Achilles is a hero of ancient Greek mythology

Achilles is a hero of ancient Greek mythology, best known for the episode of participation in the Trojan War. About this character wrote Homer in his "Illyada". And although the "Illyada" is considered an epic work describing the war against Troy, in fact, it 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.

The Origin of Achilles

Achilles was a hero. And initially, not even thanks to their actions. Just the heroic fate of Achilles was predestined already at birth. After all, according to Greek myths, the offspring, which appeared due to the connection of immortal gods with mortal people, became a hero. He himself did not possess immortality, however, he could count on the patronage of celestial relatives and, as a rule, possessed outstanding abilities, mostly military ones.

The mother of Achilles was the sea nymph of Thetis, and the father of Peleus, who reigned over the Myrmidonians. 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 for the care that her legitimate spouse showed to her, refused the voluptuous Olympian. In punishment, Zeus gave Thetis for a mortal.

Achilles' heel

Time passed and the children of Thetis and Peleus were born. To check whether they were immortal or not, Thetis lowered the newborn into a cauldron with boiling water. So the first six sons were killed. The seventh was Achilles. This father saved him from the unenviable fate of the brothers, having taken his son away from his wife in time. After this, Thetis throws her husband and returns to live on the bottom of the sea. But she continues to closely monitor the life of her son.

According to another myth, Thetis lowered the 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 for which his mother held tightly, remained vulnerable. Hence the stable expression "Achilles' heel", which conveys the thought of the weak place of man.

After the departure of his wife, Peleus sends his young son to be brought up to the centaur Chiron. He feeds him with the bone marrow of animals instead of mother's milk. The boy grows and assiduously comprehends the science of possession of arms. And according to some information, and the art of healing.

Visiting Lycomede

Chiron, who, among other things, also possessed the gift of a fortuneteller, informs Thetis that if her son escapes participation in the forthcoming Trojan War, then a long life is prepared for him. If he goes there, the Greeks will win, but Achilles will perish. This encourages Thetis to send his son to another island - Skyros, and hide it between the daughters of King Lycomed. For safety, Achilles lives there dressed in women's clothing.

This behavior seems somewhat unusual for the hero, thirsting for immortal fame. However, it is worth remembering that at that time the young man was just fifteen years old. This, by the time described by Homer in the Iliad, Achilles became an established experienced warrior. After all, the siege of the impregnable city lasted twenty years. And all this time the Greeks did not sit around idly. They attacked nearby cities and ruined them. In the meantime, it was a young man. Bold, but obedient to the directions of his divine mother.

Meeting with Odysseus

Meanwhile, a chain of events leads to the collection of troops for the war against Troy. Priest Kalhant declares that if the son of Peleus will not participate in the campaign, the Greeks are in for a crushing defeat. Then the Achaean leaders hastily equip Odysseus and send him for Achilles to the island of Skyros.

Realizing that to go against immortal celestials with brute force is more expensive, Odysseus resorts to cunning. He appears to be an ordinary wandering merchant and enters the palace of Lycomed. Expanding his goods in front of the king's daughters, Odysseus puts among jewels and richly decorated weapons.

At the appointed time, the people of Odysseus on his orders gave an alarm. All the girls rushed in full, Achilles did not lose his head. It was his that betrayed him. The young man grabbed his weapon and ran towards imaginary enemies. Declassified by the Odyssey, Achill agrees to join the war campaign and takes with him a beloved friend Patroclus, with whom they grew up together.

Sacrifice of Iphigenia

And now a huge Greek fleet, which now consists of a detachment of Myrmidons on fifty warships led by Achilles, moves to Troy. In all the unfolding events involved and immortal inhabitants of Olympus. And some of them support the Trojans, and some are on the side of the Greeks. Due to the regular tricks of the gods supporting the defenders of Troy, the Greek fleet, immobilized by the absence of a tailwind, stands off the coast of the island of Avelida.

Kalhant says 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. Father did not embarrass. He saw the problem only in how to get the girl to the island? Therefore, messengers sent to Iphigenia with the message that she was given to Achilles' wives and to marry should come to Aulis. Description of the portrait of Achilles, the hero of ancient Greek mythology, does not leave her indifferent and the girl arrives to the island for the wedding. Instead, she goes straight to the altar.

