In Greek mythology, Achilles is renowned as the greatest warrior of the Greek army during the Trojan War, often regarded as the most powerful hero among mortals. In his time, Achilles was seen as an invincible warrior, striking fear into his enemies and seemingly never suffering defeat.
To showcase Achilles’ formidable strength, many approached him during the legendary “Battle of Troy”—one of the most successful war films in Hollywood history.
Troy, the legendary hero of the Greek army
Unlike many other heroes in Greek mythology, Achilles was not a demigod; he was simply a mortal warrior and could not be immortalized (his father, Peleus, was also a mortal). Although his mother was the sea nymph Thetis, she was unable to pass on her immortality to Achilles.
To protect her son from death, Thetis attempted to make him invulnerable by holding him by his heel and dipping him into the River Styx. However, during the process, she forgot to immerse his heel in the water. Thus, Achilles became invulnerable except for the heel, which became his weak point as it was not touched by the divine waters.
With his incredible strength surpassing that of any mortal, Achilles was instrumental in the Greek army’s victories, defeating notable foes and achieving numerous heroic feats. During the siege of Troy, Achilles defeated Hector, the prince of Troy, killed seven of King Priam’s sons, and vanquished the Amazonian warrior Penthesilea, employing cunning strategies in battle.
However, despite his victories in Troy, Achilles ultimately met his demise due to an arrow shot by Paris. The arrow, guided by the divine intervention of the god Apollo (who harbored a deep hatred for Achilles), struck Achilles in his vulnerable heel. This fatal blow led to the phrase “Achilles’ heel,” signifying a person’s weak point.
It is worth noting that “Troy” is a film directed by Wolfgang Petersen, released in May 2014. The movie features several notable stars, including Brad Pitt as Achilles, Eric Bana as Hector, and Orlando Bloom as Paris. The film grossed approximately $497 million worldwide, three times its production budget.
