Achilles

"What really killed me was my own arrogance."

- Achilles

Achilles (Ο Αχιλλέας in Ancient Greek) was considered one of the greatest Greek warriors who ever lived, sometimes said to be the "shield of the army". He was the son of the nymph, Thetis, and the hero Peleus. He is most famous for being the first child to be dipped in the River Styx by his mother, only followed by Luke Castellan and Percy Jackson. He was killed in the Trojan War after Paris, Prince of Troy, shot an arrow which, with the guidance of Apollo, struck him in his heel, Achilles' only mortal point. The term Achilles' Heel is a term referring to the weak point of a person who has bathed in the River Styx.

History
Achilles mother, Thetis, foresaw his death in Troy so she made Achilles disguised as a girl so he won't go to war. He hid as a girl for years until Agamemnon found him which only happened because Odysseus tricked him to use a sword and proved he was a boy and ready to fight. At first he refused, but after lengthy convincing he agreed. When they finally reached Troy he proved himself to be the best Greek soldier ever known. After 3 or 5 years, he withdrew from battle after he felt he was dishonored by Agamemnon. Agamemnon had taken a woman named Chryseis as his slave. Her father, a priest of Apollo, begged Agamemnon to return her to him. Agamemnon refused and Apollo sent a plague amongst the Greeks. The prophet Calchas knew the source of the troubles, but would not speak unless Achilles vowed to protect him. Achilles did so and Calchas declared Chryseis must be returned to her father. Agamemnon consented but then commanded that Achilles' battle prize Briseis be brought to replace Chryseis. Angry at the dishonor (because he loved Briseis) and at the urging of his mother Thetis, Achilles refused to fight or lead his troops alongside the other Greek forces. At this same time, burning with rage over Agamemnon's theft, Achilles prayed to Thetis to convince Zeus to help the Trojans gain ground in the war, so that he may regain his honor.

As the battle turned against the Greeks, thanks to the influence of Zeus, it was declared that the Trojans were winning because Agamemnon had angered Achilles, and the king was urged to appease the warrior. Agamemnon agreed and sent Odysseus and two other chieftains, Ajax and Phoenix, to Achilles with the offer of the return of Briseis and other gifts. Achilles rejected all Agamemnon offered him, and simply urged the Greeks to sail home as he was planning to do.

The Trojans, led by Hector, subsequently pushed the Greek army back toward the beaches and assaulted the Greek ships. With the Greek forces on the verge of absolute destruction, Patroclus, Achilles' young cousin, led Achilles men into battle wearing Achilles' armor, though Achilles remained at his camp. Patroclus succeeded in pushing the Trojans back from the beaches, but was killed by Hector before he could lead a proper assault on the city of Troy. In a frenzy of grief, Achilles would have committed suicide, had his faithful companions who held him back. His mother Thetis then brought him new armor, forged by Hephaestus and he forgave Agamemnon.

Enraged, Achilles brought down his wrath on the Trojan army, creating carnage among the Trojans. He filled up a river so full of bodies that it overflowed. But Achilles wanted one death - Hector's death. As the Trojans retreated to the safety of Troy, Hector bravely stood and fought Achilles. Achilles was victorious and proceeded to tie Hector's body to the back of his chariot and drag it around the city of Troy. Hector's father, King Priam, later had to go to Achilles' tent and beg for the body so he could bury it.

Achilles would not live for much longer, for an Oracle had predicted that if he slew Hector, he would die soon after. Paris, the abductor of Helen, came to the field and shot a poisoned arrow at Achilles that was guided by Apollo, and Achilles met his death.

Achilles' armor was given to Odysseus at the end of the war.

He seems to regret his choice when Odysseus meets him in the Underworld saying he would do everything for more a few moments alive.

The Last Olympian
"I stunk at Greek names, but even I knew the greatest warrior of all time, who had died from a wounded heel."

- Percy Jackson Achilles' ghost warns Percy Jackson about the dangers of bathing in the River Styx. He is quite offended when Percy tells him that he could just wear something other than sandals. He tries to stop Percy from bathing in the River Styx by telling that although he would turn invincible, he would have many flaws and that his flaws would enlarge. When he fails, he decides to give some advice about bathing in the Styx.

Appearance
"For a second, I thought he was Ares, because this guy looked exactly like the god of war- tall and buff, with a cruel scarred face and closely shaved black hair."

- Percy Jackson

Achilles is described like the God of War, Ares. Except for his left heel, he is invincible. He's tall and buff with closely shaved black hair. What sets him apart from Ares was that his eyes look human, being a shade of pale green.

Abilities

 * Achilles was highly trained in melee combat, due to training by Chiron.
 * Curse Of Achilles : Achilles was almost completely invulnerable, due to bathing in the River Styx. His only weak point was his heel, which was also the cause of his death.