One version of this story claims that Achill himself knew nothing about the cunning plan. And when he found out, he rushed to protect the deceived princess with a weapon in his hands. But earlier myths tell us that Peleus' son did not show any sentimentality, because he himself was eager to quickly sail to Troy. And if the gods demand victims, then who will argue with them? For the sake of justice, it should be noted that Iphigenia was still saved. True, not the hero, but the very goddess Artemis, who replaced the girl with a fallow deer.

Meeting with the Amazon

But anyway, the victim was credited, and the Greeks arrived safely to Troy. Thus began a long siege of the impregnable city. As already mentioned, Achilles did not sit idly by. He was famous already at the very beginning of the war, winning one after another glorious victories over the surrounding cities of Troy and the nearby islands. According to Greek mythology, the son of Priam, killed by Achilles afterwards, did not meet during this time with a bold and successful invader. And Achilles continued to sharpen his mastery of weapons.

In one of the next raids, Achilles engages the queen of the Amazons Penticelia, which at that time was hiding on the mainland from the revenge of her fellow tribesmen. After a hard struggle, the hero kills the queen and, having pierced the end of the spear with a helmet that hides the entire upper part of his face, drops him from the woman. Struck by her beauty, the hero falls in love with her.

Nearby is one of the Greek warriors - Tersit. According to the unflattering descriptions of Homer, a very unpleasant subject. He blames Achilles for lust for the dead and jabs her eyes with a spear. Without thinking twice, Achilles turns around and kills Tercit with one blow to the jaw.

Briseida and Chryseida

In another campaign, the Greeks capture Bricheid, which Achilles retains as concubine. In mythology it is described that a young woman is not at all uncomfortable with her position. On the contrary, she is always loving and affectionate.

At this time Agamemnon also enjoys the fruits of raids. Among other things, he, as a share of the prey, is presented with a beautiful girl named Chriside. But her father comes to the camp, begging to allow her to buy her daughter. Agamemnon scoffs at him and drives him out in disgrace. Then the inconsolable father begged for help to Apollo, and he sends an epidemic to the Greeks. The same prophet Kalkant explains the cause of the misfortunes and says that the girl must be let go. He is warmly supported by Achilles. But Agamemnon does not want to give in. Passions are heating up.

Strife with Agamemnon

In the end, Khriseed is still released. However, the vengeful Agamemnon, with bated malice, decides to take revenge on Achilles. Therefore, as compensation, he takes from him Briiside. The frenzied hero refuses to continue to take part in the war. From this moment, events begin to develop rapidly, as described by the Iliad. The duel between Achilles and Hector is inexorably approaching. Like the tragic denouement to which he leads.

Inaction of Achilles

The Greeks are defeated after defeat. But the offended Achilles, does not yield to anyone's persuasion and continues to remain inactive. But one day the defenders of Troy pushed their opponents to the very shore. Then, having heeded the persuasion of his friend Patroclus, Achill agrees that he would lead the Myrmidons into battle. Patroclus asks permission to take a friend's armor and gets them. In the ensuing battle, Hector - the Trojan prince, taking Patroclus in the armor of Achilles for the famous hero, kills him. This provokes a duel between Achilles and Hector.

Duel with Hector

Upon learning of Patroclus's death, Akhill, heartbroken, intends to take vengeance cruelly. He rushes into battle and sweeps away all the mighty warriors one by one. The character of Achilles, given to him in this episode by Homer, is the apogee of the hero's whole life. It was the moment of the immortal glory, about which he so dreamed. 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. Noble Hector is the only one who decides to rebuff the son of Peleus. But even this battle-hardened warrior is horrified at the approach of his fierce enemy and turns to flight. Three times rounded Achilles and Hector Troy, before they met in a deadly battle. The prince could not resist and fell, pierced by the spear of Achilles. Tying the corpse to his chariot, dragged the body of Hector to his Achilles camp. And only the genuine sorrow and humility of the inconsolable father of Hector, the king of Priam who came to his camp unarmed, softened the heart of the victor, and he agreed to return the body. However, Achilles took a ransom - gold as much as the Prince Troy Hektor weighed.

Death of the hero

Achilles himself dies during the capture of Troy. And then it does not do without the intervention of the gods. Apollo, disgusted by the irreverence of a mere mortal, unseenly directs an arrow released by Paris, Hector's younger brother. The arrow pierces the heel of the hero - his only weak point - and turns deadly. But even while dying, Achill still continues to amaze many Trojans. His body takes out of the thick of the battle Ajax. Achilles was buried with all the honors, and his bones were folded into a golden urn with Patroclus's bones.