AlkmaeonAlcmaeon

A son of Amphiaraus and Eriphyle.

Alkmaeon commanded the second expedition against the city of Thebes as one of the Epigoni; his mother, Eriphyle, had accepted an irresistible bribe to encourage her husband, Amphiaraus, to join the doomed expedition to capture Thebes; before he left for his certain death, Amphiaraus made Alkmaeon swear that he would avenge his death not only against the Thebans but against Eriphyle as well.

Alkmaeon was true to his father’s wishes, he killed his mother for sending his father to a certain death and he was commander of one of the armies that eventually captured Thebes; for his misplaced loyalty and bravery, he was driven mad by the Erinys (Furies).

The name Alkmaeon may also be rendered as Alkmaion.