Mares of Diomedes

Myth

They belonged to Diomedes, king of the Bistonen, a son of Ares and the nymph Cyrene.

The mares were so wild, strong and impetuous, that they were connected with a brass chain to the iron manger. Your name denominated Deinos ( the Terrible ), Lampon ( the Shining ), Podargos ( the Fast ) and Xanthos ( the blond / Fahle ). Their only food was human flesh; anyone who strayed into the territory of Diomedes, was accused them to be devoured.

The eighth task of Heracles was to bring these horses to his cousin Eurystheus. According to Diodorus Heracles threw Diomedes himself to be eaten before. After they had eaten their master, they were tame and Heracles could lead them towards the sea.

After the poem by Pindar, which was found in Oxyrhynchus, the horses were tied with a bronze chain. Heracles for fodder the stable servants, they devoured that his bones cracked. A mare carried off one arm, the other foot, and the third held the neck and head in her teeth. After the horses were distracted by their feeding, the hero was able to solve their chain. An illustration of this scene takes on a black-figure kantharos of Psiax, which today is located in St. Petersburg and is dated to the end of the 6th century BC.

The Bistonen pursued Heracles, to avenge the murder of their king. Heracles let the horses back at his companion Abderos and turned to meet them. When Heracles was gone, mangled this Abderos. After defeating the Bistonen Heracles found the remains and founded in his honor the city of Abdera. The horses he brought to Eurystheus, who dedicated to Hera. According to Diodorus was going back to this mares breeding to the time of Alexander the Great.

According to another version of the madness of horses caused by the water of the river Kossiniti.

Representations

  • Throne of Bathykles in Amyklai not receive
  • Temple of Zeus in Olympia, 2nd metope on the southern edge, east side
  • Black-figure kantharos of Psiax (Leningrad), late 6th century.

Swell

  • Diodorus 4,15,3 ff
  • Hyginus Fabulae 30 Mythographus
  • Flavius ​​Philostratus Imagines 2.25
  • Quintus of Smyrna Post Homerica 4,245 ff
  • John Tzetzes Chiliades 2.299 to 308
  • Strabo 7 Fr 44.47, ed A. Meineke
  • Stephanos of Byzantium S.V. Abdera
Cyrene (mythology) Abderus Abdera, Thrace Temple of Zeus, Olympia Olympia, Greece Metope (architecture) Quintus Smyrnaeus
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