Meges

For other uses, see Meges (mythology).

In Greek mythology, Mégês Phyleïdês (Ancient Greek: Μέγης Φυλεΐδης) was the commander of Epeans and/or Dulichians during the Trojan War.

Art Illustration depicting Meges

Family

Meges was the son of King Phyleus of Dulichium^[1] and his mother's name is variously given as either Eustyoche,^[2] Ctimene,^[3] Ctesimache,^[4] Hagnete^[5] or Timandra.^[6]

Meges’ (half-)sister was Eurydameia, mother of Cleitus and Euchenor by the seer Polyidus of Corinth.^[7]

Mythology

Meges was one of the suitors of Helen,^[8] and commanded the armies of the Echinadians and the Dulichians during the Trojan War, having summoned forty or sixty ships; he also led a contingent of Epeans who had once migrated to Dulichium together with his father.^[4][9]

Meges was credited with killing a number of opponents, including Pedaeus (a son of Antenor),^[10] Croesmus,^[11] Amphiclus,^[12] Itymoneus, Agelaus,^[13] Eurymenes,^[14] and Deiopites.^[15] Dolops attempted to strike him with a spear but the corselet Meges was wearing, a gift for his father from Euphetes of Ephyra, saved his life.^[16] Meges helped Odysseus to collect gifts for Achilles.^[17] He was one of the men to enter the Trojan Horse.^[18]

According to Dictys Cretensis, Meges fell at Troy.^[19] Pausanias mentions a painting of him wounded in the arm by a Trojan, Admetes the son of Augeas.^[20] Tzetzes relates that Meges, along with Prothous and a number of others, perished at Euboea.^[21]