Ivana's review of the Iliad by Homer (Books VIII- XVI)
Hello dear readers and fellow bloggers! In my last post, I reviewed the first seven books of the epic poem the Iliad by Homer. This epic poem that has inspired the human kind for centuries is, as you probably know, divided into twenty four books. It is a complex work of literature, rich in meaning and content. Every book (or chanson as they are sometimes called) of the Illiad is a story in itself. As I was rereading all of the books of the Iliad, I kept noticing new things and details in the narrative. I felt that I could not possibly do this epic poem justice with just one book review post, so I decided to divide my review into three parts. In this post, I will review books eight to sixteen. I've been working on this post for a couple of days now, and I put a lot of effort into it. If all goes as planned, in my next post I will review books seventeen to twenty-four. So basically, with my next post I plan to finish reviewing all of the remaining books of the Iliad.
Honestly, the more than I read the Iliad, the more I'm moved by it. The ancient Greeks truly left us with some impressive works of literature. The subjects the Iliad talks about and examines (war, love, friendship, loyalty, fate and so on), are as relevant today and as ever. At least that is my subjective option. Mankind is still troubled by wars. If you find this book review post too detailed or elaborative, you are welcome to just scroll past it. If you are here just for photographs, art or fashion, that is alright as well. There is some fashion (two sustainable outfits) and location photography in this post (both by Gordan). As I said, in this post I'll share a detailed review and synopsis of books eight to sixteen of the Iliad. In this post, I'll use quotes from project Gutenberg, translation by Samuel Buter (for no particular reason, I just opted for this one among the royalty free ones).
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| Outfit on the left: T-shirt (gifted), heart necklace (gifted) , flared leggings (here), Nike sneakers (here ), burgundy bag (here), striped scarf (here) Outfit on the right : striped skirt (here) |
BOOK EIGHT ( Rhapsody VIII)
In books eight, we see the gods meddling in the war again. I always found it interesting why gods need to be so involved over the fate of the mortals. Zeus (Jove) in particular plays an active role in this eighth book of the Iliad, tipping things in the favour of Trojans, and then the Greek. In book eight Zeus forbids other gods to get involved in the fight. Do they listen? Of course not! It does not happen instantly, but at one point (and I will get to that later) the goddess do get involved. But first they all agree to listen to him, with Minerva (aka) Athena asks him to let them at least advise the Greeks if they cannot be directly involved in the fighting.
....but at last Minerva answered, “Father, son of Saturn, king of kings, we all know that your might is not to be gainsaid, but we are also sorry for the Danaan warriors, who are perishing and coming to a bad end. We will, however, since you so bid us, refrain from actual fighting, but we will make serviceable suggestions to the Argives that they may not all of them perish in your displeasure.”
Jove smiled at her and answered, “Take heart, my child, Trito-born; I am not really in earnest, and I wish to be kind to you.”
Meanwhile, the battle is about to start. Homer tells us how : "The Achaeans took their morning meal hastily at the ships, and afterwards put on their armour. The Trojans on the other hand likewise armed themselves throughout the city, fewer in numbers but nevertheless eager perforce to do battle for their wives and children. All the gates were flung wide open, and horse and foot sallied forth with the tramp as of a great multitude."
Nestor almost perishes in the battle, but is saved by Diomedes who calls out to Ulysses: " Nestor knight of Gerene alone stood firm, bulwark of the Achaeans, not of his own will, but one of his horses was disabled. Alexandrus husband of lovely Helen had hit it with an arrow just on the top of its head where the mane begins to grow away from the skull, a very deadly place. The horse bounded in his anguish as the arrow pierced his brain, and his struggles threw others into confusion. The old man instantly began cutting the traces with his sword, but Hector’s fleet horses bore down upon him through the rout with their bold charioteer, even Hector himself, and the old man would have perished there and then had not Diomed been quick to mark, and with a loud cry called Ulysses to help him.
In this instance, Ulysses aka Odysseus does not 'give ear' and offer help to Nestor and Diomedes, but hurries towards the ships. Odysseus is often described as cunning, and some say he is not a typical hero. I always wonder what people mean when they say that Odysseus is not a typical hero, what do they even mean? Just because he is cunning, does not mean that Odysseus is not a typical Greek hero? Hero, in Greek literature, especially epic poetry, is not someone who is only known for his fighting skills. Perhaps people, in general, judge Odysseus by today's standard when they talk about his heroism. Some even argue Odysseus is not very heroic, because he uses tricks and what not. However, Odysseus is not just a typical Greek epic hero, he is the standard for a Greek epic hero. Why? Well, Odysseus even has his own epic poem. To the ancient Greeks, a literary hero is someone who is representative of their community, that is, people. A hero has some kind of qualities that set him aside, and he represents his people. That's what makes a Greek epic hero. In God Emperor of Dune, Leto II laments how Greeks did not expect perfection from their gods. I would also say they did not expect perfection from their heroes, either. If you look at the heroes in this epic, both Trojan and Greek ones, they all make mistakes, and have their moments of both bravery and doubt. I included this little digression because Odysseus appears in almost every book of the Iliad. Alongside other Greek heroes, Odysseus fights quite actively. At this point, he retreats from the battle, and Nestor and Diomedes keep fighting. The description of their conversations amid battle and the battle sequence itself is very detailed. The battle scenes in the Iliad are well coordinated. Modern writers could learn a thing or two from Homer when it comes to writing fight and battle scenes.
“Ulysses,” he cried, “noble son of Laertes where are you flying to, with your back turned like a coward? See that you are not struck with a spear between the shoulders. Stay here and help me to defend Nestor from this man’s furious onset.”
Ulysses would not give ear, but sped onward to the ships of the Achaeans, and the son of Tydeus flinging himself alone into the thick of the fight took his stand before the horses of the son of Neleus. “Sir,” said he, “these young warriors are pressing you hard, your force is spent, and age is heavy upon you, your squire is naught, and your horses are slow to move. Mount my chariot and see what the horses of Tros can do—how cleverly they can scud hither and thither over the plain either in flight or in pursuit. I took them from the hero Aeneas. Let our squires attend to your own steeds, but let us drive mine straight at the Trojans, that Hector may learn how furiously I too can wield my spear.”
Nestor, encouraged by Diomedes words, climbs onto his carriage and takes the reigns, while Diomedes manages to kill the driver of Hector's carriage Eniopeus. As readers, we have to appreciate how every battle scene Homer describes is dynamic, full of twists and uncertainty. No matter what side is winning, there are almost always casualties on both sides. Here we see Odysseus fleeing, and old Nestor taking the reigns. We get a lot of details about what actual fighting would be like. A warrior could not ride a chariot and fire arrows and fight at the same time. So, chariots from time of old, would have a warrior charioteer and a fighting warrior, maybe even taking turns as warrior.
Nestor knight of Gerene hearkened to his words. Thereon the doughty squires, Sthenelus and kind-hearted Eurymedon, saw to Nestor’s horses, while the two both mounted Diomed’s chariot. Nestor took the reins in his hands and lashed the horses on; they were soon close up with Hector, and the son of Tydeus aimed a spear at him as he was charging full speed towards them. He missed him, but struck his charioteer and squire Eniopeus son of noble Thebaeus in the breast by the nipple while the reins were in his hands, so that he died there and then, and the horses swerved as he fell headlong from the chariot."
It does not take long for Hector to find another driver, though. We can imagine that many a Trojan would give everything to serve the bravest son of Troy: " Hector was greatly grieved at the loss of his charioteer, but let him lie for all his sorrow, while he went in quest of another driver; nor did his steeds have to go long without one, for he presently found brave Archeptolemus the son of Iphitus, and made him get up behind the horses, giving the reins into his hand."
Zeus (Jove) gets very angry when Athena (Minerva) does not listen to him. He does not get as mad on his wife Hera (Juno) because he is used to her arguing and contracting him. According to myth, Athena (Minerva) was born out of Zeus (Jove) head. So, that might be why Zeus (Jove) gets so mad when Athena (Minerva) does not heed to his will.
Just as Diomedes and Nestor are about to take on Hector, Zeus intervenes with lighting, and the two Greek heroes retreat, with Diomedes worrying everyone will think him a coward, and Nestor reassuring him nothing of the sort will happen:
All had then been lost and no help for it, for they would have been penned up in Ilius like sheep, had not the sire of gods and men been quick to mark, and hurled a fiery flaming thunderbolt which fell just in front of Diomed’s horses with a flare of burning brimstone. The horses were frightened and tried to back beneath the car, while the reins dropped from Nestor’s hands. Then he was afraid and said to Diomed, “Son of Tydeus, turn your horses in flight; see you not that the hand of Jove is against you? To-day he vouchsafes victory to Hector; to-morrow, if it so please him, he will again grant it to ourselves; no man, however brave, may thwart the purpose of Jove, for he is far stronger than any.”
Diomed answered, “All that you have said is true; there is a grief however which pierces me to the very heart, for Hector will talk among the Trojans and say, ‘The son of Tydeus fled before me to the ships.’ This is the vaunt he will make, and may earth then swallow me.”
“Son of Tydeus,” replied Nestor, “what mean you? Though Hector say that you are a coward the Trojans and Dardanians will not believe him, nor yet the wives of the mighty warriors whom you have laid low.”
Hector makes fun of the two for leaving, calling them cowards, and thrice Diomedes the fierce almost come back but Zeus convinces him otherwise with his lighting. Hector is shown as a very dominant fighter in book eight, and not only in this book. It is clear that he is the true military leader of the Trojans, displaying both intelligence and strengths, as well as keen understanding of the signs the gods send.
Hector also interprets Zeus lighting as favourable to the Trojans, and encourages his people and their allies to fight on, as he intents to burn the drive back the Greek and burn their ships:
Hector then shouted to them and said, “Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians, lovers of close fighting, be men, my friends, and fight with might and with main; I see that Jove is minded to vouchsafe victory and great glory to myself, while he will deal destruction upon the Danaans. Fools, for having thought of building this weak and worthless wall. It shall not stay my fury; my horses will spring lightly over their trench, and when I am at their ships forget not to bring me fire that I may burn them, while I slaughter the Argives who will be all dazed and bewildered by the smoke.”
Hector also speaks tenderly but decisively to his horses, mentioning his wife, who has tended to horses as diligently as he had her husband, and also stating his intentions to capture both Nestor and Diomeus and their valuable army gear. Hector understands miliary strategy. He hopes if he captures the golder shield of Nestor and god made cuirass of Diomedes , the Greeks would perhaps depart. This is one of the many instances in Iliad, where we are shown that men of that time treasured horses and even talked to them. Horses were known by their names, and were often famous and fought over. Military men, in particular, depended much on their horses. Having great horses was also perhaps a status symbol of its times.
Then he cried to his horses, “Xanthus and Podargus, and you Aethon and goodly Lampus, pay me for your keep now and for all the honey-sweet corn with which Andromache daughter of great Eetion has fed you, and for she has mixed wine and water for you to drink whenever you would, before doing so even for me who am her own husband. Haste in pursuit, that we may take the shield of Nestor, the fame of which ascends to heaven, for it is of solid gold, arm-rods and all, and that we may strip from the shoulders of Diomed the cuirass which Vulcan made him. Could we take these two things, the Achaeans would set sail in their ships this self-same night.”
Juno is furious, and speaks with Neptune who advises her not to intervene: King Neptune was greatly troubled and answered, “Juno, rash of tongue, what are you talking about? We other gods must not set ourselves against Jove, for he is far stronger than we are.”
Thus did they converse; but the whole space enclosed by the ditch, from the ships even to the wall, was filled with horses and warriors, who were pent up there by Hector son of Priam, now that the hand of Jove was with him. He would even have set fire to the ships and burned them, had not Queen Juno put it into the mind of Agamemnon, to bestir himself and to encourage the Achaeans.
Agamemnon, inspired by Juno, and carrying a purple cape (sign of royalty), finds the best suitable spot to give his speech (Greeks invented rhetoric after all, and location that happens to be by Odysseus ship is important). The king shows rhetorical talent, attacking the Greek for their cowardice and finally addressing Zeus who is moved by his prayer:
Father Jove, did you ever so ruin a great king and rob him so utterly of his greatness? Yet, when to my sorrow I was coming hither, I never let my ship pass your altars without offering the fat and thigh-bones of heifers upon every one of them, so eager was I to sack the city of Troy. Vouchsafe me then this prayer—suffer us to escape at any rate with our lives, and let not the Achaeans be so utterly vanquished by the Trojans.”
Thus did he pray, and father Jove pitying his tears vouchsafed him that his people should live, not die; forthwith he sent them an eagle, most unfailingly portentous of all birds, with a young fawn in its talons; the eagle dropped the fawn by the altar on which the Achaeans sacrificed to Jove the lord of omens; when, therefore, the people saw that the bird had come from Jove, they sprang more fiercely upon the Trojans and fought more boldly.
