Page 11 - GALIET THE WALL, THE SPEAR, THE ROSE AND THE QUEST FOR THE 4 CARDINAL CORNERS: Hektor of Troy IV

true. Thetis4, rather than encourage Achilles for battle, does everything in her power to prevent him going to war. Thetis, with her divine foreknowledge, is indeed aware that the Trojan War is approaching, and that Achilles is fated to die at Troy.
In order to protect him, she dresses him as a girl and has the women of the court of Lycomedes on the Island of Scyros care for him. Somehow the secret is betrayed and when marshalling the troops for Troy, Odysseus tricks Achilles into revealing his identity. Similarly, contrary to Schein’s view, King Priam of Troy initially encourages his noble son and greatest of Trojan warriors, Hektor, to lead the Trojan forces because he is too old. It is true, however, that in Book 22, to no avail, King Priam and Hecuba plead with him to retreat to safety by coming inside the city after Achilles has massacred countless of Trojans. In her criticism, Schein also suggests that Achilles prime motivation is “winning honour and glory” (p.181). Though it is true that pursuit of honour is what drives
4 Thetis is a sea-goddess and immortal mother of Achilles. When Achilles is born, she tries to make him immortal by placing him on fire and rubbing ambrosia on his skin or by dipping him in the river SIliadtyx while held by the heel.
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