Melanippus

"With black horses." The son of Astacus, one of the bravest defenders of the city of Thebes when it was attacked by the Seven. He was killed by Tydeus, although he managed to fatally wound his opponent. Amphiaraus lopped off Melanippus' head and gave it to Tydeus who cut it open and gulped down its contents. This act horrified Athena and thus she did not apply the potion she had brought to restore Tydeus' health, whereupon he died.

Melanippus' tomb was shown in the neighborhood of Thebes on the road to Chalcis.

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References

Sources

  • Aeschylus. Seven Against Thebes, 409.
  • Herodotus. Histories v, 67.
  • Pausanias. Description of Greece ix, 18.1.
  • Pseudo-Apollodorus. The Library iii, 6.8.