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Achilles: Son of the immortal sea-nymph Thetis, and the mortal king of Phthia, Peleus; central character in Homer's Iliad. The king of the gods, Jove, had wished to seduce Thetis, but was told of a prophecy that the nymph's son would be mightier than his father; fearing for his kingdom, Jove arranged for Thetis to marry a mortal, Peleus. When Achilles was an infant, his mother tried unsuccessfully to make him immortal, either by placing him upon a fire, or by dipping him in the river Styx (in the latter story, she held him by the heel when she dipped him in the river, so that the heel was untouched by the waters and was the only part of him that remained vulnerable to harm--hence the term "Achilles' heel"). Thetis knew of a prophecy that Achilles would either live a short and glorious life or a long and obscure one. To prevent him from going to Troy (and hence to a glorious but youthful death), she disguised him as a maiden and hid him among the women in the court of King Lycomedes of Scyros. There Achilles fell in love with the king's daughter, Deidamia, who bore him a son, Neoptolemus (or Pyrrhus). Achilles' disguise was eventually penetrated when Ulysses placed weapons among an array of female finery and noted Achilles' "unfeminine" reaction (in another version, Ulysses sounded a trumpet to get the same effect). Achilles became the greatest of the Greek heros who fought in the war against Troy; the seer Calchas even prophesied that Troy could not be taken without his help. Among Achilles' many exploits during the Trojan War was the conquest and sack of Lyrnessus. During this campaign, he acquired the woman Briseis as a slave, having killed her brothers and her husband in the fighting. Briseis became his concubine, and Achilles became deeply attached to her. When Agamemnon, the commander-in-chief of the Greek forces at Troy, had to give up his own female war-slave, Chryseis, he took Briseis away from Achilles to compensate himself. Achilles became furious and withdrew to his tents, declaring his great love for Briseis and refusing to fight for the Greeks any further. The Trojans took advantage of Achilles' absence and mounted a successful offensive, driving the Greek forces back to their ships and even setting some of the fleet on fire. Agamemnon sent Ulysses, Phoenix and Ajax to Achilles' tent with an offer to return Briseis and to give lavish gifts in compensation as well, if Achilles would return to the fighting; Achilles refused. However, Achilles' closest friend, Patroclus, distraught over the imminent peril to the Greek armies, borrowed Achilles' armor and led their forces out once more against the Trojans; during the fighting, Patroclus was killed by the Trojan hero Hector. Determined to avenge Patroclus' death, Achilles finally accepted Agamemnon's offers (including the return of Briseis) and reentered the fighting, killing Hector in single combat and then desecrating his body by dragging it behind his chariot. Achilles himself was killed not long thereafter by being wounded in the heel by an arrow from the bow of the Trojan prince, Paris. For more information, see the Encyclopedia Mythica article on Achilles, or Carlos Parada's much longer and more detailed account of Achilles at Brown University. To read a summary of Achilles' exploits at Troy, see Part 2 of Chapter 27 in Bullfinch's Mythology. Read Homer's Iliad at the M.I.T. Internet Classics Archive, or see Apollodorus's summary of the events in the Iliad, along with the events preceding and following them, in Parts XII-XVI of the Epitome at the Perseus Project.
Aeacus: Son of Jove and Aegina; father of Peleus anad Telamon, and grandfather of Achilles and Ajax. Aeacus was king of the island of Aegina. When his kingdom was virtually wiped out by a plague, he prayed to Jove to send him subjects as numerous as the ants he saw swarming in an oak tree. He then fell asleep, and dreamed that he saw the ants being transformed into men. When he awoke, he found that the dream was true: the ants had been transformed into a host of young men who surrounded his palace and called him their king. He called these new subjects "Myrmidons," from the Greek word for "ant"; the Myrmidons were tireless workers and fierce fighters, who remained intensely loyal to their king. For more information, see the Encyclopedia Mythica article on Aeacus; also, see Carlos Parada's longer and more detailed account of Aeacus at Brown University. To find the island of Aegina on a map of the classical world, try typing "Aegina" in the search box on the Perseus Project Atlas.
