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Greek Mythology Notes

Iphition

🗡 heroἸφιτίων
Combat, wealth

Trojan ally and lord of a wealthy city who was the first man Achilles killed upon returning to battl‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‍​‌​‍​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‌e

The Legend of Iphition

Iphition was the son of Otrynteus and a naiad nymph, and he ruled the wealthy city of Hyde beneath the snowy peak of Mount Tmolus in Lydia.‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‍​‌​‍​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‌ He brought his forces to fight as allies of Troy and served among the Trojan ranks. Iphition holds a notable place in the Iliad as the very first warrior Achilles killed after returning to battle following his long withdrawal over the quarrel with Agamemnon. When Achilles charged back into the fighting, burning with rage over Patroclus's death, Iphition was the first to meet him. Achilles struck him on the head with his sword, splitting it in two. As Iphition fell, Achilles taunted him, saying his death was far from his homeland by the rich lake of Gygaea.

Parents

Otrynteus and a naiad nymph

Symbols

swordcrown

Fun Fact

Iphition was the first casualty of Achilles' devastating return to battle, marking the beginning of the end for Troy

Explore Further

Bathycles

🗡 hero

Wealth, combat

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

Ilioneus

🗡 hero

Herding, Troy

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

Schedius

🗡 hero

Phocian leadership, combat

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

Parthenopaeus

🗡 hero

Seven Against Thebes, Youth, Arcadia

Young Arcadian hero, one of the Seven Against Thebes, who died at the city walls before seeing his homeland again.

Podes

🗡 hero

Wealth, feasting

Trojan nobleman and close companion of Hector who was valued for his hospitality

Neoptolemus

🗡 hero

Son of Achilles

Neoptolemus was Achilles' fierce son, brought to Troy because a prophecy declared the city could not fall without him.

pyrrhic

Hippothous

🗡 hero

Pelasgian leadership, combat

Leader of the Pelasgian allies of Troy who was killed fighting over the body of Patroclus

Imbrios

🗡 hero

Marriage, Trojan alliance

Son-in-law of Priam from the island of Imbros who fought and died defending Troy

Sarpédon

🗡 hero

Son 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.

Graphium sarpedon (blue triangle butterfly)

Abas

🗡 hero

Kingship, warfare

King of Argos renowned as a fierce warrior whose very shield could terrify enemies

Amphimachus

🗡 hero

None recorded

Greek commander from Elis who sailed to Troy and was killed by Hector

Deipyrus

🗡 hero

Combat, Greek alliance

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