1/10/2023 0 Comments Achilles locked heartAt this same time, burning with rage over Agamemnon's theft, Achilles prayed to Thetis to convince Zeus to help the Trojans gain ground in the war, so that he may regain his honor.Īs the battle turned against the Greeks, due to the influence of Zeus, it was declared that the Trojans were winning because Agamemnon had angered Achilles, and the king was urged to appease the warrior. Wroth at the dishonor and at the urging of his mother Thetis, Achilles refused to fight or lead his troops alongside the other Greek forces. Agamemnon consented, but then commanded that Achilles' war prize, Briseis, be brought to replace Chryseis. Achilles did so and Calchas declared Chryseis must be returned to her father. The prophet Calchas knew the source of the troubles, but would not speak unless Achilles vowed to protect him. Agamemnon refused and threatened him, and thus an enraged Apollo unleashed a devastating plague upon the Greeks, killed many mighty soldiers and made them a feast for dog and vultures. Her father Chryses, a priest of Apollo, begged Agamemnon to return her to him. Agamemnon had taken a woman named Chryseis as his slave. In the ninth year of the war, he withdrew from battle after he felt he was dishonored by Agamemnon, the commander of the Greek forces. He also killed one of Apollo’s sons Tenes, earning the god’s wrath, and dooming himself to be slain by Apollo (for Apollo guided Paris’ arrow which slew Achilles). He was also invulnerable to all sword and spear attacks, so Achilles crushed him with a boulder. He killed Cycnus, a son of Poseidon, who according to Ovid, slew one thousand warriors. Achilles sacked many cities there (he conquered 11 cities and 12 islands, according to Homer), and killing many, and gaining the maid Briseis as his spoil of war and new bride. Telephus then showed the Achaeans the way to Troy. So Telephus was healed by Achilles, who scraped parts of his spear into Telephus’ wound, healing him. The wound would not heal, so Telephus consulted an oracle, who told him that the one who wounded him would heal him. The Achaeans not knowing their way to Troy at first, landed on Mysia, ruled by Telephus, who Achilles wounded in battle. He arrived at Troy with fifty ships, each containing 50 Myrmidons. Initially he refused to fight in the war, but after a convincing speech, he agreed.Īchilles was the most prominent soldier in the Trojan War, even being called Aristos Achaion, meaning Best of the Greeks. The daughters of Lycomedes went to see the beautiful clothing and jewelry, but Achilles took up the sword with this trick, Odysseus uncovered Achilles. Odysseus devised a trick to procure the identity of Achilles by appearing as a merchant, selling many wares, and of these objects, a sword was included. He hid as a girl for years until Agamemnon found him. It is claimed that Thetis attempted to make Achilles invulnerable by dipping him into the River Styx, however she held him by the left heel, so it was not exposed to the magic of the river, so he had that one place as his vulnerable spot.Īchilles' mother, Thetis, foresaw his death in Troy, so she disguised Achilles as a girl among the daughters of King Lycomedes of Scyros, so he wouldn't have to battle in the war. The Fates ordained that Thetis would have a son greater than the father, so Zeus and Poseidon (who had earlier desired Thetis), out of fear, married Thetis off to Peleus, a mortal, as to restrict the child’s power. Achilles was the son of the Nereid Thetis, and the mortal hero and king of Phthia Peleus.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |