Memnon vs Achilles: The Battle Between Two Demigods in Greek Mythology
Memnon vs Achilles is the comparison of the two champions who fought each other during the war in Troy. Memnon was the King of Aethopia in Africa and the son of Eos, the goddess of the dawn. Achilles was also the son of the river nymph Thetis and Peleus, the ruler of the Myrmidons, thus, both were demigods.
This article will evaluate the origins, strengths, and outcome of the duel between both demigods.
Memnon vs Achilles Comparison Table
| Feature | Memnon | Achilles |
| Rank | A King of Aethiopia | Chief warrior of Greece |
| Strength | Less powerful than Achilles | Invincible |
| Motivation | To save the Trojans | For his own glory |
| Parentage | Son of Tithonus and Eos | Son of Peleus and Thetis |
| Death | Memnon death was during the Iliad | Died after the events of the Iliad |
What Are the Differences Between Memnon and Achilles?
The main difference between Memnon and Achilles was that Memnon was a king whereas Achilles was a warrior who served under King Agamemnon. While Memnon was motivated to save the people of Troy, Achilles’ only motivation was to avenge the death of Patroclus.
What Is Memnon Best Known For?
Memnon is best known as the prince of Troy, who was famous for his selflessness, loyalty, and most importantly his strength. He was a brave king who sacrificed his life during the battle for his city, Troy, and didn’t call for help.
The Birth and Character of Memnon
Memnon Iliad was the son of the goddess Eos and Tithonus, a prince of Troy, thus his lineage was Trojan. According to the legend of his birth, Eos grabbed Memnon’s father and took him far away to lay with him and that was how Memnon was born. Other sources indicate when Eos gave birth to Memnon, he had a bronze arm. Memnon was born far away from Troy on the coasts of Oceanus.
However, when King Priam called on Memnon to help him fight against the Greeks, Memnon obliged and led his army of ‘uncountable’ warriors to Troy. Initially, Priam and his elders argued among themselves as to whether Memnon would heed their call for help. Some doubted if he would come but he proved them wrong by arriving with his Aethopian battalions. His arrival brought much relief to the Trojans who were looking for a savior.
Though he didn’t have to fight the war, Memnon showed loyalty, friendship, and selflessness. He didn’t wait for any of his friends or kinsmen to die before coming to avenge their death. Unlike Achilles, Memnon didn’t seek his own glory but wanted to preserve the glory of Troy, even though it would cost him his life. Memnon proved he could be a trusted friend in times of need while Achilles was only available if his pride or friend was hurt.
Memnon Strength
Memnon is famous for fighting during the war against Troy and dying at the hands of a fellow demigod. Many scholars think he stood a better chance of slaying warriors than the Trojan champion, Hector. According to the myth, when Memnon clashed with Achilles, Zeus made both demigods so huge that they could be seen from every angle of the battlefield.
Zeus also made them tireless which meant that they had to fight to the death which is a testament to the strength and power of the Aethiopian King. The gods did not favor either one over the other, and neither did they come to their aid. The Aethiopians trusted in the strength of their king so much that they fled when he was killed. Memnon’s strength was only rivaled by the strongest and best warriors during the war.
Memnon Had Strong Moral Values
The King of the Aethiopians was famous for refusing to fight the aged Nestor when the old man challenged him. According to Memnon, he was too old to fight him and that it would be a gross mismatch. He also told the old man that he revered him too much to fight him and left. This was after Memnon had killed the old man’s son, Antilochus, during the fighting. Memnon killed Antilochus for killing his friend Aesop.
When the old man saw Memnon approaching the Achaean ships, he begged Achilles to fight Memnon on his behalf and avenge the death of his son, Antilochus. This brought the two champions to a duel with both wearing divine armor fashioned by the god of iron, Hephaestus. Though Memnon lost his life, he was well-respected for his great moral values.
Memnon Sacrificed His Life for Troy
His sacrifice for the good of Troy is also worthy of mention since he could have chosen to ignore the call for help. He may have had an inkling that the Trojan War could be his last but that did not deter him. He gave his all during the battle but that was not enough as he lost his life to the spear of Achilles.