Aegina: Daughter of the river-god Asopus; mother of Aeacus. Aegina was loved by Zeus, who carried her off to the island which was later named after her. She bore a son, Aeacus, who was the father of Peleus and the grandfather of Achilles. For more information, see the Encyclopedia Mythica article Aegina. To find the island of Aegina on a map of the classical world, try typing "Aegina" in the search box on the Perseus Project Atlas.
Agamemnon: Son of Atreus and King of Mycene (in Homer) or of Argos (in later accounts); commander-in-chief of the Greek forces at Troy. In Homer's Iliad, Agamemnon has the woman Chryseis as a war-slave and concubine. Chryseis' father, Chryses, begs Agamemnon to release his daughter; Agamemnon refuses. Chryses, who is a priest of Apollo, prays to the god to punish the Greeks, and Apollo sends a plague into the Greek camp. The Greek seer Calchas proclaims that Chryseis must be returned to her father if Apollo is to be appeased. In a meeting of the Greek leaders, Achilles upbraids Agamemnon and presses him to return the girl. Agamemnon finally consents to return her, but says that he will take Achilles' own concubine, Briseis, in compensation. Achilles is enraged; he agrees to deliver Briseis, but says that he will no longer fight for the Greeks in their war against Troy. Following Achilles' withdrawal, the war goes badly for the Greeks, and Agamemnon sends Ulysses, Phoenix and Ajax to Achilles' tent with an offer to return Briseis and to give lavish gifts in compensation as well, if Achilles will return to the fighting. Achilles refuses, and only returns after the death of his close friend, Patroclus. For more information, see the Encyclopedia Mythica article on Agamemnon, or Carlos Parada's much longer and more detailed account of Agamemnon at Brown University. . For Homer's telling of the initial quarrel between Agamemnon and Achilles, see Book I of the Iliad (M.I.T. Internet Classics Archive; for a summary of the quarrel, see the opening of part two of Chapter 27 in Bullfinch's Mythology. Agamemnon is also an important figure in Greek tragic drama: for the story of his fatal homecoming from Troy, see Aeschylus' play Agamemnon (M.I.T. Internet Classics Archive); for his sacrifice of his daughter, Iphigenia, to the goddess Diana at Aulis, see Euripides' Iphigenia at Aulis (M.I.T. Internet Classics Archive).
Ajax: Son of Telamon and king of Salamis; brother of Teucer. Ajax was one of the mightiest of the Greek heros to fight at Troy, second in military prowess only to Achilles; he was also Achilles' first cousin (Telamon and Laertes were brothers). Ajax is described as a huge man, enormously strong but somewhat slow of speech and wit. He was one of the ambassadors sent by Agamemnon to offer the return of Briseis and to entreat Achilles to return to the fighting. After Achilles' death, Ajax and Ulysses competed for the possession of Achilles' magnificent armor, each giving a speech on his own merits before the assembled Greeks. Ajax lost the contest, went mad, and committed suicide. (Note: He is often called "the greater Ajax," to distinguish him from Ajax the son of Oileus, who also fought for the Greeks at Troy.) For more information, see the Encyclopedia Mythica article on Ajax, or Carlos Parada's much longer and more detailed account of the Aiantes at Brown University. For Homer's account of the embassy to Achilles, see Book IX of the Iliad at the M.I.T. Internet Classics Archive. To find Salamis on a map of the classical world, try typing "Salamis" in the search box on the Perseus Project Atlas, or see the map of Achaean and Trojan homelands on Carlos Parada's site at Brown University.
