Neoptolemus

For other people named Neoptolemus, see Neoptolemus (disambiguation).

Neoptolemus killing Priam on a black-figure amphora, Louvre.

Scene from the tragedy Andromache by Euripides: Orestes kills Neoptolemus at the altar of Apollo in Delphi. Despairing Hermione, wife of Neoptolemus but previously promised to Orestes, kneels at the foot of the altar. Roman fresco in Pompeii

Neoptolemus's Kingdom, Epirus

In Greek mythology, Neoptolemus (/ˌniːəpˈtɒlɪməs/; Ancient Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος, romanized: Neoptólemos, lit. 'new warrior or young warrior'), originally called Pyrrhus at birth (/ˈpɪrəs/; Πύρρος, Pýrrhos, 'red'), was the son of the mythical warrior Achilles and the princess Deidamia, and the brother of Oneiros. He became the progenitor of the ruling dynasty of the Molossians of ancient Epirus. In a reference to his pedigree, Neoptolemus was sometimes called Achillides (from his father Achilles' name) or, from his grandfather's or great-grandfather's names, Pelides or Aeacides. According to Pseudo-Apollodorus, he is the ancestor of Olympias, mother to Alexander the Great. According to Plutarch, Neoptolemus was also the ancestor of Pyrrhus of Epirus.

In Philostratus work Heroicus, Neoptolemus is said to have received his name in honor of Achilles’ youth, when Achilles first took up arms and began his life as a warrior.

In Scholia to Lycophron's Alexandra, John Tzetzes writes that the term "Skyrian dragon" refers to Neoptolemus because of his violent and bloodthirsty nature.

The phrase the "Punishment of Neoptolemus" (Νεοπτολέμειος τίσις) refers to a form of retribution in which a person suffers the same wrong that they once inflicted on another. The expression derives from the story of Neoptolemus, who killed Priam at an altar and later met his own death at an altar.