Greek Mythology Notes

Aretaon

🗡 heroἈρεταών

Combat, minor warfare

Trojan warrior who fell in battle during the fighting at Troy‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‌

The Legend of Aretaon

Aretaon was a Trojan fighter who served in the defence of Troy during the great war against the Greeks.‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‌ He was among the many lesser-known warriors who filled the ranks of the Trojan army alongside the more famous heroes. The Iliad records his death on the battlefield, one of many names Homer lists to convey the enormous human cost of the conflict. Aretaon was killed during the general fighting, cut down by a Greek warrior in the chaotic melee that characterised much of the warfare before Troy's walls. Though his role in the epic is brief, his inclusion reflects Homer's practice of honouring even minor combatants by preserving their names for posterity.

Parents

None recorded

Symbols

spearshield

Fun Fact

Homer preserved Aretaon's name in the Iliad despite his very brief appearance, honouring him in death

Explore Further

Erymas

Combat, defence

Trojan warrior who fell during the fighting in the great battles at Troy

Cleitus

Service, youth

Trojan warrior and attendant who was killed during the fighting at Troy

Ialmenos

Combat, Trojan alliance

Trojan warrior who fought in the defence of Troy during the great war

Bathycles

Wealth, combat

Greek or Trojan warrior known for his family's wealth who died in the fighting at Troy

Chromis

Leadership, Mysian warfare

Mysian commander who led his people as allies of Troy during the great war

Aretus

Combat, endurance

Trojan warrior who fought and died during the battles before the walls of Troy

Schedius

Phocian leadership, combat

Commander of the Phocian contingent at Troy who was killed by Hector during the great battles

Chromios

Combat, defence

Trojan warrior who fought in the defence of Troy during the long Greek siege

Antilochus

war

Son of Nestor, youngest Greek commander at Troy, beloved companion of Achilles who died protecting his father.

Ilioneus

Herding, Troy

Trojan warrior whose name means man of Ilion, killed by Peneleos during the great battles

Deipyrus

Combat, Greek alliance

Greek warrior who fought at Troy and was killed during the great battles around the ships

Pisander

Myrmidon leadership, combat

Commander of one of the five Myrmidon divisions who served under Achilles at Troy