TyWhalin

WorldCivilization
Subject:Iliad
I:18
Praisethewordsofthedeadandthehatefulcrimes
committedbyAchilles,sonofPeleusamongstthe
countlessfiercewarriors,descendingtowarwithout
fearsofdeath.Thesegreatwarriorsoulswaitingfor
thechancetobethestrongestsoulofall,butfalling
tothegatesofhell,astobeafeastforthecarnivores
thatscavengerthefieldsofdeath.Allatthealmighty
willofZeus.

II:573583
Now,youMuseslivingontopofOlympus.Enlighten
me,foryouarethegoddesswhonowknows
everythingthatcanbefortolduntome.Wehear
rumorsofstoriesof,butnotknowinganything
certainoftheleadersofDanaans.Whataboutthe
rulersofDanaans?EvenIcannottelltheimpossible
storiesorthenamesofthoseinthecommonmasses.
Icouldhavetentongues,tenmouths,andarelentless
tiringvoice.Icouldevenhaveaheartofpure
bronze,asstrongasever.Nevertheless,ifthe
OlympianMuses,daughtersofZeuscouldpraise
them,andsingofthemencomingtoTroy.But,I

shalllistthefearlessleadersandcommandersofthe
shipscominginfullforce.

III:122
Oncethetroopshadformedinranksundertheirown
leaders,theTrojansmarchedout,almostlikeflocking
likebirdsflyingnorth.Likecranesscreeching
overhead,whenwinter'sharshstormsmoveinand
drivethemaway.Reekingferocioushavocoverthe
oceansastheymoveinforthekill.Bearingdeath
anddestructiontothePygmiesontheirminds,
preparingtolaunchtheirsavageattackonthemat
dawn.Achaean'scameoninsilence,breathing
ferocity,determinedtostandbyeachotherinthe
fightofthenight.JustasSouthWindsspreadmystic
rainaroundthemountainpeaks,adislikingofthe
shepherds,butpreferredbythievesatnight.Forsight
isonlyastone'sthrowinthedistant.
Asthetroopsmarched,thedensedustcloudsroseup
fromunderfoot.Theymovedoutrapidlyacrossthe
plain.Ontheplain,thetwoarmiescameupcloser
towardseachother.ThengodlikeParissteppedoutof
theranks,asasuperioratrueTrojanwarriorofall
men,withhisleopardskinamongsthisshoulders
showingstrength.Showinghisbowandswordand
twobronzetippedspears,hechallengedthebestmen

inthewholeAchaeanforcetofightasinglecombat,
tothedeath,asifyoudarechallengehimoneonone.

IV:517630
Theysharednowordstheyhadnocommon
language,butspokeamixtureofwords,withmen
frommanylands.AresurgedontheTrojans,while
brighteyedAthenakeptaggravatingtheAchaean's.
WiththemencameTerror,Fear,andtirelessStrife,
sisterandcompanionofmandestroyingAresatfirst
smallinstature,shelatergrowsenormous,asifher
headreachingtheheavens,asshestridesacrossthe
earth.
Aresstrifesthroughcrowdsofsoldiers,casting
hatredonbothsidesequally,multiplyinghuman
miseries.Whenthetwoarmiescametoonecommon
ground,theycollidedintoeachothersshields,
spears,andfierceangrymen,encasedinbronze
armor.Studdedshieldsbashedoneanother.Ahuge
dinarosehumancrysofgriefandtriumph,those
whoarekillingandthosedead.TheEarthflowed
withblood.Justasstreamsofswollensnowmelts
andpoursout,downthehillsideintoalakeorriver,
meetingsometorrentfromagreatspringinahollow
gully,andtheshepherdinthedistanthillshearsthe

