Philoctetes

Overview

Philoctetes is the Greek archer who possesses the bow of Heracles. Abandoned on Lemnos because of a terrible wound, he later becomes essential to the prophecy that Troy cannot fall without him.

Generation

Trojan War

Symbols

Bow of Heracles, arrows, Lemnos

Notes

Philoctetes is one of the most important warriors to spend much of the Trojan War away from Troy itself.

He possesses the bow and arrows of Heracles, weapons that later become essential to Greek victory.

During the expedition to Troy, Philoctetes suffers a severe wound, commonly associated with a snakebite in surviving traditions.

His suffering becomes so difficult for the Greek army that he is abandoned on Lemnos while the expedition continues without him.

Years later, the Greeks discover through prophecy that Troy cannot be captured without Philoctetes and the bow of Heracles.

Odysseus and other Greek figures are therefore forced to return for the man who had previously been abandoned.

Philoctetes eventually rejoins the war and becomes particularly associated with the death of Paris.

His story is one of the clearest examples in Greek mythology of a rejected figure later becoming indispensable.