Neoptolemus
Mortal man
In Greek mythology, Neoptolemus (; Ancient Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος, romanized: Neoptólemos, lit. 'new warrior or young warrior'), originally called Pyrrhus at birth (; Πύρρος, Pýrrhos, 'red'), was the son of the mythical warrior Achilles

and the princess Deidamia, and the brother of Oneiros. He became the progenitor of the ruling dynasty of the Molossians of ancient Epirus.
- Mentions
- 2
- Connected characters
- 8
- Books
- 2

Mentions in the Iliad
A. T. Murray, Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, 1924 · Homer, Iliad with an English Translation · CC BY-SA 3.0 US
“for the sake of abhorred Helenam warring with the men of Troy; nay, nor though it were he that in Scyrus is reared for me, my son well-beloved —if so be godlike Neoptolemus
still liveth. For until now the heart in my breast had hope that I alone should perish far from horse-pasturing Argos,”
See all 2
Connections
Father · Sources
for the sake of abhorred Helenam warring with the men of Troy; nay, nor though it were he that in Scyrus is reared for me, my son well-beloved —if so be godlike Neoptolemus
still liveth. For until now the heart in my breast had hope that I alone should perish far from horse-pasturing Argos,
But go thou in, and clasp the knees of the son of Peleus and entreat him by his father and his fair-haired mother and his child, that thou mayest stir his soul. So spake Hermes, and departed unto high Olympus; and Priam
leapt from his chariot to the ground,
Il. 19.326 · Il. 24.467
Grandfather · Sources
Происхождение выведено по цепочке родителей: Пелей → Ахиллес → Неоптолем.
The wrath sing, goddess, of PeleusPePe' son, Achilles, that destructive wrath which brought countless woes upon the Achaeans, and sent forth to Hades
many valiant souls of heroes, and made them themselves spoil for dogs and every bird; thus the plan of Zeus
came to fulfillment,
Do not thus, mighty though you are, godlike Achilles, seek to deceive me with your wit; for you will not get by me nor persuade me. Are you willing, so that your yourself may keep your prize, for me to sit here idly in want, while you order me to give her back? No, if the great-hearted Achaeans give me a prize,
the word of Athene. She returned to Olympus to the palace of aegis-bearing Zeus, to join the company of the other gods. But the son of Peleus again addressed with violent words the son of Atreus
, and in no way ceased from his wrath: Heavy with wine, with the face of a dog but the heart of a deer,
Il. 1.1 · Il. 1.130 · Il. 1.223 · Il. 1.277 · Il. 1.322 · Il. 1.396 · Il. 2.377 · Il. 2.770 · Il. 8.225 · Il. 8.372 · Il. 8.474 · Il. 9.106 · Il. 9.166 · Il. 9.206 · Il. 9.252 · Il. 9.394–400 · Il. 9.434 · Il. 9.690 · Il. 9.698 · Il. 10.393 · Il. 11.783 · Il. 13.113 · Il. 15.64 · Il. 15.74 · Il. 16.15 · Il. 16.33 · Il. 16.134 · Il. 16.168 · Il. 16.269 · Il. 16.653 · Il. 17.104 · Il. 17.196 · Il. 17.504 · Il. 17.557 · Il. 18.18 · Il. 18.22 · Il. 18.166 · Il. 18.267 · Il. 18.354 · Il. 19.83 · Il. 19.154 · Il. 19.215 · Il. 19.326 · Il. 19.334 · Il. 19.348 · Il. 20.88 · Il. 20.160 · Il. 20.200 · Il. 20.288 · Il. 20.320 · Il. 20.364 · Il. 20.431 · Il. 21.153 · Il. 21.188 · Il. 21.205 · Il. 21.285 · Il. 21.520 · Il. 22.7 · Il. 22.58 · Il. 22.92 · Il. 22.113 · Il. 22.214 · Il. 22.229 · Il. 22.277 · Il. 22.420–421 · Il. 22.455 · Il. 23.277 · Il. 23.353 · Il. 23.776 · Il. 23.792 · Il. 24.59 · Il. 24.151 · Il. 24.180 · Il. 24.406 · Il. 24.458 · Il. 24.467 · Il. 24.486 · Il. 24.507 · Il. 24.540 · Il. 24.572
Grandmother · Sources
Происхождение выведено по цепочке родителей: Фетида → Ахиллес → Неоптолем.
yet he is the mightier, since he is king over more. Son of Atreus, check your rage. Indeed, I beg you to let go your anger against Achilles