roarsastheshoutsandturmoilresoundedfrom
warriorsastheycollided.
Antilochuswasthefirsttokillaman,a
wellarmedTrojanwarrior,Echepolus,sonof
Thalysius,acourageousman,whofoughtinthefront
ranks.Hehithishelmetcrest,toppedwithhorsehair
plumes,spearinghisforehead.Thebronzepoint
smashedthroughthefrontalbone.
Darknesshidhiseyesandhecollapsedto
theground,downintothatfrenziedbattle.Assucha
marveloustowerfallinginamassofblundertothe
distantground.Ashefell,powerfulElephenor,son
ofChalcodon,courageousleaderoftheAbantes,
seizedhisfeet,andstartedpullinghimbeyondthe
rangeofweapons,eagertostripoffhisarmour
quickly.
ButElephenor'sattemptdidnotgoonfor
long.GreatheartedAgenorsawhimdragThalysius
deadbody.HestabbedElephenorwithhisbronze
spear,rightinhisexposedside,wherehisshieldleft
himvulnerableashebentdown.Hislimbsgave
way,ashisspiritlefthim.Overhisdeadbody.
TrojansandAchaean'skeptfightinggrimlyon,
attackinglikewolves,manwhirlingagainstman.
ThenAjax,sonofTelamon,hitSimoeisius,
Anthemion'sson,afineyoungwarrior.Hewasborn

onthebanksoftheriverSimoeis,whilehismother
wascomingdownMountIda,accompanyingher
parentstowatchtheirflocks.That'swhythepeople
calledhimSimoeisius.Buthedidnotrepayhisfond
parentsforraisinghim.Hislifewascutshorton
GreatAjax'sdeadlyspear.
Ashewasmovingforwardwiththemeninfront,
Ajaxstruckhiminthechest,bytherightnipple.The
bronzespearwentcleanthroughhisshoulder.He
collapsedinthedust,likeaoaktree,onegrowingina
largewellwateredmeadow,fromwhosesmooth
trunkthebranchesgrowuptothetop,untilachariot
builder'sbrightaxetopplesithebendsthewoodto
thefashionofwheelrimsforachariotoffire,letting
thewoodseasonbytheriverbank.
That'showgodlikeAjaxchoppeddown
Simoeisius,sonofAnthemion.ThenAntiphus,
Priam'sson,withhisshininghelmet,hurledhissharp
spearatAjaxthroughacrowdofmen.Hemissed
Ajax,buthitLeucus,abravecompanionof
Odysseus,inthegroin,ashewasdragging
Simoeisiusaway.
Hishandsletgo.Hefelldownonthecorpse.
EnragedatLeucus'slaughter,Odysseusroseup,
throughthefrontranks,armedingleamingbronze.
Goinginclose,hetookhisstand.Lookingaround,

hehurledhisglitteringspearthroughtheair.
Ashethrew,Trojansmovedback,butthe
spearfoundamark.IthitDemocon,Priam'sbastard
son,who'dcomefromAbydos,wherehebredhorses
fortheirspeedandagility.
Angryforhisfriend,Odysseusspearedhim
inthetemple.Thesharpbronzepressedonthrough
theotherside,comingoutofhisforehead.
Darknessfellonhiseyes,andhecollapsedwitha
crash.Theamourheworeechoedlikeasoundina
valley.Trojansinthefrontranks,amongthemnoble
Hector,backedaway.Voicingahugeshout,the
Argiveshauledoffthecorpsesandchargedahead
muchfurther.
LookingdownfromPergamus,Apollogrew
annoyed.HecalledouttotheTrojans,shouting:
"Chargeahead,youhorsetamingTrojans.Don't
makeArgiveshappy.Theirskinisnotmadeofstone
oriron.Onceyoustrikeatthemitcan'tstopthe
fleshrippingbronze.AndAchilles,sonoflovely
Thetis,isnotinthisfight.Heissittingbyhisships,
nursinghisanger."
Sothefearsomegodspokeoutfromthecity.
AthenaTritogeneia,mightyZeus'daughter,rushed
amongAchaean's,urgingcompaniesforward,ifshe
sawmenholdingback,hesitanttofight.Deaththen

