Amphiaraus

Family: divine · Role: seer and god · First appears: Book 1 · Chapter 34

In Book 1, Chapter 34, while fleeing Thebes, Amphiaraus and his chariot were swallowed by the earth at Harma. At Oropus, the Oropians made him a god, and he instituted divination by dreams. Iophon preserved oracular responses he gave to the Argives sent to Thebes; a sanctuary there was shared by Vesta, Hermes, Amphiaraus, and the sons of Amphilochus. Alcmæon had no honour with Amphiaraus or Amphilochus because he murdered Eriphyle.

In Book 2, Amphilochus and Alcmæon are named as sons of Amphiaraus, and the sepulchre of Hypermnestra (mother of Amphiaraus) is mentioned. At Thebes, the earth swallowed Amphiaraus, his chariot, and Bato, his charioteer; Bato is also described as his kinsman. In Book 3, Amphiaraus is identified as the son of Œcles. Book 5 records Baton as his charioteer and says that Asius represented Alcmena as the daughter of Amphiaraus and Eriphyle; in an image, Amphiaraus is turned towards Eriphyle, his sword drawn and his rage barely restrained.

In Book 8, Œcles’ death is placed either in Arcadia or during the expedition against Laomedon, in which Amphiaraus was associated with Hercules. In Book 9, Demonassa is named as his daughter, and Melanippus (slayer of Tydeus) is said to have been slain by him after killing Tydeus and Mecisteus during the siege of Thebes.