Iliad 16-18

Sweet Patroclus knows the power behind symbols, and convinces Achilles to allow him to wear his armor, if Achilles still refuses to join the fray. Fearing the loss of the fleet, and therefore the war, Achilles agrees to lend Patroclus his armor long enough to save the ships. Fearing for the life of his friend, Achilles sends his best soldiers to accompany him, and prays to Zeus that his friend might live and his fleet be saved. Fickle Zeus will only grant one of these requests.

The appearance of Patroclus in Achilles armor serves as a rallying point for the Achaians. The Trojans retreat, and Patroclus cuts them down as they run. Zeus again tries to interfere, but could one blame a father for trying to save His own son? Still, we Immortals cannot be swayed by mortal family ties, and Zeus allows Patroclus to kill Sarpedon. Still, He does not let this insult stand, and maneuvers Hektor into place to take the life of poor Patroclus. However sad, he did go against the orders of his master Achilles and actively attack the Trojans rather than just defending the ships. With his dying words, Patroclus foretells the death of Hektor at the hands of Achilles, saying "You yourself are not one who shall live long, but not already death and powerful destiny are standing beside you, to go down under the hands of Aiakos' great son, Achilles." (16:52-54)

The death of poor Patroclus does not go unnoticed. They fight over his body, over the great armor that he wore. Hektor takes his armor and dons it as his own, but is unable to steal and desecrate his body. Upon donning Achilles shining armor and reentering the battle, Hektor promises great wealth to any man who can retrieve the body of blameless Patroclus.

Zeus again interferes, granting Hektor great power before his upcoming demise. What a soft old fool. Still even with His help the battle continues, the Trojans are forced to retreat, and Menelaus is able to retrieve the body of Patroclus thanks to interventions from Athene.

Nestor's son is the one to return the body to Achilles, who mourns the death of his closest friend. His mother heard his lamentations, who reminds him of the prophecy that his death will follow that of Hektor's. Still, Achilles is set on revenging the death of Patroclus. Resigned to the death of her son, and at My suggestion went to My Son, Hephaistos, who made Achilles a new set of glorious armor so that he may rejoin the fighting. The shield He makes bears images of of the earth, "and the sky, and the sea's water, and the tireless son, and the moon waxing into her fullness, and on it all the constellations that festoon the heavens [... and,] two cities of mortal men. And there were marriages in one, and festivals" and a market and a court, and images of war and families, and Gods. (18:483-605). This shield, unable to be beaten, displayed the beauty of the cosmos and of the mortal world.

My son has skills!

Monticelli, Angelo. An interpretation of the Shield of Achilles design described 
     in Book 18 of the Iliad, 1820. Le Costume Ancien ou Moderne. 

Homer., and Richmond Lattimore. The Iliad. Chicago: University of Chicago Press,      1951.  

Iliad 12-15

The Greeks strong hold is destined to fall. They were foolish to build it against the will of Zeus and other Gods. Still, though, I can ensure that while Hektor lives and Achilles' menis continues-- while the city of Troy still stands-- the walls will not fall. Poseidon and Phoebus can do what they like-- as soon as my Greeks take Troy, as the prophecy states will happen.

Now, though, the Trojans appear to have the upperhand. Hektor rages against the Greeks, and though the walls hold chariots clash and men fall. One Trojan, though, listens to the signs and warns Hektor of a bad omen-- a bird dropping a snake near the Trojan troops. Hektor refuses to listen to reason however, and urges his troops onward. Foolish mortal.

One god, however, is on the side of the Trojans. My fickle husband, Zeus again moves against the Greeks, sending His son (though not Mine) Sarpedon into battle. With his help, the Trojans are able to break down the walls of the Greek's stronghold.

Happy with the progress of the Trojans in the battle, Zeus takes his leave. Noticing his absence, Earth Shaker steps in, and comforts the pair of Aiases and gives them strength to continue the battle. He then rallies the rest of the Achaians in much the same fashion. With the revitalization, the fighting continued; the death of Poseidon's grandson led Him to stir the rest of the Greeks and lead them in the slaughter of the Trojans.

The loss of Zeus does not bode well for the Trojans. After sustaining heavy losses an eagle, generally the sign of Zeus, appears at the right hand of mighty, boastful Aias.

