| Rhesus | |
|---|---|
King of Thrace | |
%2c_RP-P-OB-16.041.jpg) 17th century engraving depicting Diomedes killing Rhesus while Odysseus steals his horses. | |
| Genealogy | |
| Parents | Strymon (Eioneus) andEuterpe/Calliope/Terpsichore orHeracles andBolbe |
| Siblings | Olynthus,Brangas, Sete |
Rhesus (/ˈriːsəs/;Ancient Greek: ῬῆσοςRhêsos) is a mythical king ofThrace inThe Iliad who fought on the side ofTrojans. Rhesus arrived late to the battle and, while he slept in his camp after arriving,Diomedes andOdysseus killed him and stole his team of horses during a night raid.
His name is Thracian and probably derives from thePIE root*reg-, 'to rule',[1][2] showing asatem-sound change.
According toHomer, his father wasEioneus who may be connected to the historicEion in western Thrace, at the mouth of theStrymon, and the port of the laterAmphipolis. Later writers provide Rhesus with a more exotic parentage, claiming that his mother was one of theMuses[3] (Euterpe,[4]Calliope[5] orTerpsichore[6]) and his father, the river godStrymon.Stephanus of Byzantium mentions the name of Rhesus' sisterSete, who had a sonBithys withAres.[7] In one account, Rhesus' brothers are calledOlynthus andBrangas.[8]
Rhesus was raised by fountainnymphs and died without engaging in battle.[9] Due to Thrace being attacked byScythia, Rhesus lead his army to Troy later than the other allied armies.Dolon, who had gone out to spy on Agamemnon’s army for Hector, was caught by Diomedes and Odysseus and proceeded to tell the two about the new arrival of the Thracians. Dolon explained that Rhesus had the finest horses, as well as huge, golden armor that was suitable for gods rather than mortals. While the Thracians were sleeping, Diomedes and Odysseus infiltrated the camp in the dead of night, killing a number of Thracians and Rhesus in his tent while also stealing his famous steeds.[10]
The event portrayed in theIliad also provides the action of the playRhesus, transmitted among the plays ofEuripides. The mother of Rhesus, one of the nineMuses, then arrived and laid blame on all those responsible: Odysseus, Diomedes, and Athena. She also announced the imminent resurrection of Rhesus, who will become immortal but will be sent to stay in a cave.Scholia to theIliad episode and theRhesus agree in giving Rhesus a more heroic stature, incompatible with Homer's version.[11]
Rhesus is also named as one of the eight rivers that Poseidon raged from Mount Ida to the sea in order to knock down the wall that the Achaeans built.[12]
There was also a river inBithynia named Rhesus, with Greek myth providing an attendant river god of the same name. Rhesus the Thracian king was himself associated with Bithynia through his love with the Bithynian huntressArganthone, in theErotika Pathemata ["Sufferings for Love"] byParthenius of Nicaea, chapter 36.
Media related toRhesus (Thrace) at Wikimedia Commons| International | |
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