Halcyoneus
（
Ἀλκυονεύς), a son of Antigonus Gonatas, king of Macedonia. We know nothing of the time of his birth, but we find him already grown up to manhood in B. C. 272, when Antitgonus advanced into the Peloponnesus to oppose the schmes of Pyrrhus, and he accompanied his father on that expedition. During the night attack on Argos, by which Pyrrhus attempted to force his way into the city, Halcyoneus was dispatched by Antigonus with a body of troops to oppose him, and a vehement combat took place in the streets.
In the midst of the confusion, word was brought to Haleyoneus that Pyrrhus was slain; he hastened to the spot, and arrived just as Zopyrus had cut off the head of the fallen monarch, which Halcyoneous carried in triumph to his father. Antigonuts upbraided him for his barbarity, and drove him angrily from his presence. Taught by this lesson, when he soon after fell in with Helenus, the son of Pyrrhus, he treated him with respect, and conduscted him in safety to Antigonus. (
Plut. Pyrrh. 34.)
It appears from an anecdote told by Aelian (
Ael. VH 3.5) and Plutarch (
De Consolat. 33) that Halcyoneus was killed in battle during the lifetime of Autigonus, but on what occasion we are not informned.
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E.H.B]
