The two heroic characters of Greek mythology are Achilles and Agamemnon. According to older stories, Achilles and Agamemnon are considered similar in strength and calibre, but Agamemnon lacks that ability and competency.
Achilles is considered to be more humble and noble as compared to Agamemnon. Agamemnon, the leader of his force, never faced risk in the battleground.
Key Takeaways
- Achilles was a legendary Greek hero and warrior, while Agamemnon was a Greek king and leader of the united Greek forces during the Trojan War.
- Achilles was known for his exceptional combat skills, and Agamemnon was recognized for his strategic leadership abilities.
- The two characters clashed due to differing priorities and personal grievances during the events of the Trojan War.
Achilles vs Agamemnon
The difference between Achilles and Agamemnon is that Achilles was a brave, humble, noble, and epic hero. On the other hand, Agamemnon was deprived of calibre and always demanded a significant share in the loot. Achilles was a respectful leader as well as the most muscular man. Whereas his countrymen admired Agamemnon as king or leader, but he never made a place in their hearts.
Achilles was described as the epic character of Homer’s Iliad. Achilles is considered the most muscular man, and his mother tried to make him immortal and undefeatable. She dipped her son in the Styx River and grabbed his heel.
This part of the heel became his weakness and the only body part that could be damaged.
Agamemnon was a good leader of Mycenae, a province in Greece. He does not have faith in his army and is trying to get the most significant share for himself.
Agamemnon never took risks while fighting on the battleground and was not noble or humble towards people. Agamemnon always strategies the situation and assign people who afit it perfectly.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Achilles | Agamemnon |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | His wife’s lover, Aegisthus, assassinated Agamemnon. Some state that Clytemnestra, Agamemnon’s wife, and Aegisthus killed Agamemnon. This dramatic incident took place at their own house. | Agamemnon was an arrogant, manipulative, mean type of person. |
| Parents | Achilles was the son of King Peleus and Queen Nereid Thetis. | Agamemnon was the son of Queen Aerope and King Atreus |
| Death | Achilles was shot with an arrow by Paris towards the end of the Trojan War. | King Achilles and Queen Deidamia have two children, Neoptolemus and Oneiros. |
| Children | Achilles ruled Phthia, one of the central provinces of Greece. | King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra have four children Iphigeneia, Electra, Orestes, and Chrysothemis. |
| Province | Achilles ruled Phthia, one of the prominent provinces of Greece. | Agamemnon was the renowned king of Mycenae. |
What is Achilles?
Achilles was one of the ancient warriors of Greek mythology. Achilles was renowned for his heroic spirit in the Trojan War and was the lead character of Homer’s Iliad. Queen Nereid Thetis and King Peleus were the parents of this great warrior.
Achilles’ most significant feat was when he defeated Hector, the Trojan prince, just outside the door of Troy province. However, there is no evidence of Achilles’s death in the Iliad, but some sources claim that Paris killed him.
Achilles was shot with an arrow towards the end of the Trojan War.
The phrase “Achilles’ heel” represents the point of weakness when defining someone’s liability otherwise powerful body. Nereid Thetis, Achilles’ mother, dropped her infant in the Styx River and carried him with one heel.
Hence, Achilles is undefeatable except for his heel.
To save Achilles from the Trojan War, Thetis hid him at the court of Lycomedes. Achilles was dressed like a girl sitting among the Lycomedes’ daughters. He was named Pyrrha, a red-haired girl.
Odysseus learned that he would not be able to conquer Troy without Achilles’ help. Odysseus gets to know this from the prophet Calchas.
What is Agamemnon?
Agamemnon was the son of King Atreus and Queen Aerope. Agamemnon was announced as one of the prominent leaders of Menelaus.
When Agamemnon’s brother Menelaus informed him that Helen, Menelaus’ wife, was kidnapped by Paris and was sent to Troy, Agamemnon ordered his massive Greek forces to commence Trojan War.
