Important Figures
Achilles
Achilles was one of the greatest in the history of Greece. Legend says that he was dipped in the Styx River by his mother, Thetis, as an infant. This made him invincible on all of his body, except his heel, which his mother held him by.
He was reluctant to fight in the war with Troy at first, but was later persuaded to by Odysseus. After being dishonored by Agamemnon, Achilles once again becomes reluctant to fight and stays at his camp while the Greeks fought the Trojans. The Greeks were being driven back towards their ships by the Trojan forces, led by Hector. Achilles’ companion, Patroclus, died fighting the Trojan forces in an attempt to push forward to the city. Achilles grieved over the death of Patroclus and the Greeks continued to suffer in their battles with the Trojans. Achilles mother came to comfort him and urged Hephaestus, the Greek god of the forge, to make him new armor. Achilles became enraged by Patroclus’ death and decided to fight again. In his new armor, Achilles led the Greeks in many victorious battles against the Trojans. He eventually engaged Hector and, ultimately, got his revenge.
After killing Hector, Achilles tied his body to the back of his chariot and dragged it around the walls of Troy for nine days. On the tenth day, Paris, the prince of Troy, shot Achilles in the heel with an arrow that was guided by the god Apollo, killing him. The major damage caused by a wound to the heel of a person has led to its title “the Achilles’ heel”.
He was reluctant to fight in the war with Troy at first, but was later persuaded to by Odysseus. After being dishonored by Agamemnon, Achilles once again becomes reluctant to fight and stays at his camp while the Greeks fought the Trojans. The Greeks were being driven back towards their ships by the Trojan forces, led by Hector. Achilles’ companion, Patroclus, died fighting the Trojan forces in an attempt to push forward to the city. Achilles grieved over the death of Patroclus and the Greeks continued to suffer in their battles with the Trojans. Achilles mother came to comfort him and urged Hephaestus, the Greek god of the forge, to make him new armor. Achilles became enraged by Patroclus’ death and decided to fight again. In his new armor, Achilles led the Greeks in many victorious battles against the Trojans. He eventually engaged Hector and, ultimately, got his revenge.
After killing Hector, Achilles tied his body to the back of his chariot and dragged it around the walls of Troy for nine days. On the tenth day, Paris, the prince of Troy, shot Achilles in the heel with an arrow that was guided by the god Apollo, killing him. The major damage caused by a wound to the heel of a person has led to its title “the Achilles’ heel”.
Agamemnon
Agamemnon was the brother of Menelaus, the king of Sparta. He acted as chief in command of the Greek forces in the Trojan War. When Achilles was reluctant to fight, Menelaus sent Odysseus, Ajax, and Patroclus to convince him to fight. During the siege of Troy, Menelaus dishonored one of the greatest of Greek heroes Achilles by taking the girl Biseis from him.
After the destruction of the city of Troy, the Trojan king Priam surrendered by giving Agamemnon his daughter Cassandra. Upon returning home, Agamemnon found Aegisthus waiting for him. Agamemnon’s first wife, Clytemnestra, had fallen in love with Aegisthus and together they murdered Agamemnon and Cassandra.
After the destruction of the city of Troy, the Trojan king Priam surrendered by giving Agamemnon his daughter Cassandra. Upon returning home, Agamemnon found Aegisthus waiting for him. Agamemnon’s first wife, Clytemnestra, had fallen in love with Aegisthus and together they murdered Agamemnon and Cassandra.