Titormus was a legendary shepherd of Aetolia

Aetolia

Aetolia is a mountainous region of Greece on the north coast of the Gulf of Corinth, forming the eastern part of the modern prefecture of Aetolia-Acarnania.-Geography:...

, famous in Antiquity for his victory over Milo of Croton

Milo of Croton

Milo of Croton was a 6th century BC wrestler from the Magna Graecian city of Croton in southern Italy who enjoyed a brilliant wrestling career and won many victories in the most important athletic festivals of ancient Greece...

, who was in turn the most successful wrestler of Ancient Olympics. The duel of Milo and Titormus, however, was not an ordinary wrestlers' competition: according to Claudius Aelianus

Claudius Aelianus

Claudius Aelianus , often seen as just Aelian, born at Praeneste, was a Roman author and teacher of rhetoric who flourished under Septimius Severus and probably outlived Elagabalus, who died in 222...

, rivals compared their strength in a wild Aetolian scenery, while lifting or throwing rocks, or catching bulls. Defeated Milo praised his victor as "the second 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...

". Titormus, considered the strongest man ever living, was believed to inhabit the most remote parts of peripheral Aetolia. From 5th century BC onwards, his legend served to strengthen Aetolia's ethnic identity.