The Myth of Achilles

Question

Achilles is a well-known hero in Greek mythology. This brave warrior fought in the Trojan War. The following myth is where the phrase “Achilles’ heel” comes from.

1
Achilles was the son of Peleus and the sea goddess Thetis. When Achilles was still a baby, Thetis tried to make him immortal by dipping him in the river Styx. Her actions made Achilles’ body completely invulnerable to harm with one exception: his right heel. This was what Thetis held on to as she dipped him into the flowing water.

2
When Achilles was still a young boy, Thetis was told that her son would either have a long but inglorious life of comfort and inactivity, or would have a short but heroic career, soon after which his life would end.

3
Thetis naturally hoped to prolong the life of Achilles, and made the decision to send him away to the island of Scyros, where he was raised as a girl to conceal his true identity.

4
Achilles could not remain in hiding forever, though. When it was predicted that it would be impossible to capture Troy without the assistance of Achilles, the hero Odysseus was sent to Scyros to find Achilles. Faced with the task of determining which of the “females” he encoun­tered in the royal palace was actually Achilles in disguise, Odysseus presented a set of weapons to the group. Achilles could not conceal his excitement when he saw the weapons. He seized them and revealed his identity, after which he joined the Greeks in their fight against the Trojans.

5
The war was lengthy. Many battles were fought, and many warriors were lost. Achilles donned a magnificent suit of armor and led the Greeks in their struggle against the enemy, himself defeating numerous power­ful foes.

6
On the last day of his life, Achilles faced off against Memnon, ally of the Trojans. Conquering this enemy gave Achilles the confidence to attempt to storm the city of Troy, but this act would prove to be his downfall. A warrior named Paris shot an arrow at Achilles, which pierced his right heel, the sole part of his body that had not been bathed in the protective waters of the river Styx.

7
Achilles dropped to the ground and died of his wound. Thetis came to embrace her gallant son and wept bitterly over the loss, joining the entire Greek army in their sorrow over the fallen hero.

Answer 1

The myth of Achilles is a poignant tale that highlights themes of heroism, fate, and the human condition. As the son of Peleus and Thetis, Achilles was destined for greatness, yet his journey was marked by paradoxes and inevitable tragedy.

From infancy, Achilles was subjected to a transformative rite: Thetis, wishing to grant her son immortality, dipped him in the river Styx. This act made him invulnerable to harm, except for his right heel—the only part of him not submerged in the water, as it was the spot where Thetis held him. This detail gave rise to the phrase "Achilles' heel," symbolizing a singular vulnerability amidst an otherwise strong exterior.

As he grew, Thetis was confronted with a critical prophecy regarding her son’s future. He would have a long, uneventful life, or a brief but legendary one; she chose to conceal him on the island of Scyros, disguising him as a girl, in hopes of averting the grizzly fate of early death. Despite her efforts, Achilles could not escape his destiny. Odysseus, understanding that Achilles' prowess was essential for the success of the Greek forces in the Trojan War, cleverly unveiled Achilles by presenting weapons to the disguised girls. Achilles revealed his true self by eagerly seizing the weapons.

During the Trojan War, Achilles emerged as the most formidable warrior, leading the Greeks to victory and claiming numerous foes. His remarkable feats on the battlefield cemented his reputation as a hero. However, his journey would end tragically when he faced Memnon, a powerful ally of the Trojans. Although he defeated Memnon and gained confidence to attack Troy, this boldness would ultimately lead to his demise.

Paris, the Trojan prince, shot an arrow that struck Achilles' vulnerable heel, leading to his fatal injury. The death of Achilles grieved not only Thetis but also the entire Greek army, leaving them to mourn the loss of their greatest champion.

Achilles' story speaks volumes about the duality of strength and vulnerability, the inescapability of fate, and the profound emotional connections between a mother and her child. His legacy lives on, a blend of valor and tragedy that continues to resonate in literature and culture.