Illiad Journal

Kristina Nemeth
CLA310
9/20/2011
Iliad

Books 1

Homer’s invocation of a muse to aid him in telling the rage of Achilles seems appropriate for the poem about mortals and immortals. Paying respect to the gods becomes one of the most important things the mortals can do in order to remain in the gods’ good graces. The fight between Agamemnon and Achilles is ridiculously blown out of proportion due to both character’s large sense of pride and stubbornness. Once again it is sacrifices made to the gods that makes the plague on the Greek camp happen. The gods seem to meddle in too much of the mortals’ lives only causing more conflict. Also it is interesting to note is that Hephaestus, Hera’s son, convinces his own mother not to start anymore fighting—usually it’s the other way around.

Book 2

Agamemnon’s test as to whether his soldiers had courage backfired horribly as he witnessed all his soldiers run happily back to the ships. There just isn’t any progression in the war without the help of the gods. Therefore, Athena inspires Odysseus to lecture the soldiers back into the rightful attitude about the war. Nestor is one of the wise and eldest Greek heroes and his advice does not stop yet. He proposes to Agamemnon that the army be split into sections of friends and kin—very good idea so that everyone is fighting with their comrades, which gives them a better sense of community and will to fight.

Book 3

Paris’s non-courageous personality really gets to shine in this Book. When confronted with a one on one duel instead, Paris meekly refuses after realizing his opponent would be Menelaus himself. Later convinced by Hector, Paris prepares to fight Menelaus. However, the gods once again meddle in the affairs of humans and end up escalating things instead of making them better. Aphrodite saves Paris from his duel with Menelaus (which could have prevented the entire war) and takes him back to Priam’s palace with Helen. Helen scolds Paris for being a coward but then ends up going to bed with him—can anyone make up their mind?

Book 4

Just as much as the soldiers want glory, honor, and fame, the gods want to feel important and revered. The gods are the reason why the truce is broken and fighting commences. Now the Greeks are ready for a fight and they do not like to back down. The will of the gods is so fickle it can change in any point in time as long as one can convince Zeus. Even then the gods proceed to do what they want most of the time regardless of what they are told because they too are proud. The details and names of all the fighters and battles are a bit overwhelming. How could an oral poet memorize all of this material?

Book 5

Ares and Athena try to help their Trojan and Greek allies but only help to make the fight even more stalemated than before. As the mortal Trojan and Greeks are combating, the gods are combating amongst each other as well. Athena gives Diomedes directions to not fight any immortal unless it is Aphrodite because she is on the Trojan side. Pandarus is killed after trying to mock and kill Diomedes. Though the gods keep interceding on behalf of the Greeks or Trojans, Zeus and others warn the mortals about fighting against the gods—it is never a good idea, you will always lose. Trojans are favored at this point but not until Hera and Athena realize it. Ares is slightly wounded and complains to father Zeus. Almost like children playing and bickering with one another the gods of Olympus as well have their conflicts.

Book 6

More fighting ensues and the gods on both sides are helping the Trojans and Greeks. After various elaborate fighting sequences, the gods take away Glaucus’ good sense and let him trade his armor with Diomedes’ lesser armor as a form of friendship. Can that really happen if everyone else seems so bloodthirsty? Andromache has a tough time saying goodbye to Hector. Hector is the greatest leader the Trojans have. Not only is he strong and powerful, but also he is a good leader and refuses despite his own affections to stay within the city walls and not fight for his city. As much as it pains him to leave Andromache he must do what he has to do—sign of a great leader.

Book 7

Athena and Apollo, children of Zeus, discuss how the Trojan War should proceed and who should win in the end. Most of the time it seems as though the gods are playing a game using the Trojans and Greeks as their pawns. Another duel is set and this time it is up against Hector. At first not many volunteer, but after an inspiring speech, to bolster the idea of fame, honor, and glory, man soldiers want to fight against Hector. Ajax is chosen to fight Hector. However, the gods decide no more fighting should take place since it is nighttime—this must also be a tradition because if they were this bloodthirsty I don’t understand how they could just stop fighting all of the sudden. Priam proposes an armistice for the dead. Poseidon is unsatisfied that no sacrifice was offered to him when the Trojans started to build the wall. This now gives Poseidon reason to punish the Greeks or help the Trojans.

