Epeius

Also known as: Godlike Epeius / Panopeus' princely son · Family: The Greeks · Role: boxer · First appears: Book IV · Part 3

In Book IV, Epeius fought Acamas in a boxing match that ended without a winner. Their comrades brought them together, and they reconciled; Epeius was then sent to his ship with a silver bowl as a prize, while Theseus received the other.

In Book XII, Athena appeared to Epeius in a dream and instructed him to build a wooden Horse, offering to help him. He completed it in three days, and the Trojans dragged it into Troy. In Book XIII, Epeius helped Odysseus open the Horse, allowing the Greek warriors to emerge.

Relationship record

Life events

• The boxing match ends without a winner, and the fighters reconcile.(Book IV · Part 3)
  • With: Acamas son of Theseus
  • “But now the Achaeans all Bade stop the fight, though eager still were both To strive for coveted victory. Then came Their henchmen, and the gory gauntlets loosed In haste from those strong hands. Now drew they breath From that great labour, as they bathed their brows With sponges myriad-pored. Comrades and friends With pleading words then drew them face to face, And prayed, ‘In friendship straight forget your wrath.’ So to their comrades' suasion hearkened they; For wise men ever bear a placable mind. They kissed each other, and their hearts forgat That bitter strife.”
• Theseus and Epeius each receive one of the silver bowls as prizes.(Book IV · Part 3)
  • With: Theseus
  • “The one the son of lordly Theseus took, And goodly Epeius sent to his ship with joy The other.”
• Athena appears to Epeius in a dream and instructs him to build a wooden Horse.(Book XII · Part 1)
  • With: Athena
  • “Over the head Of brave Epeius stood she in his dream, And bade him build a Horse of tree: herself Would labour in his labour, and herself Stand by his side, to the work enkindling him.”
• Epeius completes the wooden Horse with Athena's aid.(Book XII · Part 1 · 📍 Hellespont's shores)
  • “And in three days, by Pallas's decree, Finished was all.”
• Epeius's Horse was dragged into Troy by the Trojans.(Book XII · Part 3)
  • “One and all they haled With multitudinous tug and strain, as when Down to the sea young men sore-labouring drag A ship; hard-crushed the stubborn rollers groan, As, sliding with weird shrieks, the keel descends Into the sea-surge; so that host with toil Dragged up unto their city their own doom, Epeius' work.”
• Odysseus and Epeius opened the wooden horse, allowing the Greek warriors to emerge.(Book XIII · Part 1 · 📍 Troy)
  • With: Odysseus
  • “But first himself with swift unfaltering hands, Helped of Epeius, here and there unbarred The ribs of the Horse of beams:”

Book IV · Part 3

• rivals with Acamas son of Theseus “But, ere they closed, they flashed out proving blows To wot if still, as theretofore, their arms Were limber and lithe, unclogged by toil of war; Then faced each other, and upraised their hands”
• parent: Panopeus “Stirred by his gallant chiding, a brave man Rose, son of haughty godlike Panopeus, The man who framed the Horse, the bane of Troy,”
• friends with Acamas son of Theseus “They kissed each other, and their hearts forgat That bitter strife.”

Book X · Part 1

• with Deileon (interaction) “Even as he fell, Epeius' henchmen twain, Deileon and Amphion, rushed to strip His armour;”
• with Amphion (interaction) “Even as he fell, Epeius' henchmen twain, Deileon and Amphion, rushed to strip His armour;”

Book XII · Part 1

• mentor: Athena “Who in the woodwright's craft is chiefest far Of Argives, for Athena taught his lore.”

Book XII · Part 3

• with Laocoon (Epeius made the Horse that the Trojans dragged into the city.) “Dragged up unto their city their own doom, Epeius' work.”
• with Laocoon (Epeius made the wooden horse that the Trojans dragged into the city.) “With multitudinous tug and strain, as when Down to the sea young men sore-labouring drag A ship; hard-crushed the stubborn rollers groan, As, sliding with weird shrieks, the keel descends Into the sea-surge; so that host with toil Dragged up unto their city their own doom, Epeius' work.”

Book XIII · Part 1

• with Odysseus (Epeius helps Odysseus open the Horse.) “But first himself with swift unfaltering hands, Helped of Epeius, here and there unbarred The ribs of the Horse of beams”
• with Odysseus (Epeius assists Odysseus in opening the Horse.) “But first himself with swift unfaltering hands, Helped of Epeius, here and there unbarred The ribs of the Horse of beams”

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Extracted from the original text of The Fall of Troy. Made with Rho MD.