Achilles’ story begins even before his birth, with a prophecy that set the course of his life. His mother, Thetis, is a sea nymph of remarkable beauty and power, and his father, Peleus, was a mortal king of the Myrmidons. Thetis was fated to bear a son who would be mightier than his father, which led the gods to arrange her marriage to a mortal to prevent this powerful offspring from challenging the gods themselves.
Once Thetis became pregnant with Achilles, she sought divine guidance to learn her son’s fate. She received a prophecy revealing that Achilles would have a choice between two paths:
- A long life without glory: If Achilles chose not to fight in the Trojan War, he would live a peaceful, lengthy life, though his name would fade in history.
- A short life of eternal fame: If he joined the war, he would achieve glory beyond compare, but he would die young and be remembered forever as a hero.
This prophecy placed Thetis in a heartbreaking position. She deeply loved her son and wanted to protect him from a premature death. Determined to thwart fate, she attempted to make Achilles immortal by holding him by the heel and dipping him into the waters of the River Styx. The river’s power made Achilles’ body invulnerable wherever it touched, but his heel—where she held him—remained untouched and vulnerable, becoming his only weakness.
After the ritual in the Styx, Thetis continued to protect her son from his destined doom. When the Trojan War broke out, she knew the temptation of glory would drive Achilles toward battle. To prevent him from joining, she disguised him as a woman and sent him to the court of King Lycomedes on the island of Skyros. Here, Achilles lived among the king’s daughters, hidden away from the call of war.
However, the Greek leaders, especially Odysseus, knew they needed Achilles if they hoped to win the war. Odysseus eventually uncovered his hiding place and devised a clever plan to reveal Achilles’ true identity. Disguised as a merchant, he presented gifts to the daughters of Lycomedes, including jewelry and ornaments—and a set of weapons. While the other women ignored the weapons, Achilles instinctively reached for them, revealing his warrior nature. His disguise fell away, and he was persuaded to join the war.
