Briseis played a great role in the
Trojan war because she was the reason that Achilles refused to fight with
the Greeks after his anger with the King Agamemnon. Briseis was the wife of
Brisseus king of the Lelegs. When Achilles conquer the city of Lirnissos
took as prisoner Briseis. She became Achilles beloved slave, but when
Agamemnon had to give back his maid Cressida demanded from Achilles to give
him Briseis. That caused a great anger to Achilles and therefore he refused
to fight. The episode was one of the most significant of the Trojan war
because it caused the death of his best friend Patroclus by Hector, when he
tried to imitate Achilles wearing his armour.
Cressida
was the daughter
of the priest and seer
Calchas
of Troy. She was very beautiful, and was loved by Troilus.
When Calchas defected to the Greeks, Cressida stayed in Troy and was treated
well. Calchas managed to get
Agamemnon to ask king Priam for
Cressida, and the Trojan king had her escorted to the Greek camp by several
of his sons.
Even though she was betrothed to Troilus, she fell in love with Diomedes
the Argive. Her love was returned, and Diomedes did everything
he could to kill Troilus every time they met on the battlefield. * the
article is about