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.