{{Short description|Son of Heracles in Greek myth}} {{other uses}}
In Greek mythology, '''Tlepolemus''' ({{IPAc-en|(|t|)|l|ᵻ|ˈ|p|ɒ|l|ᵻ|m|ə|s}}; {{langx|grc|Τληπόλεμος|Tlēpólemos}}) was the leader of the Rhodian forces in the Trojan War.<ref name="Hom. Cat.">Homer, ''Iliad'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0134%3Abook%3D2%3Acard%3D653 2.653–70].</ref>
== Family == Tlepolemus was a son of Heracles and Astyoche, daughter of Phylas, king of Ephyra.<ref name="Hom. Cat." /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Apollodorus, Library, book 2, chapter 7, section 6 |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+2.7.6&fromdoc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0022 |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=www.perseus.tufts.edu}}</ref> Though some sources say that his mother was Astydameia, daughter of Amyntor<ref name="Pind. Ol. 7">{{Cite web |title=Pindar, Olympian, Olympian 7 For Diagoras of Rhodes Boxing-Match 464 B. C. |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0162:book=O.:poem=7 |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=www.perseus.tufts.edu}}</ref> or Ormenus.<ref>Hesiod, ''Catalogue of Women'' fr. 232 M–W = schol. Pind. ''Ol''. 7.42b: "Homer says that she was Astyoche, not Astydameia ... Hesiod also says that she was Astydameia, Pherecydes says Astygeneia. She was a daughter of Phylas. ... Herein Pindar says that she was daughter of Amyntor, but Hesiod and Simonides say Ormenus." ({{lang|grc|Ὅμηρος ταύτην Ἀστυόχην φησὶν, οὐκ Ἀστυδάμειαν ... καὶ Ἡσίοδος δὲ Ἀστυδάμειαν αὐτήν φησι, Φερεκύδης δὲ Ἀστυγένειαν. ἦν δὲ Φύλαντος θυγάτηρ ... ἐνταῦθα δὲ Ἀμύντορος αὐτήν φησιν ὁ Πίνδαρος, Ἡσίοδος δὲ καὶ Σιμωνίδης Ὀρμένου.}})</ref>
== Mythology == Tlepolemus fled to Rhodes after slaying Licymnius, Heracles' aged maternal uncle.<ref name="Hom. Cat." /> According to the ''Bibliotheca'', this was an accident—Tlepolemus was beating a servant when Licymnius ran between the two, suffering a fatal blow,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apollodorus, Library, book 2, chapter 8, section 2 |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+2.8.2&fromdoc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0022 |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=www.perseus.tufts.edu}}</ref>—but Pindar states that the death was intentional and motivated by anger.<ref name="Pind. Ol. 7" /> Accompanied by his Argive wife Polyxo,<ref name="Paus. 3.19.10">{{Cite web |title=Pausanias, Description of Greece, Laconia, chapter 19, section 10 |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0160:book=3:chapter=19:section=10 |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=www.perseus.tufts.edu}}</ref><ref>Tzetzes on Lycophron, ''Alexandra'' 911 calls her "Philozoe" ({{lang|grc|Φιλοζώη}})</ref> Tlepolemus made passage to Rhodes and divided the island into three parts, founding three Rhodian city-states: Cameirus, Ialysus and Lindus.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LacusCurtius • Diodorus Siculus — Book IV Chapters 40‑58 |url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/4C*.html |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=penelope.uchicago.edu}}</ref><ref>Cf. ''Iliad'' 2.655–6, where Tlepolemus leads "those who dwell Rhodes, ordered in three parts: Lindos, Ialysus and shining Cameirus" ({{lang|grc|οἳ Ῥόδον ἀμφενέμοντο διὰ τρίχα κοσμηθέντες}} | {{lang|grc|Λίνδον Ἰηλυσόν τε καὶ ἀργινόεντα Κάμειρον}}).</ref>
Hyginus lists Tlepolemus among the suitors of Helen;<ref>Hyginus, ''Fabulae'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#81 81]</ref> thus bound by the oath of Tyndareus, he was among the Greek allies in the campaign against Troy, leading a force of nine ships.<ref name="Hom. Cat." />
He encountered Sarpedon on the first day of fighting recounted in the ''Iliad'' and taunted him saying that he lacked courage and could not really be the son of Zeus.<ref>Homer, ''Iliad'' 5.633–46</ref> Tlepolemus then attacked him, and although he wounded Sarpedon, he was slain by the latter.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Homer, The Iliad, Scroll 5, line 572 |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0217:book=5:card=572 |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=www.perseus.tufts.edu}}</ref>
According to Pausanias, Polyxo killed Helen to avenge for her husband's death,<ref name="Paus. 3.19.10" /> though Polyaenus says that Menelaus had dressed up a servant in Helen's clothes and that the Rhodians killed her instead as Menelaus and Helen escaped.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Polyaenus: Stratagems - Book 1 (a) |url=http://www.attalus.org/translate/polyaenus1A.html#13.1 |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=www.attalus.org}}</ref>
==Notes== {{reflist|40em}}
== References ==
* Apollodorus, ''The Library'' with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0022 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0021 Greek text available from the same website]. * Diodorus Siculus, ''The Library of History'' translated by Charles Henry Oldfather. Twelve volumes. Loeb Classical Library. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. 1989. Vol. 3. Books 4.59–8. [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/home.html Online version at Bill Thayer's Web Site] * Diodorus Siculus, ''Bibliotheca Historica. Vol 1-2''. Immanel Bekker. Ludwig Dindorf. Friedrich Vogel. in aedibus B. G. Teubneri. Leipzig. 1888-1890. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2008.01.0540 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library]. * Gaius Julius Hyginus, ''Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus'' translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. [https://topostext.org/work/206 Online version at the Topos Text Project.] * Hesiod, ''Catalogue of Women'' from ''Homeric Hymns, Epic Cycle, Homerica'' translated by Evelyn-White, H G. Loeb Classical Library Volume 57. London: William Heinemann, 1914. [http://www.theoi.com/Text/HesiodCatalogues.html Online version at theio.com] * Homer, ''The Iliad'' with an English Translation by A.T. Murray, Ph.D. in two volumes. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924. {{ISBN|978-0674995796|}}. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0134 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] * Homer, ''Homeri Opera'' in five volumes. Oxford, Oxford University Press. 1920. {{ISBN|978-0198145318|}}. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0133 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library]. * Pausanias, ''Description of Greece'' with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918. {{ISBN|0-674-99328-4}}. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0160 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library] * Pausanias, ''Graeciae Descriptio.'' ''3 vols''. Leipzig, Teubner. 1903. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0159 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library]. * Pindar, ''Odes'' translated by Diane Arnson Svarlien. 1990. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0162 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] * Pindar, ''The Odes of Pindar'' including the Principal Fragments with an Introduction and an English Translation by Sir John Sandys, Litt.D., FBA. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1937. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0161 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library]. {{Characters in the Iliad}} Category:Kings in Greek mythology Category:Children of Heracles Category:Heracleidae Category:Achaean Leaders Category:Rhodian mythology