Andromache

Andromache

Her Home

Andromache was figure in the Iliad, which was written by Homer. She was the daughter of King Eetion, of Thebes in Mysia. Andromache had seven brothers, all of whom along with her father were killed by Achilles when the Greeks raided Thebes. This raid occurred during the ninth year of the Trojan War. Andromache’s mother was ransomed but died in Troy prior to its fall to the Greeks

Hector and Andromache

Andromache’s first husband was Hector, the son of Priam. She was already married and living in Troy when Thebes fell to the Greeks. She bore an only son to Hector, Astyanax (or Scamandrius). Her husband Hector was killed by Achilles and then desecrated for killing Achilles’ cousin Patroclus.

Neoptolemeus and Andromache

Andromache became a concubine to Neoptolemeus (Pyrrhus), Achilles’ son, as part of the booty when Troy was defeated. Her son, Astyanax, was thrown from the walls of Troy after its fall. In some accounts Neoptolemeus threw Astyanax from the wall, in others he did not. Neoptolemeus took Andromache to the city of Epirus, where he was the king. Epirus is located in the Adriatic coastal region of Hellas between the Ambracian Gulf and Illyria (Albania). Three sons were born to Neoptolemeus and Andromache, Molossus, Piclus, and Pergamus. Molossus gave his name to the Molossian people. Neoptolemeus abandoned Andromache for Hermione.

Helenus and Andromache

Orestes killed Neoptolemeus at Delphi. Hermione had been betrothed to Orestes prior to Neoptolemeus marrying her. Neoptolemeus bequeathed his kingdom and Andromache to Helenus, one of the few surviving children of King Priam of Troy, and brother of Hector. Neoptolemeus had brought Helenus from Troy to Epirus. Helenus and Andromache jointly ruled Epirus. Andromache bore Helenus a child, Cestrinus.

Helenus’ Death

Molossus inherited Epirus after Helenus death. After Helenus death Andromache left Epirus with her son, Pergamus and went to Mysia. In Mysia Pergamus fought and killed Arius in a single combat for the kingdom of Teuthrania. The city Pergamum bore his name.

Works Cited

Carlos Parada, Greek Mythology Link, 1993-2005 http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/index.html 29 March 2005 <http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/Andromache.html>

Encyclopedia Britannica, 1911 29 March 2005 <http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blbio_andromache.htm>

http://www.everything2.com/ 29 March 2005 <http://www.everything2.com/index.pl>

Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition,http://www.encyclopedia.com 29 March 2005 <http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/a/andromac.asp>

James Hunter Encyclopedia Mythica 3 March 1997 http://www.pantheon.org 29 March 2005 <http://www.pantheon.org/articles/a/andromache.html>

Encyclopedia Britannica, 1911 http://womenshistory.about.com 29 March 2005 <http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blbio_andromache.htm>