The Mare Of Diomedes: Greek Myth’s Flesh-Eating Horses
Picture horses with glowing red eyes and a craving for human flesh – this was the horror Heracles confronted in his eighth labor: taming the Mares of Diomedes. These beasts belonged to Diomedes, a Thracian king and son of Ares, the war god. They weren’t just symbols of savagery. They were real weapons of fear, kept near the River Strymon and fed on unlucky victims.
Key Points:
- The Mares of Diomedes were four flesh-eating horses with names like Podargos (Swift) and Deinos (Terrible), known for their glowing eyes and bronze hooves.
- Diomedes, a brutal Thracian king and son of Ares, fed them human flesh—prisoners, travelers, or criminals—to honor the war god and spread fear.
- Heracles’ eighth labor was to capture them, leading to a fight where he beat Diomedes and fed him to his own mares, which calmed them down.
- During the battle, Heracles’ young friend Abderus died when left guarding the mares, so Heracles later built the city of Abdera in his memory.
- The horses stood for wild chaos and war, opposite to Greek order, and were linked to Ares’ destructive power.
- Ancient writers like Apollodorus and Diodorus told the story differently, some saying the mares were later freed or killed on Mount Olympus.
- The myth lived on in art, star myths, and the real city of Abdera, which became home to famous thinkers like Democritus.
Here, we’ll explore where they came from. Were they gifts from Ares or Poseidon? We’ll also look at the horrifying stories about their diet – did they eat war prisoners or random travelers? Finally, we’ll see how Heracles’ fight with them turned into an epic battle between order and destruction.
No matter if you’re just starting with myths or know them well, this story shows why these mares terrified ancient people. Their legacy still appears in art, books, and even the stars.
Mare Of Diomedes: Overview and Key Facts
| Aspect | Details | References and Details |
|---|---|---|
| Names and Meanings | Podargos (“Swift”), Lampon (“Shining”), Xanthos (“Yellow”), Deinos (“Terrible”). | Apollodorus (Bibliotheca); their names describe their features. |
| Origin Myths | They might have been given by Ares, the war god, or Poseidon, who ruled over horses. Other stories claim the gods created them out of anger. | Diodorus Siculus (Library of History) mentions different versions. |
| Appearance | Described as huge, with fiery eyes, bronze hooves, and a terrifying presence. They looked like monstrous, supernatural horses. | Pausanias (Description of Greece). |
| Diet | They ate human flesh, targeting prisoners, travelers, or criminals, depending on the story. They acted like flesh-eating horses from a nightmare. | Apollodorus (war captives), Diodorus (strangers), Pausanias (criminals). |
| Symbolism | They represented wild brutality, the opposite of Greek civilization. Their link to Ares showed destruction and chaos. | Based on Thracian-Greek conflicts. |
| Fate After Heracles | Heracles set them free near Mycenae. Later, wild animals killed them on Mount Olympus, though some say they were sacrificed to Zeus. | Hyginus (Fabulae); other versions exist. |
The Backstory of Diomedes and His Mares
To understand these terrifying man-eating horses, we first need to look at their cruel owner Diomedes. The stories about how they were created are particularly disturbing.
Diomedes: Ares’ Son and the Bistones’ Ruthless King
As the son of Ares, the war god, Diomedes was predictably violent. However, he was exceptionally cruel even by those standards. He ruled the Bistones, a Thracian tribe who were famously fierce. Like his father, he had a warlike nature that defined his reign. Ancient writers like Apollodorus (Bibliotheca) say his mother was Cyrene, a nymph. Some local stories suggest different parentage though.
His kingdom near the River Strymon became known for its brutality. The man-eating mares both represented and enforced his harsh rule. Diomedes was both a conqueror and a violent ruler who was widely feared in Greek legends. His name alone suggested terror to those who heard it.
Diomedes, the brutal son of Ares, ruled with extreme cruelty and was feared for his man-eating horses and violent reign.
How the Mares Came to Be
Ancient sources disagree about the mares’ origins. Some accounts describe them as divine gifts from Ares to his son Diomedes, given as powerful weapons. Other versions claim Poseidon created them as extremely aggressive horses.
According to Apollodorus’ Bibliotheca, these four horses each had distinct frightening qualities:
- Podargos (“Swift”): Could outrun any normal horse
- Lampon (“Shining”): Had eyes that burned brightly
- Xanthos (“Yellow”): Recognizable by its golden coat
- Deinos (“Terrible”): The most dangerous of them all
Some local stories say they appeared when Ares cursed the land, which demonstrates that Greek myths often offered multiple explanations for magical creatures. These mares were both animals and powerful weapons in their nature.
