the Argive.”

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Extracted from the original text of Pausanias' Description of Greece. Made with Rho MD.