Telephus

Overview

Telephus is a son of Heracles and king of Mysia whose story connects the Greeks' first failed approach to Troy with the later expedition that finally reaches the city.

Generation

Trojan War

Symbols

Spear, Mysia, wound

Notes

Telephus belongs to an important part of the Trojan War tradition that takes place before the Greek army reaches Troy.

When the Greek expedition first sails east, the warriors mistakenly land in Mysia rather than Troy. Fighting follows, and Telephus confronts the invaders.

Telephus is wounded by Achilles. The wound later refuses to heal, creating one of the most famous paradoxes associated with his story: the weapon or man responsible for the wound must also become part of its cure.

Telephus eventually seeks help from the Greeks and is healed through a remedy connected with Achilles' spear.

In return, Telephus provides guidance that helps the Greek expedition find the correct route to Troy.

His story therefore links Achilles with an earlier phase of the war and explains how the Greeks move from a failed expedition to the campaign that reaches Troy.

Telephus is especially valuable within the wider Trojan cycle because his story shows that the war did not begin with a straightforward voyage from Greece directly to Troy.