# Achilles — Discourses character guide

> Achilles in Discourses by Epictetus.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0004-i-of-the-things-which-are-in-our-power-and-not-in-our-power

## Who they are

Greek hero of the Trojan War, used to discuss honor and rage.

## Relationships

### [Agamemnon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/characters/agamemnon)

_rivalry_

Achilles and Agamemnon clash over honor and authority in the Trojan War, fueling a bitter personal feud.

### [Agamemnon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/characters/agamemnon)

_rivalry_

Achilles and Agamemnon clash over honor and authority in the Trojan War, fueling a bitter personal feud.

## In the story

### [XI: Of Natural Affection](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/xi-of-natural-affection)

Cited as an example: his lamentation for Patroclus was caused by his own choice, not by the death itself.

### [On Precognitions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/xxii-on-precognitions)

Used as an example of correctly applying the precognition of duty in the dispute over Chryseis.

### [On the Same](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/xxv-on-the-same)

Achilles is referenced in the same analogy as the one from whom Briseis is taken.

### [XXVIII: That We Ought Not to Be Angry with Men; and What Are the Small and the Great Things Among Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/xxviii-that-we-ought-not-to-be-angry-with-men-and-what-are-the-small-and-the-great-things-among-men)

Used to illustrate that his ruin began with anger over a girl, not the death of Patroclus.

### [On the Power of Speaking](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/xxiii-on-the-power-of-speaking)

Contrasted with Thersites in the same hypothetical about recognizing differences.

### [To (Or Against) a Person Who Was One of Those Who Were Not Valued (Esteemed) by Him](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/xxiv-to-or-against-a-person-who-was-one-of-those-who-were-not-valued-esteemed-by-him)

Mentioned as an example of ignorance of what is profitable, quarreling with Agamemnon over a girl.

### [About Cynism](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/xxii-about-cynism)

Mentioned as one who can fight in single combat against Hector, illustrating proper roles in the world.

### [X: What Things We Ought to Despise, and What Things We Ought to Value](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/x-what-things-we-ought-to-despise-and-what-things-we-ought-to-value)

Referenced through Homer to show that even the noblest suffer when they lack right opinions.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/characters/achilles
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/characters