The Iliad

by Homer

And the goddess, even as she spoke, infused in Helen’s heart a smoky sweetness and desire for him who first had taken her as bride and for her parents and her ancient town. Quickly she cloaked herself in silvery veils and let a teardrop fall and left. her chamber, not unaccompanied, but as became a princess, with two maids-in-waiting—one Aithrê, child of Pittheus, and the other wide-eyed Klýmenê. 170 Soon these three women neared the Skaian Gates.

Why isn't it capitalised?

And the goddess, even as she spoke, infused in Helen’s heart a smoky sweetness and desire for him who first had taken her as bride and for her parents and her ancient town. Quickly she cloaked herself in silvery veils and let a teardrop fall and left. her chamber, not unaccompanied, but as became a princess, with two maids-in-waiting—one Aithrê, child of Pittheus, and the other wide-eyed Klýmenê. 170 Soon these three women neared the Skaian Gates.

So Helen wanted her first husband to win...

Diomêdês,

So far this is my favourite character in this epic. Might be first troll characterf in world literature.

Aineías,

First appearance of Aineas, a Trojan who would become a Roman hero.

While Hektor lived and while Akhilleus raged, and while Lord Priam’s town lived on, unsacked, so long the Akhaians’ rampart stood. But after the flower of Troy went down, with many Argives fallen or bereft, when Priam’s Troy was plundered in the tenth year, and the Argives shipped again for their dear homeland

Exactly 49% into the book now is the first time the author tells ho wthe story ended. That the war lasted for ten years, now we're in its ninth year, Hektor died, Troy fell and tbe Achaians fled back to their homes. Afterwards the gods ruined the wall of Troy.

“Sweep on the ships! Let bloodstained gear alone! The man I see on the wrong side of the wall, away from the ships, will die there by my hand. They won’t be lucky enough to burn his corpse— his women and his kin; wild dogs will drag him before our city.”

Just like in the Red Army.

Lord Zeus himself defended him and gave him honor and power alone amid the host— for he would be diminished soon: a day of wrath for him at Lord Akhilleus’ hands 710 was being wrought even then by Pallas Athêna.

First mentioning of Hektor's inevitable demise.

why all the weeping? Like a small girlchild who runs beside her mother and cries and cries to be taken up, and catches at her gown, 10 and will not let her go, looking up in tears until she has her wish:

It's amazing these words were written 2800 years ago and kids still behave the same.

And Zeus who gathers cloud saw Hektor now standing apart, in the hero’s shield and helm, and nodded, musing over him: “Ah, poor man, no least presage of death is in your mind, how near it is, at last. You wear the gear of a great prince. Other men blanch before him. It is his comrade, gentle and strong, you killed, and stripped his head and shoulders of helm and shield without respect. Power for the time being 230 I will concede to you, as recompense, for never will Andrómakhê receive Akhilleus’ arms from you on your return.”

We know Hektor will die soon in the hands of Akhilleus. It's disturbing. I really liked this character :(

“Poor things, why did I give you to King Pêleus, a mortal, you who never age nor die, to let you ache with men in their hard lot? Of all creatures that breathe and move on earth 500 none is more to be pitied than a man. Never at least shall Hektor, son of Priam, ride behind you in your painted car. That I will not allow. Is it not enough that he both has the gear and brags about it? I shall put fire in your knees and hearts to rescue Automédôn, bear him away from battle to the decked ships. Glory of killing, even so, I reserve to his enemies until they reach the ships, until sundown, 510 until the dusk comes, full of stars.”

Zeus is again thinkong of killing Hektor.

“Brave as you are, and like a god in looks, Akhilleus, do not send Akhaian soldiers into the fight unfed! Today’s mêlée will not be brief, when rank meets rank, and heaven breathes fighting spirit into both contenders. No, tell all troops who are near the ships to take 180 roast meat and wine, for heart and staying power. No soldier can fight hand to hand, in hunger, all day long until the sun goes down! Though in his heart he yearns for war, his legs go slack before he knows it: thirst and famine search him out, and his knees fail as he moves. But that man stayed with victualing and wine can fight his enemies all day: his heart is bold and happy in his chest, his legs hold out until both sides break off the battle! 190 Come, then, dismiss the rank to make their breakfast.

Even Odysseus knew feasted cardio isz bullshit.

Weeping, she said:

First time a woman speaks in hundreds of pages

“Here I am badly caught. If I take cover, slipping inside the gate and wall, the first 120 to accuse me for it will be Poulýdamas, he who told me I should lead the Trojans back to the city on that cursed night Akhilleus joined the battle. No, I would not, would not, wiser though it would have been. Now troops have perished for my foolish pride, I am ashamed to face townsmen and women. Someone inferior to me may say: ‘He kept his pride and lost his men, this Hektor!’ So it will go. Better, when that time comes, 130 that I appear as he who killed Akhilleus man to man, or else that I went down fighting him to the end before the city.

