Achilles

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Ancient Greek mythology is filled with many heroes, renowned to us even in the 21st century. These individuals are characterized by a deep arestia; an excellence obtained by few. It seems to be that these heroes are idolized and so their faults in personality or action are shadowed and almost made invisible. Such is the case with quite arguably one of the most famous Greek champions, Achilles. In Homer’s classic, The Iliad, the reader is evidently exposed to the many virtues of the Mycenaean prince, but simultaneously, odious aspects of Achilles’ self are exposed. Obviously, Achilles is full of militaristic arestia. He is also shown to have compassion, even to Priam, his enemy. Antithetical to these aforementioned qualities, the Mycenaean prince …show more content…

Here Homer’s audience sees the full breadth of Achilles’ military excellence, which was extensively elluded to, especially when he has his vengeful showdown with Hector, Patroclus’ murderer. Achilles, famed to be magnificent runner, chases after Hector all through the city of Troy. Tirelessly, Achilles hunts down Hector, no matter where he goes. In fact, Hector is only able to ward off Achilles for so long because Apollo decides to help him, however, when Zeus uses his golden scales and it is seen that Hector must die at the hand of Achilles, Apollo leaves the Trojan prince to die by the vengeful hands of Achilles. Understanding the desperate situation in which he is in, Hector begs for his life. Nonetheless, his pleading is futile. Heartlessly, Achilles responses to his pleads, saying, “There are no binding pacts between men and lions …” (550: 310). Achilles’ metaphor is very powerful. He is proclaiming himself as fierce, mighty, savage, and lethal as a lion, one of the most feared felines in the animal kingdom. The audience wholeheartedly can accept this comparison, for even before his barbaric chase and murder of Hector, Achilles was slaughtering Trojans almost effortlessly. Even the god Apollo shares the same sentiment, stating, “ … like some lion going his own barbaric way, giving in to his power, his brute force and wild pride, as down he swoops on the flocks of men to seize his savage feast.” (589: 48-51) Like a lion, his majesty makes him a beautiful creature to marvel at, and yet his prowess and intimidation make all cower in fear and any who dare to comfort him are annihilated in grotesque carnage. This is the magnitude of Achilles’ arestia, one that fills your entire being with both awe and

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