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Greek Mythology Notes

Peneleos

🗡 heroΠηνέλεος
Boeotian leadership, ferocity

Boeotian commander at Troy known for his savage killing of the Trojan Ilioneus‌​‌​‌​‌​‍​‌​‌​‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‌​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‍

The Legend of Peneleos

Peneleos was one of the five commanders of the Boeotian contingent at Troy and one of the most brutal fighters among the Greek leadership.‌​‌​‌​‌​‍​‌​‌​‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‌​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‍ He brought his warriors as part of the fifty-ship Boeotian fleet and fought prominently throughout the war. Peneleos is most remembered for his savage killing of the Trojan Ilioneus, which Homer describes in graphic detail. He drove his spear through Ilioneus's eye, out through the back of his neck, and then drew his sword and hacked off the man's head. He then raised the severed head on his spear point and displayed it to the Trojans, shouting in triumph. This gruesome trophy display was one of the most shocking moments of battlefield savagery in the Iliad. Peneleos survived much of the war but was eventually killed, according to later traditions, by Eurypylos.

Parents

None recorded

Symbols

spearsword

Fun Fact

Peneleos displayed the severed head of Ilioneus on his spear like a torch, one of the Iliad's most savage moments

Explore Further

Prothoenor

🗡 hero

Boeotian leadership, combat

One of the five Boeotian commanders at Troy who was killed by the Trojan hero Polydamas

Ilioneus

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Herding, Troy

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

Clonius

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Boeotian leadership, combat

One of the five Boeotian commanders at Troy who was among the first leaders killed in the war

Schedius

🗡 hero

Phocian leadership, combat

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

Arcesilaos

🗡 hero

Boeotian leadership, combat

One of the five Boeotian commanders at Troy who was killed by Hector during the fighting

Hippothous

🗡 hero

Pelasgian leadership, combat

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

Pisander

🗡 hero

Myrmidon leadership, combat

Commander of one of the five Myrmidon divisions who served under Achilles at Troy

Archelochus

🗡 hero

Combat, leadership

Trojan commander and son of Antenor who co-led the Dardanian forces at Troy

Thalpius

🗡 hero

Epeian leadership, combat

Co-commander of the Epeian contingent from Elis who led troops to Troy in the Catalogue of Ships

Epistrophus

🗡 hero

Phocian leadership, combat

Co-commander of the Phocian forces at Troy who shared leadership with his kinsman Schedius

Tlepolemos

🗡 hero

Rhodian leadership, Heracles heritage

Son of Heracles who led the Rhodian contingent at Troy and was killed by Sarpedon

Leitus

🗡 hero

Boeotian leadership, endurance

Boeotian commander at Troy who was wounded but survived the war and returned home