The favour of Zeus was previously shown with lighting. Zeus shows that he is on Trojan side with fierce lighting. Now, Zeus sends a favourable omen to the Greeks, and they attack again. It was clearly states that
Up to now, Trojans are winning. Hector, in particular, leads the army on and encourages them seemingly constantly, as he is sure that Zeus supports them now. While reading I wonder had not Hector forgotten what he said to his wife. Apparently, Hector forgets that he was certain he is to lose, and his wife will be a slave. Fate is such a layered thing in this epic. It is like a puzzle consisting of many pieces.
Does Zeus help Hector and Trojans because they prayed to him or because he promised he will to Achilles' mother? Does Zeus know all the intricates of fate? At times, Zeus really seems the master chess player, treating humans and even other gods as chess figures. Is Zeus also required to follow the fate? I find it fascinating how all the subplots revolving around the deities fit perfectly into the narrative. Of course, Zeus helps Trojans because he promised he will and they sacrificed to him. Of course, he might also help the Greeks because they pray to him as well. Gods might be cruel, but you cannot say there isn't a logic to their actions. The underlining motif is that Troy must fall, but there are so many details and subplots that lead to it. It is not a single occurrence, a battle won or lost, but a result of so many difference factors and conflicts.
Anyhow, there are some twists and turns in this book alone. First the Zeus supports the Trojans, and Hector takes advantage of it. Hector almost takes on Nestor, who is stranded on the battlefield, but he is saved by Diomedes. Hector also kills archer Teucer who killed many Trojans (Homer lists all of their names). In general, Homer lists the names of distinguished warriors when they get wounded, killed or participate in the battle actively. The description of battle between Hector and Teucer is very dramatic, and we can almost see it before our eyes. Teucer wounds Hector's driver and his horses go wild:
....Again he aimed at Hector, for he was longing to hit him, and again his arrow missed, for Apollo turned it aside; but he hit Hector’s brave charioteer Archeptolemus in the breast, by the nipple, as he was driving furiously into the fight. The horses swerved aside as he fell headlong from the chariot, and there was no life left in him. Hector was greatly grieved at the loss of his charioteer, but for all his sorrow he let him lie where he fell, and bade his brother Cebriones, who was hard by, take the reins. Cebriones did as he had said. Hector thereon with a loud cry sprang from his chariot to the ground, and seizing a great stone made straight for Teucer with intent to kill him. Teucer had just taken an arrow from his quiver and had laid it upon the bowstring, but Hector struck him with the jagged stone as he was taking aim and drawing the string to his shoulder; he hit him just where the collar-bone divides the neck from the chest, a very deadly place, and broke the sinew of his arm so that his wrist was less, and the bow dropped from his hand as he fell forward on his knees. Ajax saw that his brother had fallen, and running towards him bestrode him and sheltered him with his shield. Meanwhile his two trusty squires, Mecisteus son of Echius, and Alastor, came up and bore him to the ships groaning in his great pain.
Hector has no time to mourn his brave charioteer, he fought Teucer with a stone. I mean Homer spears us no details. I wish filmmakers actually took notes from Homer, especially when adapting the Iliad. Homer writes battle scenes so full of suspense that millenniums later, most writers could still learn from him.
Back to the plot of book ten. Zeus has a change of heats again, and puts heart into Hectors and the Trojans again. Hector leads the army on in all his glory.
Jove now again put heart into the Trojans, and they drove the Achaeans to their deep trench with Hector in all his glory at their head. As a hound grips a wild boar or lion in flank or buttock when he gives him chase, and watches warily for his wheeling, even so did Hector follow close upon the Achaeans, ever killing the hindmost as they rushed panic-stricken onwards. When they had fled through the set stakes and trench and many Achaeans had been laid low at the hands of the Trojans, they halted at their ships, calling upon one another and praying every man instantly as they lifted up their hands to the gods; but Hector wheeled his horses this way and that, his eyes glaring like those of Gorgo or murderous Mars.
Hera and Athens have a talk, pitying the Greeks.
"Juno when she saw them had pity upon them, and at once said to Minerva, “Alas, child of aegis-bearing Jove, shall you and I take no more thought for the dying Danaans, though it be the last time we ever do so? See how they perish and come to a bad end before the onset of but a single man. Hector the son of Priam rages with intolerable fury, and has already done great mischief.”
Minerva answered, “Would, indeed, this fellow might die in his own land, and fall by the hands of the Achaeans; but my father Jove is mad with spleen, ever foiling me, ever headstrong and unjust.... "
They prepare themselves, and again we have a lavish description of their glory and the glory of their horses (for horses are treasured even by gods), and this is another example of usage of literary device of retardation. It is also interesting that when Minerva asks Juno to get the horses, she obeys. Juno is the wife of supreme god, but she seems to listen to Minerva here. Either their mind are one on this matter, or they are just portrayed as having a good relationship. Juno is usually portrayed as a jealous goddess who tries to harm or kill Jove's offspring by other women or goddesses. Maybe she gets along with Minerva because she has no mother and was born out of Zeus head (an unique achievement). So when Minerva says to Juno to get the horses, Juno obeys: "Get our horses ready, while I go within the house of aegis-bearing Jove and put on my armour; we shall then find out whether Priam’s son Hector will be glad to meet us in the highways of battle, or whether the Trojans will glut hounds and vultures with the fat of their flesh as they be dead by the ships of the Achaeans.”
Thus did she speak and white-armed Juno, daughter of great Saturn, obeyed her words; she set about harnessing her gold-bedizened steeds, while Minerva daughter of aegis-bearing Jove flung her richly vesture, made with her own hands, on to the threshold of her father, and donned the shirt of Jove, arming herself for battle. Then she stepped into her flaming chariot, and grasped the spear so stout and sturdy and strong with which she quells the ranks of heroes who have displeased her. Juno lashed her horses, and the gates of heaven bellowed as they flew open of their own accord—gates over which the Hours preside, in whose hands are heaven and Olympus, either to open the dense cloud that hides them or to close it. Through these the goddesses drove their obedient steeds.
Hera (Juno) and Athens (Minerva) cannot stand to watch their beloved Greeks die, so they decide to come from Olympus to at least. Well, at least these two goddesses are consistent in favouring the Greeks, and they do not switch sides. I also like how they seem to stick together in this epic. If you think about it, Athena is motherless' but since Hera is Zeus' sister and wife, she is still her aunt, and they are family by blood.
Anyhow, Zeus gets angry and sends a messenger to stop them. With this Iris went her way, fleet as the wind, from the heights of Ida to the lofty summits of Olympus. She met the goddesses at the outer gates of its many valleys and gave them her message. “What,” said she, “are you about? Are you mad? The son of Saturn forbids going. This is what he says, and this is what he means to do, he will lame your horses for you, he will hurl you from your chariot, and will break it in pieces. It will take you all ten years to heal the wounds his lightning will inflict upon you, that you may learn, grey-eyed goddess, what quarrelling with your father means. He is less hurt and angry with Juno, for whatever he says she always contradicts him but you, bold hussy, will you really dare to raise your huge spear in defiance of Jove?”
Zeus (Jove) gets very angry when Athena (Minerva) does not listen to him. He does not get as mad on his wife Hera (Juno) because he is used to her arguing and contracting him. According to myth, Athena (Minerva) was born out of Zeus (Jove) head. So, that might be why Zeus (Jove) gets so mad when Athena (Minerva) does not heed to his will, one that was born of his mind.
Juno says to Minerva they should listen to Zeus, but later on we will see they are both still angry and will argue their case.
With this she left them, and Juno said to Minerva, “Of a truth, child of aegis-bearing Jove, I am not for fighting men’s battles further in defiance of Jove. Let them live or die as luck will have it, and let Jove mete out his judgements upon the Trojans and Danaans according to his own pleasure.”
She turned her steeds; the Hours presently unyoked them, made them fast to their ambrosial mangers, and leaned the chariot against the end wall of the courtyard. The two goddesses then sat down upon their golden thrones, amid the company of the other gods; but they were very angry.
Presently father Jove drove his chariot to Olympus, and entered the assembly of gods. The mighty lord of the earthquake unyoked his horses for him, set the car upon its stand, and threw a cloth over it. Jove then sat down upon his golden throne and Olympus reeled beneath him. Minerva and Juno sat alone, apart from Jove, and neither spoke nor asked him questions, but Jove knew what they meant, and said, “Minerva and Juno, why are you so angry? Are you fatigued with killing so many of your dear friends the Trojans? Be this as it may, such is the might of my hands that all the gods in Olympus cannot turn me; you were both of you trembling all over ere ever you saw the fight and its terrible doings. I tell you therefore-and it would have surely been—I should have struck you with lightning, and your chariots would never have brought you back again to Olympus.”
Again, we witness the toxic marriage of Juno and Jove, where Jove says he would have struck them with lighting had they not obeyed. Minerva is angry, but silent, while Juno cannot control herself and answers her husband passionately.
Minerva and Juno groaned in spirit as they sat side by side and brooded mischief for the Trojans. Minerva sat silent without a word, for she was in a furious passion and bitterly incensed against her father; but Juno could not contain herself and said, “What, dread son of Saturn, are you talking about? We know how great your power is, nevertheless we have compassion upon the Danaan warriors who are perishing and coming to a bad end. We will, however, since you so bid us, refrain from actual fighting, but we will make serviceable suggestions to the Argives, that they may not all of them perish in your displeasure.”
I'm always surprised to read with how much contempt the supreme god and goddess talk to with one another. Both of them can be very kind when moved, but are hardly ever kind to one another in this epic. Anyhow, Jove announces to Juno that Hector will continue fighting and adds many unkind words at the end, and Hera does not answer him. Zeus could author a book on how to ruin your marriage.
And Jove answered, “To-morrow morning, Juno, if you choose to do so, you will see the son of Saturn destroying large numbers of the Argives, for fierce Hector shall not cease fighting till he has roused the son of Peleus when they are fighting in dire straits at their ships’ sterns about the body of Patroclus. Like it or no, this is how it is decreed; for aught I care, you may go to the lowest depths beneath earth and sea, where Iapetus and Saturn dwell in lone Tartarus with neither ray of light nor breath of wind to cheer them. You may go on and on till you get there, and I shall not care one whit for your displeasure; you are the greatest vixen living.”
The fighting continues, and Trojans are sorry to see the night arrive, while Greeks are happy. The sun’s glorious orb now sank into Oceanus and drew down night over the land. Sorry indeed were the Trojans when light failed them, but welcome and thrice prayed for did darkness fall upon the Achaeans.
Hectors makes an inspired speech to his army. There are many example like this in the Iliad. Greeks certainly had great rhetorical skills:
Then Hector led the Trojans back from the ships, and held a council on the open space near the river, where there was a spot clear of corpses. They left their chariots and sat down on the ground to hear the speech he made them. He grasped a spear eleven cubits long, the bronze point of which gleamed in front of it, while the ring round the spear-head was of gold. Spear in hand he spoke. “Hear me,” said he, “Trojans, Dardanians, and allies. I deemed but now that I should destroy the ships and all the Achaeans with them ere I went back to Ilius, but darkness came on too soon. It was this alone that saved them and their ships upon the sea-shore. Now, therefore, let us obey the behests of night, and prepare our suppers. Take your horses out of their chariots and give them their feeds of corn; then make speed to bring sheep and cattle from the city; bring wine also and corn for your horses and gather much wood, that from dark till dawn we may burn watchfires whose flare may reach to heaven. For the Achaeans may try to fly beyond the sea by night, and they must not embark scatheless and unmolested; many a man among them must take a dart with him to nurse at home, hit with spear or arrow as he is leaping on board his ship, that others may fear to bring war and weeping upon the Trojans. Moreover let the heralds tell it about the city that the growing youths and grey-bearded men are to camp upon its heaven-built walls. Let the women each of them light a great fire in her house, and let watch be safely kept lest the town be entered by surprise while the host is outside. See to it, brave Trojans, as I have said, and let this suffice for the moment; at daybreak I will instruct you further. I pray in hope to Jove and to the gods that we may then drive those fate-sped hounds from our land, for ’tis the fates that have borne them and their ships hither. This night, therefore, let us keep watch, but with early morning let us put on our armour and rouse fierce war at the ships of the Achaeans; I shall then know whether brave Diomed the son of Tydeus will drive me back from the ships to the wall, or whether I shall myself slay him and carry off his blood-stained spoils. To-morrow let him show his mettle, abide my spear if he dare. I ween that at break of day, he shall be among the first to fall and many another of his comrades round him. Would that I were as sure of being immortal and never growing old, and of being worshipped like Minerva and Apollo, as I am that this day will bring evil to the Argives.”
Thus did the Trojans watch. But Panic, comrade of blood-stained Rout, had taken fast hold of the Achaeans, and their princes were all of them in despair. As when the two winds that blow from Thrace—the north and the northwest—spring up of a sudden and rouse the fury of the main—in a moment the dark waves uprear their heads and scatter their sea-wrack in all directions—even thus troubled were the hearts of the Achaeans.
