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Achilles

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Hero

The Resume

    Son of Peleus and Thetis
    Father of Neoptelomus by Deidameia (a Skyrian princess)
    Namesake for the Achilles heel (principal weakness) and the Achilles tendon (tendo calcaneus, or heel bone)
    Killed by a poisoned arrow in his heel from either Paris or Apollo
    Portrayed by Brad Pitt in ‘Troy (2004)’

Why he might be annoying:

    His rage and vanity were central themes of Homer’s Iliad.
    He was given two potential fates: a long and peaceful but dull life or a glorious but short life.
    On Thetis’ order, he disguised himself as a woman — which Odysseus eventually found out.
    While in Mysia, he gave King Telephus a supposedly incurable wound.
    He killed Cycnus of Colonae with a hit to the one mortal spot on his body: the head (oh, the irony).
    When his friend Patroclus, wearing his armor, was killed in battle by Hector, he took revenge by killing Hector himself.
    His death led to a bitter battle between fellow warriors Ajax and Odysseus.
    He was depicted in Shakespeare’s ‘Trollius and Cressida’ as a lazybones.

Why he might not be annoying:

    At birth, he was actually named Ligyron.
    His name is a combination of the Greek ‘akhos’ (grief) and ‘Laos’ (a people).
    One legend states that, following a prophecy of his death, his mother, the goddess Thetis, dipped him by the heel into the River Styx.
    Another legend states that Thetis anointed him in ambrosia. When actually found to be over a fire, Peleus interjected and thus left the son’s heels vulnerable.
    When his ruse was revealed by Odysseus, he was forced into service against Troy.
    He was filled with extreme remorse and rage for allowing Patroclus to fight and die in his place.
    Mere seconds before his death, he managed to bring down one last Trojan with his spear.
    His armor was passed on by Odysseus to his son.
    The medical community decided to maintain the Achilles reference for what came to be called the calcaneal tendon.
    According to Roger Ebert, ‘he was a man who believed his own press releases.’

Credit: Cool It All Right?


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 7 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 15 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 21 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 21 Votes: 38.10% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 17 Votes: 23.53% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 123 Votes: 68.29% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 30 Votes: 36.67% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying