Periphetes (son of Hephaestus)
Bandit in Greek mythology
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In Greek mythology, Periphetes (Ancient Greek: Περιφήτης, romanized: Periphḗtēs), also called Corynetes (Ancient Greek: Κορυνήτης, romanized: Korunḗtēs, lit. 'club-carrier'), is one of the several bandits encountered and defeated by the hero Theseus on his way to Athens. Periphetes would roam the roads and attack and rob travellers before killing them with his club.
Family
Periphetes was the son of Hephaestus and a woman called Anticlea.[1] Gaius Julius Hyginus refers to him as 'son of Neptune' (Roman Poseidon), but elsewhere includes him among the sons of Vulcan (Hephaestus).[2]
Mythology
Periphetes dwelt in the region around Epidaurus, and would attack and kill passers-by with his large bronze club, earning the nickname 'Clubman' (Ancient Greek: Κορυνήτης, from the noun κορύνη, "club").[3] In one version he had a leg deformity, forcing him to use an iron club with which he dispatched travellers.[4]
Finally, Theseus had to traverse the area on his way from his hometown Troezen to Athens and ran into the bandit, the first of deadly foes he encountered after leaving Troezen.[5] Periphetes tried to attack him but the hero wrestled him and slew him. He then took the dead Periphetes' club to use from now on, as Heracles had done with the skin of the Nemean lion.[6]
Iconography
Unlike the other exploits of Theseus, Periphetes is rare in ancient Greek iconography, especially Attic vases.[7] Cyclical depictions of the labours of Theseus usually omit Periphetes while including the Minotaur and other animal fights.[8] A small number of ancient vases have been speculated to be depictions of Periphetes, but they could as well show another labour of Theseus or different hero altogether.[9]
Theseus' struggle against Periphetes is included in the metopes of the Athenian Treasury at Delphi, which has been described as 'astonishing' due to Periphetes' absence in other Theseus-related artwork. Perhaps the story of Periphetes and the club was used by the Athenians to draw a parallel between their hero and Heracles, who also used a club.[10] Periphetes has also been identified as a figure from the Theseus metopes of the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens, though the exact identification of those metopes is much-debated.[11] Traditionally, Periphetes was seen as the figure on the first (from the east) metope on the north side of the temple, but a different view holds that he is on the first (from the west) southern metope (otherwise associated with Procrustes). While either metope could be Periphetes, Charles H. Morgan wrote that only the southwestern could be Procrustes.[11] As with the other enemies of Theseus, Periphetes has an exaggerated big, ogre-like head.[11]
See also
Other criminals killed by Theseus include: