The Capture of Cassandra and Death of Coroebus

This oil painting portrays Cassandra after being captured by the Greeks during the Sacking of Troy. It also depicts the death of Coroebus, who was the son of King Mygdon of Phrygia, as he attempts to stop Ajax from raping Cassandra after he drags her from the Altar of Athena. Coroebus is shown with his left arm pinned by a soldier and surrounded by three armored men, with one man in the far right holding a rope to tie on Cassandra (Cassandra is the one in the blue and red dress with a green sleeve). The inspiration for this painting likely comes from The Aeneid, an epic poem by the ancient Roman poet Vergil. In the Aeneid, Coroebus convinces Aeneas, along with other Trojans, to disguise themselves as Greek soldiers in order to surprise the enemy, which initially works. However, when they go to rescue Cassandra from Ajax, they were fired upon by other Trojans who mistook them for Greek soldiers, and then the Greeks realized they were Trojans. Because of that, many in Aeneas’ group, including Coroebus, are killed as they try to rescue Cassandra