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5 unusual facts about Mares of Diomedes


Mares of Diomedes

Magnificent, wild, and uncontrollable, they belonged to the giant Diomedes (not to be confused with Diomedes, son of Tydeus), king of Thrace, a son of Ares and Cyrene who lived on the shores of the Black Sea.

Bucephalus, Alexander the Great's horse, was said to be descended from these mares.

Roger Lancelyn Green states in his Tales of the Greek Heroes that their descendants were used in the Trojan War.

Both versions have eating make the horses calmer, and Heracles took the opportunity to bind their mouths shut, and easily took them back to King Eurystheus, who dedicated the horses to Hera.

Thrace

Greek mythology is replete with Thracian kings, including Diomedes, Tereus, Lycurgus, Phineus, Tegyrius, Eumolpus, Polymnestor, Poltys, and Oeagrus (father of Orpheus).



see also