Achilles was born of a sea nymph named Thetis, who "attempted to make Achilles immortal by bathing him in the River Styx, but the heel by which she held him remained vulnerable" [1]. Thetis knew that the ultimate war between Troy and Greece could not be won without the aid of her son, so she disguised her young child as a girl, and sent him to live in Skyros. When the time came, Achilles was called to war by the great king of the Greeks, Odysseus. 
Achilles was the leader of the Myrmidons, a troop of fierce warriors. They went to battle on the side of Greece against the Trojans, in what would ultimately be a ten year war. Upon the near end of the ongoing war Patroklos, a close friend and comrade of Achilles, dies at the hand of Trojan prince Hector. This causes anger of Achilles to unleash in an ultimate battle between Hector and Achilles, in which Hector is brutally killed. Prior to Hector's death, Achilles dragged his corpse around the walls of Troy. This act became the beginning of the end of the war. Achilles official death is said to have been by Trojan prince Paris. Apollo is rumored to have guided Paris' fatal arrow through Achilles' only weak spot, his heel. The Greek and Trojan war is most notably dictated in the epic novels The Odyssey and The Illiad. Although, the story has been told and retold over the years, and details have been added, changed, and removed. However, it must not be overlooked that the story of Achilles specifically, embodies the ultimate war hero. His strength, cunningness, and seemingly impenetrable fighting technique has left a permanent impression on modern day warriors. The story also reminds us that we are human, that everyone is vulnerable, no matter how strong we present ourselves.
"Achilles." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6Th Edition (2013): 1. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 17 Apr. 2013.
LaRocque, Paula. "Words From The Gods Can Enrich Communication." Quill 93.7 (2005): 34. Communication & Mass Media Complete. Web. 17 Apr. 2013.
