Memnon (mythology) in the context of "Posthomerica"

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⭐ Core Definition: Memnon (mythology)

In Greek mythology, Memnon (/ˈmɛmnən/ ; Ancient Greek: Μέμνων, lit.'resolute') was a king of Aethiopia and son of Tithonus and Eos. During the Trojan War, he brought an army to Troy's defense and killed Antilochus, Nestor's son, during a fierce battle. Nestor challenged Memnon to a fight, but Memnon refused, as there was little honor in killing such an aged man. Nestor then pleaded with Achilles to avenge his son's death. Despite warnings that soon after Memnon fell so too would Achilles, the two men fought. Memnon drew blood from Achilles, but Achilles drove his spear through Memnon's chest, sending the Aethiopian army running. The death of Memnon echoes that of Hector, another defender of Troy whom Achilles also killed out of revenge for a fallen comrade, Patroclus.

After Memnon's death, Zeus was moved by Eos' tears and granted him immortality. Memnon's death is related at length in the lost epic Aethiopis, likely composed after The Iliad, circa the 7th century BC. Quintus of Smyrna records Memnon's death in Posthomerica. His death is also described in Philostratus' Imagines.

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👉 Memnon (mythology) in the context of Posthomerica

The Posthomerica (Ancient Greek: τὰ μεθ’ Ὅμηρον, romanizedtà meth’ Hómēron, lit.'Things After Homer') is an epic poem in Greek hexameter verse by Quintus of Smyrna. Probably written in the 3rd century AD, it tells the story of the Trojan War, between the death of Hector and the fall of Ilium (Troy). The poem is an abridgement of the events described in the epic poems Aethiopis and Iliou Persis by Arctinus of Miletus, and the Little Iliad by Lesches, all now-lost poems of the Epic Cycle.

The first four books, covering the same ground as the Aethiopis, describe the doughty deeds and deaths of Penthesileia the Amazon, of Memnon, son of the Morning, and of Achilles; and the funeral games in honour of Achilles. Books five through twelve, covering the same ground as the Little Iliad, span from the contest between Ajax and Odysseus for the arms of Achilles, the death of Ajax by suicide after his loss, the exploits of Neoptolemus, Eurypylus and Deiphobus, the deaths of Paris and Oenone, to the building of the wooden horse. The remaining books, covering the same ground as Iliou Persis, relate the capture of Troy by means of the wooden horse, the sacrifice of Polyxena at the grave of Achilles, the departure of the Greeks, and their dispersal by the storm.

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Memnon (mythology) in the context of Painter of Munich 1410

The Painter of Munich 1410 was an Attic black-figure vase painter, active in the third quarter of the sixth century BC. His real name is not known. He was one of the late representatives of the black-figure style, which was in its final phase due to the introduction of red-figure vase painting. His conventional name is derived from his name vase, on display in the Staatliche Antikensammlungen at Munich (inventory 1410). Although he is not considered an outstanding artist, some notable works are ascribed to him.

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