Periphetes

In Greek mythology, Periphetes (Περιφήτης), also known as Corynetes (Κορυνήτης, "Club-bearer"), was a notorious brigand generally considered the son of the god Hephaestus and the mortal Anticleia, though some traditions name Poseidon as his father, who waylaid and murdered travelers along the road from Troezen to Athens in the region of Epidaurus using a massive iron club as his weapon.^[1] Lame or unsteady on his feet like his divine father, Periphetes earned his epithet from this club, with which he dispatched passersby, making the route perilous for all who journeyed toward the Athenian acropolis.^[1] He was the first of several evildoers slain by the young hero Theseus during his own overland voyage to claim his birthright in Athens, an encounter that marked the beginning of Theseus's legendary labors to cleanse the Saronic Gulf coast of such threats.^[1] Ancient accounts vary slightly in details but consistently portray Periphetes as a formidable yet vulnerable antagonist, emphasizing his physical disability and reliance on brute force. In one tradition, his club is described as bronze rather than iron, underscoring its craftsmanship possibly linked to Hephaestus's forge.^[2] Theseus not only defeated him in combat but also appropriated the club, wielding it thereafter as a symbol of his triumph, much like Heracles adopted the Nemean lion's skin after his first labor.^[3] This victory highlighted Theseus's resourcefulness and established a pattern for his subsequent confrontations with other bandits, such as Sinis and Procrustes, transforming the dangerous path into a safer thoroughfare.^[1] While the primary narrative centers on this Epidaurian outlaw, the name Periphetes appears in other minor mythological contexts, such as an Arcadian king descended from Lycaon or a warrior slain in the Trojan War, though these figures lack the prominence of the club-wielding son of Hephaestus. The story of Periphetes serves as an early exemplar of heroic initiation in Greek lore, illustrating themes of justice against lawlessness and the inheritance of divine attributes through mortal deeds.^[3]

Periphetes the Club-Bearer

Etymology

The name Periphetes (Greek: Περιφήτης) derives from the Greek adjective periphḗs, meaning "famous" or "notorious," composed of the prefix peri- ("around" or "beyond") and the root phḗmi ("to say" or "declare"), implying widespread renown or infamy. This etymology aptly reflects the character's reputation as a notorious brigand in Greek mythology, whose deeds spread his fame through tales of terror on the roads near Epidaurus.^[1] Periphetes' epithet Korynḗtēs (Greek: Κορυνήτης), often translated as "club-bearer" or "mace-man," originates from korýnē, the ancient Greek term for a club or mace, emphasizing his characteristic weapon of iron or bronze with which he assaulted travelers.^[1] Ancient sources such as Apollodorus explicitly attribute this surname to the club he wielded, noting that Periphetes was "surnamed the Clubman from the club which he carried."^[1] Similarly, Plutarch describes him as "called Club-bearer" on account of using a club as his weapon, underscoring the epithet's direct link to his violent methods. These attributions in classical texts highlight how the name and epithet encapsulated his infamous role as the first adversary confronted by Theseus on his journey to Athens.^[1]

Parentage and characteristics

Periphetes, known by the epithet Corynetes meaning "club-bearer," was primarily regarded in ancient tradition as the son of the smith-god Hephaestus and the mortal woman Anticleia.^[1] Some later accounts, however, attribute his parentage to the sea-god Poseidon instead.^[4] Like his father Hephaestus, Periphetes was lame in his legs or feet, a condition that marked his physical appearance and influenced his manner of movement.^[1] He dwelled in the region of Epidaurus in Argolis, southern Greece, where he operated as a notorious brigand, lying in wait along the perilous road leading toward Troezen and ultimately Athens to ambush, rob, and slay unwary travelers.^[1]^[5] Periphetes wielded a massive club—described in one source as wrapped in bronze and in another as made of iron—which served both as his primary weapon for bludgeoning victims and possibly as a crutch to aid his lameness, reflecting the craftsmanship associated with his divine heritage.^[1]^[6]

