Achilles' descent from the Nereid Thetis and a similarity of his name with those of river deities such as Acheron and Achelous have led to speculations about his being an old water divinity .
ɐkˈɪliːz dᵻsˈɛnt fɹʌmðə nˈɛɹeɪd θˈɛɾiz ænd ɐ sˌɪmɪlˈæɹᵻɾi ʌv hɪz nˈeɪm wɪð ðoʊz ʌv ɹˈɪvɚ dˈiːətiz sˈʌtʃ ɐz ˈeɪkɹɑːn ænd ˈeɪkləs hæv lˈɛd tə spˌɛkjʊlˈeɪʃənz ɐbˌaʊt hɪz bˌiːɪŋ ɐn ˈoʊld wˈɔːɾɚ dᵻvˈɪnᵻɾi .