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Eurytos is the name of eleven different characters in [[Greek Mythology]]

==King of Oechalia==

King Eurytus, of [[place::Oikhalia]] [[place::Thessaly]], was the son of [[character::Melaneus]] 

He married [[character::Antiope]], daughter of [[character::Pylon]] (son of [[character::Naubolus]]) and had these children: [[character::Iphitus]], Clytius, Toxeus, Deioneus, Molion, Didaeon, and a very beautiful daughter, [[character::Iole]]. A late legend also attributes Eurytus as the father of Dryope, by his first wife.

Eurytos' grandfather was Apollo, the archer-god, and was also a famed archer. Eurytus has been noted by some as the one who taught Herakles the art of archery.

According to [[author::Homer]], Eurytos became so proud of his archery skills that he challenged [[character::Apollo]]. The god killed Eurytos for his presumption, and Eurytos' bow was passed to [[character::Iphitos]], who later gave the bow to his friend [[character::Odysseus]]. It was this bow that Odysseus used to kill the suitors who had wanted to take his wife, [[character::Penelope]].

A more familiar version Eurytuos' death involves a feud with [[character::The Labours of Herakles|Herakles]]. Eurytos promised the hand of his daughter Iole to whoever who could defeat him and his sons in an archery contest. Heracles won the archery contest, but Eurytos reneged on his promise, fearing that Herakles would go mad and kill any children he had with Iole, just as he has slew the children he had with [[character::Megara]].

Herakles left in anger, and soon after twelve of Eurytos' mares were stolen. In the search for the mares, Iphitos, who was convinced of Herakles' innocence, invited Herakles to help and stayed as Herakles' guest at [[place::Tiryns]]. Herakles invited Iphitos to the top of the palace walls and, in a fit of anger, threw Iphitos to his death. For this crime, Herakles was forced to serve the Lydian queen [[character::Omphale]] as a slave for either one or three years.

Heracles returns to Oikhalia with an army. Revenge-driven, Herakles sacked the city and killed Eurytos and his sons, then took Iole as his concubine. The act eventually led to Herakles' own death, as [[character::Deianeira]], fearing that Herakles loved Iole more, gave Herakles a robe smeared with the blood of the Centaur [[character::Nessus]], believing it was a love-charm. The blood was poisoned by the blood of the hydra (which the arrow that Herakles shot Nessus with had been dipped in). When the robe goes to Herakles, it eats into Herakles' flesh and causes his death.

==Son of Poseidon==
Eurytos and [[character::Kteatos]] were twin sons of [[charatcter::Molione]], by Poseidon.

[[Category::Greek Mythology]]