cametoDiores,sonofAmarynceus.Hewashitbya
jaggedrockonhisrightshin,neartheankle.Itwas
thrownbyPeirous,sonofImbrasus,captainofthe
Thracians,whowouldcomefromAenus.Thecruel
mightyrockcrushedbothtendonsandbones.Hefell
ontohisbackdowninthedirt.
Therehereachedoutwithbothhandsforhis
companions.Hisspiritlefthisbodywitheachgaspof
airhetook.Peirous,whowouldthrowtherock,ran
upandspearedhiminthegut.Hisbowelsspilledout
ontotheground.Darknesshidhiseyes.AsPeirous
movedoff,Thoas,anAetolian,hithim,hisspear
strikinghimabovethenipple.
Thebronzespearpointbitintohislungs.
Thoasmovedintoclosequarters,pulledtheheavy
spearoutfromhischest,drewhissharpsword,then
droveitstraightintothemiddleofhisbelly,
destroyingPeirous'life.ButThoascouldnot
stripthearmoroff.ForPeirous'companions,
Thracianmenwhosehairispiledatoptheir
heads,ralliedround,holdingoutlongspears,forcing
Thoasawayfromthem.ThoughThoaswasbig,
strong,andbrave,hefellback,shaken.Andsothose
twowarriorslaystretchedoutinthedirtbesideeach
otheroneThracianchief,onecaptainofbronzeclad

Epeians.Andmanyothermenlaydeadaround
them.
Atthatpoint,nomanwhojoinedinthe
battlecouldtakeitlightly,notevenonewhostrolled
unhurtthroughthemiddleofthefight,untouchedby
thatsharpbronze,withPallasAthenaescortinghim
byhand,shieldinghimfromflyingweapons.Foron
thatday,manyTrojansandAchaean'slaythereside
byside,stretchedouttogether,facedowninthedirt.

TyWhalin
WorldCivilization
Subject:Iliad
XVI:156198
Achillesspoke.Patroclusdressedingleamingbronze.First,heputonhisshinsthe
beautifullegamour,fittedwithsilverankleclasps.Aroundhischestheputonthebodyamourof
Achilles,swiftfooteddescendantofAeacusfinelyworkedandglitteringlikeastar.Onhis
shouldershethenslunghisbronzesilverstuddedswordandalargestrongshield.Onhis
powerfulheadhesetthefamoushelmetwithitshorsehaircrest.Theplumeontopnoddedfullof
menace.ThenPatroclustooktwostrongspearswellfittedtohisgrip.Hedidnotchoose
Achilles'spear,fornoAchaeanmancouldwieldthepowerofhisweapon,soheavy,huge,and
strong,exceptforbraveAchilles.ItwasmadeofashwoodfromthepeakofPelion.
ChirongaveittoAchilles'fathertokillwarriors.PatroclustoldAutomedontoyokethe
horsesquicklythemanhemostesteemedafterAchilles,breakerofallmen,andtheonehetrusted
mosttocarryouthisordersinatimeofbattle.ForPatroclusAutomedonputswifthorsesinthe
harnessesXanthusandBalius,whoflewswiftlyasthewind.ThesehorsesPodarge,theharpy,
hadconceivedwithWestWind,asshegrazedinameadowbesidethestreamofOceanus.Inthe
sidetraceshesetPedasusinharness,afinehorseAchilleshadtakenforhimself,whenhe
capturedthecityofEtion.Thoughmortal,itkeptpacewithhisdeathlesshorses.
MeanwhileAchilleswenttoandfroamongthehuts,gettingallhisMyrmidonstoarm
themselves.Theyrushedout,likeflesheatingwolves,heartsfullofunspeakablefury,beasts
whichinthemountainshavecaughtandrippedapartsomehugeantleredstag.Theninafewthey
chargeoff,jawsalldrippingblood,tolapblacksurfacewaterwiththeirslendertonguesinsome

