NEOPTOLEMUS (son of Achilles)

Before the fall of Troy, the Atreids sent him to assist Odysseus in acquiring Philoctetes for the Achaean army.^11,12,13,14 He deceived Philoctetes into giving up his bow, admitting later that he obtained it through disgraceful deceit and treachery.^15,16 Despite this, he identified Philoctetes as his closest friend, a bond formed through their shared hatred, and urged him to sail with the army.^17,18,16 He refused to return the bow, citing duty and interest, and claimed he was acting in the best interest of both himself and Philoctetes.^19,14

Neoptolemus received the armor, chariot with immortal horses, and spear that had belonged to his father, and when he wore them, Trojans mistook him for Achilles himself.^20,21,22 He participated in the sack of Priam's city alongside the Danaoi, swinging the heavy Pelian spear-shaft lightly up on high.^23,24,20 In fierce combat, he killed Eurypylus, the son of Telephus, after withstanding the enemy host and their leader.^25,26 He struck Astynous with his sword while the latter was kneeling, and slew Agenor.^7,27,28,29 He continued fighting and killing without tiring or his limbs becoming weary despite the toil of slaughter.^22,30

Neoptolemus claimed Andromache as his personal prize from the spoils of war and took her with him on his voyage away from Troy.^31,32 He was wedded to Andromache, with whom he fathered Molossus, Pielus, and Pergamus.^33,34,35,36 He was also the first husband of Hermione, daughter of Menelaus and Helen, though they had no children together.^33,37 Following oracles from Helenus, he sailed to Epeirus and settled there, where he is considered an ancestor of the Epeirot people.^33,38,35,34 He waged war against a colony of Trojans, killing many warriors and horses as the Trojans fell before his immortal steeds.^39,21 He gave his mother Deidamia to Helenus as a wife, and buried Phoenix, who died during the journey.^40,41,35,42

Neoptolemus ruled as king over the Molossians, and his spirit was later seen by the Gauls during a battle, appearing as a terrifying armed warrior.^35,43,44 His death is recorded in varying accounts, with some stating he was killed at the altar of Apollo in Delphi by the priest, while others say he was killed by Machaereus, a man from Delphi, or by a woman who threw a tile that struck his head.^{33,45,46,47,48,49,50,51} The Delphians sacrifice to him annually as a hero due to his help in battle, and a tomb of his is located within a sacred enclosure near a temple.^43,52,49