As the Greeks return to camp and survey their heavy losses, Agamemnon again proposes that the Greeks retreat and return to their homes. Proud Odysseus will hear nothing of it, however. He calls him a coward, while Diomedes urges the troops to return to the line. Even Poseidon, Earth-Shaker, supports Agamemnon, reminding him of the prophecy that Troy must fall. You go, big brother!

And I? What could I do, when My husband has forbidden Me from aiding the Greeks? What if I could find a way to distract Him, or cause Him to change His mind from His course against the Achaians? I got Myself all dolled up, bathed in ambrosia and wearing my best clothes. I trick foolish Aphrodite into lending Me Her girdle of Love, and promise a daughter to marriage if Sleep will lull the son of Kronos into his embrace.

Lookin' good!

Hera. Altes Museum, Berlin. Accessed 24 September 2013. 

http://www.theoi.com/Gallery/S4.3.html

So, I made my way to Mount Ida and "accidentally" run into Zeus. Of course He is tempted by Me. He'd be tempted by a bale of hay in a pretty toga. Though really, you'd think that He'd know better than to talk about all of the strumpets that He's cheated on Me with. He never was one for pillow talk. 

Well... I won't go into what happened next, but suffice it to say that He was desperately in need of a nap afterwards.

While My husband slumbers, We are free to continue to assist the mighty Greeks. Poseidon rallies Our troops, and they charge against the Trojans. Ajax injures Hektor, and many Trojans fall without their leader.

Aaaannnddd.... Then Zeus woke up, and caught Us in the act. Oops. Though I try and lay the blame on Poseidon (Hey, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do). Zeus summons Isis and Apollo, to recall Poseidon and give strength to the Trojans. He does reassure Me, however, that he knows that Troy is still slated to fall. So WHY must he continue to work against Me? At least I have assurance that Hektor is slated to die, albeit upon the death of Patroclus, who is beloved by Achilles. 

With His help, the Trojans again gain the upper-hand in combat. 

Iliad 9-11

It breaks my heart to see the terror that grips my beloved Achaians. Agamemnon, son of Atreus is so distraught over their casualties that he is willing to give up the fight for his brothers honor. Zeus' treachery is to blame for this. Like Agamemnon said "[Zeus] who before this time promised me and consented that I might sack strong-walled Ilion and sail homeward. NOw he has devised an vile deception and bids me go back to Argos in dishonor having lost many of my people" (9:20-23). It is valiant Diomedes who convinces him to stay, along with wise words from Nestor. However, he is convinced that the war cannot be won without the help of that weenie Achilles. He sends his best men; Odysseus, Aias, and Phoenix to Achilles with his concessions, hoping to end their quarrel and have Achilles return to the battle. He offered women, wealth, and land, and a position beneath only him. These bribes were not enough to entice him back to the battle, however, though the great Greeks plead with him and stoked his ego. Still, his menis is too great, and his fear of the prophecy too strong, and he again refuses to join the battle. The embassy returned to camp unsuccessful.

After reconvening, the leaders of the Greek troops decided to send a reconnaissance party to the city of Troy. Of course, brave Diomedes and Odysseus volunteer for the task, and pray to Athene for guidance on their mission.

The Trojans too seek information about their enemies. They send Dolon, son of Eumedes, to spy upon the Greek camp. He did not escape the attention of Diomedes and Odysseus, however, and the two Greeks pursued that spying Trojan. Upon catching him, Dolon, like the scum that he is told the Greeks everything... positions of Trojan troops, and that of their allies, and gave away that they newly arrived Thracians were especially vulnerable to attack. After getting this information from him, Diomedes sends the Trojan to Hades. They then continued to the Thracian camp, where they quickly dispatch the newcomers and begin to loot their camp. Athene must intervene and remind them that other Gods may work against them if they continue to treat the Trojan dead with disrespect.

The next morning, Zeus again meddles in the battle. He sends a rain of blood down on my Greeks, allowing Hektor to cross into their camp. He is such a hypocrite! He constantly warns Us not to fight against the Fates, but fails to remember (or, more likely, choses to ignore) the fact that the Fates Themselves have decreed that Troy will fall.

The fight rages on with losses on both sides. Zeus saves Hektor from near certain death, but Agamemnon ravages Trojan troops like a lion attacking a herd of cattle. Zeus sends Isis to Hektor, telling him how to kill Agamemnon. With this knowledge and the glory of Zeus, Hektor plunges into battle, killing many of My Greeks.

