Heroes of the Trojan War
Achilles: Greek champion who was the son of Peleus and the Nereid Thetis. A prophecy told that Troy would not fall without his help. Achilles died at the hands of Trojan prince Paris, whose arrow hit the one part of Achilles’s body that was vulnerable—his heel.
Aeneas: son of Aphrodite and a Trojan prince called Anchises. Aeneas was an ally of King Priam and fought bravely against Diomedes and Achilles. His heroics at Troy are described by Homer, while his escape from Troy and founding of the Roman civilization are recorded by Virgil (70—19 BCE) in the Aeneid.
Agamemnon: son of Atreus and Aerope and brother of Menelaus. He was king of Mycenae and commander of the Greek army. Agamemnon was a brave and efficient fighter but a poor leader who needed encouragement from his men. He was murdered on his return from the war by his wife Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus.
Ajax: son of Telamon, king of Salamis, and Eriboea. He took 12 ships to Troy to honor the oath taken by all Helen’s suitors to protect her marriage vows. Ajax was famous for his great size and strength and was considered to be one of the greatest Greek fighters. He dueled with Hector twice and came close to victory on both occasions.
Diomedes: son of Tydeus and Deipyle. In the Iliad Homer describes him as one of the greatest Greek warriors who ever fought—he even wounded the war god Ares. Diomedes was one of the soldiers concealed in the wooden horse that the Greeks deceitfully gave to the Trojans.
Hector: leader of the Trojan army and Troy’s greatest warrior. Hector’s bravery ultimately proved to be his
The House of Atreus
The House of Troy
World History
