The major women involved in the stories about the Trojan War were Helen of Troy, who started it all, Iphigenia, who was sacrificed, Cassandra, who was not believed, Clytemnestra, who was betrayed, Andromache, widowed by the major Trojan hero, Hecuba, who gave birth to Paris, Briseis, who created tension in the Greek ranks, and Polyxena, who may have revealed Achilles' heel.
1. Helen of Troy
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Helen of Troy was the daughter of Leda and Zeus, sister of Clytemnestra, Castor and Pollux (the Dioscuri), and wife of Menelaus. The beauty of Helen of Troy was so overwhelming that Theseus and Paris of Troy abducted her and the Trojan War was fought to bring her back home. Helen of Troy is referred to as the face that launched a thousand ships.
2. Briseis
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After Achilles killed Briseis' husband, King Mynes of Lyrnessus, he took Briseis as his concubine. When Agamemnon had to give up his own concubine, he commandeered Briseis. As a result, Achilles refused to fight for Agamemnon. Although a concubine, Achilles loved Briseis and she him. However unlikely, Briseis expected Achilles to marry her because of something Patroclus said.
3. Cassandra
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Cassandra, daughter of Priam and Hecuba of Troy, was Agamemnon's war prize whom he brought back home with him. Cassandra was given the gift of prophecy by Apollo in exchange for her favors, but when Cassandra reneged, he punished her by letting her keep the gift, but preventing anyone from believing her. The utterances of Cassandra were thought the ravings of a mad woman.
4. Iphigenia
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Iphigenia was the daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon. Agamemnon had angered the goddess Artemis. In order to propitiate the goddess, Agamemnon had to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia at Aulis where the Achaean fleet was impatiently waiting for a wind to cross over to Troy. In order to trick Iphigenia into coming, Agamemnon sent word to Clytemnestra that Iphigenia was to marry Achilles, so Clytemnestra willingly brought her daughter to the wedding/sacrifice. In some versions of the story, Artemis saved Iphigenia at the last minute.
5. Hecuba
Hecuba was the mother of many children with her husband King Priam of Troy, including Cassandra, Paris, Hector, and Deiphobus. Before her son Paris was born Hecuba had a vision that was interpreted to mean she would give birth to the destruction of Troy.6. Polyxena
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Polyxena was the youngest daughter of Hecuba and Priam of Troy. At the end of the Trojan War, Neoptolemus, son of Achilles, sacrificed her on his father's tomb, in accordance with a dying request of the hero. Whether Achilles wanted her dead so Polyxena could join him in the afterlife or to repay her for betraying his weak spot -- Achilles' heel -- is not clear, but Achilles fell in love with her when he saw her at the fountain where her brother Troilus was watering his horses.
7. Andromache
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Andromache loved her husband Hector who was killed by Achilles. With Hector she gave birth to Scamander or Astyanax who was hurled from the walls of Troy. After Troy fell, Andromache was given as a war prize to Neoptolemus, by whom she gave birth to Pergamus.
8. Clytemnestra
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Clytemnestra was the daughter of Leda and Tyndareus, and the wife of King Agamemnon. Clytemnestra ruled while her husband was away. When Agamemnon returned (after having murdered their daughter Iphigenia), with Cassandra as concubine in tow, Clytemnestra killed her husband. Orestes, their son, killed her.
