The Legend Of Achilles

In Greek Mythology, Achilles is considered to be one of the legendary heroes. He was an incredible, bold and brave warrior and was very loyal to his friends. He was also invulnerable except his “Achilles heel”. His stories and adventures are shown in the great poet Homer's the Illiad.

Early life

Like most mythological heroes, he family was complicated. His father was Peleus, the king of Myrmidons who were courageous and skilled soldiers. His mother was a sea nymph, Thetis. Thetis was always worried about her child Achilles. She always had a fear that he might die. She tried various ways to make him immortal. She dipped him into the waters of the River Styx, whose waters were told to grant the immortality of the gods and made him invulnerable. However, she kept hold of his foot as she dipped him into the river and the water didn’t touch his heel. As a result, it was the only vulnerable area of his body.

When he was a child, a prophet predicted that Achilles would die heroically by fighting the Trojans.   In fear of her son, Thetis sent him to the island of Skyros. But he soon left it and joined a Greek army and trained himself as a warrior. At last Thetis asked Hephaestus the divine blacksmith to make a sword and shield that would protect Achilles. The shield was distinctive and it made him stand out from others.

Achilles and the Trojan War

Legend says that the Trojan war was begun by the god-king Zeus in an effort to diminish the earthy human population. He arranged a war between the Greeks and the Trojans. At the wedding of Achilles's parents, the prince of Troy was invited by Zeus. His name was Paris. He was asked to be a judge at a beauty contest between goddesses Hera, Athena and Aphrodite. Aphrodite was the most charming of all and she promised to give the young prince the most beautiful wife in the world. The beautiful was she was talking about was unfortunately the daughter of Zeus- Helen who was already married to the King of Sparta, Menelaus. However Paris decided to go to Sparta and win her heart. He eventually did. This enraged the Spartan king and he decided to bring her back and also destroy Troy. This started the beginning of the Trojan war which lasted for almost 10 years. 

However, Achilles had a fight with Menelaus and he refused to fight the battle with him. As Achilles withdrew from the battle the Greek army suffered heavy defeat against the Trojans. So, Patroclus, Achilles's loyal friend arranged a compromise between them. He accepted his comprimise  but refused to go into battle. So Achilles gave his shield to Patroclus which would deceive the enemy thinking that it was Achilles who has returned to the battlefield and would make the Trojan army retreat. But Hector, Paris's elder brother killed him in the battle. Hearing this shocking news Achilles went to challenge Hector for a fight and he killed him. He embarrassed Hector by tying him at the back of his chariot and dragging him all the way to the Achaean camp. But he returns his dead body for proper burial in Troy.

According to legend, Achilles wanted to inflict further damage upon Troy to revenge his friend. But Apollo, told Paris that he was coming. Paris was not a brave warrior and he ambushed him as he entered Troy. He knew Achilles's weakness and he shot an arrow on his heel which was his only weak spot. He died heroically on the spot, without a single defeat in battle.