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

(Θερσίτης), a son of Agrius, the most ugly and most impudent talker among the Greeks at Troy. Once, when he had spoken in the assembly in an unbecoming manner against Agamemnon, he was chastised by Odysseus. (Hom. Il. 2.212, &c.; Apollod. 1.8.6.) According to the later poets he pulled the eyes out of the dead body of Penthesileia, the queen of the Amazons, who had been killed by Achilles, and also calumniated Achilles, for which, however, the latter slew him. (Tzetz. ad Lycoph. 999.) In the Lesche of Delphi he was represented by Polygnotus in the act of playing at dice with Palamedes. (Paus. 10.31.1; Soph. Philoct. 442.)

[L.S]