Attic black-figure amphora, ca. 510-500 BC. Ajax the Telamonian carries the body of the dead Achilles from the battlefield, the hero with the vulnerable Achilles heel. British Museum.
Who hasn’t heard the phrase “Achilles’ heel”? It is an expression so deeply rooted in our daily lives that we often forget its origin, a story filled with heroism, divine intervention, and ultimately, human mortality. This story takes us back to the years of the Trojan War, to the age of heroes and gods, and focuses on one of the most brilliant warriors ever known in Greek mythology: Achilles. The son of the mortal king Peleus and the sea goddess Thetis, Achilles was destined for great feats, but also for an early death. His mother, knowing his fate, tried to make him invulnerable by dipping him in the magical waters of the Styx. However, holding him by the heel, she left that very spot uncovered, which would become his only vulnerable point, the famous Achilles’ heel. This small detail, this seemingly insignificant omission, would ultimately determine the hero’s fate. It is interesting, however, that Homer, in his grand epics, does not mention anywhere this specific manner of death or the story of the vulnerable heel (Doukas). This narrative appears in later sources, adding another layer of mystery and charm to the legend. Today, the expression symbolizes any hidden weakness, any vulnerable point that can prove fatal, reminding us that even the strongest have their weak spots (search: origin of the phrase Achilles’ heel).
The Son of Thetis and the Quest for Immortality
The birth of Achilles was in itself an event that heralded his uniqueness. The son of Peleus, king of the Myrmidons, and the Nereid Thetis, a sea deity, Achilles embodied the bridge between the world of mortals and the gods. Thetis, knowing from prophecies that her son was destined either to live a long but inglorious life or a short but glorious one near Troy, was tormented by anxiety for his future. Her maternal love led her to a desperate act: to try to make him invulnerable, defying fate.
The Baptism in the Styx
According to the most widespread version of the myth (a version that, as we said, is not found in the Homeric epics), Thetis took the newborn Achilles and dipped him in the waters of the Styx, the river that crossed the Underworld. These waters had the magical property of granting immortality and invulnerability to anyone who bathed in them. However, holding him tightly by the right heel to prevent him from slipping, that spot did not get wet from the river’s waters. Thus, while the entire body of Achilles became invulnerable to blows, his heel remained his only vulnerable point, the fateful “Achilles’ heel.” It is an almost tragic image, the mother who, in her attempt to completely protect her child, inadvertently creates the very cause of his downfall, proving the vulnerability of Achilles (García-Herrera).
Other Versions of the Myth
There are other, less well-known variations of how Achilles acquired his vulnerable heel. One version states that Thetis anointed her son with ambrosia by day and roasted him in the fire at night to burn away his mortal parts. Peleus, horrified at seeing his child in the fire, interrupted the process before it was completed, leaving Achilles’ heel vulnerable. Another version has the heel burning during this process and being replaced by the centaur Chiron with a bone from the ankle of the giant Damysus, who was renowned for his speed. These variations, although less widespread, add richness and complexity to the myth, showing the different narrative traditions that coexisted in ancient Greece.
Achilles in the Trojan War: Glory and Destiny
Despite Thetis’ efforts to hide him (even disguising him as a girl in the court of King Lycomedes in Scyros), Achilles could not escape his fate. The cunning of Odysseus revealed him, and the hero, leader of the Myrmidons, took part in the Trojan War, where he was destined to gain eternal glory (Kourtius). On the battlefields around Troy, Achilles was unstoppable. His near-complete invulnerability, combined with his unparalleled combat skill, speed, and divine lineage, made him the fear and terror of the Trojans. Homer’s Iliad is filled with descriptions of his feats, his rage (“sing, O goddess…”) and his tremendous strength. He killed countless enemies, culminating in Hector, the greatest warrior of Troy, in a duel that became legendary. Even the gods and heroes watched in awe his battles (Corey). His mere presence was enough to tip the scales in favor of the Achaeans.
Attic black-figure lekythos, late 6th century BC. Achilles and Ajax play dice during the siege of Troy, before the fateful blow to the Achilles heel.
The End of the Hero: The Heel Succumbs
However, glory came at a price. Achilles’ fate was predetermined: a short, glorious life. His end came just before the fall of Troy, during a battle near the Scaean Gates. Paris, the prince of Troy who had caused the war by abducting Helen of Troy, shot an arrow at Achilles. According to post-Homeric sources, this arrow was guided by the god Apollo himself (who was the protector of the Trojans and had reasons to desire Achilles’ death, as the hero had killed his son, Tenedos, and had desecrated his temple). The arrow struck Achilles right at his only vulnerable point: his heel. The greatest warrior of the Achaeans, the nearly invulnerable hero, fell dead from a blow to the most insignificant, seemingly, point of his body. His fall caused mourning in the Achaean camp and joy among the Trojans, but his sacrifice was not in vain, as it contributed to the final victory of the Greeks.
