Achilles
Family: Epirote · Role: father of Pyrrhus · First appears: Book 1 · Chapter 4
In Book 1, Achilles is named as the father of Pyrrhus, who is also described as his descendant. The same book recounts that Achilles was slain by Alexander, son of Priam, and Apollo, and that Polygnotus painted him living among the maidens on Scyrus. It also describes Peleus vowing to cut his hair if Achilles returned safely from Troy.
In Book 3, Peleus is shown handing Achilles over to Chiron for his education, and Achilles is depicted fighting Memnon. At Leuce, Helen is reported to have been married to Achilles. Later, at Troy in Book 4, Patroclus wore Achilles’ armour, leading the Trojans to mistake him for Achilles and become confused.
At Olympia in Book 5, Achilles supported the dying Penthesilea. In Book 10, he killed Tennes while Tennes defended Tenedos.
Relationship record
Life events
- Helen is reported married to Achilles on Leuce.(Book 3 · Chapter 19 · 📍 Leuce)
- With: Helen
- “and said that he had seen Achilles, and Ajax the son of Oileus, and Ajax the son of Telamon, and that Patroclus and Antilochus were in the company, and that Helen was married to Achilles”
- Patroclus wore Achilles’ armour, causing the Trojans to mistake him for Achilles and become confused.(Book 4 · Chapter 28 · 📍 Troy)
- With: Patroclus
- “Homer has represented in the Iliad Patroclus wearing the armour of Achilles, and how the Trojans, thinking that Achilles was leading the attack, were thrown into confusion in their van.”
- Penthesilea died while Achilles supported her.(Book 5 · Chapter 11 · 📍 Olympia)
- With: Penthesilea
- “The last paintings are Penthesilea dying and Achilles supporting her”
- Achilles killed Tennes while Tennes defended Tenedos.(Book 10 · Chapter 14 · 📍 Tenedos)
- With: Tennes
- “Tennes was afterwards slain the Greeks say by Achilles as he was defending Tenedos”
Book 1 · Chapter 4
- child: Pyrrhus (son of Achilles) “the third was Pyrrhus, the son of Achilles.”
Book 1 · Chapter 11
- child: Pyrrhus (son of Achilles) “And from Tharypus to Pyrrhus, the son of Achilles, are fifteen generations.”
Book 1 · Chapter 12
- with Pyrrhus (son of Æacides) (Pyrrhus is described as a descendant of Achilles.) “for he, a descendant of Achilles, would be warring against colonies of Trojans.”
- younger kin: Pyrrhus (son of Æacides) (Achilles is identified as Pyrrhus's ancestor.) “for he, a descendant of Achilles, would be warring against colonies of Trojans.”