Antilochus (Young Champion)
heroThe son of Nestor who died at Troy protecting his elderly father from Memnon — a sacrifice that moved Achilles to avenge him.
The Myth
Antilochus was the favourite son of Nestor, the aged king of Pylos and wisest of the Greek counsellors. Young, brave, and swift-footed, Antilochus was one of Achilles's closest friends at Troy — after Patroclus, perhaps the companion Achilles loved most. He was chosen to bring Achilles the terrible news of Patroclus's death, and he held Achilles's hands during his grief to prevent the hero from taking his own life. Antilochus proved himself an excellent chariot racer at Patroclus's funeral games, where his clever but borderline tactics against Menelaus display a personality both endearing and shrewd. His death came when the Ethiopian king Memnon — son of Eos and nearly Achilles's equal — attacked old Nestor on the battlefield. Antilochus threw himself between his father and the demigod, dying to save Nestor's life. This sacrifice motivated Achilles to fight Memnon in one of the great duels of the war, avenging his young friend.
Fun Fact
Antilochus held Achilles's hands during his grief for Patroclus — to stop the hero from killing himself.
Explore Further
Antilochus
heroSon of Nestor, youngest Greek commander at Troy, beloved companion of Achilles who died protecting...
Memnon
heroEthiopian king and son of Eos who brought a vast army to Troy, killed Antilochus, and was slain by...
Nestor
heroNestor was the oldest and wisest Greek at Troy, whose long-winded reminiscences and sound counsel...
Achilles
heroThe greatest warrior in the Greek army at Troy, nearly invulnerable thanks to being dipped in the...
Achilles (Wrath)
heroThe swift-footed son of Peleus and Thetis whose wrath drives the Iliad and whose choice between...
Menelaus
heroMenelaus was the king of Sparta whose stolen wife Helen was the cause of the Trojan War — yet he...
Patroclus
heroPatroclus was Achilles' closest companion whose death in borrowed armour at Hector's hands was the...
Patroclus (Beloved Companion)
heroAchilles's closest companion whose death in borrowed armour broke the hero's withdrawal and sent...
Eos
godThe rosy-fingered goddess of the dawn who rose each morning to open the gates of heaven for her...
Eos (Titan Dawn)
titanThe rosy-fingered goddess of dawn who opened the gates of heaven each morning for her brother...
Troy
placeThe legendary city in Asia Minor besieged by the Greeks for ten years in the Trojan War. Troy's...
Troy (Hisarlik)
placeHisarlik in Turkey is the archaeological site identified as Homer's Troy — multiple cities layered...