Penthesilea

Penthesilea led twelve Amazon maidens to Troy after Hector’s death. She was the tallest and most beautiful of the Amazons. The Trojans rejoiced when they saw her, because she looked both terrible and beautiful, with a frown on her brow, shining eyes, and flushed cheeks. They gathered around her, cheered, threw flowers, and kissed her stirrup. Priam welcomed her with equal joy and held a great feast. He gave her golden cups, embroidered cloths, and a sword with a silver hilt. Penthesilea vowed that she would kill Achilles.

The Amazons came from the distant banks of the river Thermodon. They were warlike women, believed to be daughters of the God of War, and were reckoned equal in battle to the bravest men. They had fought for Troy before, and a great burial mound on the plain covered the ashes of the swift-footed Amazon Myrine. Penthesilea came for two reasons. She sought renown, and she suffered sleepless sorrow after accidentally killing someone. Helen had let Odysseus learn that the Amazons were coming, but he told nobody. The Greeks did not know who led the Trojans after Hector.

Penthesilea charged at the head of Priam’s household, including Hector’s brothers and kinsmen. Her white horse, a gift from the wife of the North Wind, carried her through the Greek ranks. The chariots followed, and Greeks fell before the Amazon attack. Penthesilea killed Molios, Persinoos, Eilissos, Antiphates, Lernos, Hippalmos, Haemonides, and Elasippus. Her maidens Derinoe and Clonie each killed a Greek chief. Podarkes killed Clonie, and Penthesilea cut off his hand. Idomeneus killed Bremousa, Meriones killed Evadre, and Diomede killed Alcibie and Derimacheia. The Twelve, Penthesilea’s bodyguard, were reduced in number.

Penthesilea challenged the Greeks and claimed to be the daughter of the God of War. She threw a spear at Ajax, but his armour stopped it. Achilles then drove his heavy spear through her breast. Before she could draw her sword, he speared her horse. Horse and rider fell and died together. Achilles saw her beauty in death and felt pity and sorrow. He thought that she might have become his wife if he had spared her. In one telling, Diodorus Siculus said that Penthesilea was the last Amazon to win distinction in battle, and that the Amazons then declined and disappeared. In another, Pseudo-Apollodorus said that Achilles fell in love with her after her death and killed Thersites for mocking him.

After accidentally killing Hippolyta, Penthesilea left the Amazons. In one account, she struck her sister while throwing a spear at a stag during a hunt. She was overwhelmed by remorse and sought purification from the bloodshed. She went to Troy, where King Priam received her and her twelve Amazon companions. An unfavourable omen appeared when Priam saw an eagle holding a dove.

The Trojans nevertheless rejoiced at Penthesilea's arrival. Priam held a feast and gave her golden cups, embroidered works, and a sword with a silver hilt. Penthesilea vowed to kill Achilles. She entered the fighting at the head of the Trojan forces, and the Greeks wondered who led the army in place of Hector. Penthesilea killed Molios, Persinoos, Eilissos, Antiphates, Lernos, Hippalmos, Haemonides, and Elasippus. Her companions Derinoe and Clonie each killed a Greek chief.

The Amazon guard was then reduced. Podarkes killed Clonie, and Penthesilea cut off his hand with her sword. Idomeneus killed Bremousa, Meriones killed Evadre, and Diomedes killed Alcibie and Derimacheia. The Greeks and Trojans continued to fight until Achilles confronted Penthesilea. She threw a spear at Ajax and declared that she was the daughter of Ares, but Ajax's armour stopped it. Ajax and Achilles laughed, and Ajax turned back to the Trojan battle.

Achilles raised his heavy spear and drove it through Penthesilea's breastplate and breast. She still held her sword hilt, but before she could draw the weapon, Achilles speared her horse. Horse and rider fell together and died. When her helmet fell away, the Greeks saw her beauty and marvelled. Achilles then felt pity and sorrow. He thought that, if he had spared her, she might have become his wife. Later traditions say that he fell in love with her after her death and killed Thersites for mocking him. Diodorus also says that Penthesilea was the last Amazon to win distinction in battle, after which the Amazons declined and disappeared.