Memnon and Achilles faced off during the Trojan War with the former defending Trojans and the latter fighting for the Achaeans. Memnon was the first to draw Achilles’ blood but Achilles ultimately won the duel by driving a spear through the chest of Memnon.
It is key that Memnon’s sacrifice impressed both the Trojans and the gods who collected all the drops of blood that flowed from his body to form a huge river in his memory.
What Is Achilles Best Known For?
Achilles is best known for his incredible strength and invincibility. In addition, he is famous for his speed together with his weak heel, he was an immortal being, on the other hand, his heel was the only mortal part.
The Birth and Character of Achilles
As mentioned in the earlier paragraphs, Achilles was a demigod born to the mortal Peleus and the nymph Thetis. According to Greek legends, Thetis, the mother of Achilles, dipped him in the River Styx to make him invincible.
The nymph held baby Achilles’ heel while immersing him in the infernal river, thus his heel wasn’t submerged, rendering it the weak spot on Achilles. Other sources claim that Thetis anointed baby Achilles’ body with ambrosia and held him over a fire to burn away his immortality as she got to the heel of Achilles.
Peleus chanced upon her and in anger, Thetis left the baby and his father. Achilles grew up under the watchful eye of the wise centaur Chiron who taught him music and the art of war.
Achilles in the Trojan War
He was then sent to live with King Lycomedes of Skyros and disguised as a girl until he was discovered by Odysseus to fight in the war against Troy. Achilles was a selfish warrior who sought his glory than give his life for the course of the Greeks.
Thus, when his commander took his war prize (a slave girl called Briseis), Achilles decided to sit out the rest of the war. This led to the slaughter of the Greek warriors as they had no champion to lead them in battle.
Achilles only returned to the battlefield after he lost his best friend, Patroclus, and his war prize was returned. His attitude towards his country is in stark contrast to the attitude of Memnon who gave his life for his ally.
Achilles Invincibility and Strength
Achilles is famous for his invincibility which was widely known. He also possessed great speed and agility which he coupled with his strength to give him an edge over his opponents. However, Achilles had a weak spot which was his heel and that brought about the idiom ‘Achilles’ heel’.
Achilles’ heel means a weakness in an otherwise impregnable system. Achilles’ weakness was later exploited by Paris who shot an arrow that struck Achilles in his heel, killing him. Thus, Memnon was a selfless ally while Achilles had to be begged before he came to the aid of the Achaeans. Achilles was slightly superior in strength and skill to Memnon, which is why he came out victorious during the duel.
FAQ
Who Would have Won Memnon vs Hector?
Hector was fully human so there’s no doubt that Memnon would have soundly beaten him and they dueled. However, that would not be possible given that both warriors fought for the same side.
Was Memnon Real?
The Memnon warrior was a character in Greek myths but some scholars argue that he was based on a real person such as Amenhotep who ruled Egypt between 1526 – 1506 BC. Others also believe that there was a real person who ruled Aethopia (a region south of Egypt) called Memnon as evidenced by writers who came after Homer. Though there is a raging debate about the race of Memnon, most scholars especially the earlier ones believe Memnon to be black since he came from Ethiopia in Africa.
Conclusion
Memnon proved a match for Achilles as both characters were demigods but Achilles came out the victor because he was destined to kill Hector and bring Troy to its knees. However, a prophecy was foretold that Memnon’s death would precede the demise of Achilles and it came to pass. Memnon’s death caused his mother so much grief that she wept for days which moved Zeus to make Memnon immortal.
The warriors who stood by Memnon as he was being buried were turned into birds called the Mennonites. These birds stayed behind to make sure they kept the tomb of the great leader clean. They also appeared every year on the anniversary of Memnon’s death to enact the events of the Trojan war. Memnon’s death led to the sacking of Troy as all hope was lost and the Trojans were left with no one to come to their aid.
