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Deidamia (daughter of Lycomedes)

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Deidamia
Princess of Scyros
Deidamia
AbodeSkyros
Genealogy
ParentsLycomedes
Siblingssix sisters
ConsortAchilles
OffspringNeoptolemus (or Pyrrhus) and Oneiros

In Greek mythology, Deidamia (/ˌddəˈmə/; Ancient Greek: Δηϊδάμεια Deïdameia) was a princess of Scyros as a daughter of King Lycomedes.[1]

Mythology

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Deidamia was one of King Lycomedes's seven daughters with whom Achilles was concealed.[2] Some versions of this story state that Achilles was hidden in Lycomedes's court as one of the king's daughters, some say as a lady-in-waiting under the name "Pyrrha".[3][4] The two soon became romantically involved to the point of intimacy.[5] After Odysseus arrived at Lycomedes's palace and exposed Achilles as a young man, the hero decided to join the Trojan War, along with his therapon, Patroclus, leaving behind his wife Deidamia.[6][7]

Years later, Deidamia tried to persuade their son, Neoptolemus, not to join his father in the same war, but after the death of Achilles, his father, Neoptolemus went for the Trojan war as the next Aristos Achaion. After the war, she was given in marriage by Neoptolemus to his slave Helenus, son of Priam, whom he had brought to Epirus.[8] Later on, Neoptolemus was eventually killed by Orestes when the son of Agamemnon went mad.[9]

In some accounts, Achilles and Deidamia had another son, Oneiros (Ὄνειρος). He was killed by Orestes, who didn't recognize him, in Phocis while fighting with him over a place to pitch a tent.[10]

Notes

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  1. ^ Dictys Cretensis, 4.15
  2. ^ Statius, Achilleid 296
  3. ^ Hyginus, Fabulae 96
  4. ^ Bion of Smyrna, Poems 2
  5. ^ Statius, Achilleid 640
  6. ^ Apollodorus, 3.13.8
  7. ^ Epic Cycle Fragments, The Cypria fr. 1 as cited in Proclus, Chrestomathia 1
  8. ^ Apollodorus, Epitome 6.13
  9. ^ Apollodorus, Epitome 5.11
  10. ^ Ptolemy Hephaestion, New History 3 as cited in Photius, Bibliotheca 190

References

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