Achilles is a hero of ancient Greek mythology, best known for his participation in the Trojan War. Homer wrote about this character in his Iliad. And although the Iliad is considered an epic work describing the war against Troy, in fact, this is a story about the quarrel between Achilles and King Agamemnon. It was she who led to the events that decided the outcome of the ten-year siege of the city.
Origin of Achilles
Achilles was a hero. And initially, not even because of their actions. Just the heroic fate of Achilles was destined already at birth. Indeed, according to Greek myths, the offspring, which appeared as a result of the connection of the immortal gods with mortal people, became a hero. He himself did not possess immortality, however, he could count on the patronage of heavenly relatives and, as a rule, had outstanding abilities, mainly combat.
Achilles' mother was the sea nymph Thetis, and his father was Peleus, who reigned over the Myrmidons. Therefore, often in the Iliad the hero is called Pelid (which means the son of Peleus). Not quite an ordinary marriage between an earthly man and an immortal nymph is also explained in myths. Thetis was brought up by Hera, and when Zeus tried to seduce the young nymph, she, in gratitude forthe care shown to her by his lawful wife was denied to the voluptuous Olympian. As punishment, Zeus married Thetis to a mortal.
Achilles heel
Time passed and Thetis and Peleus had children. To check whether they were immortal or not, Thetis lowered the newborn into a cauldron of boiling water. So the first six sons died. The seventh was Achilles. It was his father who saved him from the unenviable fate of his brothers, taking his son away from his wife in time. After that, Thetis leaves her husband and returns to live at the bottom of the sea. But she continues to keep a close eye on her son's life.
According to another myth, Thetis lowered little Achilles into the waters of the sacred Styx, flowing in the kingdom of Hades. This gave the child invincibility. Only the heel, the place that his mother held tightly to, remained vulnerable. This is where the stable expression "Achilles' heel" comes from, which conveys the idea of a person's weak point.
After the departure of his wife, Peleus sends his little son to be raised by the centaur Chiron. He feeds him with the bone marrow of animals instead of mother's milk. The boy grows up and diligently comprehends the science of owning weapons. And according to some reports, the art of healing.
Visiting Likomed
Chiron, who, among other things, possessed the gift of a soothsayer, informs Thetis that if her son avoids participating in the upcoming Trojan war, then he is destined for a long life. If he goes there, the Greeks will win, but Achilles will die. This prompts Thetis to send her son to another island - Skyros, and hide him between the daughters of the kingLikomed. For greater safety, Achilles lives there disguised in women's clothing.
This behavior seems somewhat unusual for a hero who yearns for immortal glory. However, it is worth remembering that at that time the young man was barely fifteen years old. By the time described by Homer in the Iliad, Achilles had become a mature, experienced warrior. After all, the siege of the impregnable city lasted twenty years. And all this time the Greeks did not sit idle on the spot. They attacked nearby cities and ravaged them. For now, it was a young man. Bold but obedient to the instructions of his divine mother.
Meeting Odysseus
Meanwhile, a chain of events leads to the mustering of troops for the war against Troy. Priest Kalhant announces that if the son of Peleus does not participate in the campaign, the Greeks will face a crushing defeat. Then the Achaean leaders hastily equip Odysseus and send him to the island of Skyros to fetch Achilles.
Realizing that going against the immortal celestials with brute force is more expensive, Odysseus resorts to cunning. He introduces himself as an ordinary wandering merchant and enters the palace of Lycomedes. After laying out his goods in front of the king's daughters, Odysseus places among the jewels and richly decorated weapons.
At the appointed moment, Odysseus's men, on his orders, sounded the alarm. All the girls rushed in all directions, only Achilles was not taken aback. This gave him away. The young man grabbed a weapon and ran towards imaginary enemies. Declassified by Odysseus, Achilles agrees to join the military campaign and takes with him his beloved friend Patroclus, with whom they grew up together.
Sacrifice of Iphigenia
And now the huge Greek fleet, which now includes a detachment of Myrmidons on fifty warships led by Achilles, is advancing to Troy. The immortal inhabitants of Olympus also participate in all the unfolding events. Moreover, some of them support the Trojans, and some are on the side of the Greeks. Due to the next tricks of the gods supporting the defenders of Troy, the Greek fleet, immobilized by the lack of a fair wind, stands off the coast of the island of Aulis.
Kalhant pronounces another prediction: a fair wind will blow only if Agamemnon, the leader of the Greek army, who started a campaign against Troy, sacrifices his daughter Iphigenia. The father was not bothered by this. He saw the problem only in how to deliver the girl to the island? Therefore, messengers are sent to Iphigenia with the message that she has been given to Achilles as a wife and must come to Aulis for marriage. The description of the portrait of Achilles, the hero of ancient Greek mythology, does not leave her indifferent and the girl arrives on the island for a wedding. Instead, it goes straight to the altar.
