Telephus
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Definition: Telephus was a son of Hercules and Auge, a priestess of Athena. As a child, Telephus was raised by shepherds.
King in Mysia when the Achaeans came to the wrong place to wage war to win back Helen, Telephus was wounded by Achilles. When an oracle told Telephus the only way he would be healed was if the one who had wounded him healed him, he set out to Argos after Achilles, possibly disguised in rags as a beggar. When he had trouble persuading Achilles to heal him, Telephus took Orestes as hostage. That and the fact that it was revealed to the Achaeans that Telephus was actually a Greek by birth and that the Greeks would never take Troy without the aid of Telephus, Achilles healed him but only on the condition that he would tell the Greeks how to get to Troy.
Telephus was the legendary founder of Pergamon. His wife was Priam of Troy's daughter Laodike. Telephus brought Mysian troops to the aid of the Trojans and was killed by Neoptolemus.
Alternate Spellings: Telephos
Related Resources:
Elsewhere on the Web:
Early Greek Myth : A Guide to Literary & Artistic Sources, by Timothy Gantz
