In Greek mythology, Penthesilea (also spelled "Penthesilia") was an Amazonian queen, daughter of Ares and Otrera, sister of Hippolyte. Penthesilea killed Hippolyte with a spear when they were hunting deer. According to many accounts, this accident caused Penthesilea so much grief that she wished only to die, but, as a warrior and an Amazon, she must do so honorably and in battle. She therefore was easily convinced to join in the Trojan War, fighting on the side of the city's defenders.

Penthesilea offering aid to Priam

She is said to have been killed by Achilles (or vice-versa, in rarer accounts) in battle. After her death, Achilles found himself awe-struck by her beauty, and when one of the Greek soldiers, Thersites, laughed at him for this, Achilles killed him. After that, more Greeks wanted Achilles to throw Penthesilea's remains into a river, and he eventually had to give way.

Diomedes, the relative of Thersites, in revenge for his death, dragged the dead body of the Amazon out of the camp, and threw it into the Scamander. Other accounts say that Achilles buried it on the banks of the Xanthus (Tzetz. ad Lyc.997).

Alongside Penthesilea were twelve other Amazons, including Antibrote, Ainia, and Cleite, who was going to go to Troy with them but never made it.

She was succeeded as Queen of the Amazons by Antianara.

Pausanias describes a painting of Penthesilea at Olympia (Pausanias 5.11.6) and as part of the the painting of Polygnotus in the Lesche of the Cnidians in Delphi (Pausanias 10.31.8).

Achilles and Penthesilea, BM B209

Death of Penthesilea, J. H. Tischbein

Images:

Terracotta votive shield. Achilleus and Penthesileia, Tiryns around 7th century B.C. Archaeological Museum of Nauplion