Editing Antilochus (section)

== Mythology ==
The ''Iliad'' tells of Antilochus' actions during the [[Trojan War]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Willcock |first=M. M. |date=April 1973 |title=THE FUNERAL GAMES OF PATROCLUS |url=https://academic.oup.com/bics/article/20/1/1/5701005 |journal=Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies |language=en |volume=20 |issue=1 |pages=1–11 |doi=10.1111/j.2041-5370.1973.tb00120.x |issn=0076-0730}}</ref> One of the [[suitors of Helen]], Antilochus accompanied his father Nestor and his brother Thrasymedes to the war. When fighting there resumed after the aborted duel of Paris and [[Menelaus]], Antilochus was first to kill a Trojan (namely Echepolus).<ref>Homer, ''Iliad'' 4.457–8</ref> Antilochus was distinguished for his beauty, swiftness of foot, and skill as a charioteer. Though the youngest among the Greek princes, he commanded the Pylians in the war and performed many deeds of valour. He was a favorite of [[Gods of Olympus|the gods]] and a close friend of [[Achilles]].<ref name=":0">[[Philostratus]], ''[[Imagines (work by Philostratus)|Imagines]]'', [https://topostext.org/work/225#2.7.1 2.7.1] ([https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2008.01.0601%3Abook%3Dpos%3D2%3Achapter%3D7 Original Greek text])</ref>

In an early battle, Menelaus ill-advisedly goes to the front lines to face [[Aeneas]], a strong fighter for the Trojans. Antilochus goes to join Menelaus, causing Aeneas to withdraw rather than fight them both.<ref name=":1" /> Later, Menelaus directs Antilochus to lead a fight against the Trojans during a low period for the Greeks. Antilochus obeys and fights well.<ref name=":1" />

=== Death of Patroclus ===
Antilochus was commissioned to tell Achilles of the death of his beloved [[Patroclus]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} [[Ajax the Great|Ajax]] believed Antilochus was obviously the best person to share the news, and asked Menelaus to find Antilochus.<ref name=":1" /> According to [[Philostratus of Lemnos|Philostratus]], Menelaus believed that Antilochus would be the best choice because Achilles already loved Antilochus. While they lamented Patroclus together, Antilochus made sure that Achilles did not commit suicide.<ref name=":0" /> Antilochus held Achilles' hands because he feared that Achilles would cut his own throat.<ref name=":1" /> Antilochus' touch, and his relationship with Achilles, served to comfort and distract Achilles from his grief.<ref name=":0" /> From this point, Achilles and Antilochus' relationship grew to replace the one between [[Achilles and Patroclus]], but never fully eclipsed the prior relationship.<ref name=":1" />

At the funeral games of Patroclus, Antilochus finished second in the chariot race and last in the foot race. Antilochus entered the chariot race with the slowest horses of any of the heroes, and listened to detailed advice from his father before competing. During the competition, the leading hero, Eumelus, crashed via divine sabotage. Antilochus was later able to slip past Menelaus by aggressively making Menelaus fall back at a point in the track where both of their chariots could not fit side-by-side anymore. When prizes were given, Achilles felt sorry for Eumelus and suggested giving him second place instead of Antilochus. Antilochus objected, saying he would fight Achilles to keep the prize. This made Achilles smile, likely for the first time since Patroclus' death, and Achilles left the prize to Antilochus.<ref name=":1" /> 

Menelaus then contested Antilochus' prize, stating that Antilochus insulted him by defying him at the narrow point in the race. As their argument grew, Menelaus demanded that Antilochus swear the win came without treachery. Antilochus defused the situation by deferring to Menelaus, stating that the king was older and superior. Still, Antilochus did not admit fault. He and Menelaus then alternated public offers to give their prize to the other man.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Stocking |first=Charles H. |title=Homer's Iliad and the Problem of Force |date=May 2023 |publisher=Oxford University Press |pages=129-133 |chapter=Force and Discourse in the Funeral Games of Patroclus |doi=10.1093/oso/9780192862877.003.0004}}</ref> Later, when Antilochus lost the foot race, he made a speech declaring that the others were all older than him, and thus honored by the gods. He then complimented Achilles, and Achilles doubled Antilochus' prize.<ref name=":1" />

=== Death and afterlife ===
The epic cycle of the ''[[Aethiopis]]'' details Antilochus' death during the Trojan War.<ref name=":1" /> When Antilochus' father, Nestor, was attacked by [[Memnon (mythology)|Memnon]], Antilochus sacrificed himself to save Nestor, thus fulfilling an oracle which had warned to "beware of an Ethiopian".<ref>[[Pindar]], ''Pythian Odes'' 6.28</ref> The Achaeans retrieved Antilochus' body on the battlefield and lamented him. Achilles embraced Antilochus and lamented as well, promising him a glorious funeral and vengeance, in the same way Achilles had honored Patroclus.<ref>[[Philostratus]], ''[[Imagines (work by Philostratus)|Imagines]]'', [https://topostext.org/work/225#2.7.2 2.7.2] ([https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2008.01.0601%3Abook%3Dpos%3D2%3Achapter%3D7 Original Greek text])</ref> Achilles then killed Memnon to avenge Antilochus' death, and drove the Trojans back to the gates, where Achilles was killed by Paris.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livius.org/sources/content/epic-cycle/cypria/|title=Cypria - Livius|website=www.livius.org}}</ref> In later accounts, Antilochus was slain by [[Hector]]<ref>[[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], ''[[Fabulae]]'' 113</ref> or by [[Paris (mythology)|Paris]] in the temple of the Thymbraean [[Apollo]], together with Achilles.<ref>[[Dares Phrygius]], 34</ref>

Nestor deeply grieved the death of Antilochus after the war. Peisistratus also mourned Antilochus, even though the brothers had never met.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Frame |first=Douglas |url=http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.ebook:CHS_Frame.Hippota_Nestor.2009 |title=Hippota Nestor |publisher=Center for Hellenic Studies |series=Hellenic Studies Series |volume=37 |location=Washington, DC |chapter=Chapter 6. Odyssey 3 and Iliad 8}}</ref> 

Antilochus' ashes, along with those of Achilles and Patroclus, were enshrined in a mound on the promontory of [[Sigeion]], where the inhabitants of [[Troy|Ilion]] offered sacrifice to the dead heroes.<ref>Homer, ''Odyssey'' 24.72</ref><ref>[[Strabo]], 13</ref> The ashes of Achilles and Patroclus were mixed together in one urn, with Antilochus's ashes kept separately but nearby in the mound. Antilochus is described as the companion Achilles honoured most after Patroclus.<ref name=":1" /> In the ''[[Odyssey]]'',<ref>Homer, ''Odyssey'' 11.468</ref> the three are represented as always united in the underworld and walking together in the [[Asphodel Meadows]]. However, according to [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]],<ref>[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], 3.19</ref> they dwell together on the island of [[Leuke]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

=== Legacy ===
Among the Trojans he killed were [[Melanippus]], [[Ablerus (mythology)|Ablerus]], Atymnius, Phalces, Echepolos, and Thoon, although Hyginus records that he only killed two Trojans.<ref>Hyginus, ''Fabulae'' 114</ref> 

Antilochus left behind in [[Messenia]] a son [[Paeon (son of Antilochus)|Paeon]], whose descendants were among the [[Neleidae]] expelled from Messenia, by the descendants of [[Heracles]].<ref>Pausanias, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.+2.18 2.18.7–9]</ref>