Mares of Diomedes
The human-fed mares that kill Abderus during their capture.
Overview
The Mares of Diomedes are both the object of the eighth command and agents with consequences of their own. Heracles and volunteers overpower the grooms and drive them to the sea, but he leaves them with Abderus while facing pursuit and the animals drag their keeper to death. After delivery to Eurystheus they are released again, so the danger is not presented as permanently erased.
Key facts
Fed on human flesh
The mares are tethered at iron mangers and explicitly fed human flesh.
Killing their keeper
Abderus guards them while Heracles meets the pursuers and is dragged to death.
Relationships
- Labours of Heraclespart of the Labours
This figure, target or episode belongs to the commanded sequence of the Labours.
- Diomedes of Thracekeeps the man-eating mares
The Thracian king Diomedes keeps the man-eating mares at iron mangers.
- Heraclesseizes and drives away
Heracles and his companions overpower the grooms and drive the mares to the sea.
- Abderusdrag to death
The man-eating mares drag Abderus to death while he guards them.
Story appearances
- The Labours of HeraclesMares of Diomedes in the Labours
Mares of Diomedes enters this story through Heracles' labours; when other stories return to the figure, they follow that later setting.
Ancient sources
MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.