Book 8

Zeus decides that no other gods can go against his plans and help the Trojans and Greeks. However, that doesn’t stop Hera from trying to persuade Poseidon to do something but even he is wise enough to know that he should not go up against Zeus. Zeus ends up giving in himself and helps the Greeks from not getting killed. All this back and forth favoring is only helping to kill more people. Athena and Hera almost go against Zeus’s back but he has someone to stop them from going to the battlefield.

Book 9

Greeks are having a hard time trying to overcome the Greeks and soon Agamemnon starts to lose hope. Diomedes interrupts and helps revive the spirits of the soldiers. Agamemnon then decides it is time to try and make peace with Achilles. He offers Achilles a massive gift with his apology as well as Briseis, the girl that was taken from him. This is a nice gesture from Agamemnon even though it was most likely brought to fruition by the continuous loss of the Greek troops. However, Achilles is much too proud and stubborn to accept any gift from Agamemnon. Achilles refuses to do anything for the war until Hector comes to his ships and starts to burn them. This starts some foreshadowing for when Achilles does decided to start fighting.

Book 10

Agamemnon pulls his hair out in frustration in order to get the attention of the gods. He is clearly in desperation at this point. He even claims that Zeus gave them this burned since they were born—Greeks believe in predestination? Yes and fate. Panic and worry felt by Agamemnon makes him look like an endearing leader because he not only cares about himself but he cares about all the troops. This is important to the Greeks especially because Greek culture was connected by traditions and a common language not a common location. Greeks scramble to gain some motivation and Nestor offers a prize for someone to volunteer to be a spy. At the same time, the Trojans are doing the same. Some foreshadowing of Hector’s death is seen as he swears an “empty” oath that no one else will touch his horses. Men are always making sacrifices to the gods in order for them to help them. However, it is not enough just to make sacrifice, a god has to have a particular interest in you. Diomedes kills several sleeping and well as their leader and takes their horses—pretty severe but good for the Greeks.

Book 11

This book starts with a beautiful poetic description of Agamemnon putting on his armor. Then as the troops get ready to fight, Zeus lets down a rain of blood drops—pretty gruesome. Lots of violence, and a lot of animal-eating-animal metaphors. Gives this part a great feel for how gory it was like on the battlefield. Zeus sends Iris to Hector to warn about Agamemnon as well as promising killing of several of the Greek but only up until the ships. The gods did not say anything about after getting to the ships. Maybe they have a plan for the Greeks that does not involve losing their precious ships. Diomedes is hit by Paris and calls him a woman for not throwing the spear well enough to get a good hit. The other soldiers do not see Paris as a real man or leader because he isn’t a soldier like his brother Hector. Hector ends up being the one fighting and for whom? Paris and his girlfriend Helen. Greeks have a very strong tie to family and bloodline. Nestor describes his family line and his first kill. Patroclus talks to Achilles about letting him fight.

Book 12

Foreshadowing of the Greek built wall surrounding the ships—will be torn down because they didn’t make a sacrifice to Poseidon before they constructed it. That is how important the gods are. The gods seem to think they are even more important than that. Zeus still decides to give Hector all the glory. Omens are also powerful indicators from the gods and therefore the eagle with the serpent in his mouth cause the Trojans to hesitate outside the Greek wall. However, Hector disregards “birds” and says he only follows Zeus. Sometimes people believe in signs and sometimes they don’t. It seems that what happens in the Iliad is at the prerogative of the gods and as well as the mortals but only to a certain extent. Hector finally breaks open the gates of the wall and the Trojans start to rush in.

