Fancy Napkin Folding: Here

Who Am I?

Andromache is the epitome of the loyal wife.

She was married to Hector, son of Priam, and with him had two sons, Astyanax and Laodamas.

“Hector from Andromache’s embrace went to arms, and it was his wife who placed his helmet upon his head”

Andromache’s father was Eetion, king of Thebae. Achilles slew her father and her seven brothers when he captured Thebae, but Andromache was already married to Hector and residing in Troy.

Hector was eventually killed by Achilles.

“Three times he (Achilles) had dragged Hector around the Trojan walls, and Achilles sold the lifeless body for gold”

Andromache’s power comes from her devoted loyalty to her family, both husband and sons. This kind of loyalty is internal, and does not express itself in external violence

After the fall of Troy, it fell to the Greek council to determine Astyanax’s fate. However, the seer Calchas prophesied that Astyanax would grow up to avenge Troy and his father, Hector. In the Troades, Odysseus tells Andromache that if Astyanax cannot be found to be sacrificed, Calchas has ordained that Hector’s ashes must be strewn over the ocean, and his tomb destroyed.

This sets Andromache with a moral dilemma. Should she let her husband’s remembrance be disgraced, and let her son die? Or is her son’s life worth the desecration of her husband’s tomb?

Andromache’s final decision is to preserve her son, Astyanax, but he is ultimately found and sacrificed.

Andromache was then given to Neoptolemus, son of Achilles, as a spoil of the war. The two settled in Epeirus, and Andromache bore his sons: Molossus, Pielus, Pergamus, and Amphialus.

Neoptolemus left Andromache in Epeirus while he went to Phthia to marry Hermione (although she was betrothed to Orestes). Orestes stabbed Neoptolemus to death in Phthia. Some stories tell of jealous Hermione’s cruelty toward Andromache, for Hermione could not bear children.

After Neoptolemus’ death, Andromache married Helenus (son of Hecuba and Priam), and bore him Cestrinus. Molossus succeeded Helenus to the throne of Epeirus, but Andromache journeyed with Pergamus to Asia Minor after Helenus’ death and there lived out the rest of her days.