of petteia Numerous paintings on pottery have suggested a tale not mentioned in the literary traditions. At some point in the war, Achilles and Ajax were playing a board game (petteia). They were absorbed in the game and oblivious to the surrounding battle. The Trojans attacked and reached the heroes, who were saved only by an intervention of Athena. Worship and heroic cult The tomb of Achilles, extant throughout antiquity in Troad, was venerated by Thessalians, but also by Persian expeditionary forces, as well as by Alexander the Great and the Roman emperor Caracalla. Achilles' cult was also to be found at other places, e. g. on the island of Astypalaea in the Sporades, in Sparta which had a sanctuary, in Elis and in Achilles' homeland Thessaly, as well as in the Magna Graecia cities of Tarentum, Locri and Croton, accounting for an almost Panhellenic cult to the hero. The cult of Achilles is illustrated in the 500 BC Polyxena sarcophagus, which depicts the sacrifice of Polyxena near the tumulus of Achilles. Strabo (13.1.32) also suggested that such a cult of Achilles existed in Troad: The spread and intensity of the hero's veneration among the Greeks that had settled on the northern coast of the Pontus Euxinus, today's Black Sea, appears to have been remarkable. An archaic cult is attested for the Milesian colony of Olbia as well as for an island in the middle of the Black Sea, today identified with Snake Island (Ukrainian Зміїний, Zmiinyi, near Kiliya, Ukraine). Early dedicatory inscriptions from the Greek colonies on the Black Sea (graffiti and inscribed clay disks, these possibly being votive offerings, from Olbia, the area of Berezan Island and the Tauric Chersonese) attest the existence of a heroic cult of Achilles from the sixth century BC onwards. The cult was still thriving in the third century CE, when dedicatory stelae from Olbia refer to an Achilles Pontárchēs (Ποντάρχης, roughly "lord of the Sea," or "of the Pontus Euxinus"), who was invoked as a protector of the city of Olbia, venerated on par with Olympian gods such as the local Apollo Prostates, Hermes Agoraeus, or Poseidon. Pliny the Elder (23–79 AD) in his Natural History mentions a "port of the Achæi" and an "island of Achilles", famous for the tomb of that "man" (), situated somewhat nearby Olbia and the Dnieper-Bug Estuary; furthermore, at 125 Roman miles from this island, he
{
        'QUESTION: What happened between Achilles and Ajax during the war?': 'ANSWER: During the war, Achilles and Ajax played a board game called petteia, becoming so engrossed in it that they didn\'t notice the ongoing battle around them.',
        'QUESTION: Who saved Achilles and Ajax from danger during their game?' : 'ANSWER: Athena intervened and saved both Achilles and Ajax from the attacking Trojans.',
        'QUESTION: Where was Achilles worshipped and honored after his death?' : 'ANSWER: Achilles was worshipped and honoured at various locations including his tomb in Troy, Thessalia, Sparta, Elis, Astypalaea, Tarentum, Locri, Croton, and even by foreigners like the Persian expeditionary forces, Alexander the Great, and the Roman Emperor Caracalla.',
        'QUESTION: How did Achilles\' cult manifest itself in different regions?' : 'ANSWER: In different regions, Achilles\' cult took different forms, sometimes involving sacrifices, as seen in the example of the Polyxena sarcophagus, or protective roles, as evidenced by dedications made to him in cities like Olbia.',
        'QUESTION: When did the cult of Achilles begin?' : 'ANSWER: The cult of Achilles began as early as the 6th century BCE, as indicated by dedicatory inscriptions from Greek colonies along the Black Sea.',
        'QUESTION: Was the cult of Achilles still active in later centuries?' : 'ANSWER: Yes, the cult of Achilles remained active until at least the 3rd century CE, as demonstrated by dedicatory stelae from Olbia referring to him as "Achilles Pontárchēs."',
        'QUESTION: Did Achilles receive recognition equal to that of the Olympian gods?' : 'ANSWER: Yes, Achilles received recognition equivalent to that of the Olympian gods, as shown by his association with deities like Athena and his veneration alongside figures such as Apollo Prostates, Hermes Agoraeus, and Poseidon.',
        'QUESTION: Can you tell me more about the "island of Achilles"?': 'ANSWER: The "island of Achilles" refers to an island in the Black Sea, believed to be modern day Snake Island, where his tomb was located. This location was considered significant due to its proximity to Olbia and the Dnieper-Bug Estuary.',
        'QUESTION: What role did Achilles play in the geography of ancient Greece?' : 'ANSWER: Achilles played a significant role in the geographical understanding of ancient Greece, particularly through his connection to the Black Sea region, where several sites dedicated to him were discovered.',
        'QUESTION: What is the significance of the term "Pontárchēs" used for Achilles in Olbia?' : 'ANSWER: "Pontárchēs" means "Lord of the Sea" or "of the Pontus Euxinus," indicating that Achilles was regarded as a powerful figure connected to the sea and maritime activities.'
    }