Achilles

―Phoebus about Achilles

**Achilles** is Phoebus's horse who appears in *The Hunchback of Notre Dame* and its direct-to-video sequel. Achilles is much snarkier in the sequel and he answers rhetorical questions asked by Phoebus by tapping his hoof multiple times.

His name was purely based around one joke - "Achilles, heel!" line in the original movie, Achilles nearly ended up nameless, but due to that one play on words from the joke, the horse received his name.

Later in the first film, during the final fight with Judge Claude Frollo, Phoebus says once again, "Achilles, sit", and the horse sits on the head of an enemy soldier. Phoebus also gave him the same command to sit on the Brutish Guard when Phoebus was introduced. In the end of the second film, Achilles was able to find love.

## Appearances

### The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Achilles and his soldier owner, Phoebus, are first seen exploring the new town of Paris after the musical number, Out There, by Quasimodo. Phoebus asks two guards that he was looking for the Palace of Justice but they just ignore the captain. Later when the Brutish and Oafish guards begin to attack and accuse Esmeralda for theft, the two guards try to chase her, but Phoebus tells Achilles to sit down. When Phoebus asks the guards to be escorted, the guards do escort him. Achilles and Phoebus are barely seen in the song Topsy Turvy by Clopin following Frollo's guards to their master and later to the part where Frollo tells Phoebus to hunt for the gypsy girl, Esmeralda.

Achilles later appears briefly during the scene when Frollo's guards prepare an ambush in Paris to look for Esmeralda and later during the final battle when all the citizens are fighting against Frollo's guards including the part where Djali hits into the and Phoebus tells him to sit.

### *The Hunchback of Notre Dame II*

Achilles returns in this sequel and has a minor role. He first appears during the song "Le Jour D'Amour" where Esmeralda kisses Phoebus as Achilles smiles. He is later seen when Phoebus witnesses many people who lost their money stolen by Sarousch and after Phoebus explains to Zephyr that the circus owner who attracts people is actually a thief.

Achilles later appears when Phoebus holds a poster to know if the citizens saw Madellaine in which none of them know if they saw her. He is last seen when Phoebus and the other guards are planning to capture Sarousch. Later on at the Festival of Love, an unknown named female horse walks up to Achilles and they confess their love for each other and walk away together.

## Trivia

* Achilles was named after the Greek hero from Greek mythology, keeping with the theme of his master's name.
	+ At one point, Achilles is told to "heel", an element associated with his weakness in the Greek myth (and a major element to a major failure associated with his supposed teacher in the very next movie)
* A running gag is Phoebus telling Achilles to sit which results in Achilles comically sitting on a person.
* In the original novel and other adaptations, Phoebus's horse has no name and is given a name in the Disney version.
* Achilles's name was completely improvised by Kevin Kline (the voice of Phoebus).
* Achilles seems to be an Andalusian, a popular breed of warhorse in Europe from ancient times, and long associated with nobility and valor. The fact that Phoebus owns one indicates that he either comes from a background of nobility, has earned it through outstanding military service, or (most likely) both.