The word 'Achillean' has historically been used to describe all things relating to the aforementioned Achilles. It has received loose poetic translations from the Aeolic Greek dialect into English, such as 'we'll be Achilles and his friend,' 'we may be to one another as Achilles and his friend' with the meaning noted as 'such friends as were Achilles and Patroclus,' and 'be friends to each other like Achilles and Patroclus ' however, the literal translation is 'be Achillean friends to each other.' Theocritus' Idyll XXIX, a love poem from a man to a boy, includes a phrase addressing their future: 'ἀλλάλοισι πελώμεθ' Ἀχιλλέιοι φίλοι' ( alláloisi pelómeth' Achilléioi fíloi).
After Homer's iteration, the relationship between the men was depicted as a love affair. In Homer's Iliad, Achilles described Patroclus as being the 'man I loved beyond all other comrades, loved as my own life.' Their relationship plays a crucial part in the story. In relation to sexuality, Achilles had a relationship with another character, Patroclus, which is said to have romantic connotations. Community HistoryĪchilles himself is a famous figure in Greek mythology. Its 21st century use to describe sexualities is modelled after the term ' sapphic', which is used to describe all women who are attracted to women. The term 'achillean' refers to the Greek hero Achilles.
