Greek and Roman Mythology: Heroes: Achilles
[ Achilles ] [ Atlanta ] [ Bellerophon ] [ Hercules ] [ Jason ] [ Odysseus ] [ Perseus ] [ Proteus ] [ Theseus ]
Achilles was best known as the central figure in Homer's Illiad.
Some say that without the help
of Achilles, the Greeks would have never defeated the Trojans. Achilles was a great war hero that was sometimes known for
his fits of rage and revenge. It seems as though his anger was as greatly known as his fits of prowess.
Birth: It was told that the son of Thetis would be greater than his father. Many wanted to have a son by Thetis, but did not want to take the chance of the prophecy coming true. Thetis was then quickly mated with a mortal man. Thetis was an intelligent sea-nymph who knew that her son was destined to be a hero that would die in battle. In order to make him invulnerable she bathed him in the river Styx. However, the place where she held the child (his heel) was not able to be bathed in the river. It was this spot that brought the injury that caused him his life. He was a mighty warrior at Troy, but was killed in battle when the young man Paris shot a poisoned arrow into his heel.
Disguise: When Achilles was growing up with the centaur Chiron, an oracle foretold that he would die a young man at Troy. His mother once again worried, and so dressed him up as a young woman and hid him in the court of King Lycomedes at Scyros. Other warriors knew from an oracle that Troy would not be captured without his help, and sought to show his true identity at court. This was done by Odysseus presenting gifts to all of the "maidens." All of the other women selected feminine gifts, while Achilles selected weapons (some say it was a reaction to a horn blown by Odysseus)...thus revealing his true identity.
Pronunciation: a-KILL-eez
Other Names: Pelides, Aeacides
Father: Peleus
Mother: Thetis
Wife: Deidamia
Lovers: Penthesilea, Patroclus, Deidamia, Briseis, Diomede, Iphigenia, Medea, Helen
Children: Neoptolemus
Myths: The Illiad
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Copyright: Nikki Burke 2000-2008
Website Last Updated: January 03, 2008
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