Memnon

Memnon was a legendary king of Aethiopia in Greek mythology, known for his beauty and his role in the Trojan War. He was the son of Tithonus of Troy and Eos (Aurora), the goddess of dawn.

Role in the Trojan War:

Memnon led a large army from Aethiopia to aid the Trojans in their defense against the Achaeans. He arrived late in the war, after the deaths of many prominent Trojan heroes, including Hector. He quickly distinguished himself as a formidable warrior, killing Antilochus, Nestor's son, which fueled the rage of Achilles.

Death:

Memnon was eventually slain by Achilles in single combat. The battle between the two heroes was said to be epic and fiercely fought. Zeus, moved by the grief of Eos and aware of Memnon's valor, intervened and granted him immortality. There are varying accounts of how this immortality manifested. Some say he was transformed into a statue.

The Colossi of Memnon:

The two colossal statues near Thebes in Egypt, depicting Pharaoh Amenhotep III, were incorrectly identified by the ancient Greeks and Romans as being statues of Memnon. They believed that the northernmost statue "sang" each morning at dawn, a sound actually caused by the rising sun heating the cracked stone. This sound was interpreted as Memnon greeting his mother, Eos. The phenomenon ceased after the statues were restored by the Roman emperor Septimius Severus.

Legacy:

Memnon is remembered as a noble and valiant warrior, a symbol of youthful beauty tragically cut short. His story is a recurring motif in ancient Greek literature and art, highlighting themes of war, mortality, and divine intervention. His association with the Colossi of Memnon cemented his place in popular imagination, even though the connection is historically inaccurate.