Did Achilles mother try to protect him?

Yes, Achilles' mother, Thetis, tried to protect him from his destined fate in the Trojan War. According to mythology, she dipped him in the River Styx to make him invulnerable, but she held him by his heel, leaving that part vulnerable. Additionally, she attempted to hide him among women on the island of Skyros to prevent him from joining the war. Despite her efforts, Achilles ultimately could not escape his fate.