Patroclus

Family: Greek · Role: companion of Achilles · First appears: Apollodorus, Library 2.7

🌐 Also appears in: The Iliad (as Patroclus)

Patroclus is variously named as the son of Heracles and Pyrippe, or of Menoetius and Sthenele; Periopis and Polymele are also given as his mother. At Opus, he killed Clitonymus in a quarrel over a dice game, then fled with Menoetius to the house of Peleus, where he became a companion of Achilles.

During the war, Patroclus drove the fleeing Trojans toward the wall and killed many, including Sarpedon. He was first wounded by Euphorbus and then killed by Hector. In the fierce struggle over his body, Ajax son of Telamon rescued it with difficulty.

Relationship record

Life events

• Patroclus killed Clitonymus in a dice-game quarrel and fled with his father to Peleus.(Apollodorus, Library 3.13 · 📍 Opus)
  • With: Clitonymus Peleus Achilles
  • “At Opus, in a quarrel over a game of dice, Patroclus killed the boy Clitonymus, son of Amphidamas, and flying with his father he dwelt at the house of Peleus and became a minion of Achilles.”
• Patroclus killed Sarpedon while driving the fleeing Trojans toward the wall.(Apollodorus, Epitome 4)
  • With: Sarpedon
  • “And having chased them within the wall, he killed many, amongst them Sarpedon, son of Zeus”
• Hector killed Patroclus after Euphorbus first wounded him.(Apollodorus, Epitome 4)
  • With: Hector Euphorbus
  • “and was himself killed by Hector, after being first wounded by Euphorbus.”

Apollodorus, Library 2.7

• parent: Heracles “by Pyrippehe had Patroclus”
• parent: Pyrippe “by Pyrippehe had Patroclus”

Apollodorus, Library 3.13

• parent: Menoetius “Patroclus, son of Menoetius and Sthenele”
• parent: Sthenele “Patroclus, son of Menoetius and Sthenele”
• parent: Periopis “the mother of Patroclus was Periopis, daughter of Pheres”
• parent: Polymele “as Philocrates says, she was Polymele, daughter of Peleus”
• with Clitonymus (interaction) “Patroclus killed the boy Clitonymus”
• with Achilles (interaction) “he dwelt at the house of Peleus and became a minion of Achilles”
• with Peleus (interaction) “flying with his father he dwelt at the house of Peleus”

Apollodorus, Epitome 4

• enemies with Hector “And having chased them within the wall, he killed many, amongst them Sarpedon, son of Zeus, and was himself killed by Hector, after being first wounded by Euphorbus.”
• enemies with Euphorbus “and was himself killed by Hector, after being first wounded by Euphorbus.”
• enemies with Sarpedon “he killed many, amongst them Sarpedon, son of Zeus”
• with Ajax son of Telamon (Ajax rescued Patroclus's corpse.) “And a fierce fight taking place for the corpse, Ajax with difficulty, by performing feats of valor, rescued the body.”
• with Euphorbus (interaction) “and was himself killed by Hector, after being first wounded by Euphorbus.”

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