Achilles of new armour

 

Write a note on Achilles' new armour after Hector had killed Patroclus and stripped off his miraculous armour.

 

Ans. Achilles bitterly mourned the death Patroclus. His mother Thetis heard him cry and rushed to console him. Achilles complained that Hector imagined Patroclus to be Achilles. He not only killed him but also stripped off the beautiful armour Achilles had lent him. Thetis foretold her son that he would also die shortly after Hector. Meantime Iris came to him with a message from Hera in connection with a new armour. Thetis met Hephaestus, the blacksmith of the gods and requested him to forge new armour for her son.

 

Without a moment's delay Hephaestus went off to his bellows. He put over the fire hard brass, tin, gold and silver. He forged a eshield, large and strong with exquisite designs. There were three fold rims round the edge of the shining metal. The earth and the sky, the sea, the sun, the full moon, the stars and Orion, the hunter and the bear were shown revolving in the shield. Besides, there were pictures of two cities, the scene of marriage and feasting brides, and dancing boys. There were soldiers, goddesses, gold animals, warriors, killing of the herdsmen, Tumult and cruel Fate.