August 21: International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism

Greek mythology is full of kings, heroes, witches and gods who behave like bullies, just because they can. King Diomedes of Thrakia was one. He was the son of war god Ares and fierce huntress Kyrene and inherited the arrogance and cruelty of both. He didn’t care that nobody liked him, as long as they feared him. His cronies were a herd of bloodthirsty mares. They followed him around, while he was on the hunt for another defenseless victim to intimidate and torture. And afterwards, they would feed on the human flesh. Nobody felt strong enough to stand up to the savage leader, until Herakles came along, to accomplish his eight labour. Diomedes was tough, as the son of Ares, but Herakles’ pure determination gave him the upper hand. The mares meanwhile inconspicuously hid in a corner and acted as the normal, obedient horses they had never been. They waited for Diomedes to give in and then, devoured him alive. Because that’s what sycophants do when their leader shows signs of weakness.

Diomedes devoured by his horses, Gustave Moreau,

Musée de Beaux Arts de Rouen, France

Hercules and Diomedes' horses, mosaic, Musée de Valence Art et Archéologie, France

Did you know?

• About Herakles/Hercules: “Nights in White Satin”.

• The word “sycophant” literally means “showing the fig”, which would have been an obscene gesture in ancient Greece. From there, it evolved to a kind of lackey/parasite/servile flatterer for a high placed person, ready to do their dirty work.