Hektor decidss to die :(

Then he could hold his ground no more. He ran, leaving the gate behind him, with Akhilleus hard on his heels, sure of his own speed. When that most lightning-like of birds, a hawk bred on a mountain, swoops upon a dove, the quarry dips in terror, but the hunter, screaming, dips behind and gains upon it, 170 passionate for prey.

This is very different from the movie Troy where the two men faced each other.

One hot spring flows out, and from the water fumes arise as though from fire burning; but the other 180 even in summer gushes chill as hail or snow or crystal ice frozen on water. Near these fountains are wide washing pools of smooth-laid stone, where Trojan wives and daughters laundered their smooth linen in the days of peace before the Akhaians came.

I love it that Homer, in the middle of a chase scene, describes what the spring is used for in peace times.

“Dear brother, how your father and gentle mother begged and begged me to remain! So did the soldiers round me, all undone by fear. But in my heart I ached for you. Now let us fight him, and fight hard. No holding back. We’ll see if this Akhilleus conquers both, to take our armor seaward, 290 or if he can be brought down by your spear.”

So, Athena is saying she will help Hektor while she has no intention to.

“Hektor, had you thought that you could kill Patróklos and be safe? Nothing to dread from me; I was not there. All childishness. Though distant then, Patróklos’ comrade in arms was greater far than he— and it is I who had been left behind that day beside the deepsea ships who now have made your knees give way. The dogs and kites will rip your body. His will lie in honor when the Akhaians give him funeral.”

The battle between Akhilleus and Hector wasn't impressive at all.

“Child, I am lost now. Can I bear my life after the death of suffering your death? You were my pride in all my nights and days, pride of the city, pillar of the Trojans 510 and Trojan women. Everyone looked to you as though you were a god, and rightly so. You were their greatest glory while you lived. Now your doom and death have come upon you.”

fatherland,.

Typo.

Agamémnon:

King Agamémnon appears after a long while of him being absent.

“ Antílokhos,

Typo. No space after quote.

“The best man is the last to bring his team in. Corne, we’ll award him second prize, in fairness. Let Diomêdês have the first.”

Once again Akhuilles proves he's an untrusted douchbag.

Eurýalos alone stood up to face him, well-built son of Lord Mêkisteus Talaonïdês, who in the old days came to Thebes when Oidipous had found his grave.

Is it the same Oidipus in Sophokles' play?

iron

Another mentioning of iron. I think the time of setting was the late bronze age.

Now when Dawn grew bright for the twelfth day, Phoibos Apollo spoke among the gods:

All this setting happened in 12 days?!

The Fates have given patient hearts to men.

Next: Zeus will decide to kill Akheilles.

And yet Lord Hektor, of all the mortal men in Ilion, 80 was dearest to the gods, or was to me. He never failed in the right gift; my altar never lacked a feast of wine poured out and smoke of sacrifice— the share assigned as ours.

So why did you kill him you prick?!

“You’ve come to Olympos, Thetis, though your mind is troubled and insatiable pain preys on your heart. I know, I too. But let me, even so, explain why I have called you here. Nine days of quarreling we’ve had among the gods 130 concerning Hektor’s body and Akhilleus. They wish the Wayfinder to make off with it. I, however, accord Akhilleus honor as I now tell you—in respect for you whose love I hope to keep hereafter. Go, now, down to the army, tell this to your son: the gods are sullen toward him, and I, too, more than the rest, am angered at his madness, holding the body by the beaked ships and not releasing it. In fear of me 140 let him relent and give back Hektor’s body! At the same time I’ll send Iris to Priam, directing him to go down to the beachhead and ransom his dear son. He must bring gifts to melt Akhilleus’ rage.”

A rare occasion in which Zeus actually behaves like the patron god and shoes maturity. Unlike him being the horny fool he's been so far.

“Let it be so. Let someone bring the ransom and take the dead away, if the Olympian commands this in his wisdom.”

I'm surprised Akheilleus didn't act like a stubborn fool.

since I have brought myself to do what no man else has done before—to lift to my lips the hand of one who killed my son.”

This quote also appears ikn the movie.

“Sir, no thought of danger shakes your rest, as you sleep on, being great Akhilleus’ guest, amid men fierce as hunters in a ring. You triumphed in a costly ransoming, but three times costlier your own would be to your surviving sons—a monarch’s fee— 820 if this should come to Agamémnon’s ear and all the Akhaian host should learn that you are here.”

This rhimes!

In a golden urn they put the bones, shrouding the urn with veiling of soft purple. Then in a grave dug deep they placed it and heaped it with great stones. The men were quick to raise the death-mound, while in every quarter lookouts were posted to ensure against an Akhaian surprise attack. When they had finished raising the barrow, they returned to Ilion, where all sat down to banquet in his honor in the hall of Priam king. So they performed 960 the funeral rites of Hektor, tamer of horses.

Such a powerful ending.