According to Greek mythology, Achilles’ father (Peleus of Thessaly) was a mortal while his mother (Thetis, a sea nymph) was immortal. During the first weeks of his life, Thetis dedicated a great deal of energy into making Achilles immortal.
Despite Thetis’ attempts to secure her son’s immortality, both of her efforts were unsuccessful. And, when Achilles was a child the prophet Calchas told his mother that Troy could not be defeated without Achilles’ help. Fearing that he would face death if he entered the war, Thetis sent Achilles to live in the palace of King Lycomedes in Scyros.
Achilles at the Palace of Lycomedes
At the palace of Lycomedes, Achilles was disguised as a maiden in order to be protected from harm. However, the Greek soldiers knew that their only hope of winning the Trojan War would be to have Achilles fighting on their side, so Odysseus, the hero of Homer’s epic The Odyssey, went on a quest to seek Achilles out.