what does this passage show about the culture Achilles was from?
When he was old enough, his father sent him to Thessaly, with an older boy, Patroclus, for his companion, to Chiron, the wisest of all the Centaurs. And with the other boy, Chiron taught him to ride (on his own back) and trained him in all the warrior skills of sword and spear and bow, and in making the music of the lyre, until the time came for him to return to his father's court.
—Black Ships Before Troy,
Rosemary Sutcliff
Answers
The passage is about Achilles, a famous Greek hero. The passage thus throws light on the Greek culture of those times.
The first point is that boys of the royal family were taught to be independent and were sent away from the protective environment of the home. So, Achilles and another boy, Patroclus were sent to Thessaly. This is much like how the kings of India would send their children to an ‘ashram’.
Also, it was common for boys to be trained in martial arts. Achilles was sent to Chiron, to learn riding, archery, and the art of using the sword and the spear. So it is clear that Achilles belonged to a martial race and boys were instructed by wise teachers like Chiron. This again is similar to the Indian concept of ‘guru’ and ‘shishya’.
Further, the fact that Achilles was also expected to play the lyre shows that he did not belong to a primitive and savage race. Instead, he came from a culture that valued the finer arts like music too.
The above-mentioned points indicate that it is fair to conclude that Achilles belonged to a brave and progressive race.