, who is for all the Achaeans a mighty bulwark in evil war. In answer to him spoke lord Agamemnon
:
Earnestly he prayed to his dear mother with hands outstretched: Mother, since you bore me, though to so brief a span of life, honour surely ought the Olympian to have given into my hands, Zeuswho thunders on high; but now he has honoured me not a bit. Truly the son of Atreus
, wide-ruling Agamemnon
and she stroked him with her hand, and spoke to him, and called him by name: My child, why do you weep? What sorrow has come upon your heart? Speak out; hide it not in your mind, that we both may know. Then with heavy moaning spoke swift-footed Achillesto her: You know. Why then should I tell the tale to you who knows all?
Il. 1.280 · Il. 1.352 · Il. 1.364 · Il. 1.393 · Il. 1.414–418 · Il. 1.496 · Il. 1.505 · Il. 6.100 · Il. 9.410 · Il. 10.404 · Il. 13.350 · Il. 15.76–77 · Il. 16.34 · Il. 16.51 · Il. 16.860 · Il. 17.78 · Il. 17.408 · Il. 18.9 · Il. 18.35 · Il. 18.54–55 · Il. 18.70 · Il. 18.94–95 · Il. 18.126 · Il. 18.138 · Il. 18.189 · Il. 18.332 · Il. 18.381 · Il. 18.436 · Il. 18.457–459 · Il. 18.615 · Il. 19.2–6 · Il. 19.21 · Il. 19.326 · Il. 20.128 · Il. 20.207 · Il. 21.109 · Il. 21.276 · Il. 24.73 · Il. 24.85 · Il. 24.112 · Il. 24.122 · Il. 24.466 · Il. 24.467 · Il. 24.562
Great-grandfather · Sources
Происхождение выведено по цепочке родителей: Эак → Пелей → Ахиллес → Неоптолем.
The wrath sing, goddess, of PeleusPePe' son, Achilles, that destructive wrath which brought countless woes upon the Achaeans, and sent forth to Hades
many valiant souls of heroes, and made them themselves spoil for dogs and every bird; thus the plan of Zeus
came to fulfillment,
Do not thus, mighty though you are, godlike Achilles, seek to deceive me with your wit; for you will not get by me nor persuade me. Are you willing, so that your yourself may keep your prize, for me to sit here idly in want, while you order me to give her back? No, if the great-hearted Achaeans give me a prize,
the word of Athene. She returned to Olympus to the palace of aegis-bearing Zeus, to join the company of the other gods. But the son of Peleus again addressed with violent words the son of Atreus
, and in no way ceased from his wrath: Heavy with wine, with the face of a dog but the heart of a deer,
Il. 1.1 · Il. 1.130 · Il. 1.223 · Il. 1.277 · Il. 1.322 · Il. 1.396 · Il. 2.377 · Il. 2.770 · Il. 8.225 · Il. 8.372 · Il. 8.474 · Il. 9.106 · Il. 9.166 · Il. 9.206 · Il. 9.252 · Il. 9.394–400 · Il. 9.434 · Il. 9.690 · Il. 9.698 · Il. 10.393 · Il. 11.783 · Il. 13.113 · Il. 15.64 · Il. 15.74 · Il. 16.15 · Il. 16.33 · Il. 16.134 · Il. 16.168 · Il. 16.269 · Il. 16.653 · Il. 17.104 · Il. 17.196 · Il. 17.504 · Il. 17.557 · Il. 18.18 · Il. 18.22 · Il. 18.166 · Il. 18.267 · Il. 18.354 · Il. 19.83 · Il. 19.154 · Il. 19.215 · Il. 19.326 · Il. 19.334 · Il. 19.348 · Il. 20.88 · Il. 20.160 · Il. 20.200 · Il. 20.288 · Il. 20.320 · Il. 20.364 · Il. 20.431 · Il. 21.153 · Il. 21.188 · Il. 21.205 · Il. 21.285 · Il. 21.520 · Il. 22.7 · Il. 22.58 · Il. 22.92 · Il. 22.113 · Il. 22.214 · Il. 22.229 · Il. 22.277 · Il. 22.420–421 · Il. 22.455 · Il. 23.277 · Il. 23.353 · Il. 23.776 · Il. 23.792 · Il. 24.59 · Il. 24.151 · Il. 24.180 · Il. 24.406 · Il. 24.458 · Il. 24.467 · Il. 24.486 · Il. 24.507 · Il. 24.540 · Il. 24.572
Great-grandfather · Sources
Происхождение выведено по цепочке родителей: Нерей → Фетида → Ахиллес → Неоптолем.
yet he is the mightier, since he is king over more. Son of Atreus, check your rage. Indeed, I beg you to let go your anger against Achilles
, who is for all the Achaeans a mighty bulwark in evil war. In answer to him spoke lord Agamemnon
:
