Who Kills Paris in Troy?

By Michael Ferguson

The Trojan War is one of the most famous and epic battles in history. It was a ten-year siege that pitted the Greeks against the Trojans, and it all started because of a love affair.

The story goes that Paris, a prince of Troy, fell in love with Helen, the wife of Menelaus, the king of Sparta. Paris abducted Helen and took her back to Troy, which led to the Greeks declaring war on Troy.

But who killed Paris in Troy? The answer is not as straightforward as you might think.

According to Homer’s epic poem “The Iliad,” it was Philoctetes who ultimately killed Paris. However, there are different versions of the story that give credit to other characters.

One version of the story goes that during the final battle between the Greeks and Trojans, Paris was shot with an arrow by Philoctetes who had been abandoned by his fellow Greeks on an island due to a snake bite which caused unbearable pain in his foot. Philoctetes had a bow given to him by Heracles (Hercules), which was known for its deadly accuracy.

Another version says that it was Achilles, one of Greece’s greatest warriors and a key figure in the Trojan War who killed Paris. In this version, Achilles chased Paris around the city walls until he finally caught up with him and struck him down with his spear.

However, there is yet another version that attributes Paris’s death to Neoptolemus (also known as Pyrrhus), son of Achilles. According to this version, Neoptolemus infiltrated Troy and found Paris hiding in a temple. He then killed him with his sword.

Regardless of who actually killed Paris in Troy, his death marked a turning point in the Trojan War. With their prince dead, the Trojans lost their morale and were eventually defeated by the Greeks.

In conclusion, while there are different versions about who killed Paris in Troy, what is undeniable is that his death had a significant impact on the outcome of the Trojan War. The story of Paris and Helen remains one of the most enduring tales of love and war in all of literature.