After the battle, Nestor set out to find Achilles and convince him to return to battle. Achilles still refuses to go, but allows his "cousin" (yeah, right [1]) to don his armor and go in his stead. Perhaps even the appearance of support from Achilles will be a turning point in the war.


H.

The Relationship between Achilles and Patroclus according to Chariton of Aphrodisias

Manuel Sanz Morales and Gabriel Laguna Mariscal

The Classical Quarterly , New Series, Vol. 53, No. 1 (May, 2003), pp. 292-295

Iliad 6-8

The battle between the Greeks and the Trojans continues, and now each side must fight without Our help. My Achaians are winning, the Trojans are in full retreat! Menelaus showed a moment of weakness and considers accepting a ransom for a Trojan, but wise Agamemnon reminded him of the dishonor heaped upon him by the Trojans, and his heart was turned instead towards justice.

Then the foolish Hektor decides that a sacrifice to Athene, to tempt her to have pity of the honor less town of Troy, "and the Trojan wives, and their innocent children. So she might hold back form the son of Tydeus, what wild spear-fighter, the strong one who drives men to thoughts of terror" (6:95-98). With Achilles still mourning the unjust lost of his bride, they are indeed right to fear Diomedes. Still, do these fools not know that Athene fights on the side of the Greeks? Have they not been paying attention?

Hektor then tracked down shameful Paris, and rebuked him for his cowardice, hiding in "his" woman's rooms away from the fighting and the death. Even Helen, that fickle creature, chastised Alexandros for his cowardice, saying "I wish I had been the wife of a better man than this" (6:350). While she is at least acknowledging what a waste of skin Paris is, why does the strumpet not recognize the great Menelaus, her lawful husband?

On the battlefield, Hektor and Paris rejoin the fighting and the bloodshed continues. Apollo convinces Athena to end the battle for the day, by staging a duel between Hektor and the Achaians best fighter. Menelaus, seeking to regain his honor, volunteers. His honor and pride out strip his ability to fight against the younger Hektor, and the Greeks instead nominate the giant Aias to fight in his place. The fight commences, with each man trading spear tosses and then lance thrusts. My fickle husband interferes however, and sends heralds to stop the duel, and the two fighters exchanged kind words and shared a feast. Wise Antenor suggests an end to the fighting, and offers to give the fair-haired Helen back to the people with whom she belongs. Vain, proud, spiteful Paris refuses these terms, though he says that he will return the rest of the goods stolen from the Greeks. Sensing the desperation of the falling Trojans, the Greeks reject their proposal-- only the return of Helen will end this war.

Meanwhile, my husband has ordered the Immortals to stand down from the fighting, and threatened Us if we interfere. He, however, did not feel such an impediment and blaming the fates struck out in favor of the Trojans and sent thunderbolts to scare the Greeks.

Poseidon, the Earth-Shaker was the first to feel my wrath at this betrayal. Even he quakes in fear at the thought of facing my husbands wrath, however.

Greek Teukros did not falter in the face of adversity, and struck down many Trojans. We would even have killed Hektor, if Apollo had not turned his spear aside. Still, the Trojans were advancing and murdering many of My Greeks. Athene and I would not let this stand, and prepared to join the battle. He sends Isis to stay Our hands, threatening Athene and belittling Me.

Men. Ugh.
 






Homer., and Richmond Lattimore. The Iliad. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 
     1951. 

Honestly. Paris is terrible.

How can a man who's so darn pretty be such a coward is beyond me. I know, I know. When he picked love above power, he gave away his cowardice.  Still, he supposedly cares for this mortal woman, but has to be coerced into fighting by his brother. Whoever won the duel would win Helen's hand... even though the trollop was married to Menelaus! 

Aphrodite has to get involved in affairs that should be none of Her business. She had no right in the first place to give Helen to the Trojan, when she rightfully belonged to Menelaus! Her interference in the duel should have been a clear violation. Instead, the cheat Alexandros continues to bed the girl, even though she has made her dislike for him known. 

"We have Gods on our side also" (3.440). Please. You have Aphrodite, a fertility goddess. It is the Greeks, with Me, the Queen of the Gods, and Athene, the warrior Goddess who will be victorious in this war.

