Clytius in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Clytius

6 passages from 4 ancient authors that tell of Clytius, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Clytius was the name given to numerous figures in Greek mythology. One of them was the son of Laomedon and brother of Priam, king of Troy. Another Cl... For the story in one place, read our article on Clytius.

Homer (1)

Homer, Iliad 15.390–483Patroclus leaves Eurypylus; Teucer's bow breaksWhile the fight is far from the ships, Patroclus sits beside Eurypylus, but when he sees the Trojans scaling the wall he hurries to Achilles. Ajax kills Lycophron, and Teucer's bowstring snaps as he is about to shoot Hector. Teucer says that a god has marred his fight, takes up a shield and spear in place of the bow, and Hector tells the Trojans that Zeus is helping them.

Ovid (1)

Ovid, Metamorphoses 5.1–148Perseus' wedding feast: the battleWhile Perseus is telling his story at the wedding feast, her former suitor Phineus bursts into the hall with an armed band and claims Andromeda. Perseus pleads that Phineus did nothing when she was chained to the rock, but Phineus hurls a spear, and a fierce battle begins, in which many are killed. Perseus kills many, but the numbers against him are too great.

Pausanias (2)

Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.6.1–7Sicyon: Epopeus and Antiope, and the later kings of SicyonPausanias relates how Epopeus carried off Antiope, daughter of Nycteus, and how Lycus and Lamedon settled the quarrel, with Antiope giving birth to Zethus and Amphion at Eleutherae. He continues the Sicyonian kings, including Sicyon himself, Polybus and Adrastus, Phaestus, Zeuxippus, Hippolytus under Agamemnon and Lacestades, whose rule was shared with the Dorian Phalces.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 6.17.1–9Olympia: the seer Eperastus and Gorgias of LeontiniPausanias turns to the right from the Leonidaeum towards the great altar and lists statues of victors from Tenedos, Elis, Clazomenae, Cos, Magnesia, Colophon and Arcadian Heraea. He gives the descent of the Clytid seers from Melampus and Amythaon, quoting the verses of the seer Eperastus. He also describes the statue of the orator Gorgias of Leontini, his embassy to Athens with Tisias, and his reported age of a hundred and five years.

Nonnus of Panopolis (2)

Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 28.0–80Book 28: The fighting is renewed; Phaleneus is killedThe two armies clash, the Bacchic host fighting with ivy and vine against the Indian ranks. Corymbasos kills Phaleneus and Dexiochos, and Clytios' spear kills Deriades' elephant, so that a new beast has to be yoked to his car.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 28.81–171Book 28: Clytios' challenge; Corymbasos' last standClytios taunts Corymbasos and is killed, and Corymbasos goes on killing Indians until he is himself slain, yet he remains standing upright like a living warrior. An Athenian who loses both arms fights on until he is cut down, and riders and horses fall in the fighting.