“The Triumph of Achilles” is a poem about the story of Patroclus and Achilles in Homer’s Iliad. The Iliad is a long narrative poem written in Greece around 800 BCE. It describes the Trojan War, which occurred because Paris, a Trojan, abducted Helen, a Greek (Achaean). Paris was favored by the goddess Aphrodite, and other gods are involved in the battle. The Iliad begins with Apollo, god of the sun and medicine, spreading disease in the Achaean camp as a result of the Achaeans acting against the gods. To resolve this, King Agamemnon of the Achaeans returns a hostage, but he steals one of Achilles’s hostages as a replacement. This injustice angers Achilles, who then remains in his tent, unwilling to assist the Greek kings in their efforts to destroy Troy and recapture Helen.

Patroclus attempts to convince Achilles to join the battle, but Achilles refuses. However, Achilles agrees to lend Patroclus his armor. Wearing this armor, Patroclus is assumed to be Achilles and leads the Achaeans in killing many Trojan soldiers. However, Patroclus is eventually killed by Hector, who takes Achilles’s armor and tries to take the corpse of Patroclus as well.