Protesilaus

thumb|upright=1.3|Coinage of Skione. Head of Protesilaos, wearing Attic helmet / Stern of galley left within incuse square. Circa 480-470 BC thumb|upright=1.3|Coinage of Phthiotic Thebes|Thebai, [[Thessaly. Veiled head of Demeter, wearing wreath of grain ears / ΘHBAIΩИ, Protesilaos, wearing armor and short chiton, holding sword in right hand and shield in left, stepping off the prow of a galley; waves visible to the lower right. Early 3rd century BC]] In Greek mythology, Protesilaus (; ) was a hero in the Iliad who was venerated at cult sites in Thessaly and Thrace. Protesilaus was the son of Iphiclus, a "lord of many sheep"; as grandson of the eponymous Phylacos, he was the leader of the Phylaceans. Hyginus surmised that he was originally known as Iolaus—not to be confused with Iolaus, the nephew of Heracles—but was referred to as "Protesilaus" after being the first (, protos) to leap ashore at Troy, and thus the first to die in the war.

== Description == In the account of Dares the Phrygian, Protesilaus was illustrated as ". . .fair-skinned, and dignified. He was swift, self-confident, and even rash."