HIPPOMEDON (son of Talaus)

Hippomedon traveled to Thebes to avenge the wrongs done to Polyneices and participated in the war against the city alongside him.^10,11 Persuaded by Adrastus, whose sister was his mother, he joined the seven leaders marching against Thebes to challenge Eteocles.^12,4,10,3 His father sent him to join the war, and he was added to the group of four leaders who commanded the army against the Thebans.^4,12 Positioned at the Oncaidian gate during the siege, he prepared to confront the defenders of the city.^1,13

In the heat of battle, Hippomedon raised a war cry and raved for battle like a maenad, his presence causing the banks and waves to tremble.^1,14 He charged at the sons of Labdacus, cutting off their necks with his sword, and aggressively attacked the ranks of the Theban forces.^15,16 Forcing his horse into the river by tearing down the bank, he shouted from the middle of the stream to urge the other leaders forward, promising to be the first to break through the defenses.¹⁷ His action caused the rest of the army to follow him into the water, and he remained steadfast in his purpose despite enemy attacks and missiles.^17,18

Even in death, he cut off the hand of Leonteus who was trying to drag his body, taunting him by claiming Tydeus was robbing him of his hand.¹⁹

Hippomedon had avoided the influence of the Muses and a life of ease from his youth, preferring to school his nature to hardships to develop manliness.²⁰ His home was in the fields, where he eagerly pursued hunting activities and took joy in his horses and the use of his bow.²⁰ Aiming to be useful to his state, he was renowned for his actions in his first wars and was described as a fierce avenger of Tydeus and the subduer of a gory flood.^20,6,21 Though he feared the countenance of a goddess and balanced his fears before acting, his fate was sealed in the violent clash at Thebes, leaving behind a son named Polydorus.^22,23