One version of this story claims that Achilles himself knew nothing of the evil plan. And when he found out, he rushed to defend the deceived princess with a weapon in his hands. But earlier myths tell that the son of Peleus did not show any sentimentality, because he himself was eager to sail quickly to Troy. And if the gods require sacrifice, then who will argue with them? In fairness, it should be noted that Iphigenia was still saved. True, not a hero, but the goddess Artemis herself,who replaced the girl with a doe.
Meet the Amazon
But be that as it may, the sacrifice was credited, and the Greeks arrived safely at Troy. Thus began the long siege of the impregnable city. As already mentioned, Achilles did not sit idly by. He became famous already at the very beginning of the war, gaining glorious victories one after another over the cities surrounding Troy and nearby islands. According to Greek mythology, the son of Priam, subsequently killed by Achilles, did not meet during this time with the impudent and successful invader. And Achilles continued to hone his weapon skills.
In one of the next raids, Achilles enters into a fight with the queen of the Amazons, Penticelia, who at that time was hiding on the mainland from the revenge of her fellow tribesmen. After a difficult struggle, the hero kills the queen and, prying off the helmet with the end of the spear, which hid the entire upper part of the face, throws it off the woman. Struck by her beauty, the hero falls in love with her.
Nearby is one of the Greek warriors - Thersites. According to Homer's unflattering descriptions, a very unpleasant subject. He accuses Achilles of lust for the dead and gouges her eyes out with a spear. Without thinking twice, Achilles turns around and kills Thersites with one blow to the jaw.
Briseis and Chryseis
In another campaign, the Greeks capture Briseis, which Achilles keeps as a concubine. In mythology, it is described that a young woman is not at all burdened by her position. On the contrary, she is always loving and tender.
At this time, Agamemnon also enjoys the fruits of raids. Among other things, heas a share of the booty, they present the beautiful girl Chryseis. But her father comes to the camp, begging to be allowed to ransom her daughter. Agamemnon taunts him and kicks him out in disgrace. Then the inconsolable father prayed for help to Apollo and he sends an epidemic to the Greeks. All the same soothsayer Kalhant explains the cause of misfortunes and says that the girl should be released. Achilles ardently supports him. But Agamemnon does not want to give in. Passions are running high.
Discord with Agamemnon
In the end, Chryseis is still released. However, the vengeful Agamemnon, holding a grudge, decides to take revenge on Achilles. Therefore, as compensation, he takes Briseis away from him. Enraged hero, refuses to continue to take part in the war. From this moment, events begin to develop rapidly, as the Iliad describes it. The duel of Achilles and Hector is inexorably approaching. As well as the tragic ending it will lead to.
Achilles' inactivity
Greeks suffer defeat after defeat. But the offended Achilles does not give in to anyone's persuasion and continues to do nothing. But once the defenders of Troy pushed the opponents back to the very shore. Then, having heeded the persuasion of his friend Patroclus, Achilles agrees that he led the Myrmidons into battle. Patroclus asks permission to take the armor of a friend and receives it. In the subsequent battle, Hector, the Trojan prince, mistaking Patroclus in the armor of Achilles for the famous hero, kills him. This provokes a duel between Achilles and Hector.
Duel with Hector
Having learned about the death of Patroclus, heartbrokenAchilles sets out to exact revenge. He rushes into battle and sweeps away all the mighty warriors one by one. The characterization of Achilles, which Homer gives him in this episode, is the apogee of the hero's whole life. It was the moment of immortal glory he longed for. Alone, he turns the enemies back and drives them to the very walls of Troy.
In horror, the Trojans hide behind the strong walls of the city. All but one. The noble Hector is the only one who decides to fight back the son of Peleus. But even this battle-hardened warrior is horrified at the approach of his furious enemy and turns to flight. Achilles and Hector circled Troy three times before they met in mortal combat. The prince could not resist and fell, pierced by the spear of Achilles. Tying the corpse to his chariot, he dragged the body of Hector to his camp Achilles. And only genuine grief and humility of the inconsolable father of Hector, King Priam, who came to his camp unarmed, softened the heart of the winner, and he agreed to return the body. However, Achilles accepted the ransom - as much gold as the prince Hector of Troy weighed.
Death of a hero
Achilles himself dies during the capture of Troy. And this is not without the intervention of the gods. Apollo, who is disgusted by the disrespect of a mere mortal towards him, invisibly guides an arrow fired by Paris, Hector's younger brother. The arrow pierces the hero's heel - his only weak point - and turns out to be deadly. But even dyingAchilles continues to strike many more Trojans. His body is carried out of the thick of the battle by Ajax. Achilles was buried with all honors, and his bones were put in a golden urn along with the bones of Patroclus.
