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July 27, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Everyday Life • Mythology

Achilles

Achilles is a hero of Greek mythology and a central figure in the Trojan War.

Updated July 27, 20261 min readCited sources

Achilles is a legendary hero of Greek mythology, best known as the central figure of the Trojan War. His story of unmatched strength and a single fatal flaw gave the modern phrase 'Achilles’ heel.'

Mythological background

Achilles is one of the most famous heroes in Greek mythology, especially through Homer’s Iliad. He is usually identified as the son of Peleus and Thetis and as the leading Greek warrior at Troy.

Role in the Trojan War

The myth of Achilles focuses on his battlefield skill, his conflict with Agamemnon, his grief for Patroclus, and his killing of Hector. His actions strongly influence the outcome of the Greek campaign.

Death and cultural legacy

Later traditions explain Achilles’ near-invulnerability through the River Styx story, with his heel left exposed. In the best-known version, Paris kills him with an arrow, sometimes with Apollo’s help, striking that vulnerable heel. Achilles became a lasting symbol of heroic strength mixed with fatal vulnerability.

In short

  • Son of Peleus and Thetis, greatest Greek warrior at Troy.
  • His rage and withdrawal from battle shape much of the Iliad’s plot.
  • Made near-invulnerable by dip in the River Styx, except for his heel.
  • Killed by Paris with an arrow to the heel; origin of 'Achilles’ heel.'

Quick questions

Who is Achilles?
Achilles is a hero from Greek mythology, best known as the greatest warrior of the Greek forces in the Trojan War.
What is the story of Achilles?
He is a central figure in the Trojan War cycle, famed for his strength, his conflict with Greek leaders, his friendship with Patroclus, and his killing of Hector before his own death.
How did Achilles die?
The best-known version says Paris shot Achilles with an arrow, sometimes said to have been guided by Apollo, and the wound struck his heel.

Sources

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Achilles-Greek-mythology
    Supports: Achilles as a leading Greek warrior, son of Peleus and Thetis, and the common account of his death by Paris' arrow.
  2. British Museum — https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/who-was-achilles
    Supports: The River Styx story, the vulnerable heel, the phrase 'Achilles heel,' and Paris as the killer in most versions.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achilles
    Supports: Later legend of invulnerability, the heel vulnerability, and the claim that Paris and Apollo kill Achilles at the Scaean Gates.
  4. PubMed Central — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1888379/
    Supports: The Styx narrative, the heel vulnerability, and the account of Paris, guided by Apollo, fatally striking Achilles.
  5. GreekMythology.com — https://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Heroes/Achilles/achilles.html
    Supports: Summary of Achilles as a heroic figure, the Styx myth, and the phrase 'Achilles' heel'.