The Iliad 3.139–153

for her former lord and her city and parents; and straightway she veiled herself with shining linen, and went forth from her chamber, letting fall round tears, not alone, for with her followed two handmaids as well, Aethra, daughter of Pittheus, and ox-eyed Clymene; and with speed they came to the place where were the Scaean gates. Because of old age had they now ceased from battle, but speakers they were full good, like unto cicalas that in a forest sit upon a tree and pour forth their lily-like1 voice; even in such wise sat the leaders of the Trojans upon the wall. Now when they saw Helen coming upon the wall,

ὣς εἰποῦσα θεὰ γλυκὺν ἵμερον ἔμβαλε θυμῷ ἀνδρός τε προτέρου καὶ ἄστεος ἠδὲ τοκήων· αὐτίκα δʼ ἀργεννῇσι καλυψαμένη ὀθόνῃσιν ὁρμᾶτʼ ἐκ θαλάμοιο τέρεν κατὰ δάκρυ χέουσα οὐκ οἴη, ἅμα τῇ γε καὶ ἀμφίπολοι δύʼ ἕποντο, Αἴθρη Πιτθῆος θυγάτηρ, Κλυμένη τε βοῶπις· αἶψα δʼ ἔπειθʼ ἵκανον ὅθι Σκαιαὶ πύλαι ἦσαν. οἳ δʼ ἀμφὶ Πρίαμον καὶ Πάνθοον ἠδὲ Θυμοίτην Λάμπόν τε Κλυτίον θʼ Ἱκετάονά τʼ ὄζον Ἄρηος Οὐκαλέγων τε καὶ Ἀντήνωρ πεπνυμένω ἄμφω ἥατο δημογέροντες ἐπὶ Σκαιῇσι πύλῃσι, γήραϊ δὴ πολέμοιο πεπαυμένοι, ἀλλʼ ἀγορηταὶ ἐσθλοί, τεττίγεσσιν ἐοικότες οἵ τε καθʼ ὕλην δενδρέῳ ἐφεζόμενοι ὄπα λειριόεσσαν ἱεῖσι· τοῖοι ἄρα Τρώων ἡγήτορες ἧντʼ ἐπὶ πύργῳ.

Lattimore commentary

Aithre was the mother of the Athenian hero Theseus, who does not figure in the Trojan War epic. (In other versions, his son recovers her at the end of the conflict.) Theseus helped his friend Peirithoös abduct Helen as a child, and Helen’s brothers in return captured Aithre, according to some myths. The line has been seen as an Athenian interpolation (as has Nestor’s earlier mention of Theseus: 1.265).

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thumos