POLYXENA
The one who was sacrificed.
NARRATIVE
In Greek mythology, Polyxena was the youngest daughter of the Trojan King Priam and his queen, Hekabes. Legends or stories may differ because they are written by different classical authors. An oracle prophesied that Troja would be safe until Prince Troilus was 20. Prince Troilus is Polyxena's brother. During the Trojan War, Polyxena and Troilus are captured together, and Troilus is killed by Achilles. Achilles was greatly influenced by Polyxena. Polyxena started to trust Achilles. Achilles called Polyxena to meet at the temple of Apollo. While Achilles' mother was washing him in holy water, his mother held Achilles' heel. Therefore, Achilles' weakest part is his heel. When Polyxena and Achilles meet in the temple, Achilles tells this to Polyxena. Polyxena's brothers Paris and Deiphobos ambush Achilles in the temple of Apollo and shoot Achilles in the heel with a poisoned arrow of Apollo.
DEATH OF POLYXENA
Some think that Polixena committed suicide out of guilt after Achilles' death. But according to the legend, Troy is defeated by the army of Aka, Achilles dies. With this defeat, Hekabe and Polyxena were also captured. Achilles' son Neoptolemus had a dream. Neoptolemus asks the oracle about his dream. The prophets say that Achilles, who died during the war, wanted Polyxena to be with him (to the next world), Polyxena should be sacrificed next to Achilles' grave, and Polyxena's soul should be delivered to Achilles. The proud Polyxena sacrifices herself for the remaining Trojans and does not resist the Achaeans who come to bring her to death.
THE POLYXENA SARCOPHAGUS
The description of the sarcophagus exhibited in the Troy Museum in Çanakkale is as follows;
This sarcophagus was discovered in 1994 in the Kızöldün area of the Gümüşçay district, which lies to the east of the Granicus (Kocabaş) Valley. It is dated to 500-490 BC, i.e. during the period of Persian control in the Troad. It is the earliest example of a sarcophagus with figural scenes to have been found in Anatolia. On one of the long sides, the sacrifice of Polyxena, the younger daughter of the Trojan King Priam and Queen Hecuba, is depicted, hence the name of the sarcophagus. On the adjacent short side, her mother Hecuba squats under a leafless tree and mourns her daughter’s death. The other two scenes focus on a celebration, with an enthroned woman receiving gifts in the company of musicians and dancers. Although the majority of the figures on the reliefs are women, the sarcophagus contained the body of a 40 year old man.
A hole in the lid of the same side indicates that the sarcophagus was robbed in antiquity. There are 37 figures in the reliefs on the side faces of the sarcophagus.