Troilus

Troilus

Troilus was a Trojan prince in Greek mythology, closely linked to the myth of the Trojan War.

Troilus died early in the narrative of the Trojan War by the hands of Achilles; his death is one of the events that provide solid structure to the whole epic, further showcasing that the resistance of the Trojans is futile and the result will only be against them. He was the son of Queen Hecuba of Troy and the god Apollo, but King Priam treated him like his own.

At the start of the Trojan War, Troilus was still an adolescent. There was a prophecy saying that if Troilus would become an adult, then Troy would not fall. So, the goddess Athena, being on the side of the Greeks, informed Achilles of this and urged him to find him and kill him. When Troilus had gone for a ride on his horse along with his sister Polyxena in order to fetch water, Achilles ambushed them but was filled with lust by their beauty. Both Trojans tried to escape, but Achilles managed to catch Troilus and tried to have sex with him. Troilus escaped and sought refuge at a nearby temple of Apollo; there Achilles killed him by beheading the boy on the altar. This action was later the doom of the Greek hero, as it was the god Apollo who guided Paris' arrow to his heel, the only vulnerable spot of his body.

See Also: Achilles, Trojan War, Hecuba, Apollo, Priam, Athena, Paris

Troilus Q&A

Who was Troilus?

Troilus was a Trojan prince in Greek mythology, closely linked to the myth of the Trojan War. Troilus died early in the narrative of the Trojan War by the hands of Achilles.

Who were the parents of Troilus?

The parents of Troilus were Apollo and Hecuba.

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