BRISEIS (daughter of Briseus)
Figure of myth · daughter of Briseus in Greek mythology
- Parents
- Briseus
- Consorts
- Achilles, Mynes
- Children
- Halaesus
- In the sources
- 32 ancient passages
Briseis was a fair maiden from Lyrnessus, a city on a ridgy height governed by Mynes before its destruction, and the daughter of Briseus.1,2,3 She possessed winsome loveliness and grace that hung like a veil, with golden hair and lovely limbs, and was described as being as beautiful as the goddess Aphrodite.4,3,5 Considered more beautiful than the four handmaids given by Thetis, she surpassed all captive maids in both beauty and household skill.6
Achilles captured Briseis at great peril after sacking Lyrnessus, though accounts differ on whether she was taken from Lyrnessus or Lesbos.7,8,6 He received her as a prize from the spoils of war, holding her like a wife rather than a servant and taking pleasure in her service.9,10,4,6 During the raid, her husband was killed, and Briseis witnessed the fall of the walls of Lyrnessus.2,11,5 She had three brothers who died bravely for their country during the siege of her native city.12,11
The harmony of their union was shattered when Agamemnon ordered his messengers to seize Briseis from Achilles' tent.13,14 Agamemnon intended to take her to demonstrate his superior strength, threatening to do so personally if Achilles refused to surrender her.10,13 Achilles ordered Patroclus to hand her over, and the young Achaeans carried Briseis to the center of the assembly with the other gifts.14,15,16 The heralds took her away to the ships of the Achaeans, and Agamemnon removed her from Achilles' tent against the advice of others.15,17,18 This seizure caused an intense quarrel between Achilles and Agamemnon over her possession.7
Briseis grieved intensely, tearing her hair and weeping continuously when separated from her lover, while also renting her fair young flesh and smiting her breasts in grief.17,4 She considered escaping her keeper but feared falling into enemy hands, and she wrote a letter in broken Greek that was blotted by her tears.17 In her distress, she offered to act as an ambassador to persuade Achilles, claiming she could influence him more than Phoenix or Odysseus.12
After setting aside his anger, Achilles regained possession of Briseis, though Agamemnon still held her as a prize awarded to Achilles.19,18 When Patroclus died, Briseis wept and spoke to his dead body, tearing her breast, neck, and face in grief.5 She grieved intensely over the death of Achilles, placing her cut hair on his body as a final gift to her lord.4,20 Briseis considered her life a gift from Achilles, deeming him dearer than her lost parents, and asked him to command her to attend him as his master.21,4
The codex facts behind this entry
Appearance
Briseis is described as a fair maiden with golden hair and lovely limbs. Bacchylides 13 part 2 +1
In the myths
Achilles captured Briseis after he sacked the city of Lyrnessus. Iliad 19 ¶7 +6 Achilles grieved over the loss of Briseis, which caused him to stay by his ships. Apollodorus, Epitome 4.1 +3 Patroclus told her not to weep for her lost husband and city. Iliad 19 ¶22 +3 Achilles captured Briseis at great peril, though sources differ on whether from Lyrnessus or Lesbos. Iliad 2 ¶54 +1 Achilles ordered Patroclus to hand Briseis over to the heralds, and Patroclus brought her out of the tent to do so. Iliad 1 ¶31 +1 The heralds took Briseis away to the ships of the Achaeans. Iliad 1 ¶32 +1