darkspring,vomitingupclotsofbloodfromtheircrammedbellies,whileintheircheststheir
heartsareresolute.ThatishowtheleadersandcommandersoftheMyrmidonsrushedround
bravePatroclus,comradeofswiftAchilles,Aeacus'descendant,whostoodamongthemthere,
urgingonthehorsesandthewarriorscarryingtheirshields.
XVI:903976
Aslongasthesunkeptmovingthroughthemiddlesky,weaponsfrombothsidesfound
theirmarkasmenkeptondying.Butwhenthesuncametothepoint
showsthetimehascometounyokeoxen,thenAchaeans,contraveningfate,werestronger.They
draggedwarriorCebrionesoutofrange,awayfromshoutingTrojans,andstrippedtheamouroff
hisshoulders.ThenPatrocluschargedthetrojans,intentonslaughter.Threetimesheassaulted
them,likewargodAres,withterrificshouts.Threetimeshekilledninemen.Butwhenhe
attackedafourthtime,then,Patroclus,yousawyourlifeend.ForPhoebus,aterriblegod,inthat
grimfightcameupagainstyou.PatroclusfailedtoseeApollo,ashemovedthroughthe
confusion,forheadvancedtowardshimhiddeninthickmist.Apollostoodbehindhim.Then
withtheflatofhishand,hestruckPatroclusonhisback,onhisbroadshouldersthatmadehis
eyeslosefocus.Next,PhoebusApolloknockedthehelmetfromhishead.Thehorsehaircrest
rolledwithaclatterunderhorses'feet.Thedustandbloodthenstainedthehelmet'splumes.Up
tothattime,godshadnotletthathelmetwithitshorsehairplumegetsmudgedwithdirt,foritwas
alwaysguardinggodlikeAchilles'head,hisnobleforehead,too.LaterZeusawardedit
tohectortocarryonhishead,ashisdeathloomed.InPatroclus'hands,hisheavylongshadowed
spear,thickandstrong,withitsbronzepoint,wascompletelysmashed.Histasseledshieldand
strapfellfromhisshouldersdownontheground.
Next,Apollo,Zeus'son,loosenedthebodyamouronPatroclus.Hismindwentblank,
hisfinelimbsgrewlimp,andhestoodthereinadaze.FromclosebehindEuphorbus,sonof
Panthous,aDardanwarrior,hithimintheback,withasharpspearbetweentheshoulderblades.
Euphorbussurpassedallmenthesameageashiminspearthrowing,horsemanship,andspedon

10

foot.Hehadalreadyknockedtwentymenoutoftheirchariots,andthatwasthefirsttimehehad
comewithhisownchariottolearnsomethingofwar.Euphorbuswasthefirsttostrikeyou,
horsemanPatroclus,buthefailedtokillyou.PullingthespearoutofPatroclus'flesh,Euphorbus
ranbackagaintoblendinwiththethrong.Hedidnotstandhisground,eventhoughPatroclus
hadnoweaponsforafight.SoPatroclus,overwhelmedbythegod'sblowandspear,withdrew,
backtothegroupofhiscompanions,avoidingdeath.
ButwhenHectornoticedbravePatroclusgoingback,woundedbythesharpbronze,he
movedupthroughtheranks,stoodclosetoPatroclusandstruckhimwithhisspear,lowinthe
stomach,drivingthebronzestraightthrough.Patroclusfellwithacrash,andAchaeansarmywas
filledwithanger.Justasalionovercomes
atirelesswildboarincombat,whenbothbeastsfightbravelyinthemountainsoverasmallspring
wheretheybothwanttodrink,andthelion'sstrengthbringsdownthepantingboar,thatishow
Hector,movingcloseinwithhisspear,destroyedthelifeofMenoetius'nobleson,whohadkilled
somanymen.ThenHectorspokewingedwordsoftriumphoverhim:"Patroclus,youthought
youwouldrazeourcity,robbingourwomenoftheirlifeoffreedom,takingtheminshipstoyour
dearnativeland.Youfool!Infrontofthem,Hectorshorses,swiftoffoot,cameouttofight.
WiththespearIamtheverybestofthewarlovingTrojans,andIhavesavedthemfromtheir
fatalday.Nowvultureswilleatyouhere.Youpoorwretch,evenAchilles,forallhis
courage,wasnousetoyou.
XVII:445489
Throughoutthatentiredaythegreatcombatraged,abitterconflict.Themenkeptgoing
onwithoutapause,sweatdrippingontheirkneesandlegs,undertheirfeet,andrunningdown
men'seyesandhands,asbothsidesbattledoverswiftfootedAchilles'bravecompanion.Justasa
mangiveshispeopleahugebull'shide
tostretch,aftersoakingitinfat,andtheystand,oncetheyhavepickeditup,inacirclepulling
hard,sothemoisturequicklyleavesthehide,asthefatsoaksinunderthetensionofsomany