Again, we have Greek battling with words. As we know the Greek have invented the rhetoric as we know it. The Iliad is a wonderful example of people using the power of words to influence others, lift their morale, or convince someone or something:
The son of Atreus in dismay bade the heralds call the people to a council man by man, but not to cry the matter aloud; he made haste also himself to call them, and they sat sorry at heart in their assembly. Agamemnon shed tears as it were a running stream or cataract on the side of some sheer cliff; and thus, with many a heavy sigh he spoke to the Achaeans. “My friends,” said he, “princes and councillors of the Argives, the hand of heaven has been laid heavily upon me. Cruel Jove gave me his solemn promise that I should sack the city of Troy before returning, but he has played me false, and is now bidding me go ingloriously back to Argos with the loss of much people. Such is the will of Jove, who has laid many a proud city in the dust as he will yet lay others, for his power is above all. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say and sail back to our own country, for we shall not take Troy.”
Thus he spoke, and the sons of the Achaeans for a long while sat sorrowful there, but they all held their peace, till at last Diomed of the loud battle-cry made answer saying, “Son of Atreus, I will chide your folly, as is my right in council. Be not then aggrieved that I should do so. In the first place you attacked me before all the Danaans and said that I was a coward and no soldier. The Argives young and old know that you did so....”
Finally, a suggestion is made to Agamemnon to right his wrong with Achilles, and what is important, Agamemnon finally admits that he was wrong. Here we see some definite character development. Either that or is King Agamemnon very cunny and realises it is time to give in or lose his position (or face). Either way, Agamemnon finally puts the good of the many before his own:
And King Agamemnon answered, “Sir, you have reproved my folly justly. I was wrong. I own it. One whom heaven befriends is in himself a host, and Jove has shown that he befriends this man by destroying much people of the Achaeans. I was blinded with passion and yielded to my worser mind; therefore I will make amends, and will give him great gifts by way of atonement. I will tell them in the presence of you all. I will give him seven tripods that have never yet been on the fire, and ten talents of gold. I will give him twenty iron cauldrons and twelve strong horses that have won races and carried off prizes. Rich, indeed, both in land and gold is he that has as many prizes as my horses have won me. I will give him seven excellent workwomen, Lesbians, whom I chose for myself when he took Lesbos—all of surpassing beauty. I will give him these, and with them her whom I erewhile took from him, the daughter of Briseus; and I swear a great oath that I never went up into her couch, nor have been with her after the manner of men and women.
Agamemnon promises to give all kinds of riches to Achilles, including six Lesbians. By six Lesbians, he means women of Lesbon island, who were known for their beauty, no what would most people first think of. He also promises to publicly swear he had not touched Achille's Briseus. Why he does this is interesting? Does he realises that perhaps he is truly dear to Achilles? Is it to save Achilles' face?
Anyhow, Nestor agrees that the gifts promised are indeed great. There is a lot of importance placed on giving of gifts in the Greek culture of the time. It was considered a honourable way to solve disputes and maintain friendships. An envoy is then sent to Achilles, as proposed by Nestor to everyone's pleasure. Thus did he speak, and his saying pleased them well. Men-servants poured water over the hands of the guests, while pages filled the mixing-bowls with wine and water, and handed it round after giving every man his drink-offering; then, when they had made their offerings, and had drunk each as much as he was minded, the envoys set out from the tent of Agamemnon son of Atreus; and Nestor, looking first to one and then to another, but most especially at Ulysses, was instant with them that they should prevail with the noble son of Peleus.
They pray that Achilles is favourable, and the start of the meeting is promising as he receives them with politeness:
They went their way by the shore of the sounding sea, and prayed earnestly to earth-encircling Neptune that the high spirit of the son of Aeacus might incline favourably towards them. When they reached the ships and tents of the Myrmidons, they found Achilles playing on a lyre, fair, of cunning workmanship, and its cross-bar was of silver. It was part of the spoils which he had taken when he sacked the city of Eetion, and he was now diverting himself with it and singing the feats of heroes. He was alone with Patroclus, who sat opposite to him and said nothing, waiting till he should cease singing. Ulysses and Ajax now came in—Ulysses leading the way—and stood before him. Achilles sprang from his seat with the lyre still in his hand, and Patroclus, when he saw the strangers, rose also. Achilles then greeted them saying, “All hail and welcome—you must come upon some great matter, you, who for all my anger are still dearest to me of the Achaeans.”
However, the heart of Achilles is unmoved by rich promises and he declines the offer with very certain words. From his words, we see that he is still unchanged in his stance:
Achilles answered, “Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, I should give you formal notice plainly and in all fixity of purpose that there be no more of this cajoling, from whatsoever quarter it may come. Him do I hate even as the gates of hell who says one thing while he hides another in his heart; therefore I will say what I mean. I will be appeased neither by Agamemnon son of Atreus nor by any other of the Danaans, for I see that I have no thanks for all my fighting. He that fights fares no better than he that does not; coward and hero are held in equal honour, and death deals like measure to him who works and him who is idle. I have taken nothing by all my hardships—with my life ever in my hand; as a bird when she has found a morsel takes it to her nestlings, and herself fares hardly, even so many a long night have I been wakeful, and many a bloody battle have I waged by day against those who were fighting for their women. With my ships I have taken twelve cities, and eleven round about Troy have I stormed with my men by land; I took great store of wealth from every one of them, but I gave all up to Agamemnon son of Atreus. He stayed where he was by his ships, yet of what came to him he gave little, and kept much himself.
Nevertheless he did distribute some meeds of honour among the chieftains and kings, and these have them still; from me alone of the Achaeans did he take the woman in whom I delighted—let him keep her and sleep with her. Why, pray, must the Argives needs fight the Trojans? What made the son of Atreus gather the host and bring them? Was it not for the sake of Helen? Are the sons of Atreus the only men in the world who love their wives? Any man of common right feeling will love and cherish her who is his own, as I this woman, with my whole heart, though she was but a fruitling of my spear. Agamemnon has taken her from me; he has played me false; I know him; let him tempt me no further, for he shall not move me. Let him look to you, Ulysses, and to the other princes to save his ships from burning....
One part of this speech I find particularly interesting, and that is that every men must love his women, or as he says: Any man of common right feeling will love and cherish her who is his own, as I this woman, with my whole heart, though she was but a fruitling of my spear.
While I found Achilles to be too sulky, self-indulgent and prideful on some accounts, I was moved by his simple description of love towards a woman as something normal and expected. It seems to imply that it not only the duty of man is to love his woman, but something natural and good. It also implies Achilles saw her as his wife and woman, and not a slave, despite the fact that legally speaking she was that, a spoil of war. Of course, different interpretations can be possible. However, it is clear that Briseis is dear to Achilles. So, the reason behind his rage might as well be love. He confirms this when he refuses the riches. He also professes his hate in a rather long speech, announcing that he plans to leave in the morning:
“As for me, hound that he is, he dares not look me in the face. I will take no counsel with him, and will undertake nothing in common with him. He has wronged me and deceived me enough, he shall not cozen me further; let him go his own way, for Jove has robbed him of his reason. I loathe his presents, and for himself care not one straw. He may offer me ten or even twenty times what he has now done, nay—not though it be all that he has in the world, both now or ever shall have; he may promise me the wealth of Orchomenus or of Egyptian Thebes, which is the richest city in the whole world, for it has a hundred gates through each of which two hundred men may drive at once with their chariots and horses; he may offer me gifts as the sands of the sea or the dust of the plain in multitude, but even so he shall not move me till I have been revenged in full for the bitter wrong he has done me. I will not marry his daughter; she may be fair as Venus, and skilful as Minerva, but I will have none of her: let another take her, who may be a good match for her and who rules a larger kingdom. If the gods spare me to return home, Peleus will find me a wife; there are Achaean women in Hellas and Phthia, daughters of kings that have cities under them; of these I can take whom I will and marry her. Many a time was I minded when at home in Phthia to woo and wed a woman who would make me a suitable wife, and to enjoy the riches of my old father Peleus. My life is more to me than all the wealth of Ilius while it was yet at peace before the Achaeans went there, or than all the treasure that lies on the stone floor of Apollo’s temple beneath the cliffs of Pytho. Cattle and sheep are to be had for harrying, and a man buy both tripods and horses if he wants them, but when his life has once left him it can neither be bought nor harried back again...
The old Phoenix in questions is a servant of Achilles, who had practically raised him, having no sons of his own. Here we have a long digression as old Phoenix while telling his life story, begs of Achilles to reconsider. So, we find out that he views Achilles as his own son, as he was cursed by his own father never to have children. This Phoenix had almost killed his father, but fortunately didn't, and left home. I found this whole Phoenix episode very interesting. For ancient Greeks, as you know, killing a family member was a sin that cannot be forgiven. It is something that is repeatedly stressed in Greek tragedies. So, the Phoenix's story is all the more touching because it is tragic, although without it being full Greek tragedy mode activated. So, long story short Phoenix practically raised Achilles since he was a baby and he urges him to accept the gifts or loose the fame. Again we see how important gift are in Greek culture. If Achilles rejects the gifts, he will never have the honour of receiving them. It would have matter if he wins glory in battle, a part of glory that would come from gift receiving would be lost. Not only that, Achilles would rob the king Agamemnon of the chance to redeem himself:
They all held their peace, dismayed at the sternness with which he had denied them, till presently the old knight Phoenix in his great fear for the ships of the Achaeans, burst into tears and said, “Noble Achilles, if you are now minded to return, and in the fierceness of your anger will do nothing to save the ships from burning, how, my son, can I remain here without you? Your father Peleus bade me go with you when he sent you as a mere lad from Phthia to Agamemnon. You knew nothing neither of war nor of the arts whereby men make their mark in council, and he sent me with you to train you in all excellence of speech and action. Therefore, my son, I will not stay here without you—no, not though heaven itself vouchsafe to strip my years from off me, and make me young as I was when I first left Hellas the land of fair women. I was then flying the anger of father Amyntor, son of Ormenus, who was furious with me in the matter of his concubine, of whom he was enamoured to the wronging of his wife my mother. My mother, therefore, prayed me without ceasing to lie with the woman myself, that so she hate my father, and in the course of time I yielded. But my father soon came to know, and cursed me bitterly, calling the dread Erinyes to witness. He prayed that no son of mine might ever sit upon knees—and the gods, Jove of the world below and awful Proserpine, fulfilled his curse. I took counsel to kill him, but some god stayed my rashness and bade me think on men’s evil tongues and how I should be branded as the murderer of my father; nevertheless I could not bear to stay in my father’s house with him so bitter against me. My cousins and clansmen came about me, and pressed me sorely to remain; many a sheep and many an ox did they slaughter, and many a fat hog did they set down to roast before the fire; many a jar, too, did they broach of my father’s wine. Nine whole nights did they set a guard over me taking it in turns to watch, and they kept a fire always burning, both in the cloister of the outer court and in the inner court at the doors of the room wherein I lay; but when the darkness of the tenth night came, I broke through the closed doors of my room, and climbed the wall of the outer court after passing quickly and unperceived through the men on guard and the women servants. I then fled through Hellas till I came to fertile Phthia, mother of sheep, and to King Peleus, who made me welcome and treated me as a father treats an only son who will be heir to all his wealth. He made me rich and set me over much people, establishing me on the borders of Phthia where I was chief ruler over the Dolopians.
“It was I, Achilles, who had the making of you; I loved you with all my heart: for you would eat neither at home nor when you had gone out elsewhere, till I had first set you upon my knees, cut up the dainty morsel that you were to eat, and held the wine-cup to your lips. Many a time have you slobbered your wine in baby helplessness over my shirt; I had infinite trouble with you, but I knew that heaven had vouchsafed me no offspring of my own, and I made a son of you, Achilles, that in my hour of need you might protect me. Now, therefore, I say battle with your pride and beat it; cherish not your anger for ever; the might and majesty of heaven are more than ours, but even heaven may be appeased; and if a man has sinned he prays the gods, and reconciles them to himself by his piteous cries and by frankincense, with drink-offerings and the savour of burnt sacrifice. For prayers are as daughters to great Jove; halt, wrinkled, with eyes askance, they follow in the footsteps of sin, who, being fierce and fleet of foot, leaves them far behind him, and ever baneful to mankind outstrips them even to the ends of the world; but nevertheless the prayers come hobbling and healing after. If a man has pity upon these daughters of Jove when they draw near him, they will bless him and hear him too when he is praying; but if he deny them and will not listen to them, they go to Jove the son of Saturn and pray that he may presently fall into sin—to his ruing bitterly hereafter. Therefore, Achilles, give these daughters of Jove due reverence, and bow before them as all good men will bow. Were not the son of Atreus offering you gifts and promising others later—if he were still furious and implacable—I am not he that would bid you throw off your anger and help the Achaeans, no matter how great their need; but he is giving much now, and more hereafter; he has sent his captains to urge his suit, and has chosen those who of all the Argives are most acceptable to you; make not then their words and their coming to be of none effect. Your anger has been righteous so far. We have heard in song how heroes of old time quarrelled when they were roused to fury, but still they could be won by gifts, and fair words could soothe them.
