Achilles and Penthesilea

The war of the Trojans against the invading Greeks had dragged on for many years and the Trojan king was desperate to dislodge the Greeks from the walls of his city. He sent a hopeful plea for help to the Amazons, the great nation of warrior women far to the north. Could they drive away the Greeks where others had failed?

The Amazon queen Penthesilea responded gladly to the summons. While she was a daughter of an Amazon, her father was the war god himself, Ares. She had received news from the fighting at Troy over the years and longed to distinguish herself in the greatest war of her age. Thus she gathered around herself a select band of Amazon warriors and set sail for Troy to aid the Trojans and win glory for herself and for her people.

The first the Greeks knew of their arrival was the band of Amazons smashing into their army. Penthesilea and her companions hacked their way through the ranks of the Greeks, despatching many warriors who had previously distinguished themselves against the Trojans. The battle fury of her divine father and the warrior prowess of her people was upon her, and the Trojan women cheered her coming from the walls of their city.

Achilles kills Penthesilea, black figure Attic amphora
by Exekias, c. 540–530 BC (British Museum, London)

Hearing of the commotion and seeing the flight of terrified warriors, Achilles, the greatest of the Greek warriors, strode fully armed towards the melee. He was himself son of a goddess and his sword and spear had sent many of the greatest Trojans and their allies down to the dead. Achilles was well aware that the life remaining to him was short and that he would not return from Troy. However, he continued to pit his honour as a warrior above his safety or life. Thus, he stepped forward to face the Queen of the Amazons.

Penthesilea the Amazon, daughter of Ares, rushed forward to engage Achilles but found her match in this Greek. Although she fought hard and valiantly, she was overcome by her opponent’s skill, strength and bravery. Finally, she felt cold steel enter her breast and her hot blood spill out. Achilles removed her helmet to gaze upon this marvel, this woman warrior. Doing so, he looked into Penthesilea’s eyes, and fell in love.

No woman had before conquered the heart of Achilles, but the dying Penthesilea did. Perhaps it was fitting that this warrior should steal his heart. He held her in his arms, smeared in her blood, as she died on the battlefield. Achilles felt part of him die with her as the mourning Amazons carried her body away: he realised that he had killed the only woman he could have truly loved.

Karl Ludwig Hassmann, "Achilles and Penthesilea", c. 1900
(private collection)