Irlandos: /* Trojan War activities */

2007-06-25T12:16:30Z

Trojan War activities

Irlandos: /* Spoken-word myths - audio files */

2006-06-28T18:38:11Z

Spoken-word myths - audio files

Irlandos at 09:27, December 29, 2005

2005-12-29T09:27:48Z

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In [[Greek mythology]], as recorded in the [[Iliad]] by [[Homer]], '''Patroclus''', or '''Pátroklos''' (Gr. '''Πάτροκλος''' "glory of the father"), son of [[Menoetius]], was [[Achilles]]' best friend.

== Origins ==
Menoetius was a member of the [[Argonauts]] in his youth. He had made at least four marriages. All four of his wives were identified as the "mother" of Patroclus in different versions. Which one was mother or step-mother seems uncertain:

*[[Periopis]] was identified as a possible mother of Patroclus by [[Apollodorus of Athens]]. She was a daughter of [[Pheres]], founder of [[Pherae]].
*[[Polymele]] was identified as a possible mother of Patroclus by [[Apollodorus of Athens]]. She was a daughter of [[Peleus]], King of [[Phthia]] and an older half-sister to Achilles.
*[[Sthenele]] was identified as a possible mother of Patroclus by [[Apollodorus of Athens]]. She was a daughter of [[Acastus]] and [[Astydameia]].
*[[Philomela]] was identified as the mother of Patroclus by [[Gaius Julius Hyginus]]. Her own origin is not given. She might be related to her namesake daughter of [[Pandion I]], [[King of Athens]] and [[Zeuxippe]].

Menoetius was a son of [[Actor (mythology)|Actor]], King of [[Opus]] in [[Locris]] by [[Aegina (mythology)|Aegina]]. Aegina was a daughter of [[Asopus]] and mother of [[Aeacus]] by [[Zeus]]. Aeacus was father of Peleus, [[Telamon]] and [[Phocus]].

Actor was a son of [[Deion]], King of [[Phocis]] and [[Diomede]]. His paternal grandparents were [[Aeolus]] of [[Thessaly]] and [[Enarete]]. His maternal grandparents were [[Xuthus]] and [[Creusa]], daughter of [[Erechtheus]] and [[Praxithea]].

== Life before the Trojan War ==
In his youth, Patroclus killed his friend, [[Clysonymus]], during an argument. His father had to escape into exile with Patroclus to escape punishment, and they took shelter at the palace of their kinsman King Peleus of Phthia. There Patroclus apparently first met Peleus' son Achilles. Peleus sent the boys to live in the wilderness and be raised by [[Chiron]], the wise King of the [[centaurs]].

Patroclus was likely somewhat older than Achilles. He is listed among the unsuccessful suitors of [[Helen]] of [[Sparta]]. Helen instead was given by [[Tyndareus]] to [[Menelaus]]. All suitors took a most solemn [[oath]] to defend the chosen husband against whoever should quarrel with him.

At about that time Patroclus killed [[Las]], founder of a namesake city near [[Gytheio]], [[Laconia]], according to [[Pausanias (geographer) | Pausanias the geographer]]. Pausanias reported that the killing was alternatively attributed to Achilles. However Achilles was not otherwise known to have ever visited [[Peloponnesos]].

Nine years later, Helen fled Sparta with Prince [[Paris]] of [[Troy]]. Menelaus and his brother [[Agamemnon]], King of [[Mycenae]], started contemplating war against Troy. The preparations for war and gathering of allies and armies took him ten years, according to some versions.

== Trojan War activities ==
When Achilles refused to fight because of his feud with Agamemnon, Patroclus donned his armor, led the [[Myrmidons]] and killed many Trojans, including [[Sarpedon]] (a son of Zeus), and [[Cebriones]] (the chariot driver of [[Hector]]). He was killed by [[Hector]] and Euphorbos, with help from [[Apollo]].

After retrieving his body, which had been protected on the field by Menelaus and [[Telamonian Aias]], Achilles returned to battle and avenged his companion's death by killing Hector and desecrated his body behind his chariot instead of allowing the Trojans to honorably dispose of it by burning it. Achilles' grief was great and for some time, he refused to bury Patroclus' body, but he was persuaded to do so by an apparition of Patroclus, who told him he could not enter [[Hades]] without a proper cremation. Achilles cut a lock of his hair and sacrificed horses, dogs, and twelve [[Troy|Trojan]] captives before placing Patroclus' body on the funeral pyre.