“I have an old story in my mind—a very old one—but you are all friends and I will tell it. The Curetes and the Aetolians were fighting and killing one another round Calydon—the Aetolians defending the city and the Curetes trying to destroy it. For Diana of the golden throne was angry and did them hurt because Oeneus had not offered her his harvest first-fruits. The other gods had all been feasted with hecatombs, but to the daughter of great Jove alone he had made no sacrifice. He had forgotten her, or somehow or other it had escaped him, and this was a grievous sin. Thereon the archer goddess in her displeasure sent a prodigious creature against him—a savage wild boar with great white tusks that did much harm to his orchard lands, uprooting apple-trees in full bloom and throwing them to the ground. But Meleager son of Oeneus got huntsmen and hounds from many cities and killed it—for it was so monstrous that not a few were needed, and many a man did it stretch upon his funeral pyre. On this the goddess set the Curetes and the Aetolians fighting furiously about the head and skin of the boar.
“So long as Meleager was in the field things went badly with the Curetes, and for all their numbers they could not hold their ground under the city walls; but in the course of time Meleager was angered as even a wise man will sometimes be. He was incensed with his mother Althaea, and therefore stayed at home with his wedded wife fair Cleopatra, who was daughter of Marpessa daughter of Euenus, and of Ides the man then living. He it was who took his bow and faced King Apollo himself for fair Marpessa’s sake; her father and mother then named her Alcyone, because her mother had mourned with the plaintive strains of the halcyon-bird when Phoebus Apollo had carried her off. Meleager, then, stayed at home with Cleopatra, nursing the anger which he felt by reason of his mother’s curses. His mother, grieving for the death of her brother, prayed the gods, and beat the earth with her hands, calling upon Hades and on awful Proserpine; she went down upon her knees and her bosom was wet with tears as she prayed that they would kill her son—and Erinys that walks in darkness and knows no ruth heard her from Erebus.
“Then was heard the din of battle about the gates of Calydon, and the dull thump of the battering against their walls. Thereon the elders of the Aetolians besought Meleager; they sent the chiefest of their priests, and begged him to come out and help them, promising him a great reward. They bade him choose fifty plough-gates, the most fertile in the plain of Calydon, the one-half vineyard and the other open plough-land. The old warrior Oeneus implored him, standing at the threshold of his room and beating the doors in supplication. His sisters and his mother herself besought him sore, but he the more refused them; those of his comrades who were nearest and dearest to him also prayed him, but they could not move him till the foe was battering at the very doors of his chamber, and the Curetes had scaled the walls and were setting fire to the city. Then at last his sorrowing wife detailed the horrors that befall those whose city is taken; she reminded him how the men are slain, and the city is given over to the flames, while the women and children are carried into captivity; when he heard all this, his heart was touched, and he donned his armour to go forth. Thus of his own inward motion he saved the city of the Aetolians; but they now gave him nothing of those rich rewards that they had offered earlier, and though he saved the city he took nothing by it. Be not then, my son, thus minded; let not heaven lure you into any such course. When the ships are burning it will be a harder matter to save them. Take the gifts, and go, for the Achaeans will then honour you as a god; whereas if you fight without taking them, you may beat the battle back, but you will not be held in like honour.”
Phoenix senses that Achilles might yet change his mind, but then without the gifts where would be the glory? We see how important the gifts are in the context of Greek context of glory. Again, Achilles refuses the gifts but what is interesting here is the manner in which he refuses them. He relies on Jove, his god grandfather. As someone whose mother is a Nereid, Achilles is in an unique position. Does Achilles now owe his mother to go on with their plan?
And Achilles answered, “Phoenix, old friend and father, I have no need of such honour. I have honour from Jove himself, which will abide with me at my ships while I have breath in my body, and my limbs are strong. I say further—and lay my saying to your heart—vex me no more with this weeping and lamentation, all in the cause of the son of Atreus. Love him so well, and you may lose the love I bear you. You ought to help me rather in troubling those that trouble me; be king as much as I am, and share like honour with myself; the others shall take my answer; stay here yourself and sleep comfortably in your bed; at daybreak we will consider whether to remain or go.”
On this he nodded quietly to Patroclus as a sign that he was to prepare a bed for Phoenix, and that the others should take their leave. ....
So, the book IX ends with Greek men going to sleep:
They all held their peace, sitting for a long time silent and dejected, by reason of the sternness with which Achilles had refused them, till presently Diomed said, “Most noble son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, you ought not to have sued the son of Peleus nor offered him gifts. He is proud enough as it is, and you have encouraged him in his pride still further. Let him stay or go as he will. He will fight later when he is in the humour, and heaven puts it in his mind to do so. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say; we have eaten and drunk our fill, let us then take our rest, for in rest there is both strength and stay. But when fair rosy-fingered morn appears, forthwith bring out your host and your horsemen in front of the ships, urging them on, and yourself fighting among the foremost.” Thus he spoke, and the other chieftains approved his words. They then made their drink-offerings and went every man to his own tent, where they laid down to rest and enjoyed the boon of sleep.
BOOK TEN (Rhapsody X of the Iliad)
Not everyone is asleep in the Greek camp. Agamemnon cannot sleep. It is he, who sets things to motion in this book ten of the Iliad that starts with the description of his unrest.
Now the other princes of the Achaeans slept soundly the whole night through, but Agamemnon son of Atreus was troubled, so that he could get no rest. As when fair Juno’s lord flashes his lightning in token of great rain or hail or snow when the snow-flakes whiten the ground, or again as a sign that he will open the wide jaws of hungry war, even so did Agamemnon heave many a heavy sigh, for his soul trembled within him. When he looked upon the plain of Troy he marvelled at the many watchfires burning in front of Ilius, and at the sound of pipes and flutes and of the hum of men, but when presently he turned towards the ships and hosts of the Achaeans, he tore his hair by handfuls before Jove on high, and groaned aloud for the very disquietness of his soul.
Agamemnon is shown as someone who decides to take things into his hands. He goes to talk to Nestor, another significant character in the Iliad, to see if between themselves, they can think of something. Homer describes in detail what Agamemnon was wearing as he set to go to Nestor. The Illiad is full of such descriptions, also called retardations, that serve as a literary device to slow down the narrative, but also enable us a fascinating view into the life of ancient Greeks:
In the end he deemed it best to go at once to Nestor son of Neleus, and see if between them they could find any way of the Achaeans from destruction. He therefore rose, put on his shirt, bound his sandals about his comely feet, flung the skin of a huge tawny lion over his shoulders—a skin that reached his feet—and took his spear in his hand.
Agamemnon also comes across his brother Menelaus, who also cannot sleep, and goes into search of him, and the two talk. Homer also describes all of this in detail, adding many adjectives that describe the brother's heroic characteristics and standing. One interesting thing about Agamemnon is that he really seems to care about his brother. The way the two talk is always full of respect, and it is clear that Menelaus listens to his brothers.
Neither could Menelaus sleep, for he, too, boded ill for the Argives who for his sake had sailed from far over the seas to fight the Trojans. He covered his broad back with the skin of a spotted panther, put a casque of bronze upon his head, and took his spear in his brawny hand. Then he went to rouse his brother, who was by far the most powerful of the Achaeans, and was honoured by the people as though he were a god. He found him by the stern of his ship already putting his goodly array about his shoulders, and right glad was he that his brother had come.
Their talk is also interesting, as Menelaus guesses that Agamemnon wants to have someone spy on the Trojans. Agamemnon rather long reply (another example of literary device retardation) shows not only his intention (to go to Nestor and ask for his help in raising the Greeks) but also the state of the warfare. Agamemnon states that Jove is no longer at their side, and praise Hector's warrior qualities, perhaps to indicate they really need to do something if they are to win. Finally, Agamemnon stresses that they (meaning himself and his brother) carry a heavy burden as leaders, and they they must toil like others. He also instructs Menelaus to treat men as equals, to call them by their full names, and not to expect himself treated as king. How very different is this Agamemnon, calling unto his brother and himself to be humble, than the arrogant Agamemnon portrayed in the first book of the Iliad!
Menelaus spoke first. “Why,” said he, “my dear brother, are you thus arming? Are you going to send any of our comrades to exploit the Trojans? I greatly fear that no one will do you this service, and spy upon the enemy alone in the dead of night. It will be a deed of great daring.”
And King Agamemnon answered, “Menelaus, we both of us need shrewd counsel to save the Argives and our ships, for Jove has changed his mind, and inclines towards Hector’s sacrifices rather than ours. I never saw nor heard tell of any man as having wrought such ruin in one day as Hector has now wrought against the sons of the Achaeans—and that too of his own unaided self, for he is son neither to god nor goddess. The Argives will rue it long and deeply. Run, therefore, with all speed by the line of the ships, and call Ajax and Idomeneus. Meanwhile I will go to Nestor, and bid him rise and go about among the companies of our sentinels to give them their instructions; they will listen to him sooner than to any man, for his own son, and Meriones brother in arms to Idomeneus, are captains over them. It was to them more particularly that we gave this charge.”
Menelaus replied, “How do I take your meaning? Am I to stay with them and wait your coming, or shall I return here as soon as I have given your orders?” “Wait,” answered King Agamemnon, “for there are so many paths about the camp that we might miss one another. Call every man on your way, and bid him be stirring; name him by his lineage and by his father’s name, give each all titular observance, and stand not too much upon your own dignity; we must take our full share of toil, for at our birth Jove laid this heavy burden upon us.”
Agamemnon then goes to Nestor, whom Homer calls Shepperd of his people, and the scene is again described in much detail, including Nestor's armour, appearance and their conversation.
With these instructions he sent his brother on his way, and went on to Nestor shepherd of his people. He found him sleeping in his tent hard by his own ship; his goodly armour lay beside him—his shield, his two spears and his helmet; beside him also lay the gleaming girdle with which the old man girded himself when he armed to lead his people into battle—for his age stayed him not. He raised himself on his elbow and looked up at Agamemnon. “Who is it,” said he, “that goes thus about the host and the ships alone and in the dead of night, when men are sleeping? Are you looking for one of your mules or for some comrade? Do not stand there and say nothing, but speak. What is your business?”
And Agamemnon answered, “Nestor, son of Neleus, honour to the Achaean name, it is I, Agamemnon son of Atreus, on whom Jove has laid labour and sorrow so long as there is breath in my body and my limbs carry me. I am thus abroad because sleep sits not upon my eyelids, but my heart is big with war and with the jeopardy of the Achaeans. I am in great fear for the Danaans. I am at sea, and without sure counsel; my heart beats as though it would leap out of my body, and my limbs fail me. If then you can do anything—for you too cannot sleep—let us go the round of the watch, and see whether they are drowsy with toil and sleeping to the neglect of their duty. The enemy is encamped hard and we know not but he may attack us by night.”
How humbly does Agamemnon address Nestor, introducing himself by his father's name, not mentioning his title, and describing his great fear. Nestor here seems almost like a father figure, but still while he encourages Agamemnon, Nestor does mention his royal title. I feel this is significant because Nestor, albeit a respected elderly warrior, still respects Agamemnon's leadership:
Nestor replied, “Most noble son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, Jove will not do all for Hector that Hector thinks he will; he will have troubles yet in plenty if Achilles will lay aside his anger. I will go with you, and we will rouse others, either the son of Tydeus, or Ulysses, or fleet Ajax and the valiant son of Phyleus. Some one had also better go and call Ajax and King Idomeneus, for their ships are not near at hand but the farthest of all. I cannot however refrain from blaming Menelaus, much as I love him and respect him—and I will say so plainly, even at the risk of offending you—for sleeping and leaving all this trouble to yourself. He ought to be going about imploring aid from all the princes of the Achaeans, for we are in extreme danger.”
Nestor also cricitises Menelaus for not being there, but Agamemnon defends his brother, explaining that he ordered him to wait.
And Agamemnon answered, “Sir, you may sometimes blame him justly, for he is often remiss and unwilling to exert himself—not indeed from sloth, nor yet heedlessness, but because he looks to me and expects me to take the lead. On this occasion, however, he was awake before I was, and came to me of his own accord. I have already sent him to call the very men whom you have named. And now let us be going. We shall find them with the watch outside the gates, for it was there I said that we would meet them.”
“In that case,” answered Nestor, “the Argives will not blame him nor disobey his orders when he urges them to fight or gives them instructions.”