Thrace: A Land of Wild Warriors
Thrace was known for its violent warriors and harsh traditions. Ancient historians like Herodotus described it as the dangerous frontier of their world. The Bistones and other tribes there worshipped Ares with great devotion. Greeks considered this region the likely place for myths like Diomedes’ to originate. Its real reputation for brutality made stories of man-eating horses seem plausible.
Near the River Strymon, where Diomedes kept his stables, Thracian tribes were skilled cavalry fighters. This explains why supernatural warhorses would be both feared and respected there. To Greeks, Thrace was seen as lawless and untamed. These qualities made it suitable for myths that tested heroes like Heracles. The area, in what’s now Bulgaria and northern Greece, matched Greek ideas about barbaric lands.
Why the Mares Were So Scary
Their origins explain why these creatures became widely feared. The specific traits that made them particularly dangerous will now be examined.
Their Looks and Otherworldly Powers
The Mares of Diomedes were more than ordinary horses – they were dangerous creatures created by gods. Ancient sources describe them as massive animals with glowing eyes and bronze hooves that sparked when they walked on stone. According to Apollodorus, they were larger than typical draft horses, almost bear-sized. Other accounts mention they constantly emitted vapor from their mouths.
These were not normal animals but extensions of Ares’ wrath, spreading the god’s violent nature wherever they went. Their divine origin made them immune to ordinary weapons. They could run faster than any natural creature and maintain this speed for days. The bronze covering their hooves allowed them to crush both armor and bones without difficulty.
Their Ghoulish Diet: Feeding on People
These creatures became flesh-eaters because Diomedes systematically fed them human victims. He would starve the mares until they became frenzied, then release them on unsuspecting guests, which violated Thracian hospitality traditions. Ancient sources provide different accounts of these practices:
| Source | Victim Type | Feeding Method |
|---|---|---|
| Apollodorus | War captives | Thrown alive |
| Diodorus | Foreign strangers | Lured to stables |
| Pausanias | Convicted criminals | Executed via mares |
While sources disagree about details, they all confirm the mares’ diet served two purposes. First, it displayed Diomedes’ brutality, and second, it functioned as a ritual sacrifice honoring his father Ares, who approved of violent sacrifices. Greek travelers found this especially shocking because it broke their cultural rules about proper animal care and xenia (guest-friendship).
This wasn’t random violence but a deliberate intimidation method that reinforced Diomedes’ power until Heracles ended it.
Diomedes trained his horses to eat people by starving them and then setting them loose on guests, breaking all normal rules of hospitality while honoring his war-god father through cruel sacrifices.
The Mares as Ares’ Weapons
The Mares of Diomedes were not ordinary animals but tools of Ares, physical manifestations of the war god’s rage. Ancient texts disagree about their origin – according to Pindar, Ares gave them directly, while Apollodorus suggests they came from his essence. These creatures represented supernatural parts of his power, comparable to Athena’s aegis or Artemis’ arrows.
Every aspect of the mares symbolized war’s nature: their bronze hooves showed unstoppable force, their cannibalism represented war’s destruction, and their fury reflected battle madness. In Greek religion, such beings often delivered divine punishment. They functioned similarly to weapons designed to enforce Ares’ will through Diomedes. Their location in Thrace was intentional, creating a testing area for Ares’ most devastating creations.
This continued until Heracles confronted them.
Heracles’ Eighth Labor: Taming the Mares
These dangerous creatures required a hero of great strength, and Heracles was chosen for this task. His eighth labor involved capturing Ares’ creations, which challenged both his physical power and strategic thinking.
Eurystheus’ Orders and the Trip to Thrace
Eurystheus commanded Heracles to travel from Mycenae to Thrace and bring back the flesh-eating mares alive, which added significant risk to the task. Apollodorus records that Heracles gathered a small group, including his young companion Abderus, for the hazardous journey.
They had to cross hundreds of miles through difficult Macedonian passes into Bistones territory, facing marshes near the River Strymon and the dangerous stables that stood at their destination. This wasn’t simply about fighting monsters but involved careful planning before physical strength could be used effectively.
Heracles Fights Diomedes and His Army
Heracles confronted not only the monstrous horses but Diomedes‘ entire Thracian army. The Bibliotheca describes how he first battled the Bistones near the stables, breaking their formations with his famous club as arrows struck down reinforcements. Ancient sources disagree about the battle’s details. Diodorus claims Heracles dug trenches to control the fighting, whereas Apollodorus suggests a more direct approach.
