1027Thetis_Mignard

Thetis, a nereid, is mentioned very early in Greek myth, Iliad 1 and 9 and 18 - 19 and 24, but also Hesiod Theogony 24 and 1003. Since it was prophesied that her son would excel his father, Zeus and Poseidon both resisted Thetis' charms, and they readily allowed the Argonaut Peleus to fall in love with her. Achilles is that storied offspring.

Thetis is always protective of her first-born (e.g. Apollod. Libr. Epit. 3.26-29), but it is in her commissioning of the Armor of Achilles that this connection becomes the more provocative: Thetis persuades Hephaestus to craft armor for Achilles when his goes into battle with Patroclus and is lost. (Hom. Il. 18.410 ff. has Thetis visit Hephaestus' forge.)

Miranda Hinckley speaks with Jacquie Ancell, the National Gallery Podcast, October 2010. "The art of social climbing" is useful. Click for M4a , or for transcript.