I find it interesting how Agamemnon always defends his brother. Is it possible that he really started the war because he believed that it was his duty to stand by Menelaus? At the start of the Iliad, Agamemnon seemed like an utterly detestable character to me. However, he seems to change, or at any rate, he cannot be said to be guilty of things Achilles accuses him in the beginning, such as standing by while his men fight. It is now Achilles who seems arrogant, refusing to help the Greek out of his pride. Ever since Achilles left the battle, Agamemnon has been fighting with the Greek. True, Agamemnon can still be described as cruel. In battle, he kills two young men while they beg for mercy and to be taken prisoners, promising that their father will buy them off. However, one cannot say he does not lead his people on or fights with them. The Iliad is full of twists and turns. Just when you think you have some character figured out, they surprise you. It really is a masterpiece. Just when you think you have read the Iliad so many times there is nothing new in it for you, you discover that there are so many meanings and messages in it that you can still ponder.
Back to the book ten. Nestor gets ready (and this is described in detail) and then calls out to Odysseus, who then together with Nestor comes to Diomedes.
With this he put on his shirt, and bound his sandals about his comely feet. He buckled on his purple coat, of two thicknesses, large, and of a rough shaggy texture, grasped his redoubtable bronze-shod spear, and wended his way along the line of the Achaean ships. First he called loudly to Ulysses peer of gods in counsel and woke him, for he was soon roused by the sound of the battle-cry. He came outside his tent and said, “Why do you go thus alone about the host, and along the line of the ships in the stillness of the night? What is it that you find so urgent?” And Nestor knight of Gerene answered, “Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, take it not amiss, for the Achaeans are in great straits. Come with me and let us wake some other, who may advise well with us whether we shall fight or fly.”
Diomedes comments that old Nestor has a heart of lion, and wonders if there are no younger men to do his job, and Nestor sends him to get other notable Greek heroes.
On these words Diomed leaped up instantly and said, “Old man, your heart is of iron; you rest not one moment from your labours. Are there no younger men among the Achaeans who could go about to rouse the princes? There is no tiring you.”
And Nestor knight of Gerene made answer, “My son, all that you have said is true. I have good sons, and also much people who might call the chieftains, but the Achaeans are in the gravest danger; life and death are balanced as it were on the edge of a razor. Go then, for you are younger than I, and of your courtesy rouse Ajax and the fleet son of Phyleus.”
Once all heroes have gathered, Nestor asks for volunteers to go and spy on the Trojans. Diomedes wants to lead the mission, and asks for another men to join him. Agamemnon asks Diomedes to pick a man after his own heart and mentions it is best to avoid royal blood (fearing for his brother Menelaus. Diomedes then picks Odysseus, with whom he had already fought with and who is beloved by Minerva (Athena). Again we have a lengthily description of the two of them getting ready. Once Diomedes and Odysseus set on their spy mission, they hear an omen from Minerva, and pray to the goddess.
Thus they prayed, and Pallas Minerva heard their prayer. When they had done praying to the daughter of great Jove, they went their way like two lions prowling by night amid the armour and blood-stained bodies of them that had fallen.
Hector is also not sleeping, and he also asks for a volunteer to go to spy on the Greek, promising him best horses. Dolon accepts the challenge. He asks Hector to sweat he will give him the horses of Achilles. Hectors swears the oath, even though it is uncertain will they get those horses, but somehow that makes Dolon want them all the more and he leaves determined. However, Dolon is then captured by Odysseus and Diomedes, who see him coming. When he is captured Dolon begins for his life, and Ulysses tells him not to fear: “Fear not,” replied Ulysses, “let no thought of death be in your mind; but tell me, and tell me true, why are you thus going about alone in the dead of night away from your camp and towards the ships, while other men are sleeping? Is it to plunder the bodies of the slain, or did Hector send you to spy out what was going on at the ships? Or did you come here of your own mere notion?” In hope of saving himself Dolon admits everything to them, saying how he wanted the horses of Achilles. Again, we see how important the horses were to ancient Greek warriors. Dolon reveals the best place to attack to Odysseus and Diomedes, and they kill him. Honestly, I thought it was cruel, especially since Ulysses told him not to fear, and I interpreted that as a promise they will spear him. Instead, they kill him in cold blood. Of course, there was no Genovese war prisoner convention then, but I still thought it was cruel. However, what is not cruel about war?
Diomed looked sternly at him and answered, “Think not, Dolon, for all the good information you have given us, that you shall escape now you are in our hands, for if we ransom you or let you go, you will come some second time to the ships of the Achaeans either as a spy or as an open enemy, but if I kill you and an end of you, you will give no more trouble.”
On this Dolon would have caught him by the beard to beseech him further, but Diomed struck him in the middle of his neck with his sword and cut through both sinews so that his head fell rolling in the dust while he was yet speaking. They took the ferret skin cap from his head, and also the wolf-skin, the bow, and his long spear. Ulysses hung them up aloft in honour of Minerva the goddess of plunder, and prayed saying, “Accept these, goddess, for we give them to you in preference to all the gods in Olympus: therefore speed us still further towards the horses and sleeping-ground of the Thracians.”
Diomedes and Odysseus sneak into Threcian camp, kills the solider and steal the king's horses. When they plan to kill more soldiers they prevented by Minerva (Athena), and Apollo who sees them with the goddess is furious and wakes up the Thracians, who are upon the two Greek heroes.
But Diomed stayed where he was, thinking what other daring deed he might accomplish. He was doubting whether to take the chariot in which the king’s armour was lying, and draw it out by the pole, or to lift the armour out and carry it off; or whether again, he should not kill some more Thracians. While he was thus hesitating Minerva came up to him and said, “Get back, Diomed, to the ships or you may be driven thither, should some other god rouse the Trojans.”
Diomed knew that it was the goddess, and at once sprang upon the horses. Ulysses beat them with his bow and they flew onward to the ships of the Achaeans.
But Apollo kept no blind look-out when he saw Minerva with the son of Tydeus. He was angry with her, and coming to the host of the Trojans he roused Hippocoon, a counsellor of the Thracians and a noble kinsman of Rhesus. He started up out of his sleep and saw that the horses were no longer in their place, and that the men were gasping in their death-agony; on this he groaned aloud, and called upon his friend by name. Then the whole Trojan camp was in an uproar as the people kept hurrying together, and they marvelled at the deeds of the heroes who had now got away towards the ships.
Odysseus and Diomedes then flee and go back to the Greek camp. Nestor admires the horses they stole, and they retell their adventure, and give praise to goddess Minerva.
And Ulysses answered, “Nestor son of Neleus, honour to the Achaean name, heaven, if it so will, can give us even better horses than these, for the gods are far mightier than we are. These horses, however, about which you ask me, are freshly come from Thrace. Diomed killed their king with the twelve bravest of his companions. Hard by the ships we took a thirteenth man—a scout whom Hector and the other Trojans had sent as a spy upon our ships.”
He laughed as he spoke and drove the horses over the ditch, while the other Achaeans followed him gladly. When they reached the strongly built quarters of the son of Tydeus, they tied the horses with thongs of leather to the manger, where the steeds of Diomed stood eating their sweet corn, but Ulysses hung the blood-stained spoils of Dolon at the stern of his ship, that they might prepare a sacred offering to Minerva. As for themselves, they went into the sea and washed the sweat from their bodies, and from their necks and thighs. When the sea-water had taken all the sweat from off them, and had refreshed them, they went into the baths and washed themselves. After they had so done and had anointed themselves with oil, they sat down to table, and drawing from a full mixing-bowl, made a drink-offering of wine to Minerva.
Odysseus and Diomedes return triumphant. Not without inspiration and help from gods, in this case goddess Minerva (Athena). I wonder how the ancient Greeks really interpreted the gods' actions. Did they really think people were toys in the hands of gods, or was 'inspired by gods' just was another way to say that someone thought of something. For example, if someone showed wisdom, he could have been said to be inspired by Minerva (Athena) or some other god. It is hard to know how exactly the ancient Greeks viewed their gods, and this adds ambiguity to the reading of the Iliad.
BOOK ELEVEN (Chanson XI of the Iliad)
In this book eleven Jove ( aka Zeus) again inspires the Greek to fight by sending them goddess Discord with a sign to assure them he is on the Greek side now.
And now as Dawn rose from her couch beside Tithonus, harbinger of light alike to mortals and immortals, Jove sent fierce Discord with the ensign of war in her hands to the ships of the Achaeans. She took her stand by the huge black hull of Ulysses’ ship which was middlemost of all, so that her voice might carry farthest on either side, on the one hand towards the tents of Ajax son of Telamon, and on the other towards those of Achilles—for these two heroes, well assured of their own strength, had valorously drawn up their ships at the two ends of the line. There she took her stand, and raised a cry both loud and shrill that filled the Achaeans with courage, giving them heart to fight resolutely and with all their might, so that they had rather stay there and do battle than go home in their ships.
The Greek get ready for the battle led by Agamemnon, and the Trojans do the same. Homer describes Agamemnon amour and shield in detail. Homer also paints a beautiful picture of Hector, who is like a star:The Trojans, on the other side upon the rising slope of the plain, were gathered round great Hector, noble Polydamas, Aeneas who was honoured by the Trojans like an immortal, and the three sons of Antenor, Polybus, Agenor, and young Acamas beauteous as a god. Hector’s round shield showed in the front rank, and as some baneful star that shines for a moment through a rent in the clouds and is again hidden beneath them; even so was Hector now seen in the front ranks and now again in the hindermost, and his bronze armour gleamed like the lightning of aegis-bearing Jove.*
The battle is brutal. Agamemnon kills many men, including two sons of Priam, the king of Troy. The following paragraph is a long description of men Agamemnon kills, even when they surrounded and beg to be spared. Agamemnon is not kind of heart:
Agamemnon led them on, and slew first Bienor, a leader of his people, and afterwards his comrade and charioteer Oileus, who sprang from his chariot and was coming full towards him; but Agamemnon struck him on the forehead with his spear; his bronze visor was of no avail against the weapon, which pierced both bronze and bone, so that his brains were battered in and he was killed in full fight.
Agamemnon stripped their shirts from off them and left them with their breasts all bare to lie where they had fallen. He then went on to kill Isus and Antiphus two sons of Priam, the one a bastard, the other born in wedlock; they were in the same chariot—the bastard driving, while noble Antiphus fought beside him. Achilles had once taken both of them prisoners in the glades of Ida, and had bound them with fresh withes as they were shepherding, but he had taken a ransom for them; now, however, Agamemnon son of Atreus smote Isus in the chest above the nipple with his spear, while he struck Antiphus hard by the ear and threw him from his chariot. Forthwith he stripped their goodly armour from off them and recognized them, for he had already seen them at ships when Achilles brought them in from Ida. As a lion fastens on the fawns of a hind and crushes them in his great jaws, robbing them of their tender life while he on his way back to his lair—the hind can do nothing for them even though she be close by, for she is in an agony of fear, and flies through the thick forest, sweating, and at her utmost speed before the mighty monster—so, no man of the Trojans could help Isus and Antiphus, for they were themselves flying in panic before the Argives.
Then King Agamemnon took the two sons of Antimachus, Pisander and brave Hippolochus. It was Antimachus who had been foremost in preventing Helen’s being restored to Menelaus, for he was largely bribed by Alexandrus; and now Agamemnon took his two sons, both in the same chariot, trying to bring their horses to a stand—for they had lost hold of the reins and the horses were mad with fear. The son of Atreus sprang upon them like a lion, and the pair besought him from their chariot. “Take us alive,” they cried, “son of Atreus, and you shall receive a great ransom for us. Our father Antimachus has great store of gold, bronze, and wrought iron, and from this he will satisfy you with a very large ransom should he hear of our being alive at the ships of the Achaeans.”
With such piteous words and tears did they beseech the king, but they heard no pitiful answer in return. “If,” said Agamemnon, “you are sons of Antimachus, who once at a council of Trojans proposed that Menelaus and Ulysses, who had come to you as envoys, should be killed and not suffered to return, you shall now pay for the foul iniquity of your father.”
As he spoke he felled Pisander from his chariot to the earth, smiting him on the chest with his spear, so that he lay face uppermost upon the ground. Hippolochus fled, but him too did Agamemnon smite; he cut off his hands and his head—which he sent rolling in among the crowd as though it were a ball. There he let them both lie, and wherever the ranks were thickest thither he flew, while the other Achaeans followed. Foot soldiers drove the foot soldiers of the foe in rout before them, and slew them; horsemen did the like by horsemen, and the thundering tramp of the horses raised a cloud of dust from off the plain. King Agamemnon followed after, ever slaying them and cheering on the Achaeans. As when some mighty forest is all ablaze—the eddying gusts whirl fire in all directions till the thickets shrivel and are consumed before the blast of the flame—even so fell the heads of the flying Trojans before Agamemnon son of Atreus, and many a noble pair of steeds drew an empty chariot along the highways of war, for lack of drivers who were lying on the plain, more useful now to vultures than to their wives.
At this point in the battle, Zeus (Jove) asks of Hector to hold on, and wait until Agamemnon is wounded, and he does so. As you can see, Zeus (Jove) often seems to switch sides. After Agamemnon is wounded, Hector presses on and kills many Greeks.
