Why do the people of Tanagra have before
their city an Achilleum, that is, a place bearing this
name? For it is related that Achilles actually had
more enmity than friendship for the city, since he
carried off Stratonicê, the mother of Poemander, and
slew Acestor, the son of Ephippus.1
While the territory of Tanagra was still inhabited
in village communities, Poemander, the father of
Ephippus, had been besieged by the Achaeans in the
place called Stephon, because of his unwillingness
to join their expedition.2 But he abandoned that
stronghold by night and fortified Poemandria.3
[p. 221]
Polycrithus the master-builder, however, who was
present, spoke slightingly of the fortifications and, in
derision, leaped over the moat. Poemander was enraged and hastened to throw at him a great stone
which had been hidden there from ancient days, set
aside for use in the ritual of the Nyctelia.4 This stone
Poemander snatched up in his ignorance, and hurled.
He missed Polycrithus, but slew his son Leucippus. According to the law, therefore, he had to
depart from Boeotia and become a suppliant at a
stranger's hearth. But this was not easy, since the
Achaeans had invaded the territory of Tanagra. Accordingly he sent his son Ephippus to appeal to
Achilles. Ephippus, by his persuasive words, brought
to his father Achilles, as well as Tlepolemus, the son
of Heracles, and Peneleös, the son of Hippalcmas, all
of them interrelated. Poemander was escorted by
them to Chalcis, and there at the house of Elephenor
he was purified of the murder. Therefore he honoured
these heroes and set apart sacred precincts for them
all, and of these the precinct of Achilles has still kept
its name.