"I will go." he said. "I will go to Troy."
~an excerpt from 'The Song of Achilles' by Madeline Miller
Every human being has a weak spot; a spot that could be the reason for their downfall. So did the Greek mythological hero, Achilles. His gold-flecked green eyes, his lustrous golden locks, the bravery that he fought with, and his impeccable strength made him one of the greatest warriors of the time.
Greek mythology is filled with stories, legends, and myths. The “Iliad” was written by Homer, the ancient Greek author and poet highlight the events of the Trojan war, famously known as “The battle of Troy” in which Achilles is the main character.
Achilles was the son of king Peleus and Thetis, a sea nymph. He spent his childhood with his beloved companion Patroclus and learned the arts of war and medicine from Chiron, the centaur at mount Pelion. A prophecy said that Achilles would be a legendary hero and gain glory but would die young. To prevent his death, Thetis held the infant by his heel in the River Styx which was said to make him invulnerable and immortal. Although, as she held him by his heel, every part of his body was dipped into the river and was invulnerable; all except the heel.
Hence it is said that during the battle of Troy, Achilles was killed by an arrow guided by the god Apollo, shot at his heel.
The phrase “ Achilles heel” has become an idiom to symbolize someone's point of weakness or vulnerability. Everyone has their own Achilles heel. Mine is my fear of the dark, what about you?
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