Neoptolemus

Also known as: Pyrrhus · Role: son of Achilles · First appears: Apollodorus, Library 3.13

🌐 Also appears in: The Odyssey (as Neoptolemus) · Plutarch's Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans (as Neoptolemus) · Greek Tragedy — The Same Myth, Three Voices (as Neoptolemus)

Neoptolemus, also called Pyrrhus, was born to Achilles and Deidamia while Achilles was being kept at Lycomedes’ court. “When Achilles was nine years old,” Achilles was exposed and went to Troy, while Neoptolemus remained behind until Ulysses and Phoenix persuaded Lycomedes to let him go. At the camp, Ulysses gave him his father’s arms.

At Troy, Neoptolemus slew Eurypylus and Priam, got Andromache, and was associated with the throwing of Astyanax from the battlements and the slaughter of Polyxena on Achilles’ grave. He later carried off Hermione, who had previously been betrothed to him, and travelled with Helenus toward Molossia; on the way, Phoenix died and Neoptolemus buried him.

In Molossia, he defeated the Molossians, became king, and fathered Molossus with Andromache. “Neoptolemus slew Priam, who had taken refuge at the altar of Zeus of the Courtyard.” Thetis once persuaded him to wait two days and offer sacrifice; later, he was slain at Delphi by Orestes, while another account says Machaereus slew him. As king of the islands off Epirus, he also condemned Odysseus to exile while seeking possession of Cephallenia.

Relationship record

Life events

Achilles was hidden at Lycomedes' court, fathered Pyrrhus, was exposed, and went to Troy.(Apollodorus, Library 3.13 · 📍 Troy)
- With: Achilles Thetis Lycomedes Deidamia Odysseus
- “When Achilles was nine years old, Calchas declared that Troy could not be taken without him; so Thetis, foreseeing that it was fated he should perish if he went to the war, disguised him in female garb and entrusted him as a maiden to Lycomedes. Bred at his court, Achilles had an intrigue with Deidamia, daughter of Lycomedes, and a son Pyrrhus was born to him, who was afterwards called Neoptolemus. But the secret of Achilles was betrayed, and Ulysses, seeking him at the court of Lycomedes, discovered him by the blast of a trumpet. And in that way Achilles went to Troy”
Neoptolemus slew Priam, who had taken refuge at the altar of Zeus of the Courtyard.(Apollodorus, Epitome 5 · 📍 Troy)
- With: Priam
- “Neoptolemus slew Priam, who had taken refuge at the altar of Zeus of the Courtyard.”
Neoptolemus defeated the Molossians, became king, and fathered Molossus with Andromache.(Apollodorus, Epitome 6 · 📍 Molossia)
- With: Molossus Andromache
- “and having vanquished the Molossians in battle he reigned as king and begat Molossus on Andromache.”

Apollodorus, Library 3.13

parent: Achilles “a son Pyrrhus was born to him”
parent: Deidamia “Achilles had an intrigue with Deidamia, daughter of Lycomedes, and a son Pyrrhus was born to him”

Apollodorus, Epitome 5

with Phoenix (interaction) “they sent Ulysses and Phoenix to Lycomedes at Scyros, and these two persuaded him to let Neoptolemus go.”
with Lycomedes (interaction) “they sent Ulysses and Phoenix to Lycomedes at Scyros, and these two persuaded him to let Neoptolemus go.”
with Eurypylus (interaction) “but was slain by Neoptolemus.”
with Priam (interaction) “Neoptolemus slew Priam, who had taken refuge at the altar of Zeus of the Courtyard.”
with Andromache (interaction) “Neoptolemus got Andromache,”
with Odysseus (interaction) “these two persuaded him to let Neoptolemus go. On coming to the camp and receiving his father's arms from Ulysses”
with Astyanax (interaction) “they threw Astyanax from the battlements”
with Polyxena (interaction) “and slaughtered Polyxena on the grave of Achilles.”

Apollodorus, Epitome 6

with Andromache (The passage establishes their union and parenthood, but does not explicitly call them married.) “Neoptolemus ... begat Molossus on Andromache”
child: Molossus “Neoptolemus ... begat Molossus on Andromache”
parent: Peleus “Neoptolemus succeeded to his father's kingdom”
engaged with Hermione “Neoptolemus carried off his wife Hermione, who had previously been betrothed to him in Troy”
with Orestes (interaction) “for that reason he was slain by Orestes at Delphi”
with Thetis (Thetis persuaded Neoptolemus.) “Thetis came and persuaded Neoptolemus to wait two days and to offer sacrifice”
with Helenus (They traveled together.) “Neoptolemus set out for the country of the Molossians by land with Helenus”
with Phoenix (interaction) “on the way Phoenix died, and Neoptolemus buried him”
with Machaereus (interaction) “was on that account slain by Machaereus the Phocian”
married with Andromache (The passage presents Neoptolemus and Andromache as the parents of Molossus.) “Neoptolemus ... begat Molossus on Andromache”

Apollodorus, Epitome 7

with Odysseus (interaction) “Neoptolemus, king of the islands off Epirus; that Neoptolemus, thinking to get possession of Cephallenia if once Ulysses were put out of the way, condemned him to exile”

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Extracted from the original text of Greek Mythology. Made with Rho MD.