To curb the madness and cruelty spread by Odysseus, Agamemnon ordered Palamedes to threaten Odysseus. Palamedes terrorise him by killing Telemachus, Odysseus infant son.
This forced Odysseus to stop his madness to save his son and join the Greek forces.
According to an old saying, it was mentioned that after returning from Troy, Agamemnon was assassinated by his wife’s lover, Aegisthus. Some other versions do state that Clytemnestra, Agamemnon’s wife, and Aegisthus were involved in killing Agamemnon. This dramatic incident took place at their own house.
Agamemnon and Clytemnestra have four children Iphigeneia, Electra, Orestes, and Chrysothemis. Agamemnon was pressurized to sacrifice Iphigeneia, his daughter, to commemorate their Greek gods and permit their forces to sail for Troy.
Chrysothemis was bullied by his siblings Electra, and Orestes and wanted to take revenge for his father, Agamemnon. He killed his mother, Clytemnestra, and her lover Aegisthus and wandered in Greek areas for many years.
Main Differences Between Achilles and Agamemnon
- Achilles was the son of Queen Nereid Thetis and King Peleus, the king of Phthia. Also, Agamemnon was the son of King Atreus and Queen Aerope.
- According to many Greek philosophers, Achilles was unbeatable and undefeatable. He was considered to be the most muscular man. However, Agamemnon although being the leader of his army, does lack the caliber.
- Achilles was a very noble and humble type of person. On the other hand, Agamemnon was a very rude and arrogant person.
- Achilles was a short-tempered person and could not control his anger. At the same time, Agamemnon was a calm and manipulated person. He always manipulated people for his profit.
- Achilles had emotions, respected his countrymen, and was respectful. On the other hand, Agamemnon was a greedy person and did not trust his force.
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=AsQ-EAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP3&dq=achilles&ots=ya4qQ6uil4&sig=x5dwTjWMUnTgL6jGyBazrJDjhM8
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=WTRoAgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=achilles&ots=F2XsXCSu7G&sig=TPutjukezxaDvG6OqyShGNC8v70
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=2H5vemZcR7sC&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=agamemnon&ots=VO-BARU6EJ&sig=lVbVDGIrDyjkncjiNSKeOOktwEc
- https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/classical-quarterly/article/last-bath-of-agamemnon/9605BB4E95676AAC7B72CC8B1952FA05
Last Updated : 13 July, 2023
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Emma Smith holds an MA degree in English from Irvine Valley College. She has been a Journalist since 2002, writing articles on the English language, Sports, and Law. Read more about me on her bio page.
I found the article to be fascinating and it’s clear that Achilles’ story is a real highlight of Greek mythology. This is a great exploration of the topic.
There are some really interesting comparisons made in this article and it’s great to see such a detailed analysis of these two characters from Greek mythology.
I absolutely agree. The comparisons are intriguing and offer a new perspective on these iconic figures.
The article provides a fascinating insight into these legendary characters and the nuances of their personalities are captured really well. Excellent read!
I couldn’t agree more. It’s clear that a lot of thought and research has gone into this article.
I’m not so sure. I think the article’s portrayal of Agamemnon was a bit harsh and could have been more balanced.
The in-depth analysis of Achilles and Agamemnon in this article is impressive. It really sheds light on their differences and how they fit into Greek mythology.
Absolutely. The article has revealed some interesting details that I hadn’t considered before.
I completely disagree with the portrayal of Agamemnon in this article. There is no evidence to suggest that he was as incompetent as described. This is not historically accurate and should have been more balanced.
I have to agree, I think the article is biased and lacking in evidence to support the criticisms it makes of Agamemnon.
I think the article paints a clear picture of the differences between Achilles and Agamemnon, and it’s clear that Achilles was the superior character.
Wow, such an informative and interesting article! I love how the information was laid out. You could also include sources and images to back up claims.
I agree, there is so much information in this article that one could really dive deep into the history and legends of Achilles and Agamemnon. Great piece of work!