Polyxena
Trojan princess sacrificed on Achilles' tomb after the war.
Polyxena, in Greek mythology, was the youngest child of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy. She is absent from Homer’s works but appears in later classical sources, where the details of her story shift significantly. After Troy’s fall, she is killed by the Greeks as a sacrifice on Achilles’ tomb; in many versions, she had been betrothed to him, though she is generally portrayed as a passive victim with no role in his death.
The chronicler Malalas described her as tall, fair-skinned, large-eyed, black-haired, and eighteen years old at her death. Dares the Phrygian portrayed her as fair, tall, and beautiful, with a slender neck, lovely eyes, long blonde hair, and a well-proportioned body, adding that she was ingenuous and kind-hearted.
Polyxena is sometimes seen as the Trojan counterpart to Iphigenia. An oracle foretold that Troy would not fall if her brother Troilus reached age twenty. During the war, she and Troilus were ambushed while fetching water, and Achilles killed Troilus. Later, after the war, Achilles’ ghost demanded her sacrifice so the Greeks could sail home. She was to be killed at his tomb. Hecuba despaired, but Polyxena welcomed death over slavery. She refused to beg Odysseus, insisted on being treated as a princess, and asked him to reassure her mother. Her virginity was crucial to her honor. Neoptolemus, Achilles’ son, slit her throat. She arranged her clothing to remain modest as she fell, and the army watched. Before the blow, she tore her dress to reveal her chest and offered her throat, saying she would die a free woman. Neoptolemus hesitated but then killed her.
In classical art, a few images securely depict her sacrifice over Achilles’ tomb, though some details suggest earlier or variant versions of the story.
- Born
- Troy (mythological)
- Died
- After the fall of Troy, sacrificed on the tomb of Achilles
- Field
- Greek mythology
- Nationality
- Trojan
- Known for
- Sacrifice by the Greeks after the Trojan War; considered the Trojan version of Iphigenia
Lore & Background
Polyxena is described by the chronicler Malalas as tall, pure, very white, large-eyed, black-haired, with her hair worn long behind, a good nose and cheeks, blooming-lipped, small-footed, virgin, charming, very beautiful, 18 years old when they killed her. In the account of Dares the Phrygian, she was fair, tall, and beautiful, with a slender neck, lovely eyes, blonde and long hair, a well-proportioned body, tapering fingers, straight legs, and the best feet, surpassing all others in beauty and remaining a completely ingenuous and kind-hearted woman.
An oracle prophesied that Troy would not be defeated if her brother Troilus reached age twenty. During the war, Polyxena and Troilus were ambushed fetching water, and Troilus was killed by Achilles. In the standard classical accounts, Polyxena has no involvement in Achilles’ death; his fatal wounding by Paris at the Scaean Gate is unrelated to her.
After the war, Achilles' ghost demanded the human sacrifice of Polyxena to appease the wind for the Greeks' return voyage. She was killed by Neoptolemus at her father’s tomb, facing her death with dignity and without any prior suicide attempt.
Reader's Guide
Polyxena's significance lies in her role as a tragic figure in post-Homeric Greek mythology, embodying themes of sacrifice, honor, and the consequences of war. Her story parallels that of Iphigenia, serving as the Trojan counterpart. The variations in her myth—from complicity in Achilles' death to her willing sacrifice—reflect the fluidity of oral and literary traditions. Her death, as depicted by Euripides, emphasizes her agency and dignity, choosing death over slavery and maintaining her virginity as central to her honor. The myth also explores the intersection of human and divine will, with Apollo's involvement in Achilles' death and the ghost's demand for sacrifice. In art, Polyxena's sacrifice became a popular subject from classical Greek imagery through the Baroque period, often showing her dignified death with bared breasts or covered modesty. The Polyxena sarcophagus (c. 500 BC) and works by artists like Pietro da Cortona, Charles Le Brun, and Giovanni Battista Pittoni illustrate her enduring presence in visual culture. The statue 'The Rape of Polyxena' by Pio Fedi (1855–1865) in Florence depicts her being taken to her death, with the term 'rape' meaning 'to snatch' or 'carry off' rather than sexual assault. Her story also appears in operas by Lully, Dauvergne, and Berlioz, and is mentioned by Shakespeare.
Did You Know?
- Polyxena is considered the Trojan version of Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra.
- She was 18 years old when she was killed, according to the chronicler Malalas.
- Some versions claim Polyxena committed suicide after Achilles' death out of guilt.
- The Polyxena sarcophagus, dated to c. 500 BC, shows a tripod next to the tomb, suggesting an association with sacred ground dedicated to Apollo.
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