In Greek mythology, Penthesilea (also spelled "Penthesilia") was an Amazonian queen, daughter of Ares and Otrera, sister of Hippolyte, Antiope and Melanippe. Penthesilea killed Hippolyte with a spear when they were hunting deer. According to many accounts, this accident caused Penthesilea so much grief that she wished only to die, but, as a warrior and an Amazon, she must do so honorably and in battle. She therefore was easily convinced to join in the Trojan War, fighting on the side of the city's defenders. Greek mythology comprises the collected legends of Greek gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines, originally created and spread within an oral-poetic tradition. ... In Greek mythology, the Amazons were either an ancient legendary nation of female warriors or a contemporary land of women at the outer edges of the world. ... This article is about Ares, the Greek god of war. ... In Greek mythology, Otrera (or Otrere) was the consort of Ares and mother of Hippolyte and Penthesilea, and ancestress of the Amazons. ... This article is about Hippolyte in Greek mythology. ... ... In Greek mythology, Melanippe referred to several different people. ... The Trojan War was a war waged, according to legend, against the city of Troy in Asia Minor by the armies of Greece, following the kidnapping (or elopement) of Helen of Sparta by Paris of Troy. ... Walls of the excavated city of Troy (Turkey) This article is about the city of Troy / Ilion as described in the works of Homer, and the location of an ancient city associated with it. ...

She is said to have been killed by Achilles (or vice-versa, in rarer accounts) in battle. After her death, Achilles found himself awe-struck by her beauty, and when one of the Greek soldiers, Thersites, laughed at him for this, Achilles killed him. After that, more Greeks wanted Achilles to throw Penthesilea's remains into a river, and he eventually had to give way. For other uses, see Achilles (disambiguation). ...

Alongside Penthesilea were twelve other Amazons, including Antibrote, Ainia, and Cleite. However Cleite's ship was blown off course and she never reached Troy. In Greek mythology, Antibrote was one of the twelve Amazons who accompanied Penthesilea to the Trojan War. ... In Greek mythology, Ainia was an enemy of Achilles and an Amazon, one of the twelve who accompanied Penthesilea to the Trojan War. ... In Greek mythology, Cleite was one of the twelve Amazons who were to accompany Penthesilea to the Trojan War. ...

She was succeeded as Queen of the Amazons by Antianara. In Greek mythology, Antianara succeeded Penthesilea as Queen of the Amazons. ...