Mecisteus

🗡 heroΜηκιστεύς

None recorded

Argive warrior and boxer who competed at the funeral games of Oedipus at Thebes‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‍

The Legend of Mecisteus

Mecisteus was the son of Talaus and brother of Adrastus, king of Argos.‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‍ He was celebrated as a skilled boxer and athlete. According to the Iliad, Mecisteus travelled to Thebes for the funeral games held in honour of the fallen Oedipus, where he defeated all the Cadmeans in boxing. His son Euryalus later followed in the family's martial tradition, fighting at Troy and competing in the boxing match at the funeral games of Patroclus. Mecisteus himself may have been one of the original Seven against Thebes in some traditions, though Aeschylus lists a different roster. His lineage connected the Argive royal house to both the Theban and Trojan wars.

Parents

Talaus

Children

Euryalus

Symbols

boxing gloves

Fun Fact

He defeated every Theban boxer at Oedipus' funeral games, a rare athletic feat recorded by Homer himself

Explore Further

Euryalus

🗡 hero

Boxing, Argive warfare

Son of Mecisteus who commanded part of the Argive contingent and won the boxing match at Patroclus's funeral games

Eryx

🗡 hero

Boxing, City Foundation, Sicily

Sicilian king and champion boxer, son of Aphrodite, killed by Heracles in a wrestling match.

Amycus

🗡 hero

Boxing, brutality

Savage king of the Bebryces who challenged all visitors to a boxing match and was defeated by Polydeuces

Dolops

🗡 hero

Combat, lineage

Trojan warrior and son of Lampus who fought bravely before falling at Troy

Polydeuces

🗡 hero

None recorded

Immortal twin of the Dioscuri and the greatest boxer in Greek mythology

pollux

Antilochus

🗡 hero

war

Son of Nestor, youngest Greek commander at Troy, beloved companion of Achilles who died protecting his father.

Amphidamas

🗡 hero

Kingship, funeral games

King of Chalcis in Euboea whose funeral games famously featured a poetic contest between Homer and Hesiod

Abas

🗡 hero

Kingship, warfare

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

Polypoetes

🗡 hero

None recorded

Lapith commander and son of Pirithous who fought at Troy alongside Leonteus

Meges

🗡 hero

None recorded

Greek warrior from Dulichium who led the Epeians to Troy and fought bravely at the ships

Cercyon

🗡 hero

None recorded

King of Eleusis who forced travellers to wrestle him to the death until Theseus arrived

Coronus

🗡 hero

Lapith heritage, combat

Son of the Lapith lord Caeneus who sailed with the Argonauts as a representative of his people