Toxic masculinity is not a law of nature, but a cultural construct that has been shaped and solidified over millennia. At its center is Achilles, the archetypal hero of the Iliad: a figure who has been cited, revered, and amplified as a male ideal for 2,500 years, from Alexander the Great to Caesar and Augustus, through medieval knights, Renaissance humanists, and modern military leaders. Drawing on gender studies, cultural history, and social science theory, this study examines how toxic masculinity emerged, became entrenched and continues to stabilize patriarchal power structures today. It explains why Achilles' legacy still shapes both men and women and why hegemonic masculinity functions as a tool of power. A key to understanding the origins of toxic masculinity.