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Achilles |
| The legendary warrior
Achilles came from the region of ancient
Farsalos. His dominion stretched
across flat (Fthia), mountainous (Trichini) and coastal
regions (Alos-Almyros). According to a relevant excerpt
from the Iliad, the renowned Myrmidons,
warriors from the region of Fthia participated in the
Trojan War with fifty ships and Achilles as their leader.
A model
warrior and a proud
person, Achilles is the protagonist of the Iliad. His
"menis" (anger) and his heroic deeds provoked
the admiration of both gods and men, sending myriads
of dead to Hades. The Iliad starts with the following
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"Sing, O goddess, the anger of Achilles
son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans.
Many brave a soul did it send hurrying down to Hades, and
many a hero did it yield a prey to dogs and vultures, for
so were the counsels of Jove fulfilled from the day on which
the son of Atreus, king of men, and great Achilles, first
fell out with one another."
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Achilles, the
son of Peleus
and Thetis
was known for his bravery, his politeness and piety,
but also for his affectionate feelings of loyal devotion.
When he was born, Thetis baptized
him in the flames of the holy fire or the waters of
the river Styx holding him by his heel, as she wanted
to make him immortal. Thetis succeeded in making him
invulnerable, except from just one part, the very part
she was holding him by, the so called "Achilles'
Heel".
Peleus thought that she wanted
to drown him and thus sent her back to her father, giving
Achilles to the Centaur
Chiron in order to raise
him instead. He taught him medicine and music, but also
the arts of war and hunting.
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Achilles
and Centaur Chiron |
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