The Achilleid is an unfinished epic poem by Publius Papinius Statius that was intended to present the life of Achilles from his youth to his death at Troy. Only about one and a half books were completed before the poet's death. What remains is an account of the hero's early life with the centaur Chiron, and an episode in which his mother, Thetis, disguised him as a girl on the island of Scyros before he joined the Greek expedition against Troy.
“You are the grandson of the sky and sea.”
Tu caeli pelagique nepos.
Source: Achilleid, Book I, Line 869; Ulysses to Achilles.
“Long time has Thetis been scanning every corner with silent glance.”
Jamdudum tacito lustrat Thetis omnia visu.
Source: Achilleid, Book I, Line 126
“Then they invite her to join the dance and approach the holy rites, and make room for her in their ranks and rejoice to be near her. Just as Idalian birds, cleaving the soft clouds and long since gathered in the sky or in their homes, if a strange bird from some distant region has joined them wing to wing, are at first all filled with amaze and fear; then nearer and nearer they fly, and while yet in the air have made him one of them and hover joyfully around with favouring beat of pinions and lead him to their lofty resting-places.”
Dehinc sociare choros castisque accedere sacris
hortantur ceduntque loco et contingere gaudent.
qualiter Idaliae volucres, ubi mollia frangunt
nubila, iam longum caeloque domoque gregatae,
si iunxit pinnas diversoque hospita tractu
venit avis, cunctae primum mirantur et horrent;
mox propius propiusque volant, atque aere in ipso
paulatim fecere suam plausuque secundo
circumeunt hilares et ad alta cubilia ducunt.
Source: Achilleid, Book I, Line 370
“Thrace, steeped in the passionate love of war.”
Studiis multum Mavortia, Thrace.
Source: Achilleid, Book I, Line 201
“Did not shame restrain him and awe of the mother by his side.”
Ni pudor et junctae teneat reverentia matris.
Source: Achilleid, Book I, Line 312
“Or to describe to his pupil upon his lyre the heroes of old time.”
Aut monstrare lyra veteres heroas alumno.
Source: Achilleid, Book I, Line 118
