Astyanax

Family: Troy · Role: son of Hector · First appears: Euripides, The Trojan Captives — Scene 4

Astyanax is a Trojan and the son of Hector. In Scene 4 of The Trojan Captives, he follows Andromache in a foreign chariot, eager for the maternal breast: “Close follows her beloved Astyanax, The son of Hector.” In Scene 5 at Ilion, Hecuba receives him as her grandson, while Odysseus persuades the Greek assembly to decree his death; Talthybius brings Andromache the dismal news that “They resolve To slay thy son.”

Astyanax is to be thrown from Ilion’s towers, denying him a future with Andromache. In Scene 8, he is killed after being thrown from the ramparts, and Andromache entrusts his corpse to Hecuba for burial. In Andromache, his fate is likewise recalled as that of the son thrown from Troy’s high towers after the city was sacked.

Relationship record

Life events

• Andromache advances in a foreign chariot while Astyanax follows her.(Euripides, The Trojan Captives — Scene 4)
  • With: Andromache
  • “Seest thou, Andromache, O queen, this way Advancing, wafted in a foreign car? Eager to cling to the maternal breast Close follows her beloved Astyanax, The son of Hector.”
• The Greeks decree Astyanax’s death after Ulysses persuades the assembly.(Euripides, The Trojan Captives — Scene 5 · 📍 Ilion)
  • With: Andromache Odysseus
  • “They resolve To slay thy son”
• Astyanax is to be thrown from Ilion’s towers and denied a future with Andromache.(Euripides, The Trojan Captives — Scene 5 · 📍 towers of Ilion)
  • With: Andromache
  • “He from the towers of Ilion must be thrown”
• Astyanax is thrown from Ilion’s ramparts and killed by the Greeks.(Euripides, The Trojan Captives — Scene 8 · 📍 Ilion)
  • “Of your unhappy Hector’s son, who perished From Ilion’s ramparts thrown”
• Andromache entrusts Astyanax’s corpse to Hecuba for burial.(Euripides, The Trojan Captives — Scene 8)
  • With: Andromache Hecuba
  • “For she the corse Hath to your arms consigned, that you may grace it With many a fragrant garland, and with vests Such as your present fortunes will afford”
• Astyanax was thrown from Troy’s towers after the city was sacked.(Euripides, Andromache — Scene 1 · 📍 Troy)
  • “that unhappy son whom to my lord I bore, Astyanax, from Troy’s high towers Thrown headlong; when our foes had sacked the city”

Euripides, The Trojan Captives — Scene 4

• parent: Hector “Eager to cling to the maternal breast Close follows her beloved Astyanax, The son of Hector.”
• parent: Andromache “Eager to cling to the maternal breast Close follows her beloved Astyanax, The son of Hector.”

Euripides, The Trojan Captives — Scene 5

• elder kin: Hecuba “Receiving him, act thus, and thou wilt cheer Our friends, and this my grandson educate A bulwark to fallen Ilion”
• enemies with Odysseus “They resolve To slay thy son; thou hear’st my dismal errand. AND. Ah me! thou hast unfolded to these ears An evil, greater than my menaced spousals. TAL. By his harangues to the assembled Greeks, Ulysses hath prevailed.”
• parent: Hector “Saying they ought not to train up the son Of that heroic sire. AND. May he obtain O’er his own children triumphs great as these! TAL. He from the towers of Ilion must be thrown”
• with Talthybius (interaction) “They resolve To slay thy son; thou hear’st my dismal errand.”

Euripides, The Trojan Captives — Scene 8

• parent: Hector “Behold the slain Astyanax, whom Greece / With rage inhuman from yon towers hath thrown.”
• parent: Hecuba “But I, bowed down / With age, an exile, of my children reft, / Must bury the disfigured corse of thee / A tender infant.”

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