Polyxena
mythological figure · 4 works · 6 mentions · 12 anchored passages
in the texts
Orations
Trojan woman sacrificed at the tomb of Achilles, cited by Diogenes as an example of foolish superstition about the needs of the dead.
But the Achaeans were so foolish as to think that even the dead have further need of women, and they slaughtered Polyxena at the tomb of Achilles.
and to slaughter Polyxena, a maiden, on a tomb, and to pour such libations to the son of the goddess;
Hecuba
Daughter of Hecuba and Priam, condemned by the assembled Achaeans to be sacrificed at the tomb of Achilles; she accepts death nobly rather than live in slavery.
admired among maidens, equal to a goddess, save for death alone, but now I am a slave!
far happier would he be dead than alive, for life bereft of honor is toil and trouble.
but she, even in death, took good heed to fall with grace, hiding from the gaze of men what must be hidden.
Stromata
Trojan princess portrayed by tragic poets as maintaining modesty even while being slaughtered.
And by the tragic poets Polyxena, though she is being slaughtered, is recorded — even dying, yet to have taken much forethought to fall decently, "hiding what must be hidden from the eyes of males.
The Trojan Women
Daughter of Hecuba and Priam, sacrificed at the tomb of Achilles; her death is first hinted by Talthybius and later confirmed by Andromache.
at Achilles’ tomb, without her knowledge, her daughter Polyxena has died most piteously;
Your daughter Polyxena is dead, slain at Achilles’ tomb, an offering to his lifeless corpse.
Her death was even as it was, and yet that death of hers was after all a happier fate than my life.