Essay on Achilles and the Trojan War - 906 Words

Many people have heard of Achilles, whether in Greek Mythology or when referring to the tendon in their foot. He is well known in the Iliad as the main force for the Achaeans in the Trojan War, dubbed the â€Å"swiftest warrior,† â€Å"Achilles dear to Zeus†, and â€Å"brilliant runner.† However many do not know the story of Achilles when he walks away from the Achaean campaign over a scuffle of war prizes. His action cripples the Achaean army, costing the lives of many. The story of the Trojan War is one where Achilles ultimately leads the Achaeans to Troy and kills Hector outside Priam’s walls. However, it was Patroclus, Achilles’ brother-in-arms, who should be accredited with the Achaean victories and know for his success against the Trojans in the†¦show more content†¦The Trojan men’s kelios (honor and reputation) would be highly boosted if they were the one to slay great Achilles, dear to Zeus. Despite knowing that the armor wo uld put a bullseye on his head, Patroclus implores Achilles to give Achilles’ fine armor as Patroclus cares more about the greater picture of the war rather than his own selfish desires. Welding Achilles’ armor, Patroclus successfully repels the wave of Trojan warriors back to the trenches of Troy. The Trojans are taken back when they see the reappearance of â€Å"Achilles† and retreat from the battleground, trapping and exposing themselves. â€Å"Each Trojan soldier glancing left and right – how could he run from sudden, plunging death?† (Iliad Book 16 Lines 332-333). This allows Patroclus to continue forward to the walls of Troy and slaying every Trojan he encounters along the way. He and his men appeared to be able to seize Troy at that very moment, had it not been for Apollo’s intervention. Apollo prevented Patroclus from progressing any further and urged Hector to drive forward. Together, Hector and Apollo kill Patroclus. Patroclus†™ death drives Achilles to seek revenge and Achilles rejoins the battle, vowing to kill everyone related to Hector. The Greek Army, led by Achilles fight their way to Troy, where ultimately Achilles and Hector find themselves alone. Hector, backed into a corner, vows to fight, but loses his nerve as he faces the greatestShow MoreRelatedThe Myth Of Achilles And The Trojan War955 Words   |  4 Pages The myths of Achilles are well known, and are mentioned in modern society. But, they have been morphed to society’s desires. This is demonstrated in the movie Troy, where the stories have been changed for modern audience. The director condensed the story, and changed the story to show some romanticism and love. This is shown from the absence of the greek gods, significance of certain characters, inaccurate information, the morphed traits of certain characters, and the falsehood of romantic presenceRead MoreEssay on The Heroes of the Trojan War: Hector Achilles525 Words   |à ‚  3 PagesTroy by Achilles and the Achaean warriors. Achilles, being a fearless fighter, defeated many throughout his battles against the Trojan army, including the brave-hearted Hector during the invasion of Troy. Though Achilles has been given the title of the hero of the Trojan War, many historians believe that Hector was a greater hero than Achilles. When comparing the characteristics of an epic hero such as being a national hero and having supernatural abilities, Hector clearly surpasses Achilles. In thisRead MoreEssay on Private Motivations for War in The Iliad1074 Words   |  5 PagesMotivations for War in The Iliad      Ã‚  Ã‚   Wars are often complex in nature and are fought for diverse reasons. 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Homer’s description of the Trojan War truly did take place due to the archeological evidence found inRead MoreThe Role Of Immortals And Gods In The Iliad By Homer1661 Words   |  7 PagesThe Iliad by Homer is an epic poem that was set at the time of the Trojan War. The epic poem retells the events and the battles between Troy and Greek states during the attack of Troy. The epic focuses on the quarrels between Achilles and Agamemnon and Hera and Zeus. Achilles rage from the Iliad incorporates activities from the immortals as well as the gods. In the quarrel, Achilles through his anger, act ed as a messenger from the gods to refute King Agamemnon’s greedy attribute that contributedRead MoreQuestions On The Trojan War 1203 Words   |  5 PagesWith Trojans Your insider news to all things Trojan War! Summary: When Patroclus is exiled for accidentally killing another boy, he is sent to King Peleus’ land, Phthia. There, Patroclus quickly falls under the companionship of Achilles and are soon requested to join the Trojan War. Achilles is Aristos Achaion, he is the best fighter the Greeks have ever known, but if he goes to war, he will inevitably die. However, if he avoids war, all the glory and fame awaiting him will fade. Achilles endsRead MoreTrojan War: Fact or Fiction?1298 Words   |  5 PagesThe war began with a grand wedding between Peleus, the son of Aeacus, and Thetis, the sea-goddess. Eris, the goddess of discord, was not invited to the wedding. Enraged at this, she stormed into the wedding and threw a golden apple of discord on a table. The apple had the inscription â€Å"For the fairest† a quarrel soon arose between three powerful goddesses. The three goddesses; Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena all wanted the title of fairest. They wanted to Zeus to be the judge of this contest. NotRead MoreThe Iliad Character Analysis749 Words   |  3 Pages Throughout Homer’s epic poem, â€Å"The Iliad,† the Trojans and the Greeks fight a violent war. Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite engage in a contest to know who the fairest Pantheon goddess is. Zeus, the king of Gods, chooses Paris, â€Å"a man who [keeps] his word† (Friedman), to elect the most beautiful goddess, but Aphrod ite bribes him by saying â€Å"Helen of Sparta, the most beautiful woman in the world will fall in love with you†(Friedman 3). Seduced by the goddess of love’s offer, Paris immediately declaresRead MoreThe Trojan War By Barry Strauss1262 Words   |  6 PagesThe Trojan War has long been debated on historical accuracy by experts on whether or not it actually happened. In Barry Strauss book, The Trojan War, he draws from multiple sources to illustrate what occurred during this time period. Strauss utilizes archeological evidence and descriptions from poets, such as Homer, surrounding the Trojan War to argue what probably happened and what was likely made up. Barry Strauss organizes his summary of the Trojan War by referencing Homer s the Iliad and theRead MoreAchilles Vs. Hector Of The Iliad910 Words   |  4 PagesAchilles vs. Hector The Iliad is an epic poem usually attributed to Homer. The poem narrates the story of the war between the Greeks and the Trojans, known as the Trojan War. The Trojan War started when Paris of Troy took Helen, wife of Menelaus, to his homeland. Angry by the kidnapping of his wife, Menelaus (king of Sparta) asks his brother the King Agamemnon (king of the Achaeans) to march to war against the Trojans. The war is fought in the outskirts of Troy, and lasted ten years. The importance