Neoptolemus

Neoptolemus (amphora, circa 440 AEC)

In Greek mythology, Neoptolemus (ancient Greek Νεοπτόλεμος, Neoptólemos, 'young warrior'), until he was twelve years old called Pyrrhus (Ancient Greek Πύῤῥος, Púrrhos, 'red, blond'), was the son of the warrior Achilles and Princess Deidamia, daughter of King Lycomedes of Scyrus.

Childhood

He spent his childhood in the city of Scyrus, located on one of the Sporades islands, near Euboea, together with his mother and his grandparents, and inspired by the exploits that were narrated about his father in the Trojan War he became he trained to become a skilled myrmidon warrior at a very young age. During all this time he was known by the name of Pirro.

Intervention in the Trojan War

When he was about twelve years old, his father Achilles died. Then the heroes Odysseus and Diomedes took him to Troy during the last days of the war, since the soothsayer Helenus had predicted that the Greeks would never be able to take the city without the presence of the son of Achilles among their ranks.

Neoptolemus kills Pyromo

Once there, he received his father's weapons from Odysseus, took command of the Myrmidons in battle, and soon won everyone's admiration by killing Eurypylus, son of Telephus and prince of Asia Minor who had come to the aid of the Trojans and was advancing relentlessly towards the Greek camp. At his young age, the Achaeans began to call him by the name he would keep until his death: Neoptolemus, the "young warrior".

Another prophecy drawn from Hellenus had announced that it would take the invincible bow and arrows of Heracles to win in war. These were in the possession of Philoctetes. Before the war, Philoctetes had been abandoned on the deserted island of Lemnos because he had been bitten on the ankle by a snake, the wound giving off a rancid, incurable stench so intense that no one could bear it. It would be Odysseus (who had initially had the idea of leaving him on the island) together with Neoptolemus who, after arduous efforts and thanks to the intervention of the spirit of Heracles, managed to convince the archer to forget his grudge against the Greeks and follow them to Troy..

The son of Achilles culminated his exploits by being one of the warriors who entered Troy hidden inside the famous wooden horse, then fighting his way to the royal palace where he ended the life of King Priam.

In recognition of his valor, in addition to many treasures, he was given Andromache herself, who had once been Hector's wife, and Helenus as slaves.

Return to Greece and death

Neoptolemus did not return to Scyrus, but traveled to the country of the Molossians, whom he defeated and reigned over for a time. There he had a son with Andrómaca or according to other versions, three, whose names were Moloso, Píelo and Pérgamo. Later, when his grandfather Peleo was expelled from Ftía by Acasto and his children, he killed Acasto's children and after allowing them to to Acasto, obtained the kingdom of his grandfather.

He soon married Hermione, daughter of Menelaus and Helena, kings of Sparta. Hermione had originally been promised to Orestes, son of Agamemnon, or even some mythographers point out that she had already married him, but when her sister Electra hid him from Aegisthus and Clytemnestra, usurpers of the throne, many believed him dead.. Among them was his uncle Menelaus, who for that reason married Hermione to Neoptolemus, without Orestes knowing. Since Neoptolemus was unable to have children with Hermione, he worriedly went to the oracle at Delphi for advice. In that place he met Orestes, who upon learning that he had married Hermione, felt outraged and murdered him.Another version indicates that Neoptolemus set fire to the temple of Apollo in Delphi after sacking it, which is why a certain Maquereo de Phocis killed him.

The bones of Neoptolemus were scattered throughout Ambracia, in Epirus. In another version, Neoptolemus was buried within the sacred precinct, and festivals were held in his honor every eight years.

Several kings of Epirus have named themselves Pyrrhus or Neoptolemus, later, including Pyrrhus of Epirus, in honor of the son of Achilles, the legendary ancestor from whom they claimed to come.