Tlepolemus

🗡 heroΤληπόλεμος

war

Son of Heracles who killed his great-uncle, fled to Rhodes, and led nine ships to Troy where Sarpedo‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌n killed him.

The Legend of Tlepolemus

He accidentally killed his own great-uncle — and his exile led to the founding of one of Greece's greatest island states.‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌ Tlepolemus struck down Licymnius (Heracles's half-brother) in anger, then fled to Rhodes where he became king and divided the island into three cities. At Troy, he taunted Sarpedon, son of Zeus, calling him a coward. They fought and killed each other simultaneously — Tlepolemus's spear hit Sarpedon's thigh while Sarpedon's spear pierced his neck. Zeus saved his own son but let Heracles's son die. The Rhodians honored Tlepolemus with funeral games, the Tlepolemeia.

Parents

Heracles, Astyoche

Symbols

spearship

Fun Fact

Rhodes celebrated the Tlepolemeia festival — funeral games for a hero who died fighting a son of Zeus.

Explore Further

Tlepolemos

🗡 hero

Rhodian leadership, Heracles heritage

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

Tenes

🗡 hero

Purity, Betrayal, Apollo

Prince of Colonae and first ruler of Tenedos, killed by Achilles despite his divine protection by Apollo.

Idomeneus of Crete

🗡 hero

war

King of Crete and grandson of Minos who led eighty ships to Troy and made a rash vow to Poseidon on the voyage home.

Antilochus

🗡 hero

war

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

Imbrios

🗡 hero

Marriage, Trojan alliance

Son-in-law of Priam from the island of Imbros who fought and died defending Troy

Phocus of Aegina

🗡 hero

Athletic Rivalry, Fratricide, Eponymous Hero

Son of Aeacus killed by his half-brothers Peleus and Telamon, giving his name to the region of Phocis.

Meges

🗡 hero

None recorded

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

Antilochus

🗡 hero

The young warrior who died saving Nestor

The son of Nestor who died at Troy protecting his elderly father from Memnon — a sacrifice that moved Achilles to avenge him.

Sarpédon

🗡 hero

Son 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.

Graphium sarpedon (blue triangle butterfly)

Democoon

🗡 hero

Combat, illegitimacy

Illegitimate son of King Priam who came from Abydos to fight at Troy

Sarpedon

🗡 hero

None recorded

Lycian prince and ally of Troy in the Trojan War, son of Zeus

Elephenor

🗡 hero

Abantian leadership, exile

Commander of the Abantes from Euboea who was an exile leading his people despite his fugitive status