MERIONES (mortal Greek hero)

During the war, Meriones led the Cretan battalions in the rear of the formation and guided the group to the section of the army designated by Idomeneus.^8,9 He served as one of the seven captains leading the sentinels and was exhorted by Nestor to fight with great effort to save the ships.^10,11 In a notable engagement, he threw his spear at Deiphobus's shield, missing the man and breaking the weapon into two pieces, which left him angry as he retreated behind his comrades.^12,13 He later returned to his tent to find a replacement spear, encountering Idomeneus near the latter's tent during the battle.^12,13,2

His spear found its mark in several foes, including Phereclus, the son of Tecton, whom he struck on the right buttock with a spear that pierced his bone and bladder.¹⁴ He also killed Adamas by striking him with a spear between his private parts and navel, and the Trojan priest Laogonus by striking him under the jaw and ear.^15,16 Meriones slew the warriors Morys and Hippotion, as well as Chlemus, the son of Peisenor, Lycon, Evandre, and Thermodosa, during the course of the war.^17,18,19,20 He shot Harpalion with a bronze-tipped arrow that struck his right buttock, pierced the bone, and penetrated his bladder, causing him to die in his comrades' arms while retreating.²¹ In another engagement, he dodged a spear thrown by Aeneas by stooping forward, prompting the Trojan hero to taunt him for dancing well while warning that the weapon would have killed him.^1,16

When his charioteer was killed, Meriones picked up the reins from the ground, and later pursued Acamas on foot, catching him before he could mount his chariot and piercing his right shoulder with a spear.^22,23 He helped Menelaus lift and carry the corpse of a fallen warrior away from the battlefield, and later exerted great physical effort and sweat heavily while helping to carry the body of Patroclus.^24,25,26 In the games held in honor of Patroclus, Meriones drew the fourth lot in the order of the race and cast lots in a bronze helmet alongside King Teucer.^27,6 Achilles suggested that the spear prize be given to Meriones, and he received a bronze spear from King Agamemnon.^28,29

After the fall of Troy, Meriones arrived on the coast of Sicily with a group of Cretans who were granted citizenship by the local community.³⁰ Meriones remained a swift and skilled warrior, noted for his ability to overtake fleeing enemies and his talent for dancing to win prizes, a legacy of a man who was both a marvel to mankind and a brother in arms to Idomeneus.^1,14,31,5