Week 10 lab: Storybook research
Today I did research for my story about Patroclus and Achilles. There are lots of conflicting myths in different writings, but I decided to base the facts of my story mostly around Homer's Iliad and Hygenis' Fabulae.
After Agamemnon, king of Mycenae, angered Achilles by stealing his slave, Briseis, Achilles stops fighting for the Greeks in the Trojan War out of protest. This was pretty problematic, considering Achilles was the greatest Greek warrior and, up to this point, the hero of the Trojan War.
His closest friend -- and, some (including me) argue, his lover -- Patroclus, convinces Achilles to let him lead the army dressed in Achilles' armor. With his bravery, Patroclus and the other soldiers succeed in containing the Trojans -- but Patroclus is killed by Hector, prince and leader of the Trojans.
When news of Patroclus' death reaches Achilles, Achilles is overcome with grief. The loss of his closest companion is enough to bring him back to the battlefield, swearing to avenge his death. And although the gods told him it would cost him his own life, Achilles kills Hector and drags his corpse behind his chariot as both proof and a warning.
But the gods were right: Achilles was shot in the heel with an arrow and killed by Paris, Hector's brother. It is said that Achilles was invulnerable everywhere except the one heel, because when he was a baby his mother bathed him in the river Styx by holding him by one heel.
I'm excited to delve deeper into this story in my storybook and explore Achilles' and Patroclus' relationship, as well as their respective deaths. The story is fascinating, and there is so much room to add details!
After Agamemnon, king of Mycenae, angered Achilles by stealing his slave, Briseis, Achilles stops fighting for the Greeks in the Trojan War out of protest. This was pretty problematic, considering Achilles was the greatest Greek warrior and, up to this point, the hero of the Trojan War.
His closest friend -- and, some (including me) argue, his lover -- Patroclus, convinces Achilles to let him lead the army dressed in Achilles' armor. With his bravery, Patroclus and the other soldiers succeed in containing the Trojans -- but Patroclus is killed by Hector, prince and leader of the Trojans.
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| Achilles bandaging the arm of Patroclus. Source: Wikipedia |
When news of Patroclus' death reaches Achilles, Achilles is overcome with grief. The loss of his closest companion is enough to bring him back to the battlefield, swearing to avenge his death. And although the gods told him it would cost him his own life, Achilles kills Hector and drags his corpse behind his chariot as both proof and a warning.
But the gods were right: Achilles was shot in the heel with an arrow and killed by Paris, Hector's brother. It is said that Achilles was invulnerable everywhere except the one heel, because when he was a baby his mother bathed him in the river Styx by holding him by one heel.
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| Achilles mourning the death of Patroclus. Source: Ancient Origins |
I'm excited to delve deeper into this story in my storybook and explore Achilles' and Patroclus' relationship, as well as their respective deaths. The story is fascinating, and there is so much room to add details!
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