The mother of Achilles helped to turn her son into an epic hero during the Trojan War. During the war she was constantly by his side, consoling him through his times of grief and aiding him in becoming a renowned warrior. Thetis and her son shared such a close relationship that it enabled her to seek the help of the gods for him.
When the dispute between Agamemnon and Achilles led to the latter's momentary withdrawal from the war, Achilles sought his mother's aid in asking Zeus to grant temporary victory to the Trojans. Thetis immediately approached Zeus ab
out the matter and is quoted from the Iliad to have beseeched him thus, "King Agamemnon has dishonored him by taking his prize and keeping her. Honor him then yourself, Olympian lord of counsel, and grant victory to the Trojans, till the Achaeans give my son his due and load him with riches in requital" (Homer). When Zeus relented, this led to the Greeks incurring heavy losses and Agamemnon realizing that Achilles was sorely needed in battle. He thus tried to woo Achilles into rejoining the war through elaborate gifts.
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