Earnestly he prayed to his dear mother with hands outstretched: Mother, since you bore me, though to so brief a span of life, honour surely ought the Olympian to have given into my hands, Zeuswho thunders on high; but now he has honoured me not a bit. Truly the son of Atreus
, wide-ruling Agamemnon
has dishonoured me: for he has taken and keeps my prize through his own arrogant act. So he spoke, weeping, and his lady mother heard him, as she sat in the depths of the sea beside the old man, her father. And speedily she came forth from the grey sea like a mist, and sat down before him, as he wept,
Il. 1.280 · Il. 1.352 · Il. 1.358 · Il. 1.364 · Il. 1.393 · Il. 1.414–418 · Il. 1.496 · Il. 1.505 · Il. 1.538 · Il. 1.556 · Il. 6.100 · Il. 9.410 · Il. 10.404 · Il. 13.350 · Il. 15.76–77 · Il. 16.34 · Il. 16.51 · Il. 16.860 · Il. 17.78 · Il. 17.408 · Il. 18.9 · Il. 18.35 · Il. 18.36 · Il. 18.54–55 · Il. 18.70 · Il. 18.94–95 · Il. 18.126 · Il. 18.138 · Il. 18.141 · Il. 18.189 · Il. 18.332 · Il. 18.381 · Il. 18.436 · Il. 18.457–459 · Il. 18.615 · Il. 19.2–6 · Il. 19.21 · Il. 19.326 · Il. 20.107 · Il. 20.128 · Il. 20.207 · Il. 21.109 · Il. 21.276 · Il. 24.73 · Il. 24.85 · Il. 24.112 · Il. 24.122 · Il. 24.466 · Il. 24.467 · Il. 24.562
Ancestor · Sources
Происхождение выведено по цепочке родителей: Зевс → Эак → Пелей → Ахиллес → Неоптолем.
The wrath sing, goddess, of PeleusPePe' son, Achilles, that destructive wrath which brought countless woes upon the Achaeans, and sent forth to Hades
many valiant souls of heroes, and made them themselves spoil for dogs and every bird; thus the plan of Zeus
came to fulfillment,
Do not thus, mighty though you are, godlike Achilles, seek to deceive me with your wit; for you will not get by me nor persuade me. Are you willing, so that your yourself may keep your prize, for me to sit here idly in want, while you order me to give her back? No, if the great-hearted Achaeans give me a prize,
the word of Athene. She returned to Olympus to the palace of aegis-bearing Zeus, to join the company of the other gods. But the son of Peleus again addressed with violent words the son of Atreus
, and in no way ceased from his wrath: Heavy with wine, with the face of a dog but the heart of a deer,
Il. 1.1 · Il. 1.130 · Il. 1.223 · Il. 1.277 · Il. 1.322 · Il. 1.396 · Il. 2.377 · Il. 2.770 · Il. 8.225 · Il. 8.372 · Il. 8.474 · Il. 9.106 · Il. 9.166 · Il. 9.206 · Il. 9.252 · Il. 9.394–400 · Il. 9.434 · Il. 9.690 · Il. 9.698 · Il. 10.393 · Il. 11.783 · Il. 13.113 · Il. 15.64 · Il. 15.74 · Il. 16.15 · Il. 16.33 · Il. 16.134 · Il. 16.168 · Il. 16.269 · Il. 16.653 · Il. 17.104 · Il. 17.196 · Il. 17.504 · Il. 17.557 · Il. 18.18 · Il. 18.22 · Il. 18.166 · Il. 18.267 · Il. 18.354 · Il. 19.83 · Il. 19.154 · Il. 19.215 · Il. 19.326 · Il. 19.334 · Il. 19.348 · Il. 20.88 · Il. 20.160 · Il. 20.200 · Il. 20.288 · Il. 20.320 · Il. 20.364 · Il. 20.431 · Il. 21.153 · Il. 21.188 · Il. 21.189 · Il. 21.205 · Il. 21.285 · Il. 21.520 · Il. 22.7 · Il. 22.58 · Il. 22.92 · Il. 22.113 · Il. 22.214 · Il. 22.229 · Il. 22.277 · Il. 22.420–421 · Il. 22.455 · Il. 23.277 · Il. 23.353 · Il. 23.776 · Il. 23.792 · Il. 24.59 · Il. 24.151 · Il. 24.180 · Il. 24.406 · Il. 24.458 · Il. 24.467 · Il. 24.486 · Il. 24.507 · Il. 24.540 · Il. 24.572
Ancestor · Sources
Происхождение выведено по цепочке родителей: Кронос → Зевс → Эак → Пелей → Ахиллес → Неоптолем.
The wrath sing, goddess, of PeleusPePe' son, Achilles, that destructive wrath which brought countless woes upon the Achaeans, and sent forth to Hades
many valiant souls of heroes, and made them themselves spoil for dogs and every bird; thus the plan of Zeus
came to fulfillment,
