TLEPOLEMUS (mythical son of Heracles)

This act compelled him to flee beyond the sea, as he was menaced by other descendants of Heracles.⁴ He built a fleet and gathered a large group of followers to flee the Peloponnese, having voluntarily left Argos shortly before the Trojan War.^6,4,7 The journey was fraught with hardship, as winds forced the group off their intended course and they made a stop at Crete. f:^8,4,9

Tlepolemus eventually landed on the island of Rhodes with his wife Polyxo and a small group of followers. f:^4,9,10,7,6 The inhabitants of Rhodes received him kindly and allowed him to settle, leading to his rule over the entire island. f:^7,10 He divided the island into three distinct parts and the land into equal portions for the people, who settled in three tribal groups. f:^10,7,11,4 Tlepolemus founded the cities of Lindus, Ialysus, and Cameirus, which some accounts say were named after daughters of Danaus. f:^10,12,11 Zeus showered great riches upon the Rhodians because of his love for them, and Tlepolemus ruled the island with equity in other matters as well. f:^7,4

When the war against Troy began, Tlepolemus commanded the warriors from Rhodes, bringing nine ships filled with warriors to the conflict. f:^13,4 He entrusted the rule of Rhodes to Butas before leaving for war.⁷ Tlepolemus participated in the war alongside Agamemnon and achieved great fame during the campaign. f:^10,7 He boasted that his father had sacked the city of Ilius because Laomedon refused to pay for services rendered and withheld horses. f:^14,15 Fate compelled him to fight against Sarpedon, an event he verbally challenged regarding the latter's claim to be a son of Zeus. f:¹⁵

Tlepolemus predicted that Sarpedon would be vanquished by his hand and raised his spear to attack. f:^15,16 Sarpedon's spear pierced Tlepolemus's throat, killing him, and his soul was said to go to Hades. f:^7,16,14 The Achaeans carried his body away from the battlefield, and his wife Polyxo later sought to avenge his death. f:^17,7,16 He is honored with sheep burnt-offerings as if he were a god and receives awards of honor in games as a form of compensation. f:¹⁸ Some accounts state that the people of Tlepolemus eventually settled in the Iberian islands, while others identify him as being from Lycia. f:^19,8