TYDEUS  , in

Greek legend, son of Oeneus, king of Calydon, and Periboea . Having slain his uncle (or other relatives) he fled for refuge to Argos, where Adrastus received him hospitably and purified him from the guilt of blood . Tydeus took part in the expedition of the " Seven against Thebes," in which, although small of stature, he greatly distinguished himself . In the desperate battle under the walls of the city, he was severely wounded by Melanippus, but managed to slay his adversary . Athena, who held Tydeus in special favour, hastened to the field of battle, to heal him of his wound and bestow immortality upon him . But the sight of Tydeus, cleaving open the skull of his dead enemy and sucking out his brains, so disgusted her that she left him to his fate . Tydeus married Deipyle, the daughter of Adrastus, by whom he had a son, the famous Diomedes, frequently called Tydides . Homer, Iliad, xiv . 114—132 ; Apollodorus iii . 6, 8 ; Schol. on Pindar, Nemec, x . 12 .