ACAMAS (son of Theseus)

Acamas traveled to Troy alongside Diomede to demand the return of Helen, and was later persuaded by Perseus to travel to Dardanus, where he attended a sumptuous banquet.³ During the siege, Acamas engaged Epeius in a brutal boxing match, evading blows with cunning craft and striking his opponent on the eyebrow.⁴ He wore hard hide-gauntlets made from bull's hide for this contest, and though the Achaeans ordered the fight to stop while both men remained eager, the two eventually kissed to forget their strife.⁴ Podaleirius later treated Acamas' bruises and scars with salves given to him by his father, while the hero also took one of two silver bowls Thetis had bestowed upon him and Epeius.⁴

When the wooden horse was rolled into Troy, Acamas emerged from its belly during the night attack, joining the group that opened the gates for the Greek soldiers.⁵ He helped slaughter the sleeping sentinels of the city and did not remain behind but joined the others in the fray.^5,6 In the chaos of the sack, Acamas and Demophon mistakenly believed Aethra was the queen of Troy and attempted to capture her to take her to the Danaans.^7,8 Aethra pleaded with them not to treat her as an enemy, asking only to be brought to the sons of Theseus, and Acamas eventually led her away to the ships.^7,9

Acamas fled Athens when the Dioscuri and their allies captured the city.¹⁰ On his journey back to Athens from Troy, he married Phyllis, promising her that he would return to her soon.¹¹ However, Acamas failed to return to Phyllis as he had promised, leaving his fate to the uncertainties of the age.¹¹ In a separate account, the son of Poeas killed Acamas during a battle, and his sisters washed the blood from his body after his death.^12,13 In another account, Acamas pierced the warrior Iphis during a battle, showcasing his prowess in conflict.¹⁴

Beyond the battlefield, Acamas was a co-founder of the city of Soli alongside Phalerus.¹⁵ He was recognized as one of the eponymous heroes of Athens, listed among the figures who gave names to the tribes of the city.^16,17 His son Munitus carried on his name.