ParisOenone1.0000_Reid

Paris and Oenone.
After being abandoned by his natural parents, Paris was raised by shepherds on Mount Ida. When he grew to manhood, he became a cattle herdsman and married Oenone, daughter of a river-god. She had learned the arts of prophecy and healing from Rhea. Oenone warned her husband not to pursue Helen but could not convince him. At their bitter parting, she urged Paris to come to her for succor if he should ever be mortally wounded.
     When Paris was struck by Philoctetes’ poisoned arrow, near the end of the Trojan War, he remembered Oenone’s words and asked to be carried to her. However, Oenone was unable to forgive Paris for abandoning her and refused to help him. Paris was taken back to Troy. Repenting, the nymph took her magical drugs and followed him there but found that he had died. In remorse, she hanged herself (or leapt onto his funeral pyre).