Tecmessa

Also known as: Phrygian Teleutas' daughter / TEC. · Family: Greeks · Role: captive-bride of Aias · First appears: Sophocles, Aias — Scene 1

Tecmessa, daughter of Phrygian Teleutas, is the captive-bride of Aias and the parent of Eurysakes. In Scene 1, Eurysakes appears as their child while Aias eludes Tecmessa and his comrades, then falls on his sword and dies. In Scene 2, she tells Aias’s companions what she knows of his night of violence and worsening condition: “And whither he was fallen I, dear my friends, Prevailed on through my fear, told all I knew.”

In Scene 4, Tecmessa leaves with Eurysakes to search for and save Aias, urging them not to remain still. In Scene 5, she finds Aias newly slain on his sword and cries, “See where our Aias lies, but newly slain, Fallen on his sword concealed within the ground,” and in Scene 6, Teucer brings her and Eurysakes to tend Aias’s burial.

Relationship record

Life events

• Aias eludes Tecmessa and his comrades, then falls on his sword and dies.(Sophocles, Aias — Scene 1)
  • With: Aias Teucer
  • “Under this impression he eludes the loving eyes of his captive-bride Tecmessa, and of his Salaminian comrades, and falls on his sword.”
• Tecmessa reveals Aias’s night of violence and his worsening condition to his companions.(Sophocles, Aias — Scene 2)
  • With: Aias
  • “And whither he was fallen I, dear my friends, Prevailed on through my fear, told all I knew.”
• Aias and Tecmessa became husband and bride.(Sophocles, Aias — Scene 3)
  • With: Aias
  • “And by the sweetness of the night When from thy captive I became thy bride,”
• Tecmessa leaves with Eurysakes to search for and save Aias before he dies.(Sophocles, Aias — Scene 4)
  • With: Eurysakes Aias
  • “Child, what shall I do? [Looking at EURYSAKES We must not stay. I too will fare along, go far as I have power. Come, let us go. Bestir ye! 'Tis no moment to sit still, If we would save him who now speeds to die.”
• Tecmessa discovers Aias newly slain on his sword.(Sophocles, Aias — Scene 5)
  • With: Aias
  • “See where our Aias lies, but newly slain, Fallen on his sword concealed within the ground,”
• Teucer brings Tecmessa and Eurysakes to tend Aias's burial and orders Eurysakes to guard the corpse.(Sophocles, Aias — Scene 6)
  • With: Teucer Eurysakes Aias
  • “Lo! where the hero's housemate and his child, Hitting the moment's need, appear at hand, To tend the burial of the ill fated dead.”

Sophocles, Aias — Scene 1

• child: Eurysakes “EURYSAKÈS, the child of Aias and Tecmessa, appears, but does not speak.”
• married with Aias (Tecmessa is identified as Aias's bride.) “He also imagines that the anger of Athena is unappeasable. Under this impression he eludes the loving eyes of his captive-bride Tecmessa, and of his Salaminian comrades, and falls on his sword.”

Sophocles, Aias — Scene 2

• parent: Teleutas “Phrygian Teleutas' daughter, say;”
• with Aias (Aias keeps Tecmessa as his spear-won bride or partner.) “Since Aias, foremost in the fray, Disdaining not the spear-won bride, Still holds thee nearest at his side,”
• child: Eurysakes (Tecmessa's recognition of Eurysakes as the boy Aias calls for supports her being his mother.) “AI. Boy, boy! TEC. What means he? Oh, Eurysakes! He cries on thee. Where art thou? O my heart!”

Sophocles, Aias — Scene 3

• married with Aias “And I beseech thee by the sacred fire Of home, and by the sweetness of the night When from thy captive I became thy bride, Leave me not guardless to the unworthy touch”

Sophocles, Aias — Scene 4

• with Aias (Tecmessa is Aias's companion and the mother of his child.) “weakened by this woman, whom to leave / A widow with her orphan to my foes, / Dulls me with pity.”
• with Teucer (Aias asks Teucer to show Tecmessa kindness and concern.) “if Teucer come, / Bid him toward us be mindful, kind toward you.”

Sophocles, Aias — Scene 5

• with Aias (Tecmessa addresses Aias as her lord; she is also described as a war-bride.) “Ah, my lord!”
• with Aias (Tecmessa is identified as Aias's war-bride or consort; the passage does not state a formal marriage.) “Steeped in this audible sorrow I behold Tecmessa, poor fate-burdened bride of war.”

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