Achilles (1216-1183 BC) was a Greek warrior who was King of the Myrmidones. He was one of the nobles who sided with Agamemnon of Mycenae in the Trojan War of 1193-1183 BC. He was known as an accomplished warrior who slew Prince Hector of Troy and Penthesilea, Queen of the Amazons. In the end, he was shot by seven arrows, the first of which pierced his heel, his weak spot.
Biography[]
Achilles was born in southern Greece, and he later became King of the Myrmidones of Phthia. He was convinced to join the coalition against Troy by Odysseus, King of Ithaca, who persuaded him that he would get part of the riches of Troy if he participated. Bringing his friend Patroclus with him, Achilles led the landing and cleared the way for further landings. He accomplished much during the siege of Troy, leading an army to the city of Lyrnessos, an ally of Troy, and defeating Prince Aeneas. Within three years, he conquered twelve cities near Troy and plundered them. He also seized a woman named Briseis as his concubine, having killed her father Mynes.
Ten years later, he headed to the Temple of Apollo when a plague broke out, and slew a statue of Apollo that supposedly came to life. Agamemnon, leader of the alliance, arrived and took Briseis from the temple for his use, and Apollo swore that he would not fight for him again. However, when Hector of Troy attacked the Grecian walls and nearly routed the invaders, Agamemnon gave him Briseis back and demanded that he come fight.
When he refused, Patroklos took his armor and pretended to be Achilles, leading his men against Hector. He was killed in the battle, and Achilles swore to avenge him. On the battlefield, he met him and drove a sword through his chest, taking his armor off of Hector's body, since Hector had pried the armor off of a dead Patroklos. He also killed Penthesilea, Queen of the Amazons, whom he respected for her wish to die a warrior's death, and later Memnon, King of the Ethiopians.
Achilles' body.
He led an attack into Troy, but Prince Paris refused to let him destroy his father's city. Paris defeated Achilles in a duel, and Achilles told him that they would meet again, before fleeing. However, Paris shot an arrow at the retreating Achilles, piercing his heel. Achilles fell prone, and was pierced by six more arrows, and died on the scene. Achilles' body was taken by Ajax after cleaving a path through Trojan soldiers, and Odysseus got to keep his armor, which angered his cousin Ajax. Ajax went on a rampage and eventually killed himself. His ashes were put in the same urn as Patroklos'.
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