Achilles
Achilles is the greatest Greek warrior in the Trojan War, the son of the sea goddess Thetis and the mortal Peleus. His anger and grief drive The Iliad, making him a central figure in stories about honour, friendship, revenge, and the cost of war.
Key stories of Achilles
The quarrel with Agamemnon
When Agamemnon takes Briseis, a captive woman awarded to Achilles, Achilles feels publicly dishonoured and refuses to fight. His withdrawal leaves the Greek army in danger.
In The Iliad, Achilles asks his mother Thetis to persuade Zeus to let the Trojans gain ground, so the Greeks will understand how much they need him.
In The Iliad by Homer
The death of Patroclus
Achilles lets his close companion Patroclus fight in his armour. When Hector kills Patroclus, Achilles returns to battle, driven by grief and revenge.
In The Iliad, Thetis brings Achilles new armour made by Hephaestus, including an elaborate shield, as he prepares to avenge Patroclus.
In The Iliad by Homer
Hector and Priam
Achilles kills Hector and mistreats his body. Later, Hector's father Priam comes to beg for his son's remains, and Achilles responds to their shared suffering.
In The Iliad, Priam reminds Achilles of his own elderly father. Achilles weeps with him and agrees to return Hector's body for burial.
In The Iliad by Homer
A short life and lasting fame
Achilles knows that fighting at Troy will bring lasting fame but an early death. His story asks whether glory can make up for a lost life.
In The Odyssey, Odysseus meets Achilles among the dead. Achilles makes clear that even a humble life would be better than power in the world below.
In The Odyssey by Homer
How to recognise Achilles in stories
- Look for a Greek warrior linked with Thetis, Patroclus, and Troy.
- Notice anger over wounded honour turning into grief and revenge.
- Watch for a vulnerable heel as a sign of hidden weakness.
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Why does an Achilles heel mean a weakness?
An Achilles heel means a weakness that can bring down someone otherwise strong. In the most common version of the later legend, Thetis dips Achilles in the River Styx while holding his heel, leaving that spot unprotected. This story does not appear in The Iliad.
Does Achilles die in The Iliad?
Achilles does not die in The Iliad, which ends with Hector's funeral. The poem repeatedly points towards Achilles' coming death, but leaves it outside its action. In the most common version of the later story, Paris kills him with an arrow, aided by Apollo.
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