Achilles & Patroclus
The love that decided the Trojan War
The greatest Greek warrior and his companion Patroclus, whose love antiquity read as a model of devotion; Patroclus's death unleashes the rage that defines "The Iliad."
01Why it matters
It is one of the oldest and most-debated loves between men in Western literature, reclaimed today by "The Song of Achilles."
02The conflict
The Trojan War and Patroclus's death at Hector's hands.
03The iconic moment
Achilles cradling Patroclus's body and returning to war to avenge him.
04What survived
Madeline Miller's novel "The Song of Achilles" (2011).
05Frequently asked questions
Why is the story of Achilles & Patroclus famous?
It is one of the oldest and most-debated loves between men in Western literature, reclaimed today by "The Song of Achilles."
How does the story of Achilles & Patroclus end?
Achilles cradling Patroclus's body and returning to war to avenge him. Madeline Miller's novel "The Song of Achilles" (2011).
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