mythical beginning Zeus was the supreme ruler of the gods He fell in love with Thetis a sea nymph Thetis’s beauty captured the hearts and minds of all who saw her But Themis the goddess of law and justice had a vision about Thetis Themis said that Thetis would have a son who would be more powerful than his father Zeus did not want anyone to be more powerful than him So he decided not to take Thetis as his wife Instead he arranged for Thetis to marry Peleus A year after the wedding Thetis gave birth to Achilles Thetis wanted to protect her son from all harm So she trav eled to the river Styx It flowed between Earth and the Under world She knew all areas of the human body touched by the water would be protected 4
Thetis stood on the bank of the river Styx clutching her baby son Achilles my only son she said once your body is touched by the water you won’t ever be hurt She removed the blanket wrapped around her child 5
Thetis held Achilles by the heel She quickly lowered him into the river Soon Achilles was completely under the water except for the heel that his mother held 6
Even though he was a baby Achilles was not frightened He felt the magical waters wash over him Moments later Thetis pulled Achilles out of the river She dried him off with the blanket She never noticed the water hadn’t touched his heel 7
