He was masterful with spear, sword, bow and arrow - and, even weaponless, fighting with bare hands, he could disarm any foe. For no one whom he engaged in combat lived long enough to get a blow in. Even without this magic hide, however, he would have been a most fearsome adversary. He could not be wounded by any weapon wielded by man. Otherwise, his hide was stronger than any armour. However, in doing so, she held him by the heel, and the part of his heel covered by her thumb became his one vulnerable spot. When Achilles was an infant his sea-goddess mother, wishing him to share her immortality, dipped him into the river Styx. That he still swells angrily in the springtime at the memory of his defeat, and spitefully floods the villages of the plain.Īchilles Son of Peleus and Thetis, and the greatest of all Greek warriors. The defeated god slunk off to his underground springs - but it is said 1 But Heracles withstood all these metamorphoses, and hurled Achelous, senseless, to the ground. When that failed, he turned into a serpent, and, finally, into a bull. Achelous transformed himself into a river and raged over his banks, trying to drown Heracles. He competed with Heracles for the favour of the beautiful Deianira. Enraged, he turned her into a thorny plant which we still know today as the ‘acanthus’.Īchelous A river-god son of Oceanus and Tethys. Despite her refusals he kept pursuing her until she turned upon him and scratched his face. His reputation persisted after his death, and the very sight of his shield, it is said, carried by one of his descendants, was enough to strike fear into the foes of Argos.Īcantha A nymph who disdained Apollo. Thus favoured by the goddess, Abas proved himself a fearsome warrior. He was a special favourite of Hera who blessed his shield, making it resistant to any sword-stroke. ‘See’ references direct you to further significant information regarding the current entry.Ības An early king of Argos great-grand-father of Perseus. A Note to Reader Names/words emboldened within an entry indicate a main entry in this handbook. For Tom and Bill whose way of listening made wonder more wonderful
0 kommentar(er)
