Today, the tales of Greek mythology are male dominated, with male gods more powerful than female deities, and male mortals famous than females. This was especially true during the later Hellenic period when the religious ceremonies diminished the roles of preceding female goddesses. There are though some famous female characters from the period; amongst the goddesses were Aphrodite, Athena and Hera, and amongst the mortals were the likes of Helen, Cassandra and Andromache.

Many ancient writers, including Homer, Euripides, Seneca, Virgil and Ovid would write about Andromache, either calling her by name, or referring to her as the wife of Hector. Andromache would be made famous in part for appearance in the story of the Trojan War, but also because of her life after the fall of Troy.

Andromache was the daughter of King Eetion of Thebae in Cilicia. Her father and seven brothers would be killed by Achilles, when the Greek hero sacked their city; whilst Andromache’s mother would end up in Troy after being ransomed. Andromache was already in Troy at this time as she had been married to Hector. Hector was the son of Priam, and intended successor to the throne of Troy, and so Andromache would become queen of the city.

Andromache is normally described as being beautiful, although not as beautiful as Helen, but she was also described as being the perfect wife for the period; loving, dutiful and loyal. In many ways Andromache was the female equivalent of Hector, both being mindful of their duties; Andromache being aware of her role as wife, mother to Astyanax, and future queen of Troy.

The wife of Hector though, could also be outspoken, and was not above offering Hector military advice, nor to remind him of his duties of husband and father. In ancient sources, Andromache is noted for placing the blame for the Trojan War on the shoulders of Helen, just as Hector would blame Paris.

Hector would eventually die at the hands of Achilles, and so Andromache would become the mourning wife. The period of grief though would be extended when Troy itself would fall to the Achaeans. When the city fell both Andromache and Astyanax were captured, and the Greeks fearful that the son of Hector would one day seek revenge on those who had captured Troy, would throw the child to his death from the walls of the city. This act of murder is sometimes put down to the actions of Talthybius, the Greek herald, Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles, or to Odysseus.

Andromache herself would become a prize of war, just as many other Trojan women did, and the widow of Hector would find herself the concubine of Neoptolemus. The only connection that now remained with Troy was her brother-in-law Helenus, who was also Neoptolemus’ prize. The story of Andromache after Troy is one that appears predominantly in the play ‘Andromache’ by Euripides. Neoptolemus would settle in Epirus with his growing household, although his lot would not prove to be a happy one. The son of Achilles would marry Hermione, the daughter of King Menelaus and Helen. There was instant dislike between Hermione and Andromache, a situation which did not improve when Hermione could not have any children with her husband, yet the concubine Andromache ended up with three sons, Molossus, Pielus and Pergamus

Whilst Neoptolemus was absent at Delphi, Hermione, with the assistance of Menelaus, sought to do away with her rival. Andromache, fearing for her life, prayed to Thetis, the mother of Achilles for help; Menelaus though threatened that it was either her life or the life of Molossus that would be taken that day. Salvation for Andromache would come in the form of Peleus, a noted Greek hero, and grandfather of Neoptolemus, who acted as protecting for the concubine.

Neoptolemus himself would not return from Delphi, as he was killed by Orestes, and Hermione left to be by the side of the killer of her husband. Neoptolemus’ realm was divided up, and Helenus, the slave, friend and lover of the former king, now found himself king of Epirus. Andromache would become Helenus’ new wife. Helenus and Andromache would have one child, Cestrinus.

Andromache was happy for the first time since the death of Hector, and for many years remained in Epirus. Eventually though Helenus would himself die, and the throne would pass to Andromache’s son, Molossus. Andromache would then depart with another son Pergamus.

Pergamus and Andromache would travel into Asia Minor and would come to Teuthrania; Pergamus would kill the king of Teuthrania, King Areius, and would take the throne. The new king would rename his new kingdom after himself. It was in this kingdom that Andromache would eventually die of old age.

The life of Andromache is one of cycles of happiness and despair. When happily married to Hector, Andromache would lose of husband, her son and her home, but would eventually gain a new kingdom and would be blessed with four further sons. In Ancient Greece, Andromache was normally depicted as the ideal woman, and whilst men were supposed to be heroic, women were to be loving and loyal, something which Andromache was.