11

handsstretchingtheentireskinasfarasitwillgothatishowthosemenonbothsidespulledat
thecorpse,backandforthinanarrowspace,heartsfullofhope.Trojansseekingtodragitback
toIlion,Achaeanstotheirhollowships.AroundPatroclustheconflictgrewintense.Neither
AresnorAthena,
whoincitewarriorstobattle,iftheyhadseenthatfight,wouldhavedisparagedit,notevenifthey
hadbeenintenselyangry.ThatishowdestructiveZeusmadetheconflictformenandhorsesthat
daymenfoughtoverPatroclus.
GodlikeAchilles,atthistime,knewnothingofPatroclus'death,fortheywerefighting
underthewallsofTroy,awayfromthefastships.Hewouldhaveneverimaginedinhisheartthat
Patrocluswasalreadydead.Hethoughthewasaliveandwouldreturnoncehehadreachedthe
gates.Hedidnotthinkhewouldlaywastethecitywithhimorwithouthim,foroftenAchilles
hadlearnedthisfromhismother,listeningtoherinprivate,whenshetoldhimwhatgreatZeus
hadplanned.Butatthattime,Thetissaidnothingoftheevil,whichhadtakenplace,thedeathof
hiscompanion,hisdearestfriendbyfar.
Butthosebesidethecorpsekeptholdingtheirsharpspears,withnopauseinthe
fighting.Themutualslaughtercontinuedon.BronzearmedAchaeanstalkedtogether,
usingwordslikethese:"Myfriends,therewouldbenogloryforusifwewentbacktothehollow
ships.Solettheblackearthopenhereforallofus.Thatwouldbebetterforusallbyfarthanif
weleavethiscorpseforhorsetamingTrojanstocarryoff,backtotheircity,winningglory."
GreatheatedTrojans,too,spokewordslikethese:"Friends,ifweareallfatedtobekilled
togetherbythisman,letnooneleavethebattle."
XXII:341362
Withthesewords,Hectorbalancedhislongshadowedspear,andthenthrewit.Itstruck
theshieldofPeleus'son,rightinthecentre.Thatspeardidnotmissitsmark.Butitbounced
somedistanceofftheshield.Hector,angrythatthespearhadflownfromhishandandmissed,
stooddismayed,forhehadnosubstituteashspear.

12

Soheshoutedout,yellingtoDephobus,whocarriedawhiteshield,askinghimwithashoutto
passhimhislongspear.ButDephobuswasnowheretobefound.
ThenHectorinhisheartsaweverythingsoclearly,hesaid:"Thisisit.Thegodsare
summoningmetomydeath.IthoughtwarriorDephobuswascloseby.Butheisinsidethe
walls,andAthenahasdeceivedme.Nowevildeathishere,rightbesideme,notsomewherefar
away.Thereisnoescape.Foralongtimenow,thismusthavebeenwhatZeusdesired,andZeus'
son,thegodwhoshootsfromafar,andallthosewhowillinglygavemehelpinearlierdays.So
nowImeetmyfate.Evenso,letmenotdieingloriouslywithoutafight,butinsomegreataction
whichthosemenyettocomewillhearabout."
(1628Words)

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