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What Happened to Achilles After the Iliad?
Greek Reporter ^ | August 25, 2023 | Philip Chrysopoulos

Posted on 08/26/2023 11:58:48 AM PDT by nickcarraway

Achilles, the main character of the Iliad, remains one of the emblematic heroes of Greek mythology and modern literature for his bravery and fierceness in avenging the death of his best friend, Patroclus.

Homer’s epic poem, along with The Odyssey, has retained enormous influence on Western literature to this very day, and this is also true for Achilles, the fearless warrior who became the very symbol of gallantry.

“Sing, Goddess, of the rage of Peleus’ son Achilles,” is the opening line of the Iliad, the poem that describes a few weeks of the ten-year Trojan War, mainly the many feats of Achilles.

Greek mythology has it that the hero was invulnerable because his mother, Thetis, had dipped him in the river Styx as an infant.

Yet, he still retained that one vulnerable part of his body, the heel from which his mother had held him to immerse him in the river.

What happened to Achilles after the Iliad? The death of Achilles is not mentioned at all in the Iliad. His killing by Paris, who had discovered the one weak spot on the Greek warrior, comes from another ancient legend, which says that Paris shot the warrior in the heel with an arrow and killed him.

The terms “Achilles’ heel” and “Achilles tendon,” still used today, stem from the Iliad.

However, the death of Achilles by Paris’ arrow is not mentioned in the epic poem. Strangely, his death is related in later sources. One of them has it that it was the god Apollo who guided the arrow into his vulnerable spot, his heel.

Since the Iliad does not mention what happened to the mythic hero next, there are numerous later legends and other ancient authors who related more of the Greek warrior’s story.

After the death of prince Hector, the Trojans called on their allies to help them defeat the attacking Greeks.

The Ethiopian King Memnon was one such ally who brought his army to support the Trojans, but he was killed by Achilles in battle.

Another legend has the hero battling the Amazons and fighting their leader, Queen Penthesilea. The moment he kills her with his spear, their eyes meet, and he falls in love with her, but it is too late.

In other accounts, Achilles marries the Trojan princess Polyxena and supposedly negotiates an end to the war when Paris fires the shot that kills him.

According to other ancient authors, after his death, Achilles is cremated, and his ashes are mixed with those of his dear friend, Patroclus.

The Odyssey describes a huge tomb of Achilles on the beach at Troy, and Odysseus meets Achilles during his visit to the underworld among a group of other dead heroes.

Another legend has the ancient Greek hero marrying Helen in the afterworld. After his death, he became a demigod.


TOPICS: Books/Literature; History
KEYWORDS: achilles; amazons; apollo; catastrophism; godsgravesglyphs; greece; hades; hector; helen; homer; iliad; iphigenia; memnon; odyssey; paris; patroclus; peleus; penthesilea; philipchrysopoulos; polyxena; styx; thetis; trojanwar; troy
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1 posted on 08/26/2023 11:58:48 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

He was last seen on a spaceship with Elvis.


2 posted on 08/26/2023 12:01:24 PM PDT by Jim W N (MAGA by restoring the Gospel of the Grace of Christ (Jude 3) and our Free Constitutional Republic!)
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To: nickcarraway

Paris killed him with a poison arrow to his heel


3 posted on 08/26/2023 12:02:45 PM PDT by South Dakota (Patriotism is the new terrorism )
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To: South Dakota

Somewhat off-topic, Led Zeppelin ripped off early and often, but Achilles Last Stand is a masterpiece. It’s easily their best song.


4 posted on 08/26/2023 12:06:39 PM PDT by DoodleBob (Gravity’s waiting period is about 9.8 m/s²)
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To: nickcarraway

After his death, he became a demigod.

He still voted demicrat though.


5 posted on 08/26/2023 12:07:01 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: nickcarraway

He was real heel


6 posted on 08/26/2023 12:09:57 PM PDT by NWFree (Sigma male 🤪)
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To: nickcarraway

Achilles was a real heel to women....


7 posted on 08/26/2023 12:12:52 PM PDT by minnesota_bound (Need more money to buy everything now)
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To: nickcarraway

“What Happened to Achilles After the Iliad?”

He was pulled.


8 posted on 08/26/2023 12:15:50 PM PDT by one guy in new jersey
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To: nickcarraway

Changed his name to Dr. Scholl...


9 posted on 08/26/2023 12:24:01 PM PDT by W. (Hillary should have married OJ, someone here said yesterday...)
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To: nickcarraway

He limped?

L


10 posted on 08/26/2023 12:24:58 PM PDT by Lurker ( Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
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To: nickcarraway

When the numerous legends become facts, print the numerous legends.


11 posted on 08/26/2023 12:27:42 PM PDT by chajin ("There is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12)
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To: nickcarraway

He was replaced by a strong female character so that ancient Greeks wouldn’t appear misogynist.


12 posted on 08/26/2023 12:33:16 PM PDT by Telepathic Intruder
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To: nickcarraway

He slipped on a banana peel.


13 posted on 08/26/2023 12:35:42 PM PDT by HighSierra5 (The only way you know a commie is lying is when they open their pieholes.)
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To: nickcarraway

Achilles is the bane of aging athletes. Aging athletes often tear their Achille’s tendon when they least expect it. Jets fans beware. Jets QB Vinny Testaverde in his late 30’s suffered an Achilles tear at the beginning of the season The Jets season collapsed . Will it happen again with Aaron Rodgers?


14 posted on 08/26/2023 12:41:08 PM PDT by allendale
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To: nickcarraway; All

‘The Song of Achilles’ by Madeline Miller is a good read. I enjoyed it.

She also wrote ‘Circe’ and ‘Galatea’ which are in my stack to read.


15 posted on 08/26/2023 12:58:07 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: allendale
Jets fans beware. Jets QB Vinny Testaverde in his late 30’s suffered an Achilles tear at the beginning of the season The Jets season collapsed . Will it happen again with Aaron Rodgers?

I remember Brett Favre spent some of his post-Packers exile with the Jets too, and didn't accomplish much beyond sending pics of his junk to some female Jets staffer who didn't want them. What is it with the Jets and aging QBs from other teams?
16 posted on 08/26/2023 1:00:21 PM PDT by AnotherUnixGeek
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To: nickcarraway
The moment he kills her ... their eyes meet, and he falls in love with her, but it is too late.

I can't count the number of times that's happened to me.

17 posted on 08/26/2023 2:06:21 PM PDT by Rinnwald
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To: allendale; AnotherUnixGeek

You have to be kidding. Testaverde was never even close to as good a QB as Rodgers. And Rodgers was MVP in 2020 and 2021.


18 posted on 08/26/2023 2:10:54 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: DoodleBob
Somewhat off-topic, Led Zeppelin ripped off early and often, but Achilles Last Stand is a masterpiece. It’s easily their best song.

And then Heart ripped off "Barracuda" from Achilles Last Stand.

19 posted on 08/26/2023 2:14:07 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: South Dakota
Paris killed him with a poison arrow to his heel

That is what I remembered from The Iliad.

20 posted on 08/26/2023 2:59:57 PM PDT by LibertarianLiz
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