Achilles, king of the Myrmidones, was especially known for his ruthlessness and success on the battlefield. He was the person who was finally able to kill Hector.1 He mercilessly stripped the body, attached it to his chariot,2 and dragged it around Troy. He also refused Hector's body any funeral rights, until Priam visited Achilles in the Greek camp. Achilles gave up the body because he felt pity for his own father3, because the Gods were in favor of it4 (Priam was able to enter the Greek camp because of divine help), because his mother (a goddess) told him to do it5, and finally, because Priam offered Achilles a large ransom for the body.6 Achilles fought heroically on the battlefield, killing 547 Trojans (in the 10 day span of the Iliad!), such as Memnon (King Priam's nephew). Achilles was undoubtedly the best Greek warrior. His very image was enough to strike fear into the Trojans, a fact demonstrated when Achilles's friend, Patroclus, charged towards the Trojans in Achilles's armor.8 Sadly, looks are not everything, and Patroclus was injured by a Trojan teenager, and ultimately slain by Hector.9 | a | |
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