Alcmaeon

Alcmaeon

Alkmaiōn

HeroEpigonoi Leader, Matricide, Wandering Founder of Acarnania

Son of the seer Amphiaraus and Eriphyle, leader of the Epigoni generation that finally took Thebes. Killed his mother at his father's dying command after she was bribed by the robe of Harmonia to send him to war as she had sent Amphiaraus (Apollod. 3.7.2–5). Pursued by the Erinyes, he was cleansed first by Phegeus of Psophis (where he married Arsinoe/Alphesiboea) but the land itself rejected him; the Delphic oracle sent him to new-made land at the mouth of the Achelous, which had silted up since the matricide. There he founded the Acarnanian settlements (Thuc. 2.102.2–6 — the rationalising geographical version). He was killed on return to Psophis by Arsinoe's brothers over the robe of Harmonia and the necklace.

Origin

Son of Amphiaraus the seer and Eriphyle (Hom. *Od.* 15.248; Apollod. 3.7.2).

Family

Parents

Associated Places

Thebes