Achilles was a Greek hero in mythology who was prophesied to die young. To prevent this, his mother Thetis bathed him in the River Styx, making him invulnerable except for his heel. Achilles grew up to be a great warrior but was killed by an arrow to his heel. He is remembered as one of the greatest fighters in the Trojan War and had close relationships with Patroclus and King Priam of Troy.
3. WHO IS ACHILLES?
Achilles
In Greek mythology, when Achilles was a baby, it was foretold that he would
die young. To prevent his death, his mother Thetis took Achilles to the River
Styx, which was supposed to of fer power s of invulnerability, and dipped his
body into the water. But as Thetis held Achilles by the heel, his heel was not
washed over by the water of the magical river. Achilles grew up to be a man
of war who sur vived many great battles. But one day, a poisonous arrow shot
at him was lodged in his heel, killing him shor tly af ter. Still, Achilles is
remembered as one of the greatest fighter s who ever lived.
According to a myth arising later, his mother had dipped the infant Achilles
in the river Styx, holding onto him by his heel, and he became invulnerable
where the water s touched him —that is, ever ywhere except the areas of his
heel that were covered by her thumb and forefinger. It is not clear how the
water s of the Styx, which silenced the gods for nine year s, could confer
immor tality; or how Thetis could gain access to them; or how Peleus would
accidentally discover the project.
The use of “Achilles’ heel” as an expression used for “area of weakness,
vulnerable spot” dates only to 1 840, with implied use in Samuel Taylor
Coleridge 's "Ireland, that vulnerable heel of the British Achilles!" from 1 810.
4. ACHILLES ATTITUDE
Achilles has a sympathetic side, he is brave, courageous but
also arrogant. But out of the tons of character traits one could
bestow upon Achilles, the one that seems to be the most vital is
his audacious way on and out of the battle field. He leads his
men into victory and is a good leader. He is the greatest warrior
in the Trojan war. He can’t be defeated easily because he was
dipped in the river of styx, but also has a weakness which is his
heel.
5. ACHILLES PARENTS
Thetis was a sea nymph, specifically, a Nereid who inherited the
ability to shape-shift. She helped Hephaestus when he was
thrown from the Olympus, Zeus, when threatened by other gods,
and Dionysus when he fled from Lycurgus. Poseidon and Zeus
were both interested in Thetis until a prophecy revealed that a
son born to her would be greater than the father. So instead of
mating with the gods, Thetis was pressed to marry the
Thessalian King Peleus. Thetis would appear not to have been to
happy with the arrangement and when Peleus came to take her
away, she changed her shape, again and again. In time, she
agreed to marry Peleus. And had their son, Achilles who was a
demi-god
6. ACHILLES AND PATROCLUS
Achilles and Patroclus
Achilles and Patroclus were close friends from their time being fostered by
Chiron.
A gamemnon had angered Achilles, so Achilles was sitting out the Trojan War,
but Patroclus tried to talk him into rejoining or, if not, at least to lend him
his armor and let him lead the Myrmidons into battle. Achilles agreed to let
Patroclus fight dressed in his armor and to lead the Myrmidons.
Patroclus went into battle looking just like Achilles, at least to the Trojans.
The Trojans were afraid of Achilles because he was the greatest of the
Greeks. Having him sitting out the war was good for the Trojans. Having him
back fighting was dangerous. That made the Achilles figure who was secretly
Patroclus a prized Trojan target. Although Patroclus wasn't as good a warrior
as Achilles, he did kill Sarpedon and many other Trojans.
Patroclus was killed, ultimately, by Hector.
Af ter Achilles got revenge of his friend's killing by killing Hector, he cremated
Patroclus ' corpse and held elaborate funeral games to honor him.
7. ACHILLES AND KING PRIAM
Achilles and King Priam
Priam prepares to go to Achilles
What courage Priam shows in resolving to go alone on the mission to
Achilles to ransom his son's body. While Hecuba rightly mistrusts Achilles
and wishes to eat Achilles' liver, Priam feels that he must go and even if
he is wrong, he must hold his son's body one last time .
Priam finds Achilles
The poem ends with one of the most moving scenes in all literature.
Priam kneels, hugs Achilles' knees and kisses Achilles' hands, "those
terrible, man -killing hands that had slaughtered Priam’s two sons in
battle" (561 -2). Priam opens himself to Achilles and asks Achilles to
think of his own father. They sit together in silence, both weeping.
8. ACHILLES AND HECTOR
Athena posses as one of hectors brothers and tells hector that
he will help hector fight Achilles. Hector is tricked by Athena
and then has no choice. Hector charges for Achilles and Achilles
does the same. Achilles has a longer weapon and so he
thrashes his spear into hectors windpipe. Hector still has some
few moments left and then ask Achilles to give his body back to
his loved ones at troy so he may be properly buried. Achilles
refuses and hectors last words is that Paris who was the one
who started the entire war will kill Achilles at the gates of troy
where hector is being killed now.
9. HOW GREAT IS ACHILLES IS?
1.
He’s a great warrior of his time. Almost of the people knew
him for winning all his combats.
2. He got mad at King Agamemnon for capturing Briseis when
the Achaeans abducted her. He felt that he had to be
responsible for her.
