Tapestry 'Achilles among the Daughters of Lycomedes'

The tapestry Achilles among the Daughters of Lycomedes is one of the most valuable textiles in the collections of the National Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, and belongs to one of two series kept at the institution. It was created in around 1570 in Brussels, in the Flanders region.
The masterfully woven textile that decorates the Baroque Audience Hall depicts a scene from the life of Achilles, the son of King Peleus and the Nereid Thetis. The story tells how the prophet Calchas had predicted that Troy could only be successfully captured if Achilles takes part in the campaign. The prophecy also warned that Achilles would not return from Troy alive. When men started being rounded up for the war, Thetis hid her son on the island of Skyros. He was dressed as a young woman and lived among the daughters of King Lycomedes. When Odysseus found out where Achilles was hiding, he devised a clever plan to expose him – Odysseus and Diomedes pretended to be merchants and arrived at Lycomedes' palace. Among their wares, which included jewellery and textiles, there were also several weapons. All the princesses flocked to the jewellery, while only Achilles was drawn to the weapons. At that moment, Odysseus and Diomedes' men called a war-cry, the princesses fled whereas Achilles grabbed the weapons and rushed to counter the alleged enemies. Thus, he was exposed and agreed to go to war.
This is the scene depicted in the tapestry, at the centre of which we see Achilles taking up a bow, with Odysseus and Diomedes above him presenting their wares to the daughters of Lycomedes seated around them.