Achilles: He was a perfect hero in every way, almost...

Achilles was the son of the nymph Thetis and Peleus, and king of the Myrmidons. Thetis was a nymph, the daughter of the sea-god Nereus and renowned for her beauty. Both Zeus and Poseidon desired her for themselves but Prometheus made a prophecy that she would bear a child greater than his father. Gods value power and supremacy more than anything (even beauty), so they did what gods do best and let a mortal have her instead.

From the day he was born, his mother wanted to make him immortal like herself. So she would cover him with ambrosia every night and hold him by the heels over the fire. When Peleus saw Thetis he stopped her in fear for his child and did not let her complete his transition to godhood. Hence Achilles was immortal but had only one vulnerable stop on his body, his heels. Thetis returned to her father’s palace in the depths of the ocean and Peleus handed young Achilles to the Centaur Chiron to teach him the art of music, weaponry, and hunting.

Once of age Achilles became a great hero performing many extraordinary deeds. His most notable achievements take place in the Trojan War, were he commanded the Myrmidons and conquered Troy. Thetis tried to persuade her son not to join the battle and remain safe in his kingdom, because his quest would end up being fatal one. But Achilles craved Glory more than his life. In the Trojan War Achilles proved to be feared and mighty, the most celebrated fighter among all. With him and the Myrmidons on their side the Greeks were winning against the Trojans but not for long. Achilles resigned from the battle when Agamemnon offended him by taking away his slave Brissiis by force. The Greeks had no longer the advantage.  
     



Beware who lies under the armor:



An unexpected turn of events changed everything very soon. His younger cousin Patroclus wore his armor and pretending to be Achilles lead the myrmidons to battle and challenged Prince Hector. He was no match for Hector and paid his arrogance with his life... Upon hearing that Hector slew his young cousin, Achilles was enraged. Thetis soon came to Achilles console. She persuaded Hephaestus to make a new armor for him, in place of the armor that Patroclus had been wearing which was taken by Hector. The new armor included the famous Shield of Achilles. He joined once again the Greeks in battle against the Trojans and challenged Hector to avenge for his cousins death. Achilles killed Hector in a duel and tied his body behind his chariot dragging him across the battlefield for nine days. This was considered a terrible blasphemy even among enemies. With the aid of the Hermes, Hector's father, Priam, went to Achilles' tent to plead with Achilles to return his son’s body and perform a funeral. Achilles returned the body to Priam but his own fall was soon to come...
Paris, Hectors brother guided by the god Apollo, hit Achilles on the heel with his arrow. And so Achilles the “almost” perfect hero falls, and rises to glory.


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