Periclymenus

In Greek mythology, the name Periclymenus /ˌpɛrᵻˈklɪmᵻnəs/ (Ancient Greek: Περικλύμενος) may refer to:

• A son of Neleus (the son of Poseidon) and Chloris.^[1] He was one of the Argonauts.^[2][3][4][5] His grandfather, Poseidon gave him the ability to shapeshift into various animals. He was killed by Heracles at Pylos, although he tried to escape in the form of an eagle.^[6][7][8][9] His offspring were Erginus and Penthilus.^[10]
• A defender of Thebes against the Seven and would-be murderer of Amphiaraus in the battle for Thebes. Amphiaraus was swallowed by the earth before he could kill him though.^[11][12] It was either this Periclymenus or Asphodicus that killed Parthenopaeus^[13]
• A suitor of Penelope, from Zacynthus.^[14]

In Popular Culture

In The Son of Neptune, the second book in the Heroes of Olympus series, Frank Zhang is a descendant of Periclymenus, so he has the same ability to shape-shift.

References

1. Homer, Odyssey, 11. 285, Hesiod, Catalogue of Women fr. 33(a).
2. Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica, 1. 156
3. Hyginus, Fabulae, 14
4. Gaius Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica, 1. 388
5. Argonautica Orphica, 155
6. Ovid, Metamorphoses. Book 12, 556.
7. Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1. 9. 9 & 2. 7. 3
8. Hyginus, Fabulae, 10
9. Nonnus, Dionysiaca, 43. 247
10. Pausanias, Description of Greece, 2. 18. 8
11. Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 3. 6. 8.
12. Pindar, Nemean Ode 9. 57 ff with scholia
13. Pausanias, Description of Greece, 9. 18. 6
14. Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, Epitome of Book 4, 7. 26 - 30