Pedasus (Ancient Greek: Πήδασος) has been identified with several personal and place names in Greek history and mythology.
Persons
editIn Homer's Iliad, Pedasus was the name of a Trojan warrior, and the son of the naiad Abarbarea and human Bucolion. His twin brother was Aesepus; both were slain by Euryalus, the son of Mecisteus, during the Trojan War.[1]
In Homer's Iliad, Pedasus was also the name of a swift horse taken as booty by Achilles when he killed Eetion.[2] This horse was killed by a spear during a duel between Patroclus and Sarpedon.[3]
Places
editPedasus (Caria): In Caria, according to Herodotus, the Battle of Pedasus (Summer of 496 BCE) was a night ambush where the Carians annihilated a Persian army.[4] This engagement occurred during the Ionian Revolt (499-494 BCE).
Pedasus (Messenia): In Peloponnese, Methone has been identified with the vine-covered Pedasus, one of the seven cities offered by Agamemnon to Achilles to quell his rage and to persuade him to return to the Siege of Troy.[5]
Pedasus (Mysia): In the Troad, there was another Pedasus on the Satnioeis river,[6] said to be inhabited by a tribe called the Leleges.[7] During the Trojan War, this Pedasus was ruled over by a certain king named Altes.[8] This city was sacked by Achilles.[9]
Notes
editReferences
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- Herodotus, The Histories with an English translation by A. D. Godley. Cambridge. Harvard University Press. 1920. ISBN 0-674-99133-8. Online version at the Topos Text Project. Greek text available at Perseus Digital Library.
- Homer, The Iliad with an English Translation by A.T. Murray, Ph.D. in two volumes. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924. ISBN 978-0674995796. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
- Homer, Homeri Opera in five volumes. Oxford, Oxford University Press. 1920. ISBN 978-0198145318. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
