The myth of Achilles and the weak points

The myth of Achilles talks about the prototype of the epic hero; an almost perfect and practically invulnerable being, but also mortal. This character was the most prominent figure in the Trojan War and one of the most important protagonists in The Iliad.

This warrior was also known as “the one with light feet.” since he was considered the fastest of all men. The myth of Achilles noted that he was also called the most beautiful of all the heroes who participated in the Trojan War.

The myth of Achilles is so important that it was even immortalized in anatomy. The Achilles tendon, which is located in the back of the leg, is named in memory of this mythological hero who was worshiped in various regions of the ancient world.

The origin of the myth of Achilles

According to the myth of Achilles, this hero had a very particular origin. His mother was Thetis, nymph of the sea, daughter of Nereus, old man of the seas, and endowed with unparalleled beauty. She was educated by Hera, the wife of Zeus. Even so, Zeus himself wanted her, as well as Neptune, god and master of the oceans.

It is said that the titan Prometheus gave Zeus an oracle, which made a daring prophecy. He said that Thetis would conceive and give birth to a son with great abilities; He added that in time he would become so powerful, that he would be able to take over his father’s reign. Faced with such a prediction, Zeus and Poseidon gave up his interest in Thetis.

In the end the beautiful nymph married a mortal named Peleus, who was a prince. At this point the myth of Achilles has two versions. The best known says that His mother, knowing that her son would be a great hero, wanted to make him immortal.. To do this, he took him to the waters of the Styx lagoon, which led to hell, and submerged him. However, she held his heel and that area of ​​his body remained vulnerable.

Another version indicates that Thetis smeared her son’s body with ambrosia, a divine substance, and then put it in the fire to burn the mortal parts of his body. Her husband discovered her and, terrified, forcibly took the child from her, causing her heel to become charred. Due to this fact, Thetis left home and left the two to their fate.

An outstanding hero

Since he was a child, Achilles displayed great speed and strength. He also proved to have a very harsh character and was eager for glory and violence. His great teacher was Phoenix, a wise and brave centaur. During childhood, Achilles met Patroclus, with whom he remained friends for the rest of his life.. He later became a disciple of the centaur Chiron and thus completed his training.

To keep Achilles away from the war, his father sent him to the court of King Lycomedes, disguised as a woman. She stayed there for a while and conceived her only son named Pyrrhus or Neoptolemus. Odysseus discovered him and invited him to accompany him to rescue Helen in Troy.

The myth of Achilles says that his entry into the war showed his great abilities and caused fear among his enemies. The exploits of this demigod became legend, mainly when he defeated Cienus, son of Poseidon, and Troilus, son of Apollo.

The death of the hero

The Trojan War was long and bloody. Achilles was the most feared and the most beautiful of warriors. He did not know fear and, on the contrary, he was feared by everyone. Many fled before having to face him because he was considered invincible. These were the circumstances when His childhood friend, Patroclus, was killed by enemies on the battlefield.

Since then, the myth of Achilles says that the hero fought more fiercely and without compassion. He only wanted to avenge the death of his friend who had fallen at the hands of Hector. Hephaestus, god of fire and forging, made special armor to protect him, since an oracle had announced that he would die after the fight with Hector, in which he won.

Times later, Paris, guided by Apollo and knowing the warrior’s only weak point, wounded Achilles’ heel with a poisoned arrow. The hero died and was mourned for 17 days by his mother Thetis and the Nereids, his sisters. The paradox is that he had already stated that he wanted to live fast and die young.

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