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Greek Mythology Notes

Podarces

🗡 heroΠοδάρκης
Thessalian leadership, brotherhood

Brother of Protesilaus who took command of the Phylacean contingent after his brother was the first ‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍Greek killed at Troy

The Legend of Podarces

Podarces was the son of Iphiclus and the younger brother of Protesilaus, the first Greek warrior to die at Troy.‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍ When the Greek fleet reached the Trojan shore, an oracle had declared that the first man to set foot on Trojan soil would be the first to die. Protesilaus leaped from his ship regardless and was immediately killed by Hector. This left the Phylacean contingent from Thessaly without a leader, and Podarces stepped up to take command. His name means swift-footed, and he proved himself a capable replacement for his fallen brother. Podarces led the Phylacean ships through the remainder of the war, carrying the weight of his brother's sacrifice. He fought in the battles described in the Iliad and maintained his contingent's fighting strength despite the demoralising early loss.

Parents

Iphiclus

Symbols

spearship

Fun Fact

Podarces took command after his brother Protesilaus became the war's very first casualty by bravely leaping ashore first

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