| “ | And he will launch his comrade, Patroclus, into action and glorious Hector will cut him down with a spear in front of Troy, once Patroclus has slaughtered whole battalions of strong young fighting men.
— Zeus, The Iliad by Homer
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In Greek mythology, Patroclus is a major figure in stories of the Trojan War, being famously portrayed in Homer's Iliad. He is the childhood friend, brother-in-arms, and possible lover of the famed Greek warrior, Achilles.
In his youth, Patroclus struggled with bouts of violent rage, resulting in the death of another boy during an argument. In an attempt to temper his anger, Patroclus was entrusted with the mentorship of the young Achilles, the prince of the Myrmidon tribe. Over the years, the pair developed a deep bond and became extremely close. As adults, Patroclus and Achilles led the Myrmidons during the Trojan War, aligning with the united Greek forces.
Nine years of war passed without either side gaining a decisive advantage. However, in the tenth year, a dispute occurred between Achilles and the Greek commander Agamemnon, causing Achilles to withdraw from the fighting. Without the Myrmidons' aid, the Greeks quickly lost ground to the advancing Trojans. Many Greek soldiers, including Patroclus, attempted to persuade Achilles to rejoin the fight, but they could not sway him.
Patroclus decided to don Achilles's armor and take his place on the battlefield. Leading the Myrmidons, Patroclus shifted the tide of the war in favor of the Greeks. However, he was killed by Hector, the greatest champion of the Trojans, aided by the god Apollo. When Achilles learned of Patroclus's death, he returned to the conflict with a violent fervor for vengeance. After Achilles's death, his and Patroclus's ashes were interred in the same urn.
Battle vs. Gilgamesh and Enkidu alongside Achilles (by Laquearius)[]
TBW
Winners: Achilles and Patroclus
Expert's Opinion[]
TBW