About Me
My name is actually Hippodameia, but I generally go by Briseis, as a tribute to my father, Briseus. I come from Lyrnessus, the capital of Dardania. I married King Mynes of Lyrnessus, a few years before the Trojan war began.
At the beginning of the war, I became a widow. My husband was killed in combat, along with my three brothers. After the battle, I was abducted by Achilles, and went from being a wife and Queen, to a war prize.
Things didn't turn out to terribly for me, despite everything that happened. Achilles treated me with all the love and respect that a man usually has for his wife. He considered me a great honor, because I was so well-educated. Of course, being beautiful didn't hurt either.
My life was flipped around again, after the prophet Calchas revealed that Apollo was unhappy with the Greek army because Agamemnon had refused to return his war prize, Chryseis. Agamemnon was so angry, he ordered Talthybius and Eryrates to take me from Achilles, as if I might make up for what he had lost. Personally, I think he just wanted to try and make Achilles suffer instead of allowing himself to suffer. Agamemnon has always been selfish and cruel like that.
Of course, after he realized that Achilles would no longer fight for him, and that they would probably lose without him, Agamemnon offered to give me back, along with dozens of other glorious prizes. It's funny, the kind of trouble that men always seem to be getting themselves into.
Some of my good friends are:
Achilles: Even though he basically kidnapped me and forced me into slavery for him, he has become someone who loves and cares for me tremendously. I know that he does tend to think of me as a "prize", but who can blame him? It is, after all, the culture we were raised in. As far as I'm concerned, the situation could be a lot worse.
Chryseis: Oh, my fellow war prize! I know my relationship with Chryseis never comes up, but I felt the need to put her on here, simply because I empathize with the girl. We were both taken from one side of the fighting to another as war prizes. I'm just glad that I didn't end up with a horrible person like Agamemnon. Poor girl!
Helen: I know Helen gets a lot of insults thrown at her, because she really is at the root of this war, but I can't help feeling sorry for her too. Both of us are in similar situations, as far as trying to figure out where our loyalties lie. She is originally from the side of the Greek army, but sympathizes with the Trojan army because of Paris. I am originally a Trojan, but I can't really be placed as a full supporter of the Trojan army because of my relationship with Achilles. That kind of thing really does complicate everything, let me tell you.
As for the man who will hopefully rot in Hades:
Agamemnon: What a jerk! Not only did he nearly ruin the Trojan army with his selfishness, but he actually had the audacity to try and steal me away from Achilles. If anyone ever treated me like an object while I was with the Greeks, it was him. I was nothing to him but a way to get back at Achilles-- he didn't care about my welfare at all. Too bad the whole thing backfired, isn't it, Agamemnon?
