Ovid has a different view, though. “Preparing to despoil his conquered enemy, he notices the armor that he seeks has been abandoned, for Neptune took the body of his foe and transformed Cygnus into that white bird…” (Ovid. 12. 212-5) Here Neptune saves his son Cygnus from the finality of death. Achilles and him had just been fighting and Achilles, being unable to pierce him with his spear strangled him till he was very near death with his own helmet straps. Then, as Achilles was about to take the armor from his dead body, he finds that he has been turned into a swan. Cygnus is indeed destined to die here, as he would die within the next few moments if he is not saved. This is shown due to the fact that Achilles would not be taking the armor