Book 13

After letting Hector through the gates of the Greek camp just as he had said, Zeus left the men to fight for themselves. Homer claims Zeus never dreamed that any of the immortals would go to help the Trojans and the Greeks—are you serious? There is always one immortal who doesn’t do as they are told. Poseidon says Ajaxes have enough power and strength to hold down the Greek camp and he helps them by striking them with his staff and giving them more strength. Even though Poseidon is Zeus’s brother he is still inferior to him and spurs the Greeks on disguised as a man. Since a decent amount of killing is going on within this Book, similes are used in order to be descriptive—“as death hammered at his soul like a tinsmith”. Eyeballs are popping out, bones are snapping, blood is dropping, the explicit use of language really helps reader understand the imagery. As the Trojans fight in the Greek camp they start to lose their will to fight—turning point of the war. Polydamas suggests to Hector that they retreat and regroup in order to decide what is going to be the best strategy. Polydamas also reminds Hector that Achilles is still at camp waiting to fight.

Book 14

Agamemnon is called “shepherd of his people” however he starts to think of sneaking and fleeing away but Odysseus talks him out of it. Hera deceives Aphrodite, her own daughter, in order to trick her husband Zeus so that she can help out the Greeks. Sleep and Hera make sure Zeus is unavailable and Hera urges Poseidon to help the Greeks. Hera is such a trouble starter and not the greatest wife to Zeus. This ensures Ajax, Oileus’ son, to have the most spoils after having Poseidon turn the battle. Ajaxes are always strong and the best competitors in combat.

Book 15

When Zeus wakes up, he is so very angry with Hera. He even claims he will “whip the living daylights out of her”. I would probably be very upset as well if someone went behind my back like that. She is conniving and tries to tell Zeus it is not her fault that Poseidon is helping the Greeks because he is doing it out of his own free will. However, we all know she is the one who put this grand scheme in motion. Yet Zeus believe her and just has one of the gods tell Poseidon to desist and then he foreshadows Patroclus’ death and Hector’s death. The gods believe that “human offspring are hard to save”—they have the mentality that they can always have more. Poseidon strongly wants the Greeks to take over Troy and doesn’t want to listen to Zeus and promises eternal strife if the Greeks are not given power. Patroclus tries again to get Achilles to come fight. It is true what the Book says, “persuasion works when it comes from a friend”. But it doesn’t yet work on Achilles. The tide turns back to the Greeks as Athena brings light to the Greeks. Zeus then helps Hector and his army get onto one of the ships. The fates of the Greeks and Trojans are mostly in the hands of the fickle gods.

Book 16

Patroclus comes crying to Achilles because of the death of so many Greeks and pleads for him to fight or at least let him to fight. Achilles lets Patroclus fight but only for the safety of the ships, he isn’t supposed to go to Troy. Achilles prays to Zeus for success and safety of Patroclus but his prayer is only half granted. This again foreshadows the death of Patroclus. For being Achilles’ beloved and protected friend and perhaps lover, Patroclus is very good fighter. He kills many Trojan people.

Even though Zeus is the god of gods, he still can’t prevent some things from happening. Such as the death of his favorite son Sarpedon. By fate, Sarpedon dies by Patroclus. Zeus wants to intervene because it’s his son but cannot. One he can’t change fate, and two he would have to let all the half-immortal children live as well. After a struggle and a forced Trojan retreat, the Greeks take possession of Sarpedon’s armor. As Hector retreats, he can slowly feel the scales tipping towards the Greeks. Foolish Patroclus, like most characters, doesn’t listen to what was said by Achilles and goes after the Trojans toward Troy—this is him asking for his death wish. Patroclus is flicked 3 times by Apollo not to go further and the fourth time he is told by Apollo himself that Troy is not to fall to either him or Achilles. The way in which they fight over the dead body is very animalistic; I understand that armor is to be collected but Homer consecutively makes animal metaphors when talking about killing. Patroclus then unleashes himself and kills 27 men in 3 powerful charges. However, with the help of Apollo, Hector kills Patroclus and takes Achilles armor—the major turning point of the war.

