Heartache and Heartbreak

Achilles got his new armor and also the gifts Agamemnon had originally promised him. Achilles horse spoke to him saying that his time is near and Achilles pretty much told him to can it. If it were my horse that was speaking to me, I'd take it pretty seriously. It's a TALKING HORSE for crying out loud. I heard tell that Zeus said the gods could get involved now...like they haven't been already! But anyways, they apparently decided to sit back and watch the humans wreak havoc on each other. Hektor challenged Achilles once again and once again Apollo had to save him (I really enjoy this Apollo fellow).

Then...what I had hoped and prayed wouldn't happen, occurred. Achilles brutally killed my soon Lycaon. I was told that Achilles went on a killing spree and filled the river with so many of my brave soldiers that the river god was angered and almost killed Achilles if Hephaestus hadn't saved him. Damn gods, we could have done with no godly involvement at that point. The gods are fighting with each other but I could care less. My son has been killed. I saw the battlefield that was just littered with dead bodies and I ran to open the gates to what was left of the troops. Achilles saw what I was doing and followed my soldiers. He almost took the entire city. What I last remember was Agenor challenging Achilles. Apollo rescued Agenor and disguised himself to look like my son without Achilles knowing. Apollo allowed us enough time to get back to Troy. I am an old man, and when I look around me my heart grows heavy with dispair. I am tired of this. I am tired of watching my sons get killed in battle. I am tired.

When Achilles and the men were at breakfast, Achilles refused to eat before going to battle. It might be  possible that he thinks it's pointless since he knows he will die soon? But I believe that it is because he does not need food to keep him alive. He is Achilles. He is as close to a god as a mortal can get. He can't be killed in his armor. Achilles ate nectar and ambrosia which is foods to the gods. Further proof that he is more godlike than human. I had only wished he was weaker so my sons would not have perished.

This is a picture of what Achilles shield may have looked like. It is more than extremely detailed and handcrafted by Hephaestus. It is also impenetrable. That is the shield one would want in battle. It's probably pretty heavy though!

"Shield of Achilles." Www.geneseo.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Oct. 2013. <http://www.google.com/search?site=imghp>.