In Greek mythology’s Trojan War, the Ethiopian king Memnon fought for Troy and was killed by Achilles.
Memnon was the son of the dawn goddess Eos and the mortal king Tithonus. He arrived at Troy with an army to help defend the city after the death of Hector. Ancient traditions present him as a formidable warrior and a worthy counterpart to Achilles.
Achilles and Memnon eventually met in single combat. Achilles killed Memnon, but the loss did not end the war immediately. Memnon’s death is the central event of the Aethiopis, an epic traditionally attributed to Arctinus of Miletus. Only fragments and later summaries of that poem survive.
Memnon should not be confused with Sarpedon, another prominent Trojan ally and son of Zeus, or with Rhesus, a Thracian ally. In Egyptian archaeology, the “Colossi of Memnon” are named after the mythical king, although the statues depict Pharaoh Amenhotep III.