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In Greek mythology, 'Andromache' (Ανδρομαχη) was the wife of Hector and daughter of Eetion, and sister to Podes. She was born and raised in the city of Cilician Thebes (Thebe under Placus), over which her father ruled. The name means "battle of a man", from ανδρος (''andros'') "of a man" and μαχη (''machē'') "battle".[1]
During the Trojan War, Hector was killed by Achilles, while their infant son Astyanax was killed by Achilles' son Neoptolemus. Neoptolemus took her as a concubine and Hector's brother, Helenus, as a slave. By Neoptolemus, she was the mother of Molossus. When Neoptolemus died, Andromache married Helenus and became Queen of Epirus.

Contents

Classical treatment

Classical treatment

★ Homer. Iliad VI, 390–430

★ Apollodorus. Bibliotheke III, xii, 6

★ Apollodorus. Epitome V, 23; VI, 12

★ Euripides. ''Andromache''

★ Virgil. Aeneid III, 294–355
In Euripides' play, she and her child are nearly assassinated by Hermione, Neoptolemus' wife and daughter of Helen. She is also the subject of a tragedy by French classical playwright Jean Racine (1639–1699), entitled ''Andromaque'', and a minor character in Shakespeare's ''Troilus and Cressida''.
She was portrayed by Saffron Burrows in the 2004 film ''Troy'', and by Vanessa Redgrave in the 1971 film version of Euripedes' ''The Trojan Women''.