Machaon
Son of Asclepius and chief surgeon of the Greek army at Troy, killed by Eurypylus son of Telephus.
The Legend of Machaon
He was so valuable that when he was wounded, the entire Greek army panicked — Idomeneus declared him worth more than many warriors. Machaon was the battlefield surgeon at Troy, extracting arrows and applying herbs learned from his father Asclepius. He healed Menelaus after Paris's arrow struck him. When Machaon himself was wounded, Nestor rushed him from the field in his chariot. He was eventually killed by Eurypylus, son of Telephus, in one of the war's cruellest ironies — the son of the man Achilles's spear had healed killed the man who healed the Greeks. His bones were brought to Messenia, where a healing cult grew around his tomb.
Parents
Asclepius, Epione
Symbols
Fun Fact
A healing sanctuary at Gerenia in Messenia was built around Machaon's tomb.
Explore Further
Asclepius
🗡 heroGod of medicine and healing
The legendary physician who could cure any illness and even raise the dead. Son of Apollo, his skill in medicine was so great that Zeus struck him down to preserve the natural order.
Podalirius
🗡 heromedicine
Son of Asclepius and Greek physician at Troy who specialized in internal medicine while his brother Machaon was the surgeon.
Telephus
🗡 herofate
Son of Heracles and Auge, king of Mysia, who was wounded by Achilles and could only be healed by the same spear.
Ilioneus
🗡 heroHerding, Troy
Trojan warrior whose name means man of Ilion, killed by Peneleos during the great battles
Iolaus
🗡 heroNephew and companion of Heracles
Iolaus was Heracles' beloved nephew and charioteer who helped him slay the Hydra by cauterising the stumps — the essential companion to the greatest hero.
Antilochus
🗡 herowar
Son of Nestor, youngest Greek commander at Troy, beloved companion of Achilles who died protecting his father.
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.
Asclepius
⚡ godGod of medicine and healing
Asclepius began as a mortal hero trained by Chiron who became so skilled at medicine that he could raise the dead — Zeus struck him down, then deified him.
Diomedes
🗡 heroKing of Argos who wounded gods
Diomedes was the only mortal in the Iliad to wound two Olympian gods in a single day.
Hippothous
🗡 heroPelasgian leadership, combat
Leader of the Pelasgian allies of Troy who was killed fighting over the body of Patroclus
Hector
🗡 heroChampion of Troy
Hector was Troy's greatest warrior, who fought not for glory but to defend his city, wife, and son.
Eurypylus of Mysia
🗡 herowar
Son of Telephus who led a Mysian army to Troy as the last major reinforcement and was killed by Neoptolemus.