# Achilles — The Iliad character guide > Achilles in The Iliad by Homer. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Pelides, Aeacides, Prince Achilles, Great Achilles, swift Achilles, godlike Achilles **First appearance:** 0001-the-iliad ## Snapshot The Greeks' deadliest fighter, whose blazing quarrel with his own commander will cost the army more than any Trojan spear. ## Who they are Achilles is the young prince the Achaean host depends on most and controls least, first among warriors and quickest to feel slighted. When Agamemnon seizes his war prize, Briseis, his fury turns inward on his own side, and he withdraws to his ships while the army bleeds. That refusal to fight — and the pride behind it — is the engine that drives the Iliad's opening and middle books. ## Relationships ### [Priam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/priam) _psychological_ Achilles and Priam share a moment of profound empathy and grief when Priam begs for Hector's body, transcending enmity. ### [Patroclus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/patroclus) _friendship_ Achilles and Patroclus are extremely close companions, with Achilles' grief over Patroclus's death driving the central conflict. ### [Agamemnon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/agamemnon) _rivalry_ Achilles and Agamemnon are bitter rivals over honor and Briseis, leading to Achilles' withdrawal from battle. ### [Zeus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/zeus) _professional_ Zeus intervenes in Achilles' fate, sometimes aiding him and sometimes balancing the war according to divine will. ### [Hera](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/hera) _friendship_ Hera favors Achilles and the Greeks, often intervening to support him against the Trojans. ### [Apollo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/apollo) _rivalry_ Apollo opposes Achilles, especially after Achilles desecrates Hector's body, and helps guide Paris's arrow to kill Achilles. ### [Athena](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/athena) _friendship_ Athena aids Achilles, restraining his rage at key moments and guiding his actions in battle. ### [Hector](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/hector) _rivalry_ Achilles and Hector are mortal enemies on the battlefield, with Achilles seeking vengeance for Patroclus's death. ### [Agamemnon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/agamemnon) _rivalry_ Achilles and Agamemnon are bitter rivals over honor and Briseis, leading to Achilles' withdrawal from battle. ### [Patroclus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/patroclus) _friendship_ Achilles and Patroclus are extremely close companions, with Achilles' grief over Patroclus's death driving the central conflict. ### [Zeus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/zeus) _professional_ Zeus intervenes in Achilles' fate, sometimes aiding him and sometimes balancing the war according to divine will. ### [Hera](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/hera) _friendship_ Hera favors Achilles and the Greeks, often intervening to support him against the Trojans. ## In the story ### [The Iliad](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/the-iliad) Central figure whose wrath drives the plot; withdraws from battle after quarrel with Agamemnon, returns after Patroclus' death, and kills Hector. ### [Book I: The Contention of Achilles and Agamemnon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-i-the-contention-of-achilles-and-agamemnon) Calls the council, quarrels with Agamemnon over Briseis, and is restrained by Athena from killing Agamemnon. ### [Book IX: The Embassy to Achilles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-ix-the-embassy-to-achilles) Rejects the embassy's offers, expressing his bitterness over Agamemnon's insult and his resolve to return to Phthia. ### [Book XVI: The Sixth Battle—Death of Patroclus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xvi-the-sixth-battle-death-of-patroclus) Pities Patroclus, relents and allows him to fight in his armor, warns him not to pursue the Trojans to Troy, watches the battle from afar. ### [Book XVIII: The Grief of Achilles for the Death of Patroclus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xviii-the-grief-of-achilles-for-the-death-of-patroclus) Grieves deeply for Patroclus, vows vengeance on Hector, and accepts his own fated death. ### [Book XIX: The Reconciliation of Achilles and Agamemnon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xix-the-reconciliation-of-achilles-and-agamemnon) Renounces his wrath against Agamemnon, arms himself with divine armor, and mourns Patroclus. ### [Book XX: The Battle of the Gods](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xx-the-battle-of-the-gods) Returns to battle with rage, slaying Iphition, Demoleon, Hippodamas, Polydorus, and many others. ### [Book XXI: The Battle in the River Scamander](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xxi-the-battle-in-the-river-scamander) Continues his relentless slaughter of Trojans, fights the River Scamander, and kills Asteropaeus. ### [Book XXII: The Death of Hector](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xxii-the-death-of-hector) Achilles pursues Hector around Troy, kills him, and then drags his body behind his chariot back to the Greek ships, vowing to honor Patroclus. ### [Book XXIII: The Funeral of Patroclus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xxiii-the-funeral-of-patroclus) Leads the mourning for Patroclus, performs sacrifices, and presides over the funeral games. ### [Book XXIV: The Body of Hector Recovered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xxiv-the-body-of-hector-recovered) Still grieving Patroclus, he drags Hector's body but eventually yields to the gods' will and accepts Priam's ransom. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/achilles - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters