Of course, as everyone was taught in school (at least in my day), inevitably Achilles eventually met his death when he was wounded in that left heel by a divine arrow fired from the bow of Paris (see below) and Achilles' heel subsequently entered common usage as a metaphor for the weak spot in an otherwise strong person.
The story of heroic Achilles is told in Homer's 'Iliad', though not the manner of his death; that was left to other writers (including Euripides). And dig around in some other works of Ancient Greek folklore, as I have done, and further, different and intriguing stories emerge of his mother's conniving attempts to protect her son from harm.
One of the strangest, and I've taken it as the catalyst for my latest monologue poem (spoken by Odysseus), runs as follows: In order to keep Achilles safe from involvement in the Trojan War, Thetis had her son disguise himself as a young woman and sent him/her to live at court among the daughters of King Lycomedes of Skyros (an island in the Sporades). There Achilles apparently made a very presentable princess, with flowing chestnut hair and shapely legs.(S)he also fathered two children with Lycomedes' daughters; (in one account rape was alleged). Odysseus had been warned by the prophet Calchas that Troy could only be defeated with the help of Achilles, so Odysseus disguised himself as a merchant selling women's clothes and went to Skyros to 'out' the hideaway. By subterfuge he tricked Achilles into revealing his true identity and then flattered him into joining the campaign against the Trojans, promising him everlasting fame (QED).
Achilles' Heels
Oh dear.
What have we here?
A princess with an apple
and a spear tottering
on Achilles' heels.
Time to dispense
with maiden's dresses,
shed the chestnut tresses
mummy's boy! There's
man's work to be done.
Here's armour
for the fight, a helmet,
shield and flashing sword.
Make what farewells
you must on Skyros,
we leave for Troy
at first light. Your fate
to help us wage a war to
win back Menelaus' whore
then taste eternal dust.
Because this has been a shortish blog and because I like Bob Dylan, although the connection is tenuous I'm linking in a YouTube clip of a Dylan song from his 'Blonde On Blonde' LP: Temporary Like Achilles
Thanks for reading, S ;-)
69 comments:
Well I never... amusing poem.👍
The lengths some mothers will go to!
Interesting. I hadn't heard that story of Achilles as hideaway before. Just one query regarding your entertaining poem, would Odysseus really refer to Helen as Menelaus' whore?
A fascinating and amusing read. I'm enjoying your series of monologue poems. Have you thought about a themed pamphlet?
Yes, silly goddess! I loved the poem.
Enjoyed your latest, Steve. It got me wondering if the myth of Achilles' immersion in the Styx is in any way related to later rites of baptism? I thought you might know. Loved your clever poem and good to have a dose of Dylan again.
I never knew that story of Achilles disguising himself as a princess. It's a clever poem :)
Full of cunning tricks those Greeks. 😉
The Achilleid by Statius tells a version of Achilles early life and time on the island of Skyros. It is available in English translation.
An interesting read (as usual). Fate can never be outrun, eh? I like the poem (and "mummy's boy!" had me smiling).
Fascinating. It's a super poem, though "eternal dust" doesn't sound like the greatest incentive going.
Rape was alleged? 😱 Men can be heels!
I've been to Skyros, a lovely little island. The poet Rupert Brooke died and is buried there. I enjoyed your poem.
Well well, that episode never got a mention in Tales of the Greek Heroes!
Enjoyed the blog and poem Steve. That first verse in particular - priceless! 👍
Delightfully told. I love it. 🤎
Bravo Mr R.
OMG, fascinating stuff.
Never heard that story before either. Excellent research.
Did they have heels back then?
Poem is fun.
Fascinating. I remember seminar discussions at university about whether Achilles was bisexual or not (love for his friend Patroclus IIRC) but I'd never heard the Skyros story before. Well done with the poem, nice tone.
Fabulous Steve, a cross-dressing hero. Very 21st century ;)
How very interesting. I'm not big on Greek myth (never read those Homer classics) but I was surprised by what I read here and enjoyed your poem.
I believe Achilles was a bit of a prima donna. Didn't he sulk and refuse to fight at one point? I really like the poem but Steve, query those last two lines (as some others commented).
You show us Greek heroes in a new light! I enjoyed the poem and good to have a burst of His Bobness too.
"Beware the Greeks even when wearing heels!" 😂
Rape was quite a common event in Greek mythology. Usually it was Gods taking mortal women. In the stories about Achilleus on Skyros it is said he forced himself on Deidamia in her drunken sleep at the Festival of Bacchus. Your poem is comic.
An eye-opener! Well done, this hit just the right note for me.
Excellent! I loved it.
I took the poem to the Blackpool & Fylde Stanza group for advice as I wasn't wholly satisfied with a couple things in the last verse myself (referring to Helen as 'whore' and then that whole final line - how to convey succinctly that Achilles would die but earn lasting fame). In the end I've changed just one word and am happy with it now.
I did follow up on Laura Stavropolou's suggestion and I ordered The Achilleid by Statius from Amazon. I look forward to reading that shoetly.
Fascinating. It's a really clever poem. "Tottering" is such a descriptive word.
Simply the best thing I've read all week. A treat for Sunday morning with croissants and coffee. 👏
Surprised, a bit shocked, definitely amused.
Oh dear! My ancestors! (LOL) A most entertaining read. 💙
Enjoyed your blog Steve. What did Bob Dylan think he knew about Achilles?
That was an enlightening read and a fun poem.
Gosh, fascinating. I loved your monologue poem.
Such goings on. Well done with the poem (though not sure about the last line).
Little Myth Achilles!
I read a commentary on the 'life' of Achilles that claimed he only agreed to the princess deception so he could get among the king's daughters.
A divine arrow. I feel a sense of loyalty to the weapon (if you know what fletcher means). He had it coming to him anyway.
I love the way you tell them and it's a great poem, comic but with a dark undertone. Bob Dylan though, he can't really sing, can he?
Well that's an intriguing reveal, and a super poem you've made of it.
Great poem.👍 There are several conflicting accounts of Achilles' early life, in at least one of which his mother just abandoned him (in marked contrast to the version you give us here).
Most entertaining. I enjoyed your poem.
Very funny poem. I wonder if Achilles was as good-looking as Cat Stevens.
Διασκεδαστικός :)
From memory of reading of The Iliad, Achilles had one child, a son called Neoptolemus (born and raised on Scyros), but you mention two children. Who was the other and what's the evidence? Well done with the poem btw.
"a princess with an apple and a spear" - genius! 👏
Fascinating, funny and faintly unsettling.
Davey: Eustathius wrote as follows - “You should know that while Homer and many other authors say that the only child of Achilles and Deidameia was Neoptolemos, Demetrios of Ilion records that there were two, Oneiros [“dream”] and Neoptolemos. They say that Orestes killed Oneiros in Phôkis accidentally and when he recognized what he did, he built him a tomb near Daulis. He dedicated the sword he killed him with there, and then went to the “White Island”, which Lykophron calls the “foaming cliff”, and propitiated Achilles.”
Amazing, I never knew this. Great poem.
That's insane! What an intriguing read. Brilliant poem too. Well done Steve.
We have history!
I wonder why that episode never got a mention in the school books of Greek heroes! (LOL) I love what you did with the poem.
Πολύ αστείο!👏
Most entertaining. Thank you much for the share.
A fab read. When your mum's a scheming goddess... "That's another fine dress you've got me into!" 😉
Clearly having no nonsense, that Odysseus. This was most enjoyable Steve.👍
Very good.
According to Statius in the 'Achilleid', Achilles only agrees to his mother's plan to disguise him as his sister when he sees Lycomedes' beautiful daughters, and the opportunity feigning being a girl will give him to get up close and personal with the princesses.
High drama in Greek camp! 😂
Thoroughly entertaining.
Delightful.
Achilles as a sheila, that cracked me up.
You say the careless goddess should have dipped Achilles' other heel - but she was fated not to. That's how fate worked for the Greeks and no way round it. I enjoyed your poem though, clever and funny.
Fascinating and funny, such a clever poem. Thanks for the Bob Dylan bonus as well.
Instructive. Fate cannot be outmanoeuvred. Good poem.
Brilliant! Ha ha ha. Thanks for the Dylan bonus as well.
It's not a themed pamphlet Charlotte, but Achilles' Heels is the opening poem in my poetry collection 'From the Imaginarium', published next month ;-)
Post a Comment