All accounts agree this was one of his most exhausting fights against human opponents before reaching the mares. The confrontation reached its peak when Heracles faced Diomedes directly. The hero’s Olympian strength overcame Diomedes, who had inherited Ares’ battle prowess. Their violent struggle supposedly shaped the landscape near Abdera that travelers would later note. Historical accounts indicate Heracles used the terrain strategically during the battle.
Some evidence suggests he may have turned Diomedes’ own warhorses against the Bistones forces before their final clash.
What Happened to Abderus
While Heracles fought Diomedes’ forces, tragedy struck his young companion Abderus. Left to guard the dangerous mares, he unfortunately became their final victim. Ancient sources disagree about when this occurred. Apollodorus suggests the mares overwhelmed him during the battle, while other accounts state it happened afterward when Heracles briefly left him in charge. Abderus, who some claim was Hermes’ foster brother, faced four violent horses alone.
Their bronze hooves and sharp teeth proved too much for the swift youth. This wasn’t just another death, but a particularly tragic end to their mission. Heracles responded to the loss with both sorrow and action. He later founded the city of Abdera near the battle site. Archaeological evidence shows centuries of cult activity there honoring Abderus.
The coastal city served as both a memorial and a reminder of the labor’s human cost. Key facts about Abderus:
- Some traditions link him to Hermes
- Typically portrayed as a young, beardless man
- His tomb in Abdera became an important site
- Certain sources say he originally worked for Diomedes
- Annual games called the Abderiteia commemorated him
This event changed the nature of Heracles’ task. What began as a capture mission became personal after Abderus’ death. The mares’ attack turned the labor into a matter of vengeance as well as duty.
Heracles’ friend Abderus died while watching the wild horses, leading Heracles to build the city of Abdera in his memory.
Payback and Taming the Beasts
Heracles delivered a fitting punishment by feeding Diomedes to his own flesh-eating mares. This act both avenged Abderus and unexpectedly calmed the horses. Ancient sources agree that after consuming their master, the mares became somewhat easier to handle. According to Apollodorus, Heracles then wrestled them into submission. He bound their powerful necks with unbreakable chains, which some claim were possibly made by Hephaestus.
What had been dangerous creatures now became trophies for Eurystheus. Diodorus mentions that Heracles used special techniques to control the mares. He may have learned these methods from Castor, the horseman from the Argonauts. The process combined physical strength with precise pressure points to overcome the horses’ wild nature. This labor stands out because Heracles used Diomedes’ own cruelty against him.
It established a pattern of appropriate justice that would appear in later tasks like the Stymphalian birds. Once uncontrollable, the mares now walked obediently to Mycenae under Heracles’ command.
Different Accounts of the Story
The main story of Heracles’ eighth labor stays the same across sources, but ancient sources tell it differently. Here are the key versions.
Apollodorus vs. Diodorus: Two Versions
Apollodorus (Bibliotheca 2.5.8) gives a concise account where Heracles defeats Diomedes in direct combat. During this battle, the mares kill Abderus in the chaos, describing a single continuous event. Diodorus (4.15.3-4) presents a different version. First, Heracles overpowers the Bistones. Later, he leaves the mares with Abderus, and when he returns, he finds his companion has been devoured.
These timeline differences are significant because they change how we interpret Abderus’ death – as battlefield accident or post-victory tragedy. The accounts also disagree about methods. Apollodorus emphasizes Heracles’ brute strength and use of his club. Diodorus mentions strategic elements like defensive trenches and notes that Heracles founded Abdera specifically as a memorial.
Both agree the mares went to Eurystheus, but Diodorus adds they were later released and died on Mount Olympus, which earlier accounts don’t mention. These variations demonstrate different historical perspectives – Apollodorus focuses on heroic action while Diodorus highlights cultural foundations and divine justice.
Local Legends: Thrace and Euboea’s Spin
While most stories focus on Heracles’ victory, Thracian oral traditions kept alive an additional story. People believed the mares’ spirits remained in the Strymon River valley, a tale that may have warned about sacred animals. The Euboean version, which Pausanias wrote about (6.22.1), includes Pyraikhmes, a warrior-king killed by the mares before Heracles arrived.
This shows how communities added their own heroes to the myth, similarly to how other local versions developed. These differences remind us Greek mythology wasn’t unchanging, but a tradition that changed in different regions and cultures.