Briseis: Daughter of Briseus of Lyrnessus (Apollodorus makes her the daughter of the priest Chryses). She was married to Mynes. Achilles, the greatest of the Greek heros in the Trojan War, conquered Lyrnessus, killing Briseis' husband and her three brothers and taking Briseis herself away as a slave. Briseis became Achilles' concubine, and Briseis says in Homer's Iliad that Achilles' friend Patroclus had promised to see to it that Achilles formally married her when he returned home. When Agamemnon, the commander-in-chief of the Greek forces at Troy had to give up his own female war-slave, Chryseis, he took Briseis away from Achilles to compensate himself. Achilles became furious and withdrew to his tents, declaring his great love for Briseis and refusing to fight for the Greeks any further. The Trojans took advantage of Achilles' absence and mounted a successful offensive, driving the Greek forces back to their ships and even setting some of the fleet on fire. Agamemnon sent Ulysses, Phoenix and Ajax to Achilles' tent with an offer to return Briseis and to give lavish gifts as compensation as well, if Achilles would return to the fighting; Achilles refused. However, Patroclus, distraught over the imminent peril to the Greek armies, borrowed Achilles' armor and led their forces out once more against the Trojans; during the fighting, he was himself killed by the Trojan hero Hector. To avenge Patroclus' death, Achilles finally reentered the fighting, killing Hector and being killed himself soon thereafter by an arrow from the bow of the Trojan prince, Paris. Briseis' letter in Heroides III is set in the short period of time after the visit of Ulysses, Phoenix, and Ajax, and before Patroclus' death. Read the accounts of Briseis in Apollodorus' Library at the Perseus Project. Or see Homer's Iliad (M.I.T. Internet Classics Archive) for the whole story of Achilles and Briseis.
brothers: The three brothers of Briseis, who were killed by Achilles when he sacked Lyrnessus.
Danaan: Literally, the decendants of Danaus. "Danaans" was used by Homer and other writers as a general name for the Greeks at Troy.
Eurybates and Talthybius: Heralds for Agamemnon. Eurybates and Talthybius were the men who were sent to bring Briseis from Achilles' tent to Agamemnon's. For Homer's account of the mission of Eurybates and Talthybius, see Book I of the Iliad at the M.I.T. Internet Classics Archive.
Hector: Son of Priam (King of Troy) and Hecuba. Hector was the mightiest warrior on the Trojan side, and was regarded with fear by the Greek forces. He could finally be defeated only by the Greek hero Achilles. His body was desecrated after death by Achilles, and was only returned for proper burial following a touching and courageous personal appeal by Priam. Hector was married to Andromache, and he is mentioned as an example of a faithful and steadfast husband by Oenone in Heroides V. For more information, see the Encyclopedia Mythica article on Hector. For Homer's account of the final battle between Achilles and Hector, see Book XXII of the Iliad at the M.I.T. Internet Classics Archive. For a summary of the episode, see Part 2 of Chapter 27 in Bullfinch's Mythology.
husband: Mynes, the husband of Briseis, who was killed by Achilles when he sacked Lyrnessus.
I have seen three fall: See note on Briseis' brothers.
Jove: (Also called Jupiter; Greek name--Zeus) King of the gods; husband of Juno. Jove had countless love affairs with mortal women, as well as with other goddesses and nymphs. One of these affairs was with the river-nymph Aegina; he carried her away to the island which was later named "Aegina" in her honor. Aegina bore a son, Aeacus, who was the father of Peleus and the grandfather of Achilles. For more information, see the Encyclopedia Mythica article Zeus or click on "Zeus" on Prof. Ruth Webb's Mythology page at Princeton University; also, see Carlos Parada's longer and more detailed account of Zeus at Brown University. For accounts of Zeus in various Greek writers and for a number of images of him, see the University of Victoria Classical Myth page's section on Zeus.
Laertes' offspring: See Ulysses.
Lesbos: Large island off the coast of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). The women of Lesbos were famed for their beauty. In the seventh and sixth centuries B.C., Lesbos was a center of Greek culture; its most famous poet (among modern readers, at least) was Sappho. To find Lesbos on a map of the ancient Greek world, see the map of Achaean and Trojan homelands on Carlos Parada's site at Brown University; for more detail, try typing "Lesbos" in the search box on the Perseus Project Atlas. For Sappho's poetry, see the Sappho homepage.
Lyrnessus, Lyrnessian: The home of Briseis. Lyrnessus was a city in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), southeast of Troy. To locate Lyrnessus on a map of the Bronze Age Greek world, see the map of Achaeans and Trojan homelands on Carlos Parada's site at Brown University.
