Telamon

Telamon was a hero, king of Salamis and the father of Ajax.

Parents: Aeacus and Endeis
Siblings: Peleus
Consort: Periboea and Hesione
Children: Ajax and Teucer

Telamon on the Wayne County, Ohio courthouse.

Heroics

Telamon and his brother Peleus were friends of Heracles, and served in Heracles‘ expedition against the Amazons, his war against King Laomedon, and his quest for the Golden Fleece alongside Jason and the Argonauts. He also took part in the Calydonian Boar hunt.

Telamon and his brother Peleus also killed their half-brother Phocus and fled Aegina to escape punishment. He made his way to the island of Salamis, where King Cychreus welcomed Telamon and befriended him. Telamon married Cychreus’ daughter Periboea, who gave birth to Ajax; sometime later, Cychreus gave Telamon his kingdom.

Later during Heracles‘ war against King Laomedon of Troy, Telamon took Hesione as a war prize and married her, and she gave birth by him to Teucer. When Ajax later committed suicide at Troy, Telamon banished Teucer from Salamis for failing to bring his brother home.

Telemon on left of entrance to Palazzo Davia Bargellini, Bologna. (c) Mike Peel

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