Gods,Heroes,Myths Greek Mythology Homer's epics,Expeditions

In Greek mythology, there is Philoctetes, the hero to whom Heracles entrusted his bow and arrows. He used these weapons to kill Paris, who played a significant role in the end of the Trojan War.

Philoctetes was the son of Poeas, king of the Malians, an ancient Greek tribe living in southern Thessaly near Mount Oeta. The name Philoctetes means "he who loves to acquire," and as a young man, he acquired one of the greatest gifts in Greek mythology: the bow and arrows owned by Heracles. It seems that Heracles gave them to him to light the fire that would burn the hero.

Upon the departure of the Achaeans under Agamemnon from the port of Aulis to start the Trojan War, a prophecy foretold that they would have to stop at an island in the middle of the Aegean Sea and sacrifice at the altar of a deity named Chryse. Only Philoctetes, who had been present at a sacrifice made there by Heracles, knew the location of the sanctuary.

The Achaeans eventually found the island. As they approached the outdoor altar, Philoctetes was bitten on the foot by a snake. His wound would not heal, and his agonizing groans disrupted the silence required for the sacrifice. His injury worsened, and its smell became unbearable for the other Achaeans. Thus, they decided to leave him on the nearby island of Lemnos and continue to Troy without him.

During the 9th year of the Trojan War, the Trojans had the upper hand, and victory seemed unlikely for the Achaeans. Helenus or Calchas warned the Achaeans that to conquer Troy, they had to fulfill four conditions:

1. Achilles' son, Neoptolemus, had to join the Achaeans in battle.

2. The bones of Pelops had to reach Troy.

3. The Achaeans had to steal the Palladium, a small wooden statue of the goddess Athena, from the city of Troy.

4. The bow and arrows of Heracles had to be used against Troy.

To achieve this fourth goal, Odysseus returned to Lemnos, where he found Philoctetes living in misery and using his bow to hunt birds for food. Philoctetes initially did not want to help the Achaeans, as they had abandoned him on the island all those years. However, Odysseus convinced his companion, Neoptolemus, whom Philoctetes had not met, to deceive Philoctetes and take his weapons. The plan succeeded, but then Neoptolemus changed his mind and decided to help and save Philoctetes. After agonizing dilemmas, Heracles, who had become a god, intervened, and the decision was made: Philoctetes accompanied the Achaeans back to Troy, where he later killed Paris.

Regarding Philoctetes' subsequent adventures after the Trojan War, there are various versions. According to Homer, he returned to Thessaly, while according to Apollodorus and the Roman poet Virgil, he traveled to southern Italy and founded the city of Petelia in Lucania. It is also said that he erected the temple of Apollo the Wanderer, where he placed the magical bow and arrows.