Mars: (Greek: Ares) God of war; son of Jupiter and Juno. Mars sided with Troy in the Trojan War. For more information, see the Encyclopedia Mythica article Ares; also, see Carlos Parada's longer and more detailed account of Ares at Brown University. For accounts of Mars in various Greek writers and for a number of images of him, see the University of Victoria Classical Myth page's section on Ares.
master and husband: See Achilles.
Meleager: Son of Oeneus, King of Calydon (in Aetolia), and of Althaea (in some versions, his father is the god Mars). In Homer's Iliad, Phoenix tells the story of Meleager as part of his attempt to persuade Achilles to return to the fighting. Phoenix's version of the story of Meleager is roughly as follows. The Aetolians and the Curetes were at war; as long as Meleager was in the fighting, the Aetolians were winning. However, Meleager's mother, Althea, was angry because Meleager had killed her brother (or brothers in post-Homeric versions), and called down curses upon him. Meleager then refused to fight any longer. Meleager's father pleaded with him to re-enter the fighting, and the Aetolians offered him rich gifts to return, but he refused. Finally, when the Curetes were at the very gates of Calydon, Meleager's wife, Cleopatra (daughter of Idas and Marpessa--not the Ptolemaic queen of Egypt), pleaded with him to return, and he finally assented. The Curetes were defeated with Meleager's help, but the Aetolians never made good on their earlier promises of gifts. Meleager is also famous as one of the Argonauts who sailed with Jason on the quest for the golden fleece, as the leader and organizer of the hunt for the deadly Calydonian boar, and as the lover of the maiden-huntress Atalanta. For more information, see the Encyclopedia Mythica articles on Meleager, on the Argonauts, and on the Calydonian Boar hunt. See also Carlos Parada's longer and more detailed account of Meleager at Brown University. For Phoenix's 's account of Meleager, see Book IX of the Iliad at the M.I.T. Internet Classics Archive. To find the city of Calydon on a map of the classical world, try typing "Kalydon" in the search box on the Perseus Project Atlas.
Minerva: (Greek: Athena). Daughter of Zeus (without the aid of a mother's womb); goddess of wisdom and of defensive warfare, as well as patron of domestic arts such as weaving. When Agamemnon announced that he would take Briseis from Achilles in Book I of Homer's Iliad, Achilles started to draw his sword to attack Agamemnon. Minerva appeared beside him, invisible to all but Achilles himself, and stopped the attack. For Homer's account of the incident, see Book I of the Iliad at the M.I.T. Internet Classics Archive. For more information on Minerva, see the Encyclopedia Mythica article on Athena and the page on Athena on Prof. Ruth Webb's Mythology site at Princeton University. See also Carlos Parada's longer and more detailed account of Athena at Brown University. For accounts of Minerva in various Greek writers and for a number of images of her, see the University of Victoria Classical Myth page's section on Athene.
Neoptolemus: (Also called Pyrrhus) Son of Achilles and Deidamia. After Achilles' death, he entered the fighting at Troy, fighting with great ferocity and killing, among others, King Priam. For more information, see the Encyclopedia Mythica article on Neoptolemus.
Nereus: Sea-god and father of the Nereids, including Thetis; grandfather of Achilles.
Patroclus: Son of Menoetius, the king of Opus; cousin and closest friend of Achilles, and his constant companion at the seige of Troy. (Patroclus' father and Achilles' grandfather were brothers.) After Achilles' withdrawal from the fighting, when the Greek troops were faring badly at the hands of the Trojans, the Greek leader Nestor suggested to Patroclus that he ask to borrow Achilles' distinctive armor and lead their troops back into combat (the idea was that Patroclus would be mistaken for Achilles himself and strike fear into the hearts of the Trojan warriors). Achilles agreed to the plan, with the provision that Patroclus would avoid combat with Hector, the mightiest of the Trojan heros. Patroclus went into battle and fought heroically, finally facing Hector himself. Hector, thinking that he faced the mighty Achilles, killed Patroclus and stripped the body of its armor. Patroclus' death incensed Achilles, and he returned to the fighting, hunting down and finally killing Hector to avenge his friend's death. When Briseis returned to Achilles' encampment, the first thing she saw was Patroclus' body; she grieved tearfully over him, remembering how he had "always been kind" to her, and saying that Patroclus had promised to see to it that Achilles married her when they returned to Phthia. For more information, see the Encyclopedia Mythica article on Patroclus, or Carlos Parada's much longer and more detailed account of Patroclus at Brown University. For Homer's account of Briseis' mourning for Patroclus, see Book XIX of the Iliad (M.I.T. Internet Classics Archive).
