Definition & Bedeutung von "achilles"

Who is "Achilles"?

Achilles is one of the most famous heroes in Greek mythology, known for his unmatched strength and prowess in battle during the Trojan War. He was the son of the mortal Peleus and the sea nymph Thetis. To make him invulnerable, Thetis dipped him in the River Styx as a child, but his heel, by which she held him, remained his only weak spot. Achilles played a central role in the Trojan War, particularly in Homer's "Iliad", where his anger and the death of his close friend Patroclus lead him to slay the Trojan hero Hector. Achilles ultimately died when an arrow struck his vulnerable heel, giving rise to the term "Achilles' heel", symbolizing a fatal weakness. His story highlights themes of heroism, pride, and mortality.