Euryalus (son of Odysseus)
| Euryalus (son of Odysseus) | |
|---|---|
Euippi, her son Euryalos (son of Odysseus) and the ancient poet Parthenius | |
| In-universe information | |
| Relatives | Odysseus (father) Euippe (mother) |
| Nationality | Mythological Greek |
Euryalus was the illegitimate son of Odysseus with Euippe. He was killed by Odysseus after penelope plotted against him.[1]
Life
According to Parthenius' Erotica, after the fall of Troy, Odysseus came to Epirus and was a guest of King Tyrimmas.[2] While he was there, he fell in love with the king's daughter Euippe, and therefore had a son, Euryalus, with her. Many years later, Euryalus travelled to Ithaca in search of Odysseus. Upon reaching Ithaca, Euryalus met Odysseus' wife, Penelope, who had a negative reaction when she learned he was the result of an affair Odysseus had before they were married.[3] After meeting with Euryalus, Penelope warned Odysseus that Euryalus posed a risk to his safety, and when Odysseus killed Euryalus, he believed he was killing someone who posed a danger to him. Sophocles wrote a tragedy, Euryalus, but there are no remaining fragments to show its content.[4] Because it is unlikely that Mecisteus' son Euryalus would have been an appropriate subject for a tragedy, many scholars believe the play depicts Odysseus' son instead.[5][6]
References
- ^ Sophocles, Euryalus as cited in Parthenius, 3
- ^ Kiso 1984, pp. 100.
- ^ Lloyd-Jones 1996, pp. 200.
- ^ Radt 1977, pp. 215.
- ^ Sutton 1984, pp. 315.
- ^ Smith 2005, pp. 215.
Bibliography
- Kiso, A. (1984). The Lost Sophocles. New York: Vantage Press.
- Lloyd-Jones, H. (1996). Sophocles: Fragments. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
- Radt, Stoic (1977). Tragicorum Graecorum Fragmenta. Vol. 4. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.
- Sutton, D. F. (1984). The Lost Sophocles. Lanham, MD: University Press of America.
- Smith, William (2005). The Facts on File Companion to Classical Drama. New York: Facts on File.