Peleus: Son of Aeacus and king of Aegina, in Phthia; father of Achilles. When Jove decided that the sea-goddess Thetis must marry a mortal, he selected Peleus as the most worthy among men. To gain his bride, however, Peleus had first to capture and subdue her. He wrestled with her, holding her tightly while she changed into many strange and frightening shapes; finally, unable to escape, she submitted and agreed to marry him. Their wedding was attended by almost all the gods, who lavished many magnificent gifts upon the couple, but the festivities were disrupted by Eris, the goddess of Discord, in an episode which led ultimately to the war at Troy (see the note on Thetis). For more information, see the Encyclopedia Mythica article on Peleus
Pelion: A mountain in northern Greece. Mt. Pelion was the home of the wise centaur Chiron, who was tutor to the young Achilles. To find Mt. Pelion on a map of the classical world, try typing "Mt.-Pelion" in the search box on the Perseus Project Atlas.
Pergamum: The citadel of the city of Troy. The god Neptune is said to have built the wall surrounding the citadel.
Phoenix: Son of Amyntor. Phoenix was blinded by his father (or cursed with childlessness in another version) because of an accusation by his father's concubine. Peleus took him to the centaur Chiron, who restored his sight. Peleus also made him the tutor of his young son, Achilles. Phoenix later accompanied Achilles to Troy, and was one of the ambassadors sent by Agamemnon to offer the return of Briseis and to entreat Achilles to return to the fighting. For Homer's account of the embassy to Achilles, see Book IX of the Iliad at the M.I.T. Internet Classics Archive.
Phthia, Phthian: Homeland of Achilles in Greece, northeast of Athens; ruled by Achilles' father, Peleus, the king of Aegina. To find Phthia on a map of the ancient world, see the map of Achaean and Trojan homelands on Carlos Parada's site at Brown University; for more detail, try typing "Aegina" in the search box on the Perseus Project Atlas.
plectrum: A thin piece of ivory, metal, etc., used for plucking the strings of a lyre.
Priam: King of Troy, father of Paris and Hector. One of the most moving scenes in Homer's Iliad occurs when Priam comes secretly at night into the Greek camp to plead with Achilles for the return of Hector's body. Priam was finally killed when the city of Troy was taken by the Greeks at the close of the Trojan War. For more information, see the Encyclopedia Mythica article on Priam, or Carlos Parada's much longer and more detailed account of Priam at Brown University. For Homer's telling of the nocturnal encounter between Priam and Achilles, see Book XXIV of the Iliad at the M.I.T. Internet Classics Archive; for a summary of their meeting, see the closing portion of part two of Chapter 27 in Bullfinch's Mythology.
son of Amyntor: See Phoenix.
son of Menoetius: See Patroclus.
Thetis: Sea-goddess (a Nereid), daughter of the sea-god Nereus and the Oceanid Doris; mother of Achilles. The king of the gods, Jove, had wished to seduce Thetis, but was told of a prophecy that the goddess' son would be mightier than his father; fearing for his kingdom, Jove arranged for Thetis to marry the best and most worthy of mortals, Peleus. Their wedding was attended by all the gods and goddesses, except Eris, goddess of Discord. Eris retailiated for her exclusion by throwing a golden apple among the guests, with the inscription "For the fairest." Venus, Minerva and Juno all vied for the apple and finally asked Paris, a prince of Troy, to judge among them. Paris' famous judgement ultimately led to the Trojan War--see the note on Troy. Thetis was not particluarly happy about being married to a mortal, but she was quite solicitous of her son's welfare, first trying to make him immortal, and then trying to prevent from going to Troy (see the note on Achilles). When Achilles retired from the fighting after his quarrel with Agamemnon, she consoled him, and after the death of Patroclus she persuaded the god Vulcan to make new armor for him. For more information, see the Encyclopedia Mythica article on Thetis. For links to accounts of Thetis in Greek authors, see the Perseus Project's encyclopedia entry on Thetis. For Homer's account of Thetis' encounter with her son following the quarrel with Agamemnon, see Book I of the Iliad at the M.I.T. Internet Classics Archive; for her promise to get new armor for him, see Book XVIII. For a summary of these episodes, see Part 2 of Chapter 27 in Bullfinch's Mythology.
