Alcmaeon

Greek The son of Amphiaraus (one of the Seven Against Thebes) and of Eriphyle; brother of Amphilochus. The sons of the seven fallen champions who had fought at Thebes were called the Epigoni (descendants). They swore to avenge their fathers, and Alcmaeon rather reluctantly became their leader. He had been persuaded by his mother, Eriphyle, who in turn had been bribed with the coveted magic robe and amber necklace of Harmonia. When he learned that his mother had been similarly bribed to send his father off to war, Alcmaeon killed Eriphyle. Her dying curse was that no land would ever shelter Alcmaeon. Alcmaeon wandered from place to place, pursued by the Furies, who gave him no rest. Finally, he found an island newly formed from silt brought down by the river Achelous. Since the island had not existed when Eriphyle uttered her curse, Alcmaeon was able to find peace, at least for a while. He married Callirhoë, the daughter of Oeneus, king of Calydon. Callirhoë heard about the fabulous robe and necklace that had been given to Eriphyle, and as the wife of Alcmaeon, demanded that the treasures be given to her. She did not know that in his unhappy wanderings her husband had married Arsinoë, daughter of an Arcadian king, and given the treasures to her. Alcmaeon returned to Arcadia and begged King Psophis to give him the treasure, as he wanted to place it in the shrine of Apollo at Delphi. The king could not refuse such a request; but when he heard the truth from one of Alcmaeon's servants, he had Alcmaeon killed. Princess Arsinoë witnessed the death of her husband and, knowing nothing of his treachery, vowed vengeance on her father. The king sent the treasure to Delphi, in the hope that no further harm would come of it, but the treasure of Harmonia was accursed. Eventually King Phegeus and all his family died at the hands of the vengeful sons of Alcmaeon and Callirhoë.