Xanthus
and Balius
(Bay and Piebald)
Achilles
immortal horses who were given to Peleus
as a wedding gift from the gods.
When Achilles went to fight in Troy he took them with him and lent then to
Patroclus. The horses
mourned Patroclus bitterly when he died, and Zeus
took pity on them and gave them strength to run back to the Greek camp.
Achilles then reproached them for not protecting his friend but Xanthus old
him it was the will of the gods, since Hector
had Apollo by his side
and that Achilles soon would join Patroclus. The Furies
then struck Xanthus dumb.
