Patroclos, the most noble warrior the Greek has ever known.

A little recap, Patroclos which means “glory of the father”, was the son of Menoetius, grandson of Actor, King of Opusis and Achilles‘childhood best friend and considered the only trusted person of Achilles, aside from his goddess-mother, Thetis. Patroclos was the main reason why Achilles was involved in the Greek battle campaign of Troy. However, Achilles wanted to protect him from harm.

When the tide of war turned away from the Achaeans (Greeks) because of the on-going stand-off and rift between King Agamemnon and Achilles, the Trojans threatened their ships to be severely attacked. Patroclos quietly knew the situation but cannot convince Achilles to join their comrade into the war; he secretly donned Achilles' war armor and helmet. Both the Greeks and the Trojans thought Achilles had come back to the battle and lead the Myrmidons into combat. In his enthusiasm for actual combat, Patroclos pursued the Trojans all the way back to the gates of Troy. Patroclos killed many Trojans and allies including the Lycian hero Sarpedon (a son of Zeus), and Cebriones (the chariot driver of Hector and illegitimate son of Priam). Patroclos was stunned by Apollo, wounded by Euphorbos, and then finished off by Hector. At the time of his death, Patroclos had killed 53 enemy soldiers.

Patroclos’ fiery desire to contribute greatly to the positive outcome of the Greek campaign in Troy even though it meant he needed to give up and sacrifice his life, no doubt, was the most noble thing a man can do to his motherland. Because his death became the key and catalyst to the victory of the Greeks and to the sudden fall of Troy for simple reason that Achilles, the ultimate warrior of all time had returned to the battle, renouncing the wrath that kept him out of action, routs the Trojans back to the city. He avenged Patroclos death at the hand of Hector. Hector being the greatest fighter of Troy, was the main backbone of the defense of the wall of Troy. When Achilles defeated Hector in a duel, dragged and mangled his body, it demoralized the spirit of the Trojan forces that defended the wall of Troy against the Greek forces, including Hector’s father, King Priam. It was a matter of short time, Troy fell at the hand of King Agamemnon.

Without Patroclos and his sudden demise, many Greek lives will be sacrificed and lost.  Indeed, Patroclos was the noblest warrior of all the Greek and Spartan combined. Patroclos became a big part of the greatest epic the world had ever known, the Iliad. His name was immortalized by his deeds and heroics.