Editing Achaemenides

[[File:Achaemenides and Polyphemus.jpg|thumb]]
{{about|the mythological figure|the ancient Persian dynasty|Achaemenid Empire}}

In the ''[[Aeneid]]'' of [[Virgil]], '''Achaemenides''' (Greek: Ἀχαιμενίδης ''Akhaimenides'') was a son of Adamastos of [[Homer's Ithaca|Ithaca]], and one of [[Odysseus]]' crew. He was marooned on [[Sicily]] when Odysseus fled the [[Cyclopes|Cyclops]] [[Polyphemus]], until [[Aeneas]] arrived and took him to [[Italy]] with his company of refugee [[Troy|Trojans]].<ref>[[Virgil]], ''[[Aeneid]]'' 3.613–614 </ref><ref>[[Ovid]], ''[[Metamorphoses]]'' 14.158 </ref><ref>{{Citation
| last = Schmitz
| first = Leonhard
| author-link = 
| contribution = Achaemenides
| editor-last = Smith
| editor-first = William
| title = [[Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology]]
| volume = 1
| pages = 8
| publisher = 
| place = Boston, MA
| year = 1867
| contribution-url = http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0017.html
| access-date = 2007-09-30
| archive-date = 2005-07-10
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050710073848/http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0017.html
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>

His character seems to have been chosen by Virgil treating the [[Persian language|Persian]]-origin name ''[[Achaemenes]]'' as [[Greek language|Greek]] and extracting the meaning "he who waits with affliction".

Although not mentioned in the ''[[Odyssey]]'' of [[Homer]], which the ''Aeneid'' is a sequel to, Achaemenides is significant for being one of two known members of Odysseus' crew in literature to survive the return journey to Ithaca, along with [[Macar|Macareus]] (as every ship besides the flagship was destroyed by the [[Laestrygon]]ian giants, and those besides Odysseus on the last ship were drowned after his men devoured [[Helios]]'s sacred cattle).

The episode also provides Virgil with an opportunity to show Aeneas' magnanimity in saving a member of Odysseus' crew, and bearing no grudge for Odysseus' major role in the destruction of Troy, Aeneas' home.

== See also ==
* [[5126 Achaemenides]], Jovian asteroid

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

== References ==

* [[Ovid|Publius Ovidius Naso]], ''Metamorphoses'' translated by Brookes More (1859–1942). Boston, Cornhill Publishing Co. 1922. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0028 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.]
* Publius Ovidius Naso, ''Metamorphoses.'' Hugo Magnus. Gotha (Germany). Friedr. Andr. Perthes. 1892. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0029 Latin text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
* [[Virgil|Publius Vergilius Maro]], ''Aeneid.'' Theodore C. Williams. trans. Boston. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1910. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0054%3Abook%3D1%3Acard%3D1 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.]
* Publius Vergilius Maro, ''Bucolics, Aeneid, and Georgics''. J. B. Greenough. Boston. Ginn & Co. 1900. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0055 Latin text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
{{Aeneid}}

[[Category:Characters in the Aeneid]]


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