In Greek mythology, Theoclymenus (; Ancient Greek: Θεοκλύμενος) was a prophet from Ancient Argos. He is a character in the Odyssey, in which he accompanies Telemachus from Pylos back to Ithaca. In the Odyssey, he foresees Odysseus' return to Ithaca and the death of Penelope's suitors, but he is not believed when he reveals these visions.
Family
Theoclymenus was the son of
Polypheides and
Aechme, daughter of Haemon, and brother of
Harmonides.
[Cited in scholia on Homer, Odyssey 15. p. 213] In some accounts, his parents were Thestor and possibly
Polymele,
[Tzetzes, Homeric Allegories Prologue, 639] and thus, the brother of
Leucippe, Theonoe of Mycenae, and
Calchas.
[Hyginus, Fabulae 190]
Mythology
In the
Odyssey, he escaped from Argos after killing one of his relatives. He fled to
Pylos and sought refuge aboard the ship of
Telemachus, who had come to inquire about the fate of his father,
Odysseus. Telemachus obliged, and Theoclymenus accompanied him back to Ithaca. There, Theoclymenus interpreted the
of the birds, predicting that Telemachus would become head of the royal house of Ithaca. He also prophesied that Odysseus was already in Ithaca, disguised and watching as events unfolded. When he told
Penelope of these signs, she did not believe him. Later, at dinner, he had a vision of the death of the suitors, but they laughed at his predictions, not knowing they would be killed that night.
Theoclymenos of Egypt
Theoclymenos is also the name of the king of
Egypt in
Euripides' play
Helen. He is the son of Proteus, who he succeeds as kind, and the brother of the seer
Theonoe.
[ Pauly-Wissowa, s.v. Theoklymenos (2).]
Notes