The Achilles’ Heel as a Symbol
Beyond the captivating myth, the “Achilles’ heel” has acquired a profound symbolic meaning that remains unchanged to this day. It has become the universal metaphor for any hidden weakness, any vulnerability, any weak point that can undermine even the strongest person, organization, or plan. It reminds us that absolute invulnerability is an illusion and that everyone, regardless of strength or position, has their weak points. This idea permeates literature, psychology, and even everyday language (how many times have we said that “this is his Achilles’ heel”? – search: Achilles’ heel modern usage). The story of Achilles and his vulnerable heel teaches us about the balance between strength and weakness, about the inevitable human mortality even in the face of divine lineage, and about how a small detail can determine fate. The Greek mythology remains an inexhaustible source of wisdom (Jensen).
Different Interpretations & Critical Assessment
The story of Achilles’ heel, although widely known, is not without its controversies in the academic world. Researchers like Kōstas Doukas point out the absence of this specific narrative from the Homeric epics, arguing that it is a later addition that may distort the original Homeric conception of the hero. On the other hand, scholars like Babiniotis focus on the linguistic and symbolic dimension of the phrase, analyzing the correct usage and its evolution over the centuries (Bampiniōtēs). There is an ongoing debate about whether the myth of the vulnerable heel diminishes Achilles’ heroic stature, introducing an element of “easy” defeat, or whether, on the contrary, it humanizes him, making him more relatable and tragic.
Attic black-figure funerary plaque, ca. 520-510 BC. Laying out of the dead and chariot racing, possibly inspired by Achilles’ games for Patroclus.
Epilogue
The Achilles’ heel, therefore, is much more than a simple vulnerable point in an ancient hero. It is a story about maternal love and its unpredictable consequences, about the conflict between fate and human will, about the balance of powers in the world of myths. It is, above all, a timeless symbol of the human condition. It vividly reminds us that absolute power and complete invulnerability belong only to the realm of imagination. In reality, we all carry our own “Achilles’ heels,” the weaknesses and vulnerabilities that define us just as much as our strengths. The myth of Achilles continues to fascinate and teach us, proving the inexhaustible power of Greek mythology to speak to the hearts and minds of people in every age.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the phrase “Achilles’ heel” mean?
In modern language, the phrase “Achilles’ heel” is used metaphorically to denote the weak or vulnerable point of an individual, organization, or system, which can lead to its failure or destruction, despite its overall strength. It originates from Greek mythology and the myth of the hero Achilles’ vulnerable heel.
Was Achilles completely invulnerable except for his heel?
According to post-Homeric versions of the myth, yes. Thetis dipped him in the waters of the Styx, making his entire body invulnerable, except for the heel by which she held him. However, it is important to remember that in the Homeric epics, from which we derive much information about Greek mythology, Achilles is portrayed as an exceptional warrior but not necessarily fully invulnerable, beyond his divine protection. The concept of Achilles’ unique vulnerable heel was established later.
Who ultimately killed Achilles and how?
Achilles was killed during the Trojan War. According to the prevailing later traditions of Greek mythology, Paris, prince of Troy, struck him with a poisoned arrow at his famous Achilles’ heel. It is said that the arrow was guided by the god Apollo, who wanted to take revenge on Achilles.
Why does Homer not mention the Achilles’ heel?
This is a question that occupies scholars. Homer in the Iliad describes Achilles as the greatest warrior, but makes no mention of his supposed invulnerability or his vulnerable heel. Some believe that the myth of Achilles’ heel developed after Homer’s time, perhaps to explain the death of such a great hero.
Is there any relation of the Achilles’ heel to anatomy?
Yes, the term “Achilles tendon” in anatomy is named after the myth. It is the strong tendon that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. Although the myth refers to the heel (bone) as the vulnerable point, the modern naming of the tendon is a clear reference to Greek mythology and the story of Achilles’ vulnerable heel.
Bibliography
- Bampiniōtēs, Geōrgios. Dictionary of Modern Greek Language with Comments on Correct Usage. 2002.
- Corey, Dale. From Achilles’ Heel to Zeus’s Shield. 1993.
- Doukas, Kōstas. The Great Secret of Homer: Iliad. 1993.
- García-Herrera, Alicia. That Wasn’t in My Book of Greek Mythology. 2021.
- Jensen, Lars. Greek Mythology. 2024.
- Kourtius, Ernestos. Greek History – Volume A. 2015.
