Capture of Oechalia
Encyclopedia
The Capture of Oechalia (traditionally The Sack of Oechalia, Οἰχαλίᾱς Ἅλωσις) was an epic segment of the ancient Greek Epic Cycle that has not survived; it was variously attributed in Antiquity to either Homer
or Creophylus of Samos
; a tradition was reported that Homer gave the tale to Creophylus, in gratitude for guest-friendship (xenia)
, and that he wrote it down.
Oechalia (also known as the "city of Eurytus
") was an ancient Greek city whose capture by Heracles
was said to be the main subject of the epic. It is debated, based on a scholium
on a line in Euripides' Medea whether Medea
's poisoning of Creon
may have been another feature, which Franz Stoessl suggested will have been a comparative aside in the telling of Deianira
, in her original guise as the "man-destroyer" of her etymology: "the innocent Deianeira, whose murder of Heracles is tragically inadvertent, will be a later invention," Malcolm Davies
asserts, "perhaps the brain-child of Sophocles
."
The ancient Greek geographer Strabo
noted in his Geographica
that the true location of the city was unknown even to him, saying that various sources referred to Oechalia by many different names and placed it in various locations around Greece
. Further complicating the factual details behind the epic is the fact that there seemed to have been several different cities called Oechalia, only one of which was discussed in it.
Homer
In the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
or Creophylus of Samos
Creophylus of Samos
Creophylus or Kreophylos is the name of a legendary early Greek singer, native to Samos or Chios. He was said to have been a contemporary of Homer and author of the lost epic Capture of Oechalia. According to some sources Homer gave the poem to Creophylus in return for hospitality; one source...
; a tradition was reported that Homer gave the tale to Creophylus, in gratitude for guest-friendship (xenia)
Xenia (Greek)
Xenia is the Greek concept of hospitality, or generosity and courtesy shown to those who are far from home. It is often translated as "guest-friendship" because the rituals of hospitality created and expressed a reciprocal relationship between guest and host.The Greek god Zeus sometimes referred...
, and that he wrote it down.
Oechalia (also known as the "city of Eurytus
Eurytus
Eurytus, Erytus , or Eurytos is the name of eleven characters in Greek mythology, and of at least one historical figure.-King of Oechalia:...
") was an ancient Greek city whose capture by Heracles
Heracles
Heracles ,born Alcaeus or Alcides , was a divine hero in Greek mythology, the son of Zeus and Alcmene, foster son of Amphitryon and great-grandson of Perseus...
was said to be the main subject of the epic. It is debated, based on a scholium
Scholium
Scholia , are grammatical, critical, or explanatory comments, either original or extracted from pre-existing commentaries, which are inserted on the margin of the manuscript of an ancient author, as glosses. One who writes scholia is a scholiast...
on a line in Euripides' Medea whether Medea
Medea
Medea is a woman in Greek mythology. She was the daughter of King Aeëtes of Colchis, niece of Circe, granddaughter of the sun god Helios, and later wife to the hero Jason, with whom she had two children, Mermeros and Pheres. In Euripides's play Medea, Jason leaves Medea when Creon, king of...
's poisoning of Creon
Creon
Creon is a figure in Greek mythology best known as the ruler of Thebes in the legend of Oedipus. He had two children with his wife, Eurydice: Megareus and Haemon...
may have been another feature, which Franz Stoessl suggested will have been a comparative aside in the telling of Deianira
Deianira
Deïanira or Dejanira is a figure in Greek mythology, best-known for being Heracles' third wife and, in the late Classical story, unwittingly killing him with the Shirt of Nessus...
, in her original guise as the "man-destroyer" of her etymology: "the innocent Deianeira, whose murder of Heracles is tragically inadvertent, will be a later invention," Malcolm Davies
Malcolm Davies
Malcolm Davies is a retired Welsh professional darts player who competed in the 1980s.He competed in the 1984 BDO World Darts Championship, beating Bobby George in the first round but lost in the second round to fellow Welshman Peter Locke...
asserts, "perhaps the brain-child of Sophocles
Sophocles
Sophocles is one of three ancient Greek tragedians whose plays have survived. His first plays were written later than those of Aeschylus, and earlier than or contemporary with those of Euripides...
."
The ancient Greek geographer Strabo
Strabo
Strabo, also written Strabon was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.-Life:Strabo was born to an affluent family from Amaseia in Pontus , a city which he said was situated the approximate equivalent of 75 km from the Black Sea...
noted in his Geographica
Geographica (Strabo)
The Geographica , or Geography, is a 17-volume encyclopedia of geographical knowledge written in Greek by Strabo, an educated citizen of the Roman empire of Greek descent. Work can have begun on it no earlier than 20 BC...
that the true location of the city was unknown even to him, saying that various sources referred to Oechalia by many different names and placed it in various locations around Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Further complicating the factual details behind the epic is the fact that there seemed to have been several different cities called Oechalia, only one of which was discussed in it.