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| Superman vs Achilles |
Achilles
Achilles' most notable feat during the Trojan War was the slaying of the Trojan prince Hector outside the gates of Troy. Although the death of Achilles is not presented in the Iliad, other sources concur that he was killed near the end of the Trojan War by Paris, who shot him with an arrow. Later legends (beginning with Statius' unfinished epic Achilleid, written in the 1st century AD) state that Achilles was invulnerable in all of his body except for one heel, because when his mother Thetis dipped him in the river Styx as an infant, she held him by one of his heels. Alluding to these legends, the term "Achilles' heel" has come to mean a point of weakness, especially in someone or something with an otherwise strong constitution. The Achilles tendon is also named after him due to these legends.Achilles was the son of the Thetis, a nereid, and Peleus, the king of the Myrmidons. Zeus and Poseidon had been rivals for Thetis's hand in marriage until Prometheus, the fore-thinker, warned Zeus of a prophecy (originally uttered by Themis, goddess of divine law) that Thetis would bear a son greater than his father. For this reason, the two gods withdrew their pursuit, and had her wed Peleus.
Superman
Superman was born on the fictional planet Krypton and was named Kal-El. As a baby, his parents sent him to Earth in a small spaceship moments before Krypton was destroyed in a natural cataclysm. His ship landed in the American countryside, near the fictional town of Smallville. He was found and adopted by farmers Jonathan and Martha Kent, who named him Clark Kent. Clark developed various superhuman abilities, such as incredible strength and impervious skin. His adoptive parents advised him to use his abilities for the benefit of humanity, and he decided to fight crime. To protect his personal life, he changes into a colorful costume and uses the alias "Superman" when fighting crime. Clark resides in the fictional American city of Metropolis, where he works as a journalist for the Daily Planet. Superman's supporting characters include his love interest and fellow journalist Lois Lane, Daily Planet photographer Jimmy Olsen and editor-in-chief Perry White, and his enemies include General Zod, Brainiac, and his archenemy Lex Luthor.
Similarities:
The story of superman is very similar to one of Achilles, both characters expressing the strength and the bravery that every hero in a story should possess. Both of these characters share extra-human abilities and similar weakness. Strong connections can also be made between the purposes of their suits and romantic interests. While they are introduced centuries apart, each character's background, symbolism and romantic relationships allows for fundamental connections to be made.
Differences:
Achilles
- Born a demigod as the son of Peleus and Thetis.
- Raised by his mother and centaur Chiron but not his father
- Achilles was called upon by Agamemnon to fight the Trojans to win back Helen. His mother warned him that he was destined a good life at home if he didn't go or glory and remembrance of his name after his death if he did go. He decides to go for the glory.
- Athena was Achilles supernatural aid because she's a goddess and she helped him defeat Hector of Troy.
- His abilities are superhuman strength, stamina, and immortality.
- His only weakness was the spot where he wasn't immortal which was the area by his heel.
Superman:
- Born on a world that was on the verge of destruction so he was rocketed to earth.
- Received help from his father from crystals that were programmed with his planet's science and his father's memories.
- His abilities are superhuman strength, heat vision, x-ray vision, flight, cold breath, super-speed, enhanced hearing, and nigh-invulnerability
- The loss of his home and father leads him to use his powers to try to protect and later on save his new world, planet earth.
- Raised by farmers on Earth after escaping the destruction of his world.
