Nireus
Handsome but weak Greek king who fought at Troy.
Nireus was a king of the island Syme and, according to Diodorus Siculus, also ruled part of Cnidia. He is counted among the Homeric Greeks who fought in the Trojan War and was noted as the second most handsome man in the Greek camp after Achilles, though he was physically weak.
Quick Facts
- Role
- King of Syme and part of Cnidia
- Notable for
- Second most handsome man in the Greek camp after Achilles
- Survival variant
- Survived the war according to John Tzetzes
Facts from the source article.
Mythology
Nireus was one of the suitors of Helen and therefore joined the expedition against Troy. Sources disagree on the number of ships he led, giving figures of 3, 16, or 53. During the first failed attempt to reach Troy, he killed the Mysian king Telephus' wife Hiera, who fought from a chariot like an Amazon. Homer describes him as the most beautiful man who came beneath Ilion. He lacked physical strength and was eventually killed by either Eurypylus, son of Telephus, or Aeneas; his people cremated him at a funeral. In a version by John Tzetzes, Nireus survived the war and, with Thoas, was caught in a storm, landing first in Libya, then sailing to Argyrinoi and the Ceraunian Mountains, settling near Mount Lakmynion and River Aias. A rare myth says Heracles loved Nireus and that Nireus helped him beat the lion of Helicon; Ptolemy adds that some authors made Nireus a son of Heracles.
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