Antilochus- Greek HeroHero"Son of Nestor"
Also known as: Antilokhos and Ἀντίλοχος
Description
When Patroclus fell to Hector, it was Antilochus who brought the news to Achilles — and held the hero's hands when grief nearly drove him to cut his own throat. Nestor's youngest son died as he had lived, rushing to his father's defense when Memnon attacked the old king at Troy.
Mythology & Lore
The Youngest of Nestor's Sons
Antilochus sailed to Troy with his father Nestor, the aged king of Pylos. He was the youngest of the Greek commanders, swift-footed and bold, and he earned Achilles's friendship as one of the hero's closest companions after Patroclus.
Bearer of Terrible News
When Patroclus fell to Hector, Antilochus was chosen to bring the news to Achilles. He found the hero by the ships, already sensing disaster, and delivered the message that plunged Achilles into grief. When Achilles threatened to harm himself, Antilochus held his hands to prevent him from drawing his sword to his own throat. He stayed at Achilles's side through the mourning that followed.
The Chariot Race
During the funeral games for Patroclus, Antilochus competed in the chariot race against Diomedes, Menelaus, and other champions. His father Nestor counseled him beforehand — the old king knew his son's horses were slower than the rest and advised cunning at the turning post rather than speed on the straight. Antilochus employed a risky maneuver at a narrow point in the track, forcing Menelaus to rein in or crash. He finished second behind Diomedes, but Menelaus protested the dangerous tactics. The dispute was resolved when Antilochus graciously yielded his prize — and Menelaus, moved by the young man's deference, returned it as a gift.
Death for His Father
When Memnon, the Ethiopian king and son of Eos, attacked the aged Nestor on the battlefield — Nestor's chariot horse had been wounded and the old king was stranded — Antilochus rushed to his father's defense and was cut down. Achilles responded with the same furious grief that had followed Patroclus's death, challenging Memnon to single combat and killing him. In post-Homeric tradition, the three companions — Achilles, Patroclus, and Antilochus — were reunited in the afterlife on the White Island in the Black Sea.