Iphitos

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Iphitos (or Iphitus) was a name attributed to five individuals in Greek mythology.

  • Iphitos was the son of Eurytus, king of Oechalia. Moreover, he was a descendant of Oxylus. After defeating Iole in an archery contest, Heracles was accused of stealing Eurytus's cattle. During his search for the cattle, Iphitos had met Odysseus in Messenia, befriended him, and gave Odysseus his father Eurytus's bow. Iphitus took Heracles's cattle even though he was ultimately killed when Heracles, in a fit of madness, threw him off a wall in the city of Tiryns.
  • Iphitos, king of Elis, restored the Olympic Games after the Dorian invasion. The restoration came after his asking the Oracle at Delphi about should be done to save Greece from civil war and the diseases that were killing the population. The Oracle answered: "Iphitos and the people of Elis must declare a sacred truce for the duration of the game and revive the Olympic Games".
  • Iphitos was an elderly Trojan during the Trojan War. In Book VIII of the Iliad, his son Archeptolemus suddenly becomes the charioteer of Hector when Eniopeus is killed by Diomedes. However, Teucer kills him in the same battle. In the Aeneid Book II, Aeneas names Iphitos among half a dozen Trojan heroes who fight by his side during the fall of Troy. When the battle turns heavily against them, Iphitos is the only one of these who remains standing. He is apparently by Aeneas's side until King Priam is killed.