Why did Achilles withdraw himself from the war And What led Achilles to come back to the Trojan War In The Iliad BCE Homer c BCE - c BCE represents Achilles as a central figure His decision to leave the war and later return changes everything His actions shape the course of the Trojan War His decision to withdraw from the battle and later rejoin it stems from personal conflicts and deep emotions Insult by Agamemnon Achilles the greatest Greek warrior withdraws from the war because of a personal insult by Agamemnon Agamemnon is the leader of the Achaeans Agamemnon takes away Briseis who was Achilles's war prize This act makes Achilles feel dishonoured and disrespected So he Achilles says I hate like the gates of Hades the man who says one thing and hides another inside him Death of Patroclus Achilles remains away from the battlefield until tragedy strikes