Echemus

In Greek mythology, Echemus (/ˈɛkəməs/;[1]Ancient Greek: Ἔχεμος, Ekhemos) was the Tegean king of Arcadia who succeeded Lycurgus.

Family

Echemus was the son of Aeropus, son of King Cepheus.[2] He was married to Timandra, daughter of Leda and Tyndareus of Sparta.[3] Timandra bore him a son, Ladocus,[4] before deserting Echemus for Phyleus, the king of Dulichium.

Mythology

After the death of Eurystheus, Hyllus led the Heracleidae to attack Mycenae. Echemus offered himself as the champion of the defending Arcadian forces and killed Hyllus in single combat, thus forcing the Heracleidae to withdraw.[2] This story is mentioned by the Tegeans as an example of their people's bravery in book 9 of The History by Herodotus.

Echemus was the victor in wrestling during the first Olympic games established by Heracles.[5]

Notes

  1. Gardner, Dorsey; Porter, Noah, eds. (1884). A Practical Dictionary of the English Language. New York: Ivison, Blakeman, Taylor & Co. p. 552.
  2. Pausanias, 8.5.1
  3. Hesiod, Ehoiai fr. 23(a)31–35
  4. Pausanias, 8.44.1
  5. Pindar, Olympian Odes 10.65 ff.

References

Further reading

  • March, J., Cassell's Dictionary of Classical Mythology, London, 1999. ISBN 0-304-35161-X


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