When Hector saw Agamemnon quit the field, he shouted to the Trojans and Lycians saying, “Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanian warriors, be men, my friends, and acquit yourselves in battle bravely; their best man has left them, and Jove has vouchsafed me a great triumph; charge the foe with your chariots that you may win still greater glory.”
With these words he put heart and soul into them all, and as a huntsman hounds his dogs on against a lion or wild boar, even so did Hector, peer of Mars, hound the proud Trojans on against the Achaeans. Full of hope he plunged in among the foremost, and fell on the fight like some fierce tempest that swoops down upon the sea, and lashes its deep blue waters into fury.
What, then is the full tale of those whom Hector son of Priam killed in the hour of triumph which Jove then vouchsafed him? First Asaeus, Autonous, and Opites; Dolops son of Clytius, Opheltius and Agelaus; Aesymnus, Orus and Hipponous steadfast in battle; these chieftains of the Achaeans did Hector slay, and then he fell upon the rank and file. As when the west wind hustles the clouds of the white south and beats them down with the fierceness of its fury—the waves of the sea roll high, and the spray is flung aloft in the rage of the wandering wind—even so thick were the heads of them that fell by the hand of Hector.
All would be lost for Greeks, but Diomedes and Ulysses fight on:
All had then been lost and no help for it, and the Achaeans would have fled pell-mell to their ships, had not Ulysses cried out to Diomed, “Son of Tydeus, what has happened to us that we thus forget our prowess? Come, my good fellow, stand by my side and help me, we shall be shamed for ever if Hector takes the ships.”
And Diomed answered, “Come what may, I will stand firm; but we shall have scant joy of it, for Jove is minded to give victory to the Trojans rather than to us.”
With these words he struck Thymbraeus from his chariot to the ground, smiting him in the left breast with his spear, while Ulysses killed Molion who was his squire. These they let lie, now that they had stopped their fighting; the two heroes then went on playing havoc with the foe, like two wild boars that turn in fury and rend the hounds that hunt them. Thus did they turn upon the Trojans and slay them, and the Achaeans were thankful to have breathing time in their flight from Hector.
So, Diomedes and Ulysses prevent a complete disaster for the Greeks, and even fight Hector himself driving him away. Paris wounds Diomedes with his arrow, and he retreats leaving Ulysses to continue battling on his own.
Thereon Paris with a hearty laugh sprang forward from his hiding-place, and taunted him saying, “You are wounded—my arrow has not been shot in vain; would that it had hit you in the belly and killed you, for thus the Trojans, who fear you as goats fear a lion, would have had a truce from evil.”
Diomed all undaunted answered, “Archer, you who without your bow are nothing, slanderer and seducer, if you were to be tried in single combat fighting in full armour, your bow and your arrows would serve you in little stead. Vain is your boast in that you have scratched the sole of my foot. I care no more than if a girl or some silly boy had hit me. A worthless coward can inflict but a light wound; when I wound a man though I but graze his skin it is another matter, for my weapon will lay him low. His wife will tear her cheeks for grief and his children will be fatherless: there will he rot, reddening the earth with his blood, and vultures, not women, will gather round him.”
Thus he spoke, but Ulysses came up and stood over him. Under this cover he sat down to draw the arrow from his foot, and sharp was the pain he suffered as he did so. Then he sprang on to his chariot and bade the charioteer drive him to the ships, for he was sick at heart.
Ulysses was now alone; not one of the Argives stood by him, for they were all panic-stricken. “Alas,” said he to himself in his dismay, “what will become of me? It is ill if I turn and fly before these odds, but it will be worse if I am left alone and taken prisoner, for the son of Saturn has struck the rest of the Danaans with panic. But why talk to myself in this way? Well do I know that though cowards quit the field, a hero, whether he wound or be wounded, must stand firm and hold his own.”
Paris also wounds a healer with his arrow, and this is a big problem for without a healer many soldiers will die. It is also significant that Paris uses a bow, thus he is compared with a Cupid. Paris is after all, Aphrodite's favourite.
Seeing the carnage from afar, Achilles sends Patroclus to Nestor to gather news. Nestor asks him to beg of Achilles to join them. In case, Achilles refuses this, Nestor suggest that Patroclus could borrow Achilles' armour to lead the Greeks, who would be encouraged believing that it is Achilles who leads them on.
Book eleven ends with noble Patroclus helping a wounded Greek soldier, who tells him of tragedy of the battle.
“Hero Eurypylus,” replied the brave son of Menoetius, “how may these things be? What can I do? I am on my way to bear a message to noble Achilles from Nestor of Gerene, bulwark of the Achaeans, but even so I will not be unmindful of your distress.”
With this he clasped him round the middle and led him into the tent, and a servant, when he saw him, spread bullock-skins on the ground for him to lie on. He laid him at full length and cut out the sharp arrow from his thigh; he washed the black blood from the wound with warm water; he then crushed a bitter herb, rubbing it between his hands, and spread it upon the wound; this was a virtuous herb which killed all pain; so the wound presently dried and the blood left off flowing.
Book eleven was predominately one long and bloody battle scene. So many men were killed, and it is hard to remember all of their names, but Homer provides many of them. Agamemnon and Hector, in particular, killed many men, and both of them dominated the battle for a time. Ultimately, it is Zeus who turns the tide, it seems, first encouraging the Greek and then Hector who leads the Trojans. Diomedes and Ulysses also proved their courage on the battlefield. Paris was fighting with a bow, and he was accused of cowardice by the Greek, but he also taunted them. The portrayal of the characters was pretty consistent. Patroclus is generally portrayed as kind, and here he proves it, being alarmed at the suffering of his fellow men. Patroclus visits Nestor, speaks to him with respect and nurses a poor wounded soldier. Thus book eleven ends on a sad note. Patroclus is nursing a wounded soldier, despite the urgency of his task- asking Achilles to borrow him his armour so he could lead the Greeks on. The Greeks are losing, their healer is wounded, and we see Patroclus as a sort of middle man between the Greeks and Achilles, who for all his stubbornness, seems to be moved by Greek suffering.
BOOK TWELVE (Chanson XII of the Iliad)
Book twelve is also filled with fighting and as always the gods are involved. The Chanson XII opens with Trojans attacking the Greek fortifications. The wall gate is broken, but not the fortress. Indeed, the fortress is destined to be destroyed, and gods Poseidon and Apollo will have a hand in it, but it shall not happen before the fated fall of Troy. Again, the theme of destiny is stressed. I find it interesting how gods themselves seem to be powerless before destiny.
So the son of Menoetius was attending to the hurt of Eurypylus within the tent, but the Argives and Trojans still fought desperately, nor were the trench and the high wall above it, to keep the Trojans in check longer. They had built it to protect their ships, and had dug the trench all round it that it might safeguard both the ships and the rich spoils which they had taken, but they had not offered hecatombs to the gods. It had been built without the consent of the immortals, and therefore it did not last. So long as Hector lived and Achilles nursed his anger, and so long as the city of Priam remained untaken, the great wall of the Achaeans stood firm; but when the bravest of the Trojans were no more, and many also of the Argives, though some were yet left alive—when, moreover, the city was sacked in the tenth year, and the Argives had gone back with their ships to their own country—then Neptune and Apollo took counsel to destroy the wall, and they turned on to it the streams of all the rivers from Mount Ida into the sea, Rhesus, Heptaporus, Caresus, Rhodius, Grenicus, Aesopus, and goodly Scamander, with Simois, where many a shield and helm had fallen, and many a hero of the race of demigods had bitten the dust. Phoebus Apollo turned the mouths of all these rivers together and made them flow for nine days against the wall, while Jove rained the whole time that he might wash it sooner into the sea. Neptune himself, trident in hand, surveyed the work and threw into the sea all the foundations of beams and stones which the Achaeans had laid with so much toil; he made all level by the mighty stream of the Hellespont, and then when he had swept the wall away he spread a great beach of sand over the place where it had been. This done he turned the rivers back into their old courses.
This was what Neptune and Apollo were to do in after time; but as yet battle and turmoil were still raging round the wall till its timbers rang under the blows that rained upon them. The Argives, cowed by the scourge of Jove, were hemmed in at their ships in fear of Hector the mighty minister of Rout, who as heretofore fought with the force and fury of a whirlwind. As a lion or wild boar turns fiercely on the dogs and men that attack him, while these form a solid wall and shower their javelins as they face him—his courage is all undaunted, but his high spirit will be the death of him; many a time does he charge at his pursuers to scatter them, and they fall back as often as he does so—even so did Hector go about among the host exhorting his men, and cheering them on to cross the trench.
In this book, Hector does something he hasn't done before and that is ignore the omens from Gods. There are omens indicating that the Trojan attack will fail, but still he leads his men on. Hector is stil rewarded for his efforts in a way, because at the end of book twelve the Greek run away in panic.
But even so the Trojans could not rout the Achaeans, who still held on; and as some honest hard-working woman weighs wool in her balance and sees that the scales be true, for she would gain some pitiful earnings for her little ones, even so was the fight balanced evenly between them till the time came when Jove gave the greater glory to Hector son of Priam, who was first to spring towards the wall of the Achaeans. When he had done so, he cried aloud to the Trojans, “Up, Trojans, break the wall of the Argives, and fling fire upon their ships.”
Thus did he hound them on, and in one body they rushed straight at the wall as he had bidden them, and scaled the battlements with sharp spears in their hands. Hector laid hold of a stone that lay just outside the gates and was thick at one end but pointed at the other; two of the best men in a town, as men now are, could hardly raise it from the ground and put it on to a waggon, but Hector lifted it quite easily by himself, for the son of scheming Saturn made it light for him. As a shepherd picks up a ram’s fleece with one hand and finds it no burden, so easily did Hector lift the great stone and drive it right at the doors that closed the gates so strong and so firmly set. These doors were double and high, and were kept closed by two cross-bars to which there was but one key. When he had got close up to them, Hector strode towards them that his blow might gain in force and struck them in the middle, leaning his whole weight against them. He broke both hinges, and the stone fell inside by reason of its great weight. The portals re-echoed with the sound, the bars held no longer, and the doors flew open, one one way, and the other the other, through the force of the blow. Then brave Hector leaped inside with a face as dark as that of flying night. The gleaming bronze flashed fiercely about his body and he had two spears in his hand. None but a god could have withstood him as he flung himself into the gateway, and his eyes glared like fire. Then he turned round towards the Trojans and called on them to scale the wall, and they did as he bade them—some of them at once climbing over the wall, while others passed through the gates. The Danaans then fled panic-stricken towards their ships, and all was uproar and confusion.
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BOOK THIRTEEN (Chanson XII)
Book thirteen starts with Jove (Zeus) turning his eyes from the battle, and trusting the other hands not to intervene. However, Neptune (Poseidon) decides to help the Greeks.
Now when Jove had thus brought Hector and the Trojans to the ships, he left them to their never-ending toil, and turned his keen eyes away, looking elsewhither towards the horse-breeders of Thrace, the Mysians, fighters at close quarters, the noble Hippemolgi, who live on milk, and the Abians, justest of mankind. He no longer turned so much as a glance towards Troy, for he did not think that any of the immortals would go and help either Trojans or Danaans.
But King Neptune had kept no blind look-out; he had been looking admiringly on the battle from his seat on the topmost crests of wooded Samothrace, whence he could see all Ida, with the city of Priam and the ships of the Achaeans. He had come from under the sea and taken his place here, for he pitied the Achaeans who were being overcome by the Trojans; and he was furiously angry with Jove.
Neptune takes a human form and inspires the Greek to fight. The battle rages on, and Hector kills Neptune's grandson. He's angry and continues to help the Greek, giving the Greek hero Idomeneus divine power.
At one point it is commented how Jove and Neptune created evil for the humans by getting involved in the war in the first place, and I found that citation interesting, as it seems to implicate that the involvement of gods only further complicates things:
Thus did the two mighty sons of Saturn devise evil for mortal heroes. Jove was minded to give victory to the Trojans and to Hector, so as to do honour to fleet Achilles, nevertheless he did not mean to utterly overthrow the Achaean host before Ilius, and only wanted to glorify Thetis and her valiant son. Neptune on the other hand went about among the Argives to incite them, having come up from the grey sea in secret, for he was grieved at seeing them vanquished by the Trojans, and was furiously angry with Jove. Both were of the same race and country, but Jove was elder born and knew more, therefore Neptune feared to defend the Argives openly, but in the likeness of man, he kept on encouraging them throughout their host. Thus, then, did these two devise a knot of war and battle, that none could unloose or break, and set both sides tugging at it, to the failing of men’s knees beneath them.
