Mythology of the Iliad and the Odyssey Read Online Free PDF Page B

he sought the counsel of Nestor. Together, they roused all the warriors. With Nestor’s advice adding weight to Agamemnon’s words, the Greeks decided to go into battle against the Trojans the next day.
    Clad in armor of gleaming bronze, Agamemnon led his troops. Although they fought with great courage, the Greeks lost many warriors. Slashed by a sharp spear, Agamemnon returned to his ship to tend his wounds. When Hector saw that Agamemnon was no longer fighting, he rallied his men and drove the Greeks back to the very beaches where their ships were moored.
    From his camp, Achilles watched the fighting, certain that the Achaeans would again beg him to rejoin the battle. He sent Patroclus to ask Nestor which Greeks had suffered wounds.
    “Why does Achilles seek word of his comrades when he will not even help them in battle?” Nestor asked Patroclus. The wise old warrior knew that Achilles was only searching for bad news about the Greeks.
    Patroclus, though he remained friendly to Achilles, could no longer bear to watch the Greeks suffer such huge losses. He begged Achilles to lend him his armor. “If the Trojans see your armor,” Patroclus said, “they may confuse me for you. They may let up in their fierce fighting.”
    Achilles agreed to his friend’s request. “As a man dishonored, I will not fight unless the battle comes near my own ships. But you may take my armor. And I will order my troops to follow you into battle. Just do not go near the walls of Troy, where Hector is strongest. I wish you well, my friend.”
    Patroclus donned the gleaming armor of the mighty Achilles. The Trojans recognized it right away and fled in fear, because they thought that Achilles had rejoined the Greeks. At first, Patroclus fought with all the valor of his friend. He led the Myrmidons bravely, even killing Sarpedon, son of Zeus.
    But Patroclus forgot the warning of Achilles and came near the slope leading to the walls of Troy, where Apollo stood. Three times Patroclus charged the high wall and three times Apollo hurled him back. The fourth time, Apollo cried out with words of terror, “Go back, Patroclus. Fate has not willed that the walls of Troy fall before your spear.”
    As Patroclus backed away, Apollo whispered to Hector. “Why stop your fighting now? This is your chance to drive the Greeks into the sea. Drive your chariot straight at Patroclus. I, Apollo, shall give you glory!”
    Hector whipped his stallions into a fury, and the steeds charged at Patroclus. Apollo knocked Patroclus’ helmet off his head. As Patroclus, dazed, fell toward the ground, Hector rammed him with his spear. Horror filled the Achaeans as they realized that the armor of Achilles had not been enough to protect Patroclus.
    As Patroclus struggled to breathe, he warned Hector, “Even now as I lay dying, know that you, too, shall soon follow me in death. Already I see the strong force of fate rising up to bring you down at the hands of Achilles!” Then Patroclus breathed his last, and his soul flew down to Hades, the land of the dead.
    Hector stood over the body of Patroclus, planted his heel on Patroclus’ chest, and pulled out his spear. He stripped Achilles’ armor from Patroclus’ body and put it on himself. As Hector put on the armor, Zeus watched and foretold his doom:
    Poor soldier. Never a thought of death weighs down
your spirit now, yet death is right beside you...
You don the deathless arms of a great fighter—
and all other fighters tremble before him, true,
but you, you killed his comrade, gentle, strong...
never again will you return from battle,
Hector.... (17.230-238) 4

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
    Q:
What caused the quarrel between Agamemnon and Achilles?
    A:
Achilles called for the Greek army leaders to meet to convince Agamemnon to let Chryseïs go. Agamemnon was furious that he had to give up the girl, so he took for himself Achilles’ slave girl, Briseïs.
    Q:
How did Achilles react to Agamemnon’s action?
    A:
Achilles was so