How did Achilles heel become vulnerable?

According to a myth arising later, his mother had dipped the infant Achilles in the river Styx, holding onto him by his heel, and he became invulnerable where the waters touched him—that is, everywhere except the areas of his heel that were covered by her thumb and forefinger.

Where is Achilles vulnerable place and why?

He shot his unsuspecting enemy with an arrow, which Apollo guided to the one place he knew Achilles was vulnerable: his heel, where his mother’s hand had kept the waters of the Styx from touching his skin. Achilles died on the spot, still undefeated in battle.

Why was Achilles heel his greatest weakness?

As legend has it, Thetis held Achilles by his heel when she dipped him into the river. Therefore, his heel was not touched by the magical waters of the River Styx and remained mortal and thus vulnerable.

Is the Achilles tendon vulnerable?

The Achilles tendon spans two joints and connects the calcaneus to the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, comprising the largest and strongest muscle complex in the calf (Figure 1). The tendon is vulnerable to injury because of its limited blood supply, especially when subjected to strong forces.

What was Achilles fatal flaw?

We can see this in the Iliad where Achilles is depicted as a tragic hero whose overwhelming stubbornness and pride ultimately bring about his own downfall. It can be argued that Achilles’s fatal flaw is that of hubris, excessive pride and overconfidence.

What was Achilles only weak point?

She attempts to make the baby Achilles immortal, by dipping him in the River Styx (the river that runs through the underworld), while holding him by his heel. The one part of his body left untouched by the waters becomes his only point of weakness, hence the phrase ‘Achilles heel’.

What is the moral of Achilles heel?

Here’s how Achilles tells it: Achilles knows that if he stays and enters the battle, he will be remembered forever for his exploits, but will die in battle, never to return home. If he returns home instead of entering the battle, he will live a long life but his legacy will die with him.

Why is it called Achilles heel?

The term Achilles heel references a vulnerability or weakness. It is rooted in the myth of Achilles’ mother dipping him in the River Styx, making his entire body invulnerable except for the part of his foot where she held him—the proverbial Achilles heel. (Achilles tendon is an anatomical term.)

What was Achilles Hamartia?

Achilles: the legendary hero of Greek mythology was an almost invulnerable warrior with one widely known fatal flaw: the heel that his mother held him by when she dipped him into the river Styx to make him strong. The heel ended up being his undoing. Today an “Achilles’ heel” refers to anyone’s fatal flaw or hamartia.

How is Achilles prideful?

Achilles is the central figure of Homer’s Iliad and is famous for his pride. This pride is injured when Agamemnon, the leader of the Greeks, takes away Achilles’ war prize in front of the troops. Later, he refuses to accept Agamemnon’s apology, making himself look even prouder and more selfish.