Achilles

 Achilles, The Great Greek Warrior

Ancient Greek polychromatic pottery painting (dating to c. 300 BC) of Achilles during the Trojan War (7)

   As anyone who is firmilar with Greek mythology knows; Achilles was said to be the greatest fighter of his time. However his downfall came from a single arrow piercing through his back heel. Anyone who isn't firmilar with Greek mythology would still recognize the term "Achilles heel". Does this sound firmilar? The definition of Achilles heel is as follows; "a fault or weakness that causes or could cause someone or something to fail". (10) Many believe Achilles' weakness is where this saying came from.

His Story

Achilles was the sixth son of Peleus, (the king of the Myrmidons of Thessaly) and Thetis (the sea Nymph). (2) The five previous babies all died as infants. So after he was born Thetis feared for his safety. In hopes to make him immortal she dipped Achilles into the Styx River whilst she held onto him by the foot. (1) By doing this she missed dipping in his one foot, so rather than being immortal Thetis made Achilles' body "invulnerable" everywhere the water touched meaning everything but his one foot, which she failed to notice was untouched by the waters remained "vulnerable". (1)

As Achilles grew up in Phthia he trained to be a warrior, it became clear quickly he would be the best Greek warrior there ever was. Even better than his own Father. (1) Fearless, and untouchable he was unstoppable. During his early teen years he befriended Patroclus (an exile from Opus) who became his "squire" or advisor. Together they were educated by centaur Chiron. In different re-tellings Achilles relationship with Patroclus varied, Patroclus was either his: best friend, cousin, or lover. Regardless he was a very important person to Achilles. 

Statue of Achilles, pulling an arrow out of his heel. Achilles during the Trojan war (9)

In his late teen years Achilles helped lead his Father's Army in the "Trojan war." Alongside Agamemnon The "King of Kings" While taking over villages Achilles was given the highest of war prizes; a princess to be his prisoner named Brisies. (3) The length of the war varies from different sources some saying 10 days up to 10 years. Throughout the war Achilles and Agamemnon butted heads frequently. After Agamemnon lost his war prize (his prisoner Chryseis) he demanded Achilles give him Brisies because he was of higher power. When Achilles refused Agamemnon stole her from him. This action resulted in Achilles feeling dishonored, causing him to withdraw himself from battling in the war. (2) Without Achilles the Greek Army was weakened and vulnerable. Many other men stalled from the war waiting for Achilles to return to the battle. Patroclus feared they would lose to the Trojans if nothing changed. After trying to plead with Achilles to lead the men in war again, and failing, Patroclus took Achilles Armour and went out on the battlefield. Seeing who they thought was Achilles caused the other men to follow. Thinking it was Achilles the prince Hector of Troy kills Patroclus. As a prize Hector takes the Armour from Patroclus' body and discovers it was not in fact Achilles who he had killed. When Achilles heard what had happened to Patroclus he was so enraged with revenge he rejoined the battle and sought to kill Hector himself to avenge Patroclus. Achilles called on Hector to have a one on one battle for killing Patroclus, Achilles vengefully kills Hector and without showing mercy dragged Hector's dead body behind him. (1) Which is a major dishonor. (4) In return Hector's brother Prince Paris who wasn't a good combat fighter shot an arrow at Achilles, which found its way to Achilles' heel, his secret weak spot. (5) This injury to the one unprotected part of his body causes him to fall to the Trojans resulting in his death. (6) Many believe that Achilles was a selfish, self absorbed man. What do you think? Was he selfish to remove himself from fighting in the war?

The Song of Achilles book

"The Song Of Achilles" book written by Madeline Miller (8)

"The Song Of Achilles" is a New York Times best selling novel, released in 2011. (8) Written by Madeline Miller. This retelling of Achilles and Patroclus in the Greek heroic age is told from the perspective of Patroclus. Achilles is the son of Thetis a sea nymph goddess and King Peleus, and Patroclus is an exiled prince. The novel follows the story of Achilles and Patroclus from the very beginning when they met in Phthia. Where Patroclus is exiled to after accidentally killing the son of a noble. (Phthia is where Achilles' father Peleus is king.) Peleus took in many exiled and orphaned children. Leading to the crossing paths of Achilles and Patroclus. While Achilles was a gifted skillful warrior Patroclus was seemingly the opposite. (8) Achilles took Patroclus under his wing and promised to protect him in the face of danger. Throughout their years together Achilles and Patroclus develop a strong relationship. Their bond while retold in many of Achilles' stories in this novel focuses on the deeper story behind their companionship. What started as friendship grew deeper into a love story between the two. This differs from what many other versions depict, giving this novel a more "nontraditional view" of this Greek myth. The story continues throughout their experiences in the Trojan war where Achilles is seen as a Greek War Hero. As the Greek myth goes both Patroclus and Achilles die in the Trojan war. The novel paints it as they ended dying for each other's honor. Patroclus posing as Achilles to protect their army in the war, and Achilles going after the prince that kills Patroclus enraged, which in turn gets him killed as well. The novel ultimately ends after Patroclus' spirit is freed from his tomb to reunite with Achilles in the afterlife. This is the link to the author's website, where you can read an excerpt or learn more about the book. If you are looking for a new book to read you should check it out.

Final Thoughts

Like all Greek myths, there is no one "correct" telling of Achilles' story. Seeing all the different takes from more modern writers is compelling. I am sure we all look forward to the next new version of Achilles' story. What is your opinion on the Greek Warrior? Was he just a fighter, or was there more to him than that? Do you think this is where the saying "Achilles' heel" derived from?

Works Cited 

1. “Achilles.” Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, Jan. 2018, p. 1. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=4ecb797a-f17f-3ac7-8ff8-278f2ce38bda.

2. Christopher E. Long. Achilles. Short Tales, 2008. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=5cb69a5c-bc22-3632-ab53-7638c81e81e6.

3. Hollingsworth, Anthony. “NO!” Dig into History, vol. 19, no. 8, Oct. 2017, pp. 2–5. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=a053e299-1f70-3ae9-8ab2-e3c0fa805dcb.

4. Murock Hussein, Angela. “Reading Achilles’ Shield.” Dig into History, vol. 19, no. 8, Oct. 2017, pp. 28–29. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=43974c12-2b1d-3455-807f-9f467c3b89fa.

5. Burgess, Jonathan. “Achilles’ Heel: The Death of Achilles in Ancient Myth.” Classical Antiquity, vol. 14, no. 2, Oct. 1995, p. 217. EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.2307/25011021.

6. Burgess, Jonathan. “Achilles’ Heel: The Death of Achilles in Ancient Myth.” Classical Antiquity, vol. 14, no. 2, 1995, pp. 217–44. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/25011021. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.

7. (Pottery painting) By Jona Lendering - Livius.org Provided under CC 0 license (notice under the photograph in the description page of the photograph)., CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73610598 

8. (cover art and book) Madeline Miller "Song of Achilles" http://madelinemiller.com/the-song-of-achilles/ Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.

9. Achilles. 2025. Mythical Creature.Info, https://mythicalcreatures.info/characters/achilles/.Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.

10. Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., www.britannica.com/dictionary/Achilles%27-heel#:~:text=%3A%20a%20fault%20or%20weakness%20that,Achilles’%20heel%20is%20its%20pitching. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.