Troilus
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| - | [[William Shakespeare]] used the plot of the ''Iliad'' as source material for his play ''[[Troilus and Cressida]]'', but focused on a medieval legend, the love story of [[Troilus]], son of King Priam of Troy, and [[Cressida]], daughter of the Trojan soothsayer Calchas. The play, often considered to be a comedy, reverses traditional views on events of the Trojan War and depicts Achilles as a coward, Ajax as a dull, unthinking mercenary, etc. | + | '''Troilus''' (also '''Troilos''', '''Troylus''') ([[Ancient Greek]]: Τρωίλος, Troïlos, [[Latin]]: Troilus) is a legendary character associated with the story of the [[Trojan War]]. The first surviving reference to him is in [[Homer]]'s ''[[Iliad]]'' which is believed to have been written in the late [[9th century BC|9th]] or [[8th century BC]]. |
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| + | In [[classical mythology|classical Greek mythology]], Troilus is a young [[Troy|Trojan]] prince, one of the sons of King [[Priam]] (or sometimes [[Apollo]]) and [[Hecuba]]. Prophecies link Troilus' fate to that of Troy and so he is ambushed and murdered by [[Achilles]]. [[Sophocles]] was one of the writers to tell this tale. It was also a popular theme among artists of the time. Ancient writers treated Troilus as the [[epitome]] of a dead child mourned by his parents. He was also regarded as a [[paragon]] of youthful male beauty. | ||
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| + | In Western European [[medieval]] and [[Renaissance]] versions of the legend, Troilus is the youngest of Priam's five legitimate sons by Hecuba. Despite his youth he is one of the main Trojan war leaders. He dies in battle at Achilles' hands. In a popular addition to the story, originating in the 12th century, Troilus falls in love with [[Cressida]], whose father has defected to the Greeks. Cressida pledges her love to Troilus but she soon switches her affections to the Greek hero [[Diomedes]] when sent to her father in a hostage exchange. [[Chaucer]] and [[Shakespeare]] are among the authors who wrote works telling the story of Troilus and Cressida. Within the medieval tradition, Troilus was regarded as a paragon of the faithful [[courtly love]]r and also of the [[virtuous pagan]] [[knight]]. Once the custom of courtly love had faded, his fate was regarded less sympathetically. | ||
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| + | Little attention was paid to the character during the 18th and 19th centuries. However, Troilus has reappeared in 20th and 21st century retellings of the Trojan War by authors who have chosen elements from both the classical and medieval versions of his story. | ||
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Revision as of 23:06, 21 July 2009
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Troilus (also Troilos, Troylus) (Ancient Greek: Τρωίλος, Troïlos, Latin: Troilus) is a legendary character associated with the story of the Trojan War. The first surviving reference to him is in Homer's Iliad which is believed to have been written in the late 9th or 8th century BC.
In classical Greek mythology, Troilus is a young Trojan prince, one of the sons of King Priam (or sometimes Apollo) and Hecuba. Prophecies link Troilus' fate to that of Troy and so he is ambushed and murdered by Achilles. Sophocles was one of the writers to tell this tale. It was also a popular theme among artists of the time. Ancient writers treated Troilus as the epitome of a dead child mourned by his parents. He was also regarded as a paragon of youthful male beauty.
In Western European medieval and Renaissance versions of the legend, Troilus is the youngest of Priam's five legitimate sons by Hecuba. Despite his youth he is one of the main Trojan war leaders. He dies in battle at Achilles' hands. In a popular addition to the story, originating in the 12th century, Troilus falls in love with Cressida, whose father has defected to the Greeks. Cressida pledges her love to Troilus but she soon switches her affections to the Greek hero Diomedes when sent to her father in a hostage exchange. Chaucer and Shakespeare are among the authors who wrote works telling the story of Troilus and Cressida. Within the medieval tradition, Troilus was regarded as a paragon of the faithful courtly lover and also of the virtuous pagan knight. Once the custom of courtly love had faded, his fate was regarded less sympathetically.
Little attention was paid to the character during the 18th and 19th centuries. However, Troilus has reappeared in 20th and 21st century retellings of the Trojan War by authors who have chosen elements from both the classical and medieval versions of his story.