Encounter with Theseus

As Theseus departed from Troezen to journey overland to Athens, seeking his father Aegeus, he resolved to emulate the heroic labors of Heracles by confronting the notorious brigands and monsters along the perilous road skirting the Saronic Gulf.^[7] Periphetes, the first such adversary, marked the initiation of Theseus' heroic path, transforming the young prince's voyage into a series of deliberate exploits that would establish his reputation as a civilizer of the wild frontiers.^[8] The confrontation occurred in Epidauria, near the sacred site of Epidaurus, where Periphetes—also known as Corynetes, or "Club-Bearer"—ambushed travelers with his iron or bronze club, a weapon he used to bludgeon them to death.^[8] Theseus met him boldly, wrestling the bandit in close combat until he seized the club and struck him down with it.^[7] Impressed by its craftsmanship and effectiveness, Theseus claimed the club as his own, retaining it as a signature weapon for his subsequent labors, much like Heracles adopted the Nemean lion's skin to symbolize his mastery over a formidable foe.^[8] Ancient accounts vary slightly in details: Apollodorus describes a straightforward wrestling match ending in Periphetes' death by his own club, while Diodorus Siculus simply notes Theseus' slaying of Corynetes as the inaugural act on the road to Athens, emphasizing the bandit's reliance on the club for murder.^[7]^[9] Plutarch adds that Theseus carried the club onward to demonstrate its invincibility in his hands, underscoring the hero's triumph over chaos.^[8] This encounter held deeper symbolic weight, as the club—forged in the divine workshop of Hephaestus, Periphetes' father—represented Theseus' adoption of a potent emblem of strength and craftsmanship, linking the hero to the divine artisan's legacy while repurposing a tool of terror for justice.^[8] Periphetes' lameness, inherited from Hephaestus, likely factored into his defeat during the grapple, highlighting Theseus' superior agility and resolve.^[7] By wielding the club, Theseus not only cleared the path for safe passage but also signaled his emergence as a protector of Attica, transforming a symbol of paternal violence into one of heroic order.^[9]

Other mythological figures

Arcadian king

In Greek mythology, Periphetes served as a king of Arcadia, forming part of the ancient Lycaonid dynasty as the son of Nyctimus, who was himself the eldest son and successor of the notorious King Lycaon.^[10]^[11] This lineage traces back to the early settlement and expansion of Arcadia, where Lycaon's numerous sons, including Nyctimus, played key roles in founding cities and establishing regional power structures.^[10] Periphetes fathered Parthaon, whose descendants included Aristas, Erymanthus, and Arrhon, culminating in Psophis—the eponymous founder of the Arcadian city of Psophis according to one local tradition.^[11] An alternative genealogy presents Psophis as a daughter of Xanthus, son of Erymanthus and grandson of Arcas, highlighting variations in Arcadian royal accounts but affirming Periphetes' place within the broader dynastic narrative.^[11] Periphetes embodies the continuity of Arcadian kingship in the wake of Lycaon's divine punishment by Zeus, who transformed the king into a wolf for offering a human sacrifice on the altar of Lycaean Zeus.^[12]^[11] Unlike more prominent figures in the line, Periphetes appears in sources primarily through genealogical records, linking early settlement myths to the establishment of local polities without attributed heroic or villainous deeds.^[11]

Mycenaean warrior

In the Homeric Iliad, Periphetes is depicted as a Mycenaean warrior fighting on the Greek side during the Trojan War, distinguished as the son of Copreus, the herald who conveyed King Eurystheus's commands to Heracles.^[13] He is portrayed as fleet of foot and excelling in combat prowess, while ranking among the foremost in intellect among the men of Mycenae, marking him as one of the city's elite in valor.^[13] Periphetes meets his death in a skirmish near the Scaean Gates, where he is slain by Hector during the Trojans' assault on the Greek ships in Book 15 of the Iliad (lines 638–644).^[13] As the battle turns decisively in the Trojans' favor under Zeus's influence, Periphetes turns to flee but trips on the rim of his own shield, which extends to his feet for protection against javelins; falling backward, he exposes himself and is struck down by Hector, yielding the glory of victory to the Trojan prince.^[13] This encounter underscores the swift and brutal reversals in the war's tide. Hector's slaying of Periphetes represents a significant but isolated loss for the Achaeans, emphasizing the high toll on even their most capable fighters from the Argive contingent.^[13] As a minor hero in the epic, Periphetes exemplifies the Homeric portrayal of secondary warriors whose deaths highlight the relentless attrition of the conflict, contrasting with the exploits of major figures like Achilles or Hector.^[13] Ancient scholia on the Iliad occasionally reference this episode to illustrate Hector's martial dominance in that phase of the war.^[14]