Achilles (3 syl.).

King of the Myrʹmidons (in Thessaly), the hero of Homer’s epic poem called the Iliad. He is represented as brave and relentless. The poem begins with a quarrel between him and Agamemnon, the commander-in-chief of the allied Greeks; in consequence of which Achilles refused to go to battle. The Trojans prevail, and Achilles sends forth his friend Patrocʹlos to oppose them. Patrocʹlos fell; and Achilles, in anger, rushing into the battle, killed Hector, the commander of the Trojans. He himself, according to later poems, fell in battle a few days afterwards, before Troy was taken.