Tydeus

Tydeus was a figure in Greek mythology, son of King Oeneus of Calydon and Althaea, or sometimes his second wife Periboea. He was the brother of Toxeus, Phyleus, Clytius, and Melanippus, and the half-brother of Meleager, the famous hero of the Calydonian Boar hunt. Tydeus was exiled from Calydon after accidentally killing one of his brothers, either Toxeus or Olenius, in a dispute.

Fleeing to Argos, Tydeus sought refuge and purification. He became a distinguished warrior and was eventually one of the Seven Against Thebes. In this epic conflict, he was prophesied to be one of the six heroes who would die. Tydeus fought valiantly, slaying many of the enemy forces. However, he was mortally wounded and, in his dying moments, was advised by the goddess Athena to eat the brain of his fallen enemy, Melanippus, in order to gain strength and immortality.

Tydeus, in his rage and thirst for revenge, began to consume Melanippus's head. Athena, witnessing this act, was so appalled by the savagery that she withdrew her divine favor, preventing him from achieving immortality. Tydeus's son was the hero Diomedes, another of the Seven Against Thebes, who would later play a significant role in the Trojan War. The story of Tydeus highlights themes of fate, divine intervention, and the darker aspects of heroism and vengeance in Greek mythology.