Tydeus facts for kids

Tydeus was a brave hero in ancient Greek mythology. He lived before the famous Trojan War. Tydeus was known for his strength and courage, and he played an important part in a big war called the Seven Against Thebes. He was also the father of Diomedes, another famous hero who fought in the Trojan War.

Tydeus's Early Life and Exile

Tydeus was the son of Oeneus, the king of Calydon, and his mother was Periboea. His early life was full of challenges. Tydeus had to leave his home city of Calydon because of a sad accident. Some stories say he accidentally killed his uncle, while others say he killed some of his cousins. Because of this, he had to go into exile, meaning he had to leave his home and seek safety somewhere else.

He traveled to the city of Argos, where he found help and a new home. In Argos, he was welcomed by King Adrastus.

Joining the Seven Against Thebes

When Tydeus arrived in Argos, he met another exiled hero named Polynices, who was the son of Oedipus and a prince from Thebes. Polynices had been kicked out of Thebes by his brother, Eteocles, and wanted to get his kingdom back.

King Adrastus had a prophecy that said his daughters would marry a lion and a boar. Tydeus and Polynices got into a fight when they first met, and Adrastus saw that Tydeus had a boar on his shield, and Polynices had a lion. He realized they were the two men from the prophecy. So, Adrastus gave his daughter Deipyle in marriage to Tydeus, and his other daughter, Argia, to Polynices.

Adrastus then promised to help both heroes get their kingdoms back. This led to the famous expedition known as the Seven Against Thebes.

The Expedition to Thebes

Tydeus became one of the seven leaders who marched against Thebes. Before the main attack, Tydeus was sent as a messenger to Thebes to try and convince Eteocles to give up the throne peacefully. However, Eteocles refused. On his way back, Tydeus was ambushed by 50 Theban soldiers. But Tydeus was incredibly strong and brave. He managed to defeat all of them except for one, whom he allowed to return to Thebes to tell the story.

During the actual battle, Tydeus fought bravely. He was a fierce warrior and caused a lot of trouble for the Theban army. Sadly, during the fighting, Tydeus was badly wounded by an enemy named Melanippus.

Tydeus's Death and Legacy

Even though Tydeus was a great hero, he eventually died from his wounds during the war against Thebes. His son, Diomedes, later became a very famous hero in the Trojan War, following in his father's footsteps. Tydeus's story is a reminder of the brave heroes who lived in the age of myths, fighting for honor and their kingdoms.

Images for kids

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  Tydeus and Ismene, a scene from an ancient Corinthian vase, made around 560 BC. This vase is now in the Louvre Museum.

See also

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