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Troilus and Cressida

Troilus and Cressida (troi'lus, kres'idu) [key], a medieval romance distantly related to characters in Greek legend. Troilus, a Trojan prince (son of Priam and Hecuba), fell in love with Cressida (Chryseis), daughter of Calchas. When she was exchanged for a Trojan prisoner of war, Cressida swore to be faithful to Troilus, but then deceived him with Diomed. Troilus was killed by Achilles. This story appeared first in Benoît de Sainte-More, from whom Boccaccio drew for his Filostrato. Chaucer and Shakespeare also used this legend.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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