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Andromache was one of the most famous female mortals of Greek mythology. Andromache would appear in, and after, the Trojan War, and although a Trojan by marriage, was highly regarded as the epitome of womanhood by the Greeks.

ANDROMACHE DAUGHTER OF EETION

Andromache was born in the city of Thebe in the region of Cilicia in the southeast Troad. It was a city ruled by King Eetion, although it was a city subservient to Troy; King Eetion also just happened to be the father of Andromache.

The mother of Andromache is not named, but it was said that Andromache had seven, or eight, brothers.

THE DEMISE OF ANDROMACHE'S FAMILY

Andromache grew to be one of the most beautiful of all women, and as befitting of her beauty and her position, Andromache would marry Hector, the son of King Priam and heir to the throne of Troy. Thus, Andromache would leave Thebe and set up a new home in Troy.

Thebe itself would be sacked during the Trojan War by Achilles, and Andromache’s father, King Eetion and seven of her brothers, would be killed during the fighting.

​After death, King Eetion would be honoured by Achilles, for the father of Andromache was allowed to lie on the funeral pyre adorned in his armour.

One of Andromache’s brother’s, Podes, perhaps escaped the sacking of Thebe, but he would later die at the hands of Menelaus during the Trojan War.

Andromache’s mother was also captured by Achilles, although she was later ransomed, and mother and daughter were later reunited in Troy. Andromache’s mother would die before the war’s end through illness.

The sacking of Thebe is more famous today for it was from Thebe that Achilles took Chryseis, the woman who would cause disagreement between Achilles and Agamemnon.

ANDROMACHE WIFE OF HECTOR AND MOTHER OF ASTYANAX

Andromache would often be compared to Helen, the wife of Menelaus, and although Helen was described as the more beautiful of the two, the characteristics of Andromache ensure that the wife of Hector was perceived as superior to Helen.

​Andromache was described as being loving, loyal and dutiful, all characteristics of the perfect wife to the Ancient Greeks.

If peace had prevailed then Andromache would have become Queen of Troy, and Andromache did her “duty” by providing an heir for Hector, for she gave birth to Astyanax.

ANDROMACHE IS WIDOWED

Of course peace did not prevail, and soon the Achaean forces were at Troy, and whilst Hector would blame his brother Paris for the trials and tribulations of Troy, Andromache blamed Helen.

During the Trojan War, Andromache would act the role of Hector’s wife perfectly, supporting him, and even offering him military advice. Andromache would also ensure that Hector never forgot his duty as husband and father though.

Hector’s own sense of duty, as defender of Troy, would eventually seem him face the Achaean forces once too often, and the Greek hero Achilles would strike the son of Priam down.

Thus, Andromache found herself as a widow.

ANDROMACHE AND THE FALL OF TROY

The loss of her husband would soon be followed by the loss of her city, for Troy would soon fall to the attacking Achaean forces.

Few men survived the sacking of Troy, but most of the women did, and Andromache and Astyanax found themselves captives of the Greeks.

The Greeks were fearful of leaving a son of Hector alive; for the vengeful son might come back to haunt them in future years. Thus it was decided that the son of Andromache and Hector would be killed, and the baby was thus thrown from the walls of Troy.

As to who killed Astyanax depends on the source being looked at, for some name Talthybius, the herald of Agamemnon, as the murderer, whilst others name Odysseus or Neoptolemus.

Afterwards the Women of Troy would be given to the prominent heroes of the Achaean forces, and whereas Agamemnon took Cassandra as a concubine, Andromache was given to Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles.

The only small crumb of comfort for Andromache was the fact that she was not alone in the retinue of Neoptolemus, for Helenus, Andromache’s former brother-in-law, was also present.

THE DEATH OF ANDROMACHE

All good things come to an end though, and Helenus would eventually die, and the kingdom of Epirus would pass to Andromache’s son by Neoptolemus, Molossus. Nothing is said of Pielus, but Cestrinus would aid his half-brother by expanding the territory of Epirus.

Andromache though, would not stay in Epirus, for it was said that she accompanied her son Pergamus in his travels through Asia Minor.

Arriving in the kingdom of Teuthrania, Pergamus would kill Arius in single combat, and would take the kingdom for his own, and the main city of the kingdom would renamed Pergamon.

It was then said that Andromache would die of old age in Pergamon.