Thracian: Of or pertaining to Thrace, a region north (or northeast) of classical-era Greece. There were Greek colonies along the Aegean coast of Thrace, but the interior was dominated by Thracian-speaking peoples, including warlike tribes living in the mountains of Haemus and Rhodope, whom the Greeks considered barbarous. Thrace is often associated with music, especially of the lyre. For more information, see the Perseus Project Encyclopedia article on Thrace. To find Thrace on a map of the classical world, try the Central Mediterranean map on Longman's website for Morford and Lenardon's textbook, Mythology.
Troy, Trojan: City in Asia Minor (part of modern-day Turkey), ruled by King Priam. Paris, the son of Priam, was asked to judge which of three Olympian goddesses (Juno, Minerva, and Venus) was the most beautiful. He selected Venus, and was rewarded by being given the love of the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen. Unfortunately, Helen was already married to King Menelaus of Sparta, and all of the other Greek kings had sworn to defend Menelaus's marriage rights. After Paris abducted Helen, taking her back to Troy with him, Greek armies beseiged Troy for ten years in what became known as the Trojan War. They finally conquered and destroyed the city in the tenth year, thanks in part to Ulysses' strategem of the Trojan horse. To see where Troy is on a map of the classical world, try typing "Troy" in the search box on the Perseus Project Atlas. See also the Encyclopedia Mythica's brief article on the Trojan Horse.
Ulysses: (Greek name: Odysseus) Greek hero, son of Laertes and king of Ithaca; one of the leaders of the Greek troops at the ten-year seige of Troy. Odysseus (Ulysses) is the hero of Homer's Odyssey, which tells the story of his ten-year wanderings on the way home from Troy. He was one of the ambassadors sent by Agamemnon to offer the return of Briseis and to entreat Achilles to return to the fighting. After Achilles' death, Ulyssess and Ajax competed for the possession of Achilles' magnificent armor, each giving a speech on his own merits before the assembled Greeks. Ulysses won the contest, whereupon Ajax went mad and committed suicide. Ulysses is a favorite subject in Greek and Roman literature and art. He was renowned for his eloquence and his often unscrupulous cleverness. For more information, see the Encyclopedia Mythica article on Odysseus, or click on "Odysseus" on Prof. Ruth Webb's Mythology page at Princeton University; also, see Carlos Parada's longer and more detailed account of Odysseus at Brown University. For Homer's account of the embassy to Achilles, see Book IX of the Iliad at the M.I.T. Internet Classics Archive. To find the island of Ithaca on a map, try the Central Mediterranean map on Longman's website for Morford and Lenardon's textbook, Mythology; for more detail, try typing "Ithaca" in the search box on the Perseus Project Atlas.
Venus: (Greek: Aphrodite) Goddess of love. Venus was the patron goddess generally of heterosexual romantic or sexual love of any kind, and often particularly of unmarried love. Her son ("Eros" in Greek, and "Amor" or "Cupid" in Latin) used a bow and arrow for inflaming human hearts with love or violent passion. Venus was also involved in the divine dispute which led ultimately to the Trojan War. For more information, see the Encyclopedia Mythica article on Aphrodite and the page on Aphrodite on Prof. Ruth Webb's Mythology site at Princeton University. See also Carlos Parada's longer and more detailed account of Aphrodite at Brown University. For accounts of Venus in various Greek writers and for a number of images of her, see the University of Victoria Classical Myth page's section on Aphrodite.