Aethiopis

work by Arctinus

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July 23, 2026

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The Aethiopis was an ancient Greek epic poem, part of the Epic Cycle, that described events following Homer's Iliad. It was written by Arctinus of Miletus between the 8th and 6th centuries BCE. The poem focused on the exploits of Achilles after the events of the Iliad, including his battles against the Ethiopian king Memnon and the Amazon queen Penthesilea. The Aethiopis concluded with Achilles' death, struck by an arrow guided by Apollo to his vulnerable heel, fired by Paris. This epic was one of many that covered the entire story of the Trojan War.12

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Achilles
The poet Arctinus in his Aethiopis took up the story of the Iliad and related that Achilles, having slain the Ethiopian king Memnon and the Amazon Penthesilea, was himself slain in battle by Priam’s son Paris, whose arrow was guided by Apollo.
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The poet Arctinus in his Aethiopis took up the story of the Iliad and related that Achilles, having slain the Ethiopian king Memnon and the Amazon Penthesilea, was himself slain in battle by Priam’s son Paris, whose arrow was guided by Apollo.
Read More