Temesa
An Italian town haunted by the ghost of one of Odysseus's companions, appeased annually with a virgin sacrifice.
The Story of Temesa
According to Pausanias, when Odysseus's fleet stopped at Temesa in southern Italy, one of his sailors got drunk and raped a local girl. The townspeople stoned the man to death, but his ghost refused to leave and began killing the inhabitants at random. When they consulted Delphi, the oracle told them they could not drive the spirit out — they must build it a sanctuary and give it every year the most beautiful girl in the town as a bride. The practice continued until the boxer Euthymus arrived, fell in love with the designated girl, and challenged the ghost to a wrestling match. He won, the spirit fled into the sea, and the town was freed.
Parents
{Odysseus (his man,s ghost)}
Children
{}
Symbols
Fun Fact
Euthymus of Locri, who defeated the ghost at Temesa, was a real Olympic boxing champion — he received divine honours during his lifetime, an almost unique distinction in the Greek world.
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