Periphetes- Greek FigureMortal"The Club-Bearer"
Also known as: Περιφήτης
Titles & Epithets
Symbols
Description
Son of Hephaestus and a fearsome brigand who haunted the road near Epidaurus, bludgeoning travellers to death with an enormous bronze club. Theseus slew him in the first of his labors and claimed the weapon as a trophy.
Mythology & Lore
The Road to Epidaurus
Periphetes haunted the road near Epidaurus with a bronze club. Apollodorus names him a son of Hephaestus, lame like his father but deadly with the weapon. He killed travellers as they passed, and no one stopped him.
Theseus met him on the road from Troizen to Athens. It was the first test. Plutarch records that Theseus wrested the club from Periphetes and beat him to death with it. He kept the bronze weapon and carried it for the rest of his journey, a trophy from the first of six brigands he would kill before reaching Athens.
Relationships
- Family