Then Nestor shouted to his son Archilochus and he, coming to his rescue, saved his father's life at the price of his own. For, as some say, Memnon slew him, although there are those who say that Archilochus was killed by Hector 1 . Achilles kills Memnon. Nestor , who saw his son perish, asked Achilles to rescue his son's body and armour. But some say that it was Achilles ' spear that killed Memnon.
Soldiers turn into birds.
In any case some have told that when Memnon died, the whole Ethiopian army vanished with his king, the soldiers turning into birds. Now, some may feel tempted to reason that this is just a way of expressing the idea of the Ethiopian army escaping or being disbanded. And they may also feel that if the army was dispersed it would be better just to say so instead of making up capricious tales, which are most implausible. But, whatever they may feel, the Achaeans and Trojans were most amazed when they watched the Ethiopian army fly away. For current things amaze nobody, but extraordinary and impossible things do.