Achilles in Greek Mythology – The Hero of the Trojan War

Achilles is a legendary hero in Greek mythology, known for his bravery and strength in the Trojan War. He is the son of Peleus, the king of the Myrmidons, and the sea-nymph Thetis. His story is told in Homer’s epic poem “The Iliad,” which tells the story of the Trojan War and the anger of Achilles that led to the fall of the city of Troy.

Background and Early Life

Achilles was born to Peleus and Thetis, who were both immortal. To ensure that Achilles was also immortal, Thetis dipped him in the river Styx, which made him invulnerable to injury, except for the heel by which she held him. This weakness would later become known as “Achilles’ heel,” and ultimately led to his death.

As a child, Achilles was trained by the centaur Chiron in the arts of warfare, hunting, and music. He became a skilled warrior and was known for his bravery and strength.

Adventures and Wars

Achilles in the Calydonian Boar Hunt

One of Achilles’ earliest adventures was his participation in the Calydonian Boar Hunt. The Calydonian Boar was a giant wild boar that was terrorizing the land of Calydon. Achilles, along with many other heroes, was summoned by King Oeneus to hunt the boar and put an end to its destructive rampage. Achilles was successful in killing the boar and became one of the most celebrated heroes of the hunt.

Achilles with Jason and the Argonauts

Another adventure of Achilles was his participation in the Argonautic Expedition. The Argonauts were a group of heroes who sailed on a ship called the Argo in search of the Golden Fleece. Achilles, along with many other famous heroes such as Jason, Heracles and Orpheus, joined the expedition. They faced many challenges and monsters but ultimately succeeded in their quest, with Achilles playing a key role in their success.

Achilles and the Amazon Women

Achilles was also involved in the Amazonomachy, a series of battles between the Greeks and the Amazons, a tribe of fierce warrior women. Achilles fought bravely in these battles and was credited with many kills, further solidifying his reputation as a great warrior.

Achilles in the Caledonian War

Achilles was also involved in the Caledonian War, a war between the Greeks and the Gauls. He was an instrumental part of the Greek victory and was credited with many kills, once again establishing his status as a great warrior.

Achilles in the Trojan War

One of his most famous labours of Achilles was his participation in the Trojan War. The Trojan War was fought between the Greeks and Trojans and was sparked by the abduction of Helen, the wife of King Menelaus of Sparta, by the Trojan prince Paris. Achilles was the leader of the Myrmidons, one of the Greek armies that fought in the war. He had many notable battles, including the killing of the Trojan prince Hector, who was considered the Trojan’s greatest warrior. He also fought and killed many other Trojan warriors, including the warrior queen Penthesilea.

Despite his many adventures and labours, Achilles ultimately met his end in the Trojan War, when he was killed by an arrow shot by Paris, which hit him in his vulnerable heel. His death was a great loss to the Greeks, and his memory was honoured and celebrated for generations to come.

Involvement with the Gods

Achilles had many interactions with the gods during the Trojan War. His mother Thetis, who was a sea-nymph, helped him throughout the war by providing him with gifts and advice. The goddess Athena also helped Achilles, as she was the goddess of warfare and was on the side of the Greeks.

Achilles also had a close relationship with the god of poetry and music, Apollo. Apollo protected the Trojans and sent a plague to the Greek camp because Achilles had killed one of his priests.

The Story of Achilles’ Death

Achilles’ death was caused by an arrow shot by Paris, which hit him in his vulnerable heel. He was then cremated, and his ashes were mixed with those of Patroclus, his closest friend who he had been mourning for during the war.

Achilles’ death is a significant event in Greek mythology and is told in Homer’s epic poem “The Iliad.”

The Trojan War had been raging for ten years, and the Greeks were on the brink of defeat. To turn the tide of the war, the Greeks decided to steal the statue of the god Apollo from the Trojans, which they believed would bring them good luck. Achilles, who had been in a state of anger and had refused to fight, was persuaded to return to the battlefield by his closest friend Patroclus. Patroclus, wearing Achilles’ armour, led the Myrmidons into battle and was able to drive the Trojans back. However, he was eventually killed by Hector, the Trojan prince.

Achilles was devastated by the news of Patroclus’ death and swore to avenge him. He returned to battle and fought with renewed vigour, killing many Trojan warriors, including Hector, who was considered the Trojan’s greatest warrior. However, in the process of avenging Patroclus’ death, Achilles himself was killed.

Achilles’ death was caused by an arrow shot by Paris, the Trojan prince who had abducted Helen and started the war. The arrow was guided by the god Apollo and hit Achilles in his vulnerable heel, the only part of his body that was not invulnerable. Achilles died from the wound, and his death was a great loss to the Greeks.

After his death, Achilles’ body was cremated, and his ashes were mixed with those of Patroclus. The Greeks built a tomb for the two friends, and Achilles was honoured and celebrated as a hero and a god.

In summary, Achilles’ death was a significant event in Greek mythology and is told in Homer’s epic poem “The Iliad.” It was caused by an arrow shot by Paris, which hit Achilles in his vulnerable heel, the only part of his body that was not invulnerable. His death was a great loss to the Greeks and was honoured and celebrated as a hero and a god after.

Family Tree

Achilles, the famous Greek hero, has a rich and extensive family tree, with many notable figures from Greek mythology.

Achilles’ father was Peleus, the king of the Myrmidons. Peleus was the son of Aeacus, the king of Aegina, and Endeis, a nymph. Aeacus was the son of Zeus and Aegina, a mortal woman. Peleus was also the half-brother of Telamon, who was the father of Ajax, another famous Greek hero.

Achilles’ mother was Thetis, a sea nymph. Thetis was the daughter of Nereus, the god of the sea, and Doris, a sea-nymph. Thetis was also the sister of many sea nymphs, such as Galatea and Amphitrite, who were also known as the Nereids.

Achilles had a son, Neoptolemus, with the Trojan princess Deidamia, whom he had taken as a war prize. Neoptolemus was also known as Pyrrhus, and was a famous warrior in his own right, participating in the Trojan War.

Achilles also had a grandson, Molossus, through Neoptolemus. Molossus was the son of Neoptolemus and Andromache, the widow of Hector. He was the eponym of the Molossians, an ancient Greek tribe.

In conclusion, Achilles’ family tree is rich and extensive, connecting him to many notable figures from Greek mythology. His father was Peleus, the king of the Myrmidons, and his mother was Thetis, a sea-nymph. He had a son, Neoptolemus, with the Trojan princess Deidamia, whom he had taken as a war prize, and a grandson, Molossus, through Neoptolemus. His family tree also connects him to many other heroes and figures from Greek mythology, such as Telamon, Ajax, Nereus, Doris, and the Nereids.

The Worship of Achilles

After his death, Achilles was worshipped as a hero and a god in many parts of ancient Greece. He was especially venerated in Thessaly and on the island of Leuke. In some places, there were shrines dedicated to Achilles and annual sacrifices were offered to him.

Conclusion

Achilles is one of the most famous heroes of Greek mythology, known for his bravery and strength in the Trojan War. His story is told in Homer’s epic poem “The Iliad,” which tells the story of the Trojan War and the anger of Achilles that led to the fall of the city of Troy. He had many notable battles and interactions with the gods during the war, and his death was caused by a wound to his vulnerable heel, which is now known as “Achilles’ heel.” Despite his death, Achilles continued to be worshipped.

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