Achilles then organized an athletic competition to honour his dead companion, which included a chariot race (won by [[Diomedes]]), boxing (won by [[Epeios]]), wrestling (a draw between [[Telamonian Aias]] and [[Odysseus]]), a foot race (won by Odysseus), a duel (a draw between Aias and Diomedes), a discus throw (won by [[Polypoites]]), an archery contest (won by [[Meriones]]) and a javelin throw (won by Agamemnon, unopposed). The games are described in Book 23 of the ''[[Iliad]]'', one of the earliest references to [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] sports.

== Relationship to Achilles ==
In the ''Iliad'', the relationship between Patroclus and Achilles is a vital part of the story. The relationship contributes to the overall theme of the humanization of Achilles. While the ''Iliad'' does not explicitly say so, in later Greek writings, such as [[Plato]]'s ''[[Symposium (Plato)|Symposium]]'', the relationship between Patroclus and Achilles is held up as a model of sexual love. However, other ancient authors, such as [[Xenophon]] in his ''[[Symposium (Xenophon dialogue)|Symposium]]'', argue that it is a mistake to label their relationship as a sexual one.

== Burial and later reports ==
The death of Achilles is given in sources others than the ''Iliad''. His body was placed on a funeral pyre. His bones were mingled with those of Patroclus so that the two would be companions in death as in life and the remains were transferred to [[Leuke]], an island in the [[Black Sea]]. Their souls were reportedly seen wandering the island at times.

In Homer's ''[[Odyssey]]'', Odysseus meets Achilles in [[Hades]], accompanied by Patroclus, Telamonian Aias and [[Antilochus]].

A general of [[Croton]] identified either as [[Autoleon]] or [[Leonymus]] reportedly visited Leuke while recovering from wounds received in battle against the Locri Epizefiri. The event was placed during or after the [[7th century BC]]. He reported having seen Patroclus in the company of Achilles, [[Ajax the lesser]], Telamonian Aias, Antilochus and Helen.

== Spoken-word myths - audio files ==

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
|-
! style="background:#ffdead;" | Achilles and Patroclus myths as told by story tellers
|-
|[[Media:Achilles and Patroclus wiki.ogg|'''1. Achilles and Patroclus,''' read by Timothy Carter]]
|-
|Bibliography of reconstruction: [[Homer]] ''Iliad,'' 9.308, 16.2, 11.780, 23.54 ([[700 BC]]); [[Pindar]] ''[[Olympian Odes]],'' IX ([[476 BC]]); [[Aeschylus]] ''Myrmidons,'' F135-36 ([[495 BC]]); [[Euripides]] ''Iphigenia in Aulis,'' ([[405 BC]]); [[Plato]] ''Symposium,'' 179e ([[388 BC]]-[[367 BC]]); [[Statius]] ''Achilleid,'' 161, 174, 182 ([[96]] CE)
|-
|}

[[Category:People who fought in the Trojan War]]

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 == Trojan War activities ==
-When Achilles refused to fight because of his feud with Agamemnon, Patroclus donned his armor, led the [[Myrmidons]] and killed many Trojans, including [[Sarpedon]] (a son of Zeus), and [[Cebriones]] (the chariot driver of [[Hector]]). He was killed by [[Hector]] and Euphorbos, with help from [[Apollo]].
+When Achilles refused to fight because of his feud with Agamemnon, Patroclus donned his armor, led the [[Myrmidons]] and killed many Trojans, including [[Sarpedon (Trojan War)|Sarpedon]](a son of Zeus), and [[Cebriones]] (the chariot driver of [[Hector]]). He was killed by [[Hector]] and Euphorbos, with help from [[Apollo]].
 After retrieving his body, which had been protected on the field by Menelaus and [[Telamonian Aias]], Achilles returned to battle and avenged his companion's death by killing Hector and desecrated his body behind his chariot instead of allowing the Trojans to honorably dispose of it by burning it. Achilles' grief was great and for some time, he refused to bury Patroclus' body, but he was persuaded to do so by an apparition of Patroclus, who told him he could not enter [[Hades]] without a proper cremation. Achilles cut a lock of his hair and sacrificed horses, dogs, and twelve [[Troy|Trojan]] captives before placing Patroclus' body on the funeral pyre.

Patroclus - Revision history

Irlandos: /* Trojan War activities */

Irlandos: /* Spoken-word myths - audio files */

Irlandos at 09:27, December 29, 2005