#othryoneus

[andros-paidophonoio]

Priam seeing this broke ass guy trying to propose to his daughter joing the war after 10 years: sure yeah fight I guess

[gracchisuggestions]

Cassandra: If I had a coin for every man who joined the war because they fell madly in love and wanted to win my hand in marriage, I would have two coins.

Cassandra: Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice, right?

[effulgentpoet]

mythology aesthetics

OTHRYONEUS

In Greek mythology, Othryoneus was a suitor of Cassandra of Troy during the Trojan War, mentioned in one passage in Homer's Iliad. Othryoneus was from Cabesos, and had taken part in the war in the sole purpose of marrying Cassandra, the "loveliest" according to Homer, and to which her father Priam had assented. Othryoneus was killed during the Battle of the Ships.

[babyrdie]

He slew Othryoneus, who was with them from Kabesos, who had come recently after report of the war, and had asked for the hand of the most beautiful of Priam’s daughters, Cassandra, without bride-price, and promised a great deed— to drive away from Troy by force the sons of the Achaeans. And old Priam nodded assent and promised to give her to him; and Othryoneus fought trusting in his promises. At this man Idomeneus took aim with his shining spear and cast, striking him in mid high-stepping stride; nor did his breastplate protect him, bronze though it was, which he was wont to wear, but it fixed in the middle of his stomach, and he fell with a thud. And Idomeneus vaunted over him in a loud voice: “Othryoneus, I compliment you beyond all men, if you are really to accomplish all you promised to Dardanian Priam; and he promised you his daughter. We too would promise to fulfill the same terms for you, and give you the son of Atreus’ most beautiful daughter, bringing her out from Argos to marry, if joining with us you would sack the well-settled city of Ilion. Come, follow me, so that we may come to agreement by our seagoing ships about your marriage, since we are not greedy about marriage gifts.”

The Iliad, 13.363-382. Translation by Caroline Alexander.

I really wanted to know more about Othryoneus. He fought a war that wasn't his exclusively because he loved Cassandra... and died having his feelings mocked by the assassin. While there is no mention of Cassandra's prophetic powers in the Homeric texts and so it is not possible to be 100% sure if he was considering it, I wonder about the idea of ​​Othryoneus loving Cassandra even when he is unable to believe in her and even when she is known to be crazy. And not just loving her, but loving her enough to risk his life to protect her and what is important to her (her city, her family, etc). And although Othryoneus went to war believing in these promises, Cassandra already knew that there was no way to believe in this because she already knew the cruel fate.