After The IliadThis presentation explains the fate of important characters who survived The Iliad based on other sources from Greek and Roman authors.

Achilles Dies when Paris shoots him in the heel

with an arrow guided by Apollo

Agamemnon Returned to Greece with Cassandra,

Priam’s prophetic daughter. Agamemnon’s wife Clytemnestra killed them both.

Agamemnon famously says to Odysseus: “As I lay dying, the woman with the dog's eyes would not close my eyes as I descended into Hades."

Menelaus & Helen They return home together to Sparta.

Their marriage is not great.

Odysseus Devised the Trojan horse scheme to

invade Troy. Leads the attack and is largely responsible for fall of Troy.

Following the events of The Odyssey, his death is uncertain. Some say he died later on one last sea voyage.

Ajax After Achilles died, Ajax and Odysseus

competed for the armor that Achilles had received from the gods. Ajax made a pretty good speech, but he was no match for Odysseus who is a master speaker. When Ajax lost he immediately drew his sword and fell on it in dishonor.

Paris Killed by a minor Greek warrior prior to

the fall of Troy

King Priam Killed during the fall of Troy

Andromache Taken as a slave, as Hektor feared, but

lived out her life and died of old age

Astyanax (Hektor’s son) Thrown from the city walls during the

fall of Troy, specifically to prevent any princes of Troy from surviving.

Briseis Stays with Achilles until his death.

Mourns Achilles death. Her fate is unknown after that although she was likely taken by another soldier.

Chryseis (also known as Cressida) Was returned to her father in Troy.

Shakespeare wrote a play about her called Troilus and Cressida, where she falls in love with Hektor’s brother Troilus. Presumably she is taken prisoner or dies during the fall of Troy.