Achilles

Marta González González is Profesora Titular of Greek Philology at Málaga University (Spain). Her main research interests are Greek literature (particularly tragedy), Greek religion, and epigraphy. She is the author of a monograph on the Greek epigrammatist Nossis of Locri (2006) and of a co-authored book, with Ana Iriarte, Entre Ares y Afrodita. Violencia del erotismo y erótica de la violencia en la Grecia Antigua (2008, reprinted, 2010). Her most recent publications include articles on Greek religious vocabulary of funerary inscriptions.

• Series forewordAcknowledgementsList of illustrationsWhy Achilles?1. Introducing AchillesA Mythological "Biography"?Who is Achilles?Evidence for AchillesThe Best of the Achaeans, Apollo’s AntagonistThe Scope of this BookBrief overview of each chapterKey Themes2. The Origins of The Trojan War, The Origin of AchillesIntroductionThe Origins of the Trojan War: Achilles and HelenThe Birth and Childhood of AchillesAchilles’ TeachersOverview3. A Men’s World: Achilles’ EmotionsIntroductionEmotions and scenarios of actionAchilles’ anger as the Iliad’s leitmotifAchilles and Ajax. A shame cultureThe MyrmidonsOverview4. Achilles’ Sacrificial VictimsIntroductionAmbush, Pursuit and Sacrifice of TroilusYoung Trojans on the Pyre of PatroclusThe Hawk Chasing a Dove: The Death of HectorA Last Sacrifice in Honour of Achilles: PolyxenaOverview5. Gender And SexualityIntroductionAchilles on Skyros: Becoming a Man in Ancient GreeceAchilles and Patroclus in Love?Tears of HeroesSexual Violence on the Trojan StageOverview6. The Fury Subdued: To Forget, To ForgiveIntroductionAgamemnon’s guiltKissing Achilles’ HandsAchilles with no ShadowsOverview7. The Death And Cult Of AchillesIntroductionThe Tradition of Achilles’ Death in the Epic. Echoes of the "Homeric Question"Achilles’ Heel, Achilles’ Ankle: the Death of the HeroAchilles in the Underworld. The Island of LeukeThe Cults of Achilles. Archaeological and Literary EvidenceOverview8. Philosophical, Political and Ethical DebatesIntroductionAchilles and the tortoiseNot life but a good life. Achilles as model for SocratesHealing angerJustice and revengeMore hateful than the gates of Hades is the man who hides one thing in his heart and says anotherOverview9. Achilles In Modern Literature In EnglishIntroductionWhen there was peace, before the coming of the sons of the Achaians (Il. 22.156)Never More Shall a Second Grief thus Reach my Heart (Il. 23.45–46)And laid his manslaughtering hands over the chest of his dear friend (Il. 23.18)And kissed the hands that had killed so many of his sons (Il. 24. 478–479)OverviewFurther readingBibliographyIndex

"Achilles is a complex hero. His brief, brilliant life is sacrificed to avenge the death of his beloved friend. He is a consummate warrior, yet he is childlike in his rage; and outside the Homeric Iliad we learn that he was dressed as a girl to escape being sent to fight at Troy. Marta González González explores the many facets of this fascinating figure, deftly applying insights from modern theories, literary and psychological, to help bring him into focus. It is a pleasure to read."- David Konstan, New York University, USA"[This volume] presents some provocative insights shedding new light on old problems. The most intriguing are drawn from recent theories of evolution and psychology concerning the emotions of anger and grief. Deeply moving are the observations of how Achilles’ grief over the death of Patroclus can be used for the modern psychological understanding of post-traumatic stress and survivor symptoms in Vietnam veterans (pp. 114-5)."- Susan Woodford, Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2018