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Greek Mythology Notes

Leonteus

🗡 heroΛεοντεύς
None recorded

Lapith warrior who defended the Greek wall alongside Polypoetes at Troy‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‍​‌​‌​‍​‌​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‍​‌

The Legend of Leonteus

Leonteus was a grandson of Caeneus, the legendary Lapith who had once been a woman transformed into an invulnerable man by Poseidon.‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‍​‌​‌​‍​‌​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‍​‌ Together with his comrade Polypoetes, Leonteus commanded the Lapith contingent of forty ships from Argissa and surrounding towns. Their finest hour came during the Trojan assault on the Greek camp wall, where the two Lapith chiefs stood in the gateway like sturdy oak trees, refusing to give ground against waves of Trojan attackers. Leonteus killed Hippomachuss and Antiphates in that desperate stand. He also competed in the funeral games for Patroclus.

Parents

Coronus (grandson of Caeneus)

Symbols

gateoak treespear

Fun Fact

Homer compared him and Polypoetes to immovable oak trees rooted deep in the earth, enduring every storm

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