View source for Parthenopaeus

== Mythology ==

===Early life===
Parthenopaeus was the son of [[Atalanta]] by either her husband [[Melanion (son of Amphidamas)|Melanion]],<ref>[[Pseudo-Apollodorus]], ''Bibliotheca'', 3. 9. 2; [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] 3. 12. 9; [[Maurus Servius Honoratus|Servius]] on ''[[Aeneid]]'' 6. 480</ref><ref>Gantz 1993, pp. 335–9; as Gantz notes, Atalanta's husband is often called [[Hippomenes]] as well, but he and Melanion are not entirely interchangeable. Although Melanion is sometimes said to be Parthenopaeus' father, Hippomenes never is.</ref> or by [[Meleager]],<ref>[[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], ''Fabulae'', 70, 99, 270</ref> or [[Ares]].<ref>[[Pseudo-Apollodorus]], ''Bibliotheca'', 3. 9. 2; Servius on ''Aeneid'' 6. 480 as an alternative option</ref> A less common version makes him a son of [[Talaus]] and [[Lysimache]]<ref>[[Pseudo-Apollodorus]], ''Bibliotheca'', 1. 9. 13</ref><ref>[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''Description of Greece'', 2. 20. 5; 9. 18. 6</ref> (which would make him a close relative of the other members of the Seven and thereby a motive for his involvement in the war). [[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]] writes that he was left exposed by Atalanta on Mount Parthenius ("virginal") in [[Arcadia (ancient region)|Arcadia]], so that she could conceal the fact that she was not a virgin anymore; the name Parthenopaeus is accordingly interpreted by Hyginus as "seemingly-virginal" or the like, as if referring to the fact that his mother was pretending to still be a virgin. He was subsequently rescued by a shepherd, along with [[Telephus]], the son of [[Auge]] and [[Heracles]], who had been abandoned on the same mountain, and the two boys became good friends.<ref>[[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], ''Fabulae'', 99</ref> Parthenopaeus went with Telephus to Teuthrania, where he helped him repulse [[Idas]]'s invasion of the kingdom of [[Teuthras]].<ref>[[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], ''Fabulae'', 100</ref>

Euripides noted that Parthenopaeus moved from Arcadia to Argos at a young age, and seemed to have enjoyed a friendly reception from the Argives.<ref name="Eur. Suppl. 890" />

===War on Thebes===
Parthenopaeus was persuaded by [[Adrastus]] to join in the war against Thebes.<ref>[[Diodorus Siculus]], ''Library of History'', 4. 65. 4</ref> During the attack on Thebes, Parthenopaeus was the assailant on the Electran Gates,<ref>[[Pseudo-Apollodorus]], ''Bibliotheca'', 3. 6. 6</ref> or, alternatively, the Neitian Gates.<ref>[[Euripides]], ''Phoenician Women'', 1104</ref> In [[Aeschylus]]' ''[[Seven Against Thebes]]'', he is portrayed carrying a shield with the image of the [[Sphinx#Greece|Sphinx]] devouring Thebans, and swearing by his spear (which, it was said, was for him more sacred than the gods, and more precious than his own sight) to destroy the city even despite the will of [[Zeus]].<ref>''Seven Against Thebes,'' 540 ff.</ref> Yet according to Euripides, on the shield was depicted his mother shooting a wild boar.<ref>[[Euripides]], ''Phoenician Women'', 1106 ff.</ref> He was confronted by [[Actor (mythology)|Actor]] at the gate.<ref>''Seven Against Thebes,'' 555 ff</ref> 
Parthenopaeus was killed by either [[Periclymenus]] or Amphidicus (Asphodicus), a son of [[Astacus (mythology)|Astacus]].<ref>[[Pseudo-Apollodorus]], ''Bibliotheca'', 3. 6. 8</ref><ref>[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''Description of Greece'', 9. 18. 6</ref> According to [[Euripides]], Periclymenus killed him by heaving a load of stones on his head.<ref>''Phoenician Women'', 1156 ff</ref>

Parthenopaeus is given a detailed treatment in Book 9 of [[Statius]]' ''Thebaid'', which concludes with his ''[[aristeia]]'' and death, which differs considerably from those cited above. In the poem, Parthenopaeus fights fiercely and vigorously, killing a number of opponents, and dismisses the advice of his tutor Dorceus, who calls on him to be more careful. In the meantime, Atalanta, tormented by nightmares of his non-return, prays to [[Artemis]] that he may survive, or at least die a glorious death. Eventually [[Ares]], instigated by his mistress [[Aphrodite]], makes Artemis retreat from the battlefield and causes Dryas, a son of [[Orion (mythology)|Orion]], to attack and dissolve the Arcadian contingent.  Parthenopaeus, intimidated, still attempts to shoot Dryas but the latter mortally wounds him with a thrown spear, and is himself instantly killed by someone whose identity remains unrevealed. Parthenopaeus dies in the arms of his companions, giving last instructions to Dorceus, and admitting that he must have been too young to go to war.<ref>Statius, ''Thebaid'', 9. 570 - 970</ref>

In the ''[[Aeneid]]'', the ghost of Parthenopaeus, along with those of other members of the Seven, is glimpsed by [[Aeneas]] in the Underworld.<ref>[[Virgil]], ''Aeneid'', 6. 480.</ref>

The son of Parthenopaeus by the [[nymph]] [[Clymene (mythology)|Clymene]], variously named [[Promachus]],<ref>[[Pseudo-Apollodorus]], ''Bibliotheca'', 3. 7. 2</ref><ref>[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''Description of Greece'', 9. 19. 2; 2. 20. 5</ref> [[Tlesimenes]]<ref>Hyginus, ''Fabulae'', 71</ref><ref>[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''Description of Greece'', 3. 12. 9 informs that his sources were undecided as to whether Tlesimenes was a son or a brother of Parthenopaeus</ref> or [[Stratolaus]],<ref>[[Eustathius of Thessalonica|Eustathius]] on Homer, 489. 39</ref><ref>[[Scholia]] on ''[[Iliad]]'' 4. 404</ref> was one of the [[Epigoni]].