Memnon’s Family Tree

About Memnon →

Family

• Eos(parent),Tithonus(parent)— Consort

  Memnon was born to Eos, goddess of the dawn, and the Trojan prince Tithonus. Through his father, Memnon was kin to the Trojan royal house and came to their aid in the war.

Allied with

• Priam

  Memnon came to Troy as an ally of King Priam, bringing his Ethiopian army to aid the besieged city after Hector's death. As Tithonus's son, Memnon was Priam's nephew.

Enemy of

• Achilles

  Memnon and Achilles were the greatest champions of their respective sides at Troy. After Memnon slew Antilochus, Achilles challenged him to single combat, and Zeus weighed their fates before Achilles struck the killing blow.

• Antilochus

  Memnon and Antilochus clashed in battle at Troy. When Memnon threatened the aged Nestor, Antilochus intervened to save his father and was killed in the confrontation.

Slew

• Antilochus

  Memnon slew Antilochus in battle at Troy when the young hero rushed to defend his father Nestor. This death prompted Achilles to challenge and kill Memnon in revenge.

Slain by

• Achilles

  Achilles killed Memnon in single combat to avenge the death of Antilochus. Zeus weighed their fates before the duel, and Memnon's soul descended while Achilles emerged victorious.

Associated with

• Eos

  Eos mourned Memnon after Achilles slew him at Troy. Her tears became the morning dew, and Zeus granted Memnon immortality at her plea. Birds called Memnonides were said to rise from his pyre.

• Nestor

  Memnon attacked the aged Nestor in battle at Troy after wounding his chariot horse. Nestor's son Antilochus died defending his father from Memnon's assault.

• Penthesilea

  Memnon and Penthesilea were the two great allies who came to Troy's aid after Hector's death, as told in the Aethiopis. Both were slain by Achilles in single combat.

• Thetis

  Thetis and Eos both pleaded with Zeus before the duel between their sons Achilles and Memnon. The two goddesses watched as Zeus weighed the heroes' fates on his golden scales.

• Tithonus

  Tithonus was Memnon's father and a prince of Troy. Through this lineage, Memnon was kin to Priam and came to aid the Trojans in the war against the Greeks.

• Trojan War

  Memnon arrived at the Trojan War with his Ethiopian forces after Hector's death, becoming Troy's greatest champion. His deeds were recounted in the lost epic Aethiopis.

• Zeus

  Zeus weighed the fates of Memnon and Achilles before their duel, as he had for Hector and Achilles. Memnon's soul sank on the scales. Later, Zeus granted Memnon immortality at Eos's request.