The tragedy was written in 1806-07 and is based on one version of the myth of Penthesilea and Achilles. The action takes place on the battlefield near Troy.

Odysseus, Antilochus and Diomedes talk about the Queen of the Amazons Pentesilea, who led the troops to lift the siege from Troy. Odysseus had already suggested that she give up her intentions, but she said that "the answer will come from the quiver."

Odysseus re-sends troops with a proposal for peace, but the Amazons attack them and capture Achilles. However, he escapes from captivity, despite the persecution of Penthesilea.

The queen in rage wants to kill the hero: “Only one of my blows is worthy!” The maid Proto notes the mistress's attitude towards Achilles: “The fire of love burns within you,” and says that she herself fell in love with the captive of Lycaon, king of Arcadia. Penthesilea in anger accuses her of betrayal, but then bursts into tears and rushes to her neck: "You are the best of all my friends / Let's go fight, we will win." They are going away.

The high priestess of the goddess Diana appears with baskets of roses, accompanied by joyful, cheerful girls and armed Amazons with captives. The priestess asks the Amazons why they do not celebrate in the name of love, and they answer that men reject their society.

The Amazon runs in with bad news: the Greeks are advancing, the army of the Amazons is defeated. The queen was defeated in the battle with Achilles: “Sensing the canopy of death, she fell from the horse. / When she, obedient to revenge, / Lied in the dust, we all thought, / That he would immediately overthrow her into hell; / But he stands pale, incomprehensible, / Like a shadow of death. " At this moment, the wounded, pale Penthesilea enters the hall. The handmaids persuade her to flee from Achilles, but she refuses: “My soul is tired, mortally. Run as long as you want, "" It is better to be dust than an unfriendly friend. " The servants desperate call her insane, conjure herself to be saved, but Penthesilea refuses, tries to rush into the river, but Protoe stops her.

The surviving Amazons are preparing to defend their queen. The approaching Achilles disarms, refusing to fight with the Amazons: "I am deeply wounded in your heart, I bow to your small legs." Meanwhile, King Diomedes approaches with an army, urging the Amazons to surrender. Proto and Achilles carry the Queen away from the battlefield. She is breathing. Achilles tells Protoe about his love for Penthesilia, but then the queen comes to her senses, and Achilles hides behind a tree so as not to frighten her. Penthesilea says she saw a nightmare where she became a captive and mistress of Achilles: "Curse to those who survived to shame, curse me when I accept my husband." Seeing a hero who is clearly not going to attack her, she thinks that the battle was won by her captivity, and Achilles confirms this by kneeling before her. The triumphant Penthesilea orders to bring Lycaon, beloved Protoe, she nods and leaves. The choir sings hymns about glorious victory, convincing the queen of triumph. Achilles tells Penthesilea about her love, and she reciprocates - now that Achilles is a defeated captive, her honor will not be scolded if she becomes his wife. She wants to see the troops, but the returning Protoe convinces her that they are driving the fleeing Greeks.

Penthesilea says that the Amazons come from a people defeated by enemies. Once captive wives, unable to endure the inheritance of servants and slaves, killed the invaders and became their masters. The kingdom of the Amazons was replenished by the strongest women from all over the country, who underwent severe trials in the capital of the Amazons, Femiskir.

Achilles asks: "Why are you pursuing me so zealously?" Penthesilea replies that when her mother was near death, she bequeathed to her to get married to Achilles Pelid, the news of whose glorious exploits came to Amazonia. “They sounded the responses of the battles of the Trojans, Sorrow disappeared,” the great world of warlike joys arose in my soul. ” Seeing Achilles, Penthesilea herself fell in love with him to unconsciousness.

A ringing of weapons is heard - the Greeks are approaching - and Achilles is forced to reveal the truth to the queen: "You have been given me the merciless happiness and it was you who fell at my feet when we met - not me." Penthesilea in despair and confusion - the honor forbids her, the Queen of the Amazons, to become the wife of her winner. The commander who ran in reports that happiness is now on the side of the Amazons, crowding the Greeks.

An army of Amazons appears, the Greeks flee, Odysseus leads Achilles away: “Madman! This is not the time to be stubborn! ”

The queen remains with the priestess and the Amazons. Penthesilea curses "shameful victory." The priestess, speaking from the crowd, reveals the queen of ingratitude to her army, the desire to surrender to the enemy. A messenger arrives, reporting that Achilles is challenging Pentesilia. The queen, not understanding the plan of Achilles to surrender to her, furious from betrayal, arms herself and collects dogs and elephants for the battle with Achilles.

Achilles talks about his love for Odyssey. Odysseus tries to dissuade him, but he is adamant - he wants to surrender to the queen, because then he can become her husband. Penthesilea refuses to marry him, being in the position of a slave.

One of the Amazons resorts to the high priestess with terrible news: the queen, having lost her human appearance, along with the dogs torment Achilles.

Pentecilea, having regained consciousness, sees a corpse covered with a carpet and in fear asks if it is Achilles. Seeing the murdered lover and realizing that his death was the work of her own hands, the queen in horror and despair kisses the body: “Now I’ll just say what I wanted. I loved you. Nothing more".

Penthesilea releases the Amazons to Femiskira: "I renounce the law of the riders and follow the young man Pelides." Protoe understands that the queen wants to commit suicide and takes away her weapons. Penthesilea, not opposing, gives back the dagger and arrows, answering: “Now I am going down into the depths of my soul, / Like a mine. / There, cold iron, / I find the feeling of destruction. / I will cleanse it with a flame of longing, / And I will steel, and I will drink poison / Repentance, through and through with the worst poison. / On the eternal anvil of hope / I will sharpen, I will hone a dagger, / And I will substitute a chest for this dagger. / So! So! Yet! Well, that's good!". The queen dies, Protoe says, looking at her body: “She blossomed so proudly, and therefore fell. / It brings out a dead oak tree, / But a strong storm will break and tumble, / Clinging to a magnificent peak. "