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Memnon

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Quintus Smyrnaeus - The Fall of Troy
The champions fight on to the death:

Still mid the corpses and the blood fought on
Those glorious sons of Gods, nor ever ceased
From wrath of fight. But Eris now inclined
The fatal scales of battle, which no more
Were equal-poised.
                                Beneath the breast-bone then
Of godlike Memnon plunged Achilles' sword;
Clear through his body all the dark-blue blade
Leapt: suddenly snapped the silver cord of life.
Down in a pool of blood he fell, and clashed
His massy armour, and earth rang again.

Then turned to flight his comrades panic-struck,
And of his arms the Myrmidons stripped the dead,
While fled the Trojans, and Achilles chased,
As whirlwind swift and mighty to destroy.

Achilles attacking Memnon, while Thetis and Eos watch

Attic red figure volute krater
c. 490 BC
Hermes weighing the destinies of Achilles and Memnon
Thetis and Eos look on anxiously.

Attic red figure cup
c. 450 BC
Eos mourning her dead son Memnon

Attic black figure amphora
c. 530 BC
Eos cradles the body of Memnon

Attic red figure cup
Signed by Douris
c. 480 BC
Eos asking Zeus to honour Memnon's death
17th century etching

Antonio Tempesta

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