Machaon

Quartigod elder son of Asclepius by Epione; the canonical Iliadic physician-warrior of the Achaean contingent at Troy. Healed Menelaus's arrow-wound in Iliad 4.193-219 — the foundational physician-scene of Greek-medical literature. Killed at Troy (variant: by Eurypylus per Quintus Smyrnaeus 6, or by Penthesilea per Apollodorus Epit. 5.1). Buried at Gerenia in Pylian Messenia; Pausanias 3.26.9 records the continuing imperial-period hero-cult. Father of Nicomachus and Gorgasus, founders of the Pharae-Asclepieion.

Parentage

• Asclepius

Children

• Gorgasus
• Nicomachus

Domains

• healing medicine

Powers

• Heal battle-wounds by the surgeon's art
• Treat battle-wounds and cut out arrows as army surgeon

Relations

• father: Asclepius
• sibling: Podalirius
• sibling: Hygieia
• sibling: Iaso
• sibling: Aceso
• sibling: Aegle
• sibling: Panacea
• half sibling: Telesphorus
• half sibling: Aratus of Sicyon
• father of: Nicomachus
• father of: Gorgasus

Sources

• Homer, Iliad 2.731-732, 4.193-219, 11.504-520, 11.833-836; Apollodorus, Epitome 3.14, 5.1; Quintus Smyrnaeus, Posthomerica 6.390-435; Pausanias 3.26.9, 4.30.3, 4.36.7; the Anonymous Erythraean Paean (Inscr. Erythrai 205, c.380 BCE = IGRR IV 1505)
• Hom. Il. 2.731-732, 4.193