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Oeneus was the legendary king of Calydon in Greek mythology, famed for being on the throne during the time of the Calydonian Hunt as well as being father to Meleager and Deianira.

OENEUS SON OF PORTHAON

Oeneus was the son of Porthaon and Euryte; and thus brother to Agrius, Alcathous, Leicopeus, Melas and Sterope.

Porthaon would rule two neighbouring kingdoms, Pleuron and Calydon, but when Porthaon died, these two kingdoms were thus handed to different individuals. Thestius, a brother of Porthaon became king of the Curetes of Pleuron, whilst Oeneus became ruler of Calydon.

OENEUS FATHER OF MELEAGER

King Oeneus of Calydon would marry his cousin, Althaea, a daughter of King Thestius, and Althaea would give birth to a number of children for Oeneus. The sons of Oeneus were thus named as Meleager, Toxeus, Clymenus, Periphas, Thyreus and Agelaus; whilst the daughters of Oeneus were Deianira, Gorge, Eurymede and Melanippe.

As was the way with ancient writers though, some suggest that Meleager and Deianira were not the children of Oeneus, but were instead born out of relationships between Althaea and Ares and Dionysus respectively.
Oeneus would become highly regarded as a king, and recognised as a hospitable host, often welcoming strangers to the royal court; and indeed Bellerophon was once welcomed to Oeneus’ palace.

OENEUS AND THE CALYDONIAN BOAR

Oeneus was also well regarded by the gods, and it was said that Dionysus presented Oeneus with a vine plant, and personally instructed the king of Calydon in the art of wine making.

Every year afterwards Oeneus would make sacrifices to all the major deities of the Greek pantheon for the gift given to him.

One year though, Oeneus overlooked the goddess Artemis when it came to a share of the sacrifices. Artemis would not let such a slight, even an accidental one, go unpunished, and in retribution Artemis sent forth a gigantic boar to ravage the lands of Calydon.

THE CALYDONIAN HUNT

To rid his land of the unwanted pest, King Oeneus sent word out across Greece of his need of help in killing the Calydonian Boar. One herald of King Oeneus would arrive in Iolcus, just after the Argonauts had returned from their epic quest for the Golden Fleece.

Many of the Argonauts who were still in Iolcus decided to travel onwards to Calydon, and of course as Meleager was the son of Oeneus, and an Argonaut, he led the band of heroes home. Other heroes also joined the group, one of whom was the female hero Atalanta, for Atalanta had been present in Iolcus competing in the funeral games of Pelias when Oeneus’ herald arrived.

Once in the kingdom of Oeneus, Meleager would lead the Calydonian Hunters on their hunt, and of course eventually the beast was slain.

It was commonly said that Atalanta inflicted the first wound on the boar, after which, Meleager delivered the killing blow. A dispute arose between Meleager and his uncles though, when the hero attempted to give the skin and tusk of the Calydon Boar to Atalanta as a reward.

WAR AND THE DEMISE OF OENEUS' SONS

Now some tell of Meleager killing his uncles, which then saw his own mother Althaea bringing about Meleager’s death, the wife of Oeneus then committing suicide afterwards; whilst others tell of war erupting between Calydon and Pleuron, a war which saw Thestius and his sons, as well as Meleager dying in battle.

In either case, the demise of the royal family of Pleuron would see Calydon and Pleuron joined once again, just as they had been in the time of Oeneues’ father, with Oeneus now ruler of both.

TYDEUS SON OF OENEUS

After the death of Althaea, Oeneus would remarry, becoming husband to Periboea, the daughter of Hipponous, who was also called Melanippe.

It was widely said that another son would be born to Oeneus by Periboa, a son called Tydeus; though others suggest by the will of the gods, Tydeus was actually born to Gorge, for Oeneus had been made to fall in love with his daughter.

Tydeus would be forced into exile though, for the murder of a relative, or relatives. Some say that Tydeus killed his uncle Alcathous, or his uncle Melas and his many sons, or else Tydeus killed a brother named Olenias. The normal reason given for the killing was due to the fact that Tydeus discovered a plot to overthrow Oeneus.

In any case it was normally said to be Agrius, another uncle of Tydeus who sent the youth into exile, rather than his own father Oeneus.

THE OVERTHROW OF KING OENEUS

The last direct male heir to Oeneus, Tydeus, would die during the war of the Seven against Thebes, although Tydeus had fathered a son, Diomedes, by this time.