Tydeus
Also known as: son of Oeneus · Family: Achaeans · Role: warrior · First appears: BOOK IV
🌐 Also appears in: Greek Mythology — A Family Orrery (as Tydeus) · Greek Tragedy — The Same Myth, Three Voices (as Tydeus)
In Book IV, Tydeus is recalled as the father of Diomed, who could speak more glibly but, it was said, could not fight as well as his father. Tydeus went with Polynices as a guest to Mycenae and was remembered for leading his men boldly in battle; he slew all of Maeon’s companions but spared Maeon in obedience to heaven’s omens.
In Book X, Minerva is described as Tydeus’s ready helper when he performed daring deeds after carrying a message of peace to the Cadmeians. In Book XIV, Oeneus is identified as his father.
Relationship record
BOOK IV
- child: Diomed “Such was Tydeus of Aetolia. His son can talk more glibly, but he cannot fight as his father did.”
- with Polynices (interaction) “Tydeus, therefore, and Polynices went their way.”
- friends with Polynices “Tydeus did not shrink thus, but was ever ahead of his men when leading them on against the foe—so, at least, say they that saw him in battle, for I never set eyes upon him myself. They say that there was no man like him. He came once to Mycenae, not as an enemy but as a guest, in company with Polynices”
- enemies with Maeon “but Tydeus slew every man of them, save only Maeon, whom he let go in obedience to heaven’s omens.”
BOOK V
- child: Diomed “Diomed, son of Tydeus”
BOOK VII
- child: Diomed “Next were the two Ajaxes, men clothed in valour as with a garment, and then Idomeneus, and Meriones his brother in arms. After these Eurypylus son of Euaemon, Thoas the son of Andraemon, and Ulysses also rose.”
BOOK VIII
- child: Diomed “the son of Tydeus”
BOOK IX
- child: Diomed “Son of Tydeus,” said he”
BOOK X
- child: Diomed “Diomed son of Tydeus”
- patron: Minerva “He left the Achaeans by the banks of the river Aesopus, and went to the city bearing a message of peace to the Cadmeians; on his return thence, with your help, goddess, he did great deeds of daring, for you were his ready helper.”
BOOK XIV
- child: Diomed “I am by lineage son to a noble sire, Tydeus”
- parent: Oeneus “The third was the knight Oeneus, my father’s father”
BOOK XXIII
- child: Diomed “The driver seems an Aetolian by descent, ruler over the Argives, brave Diomed the son of Tydeus.”
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Extracted from the original text of The Iliad. Made with Rho MD.