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