Greek mythology
Mares of Diomedes
Man-eating horses tamed only by their master's flesh
- Mythology
- Greek mythology
- Group
- Monsters
- Appears in
- Heracles
Listen to “Heracles” in the app
The Mares of Diomedes are four savage horses kept by the Thracian king Diomedes, made wild and ravenous because he feeds them on human flesh. For his eighth Labor, Heracles steals them and, in the struggle, feeds their own master to them, which finally calms their fury. Tamed at last, he leads them back to Mycenae, where they are set loose upon the mountains.
Real episode from the app
Heracles
Chapter 1
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Frequently asked questions
- Who is Mares of Diomedes?
- The Mares of Diomedes are four savage horses kept by the Thracian king Diomedes, made wild and ravenous because he feeds them on human flesh. For his eighth Labor, Heracles steals them and, in the struggle, feeds their own master to them, which finally calms their fury.
- Which mythology does Mares of Diomedes belong to?
- Mares of Diomedes belongs to Greek mythology.
- Which stories does Mares of Diomedes appear in?
- Mares of Diomedes appears in Heracles, told as chaptered audio dramas in MythologyNow.
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APA
MythologyNow. (2026). Mares of Diomedes. https://www.mythologynow.app/en/gods/mares-of-diomedesMLA
"Mares of Diomedes." MythologyNow, 2026, https://www.mythologynow.app/en/gods/mares-of-diomedes.Chicago
MythologyNow. "Mares of Diomedes." Accessed 2026. https://www.mythologynow.app/en/gods/mares-of-diomedes.Listen to the stories of Mares of Diomedes
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