ACHILLES SHADOW

Our old blind friend Homer tells us much about Achilles and in fact the whole plot of the Iliad turns on his bad temper. But temper and other misdeeds apart, he was essentially a Hero compounded of the great classic qualities, bravery being chief among them.

It is unkindly said by many of his admirers that he and Patroclus were lovers, but Homer who knew more of this than many never said they were more than friends; the same is said of Alexander and Hephaistion because in the presence of the army they honoured the tombs of Achilles and Patroclus. For which matter nowhere was bravery more to be seen than in the ranks of the lovers of the “Sacred Band”.

But Achilles had loves other than that presumed for Patroclus, and even though at Troy he fought against Priam and took the life of Hector his son, he fell madly in love with Polyxena, Priam's beautiful daughter. His great love however was for Helen whose rape by Paris was the cause of the nine year Trojan war, and Achilles dreamed of her often, but he only dreamed.

It has been said that Achilles was made invulnerable by Thetis, save for the heel in which he traditionally got his death-wound, but in fact it was his heel that cast the shadow in which he dreamed of lovely Helen who was held at arms length.
- DANIEL

The name Achilles in Gr. mythology is synonymous with athletic, handsome and perfect. However there has always been suspicion of homosexuality perhaps not in the modern sense but more of a camaraderie between male partners during military service or battle. This story however shows that Achilles real weakness is not of the same sex but of woman's beauty and more specifically that of Helen.
- LJO