A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

Smith, William

A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. William Smith, LLD, ed. 1890

(Πουλυδάμας).

1. Of Scotussa in Thessaly, son of Nicias, conquered in the Pancratium at the Olympic games, in Ol. 93, B. C. 408. His size was immense, and the most marvellous stories are related of his strength, how he killed without arms a huge and fierce lion on mount Olympus, how he stopped a chariot at full gallop, &c. His reputation led the Persian king, Dareius Ochus, to invite him to his court, where he performed similar feats. (Euseb. Ἐλλ. ὀλ. p. 41 ; Paus. 6.5, 7.27.6, who calls him Πουλυδάμας ; Diod. Fragm. vol. ii. p. 640, ed. Wesseling ; Lucian, Quomodo Hist. conscrib. 35, et alibi ; Suidas, s.v. Πολυδάμας ; Krause, Olympia, p. 360.)