Book 17

Hector has killed Patroclus and Menelaus comes to his dead body’s defense. Menelaus, though not as strong and powerful as the other Greek heroes, shows his compassion and devotion to his Greek soldiers by carefully protecting Patroclus’s body. This quality almost makes Menelaus endearing. The rest of Book 17 deals with a heightening in the fighting and gory details as the best of the Greeks try to protect Patroclus’s body. Apollo disguises himself several times in order to boost up the Trojan’s moral as well as a way of dispensing information to the Trojans (Aeneas and Hector) that Zeus is on their side. A major difference seen is the amount of attention, care, and grief imparted by all the Greek heroes when they hear the news of Patroclus’s death. These Greek heroes who are killing soldiers left and right take the young boy’s death very hard—probably because they know Achilles will be very upset. Throughout the epic poem it has been repeated that the key for the Greeks to win is Achilles. Glaucus’ reaction to Hector not obtaining Patroclus’s body as well as not going after Ajax for carrying him away seems harsh as he claims he wishes to leave with all his Lycian troops just for one man’s dead body. Hector suited up in Achilles’ “inhuman gear” is not appreciated by Zeus; but he lets it happen anyway—why? He might make something else happen in return—Zeus mentions that Hector will never be welcomed home by Andromache while wearing Achilles’ armor. This might be a foreshadowing for what’s to come. Several images of darkness are depicted which can represent the darkest/lowest point of the war, which to this point happens because of Patroclus’s death. Homer reminds us that Patroclus’s was not supposed to take Troy that day and perhaps that is why he died. Though Zeus wants the Trojans to win victory, he still sends down Athena to help with the Greeks and later Apollo to help with Aeneas and Hector—feels like he is only prolonging the suffering and loss for both sides. As usual, when matters turn grave, all pray to the gods even the Greeks to Zeus and he listens to them—once again he helps both sides which doesn’t help either of them apart from leaving them in a continuous stalemate—“discarded weapons. But there was no armistice”.

Book 18

Achilles finds out Patroclus’s death. I anticipated a horrible grief from Achilles but not to the extent Homer detailed. The pulling of his hair and having enslaved women beating their breasts for him was very intense and dramatic. However, the drama almost goes along with Achilles sense of revenge as he plots his next move—to kill Hector. Thetis felt Achilles pain. Since she is a goddess, she swam herself to Troy in a matter of minutes in order to console her son. Thetis knows now that Achilles will die and tells him to stay put until she can get him armor made from Hephaestus. Achilles now starts to show his weakness as he now waits vulnerably with no armor and in grief for Patroclus. Achilles actually wishes that all the fighting could stop—god and man alike—which turns him into a more likeable character because he does have some sense of love for others. However, this is short-lived as he turns back into the war machine and brags about how he wishes to make the Trojan women cry and groan. The gods of course assist in Achilles’ great comeback as he shows himself to the Greeks. The description of the shield made for Achilles was so elaborate, intricate, and beautiful, it is only right to be worn by the gods or their god-like progeny.

Book 19

Achilles is given his god-made armor and becomes even more ready to fight. However, Achilles, though stubborn, listens to his mother and formerly apologizes to Agamemnon. Achilles probably realizes that his petty pride is irrelevant now in the face of avenging his most beloved friend’s death. Agamemnon also proceeds to apologize for his fight with Achilles but he leaves the reader wanting more after the sincere-sounding apology from Achilles. Achilles realizes he has done wrong and acted out of pride but Agamemnon places the blame solely on the gods and Fate. That’s not much of an apology compared to Achilles. Though not much of Patroclus’ personality is described, many people deeply grieve his death. Even the enslaved women Briseis, who was taken from her home and had her husband and brothers killed, mourns heavily for Patroclus. Achilles even stops eating because he is too preoccupied with the thought of avenging his death. Achilles’ love for Patroclus is confusing. He cares so deeply for this boy and he even says that he loves Patroclus over his father and his son—that’s some intense love. Maybe Patroclus was Achilles’ lover? Another surprising moment is when Zeus claims to feel “pity” for the Greeks. After trying to get the Trojans to win, not letting any of the other gods intervene, Zeus decides to help Achilles. The gods really like to get everyone confused. Finally, Achilles prepares for battle and has his horse Xanthus talk to him about Patroclus’s death and his own upcoming death. Now the gods can make the animals talk to the mortals—gods can do anything they want whenever they feel like it.

