BRISEIS

In Greek mythology, 'Brisēís' (Greek Βρισηίς) was a Trojan widow (from Lyrnessus) who was abducted during the Trojan War by Achilles upon the death of her three brothers and husband, King Mynes of Lyrnessus, in the fight. After an oracle forced Agamemnon to give up Chryseis, a woman he had captured, the king ordered his heralds Talthybius and Eurybates to take Briseis from Achilles as compensation. Achilles was offended by this seizure and, as a result, withdrew from the fighting. He did not return to the fray until the death of Patroclus.
The retirement of Achilles to his tent is the first event of Homer's ''Iliad''. With Achilles removed from the conflict, the Trojans enjoyed a period of success. After Achilles' return to the fighting, Agamemnon restored Briseis to Achilles.
Briseis's real name was 'Hippodameia', "Briseis" being a patronym as a daughter of Briseus.
In the ''Iliad'', Briseis is Achilles' captive, given to him by the Greek army as a prize. He also loves her, comparing their relationship with that of man and wife, and is angry at the thought of Agamemnon sleeping with her. When the quarrel is resolved, Agamemnon swears to Achilles that he has never slept with Briseis.^[1]
In the medieval romances Briseis becomes 'Briseida' and is the daughter of Calchas. She loves and is loved by Troilus and then Diomedes. She is later confused with that of Chryseis and it as Cressida that the character is developed further.

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References to Briseis in novels

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References to Briseis in novels

In ''The Firebrand'' by Marion Zimmer Bradley, Briseis fell in love with Achilles and chose to leave Troy to be with him.
The novel "Daughter of Troy," by Sarah B. Franklin is written from Briseis's point of view.

Notes

1. ''Iliad'' 9.334-343, 19.261-263.

Briseis also features in the film Troy.In the film Briseis(Played by Rose Byrne)falls in love with Achilles.

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