Ilioneus
Trojan warrior whose name means man of Ilion, killed by Peneleos during the great battles
The Legend of Ilioneus
Ilioneus was a Trojan warrior whose very name proclaimed his identity as a man of Ilion, the ancient name for Troy. He was the son of Phorbas, a wealthy man whom Hermes favoured above all other Trojans and had blessed with abundant flocks. Despite his family's prosperity, Ilioneus was his parents' only son, making his death all the more tragic. During the fierce fighting described in the Iliad, Ilioneus was killed by the Boeotian leader Peneleos in a particularly brutal manner. Peneleos drove his spear through Ilioneus's eye socket and out through the back of his neck, then severed the head and held it aloft on his spear like a trophy. Homer describes this scene with unflinching detail.
Parents
Phorbas
Symbols
Fun Fact
Ilioneus was his parents' only son, and Homer emphasises this to heighten the tragedy of his gruesome death
Explore Further
Bathycles
🗡 heroWealth, combat
Greek or Trojan warrior known for his family's wealth who died in the fighting at Troy
Peneleos
🗡 heroBoeotian leadership, ferocity
Boeotian commander at Troy known for his savage killing of the Trojan Ilioneus
Sarpédon
🗡 heroSon of Zeus who died at Troy
Sarpedon was a son of Zeus and the greatest Lycian warrior at Troy — his death forced Zeus to confront the limits of even divine power.
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🗡 heroPelasgian leadership, combat
Leader of the Pelasgian allies of Troy who was killed fighting over the body of Patroclus
Euphorbus
🗡 heroCombat, beauty
Trojan warrior famed for his beauty who first wounded Patroclus before Hector delivered the killing blow
Tydeus
🗡 heroThe ferocious warrior who forfeited immortality
A hero of savage courage who fought as one of the Seven Against Thebes but lost Athena's gift of immortality in his final moment.
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🗡 heroChampion of Troy
Hector was Troy's greatest warrior, who fought not for glory but to defend his city, wife, and son.
Schedius
🗡 heroPhocian leadership, combat
Commander of the Phocian contingent at Troy who was killed by Hector during the great battles
Parthenopaeus
🗡 heroSeven Against Thebes, Youth, Arcadia
Young Arcadian hero, one of the Seven Against Thebes, who died at the city walls before seeing his homeland again.
Tlepolemos
🗡 heroRhodian leadership, Heracles heritage
Son of Heracles who led the Rhodian contingent at Troy and was killed by Sarpedon
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🗡 heroService, youth
Trojan warrior and attendant who was killed during the fighting at Troy
Bias
🗡 heroCombat, leadership
Trojan or Greek warrior whose name means strength, appearing among fighters at Troy