The story of the Iliad describes allies of Troy. Among them was Penthesilea (also called Aethiopia, Queen of the Amazons. All authorities attest the valor of these women. Penthesilea, having slain many of the bravest Greeks, was at last slain by Achilles. But ... as he contemplated the beauty of his fallen dying foe, he fell in love ... he bitterly regreted his victory. Thersites (terse) laughed at Achilles for mourning Penthesilea. Achilles, indignant, beat him to death with his fists (one of the many tragedies sprinkling the Iliad).

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