Painter, Brygos. Briseis and Phoenix. ca. 490 BCE. Musee du Louvre, Paris.
Achilles is itching to go to battle to avenge his friend. Odysseus insists that the troops be allowed to rest and nourish themselves, but Achilles is too overwrought to eat. He instead continues to mourn gentle Patroclus. Zeus himself was struck by the sadness of Achilles, and entreated Athene to provide him with nourishment of the gods, ambrosia and nectar. As he arms for battle, I lent My voice to his great warhorse, Xanthos, and reminded him that "We shall still keep you safe for this time, O hard Achilleus. And yet the day of your death is near, but it is now We who are to blame but a great god and powerful Destiny". (19: 407-410)
Still Achilles was insistent on riding out against the Trojans. While previously Zeus had warned Us about interfering, now he was worried that the menis of Achilles would prove too great and bring the fall of Troy before its preordained time. We were again allowed to enter the fray; Athene, Poseidon, Hermes, My son Hephaistos, and I for the Greeks; Ares, Artemis, that ninny Aphrodite and Leto for the Trojans.
And so Gods fought Gods while Greeks fought Trojans. And fought well the mortals did, so much so that We decided to sit and watch the carnage and only involve ourselves if the other side interferes.
Achilles and Aineias begin to fight, and Achilles is clearly winning the battle. Then Poseidon, the Earth Shaker, silly old cod feels sorry for the death of the clearly inferior Trojan and interferes, saving him. Seriously, I thought He was on Our side?
Hektor approached, meaning to confront Achilles who is slaughtering Trojan troops. Apollo, knowing the strength of Achilles in his rage convinced Hektor to stand down awhile. However, when Hektor witnessed Polydoros slain at the hands of vengeful Achilles, he is unable to stay his fury and confronts him. He throws his spear at Achilles, but Athene changes it flight and the spear drops harmlessly to the ground. Achilles charges, but Apollo changed Hektor to mist which Achilles spear passed harmlessly through. Trojans attacked, but Achilles thwarted all of their advances, thrusting his spear until the ground ran black with spilled blood. Achilles will have his revenge, will win the glory that is owed to him.
In his anger, he slaughters any Trojan that he comes across. He then throws their bodies into the river, upsetting the river god Skamandros, whose water cannot flow to the sea. Achilles agrees to stop tossing the bodies into the river, but not to cease his onslaught of the Trojans. This is not enough to abate the anger of the river god, and Hephaistos and I intervene. Hephaistos sets fire to the corpses that clog the river, and the fire spread to the trees and plants that grew along its banks. Skamandros called for a cease-fire, saying "Brilliant Achilles can capture the city of the Trojans, now, for me. What have I do with this quarrel?" (21:159-160)
But the anger of the rest of the gods is not as easily quenched as his. Ares confronts Athene, reminding Her of Her folly in aiding Diomedes against Him. He is no match for Pallas, the goddess of warfare and wisdom, and She defeats Him handily. Aphrodite leads him away, and I goad Athene into attacking Her, whose gift to Paris caused this mess in the first place. Of course the fertility goddess falls to Her quickly. Artemis the huntress runs Her mouth to me, then goes running off to Zeus to tattle.
Still, though, the Trojans are on the retreat with Achilles closely at their heels. It is not until a duel between Achillies and the Trojan prince Agenor (with help from Apollo) distracts the mighty Greek that the Trojans are able to escape to their walled city.
No comments:
Post a Comment