Astyanax

 

(əstī'ənăks) , in Greek mythology, son of Hector and Andromache. When the Greeks captured Troy, they killed him out of fear that he would avenge his father and his city. He was also known as Scamandrius.

This article is about the mythological character; for the fish genus, see Astyanax (fish). For the video game, see The Astyanax.

In Greek mythology, Astyanax (Greek Ἀστυάναξ, prince of the city) was the son of Hector and Andromache. His real name was Scamandrius, but people of Troy nicknamed him Astyanax ("Lord of the City"), because he was the son of the great Trojan hero (Iliad VI, 403). He was killed during the Trojan War by Neoptolemus, who threw the infant from a wall and told his mother "Since my father (Achilles) killed his father (Hector) he might try to avenge the death. He also could become King of Troy, and we want no more kings of Troy!"

In another version of the story either Odysseus finds he can't bear to kill him or else kills a slave's child in his place. Astyanax survives to found settlements in Corsica and Sardinia and become the ancestor of Roland, who in the Song of Roland carries the very sword used by Hector.

It has also been depicted in some Greek vases that Neoptolomus kills Priam, who has taken refuge near a sacred altar, using Astyanax's dead body to club the old king to death, in front of horrified onlookers.

Another Astyanax is the son of Heracles and Epilais, daughter of Thespius.

External links

• Astyanax on Encyclopedia Mythica

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