Do not thus, mighty though you are, godlike Achilles, seek to deceive me with your wit; for you will not get by me nor persuade me. Are you willing, so that your yourself may keep your prize, for me to sit here idly in want, while you order me to give her back? No, if the great-hearted Achaeans give me a prize,
the word of Athene. She returned to Olympus to the palace of aegis-bearing Zeus, to join the company of the other gods. But the son of Peleus again addressed with violent words the son of Atreus
, and in no way ceased from his wrath: Heavy with wine, with the face of a dog but the heart of a deer,
Il. 1.1 · Il. 1.130 · Il. 1.223 · Il. 1.277 · Il. 1.322 · Il. 1.396 · Il. 2.205–206 · Il. 2.319 · Il. 2.377 · Il. 2.770 · Il. 4.75 · Il. 8.225 · Il. 8.372 · Il. 8.474 · Il. 9.37 · Il. 9.106 · Il. 9.166 · Il. 9.171 · Il. 9.206 · Il. 9.236 · Il. 9.252 · Il. 9.394–400 · Il. 9.419 · Il. 9.434 · Il. 9.502 · Il. 9.686 · Il. 9.690 · Il. 9.698 · Il. 10.71 · Il. 10.393 · Il. 11.783 · Il. 13.113 · Il. 15.64 · Il. 15.74 · Il. 15.187 · Il. 16.15 · Il. 16.33 · Il. 16.134 · Il. 16.168 · Il. 16.269 · Il. 16.431 · Il. 16.653 · Il. 17.104 · Il. 17.196 · Il. 17.504 · Il. 17.557 · Il. 18.18 · Il. 18.22 · Il. 18.166 · Il. 18.267 · Il. 18.293 · Il. 18.354 · Il. 19.83 · Il. 19.154 · Il. 19.215 · Il. 19.326 · Il. 19.334 · Il. 19.348 · Il. 20.88 · Il. 20.160 · Il. 20.200 · Il. 20.288 · Il. 20.320 · Il. 20.364 · Il. 20.431 · Il. 21.153 · Il. 21.188 · Il. 21.189 · Il. 21.205 · Il. 21.285 · Il. 21.520 · Il. 22.7 · Il. 22.58 · Il. 22.92 · Il. 22.113 · Il. 22.214 · Il. 22.229 · Il. 22.277 · Il. 22.420–421 · Il. 22.455 · Il. 23.277 · Il. 23.353 · Il. 23.776 · Il. 23.792 · Il. 24.59 · Il. 24.151 · Il. 24.180 · Il. 24.406 · Il. 24.458 · Il. 24.467 · Il. 24.486 · Il. 24.507 · Il. 24.540 · Il. 24.572
See all 8
Ancestor · Sources
Происхождение выведено по цепочке родителей: Рея → Зевс → Эак → Пелей → Ахиллес → Неоптолем.
The wrath sing, goddess, of PeleusPePe' son, Achilles, that destructive wrath which brought countless woes upon the Achaeans, and sent forth to Hades
many valiant souls of heroes, and made them themselves spoil for dogs and every bird; thus the plan of Zeus
came to fulfillment,
Do not thus, mighty though you are, godlike Achilles, seek to deceive me with your wit; for you will not get by me nor persuade me. Are you willing, so that your yourself may keep your prize, for me to sit here idly in want, while you order me to give her back? No, if the great-hearted Achaeans give me a prize,
the word of Athene. She returned to Olympus to the palace of aegis-bearing Zeus, to join the company of the other gods. But the son of Peleus again addressed with violent words the son of Atreus
, and in no way ceased from his wrath: Heavy with wine, with the face of a dog but the heart of a deer,
Il. 1.1 · Il. 1.130 · Il. 1.223 · Il. 1.277 · Il. 1.322 · Il. 1.396 · Il. 2.377 · Il. 2.770 · Il. 8.225 · Il. 8.372 · Il. 8.474 · Il. 9.106 · Il. 9.166 · Il. 9.206 · Il. 9.252 · Il. 9.394–400 · Il. 9.434 · Il. 9.690 · Il. 9.698 · Il. 10.393 · Il. 11.783 · Il. 13.113 · Il. 15.64 · Il. 15.74 · Il. 15.187 · Il. 16.15 · Il. 16.33 · Il. 16.134 · Il. 16.168 · Il. 16.269 · Il. 16.653 · Il. 17.104 · Il. 17.196 · Il. 17.504 · Il. 17.557 · Il. 18.18 · Il. 18.22 · Il. 18.166 · Il. 18.267 · Il. 18.354 · Il. 19.83 · Il. 19.154 · Il. 19.215 · Il. 19.326 · Il. 19.334 · Il. 19.348 · Il. 20.88 · Il. 20.160 · Il. 20.200 · Il. 20.288 · Il. 20.320 · Il. 20.364 · Il. 20.431 · Il. 21.153 · Il. 21.188 · Il. 21.189 · Il. 21.205 · Il. 21.285 · Il. 21.520 · Il. 22.7 · Il. 22.58 · Il. 22.92 · Il. 22.113 · Il. 22.214 · Il. 22.229 · Il. 22.277 · Il. 22.420–421 · Il. 22.455 · Il. 23.277 · Il. 23.353 · Il. 23.776 · Il. 23.792 · Il. 24.59 · Il. 24.151 · Il. 24.180 · Il. 24.406 · Il. 24.458 · Il. 24.467 · Il. 24.486 · Il. 24.507 · Il. 24.540 · Il. 24.572
In art

