Machaon

Mortal man

In Greek mythology, Machaon (; Ancient Greek: Μαχάων, romanized: Macháōn) was a son of Asclepius; and the older brother of Podalirius. He and his brother led an army from Tricca in the Trojan War on the side of the Greeks.

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Mentions
10
Connected characters
2
Books
4
Machaon. Machaon son of Asclepius
Machaon son of Asclepius · Gre regimentImage source ↗CC BY-SA 4.0

Mentions in the Iliad

A. T. Murray, Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, 1924 · Homer, Iliad with an English Translation · CC BY-SA 3.0 US

“and Oechalia, city of Oechalian Eurytus, these again were led by the two sons of Asclepius, the skilled leeches Podaleirius and Machaon. And with these were ranged thirty hollow ships. And they that held Ormenius and the fountain Hypereia,”
Il. 2.730–734
“But the leech shall search the wound and lay thereon simples that shall make thee cease from dark pains. Therewith he spake to Talthybius, the godlike herald: Talthybius, make haste to call hither Machaon, son of Asclepius, the peerless leech,”
Il. 4.190–194
“to see warlike Menelaus, captain of the Achaeans, whom some man, well skilled in archery, hath smitten with an arrow, some Trojan or Lycian, compassing glory for himself but for us sorrow. So spake he, and roused the heart in his breast, and they went their way in the throng throughout the broad host of the Achaeans. And when they were come where was fair-haired Menelaus,”
Il. 4.205–209
“had not Alexander, the lord of fair-haired Helen, stayed Machaon, shepherd of the host, in the midst of his valorous deeds, and smitten him on the right shoulder with a three-barbed arrow. Then sorely did the Achaeans breathing might fear for him, lest haply men should slay him in the turning of the fight.”
Il. 11.505–509
“And forthwith Idomeneus spake to goodly Nestor: Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Achaeans, come, get thee upon thy chariot, and let Machaon mount beside thee, and swiftly do thou drive to the ships thy single-hooved horses. For a leech is of the worth of many other men”
Il. 11.510–514
“and turned and stood when he had reached the throng of his comrades. So fought they like unto blazing fire; but the mares of Neleus, all bathed in sweat, bare Nestor forth from the battle, and bare also Machaon, shepherd of the host. And swift-footed goodly Achilles beheld and marked him,”
Il. 11.595–599
“for need has come upon them that may no longer be borne. Yet go now, Patroclus, dear to Zeus, and ask Nestor who it is that he bringeth wounded from out the war. Of a truth from behind he seemeth in all things like Machaon, son of Asclepius, but I saw not the eyes of the man,”
Il. 11.610–614
See all 10
“who it is that thou bringest home wounded. But even of myself I know, and behold Machaon, shepherd of the host. And now will I go back again a messenger, to bear word to Achilles. Well knowest thou, old sir, fostered of Zeus, of what sort is he, dread man; lightly would he blame even one in whom was no blame.”
Il. 11.650–654
“with warm water, and sprinkle thereon kindly simples of healing power, whereof men say that thou hast learned from Achilles, whom Cheiron taught, the most righteous of the Centaurs. For the leeches, Podaleirius and Machaon, the one methinks lieth wounded amid the huts,”
Il. 11.830–834
“And the cry of battle was not unmarked of Nestor, albeit at his wine, but he spake winged words to the son of Asclepius: Bethink thee, goodly Machaon, how these things are to be; louder in sooth by the ships waxes the cry of lusty youths.”
Il. 14.1–4

Connections

Father · Sources
Father · Sources
and Oechalia, city of Oechalian Eurytus, these again were led by the two sons of Asclepius, the skilled leeches Podaleirius and Machaon. And with these were ranged thirty hollow ships. And they that held Ormenius and the fountain Hypereia,
Il. 2.732
But the leech shall search the wound and lay thereon simples that shall make thee cease from dark pains. Therewith he spake to Talthybius, the godlike herald: Talthybius, make haste to call hither Machaon, son of Asclepius, the peerless leech,
Il. 4.194
And he loosed the flashing belt and the kilt beneath and the taslet that the coppersmiths fashioned. But when he saw the wound where the bitter arrow had lighted, he sucked out the blood, and with sure knowledge spread thereon soothing simples, which of old Cheiron had given to his father with kindly thought.
Il. 4.219

Il. 2.732 · Il. 4.194 · Il. 4.219 · Il. 11.518 · Il. 11.613–614 · Il. 14.2

Brother · Sources
Brother · Sources

Братство или сестринство выведено из общего родителя: Асклепий. Матери и отцы, не указанные в источнике, не предполагаются.

and Oechalia, city of Oechalian Eurytus, these again were led by the two sons of Asclepius, the skilled leeches Podaleirius and Machaon. And with these were ranged thirty hollow ships. And they that held Ormenius and the fountain Hypereia,
Il. 2.732
But the leech shall search the wound and lay thereon simples that shall make thee cease from dark pains. Therewith he spake to Talthybius, the godlike herald: Talthybius, make haste to call hither Machaon, son of Asclepius, the peerless leech,
Il. 4.194
And he loosed the flashing belt and the kilt beneath and the taslet that the coppersmiths fashioned. But when he saw the wound where the bitter arrow had lighted, he sucked out the blood, and with sure knowledge spread thereon soothing simples, which of old Cheiron had given to his father with kindly thought.
Il. 4.219

Il. 2.732 · Il. 4.194 · Il. 4.219 · Il. 11.518 · Il. 11.613–614 · Il. 14.2

In art

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04 / PROVENANCE

Sources and verification

The character is matched to the catalogue.

Wikidata Q674319

Reference material remains distinct from the poem’s assertions. Characters who share a name retain separate pages.