Philoctetes’ adventure at Limnos

Sophocles describes a version of Philoctetes’s history.

Philoctetes, king of Thessaly, took part in the Trojan campaign with seven ships. He began his voyage with the rest of the Greeks. During his voyage they stopped to resupply on the Chrysi Island of Limnos. During his time on the island a snake bit his foot, causing him horrible pain and intense stench. Odysseus and Atreides prompted everyone to abandon him on the island and carry on with their voyage without him. Philoctetes found shelter in a cave and using the therapeutic properties of Terra Lemnia cured his wound and survived. He lived there by himself for at least 10 years.

The Trojan War was not turning out well for the Greeks. According to the oracle Troy would fall only by the invincible bow of Hercules which Philoctetes had in his possession. Odysseus and Neoptolemus had to return to him to take, with any cost, the bow, and arrows of Hercules. Philoctetes denies giving them what they asked for since he hadn’t forgotten the cruelty that they had shown him. After various unsuccessful attempts from both men, Hercules shows up and persuades Philoctetes to go to Troy and with his precious help the Greeks emerge victorious and end the Trojan War.