Book 20

Zeus conducts a meeting of all the gods as to what should happen to the Greeks and Trojans. Zeus cares for the people even though they are dying. He decides that all the gods should participate in the war again. Once again, this seems like Zeus going back and forth and only causing more death and confusion. Gods line up against other gods and what was described like a clash of the titans, battle ensues. Poseidon, Zeus brother, decides to view it all from afar—a smart move not to get involved when other gods are already involved, doesn’t work out for Zeus too much. Bloodlines are again mentioned and how important they are especially if there is a god or goddess in the ancestry—means you will be protected during battle. Poseidon goes on to save Aeneas from Achilles because he knows that Aeneas is a descendent of Dardanus—Zeus’s most loved son from a mortal. Poor Aeneas was told by Apollo to charge Achilles and now Poseidon moves him away and scolds him—what is he supposed to do? Seems like a move now toward more admiration for Aeneas and not so much for Hector as he pranced around in Achilles armor, which did not make the gods happy. Apollo warns Hector not to charge Achilles but in the heat of battle he does so anyway—clearly not obeying the god’s direction. Disobeying the gods always leads to punishment.

Book 21

Half of the Trojans drown in the river because of Hera’s curtain of fog. This soon led Achilles to go on a killing rampage in the River. The River, also a god, soon got irritated with all of the dead bodies floating in the waves. Achilles claims 12 boys in recompense for Patroclus but it does make me wonder if he thinks he can replace Patroclus with a herd of boys? Lycaon who had been captured by Achilles in a prior battle now meets with him again and gets a speech from Achilles. Achilles admits that even someone as great as him faces death—a humbling comment. Zeus is portrayed sitting on Olympus laughing at the gods closing in on each other. Is it funny because he is mean or because they are immortal? Maybe he finds immortals trying to battle each other amusing. Learn that Poseidon had been the first to create the Trojan city wall—maybe that’s why there seems to be switching of sides—gods have connections that involve both Trojans and Greeks.

Book 22

Finally, Hector’s time has come. He is trapped outside his city walls; now realizing his foolish plans the night before to stay outside the safety of the city walls. Hector is foolish again when he thinks he can try and negotiate with Achilles now, after he has killed his beloved Patroclus. It’s sad to have Hector, the great Trojan hero, chased like an animal around his own city gates, betrayed by the gods, and then left for Achilles to drag all the way back to camp. Is that why all the gods went to so much trouble to protect Hector? So that they can see him abandoned by everyone else? Why go through so much effort only to have him die in such a horrid fashion. Though Achilles has his humbling moments, they are not seen here as he insists on dragging around Hector’s body for his parents and wife to see. Achilles is mad and wasn’t going to stop at anything until he was sure he had avenged Patroclus’s death.

Book 23

Achilles keeps morning Patroclus. His love is so profound Achilles doesn’t even want to bathe before he buries Patroclus. After Patroclus appears to Achilles in a dream, Achilles arranges the sacrifice of 12 Trojan captives for his funeral—is that really necessary? No more animals? Achilles also schedules a series of games in name of Patroclus—must be a Greek tradition of some sort. Of course the gods intervene and the men argue and accuse each other of cheating until it is later settled.

Book 24

Achilles’ great agony and pain toward Patroclus’s death can be seen in the hate he has for Hector and his dead body. Dragging him around the campgrounds, Achilles strives to mutilate Hector’s body in order to feel some kind of revenge. However, as always, the gods are intervening and Apollo will not let Hector’s body decompose. The gods now start to feel bad for Hector and arrange a ransom between Priam and Achilles for Hector’s body. When Priam visits Achilles he pleads with him and makes him cry over his own father and Patroclus. This makes Achilles grieve and he accepts Priam’s offer for Hector’s body. In Greek tradition, proper burial is very important for the afterlife and therefore it is a big deal when Priam finally gets a hold of Hector’s body and is able to conduct proper funeral rites.