Friendships in History, especially from mythology and the ancient world have withstood the test of time. Achilles and Patroclus are known from Greek Mythology, and primarily from Homers Iliad, were friends as boys, and their close relationship (which may have been that they were lovers), only continued to grow until their untimely deaths during the Trojan War. The ambiguity of Homer's writing has left everyone who is familiar with the story wondering whether they were indeed lovers or not, but what is certain is that they could not live without each other.
The relationship between the Roman General Mark Antony and Cleopatra IV of Egypt has gone down in history as one of the best known love stories of all time, with an ending which parallels that of Romeo and Juliet. What is not as widely discussed is their close friendship and their wild ways, out on the town getting drunk and causing mischief.
The stories of love and friendship in the ancient world have survived in many forms, and from many regions, and today we will be having a look at these two famous friendships, and the stories that have prevailed for thousands of years.
CHAPTERS: 0:00 Introduction 0:21 Achilles and Patroclus 3:29 Antony and Cleopatra
Hello and welcome to Ancient History Encyclopedia. My name is Kelly and in honor of International
Friendship Day on the 30th of July, we're going to have a look at some of the friendships of the
ancient world. Let's begin with the friendship of Achilles and Patroclus from Greek mythology.
Godlike Achilles was the greatest warrior in Homer's Iliad and grew up with Patroclus in the
court of Achilles' father, Peleus. Peleus sent Achilles and Patroclus to be educated by the
and this is where their relationship deepened. Patroclus took on the role of the wiser older
brother to Achilles, who was more impetuous and was ruled by his emotions. Both men joined the
military campaign led by Agamemnon and Menelaus, known as the Trojan War. At Troy, Agamemnon
insulted Achilles by taking his slave girl, Briseis, away from him. Achilles and Patroclus,
along with all of Achilles' fighters, known as the Myrmidons, responded by refusing to continue
fighting the Trojans. At this point, the Greeks started to lose the war and Patroclus pleaded
with Achilles to put away his pride and return to the fight. Achilles refused but allowed Patroclus
to fight wearing his armor in order to inspire the Greeks. The ruse worked and Patroclus killed
enemy men before he was killed by Hector. After his death, Achilles flew into a rage,
fueled not only by the loss of his friend, but by the part he played in Patroclus' death
by clinging to his pride. Achilles would not bury Patroclus until he had killed Hector,
which he soon did, and that night Patroclus came to Achilles in a dream asking to be buried with
him. Achilles died soon after by an arrow shot at him by the Trojan king Priam, which struck his
only vulnerable spot, his heel, hence the saying, Achilles' heel, in reference to someone's
weakness. After the bodies were cremated, the ashes of the two friends were buried in a golden
urn. It is unknown if their relationship extended to being lovers or if they were even real people
at all, but they served as a model of friendship for over 2,000 years, each bringing something to
the relationship that the other lacked. Patroclus completed Achilles with his reason and thoughtfulness
and Achilles did the same for Patroclus with his passion and spontaneity. Neither was complete
without the other and neither could bear the thought of separation. This is immortalized in
But one more thing, a last request, grant it please, never bury my bones apart from yours, Achilles,
let them lie together, just as we grew up together in your house. Patroclus got his wish as the two
were buried together. Achilles' relationship with Patroclus is riddled with ambiguity due to the
and as noted, we are unsure if it was simply a friendship or if they were lovers. What we are
sure of is that their relationship has served as a model of male friendship to later writers
for thousands of years up until the present day. Our second friendship has no romantic ambiguity at
all as it is one of the best known love stories of all time. It's the story of Cleopatra VII of Egypt
and Mark Antony of Rome. Cleopatra VII was first involved with Julius Caesar and after his death
was summoned by the general Mark Antony to appear before him at the city of Tarsus to
answer charges against her that she helped Julius Caesar's enemies. Now according to historian Plutarch
she took her time in preparing herself and her royal barge in order to make a striking first
impression when she first went to meet Antony. She came sailing up the river Kidness in a barge
with gilded stern and outspread sails of purple while oars of silver beat time to the music of
flutes and fifes and harps. She herself lay all along under a canopy of cloth of gold dressed as
Venus in a picture and beautiful young boys like painted cupids stood on each side to fan her.
Although Antony was married to Octavia the sister of the powerful Octavian the future Augustus Caesar
he fell in love with Cleopatra immediately and eventually considered her his legitimate wife
abandoning Octavia for her. Antony and Cleopatra were more than just lovers they were best friends.
Plutarch described their relationship she played at dice with him drank with him hunted with him
and watched him as he exercised himself in arms and when by night he would station himself at the
doors or windows of the common folk and scoff at those within she would go with him on his round of
mad follies wearing the garb of a serving maiden. They would get drunk dress up as servants and
cause mischief in whatever city that they were in after dark. Their relationship is consistently
depicted as both a close friendship and as a love affair. Throughout the wars that they fought
against Octavian they remained devoted to each other and always had each other's backs that is
until the battle of Actium in 31 BCE when they were defeated by Octavian's navy. One year later
Antony killed himself believing that Cleopatra had died and then Cleopatra killed herself after
hearing of Antony's death. Just like Achilles and Patroclus they are said to have been buried
together. So after hearing the stories of Achilles and Patroclus and Antony and Cleopatra do you see
any similarities between the friendships? One a comradeship from boys to men and the other a wild
friendship and close love affair? Let us know down in the comments below. This video was brought to
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