Ancient Art and Hidden Meanings
The myth’s lasting importance appears clearly in how ancient artists and writers depicted the story. Their artifacts show important details about these dangerous horses.
How Artists Saw the Mares
A 5th-century BCE Attic amphora in the Louvre shows Heracles battling four monstrous horses. The artists emphasized their unnatural features, with some adding serpent tails or fire coming from their noses. Roman mosaics from Antioch depict the horses much larger than humans to show their terrifying size.
These artistic choices varied by region – Thracian-influenced works made them look more animal-like, while Athenian versions kept cleaner lines despite showing their violent nature. For beginners, these differences demonstrate how ancient artists depicted the same myth. They also reveal what Greeks feared about wild nature and foreign lands through these distorted horse forms.
Ancient artists across Greece and Rome portrayed the same myth differently, with some making the horses look more monstrous while others kept them simpler, revealing how cultures viewed wild nature and foreign threats.
Books That Mention the Mares
Homer’s Iliad (5.335) describes Diomedes as a respected Thracian king, not yet the monster of later legends. His name would remind audiences familiar with his flesh-eating horses. Ovid’s Metamorphoses (9.194) presents the mares as representations of wild hunger, described as having very red teeth. This contrasts with Apollodorus’ Bibliotheca (2.5.8), which gives a factual account of Heracles’ labor.
These versions show how the same myth served different purposes. Homer’s reference creates foreshadowing, while Ovid’s fits his themes of transformation. Diodorus Siculus (4.15.3-4) treats it as historical fact. For mythology beginners, these variations demonstrate how the core story stays the same, but the focus changes depending on the author’s goals.
Star Myths: The Pegasus Connection
Pegasus became a constellation after his adventures, while the Mares of Diomedes represent a different kind of star pattern. Ancient astronomers noticed this contrasting pair in the night sky:
- Pegasus: A bright autumn constellation which represented poetic inspiration
- Diomedes’ Mares: Some scholars connect them to faint stars near Lyra, possibly seen as restrained monsters
- Mythological Contrast: Pegasus symbolizes higher ideals, while the mares represent dangerous forces
Eratosthenes proposed these horses might appear in the southern sky as a warning. Their stars form an irregular four-sided shape that sailors called “the unstable square”. This pairing shows how Greeks connected stories to stars – one horse became a constellation while the others remained as dangerous creatures, which are separated by the Milky Way.
How the Story Lives On
The myth of Diomedes’ mares remains present in different forms from ancient times to today. This continued appearance demonstrates how stories transform across time periods. It also shows what these changes reveal about cultural memory and how myths evolve.
The Mares as Symbols of Chaos
The ancient Greeks saw Diomedes’ flesh-eating horses as symbols of chaos that posed a danger to social order. Their hunger showed the potential threats to civilization, including warfare and uncontrolled nature. Scholars note their connection to Ares, the god of brutal warfare, which demonstrates their meaning as representations of violence without limits. This symbolism was strengthened by their location near the Thracian borderlands, a wild frontier region.
The horses’ bronze hooves resembled weapons, while their fiery eyes were associated with destruction. For those new to mythology, these details reveal important symbolic meanings about what happens when society’s controls break down.
The City of Abdera: A Tribute to Abderus
Heracles founded Abdera on the Thracian coast (modern Avdira, Greece) as a city to honor his companion Abderus who died. Archaeological evidence shows the real city began around 656 BCE as an important trading center where the Nestos River meets the Aegean. Centuries later, Abdera produced important philosophers like Democritus, who developed atomic theory, and Protagoras the sophist. Their achievements became more famous than the city’s original mythological story.
According to Greek historians like Strabo, this memorial served two purposes. It honored a hero while helping Greeks establish control over Thracian land. For those studying myths, Abdera shows clearly how personal stories led to the creation of cities with lasting historical impact.
FAQs
1. What were the Mares of Diomedes’ names?
The Mares of Diomedes’ names were Podargos, Lampon, Xanthos, and Deinos.
2. Why did Heracles feed Diomedes to his own mares?
Heracles fed Diomedes to his own mares as poetic justice for their ghoulish diet and to subdue them through divine retribution.
3. How did the mares get their diet of human flesh?
The mares got their diet of human flesh after Diomedes deliberately fed them prisoners and guests to honor Ares and instill terror.
4. What happened to the mares after Heracles’ labor?
After Heracles’ labor, the mares were either freed near Mycenae or slain by wild beasts on Mount Olympus.
