ALCMAEON (mortal hero and son of Amphiaraus)

Alcmaeon was chosen as the supreme commander for the military expedition against Thebes to avenge his father's death.^2,3 He was reluctant to lead the army until he had punished his mother, whom Apollo instructed him to punish for causing his father's death.^3,2 The god predicted that victory would be achieved under Alcmaeon's leadership, and he gathered soldiers from Argos and neighboring cities to form a large army.^2,3 Alcmaeon and the other Epigoni defeated the Thebans in a major battle, successfully concluding the war.^3,4 During the conflict, he killed Laodamas, the son of Eteocles, and participated in the sack of Thebes after the Thebans fled the city.^5,3

After the war, Alcmaeon learned that his mother Eriphyle had been bribed to wrong him.^6,7 He killed his mother, fulfilling an oracle or his father's injunction, and some accounts state he committed this act with his brother Amphilochus.^6,7,2,8 Driven to madness by the Fury due to the pollution from killing his mother, he fled from Argos.^6,7,9 He married Callirrhoe, the daughter of Achelous, who forced him to go to Phegia to obtain Eriphyle's necklace and robe so she would continue living with him.^6,10,11 Alcmaeon told Phegeus he needed the items to dedicate them at Delphi.⁶

Temenus and Axion, the sons of Phegeus, treacherously murdered Alcmaeon after they learned his true intent.^6,12,10 The sons of Phegeus imprisoned Arsinoe in a chest and sold her as a slave to Agapenor in Tegea.⁶ Alcmaeon's sons slew Phegeus and his wife in Psophis, killing the men who had murdered their father.¹⁰

Alcmaeon is buried in Psophis, a place formerly named Phegia, where local inhabitants refuse to cut down the cypresses near his tomb.^13,9 His life ended in tragedy, but his descendants continued his legacy in the lands he subdued.^12,14,10,15