Achilles in the Trojan War

Achilles was the son of Thetis, who was a sea nymph and sea goddess, and Peleus, who was the king of Phthia. Achilles became an immortal when his mother dipped in the Styx, the river that formed the border between Earth and the Underworld. However, while dipping him, Thetis held Achilles upside down keeping a hold onto his heel and therefore, it was his heel that was the only part in his body that was mortal and vulnerable.

However, there are many legends in Greek mythology as to how Achilles became an immortal but ended up with a vulnerable heel. Some claim that he was not immortal, but a semi mortal. Whatever the reason, Thetis left her husband and son, and Peleus put a Centaur named Chiron in-charge of his education. Chiron taught Achilles all he knew about hunting and combat. In addition, Chiron imparted many military leadership skills to his young ward.

When Paris, the prince of Troy, elopes with Helen of Sparta, the Aegeans decided to wage a war against Troy in an attempt to get back Helen. Odysseus was one of the commanders of the Aegean troops and he decided to involve Achilles in the war to defeat Troy.

However, Thetis was aware of a prophecy. She knew that if Achilles went to war against Troy, he would die. So, to protect her son, she disguised Achilles as a maiden and left him in the court of Lycomedes in Scyrus. Here Achilles fell in love with Deidameia, who was the king's daughter. They had a son named Neoptolemus.

But, Odysseus was not one to give. He was able to identify Achilles and he forced him to join the Aegean forces. He was given the command of 50 ships that comprised the army of Myrmidons. Achilles was equipped with an armor and two immortal horses belonging to his father. He also had the spear of Chiron. Thetis warned Achilles and informed him of the prophecy. He was specifically warned by his mother to refrain from killing Tenes, the son of Apollo. However, Achilles forgot to pay heed to his mother's advice and ended up killing Tenes. This made Apollo furious.

Later on, in the course of the war, Paris fired the fatal arrow that wounded Achilles' heel and this wound became mortal. The arrow was guided by Apollo. Achilles died of the wound in the temple of Apollo.

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