Paris kills a man in revenge for the death of Harpalion. He might be taunted by the Greeks but his bow is still deadly. Furthermore, once again the theme of faith is stressed, for Euchenor knew that he shall die if he sails for Troy, but he still choose to do it, both to spare his father the fine and to avoid dying of illness:
Paris was deeply grieved by the death of Harpalion, who was his host when he went among the Paphlagonians; he aimed an arrow, therefore, in order to avenge him. Now there was a certain man named Euchenor, son of Polyidus the prophet, a brave man and wealthy, whose home was in Corinth. This Euchenor had set sail for Troy well knowing that it would be the death of him, for his good old father Polyidus had often told him that he must either stay at home and die of a terrible disease, or go with the Achaeans and perish at the hands of the Trojans; he chose, therefore, to avoid incurring the heavy fine the Achaeans would have laid upon him, and at the same time to escape the pain and suffering of disease. Paris now smote him on the jaw under his ear, whereon the life went out of him and he was enshrouded in the darkness of death.
Hector urges his men on, not aware of Trojan loses by the Greeks aided by Neptune.
Thus then did they fight as it were a flaming fire. But Hector had not yet heard, and did not know that the Argives were making havoc of his men on the left wing of the battle, where the Achaeans ere long would have triumphed over them, so vigorously did Neptune cheer them on and help them.
Previously Hector had not listened to warnings of Polydamas (a Trojan Seer), but now after an eloquent talk he does. Again, the skill of rhetoric is shown. By using logic, Polydamas convinces Hector to regroup his forces.
The Trojans would now have been driven in sorry plight from the ships and tents back to windy Ilius, had not Polydamas presently said to Hector, “Hector, there is no persuading you to take advice. Because heaven has so richly endowed you with the arts of war, you think that you must therefore excel others in counsel; but you cannot thus claim preeminence in all things. Heaven has made one man an excellent soldier; of another it has made a dancer or a singer and player on the lyre; while yet in another Jove has implanted a wise understanding of which men reap fruit to the saving of many, and he himself knows more about it than any one; therefore I will say what I think will be best...”
Hector regroups his forces, and while doing so, finds Paris on the battlefield and is encouraged by his brother's willingness to fight. Again, Hector pushes the Greek back.
Great Greek hero Ajax taunts Hector, and Hector answers him with hate. Thus the chapter ends with both armies raising a cry: With these words he led the way and the others followed after with a cry that rent the air, while the host shouted behind them. The Argives on their part raised a shout likewise, nor did they forget their prowess, but stood firm against the onslaught of the Trojan chieftains, and the cry from both the hosts rose up to heaven and to the brightness of Jove’s presence.
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BOOK FOURTEEN (Chanson XIV of the Iliad)
Book fourteen starts with Nestor talking about the battle with wounded Machaon.
Nestor was sitting over his wine, but the cry of battle did not escape him, and he said to the son of Aesculapius, “What, noble Machaon, is the meaning of all this? The shouts of men fighting by our ships grow stronger and stronger; stay here, therefore, and sit over your wine, while fair Hecamede heats you a bath and washes the clotted blood from off you. I will go at once to the look-out station and see what it is all about.”
The wounded warriors arrive and start arguing among themselves. Surprisingly, Agamemnon suggests sailing their ships back to Greece, but Odysseus scolds him, and young Diomedes urges them to inspire their men to fight on.
Neptune encourages Agamemnon, appearing to him in disguise of an old man, and Neptune's sister Hera is pleased to see her brother helping her beloved Greek.
Juno of the golden throne looked down as she stood upon a peak of Olympus and her heart was gladdened at the sight of him who was at once her brother and her brother-in-law, hurrying hither and thither amid the fighting. Then she turned her eyes to Jove as he sat on the topmost crests of many-fountained Ida, and loathed him. She set herself to think how she might hoodwink him, and in the end she deemed that it would be best for her to go to Ida and array herself in rich attire, in the hope that Jove might become enamoured of her, and wish to embrace her. While he was thus engaged a sweet and careless sleep might be made to steal over his eyes and senses.
Goddess Hera, the wife of Zeus will help the Greek herself. She goes full seductress mode with her husband Zeus. I have to admire how strategic she was in this book. She was never my favourite goddess, but in book fourteen, Hera shows she can plan ahead.
She went, therefore, to the room which her son Vulcan had made her, and the doors of which he had cunningly fastened by means of a secret key so that no other god could open them. Here she entered and closed the doors behind her. She cleansed all the dirt from her fair body with ambrosia, then she anointed herself with olive oil, ambrosial, very soft, and scented specially for herself—if it were so much as shaken in the bronze-floored house of Jove, the scent pervaded the universe of heaven and earth. With this she anointed her delicate skin, and then she plaited the fair ambrosial locks that flowed in a stream of golden tresses from her immortal head. She put on the wondrous robe which Minerva had worked for her with consummate art, and had embroidered with manifold devices; she fastened it about her bosom with golden clasps, and she girded herself with a girdle that had a hundred tassels: then she fastened her earrings, three brilliant pendants that glistened most beautifully, through the pierced lobes of her ears, and threw a lovely new veil over her head. She bound her sandals on to her feet, and when she had arrayed herself perfectly to her satisfaction, she left her room and called Venus to come aside and speak to her. “My dear child,” said she, “will you do what I am going to ask of you, or will you refuse me because you are angry at my being on the Danaan side, while you are on the Trojan?”
Jove’s daughter Venus answered, “Juno, august queen of goddesses, daughter of mighty Saturn, say what you want, and I will do it for you at once, if I can, and if it can be done at all.”
After getting the help from Venus, Hera also asks help from Dream. Initially, Dream does not want to go against Zeus but when Hera promises him one of three Graces for a wife, the one he always wanted, Dream agrees to put Zeus to sleep on her signal. Once Hera appears before the Zeus, she tells him the same same lie she did to Venus, about going to help Titans make up, but Zeus asks her to postpone the trip as he is completely smitten with her. Zeus hides Hera and him in a gold cloud, and after they make love, Dream puts Zeus to sleep and Hera lets Poseidon know Zeus is asleep so Poseidon can help the Greek.
The Trojans are driven back, and Hector is seriously wounded. The fighting continues, and Hector tells us in detail of the insults and taunts exchanged between the armies. Finally, book fourteen ends with Trojans being driven back by the Greeks.
BOOK FIFTEEN (Chanson XV of the Iliad)
Jove (Zeus) awakes in book sixteen and is furious with his wife Juno (Hera). He accuses her of aiding the Greek, but trembling Juno (Hera) denies all the charges. Juno swears by everything that is holy to gods that it was all Neptune's (Poseidon's) doing, and that she would have advised him to listen to Jove (Zeus) if Neptune (Poseidon) asked her for advice. Having read book fourteen, we know that Juno is lying. Zeus accepts her words with a smile and basically tells her and us of everything that will happen, Patroclus will be send into battle and killed by Hector, Achilles will then kill Hector to avenge Patroclus and thus the Greek will prevail. However, Jove (Zeus) stresses he will allow no god to help the Greek until the glory he promised Achilles is fulfilled.
The sire of gods and men smiled and answered, “If you, Juno, were always to support me when we sit in council of the gods, Neptune, like it or no, would soon come round to your and my way of thinking. If, then, you are speaking the truth and mean what you say, go among the rank and file of the gods, and tell Iris and Apollo lord of the bow, that I want them—Iris, that she may go to the Achaean host and tell Neptune to leave off fighting and go home, and Apollo, that he may send Hector again into battle and give him fresh strength; he will thus forget his present sufferings, and drive the Achaeans back in confusion till they fall among the ships of Achilles son of Peleus. Achilles will then send his comrade Patroclus into battle, and Hector will kill him in front of Ilius after he has slain many warriors, and among them my own noble son Sarpedon. Achilles will kill Hector to avenge Patroclus, and from that time I will bring it about that the Achaeans shall persistently drive the Trojans back till they fulfil the counsels of Minerva and take Ilius. But I will not stay my anger, nor permit any god to help the Danaans till I have accomplished the desire of the son of Peleus, according to the promise I made by bowing my head on the day when Thetis touched my knees and besought me to give him honour.”
Juno (Hera) goes to see other gods, and answers in bad humour to Achilles' mother. The gods are worried. Once again, Zeus might is stressed. He clearly rules over all gods, and they cannot defy his will directly. Ares is angry about the death of his son and sets for war anyway, saying he is willing to be killed by Jove (Zeus). Minerva (Athena) prevents god Ares (Mars) from going to war, for he would surely be ruined if he stood against Zeus' will.
And Juno answered, “Themis, do not ask me about it. You know what a proud and cruel disposition my husband has. Lead the gods to table, where you and all the immortals can hear the wicked designs which he has avowed. Many a one, mortal and immortal, will be angered by them, however peaceably he may be feasting now.”
On this Juno sat down, and the gods were troubled throughout the house of Jove. Laughter sat on her lips but her brow was furrowed with care, and she spoke up in a rage. “Fools that we are,” she cried, “to be thus madly angry with Jove; we keep on wanting to go up to him and stay him by force or by persuasion, but he sits aloof and cares for nobody, for he knows that he is much stronger than any other of the immortals. Make the best, therefore, of whatever ills he may choose to send each one of you; Mars, I take it, has had a taste of them already, for his son Ascalaphus has fallen in battle—the man whom of all others he loved most dearly and whose father he owns himself to be.”
Juno calls Apollo outside, and Iris the messenger of gods delivers the message of Jove (Zeus) to Poseidon (Neptune), ordering him to stop helping the Greeks. Poseidon gives her an angry response to Zeus, but Iris begs him to reconsider and he thanks her and does so.
Iris fleet as the wind then answered, “Am I really, Neptune, to take this daring and unyielding message to Jove, or will you reconsider your answer? Sensible people are open to argument, and you know that the Erinyes always range themselves on the side of the older person.”
Neptune answered, “Goddess Iris, your words have been spoken in season. It is well when a messenger shows so much discretion. Nevertheless it cuts me to the very heart that any one should rebuke so angrily another who is his own peer, and of like empire with himself. Now, however, I will give way in spite of my displeasure; furthermore let me tell you, and I mean what I say—if contrary to the desire of myself, Minerva driver of the spoil, Juno, Mercury, and King Vulcan, Jove spares steep Ilius, and will not let the Achaeans have the great triumph of sacking it, let him understand that he will incur our implacable resentment.”
Still, Neptune in his answer warns Zeus (Jove) that if he spares Troy, many gods will be displeased. As we know, Troy will not be spared. Meanwhile, Zeus has told Apollo to make Hector from his sleep and Apollo obeys:
Apollo obeyed his father’s saying, and left the crests of Ida, flying like a falcon, bane of doves and swiftest of all birds. He found Hector no longer lying upon the ground, but sitting up, for he had just come to himself again. He knew those who were about him, and the sweat and hard breathing had left him from the moment when the will of aegis-bearing Jove had revived him. Apollo stood beside him and said, “Hector son of Priam, why are you so faint, and why are you here away from the others? Has any mishap befallen you?”
Hector in a weak voice answered, “And which, kind sir, of the gods are you, who now ask me thus? Do you not know that Ajax struck me on the chest with a stone as I was killing his comrades at the ships of the Achaeans, and compelled me to leave off fighting? I made sure that this very day I should breathe my last and go down into the house of Hades.”
Apollo encourages Hector, who barely escaped with his life and was sure he would die, and Hector returns to the fight. With Hector at their side, the Trojans prevail again. The Greek retreat, understanding that Hector's speedy recovery from a near death must be doing of gods, and that Zeus is with Hector again. The book fifteen ends with Ajax bravely fighting with his spear, preventing Trojan men from burning the ships at Hector's command and killing twelve men.
As he spoke he wielded his spear with still greater fury, and when any Trojan made towards the ships with fire at Hector’s bidding, he would be on the look-out for him, and drive at him with his long spear. Twelve men did he thus kill in hand-to-hand fight before the ships.
BOOK SIXTEEN (Chanson XVI)
Book sixteen of the Iliad opens with Patroclus moved to tears, and Achilles approaching him and asking what is the matter. The Greek ships are about to be set to fire, so there is a sense of urgency in their conversation.
Thus did they fight about the ship of Protesilaus. Then Patroclus drew near to Achilles with tears welling from his eyes, as from some spring whose crystal stream falls over the ledges of a high precipice. When Achilles saw him thus weeping he was sorry for him and said, “Why, Patroclus, do you stand there weeping like some silly child that comes running to her mother, and begs to be taken up and carried—she catches hold of her mother’s dress to stay her though she is in a hurry, and looks tearfully up until her mother carries her—even such tears, Patroclus, are you now shedding.
