Palamēdēs, in Greek myth, a proverbially ingenious hero, son of Nauplius, said to have invented some of the letters of the alphabet and the game of draughts. When Odysseus tried to avoid his obligation to join in the expedition to Troy by pretending to be mad, Palamedes exposed his deceit. In revenge Odysseus forged a letter purporting to come from king Priam of Troy arranging for Palamedes to betray the Greeks in return for gold. Palamedes, in whose tent Odysseus hid the gold, was consequently stoned to death by the army. Nauplius avenged his son by luring the Greek fleet, returning from Troy, on to the rocks of Euboea by false beacons.

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