                              Douris. Duel of Paris and Menalaos. ca 485 - 480 BCE. Musée du Louvre, Paris, France.

(Later)

ZUES SUCKS. I swear to Us, He does this just to piss me off. I stand and watch because my Greeks do not need intercession... much less a fussy fertility Goddess sticking her nose where it doesn't belong. 

I even asked him why He insists on fighting against Me, when the Trojan have worked against Me, his wife? How can He let their insult against Me stand? Instead, he offers Me a "deal". The downfall of Troy in exchange for the decimation of one of My cities. Fine, if that is what it takes for My honor to be avenged. He sent Athene to stir up the Trojans, so that they will move against the Achaians and cause the battle to resume. Her speech worked, and the Trojan Pandaros drew his bow against the mighty Agamemnon. Athene's plan works, and the Achians take up arms against the Trojan oath-breakers. She helps them in battle, while Ares fights on the side of the Trojans. 

Athene gives strength to Diomedes, son of Tydeus, and tricks Ares into leaving the battle so as not to invite the wrath of Zeus onto them. Battle ensued, and Diomedes ravaged the Trojan forces. She had to borrow Her brother, Ares, chariot to come home and nurse Her wounds.

Aphrodite again interfered! Diomedes got the upperhand though, and spilled Her immortal blood. This is Her punishment for interfering in affairs that are out of Her realm. She had to borrow Her brother Ares', chariot to return to Olympos to nurse Her wounds. Even Zeus tried to warn Her to mind her own affairs, and to leave battles to Athene and Ares.

Ares, angered by the slight against His sister, joins the side of the Trojans. With His help, the Trojans and the Achaians battle each other-- finally Zeus allows Athene and I to intercede on behalf of my beloved Greeks. Athene lifts her injunction against Diomedes attacking any of Us besides Aphrodite, and rides into battle with him against Ares. With Her help, he is able to wound the God of War!

Of course, Ares goes whining to Zeus. Honestly, he's worse than Achilles. I'm sometimes ashamed to be his mother.

Mortals meddling in the affairs of Gods... when will they learn that it does not end well for them?

First these silly mortals manage to piss off Apollo by kidnapping the daughter of one of his priests. Of course he then smites the Danaäns with a plague and none of them can figure out why. I practically had to hold Achilles' hand to get him to consult a soothsayer to figure out what was going on.

Agamemnon is finally talked into giving the damn girl back, but he has to get all whiny and take Achilles' girl. Honestly, it's like I'm dealing with toddlers down there, breaking each others toys when they don't get what they want. I had to send Athene down to mediate their quarrel so that Achilles didn't run Agamemnon through with his sword!

To make matters worse, when I get back from dealing with that, I catch my no-good husband Zeus conspiring with Thetis. Her whiny son has asked for His help to knock Agamemnon down a peg... by aiding the Trojans! After their leader Paris scorned me by choosing to give Aphrodite the gold apple instead of me, I have sworn to aid the Greeks in this war. Of course my faithless husband would work against my wishes. My poor boy Hephaistos tried to defuse the tension by serving wine, but was mocked by the others. Jerks.


In order to uphold his promise to that hussy Thetis, Zeus then sent a dream to Agamemnon, telling him to attack the city of Troy, because I had convinced the other Gods to work against the Trojans. If only this was true! Agamemnon rallied his troops but first the vain man had to test their spirit and loyalty, and sent them home. After nine long years of war, of course they were eager to return to their homes. I again had to intercede and send Athene to remind Odysseus of the prophecy stating that it would take 9 years for the Greeks to conquer the city. This sent them back onto their intended path.

Honestly, what would these mortals do without Us?

"Troia, 1:5000." Map. UNESCO World Heritage List. 2009. Accessed September 10, 
     2013. http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/849/. 

Καλησπέρα!

I am Hera, wife of Zeus and goddess of women and marriage. After Paris awarded Aphrodite the golden apple in exchange for the hand of Helen of Troy, I have sworn that he and the Trojans are my enemies. I will do all in my power to aid the Greeks in the destruction of Troy.

Selfie!

Hera Campana. ca. 2nd century. Musée du Louvre, Paris. Accessed September 4, 
     2013. http://www.theoi.com/Gallery/S4.2.html.