They talk, and Achilles refuses to fight even if he is moved by Greek suffering. Patroclus asks Achilles to let him fight in Achilles' armour, and Achilles lets him, but warns Patroclus not to go all the way to the walls of Troy, but to just chase the Trojans from the ships, and to return in time. Patroclus agrees, but as we know (from Zeus words) he will not keep his promise, but continue fighting on. Achilles warns Patroclus because he wants him to return safely, but also because Achilles does not wash his own glory diminished. Great Ajax is finally overtaken by the Trojans and ship he was defending was put to fire. Patroclus seeing this tragedy, quickly puts on Achilles armour. Achilles prays for Patroclus' bravery and safe return to Zeus, who decides to honour the prayer on the bravery part. The battle is fierce, and Patroclus distinguishes himself with his bravery, ensuring that Zeus fulfils at least half of the Achilles' prayer. As predicted, the arrival of Patroclus encourages the Greek, and there is much fighting. Many Greek heroes kill their Trojan opponents. Patroclus advances, and takes on Sarpedon.
During this battle, Zeus feels sorry for his son Sarpedon, who is about to be killed by Patroclus, but Hera tells him of the price of preventing it. It means that other gods will be tempted to meddle with the fate. Does that mean that Zeus is not omni-potent after all? This passage suggests that gods must also give in to fate, whether they like it or not. Hera offers a compromise, telling Zeus to allow for an honourable burial of his son, but not to prevent the death.
The son of scheming Saturn looked down upon them in pity and said to Juno who was his wife and sister, “Alas, that it should be the lot of Sarpedon whom I love so dearly to perish by the hand of Patroclus. I am in two minds whether to catch him up out of the fight and set him down safe and sound in the fertile land of Lycia, or to let him now fall by the hand of the son of Menoetius.”
And Juno answered, “Most dread son of Saturn, what is this that you are saying? Would you snatch a mortal man, whose doom has long been fated, out of the jaws of death? Do as you will, but we shall not all of us be of your mind. I say further, and lay my saying to your heart, that if you send Sarpedon safely to his own home, some other of the gods will be also wanting to escort his son out of battle, for there are many sons of gods fighting round the city of Troy, and you will make every one jealous. If, however, you are fond of him and pity him, let him indeed fall by the hand of Patroclus, but as soon as the life is gone out of him, send Death and sweet Sleep to bear him off the field and take him to the broad lands of Lycia, where his brothers and his kinsmen will bury him with mound and pillar, in due honour to the dead.”
The sire of gods and men assented, but he shed a rain of blood upon the earth in honour of his son whom Patroclus was about to kill on the rich plain of Troy far from his home.
Zeus' son is thus killed by Patroclus, Trojans are heart-broken, Hector is angry, and Patroclus cheers on Greeks: As he spoke the Trojans were plunged in extreme and ungovernable grief; for Sarpedon, alien though he was, had been one of the main stays of their city, both as having much people with him, and himself the foremost among them all. Led by Hector, who was infuriated by the fall of Sarpedon, they made instantly for the Danaans with all their might, while the undaunted spirit of Patroclus son of Menoetius cheered on the Achaeans.
There is fighting over the body of the Zeus's son, and several Greeks and Trojans are killed, but Zeus already decided to save at least the body of his son if he could not save his life. I do not know why Zeus did not just have someone carry the body away, but I guess it shows that Trojans were so loyal to their ally, they were willing to die for his body. Why would someone die for someone body? Now, this is an important moment as the ancient people believed that soul could not pass into the afterworld without a proper burial. So, if someone is not buried properly, their very soul is lost and that is worse than the death of only the body.
The fighting over the corpse of Sarpedon is described in detail, and is quite graphic at times, with descriptions of brains battered with a stone under a helmet and that sort of thing:
Hector now struck him on the head with a stone just as he had caught hold of the body, and his brains inside his helmet were all battered in, so that he fell face foremost upon the body of Sarpedon, and there died. Patroclus was enraged by the death of his comrade, and sped through the front ranks as swiftly as a hawk that swoops down on a flock of daws or starlings. Even so swiftly, O noble knight Patroclus, did you make straight for the Lycians and Trojans to avenge your comrade. Forthwith he struck Sthenelaus the son of Ithaemenes on the neck with a stone, and broke the tendons that join it to the head and spine. On this Hector and the front rank of his men gave ground. As far as a man can throw a javelin when competing for some prize, or even in battle—so far did the Trojans now retreat before the Achaeans. Glaucus, captain of the Lycians, was the first to rally them, by killing Bathycles son of Chalcon who lived in Hellas and was the richest man among the Myrmidons. Glaucus turned round suddenly, just as Bathycles who was pursuing him was about to lay hold of him, and drove his spear right into the middle of his chest, whereon he fell heavily to the ground, and the fall of so good a man filled the Achaeans with dismay, while the Trojans were exultant, and came up in a body round the corpse. Nevertheless the Achaeans, mindful of their prowess, bore straight down upon them.
There is also a lot of taunting between the warriors, for example between Meriones and Aeneas, son of Venus.
Meriones then killed a helmed warrior of the Trojans, Laogonus son of Onetor, who was priest of Jove of Mt. Ida, and was honoured by the people as though he were a god. Meriones struck him under the jaw and ear, so that life went out of him and the darkness of death laid hold upon him. Aeneas then aimed a spear at Meriones, hoping to hit him under the shield as he was advancing, but Meriones saw it coming and stooped forward to avoid it, whereon the spear flew past him and the point stuck in the ground, while the butt-end went on quivering till Mars robbed it of its force. The spear, therefore, sped from Aeneas’s hand in vain and fell quivering to the ground. Aeneas was angry and said, “Meriones, you are a good dancer, but if I had hit you my spear would soon have made an end of you.”
Zeus wonders whether he should kill Patroclus right away, or give him a chance for more glory. Zeus decides on the latter, inspiring a retreat in Trojans, led by Hector. Patroclus breaks his promise to Achilles, and drives the Trojans to the walls. Apollo tells Patroclus he is not fated to storm Troy, but Patroclus charges on, getting to the gates of Troy. Apollo takes the form of Hector's uncle and inspires Hector to fight Patroclus (for such is the will of Zeus).
Meanwhile Hector was waiting with his horses inside the Scaean gates, in doubt whether to drive out again and go on fighting, or to call the army inside the gates. As he was thus doubting Phoebus Apollo drew near him in the likeness of a young and lusty warrior Asius, who was Hector’s uncle, being own brother to Hecuba, and son of Dymas who lived in Phrygia by the waters of the river Sangarius; in his likeness Jove’s son Apollo now spoke to Hector saying, “Hector, why have you left off fighting? It is ill done of you. If I were as much better a man than you, as I am worse, you should soon rue your slackness. Drive straight towards Patroclus, if so be that Apollo may grant you a triumph over him, and you may rule him.”
Thus a fight between Patroclus and Hector begins. Another of Hector's drivers named Cebriones (this time a bastard son of Priam, therefore Hector's half-brother) is destined to die. I lost count of how many Hector's drivers were killed so far? Three? Four? Being a driver of Hector's chariot must be one of the most dangerous occupations during the Trojan war.
With this the god went back into the hurly-burly, and Hector bade Cebriones drive again into the fight. Apollo passed in among them, and struck panic into the Argives, while he gave triumph to Hector and the Trojans. Hector let the other Danaans alone and killed no man, but drove straight at Patroclus. Patroclus then sprang from his chariot to the ground, with a spear in his left hand, and in his right a jagged stone as large as his hand could hold. He stood still and threw it, nor did it go far without hitting some one; the cast was not in vain, for the stone struck Cebriones, Hector’s charioteer, a bastard son of Priam, as he held the reins in his hands. The stone hit him on the forehead and drove his brows into his head for the bone was smashed, and his eyes fell to the ground at his feet. He dropped dead from his chariot as though he were diving, and there was no more life left in him.
Homer proves himself an excellent writer with clever remarks, even humour inserted in midst of the tragedy. For example, at Cebriones' death Patroclus remarks he is a diver. What follow is a fight for Cebriones body.
Hector sprang also from his chariot to the ground. The pair then fought over the body of Cebriones. As two lions fight fiercely on some high mountain over the body of a stag that they have killed, even so did these two mighty warriors, Patroclus son of Menoetius and brave Hector, hack and hew at one another over the corpse of Cebriones. Hector would not let him go when he had once got him by the head, while Patroclus kept fast hold of his feet, and a fierce fight raged between the other Danaans and Trojans. As the east and south wind buffet one another when they beat upon some dense forest on the mountains—there is beech and ash and spreading cornel; the top of the trees roar as they beat on one another, and one can hear the boughs cracking and breaking—even so did the Trojans and Achaeans spring upon one another and lay about each other, and neither side would give way. Many a pointed spear fell to ground and many a winged arrow sped from its bowstring about the body of Cebriones; many a great stone, moreover, beat on many a shield as they fought around his body, but there he lay in the whirling clouds of dust, all huge and hugely, heedless of his driving now.
It is a long fight between the two, with many twists and turns. Moreover, Homer addresses Patroclus on a few occasions, adding to the impending tragedy of his death. As the Homer and Patroclus fight and talk, we learn more of them.
Then Patroclus sprang like Mars with fierce intent and a terrific shout upon the Trojans, and thrice did he kill nine men; but as he was coming on like a god for a time, then, O Patroclus, was the hour of your end approaching, for Phoebus fought you in fell earnest. Patroclus did not see him as he moved about in the crush, for he was enshrouded in thick darkness, and the god struck him from behind on his back and his broad shoulders with the flat of his hand, so that his eyes turned dizzy. Phoebus Apollo beat the helmet from off his head, and it rolled rattling off under the horses’ feet, where its horse-hair plumes were all begrimed with dust and blood. Never indeed had that helmet fared so before, for it had served to protect the head and comely forehead of the godlike hero Achilles. Now, however, Zeus delivered it over to be worn by Hector. Nevertheless the end of Hector also was near. The bronze-shod spear, so great and so strong, was broken in the hand of Patroclus, while his shield that covered him from head to foot fell to the ground as did also the band that held it, and Apollo undid the fastenings of his corslet.
I have to admit that my heart here was divided. On one hand, Patroclus is the most gentle and kind of man. Patroclus is brave, respectful of his elders, and full of heart for everyone, stopping to nurse a wounded soldier. Hector, on the other side, is defending the women and children of Troy.
As when a lion has fought some fierce wild boar and worsted him—the two fight furiously upon the mountains over some little fountain at which they would both drink, and the lion has beaten the boar till he can hardly breathe—even so did Hector son of Priam take the life of the brave son of Menoetius who had killed so many, striking him from close at hand, and vaunting over him the while. “Patroclus,” said he, “you deemed that you should sack our city, rob our Trojan women of their freedom, and carry them off in your ships to your own country. Fool; Hector and his fleet horses were ever straining their utmost to defend them. I am foremost of all the Trojan warriors to stave the day of bondage from off them; as for you, vultures shall devour you here. Poor wretch, Achilles with all his bravery availed you nothing; and yet I ween when you left him he charged you straitly saying, ‘Come not back to the ships, knight Patroclus, till you have rent the blood-stained shirt of murderous Hector about his body.’ Thus I ween did he charge you, and your fool’s heart answered him ‘yea’ within you.”
Both are right in a way, as both are doing their duty. Patroclus is defending his comrades, and Hector his country. However, both must die for fate dictates it. One of them must die now, and the other later. We had already learnt from Homer about Hector's impending death. Now, we hear it from Patroclus as well. As Patroclus is dying, killed by Hector, he tells Hector : "...you too shall live but for a little season; death and the day of your doom are close upon you, and they will lay you low by the hand of Achilles son of Aeacus. "
Hector addresses the death Patroclus, hoping his prophecy shall not be fulfilled: "Patroclus, why should you thus foretell my doom? Who knows but Achilles, son of lovely Thetis, may be smitten by my spear and die before me?"
Book sixteen of the Iliad is one of the saddest and most touching moments of this masterpiece for me. There is a stark contrast between detailed, often graphic descriptions of fighting, with heroes taunting one another, with the more tender and prophetic passages, where Homer himself seems to lament the death of Patroclus and Zeus laments the death of his son.
When I finished reading book sixteen, I was heart-broken. Why? For all the losses happening not just in the past, and now, but also for all the losses of human life that will also happen in the future. Will we ever be free from war?
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| Two of my seascapes (medium: watercolour pencils) inspired by Jelsa |
Like most people, I've read the Iliad as an adolescent. I was actually quite moved by it back then. Reading it again and again, I still feel the same way just more intensely. Back when I was a high school student, I remember our professors were a bit perplex that we actually talked about the Iliad and the Odyssey among ourselves. They were even more perplexed by the fact that we seemed to know all the names of the Greek gods and mythological figures. So, how did we learn mythology so well? Well, mostly by reading Greek classics. We also occasionally watched adaptations and trashy shows loosely based on Greek mythology, but my generation actually liked the classics. Maybe not everyone, but enough of us to be able to discuss the classics together. Naturally, the themes of ancient Greek literature, just like the themes of literature in general are eternal and timeless. They can be enjoyed at any time in our life. However, some works are perhaps usually not enjoyed by adolescents. So, why did we like these epic poems?
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| Location for all of the photographs: Jelsa, island Hvar (last featured here) Photographer: Gordan Džidić |
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