# Funeral of Memnon explained — Metamorphoses

> Chapter companion for Metamorphoses by Ovid.

## What happens

Aurora mourns the death of her son Memnon, killed by Achilles at Troy. She pleads with Jove to honor his memory, and Jove transforms Memnon's ashes into birds (Memnonides) that annually divide into two warring flocks, fighting to the death in his honor.

## Themes in this chapter

### Transformation and Metamorphosis

Memnon's ashes are transformed into a flock of birds, a literal metamorphosis that perpetuates his memory.

### Mortality and Immortality

A mortal hero dies, but through divine intervention his essence is immortalized in a recurring natural phenomenon.

### Violence and Revenge

The birds born from Memnon's ashes engage in annual combat, reenacting the violence of his death.

## Character check-ins

### Aurora

Goddess of the dawn, mother of Memnon, who mourns her son and petitions Jove for a memorial.

### Jove

King of the gods, who grants Aurora's request by transforming Memnon's ashes into birds.

### Achilles

Greek hero who slays Memnon in battle.

### Memnon

Son of Aurora, killed by Achilles; his funeral pyre gives rise to the Memnonides birds.

## Key lines

> Yet bright Aurora, partial as she was To Troy, and those that loved the Trojan cause, Nor Troy nor Hecuba can now bemoan, But weeps a sad misfortune, more her own.

Although Aurora had favored Troy, she now sets aside grief for the city and Hecuba to mourn her own personal loss: her son Memnon.

_Aurora's grief shifts from the collective Trojan cause to her individual maternal sorrow._

> Thrice round the pile advanced the circling throng; Thrice, with their wings, a whizzing consort rung. In the fourth flight their squadron they divide, Rank'd in two different troops, on either side: Then two and two, inspired with martial rage, From either troop in equal pairs engage.

The newly formed birds circle the pyre three times, then split into two opposing armies and fight in pairs, driven by warlike fury.

_The birds' ritual combat mirrors the martial honor of Memnon, from whose ashes they sprang._

> Punctual to time, with each revolving year, In fresh array the champion birds appear; Again, prepared with vengeful minds, they come To bleed, in honour of the soldier's tomb.

Every year, the birds return in new generations to fight and die at Memnon's tomb, perpetuating his legacy.

_The annual battle of the Memnonides becomes a timeless tribute to the fallen hero._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/funeral-of-memnon
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters