CHRYSES IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Chryses was a character who appeared in the tales of Greek mythology, and most notably in events surrounding the Trojan War. Nominally a Trojan ally, Chryses would be responsible for the death of a great number of Achaean troops, yet Chryses was not a noted hero, but was a priest of Apollo.
The Family of Chryses
According to later traditions, Chryses was a son of Ardys, and named by some as a brother of Briseus, the father of Briseis.
Chryses comes to prominence when he is named as a priest of Apollo from the city of Thebe, a city east of Mount Ida. This city was ruled by King Eetion, who was an ally of King Priam. Late in the Trojan War this city was taken by the Achaean forces, and was plundered by the Greeks.
During the ransacking of Thebe, many women were taken as prizes, and one such woman was Chryseis, the beautiful daughter of Chryses.
Chryses comes to prominence when he is named as a priest of Apollo from the city of Thebe, a city east of Mount Ida. This city was ruled by King Eetion, who was an ally of King Priam. Late in the Trojan War this city was taken by the Achaean forces, and was plundered by the Greeks.
During the ransacking of Thebe, many women were taken as prizes, and one such woman was Chryseis, the beautiful daughter of Chryses.
Chryses in the Achaean CampChryses would travel to the Achaean camp and ask that he be allowed to ransom his daughter, an act that was prevalent during the conflict, and a ransom was normally agreed upon. The beautiful Chryseis though had caught the eye of Agamemnon, who desired to make her his concubine, and so despite the eloquent words of Chryses, and the promise of much treasure, Agamemnon refused to release Chryses' daughter.
|
|
In fact despite the pleadings of Chryses, Agamemnon verbally abused the priest of Apollo and Agamemnon eventually threw Chryses out of the Achaean camp.
The Vengeance of Chryses
When alone, Chryses would pray to his patron, the Olympian god Apollo; Apollo was already opposed to the Achaean forces, but the prayers of Chryses provoked him into direct action, and when night was at its darkest point, Apollo entered the Achaean camp. There, Apollo unleashed his arrows, but rather than penetrating the armour of the Achaeans, the arrows spread a plague throughout the camp, and as a result the Achaean army was decimated.
Calchas would eventually advise Agamemnon of the only way in which the plague could be swept from the camp, was to return Chryseis to her father. A reluctant Agamemnon agreed, although he would take Briseis from Achilles as compensation, leading to further issues for the Achaeans.
Calchas would eventually advise Agamemnon of the only way in which the plague could be swept from the camp, was to return Chryseis to her father. A reluctant Agamemnon agreed, although he would take Briseis from Achilles as compensation, leading to further issues for the Achaeans.
Chryses after the Trojan War
Chryses though would be reunited with his daughter, and this is the last mention of Chryses during the Trojan War, although the priest of Apollo would appear afterwards, during the adventures of Orestes.
It would appear that Chryseis had been pregnant with Agamemnon's son when she was reunited with her father, for a son called Chryses (after his grandfather) was born. This younger Chryses would believe that he was a son of Apollo, but the truth was revealed years later.
At the time when Orestes and Iphigenia were leaving Tauris, their ship landed upon the island of Zminthe, where they were captured by the younger Chryses, but the elder Chryses, then revealed that Orestes, was the half-brother of the younger Chryses. Thereafter, Chryses joined with Orestes, and both would later return to Mycenae.
It would appear that Chryseis had been pregnant with Agamemnon's son when she was reunited with her father, for a son called Chryses (after his grandfather) was born. This younger Chryses would believe that he was a son of Apollo, but the truth was revealed years later.
At the time when Orestes and Iphigenia were leaving Tauris, their ship landed upon the island of Zminthe, where they were captured by the younger Chryses, but the elder Chryses, then revealed that Orestes, was the half-brother of the younger Chryses. Thereafter, Chryses joined with Orestes, and both would later return to Mycenae.
|
Colin Quartermain - Chryses - 11th September 2018