Achilles and Patroclus

Greek Mythological Heroes

Achilles and Patroclus have a relationship central to stories of the Trojan War. In Homer's Iliad, Achilles is described as tender toward Patroclus while behaving callously and arrogantly toward others. The relationship's nature has long been disputed. Homer does not explicitly call them lovers, though classical authors often interpreted them that way. Other ancient writers described an intense but non-sexual friendship, and modern scholars continue to debate the evidence.

Setting: Stories associated with the Trojan War
Homer's portrayal: A deep, meaningful relationship
Interpretation: Its exact nature remains disputed

Sources and credits

Article: Achilles and Patroclus (English Wikipedia)
Wikidata: Q997428
Text: Card text is adapted from the English Wikipedia article by an automated summary. Wikipedia content is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for its contributors. CC BY-SA 4.0 · Article history and contributors
Illustration: By Sosias (potter, signed). Painting attributed to the Sosias Painter (name piece for Beazley, overriding attribution) or the Kleophrades Painter (Robertson) or Euthymides (Ohly-Dumm). Public domain · File page on Wikimedia Commons
Sosias (potter, signed). Painting attributed to the Sosias Painter (name piece for Beazley, overriding attribution) or the Kleophrades Painter (Robertson) or Euthymides (Ohly-Dumm), User:Bibi Saint-Pol, own work, 2008
Modifications: Resized and converted to WebP
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