Echepolos
Wealthy Greek who bribed Agamemnon with a fine mare to avoid serving at Troy
The Legend of Echepolos
Echepolos was a wealthy man from Sicyon who found a way to avoid fighting at Troy through a shrewd use of his resources. When Agamemnon was assembling the great Greek expedition, Echepolos offered him a magnificent mare named Aethon as a gift. In exchange, Agamemnon excused Echepolos from military service, allowing him to stay home and enjoy his wealth while others fought and died. The mare was of exceptional quality and Agamemnon gave her to his friend Menelaus. This story is told in passing in the Iliad, but it reveals the less heroic side of the war effort, showing that not every wealthy Greek was eager to join the expedition. Echepolos's successful bribery stands in sharp contrast to the hundreds of heroes who answered the call willingly and gave their lives at Troy.
Parents
None recorded
Symbols
Fun Fact
Echepolos successfully bribed his way out of the Trojan War with a single mare, while others died for honour
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