The Iliad

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The Iliad

• The story of the gods, friendship, duty, war,
  fate and how Achilles dealt with these issues

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The nature of Achilles as a hero

• Before we get into the actual Trojan War, it is
  necessary to understand Achilles place in Greek
  culture. The Greeks considered him a hero, who
  was born of a mortal father and a goddess mother,
  Thetis. It was his mother who imbued Achilles
  with his heroic powers.

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Achilles youth

• Achilles is presented to the Centaur, Chiron, by
  his father, Peleus. Chiron will teach Achilles
  his skills.

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Achilles receiving his godlike armor from his
mother.
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The Greek concept of a hero

• In the Homeric epics, the heroes give the reader
  (or listener) the impression that, in order to be
  the best, to achieve arête, an individual must
  sacrifice for the society. Greek heroes often had
  superhuman powers, though all Greek heroes and
  gods had a classic flaw. For Achilles, his flaw
  is his heel, the only portion not covered when
  his mother dipped him in the river Styx. In the
  Iliad, Homer uses Achilles as a central figure to
  illustrate the power of the gods, the role of
  fate in ones life and the ways man should deal
  with the travails of life in a way that continues
  tradition and protects the values of the culture.

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The Greeks landing at Troy
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Achilles friendship to Patroclus
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Achilles role in the Trojan Wars

• Achilles was the most important warrior in the
  Greek ranks. His argument with King Agamemnon led
  to his brooding and isolation from the war. His
  friend, Patroclus, disguised in Achilles armor,
  leads the men into battle. Hector bravely fought
  whom he thought was Achilles and killed the
  youth. Achilles, in rage, reenters the battle
  after the funeral of Patroclus.

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Death of Patroclus
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The Funeral of Patroclus
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Hector saying good bye to his wife, as he must
follow duty and fight Achilles
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After chasing Hector around the city walls three
times, the two men finally squared off in battle.
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• Hector, abandoned by Deiphobus
• "So now I meet my doom. Well let me die
  -but not without struggle, not without glory, no,
  in some great clash of arms that even men to
  comewill hear of down the years!"               
                       And on that resolve he drew
  the whetted sword that hung at his side,
  tempered, massive, and gathering all his force he
  swooped like a soaring eagle launching down from
  the dark clouds to earth to snatch some helpless
  lamb or trembling hare.
• So Hector swooped now, swinging his whetted sword
  and Achilles charged too, bursting with rage,
  barbaric, guarding his chest with the
  well-wrought blazoned shield, head tossing his
  gleaming helmet, four horns strong and the golden
  plumes shook that the god of fire drove in
  bristing thick along its ridge.
• Bright as that star amid the stars in the night
  sky, star of the evening, brightest star that
  rides the heavens, so fire flared from the sharp
  point of the spear Achilles brandished high in
  his right hand, bent on Hector's death, scanning
  his splendid body - where to pierce it best?
• The rest of his flesh seemed all encased in
  armor, burnished, brazen - Achilles' armor that
  Hector stripped from strong Patroclus when he
  killed him - true, but one spot lay exposed,
  where collarbones lift the neckbone of the
  shoulders, the open throat, where the end of life
  comes quickest there as Hector charged in fury
  brilliant Achilles drove his spear and the point
  went stabbing clean through the tender neck...

Hector, too, is aware of his own fate. Yet, he
must go on, to do otherwise would bring the worst
of shame on his name.
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The mortal wound at Hectors collar bone
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Achilles drags Hectors corpse around the city
walls and Patroclus tomb.

• Achilles kept on grieving for his friendThen
  he'd yoke his racing team to the chariot-harness,
  lash the corpse of Hector behind the car for
  draggingand haul him three times round the dead
  Patroclus' tomb,and then he'd rest again in his
  tents and leave the body sprawled facedown in the
  dust. But Apollo pitied Hector -dead man though
  he was - and warded all corruption off from
  Hector's corpse and round him, head to foot, the
  great god wrapped the golden shield of stormso
  his skin would never rip as Achilles dragged him
  on.

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The meeting between Achilles and Priam

• Jupiter, beholding with compassion the venerable
  king, sent Mercury to be his guide and protector,
  Assuming the form of a young warrior, Mercury
  presented himself to the aged couple and, when
  at the sight of him they hesitated whether to fly
  or yield, approaching he grasped Priam's hand and
  offered to be their guide to Achilles' tent.
  Priam gladly accepted his service, and Mercury,
  mounting the carriage, assumed the reins and
  conveyed them to the camp. Then having cast the
  guards into a heavy sleep, he introduced Priam
  into the tent where Achilles sat, attended by two
  of his warriors. 
• The aged king threw himself at the feet of
  Achilles and kissed those terrible hands which
  had destroyed so many of his sons. "Think, O
  Achilles," he said, "of thine own father, full of
  days like me, and trembling on the gloomy verge
  of life. Even now, mayhap, some neighbor chief
  oppresses him and there is none at hand to succor
  him in his distress. Yet, knowing that Achilles
  lives, he doubtless still rejoices, hoping that
  one day he shall see thy face again. But me no
  comfort cheers, whose bravest sons, so late the
  flower of Ilium, all have fallen. Yet one I had,
  one more than all the rest the strength of my
  age, whom fighting for his country thou hast
  slain. His body I come to redeem, bringing
  inestimable ransom with me. Achilles! reverence
  the gods! recollect thy father! for his sake show
  compassion to me!" These words moved Achilles,
  and he wept, remembering by turns his absent
  father and his lost friend. Moved with pity of
  Priam's silver locks and beard, he raised him
  from the earth and spake "Priam, I know that
  thou hast reached this place conducted by some
  god, for without aid divine no mortal even in his
  prime of youth had dared the attempt. I grant thy
  request, for I am moved thereto by the manifest
  will of love." So saying he arose, went forth
  with his two friends, and unloaded of its charge
  the litter, leaving two mantles and a robe for
  the covering of the body. This they placed on the
  litter and spread the garments over it, that not
  unveiled it should be borne back to Troy. Then
  Achilles dismissed the old king, having first
  pledged himself to a truce of twelve days for the
  funeral solemnities.

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Hector returned to Troy
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Achilles death
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• After Achilles is killed, there ensued an
  argument over his body. Ajax, his friend, will
  win this battle

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Ajax carries Achilles body from the field of
battle
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The End of the War
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