Giambattista Pittoni. Polyxena in front of the Achilles' Tomb. Department of Paintings of the Louvre. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18573887
Léon Bazille Perrault. The death of Priam. Beaux-Arts de Paris. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q104175800
Jules Lefebvre. The Death of Priam. Beaux-Arts de Paris. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17613629
See all 12

Pierre-Narcisse Guérin. La Mort de Priam, par Pierre-Narcisse Guérin. Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Angers. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q122389396

Nicolas Poussin. Rescue of Young King Pyrrhus. Department of Paintings of the Louvre. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19820170

François-Xavier Fabre. Ulysse et Néoptolème enlevant à Philoctète les flèches d'Hercule (esquisse). Musée Fabre. CC BY 3.0. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q117378724
Image author: Sailko
Image date: 2020-08-13 11:48:14
Johan Ludwig Lund. Pyrrhus and Andromache at Hector's Tomb. Statens Museum for Kunst. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q20355167
Image author: Daderot

Pierre-Narcisse Guérin. Pierre-Narcisse Guérin - Andromaque et Pyrrhus (Bx E 665). Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q22961949

Pierre-Narcisse Guérin. Andromaque et Pyrrhus. Department of Paintings of the Louvre. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q29855485
Image author: Pierre-Narcisse Guérin
Image date: 1813

François-Xavier Fabre. Ulysses and Neoptolemos deprive Philoctète bow and arrows of Hercules. Musée Fabre. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q94757794
Image author: François-Xavier Fabre
Image date: 1800

Pio Fedi. Rape of Polyxena. Loggia dei Lanzi. CC BY 4.0. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3930500

Brygos Painter. Attic Red-Figure Cup known as the "Iliupersis Cup". Department of Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities of the Louvre. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26722405
04 / PROVENANCE
Sources and verification
The character is matched to the catalogue.
- Wikipedia · Neoptolemus · CC BY-SA 4.0
Excerpt; remaining sentences omitted.
Reference material remains distinct from the poem’s assertions. Characters who share a name retain separate pages.










