EPEIUS (achean soldier and master craftsman)
Figure of myth · mythical character, Achean soldier who built the Trojan Horse
- Parents
- Panopeus
- Siblings
- Aegle
- In the sources
- 27 ancient passages
Epeius, son of Panopeus and brother to Aegle, was a brave champion of great stature.1,2,3 Though he was not skilled in the deadly craft of war, a god granted him the wondrous craft to build the horse, and he acknowledged falling short of the speaker in actual fighting.2,4,3 He hailed from a home beneath the mountain of Parnassus and originally settled the garrison fort known as Lagaria.5,6
During the siege of Troy, Athena appeared in a dream to command him to construct a wooden horse, promising to work alongside him.7,1,8 He shared this dream with the eager Argive soldiers and immediately focused his mind entirely on planning the craft of the structure.4,8 Epeius cut down timber on the mountain of Ida and built the horse with a hollow interior and side openings.9 He shaped the horse's hollow interior to resemble the size of a curved ship, constructing its feet, belly, back, neck, head, tail, ears, and eyes while the Argives followed his commands.10,4,2 He finished the wooden horse in three days by Pallas's decree and prayed to Pallas to bless the horse and himself.4
The device was intended to breach the walls of Troy and contained an armed army within its frame.11,12,5 Epeius placed smooth wooden rollers beneath the feet of the horse to allow it to be dragged, and he possessed the secret mechanism for opening and closing the doors.13,14 He constructed the ladders used for entering and exiting the wooden structure, and he was the final person to enter the horse.15,14,16 The bravest Greek warriors were filled inside the horse, and Epeius secured the interior next to the bolt.7,11,14 Athena made Epeius's work a marvel to all who saw or heard it, and the horse was sent inside the city's battlements.4,5
As the final Greek to exit the wooden structure, Epeius helped slaughter the sleeping sentinels of the city.17 The wooden horse, which Epeius had constructed, destroyed Troy.17,13,4,2
He threatened to bruise bodies and break bones of any boxer who challenged him, and he won the boxing competition held in honor of Patroclus.3,18 In one match, he struck Acamas on the temple to knock him down while being struck on the brow and nose by Acamas.2 Podaleirius treated the wounds of Epeius and Acamas with healing salves.2 During a quoit-throwing contest, he threw before Leonteus and Ajax son of Telamon, and his throw caused the assembled Achaean soldiers to laugh.19 He struck Euryalus on the jaw while the man was looking around, then caught Euryalus and helped him stand up after he fell.20 He placed his hand on a mule to claim it, and he sent a silver bowl to his ship with joy.3,2
The codex facts behind this entry
Powers
Epeius was the best boxer among the Achaean soldiers. Iliad 23 ¶49 +1
In the myths
Epeus constructed the wooden horse following instructions from Athena, who appeared in his dream to command him and promised to work alongside him. Odyssey 8 ¶45 +4 The wooden horse was constructed by Epeius. Aeneid 2.250 +4 Epeius created a device intended to breach the walls of Troy. Pausanias 1.23.8 +2 Epeus built the wooden horse while the Trojans were under close siege, and it was used by the Argives during the Trojan War. Odyssey 11 ¶43 +1 The wooden horse was filled with the bravest Greek warriors who later sacked the city of Troy. Odyssey 8 ¶45 +1 Epeius constructed the wooden horse that destroyed Troy, building its feet, belly, back, neck, head, tail, ears, and eyes while the Argives followed his commands. Quintus 12 ¶8 +1
