Antilochus (son of Nestor)

For other uses, see Antilochus (mythology).

In Greek mythology, Antilochus (/ænˈtɪləkəs/; Ancient Greek: Ἀντίλοχος Antílokhos) was a prince of Pylos and one of the Achaeans in the Trojan War. He was the youngest prince to command troops.

Antilochus on an Attic red-figure amphora ca. 470 BC from the Louvre

Family

Antilochus was the son of King Nestor either by Anaxibia^[1] or Eurydice.^[2] He was the brother to Thrasymedes, Pisidice, Polycaste, Perseus, Stratichus, Aretus, Echephron and Pisistratus.

Mythology

One of the suitors of Helen, Antilochus accompanied his father Nestor and his brother Thrasymedes to the Trojan War. When fighting there resumed after the aborted duel of Paris and Menelaus, Antilochus was first to kill a Trojan (namely Echepolus).^[3] Antilochus was distinguished for his beauty, swiftness of foot, and skill as a charioteer. Though the youngest among the Greek princes, he commanded the Pylians in the war and performed many deeds of valour. He was a favorite of the gods and a close friend of Achilles.^[4]

Antilochus was commissioned to tell Achilles of the death of his beloved Patroclus.^[5] Menelaus believed that Antilochus would be the best choice to share this news because Achilles also already loved Antilochus. While they lamented Patroclus together, Antilochus made sure that Achilles did not commit suicide. Antilochus also mourned the loss of Patroclus, and his relationship with Achilles served to comfort and distract them both from their grief.^[4]

When Antilochus' father, Nestor, was attacked by Memnon, Antilochus sacrificed himself to save Nestor, thus fulfilling an oracle which had warned to "beware of an Ethiopian".^[6] The Achaeans retrieved Antilochus' body on the battlefield and lamented him. Achilles embraced Antilochus and lamented as well, promising him a glorious funeral and vengeance, in the same way Achilles had honored Patroclus.^[7] Achilles then killed Memnon to avenge Antilochus' death, and drove the Trojans back to the gates, where Achilles was killed by Paris.^[8] In later accounts, Antilochus was slain by Hector^[9] or by Paris in the temple of the Thymbraean Apollo, together with Achilles.^[10]

Antilochus' ashes, along with those of Achilles and Patroclus, were enshrined in a mound on the promontory of Sigeion, where the inhabitants of Ilion offered sacrifice to the dead heroes.^[11][12] In the Odyssey,^[13] the three friends are represented as united in the underworld and walking together in the Asphodel Meadows. However, according to Pausanias,^[14] they dwell together on the island of Leuke.^[5]

Among the Trojans he killed were Melanippus, Ablerus, Atymnius, Phalces, Echepolos, and Thoon, although Hyginus records that he only killed two Trojans.^[15] At the funeral games of Patroclus, Antilochus finished second in the chariot race and third in the foot race.

Antilochus left behind in Messenia a son Paeon, whose descendants were among the Neleidae expelled from Messenia, by the descendants of Heracles.^[16]