ENGL220 Iliad Books XV-XX

Book XV

Zeus awakens to find that the Trojans have been pushed back across the ditch.

Angry, Zeus scolds Hera and Poseidon.

Zeus sends Apollo to support the Trojans, who make it to the ships

Patroclus runs to report the news to Achilles

Hector vows to burn the ships.

Book XVI

Patroclus begs Achilles to allow him to put on Achilles’ armor and fight.

Achilles agrees, but only if Patroclus stays far away from the walls of Troy.

Patroclos bids Achilles farewell

The ships begin to burn

While Patroclos puts on Achilles’ armor, Achilles musters the Myrmidons

Achilles offers a libation to Zeus, praying for the success and safety of Patroclus

Led by Patroclus, the Myrmidons push the Trojans back

Patroclos and Sarpedon get ready to fight

Zeus considers trying to save his son Sarpedon, but Hera talks him out of interfering in the destiny of the mortal children of gods.

Sarpedon is killed by Patroclus

Battle rages over the dead body of Sarpedon

The Greeks capture the armor, but Zeus has sleep and death whisk the body of his son away.

Sleep and Death deliver Sarpedon

Patroclus ignores the command of Achilles and heads towards Troy

After a killing spree, Apollo stops him, Euphorbus wounds him, and Hector finishes him off.

With dying breath, Patroclus tells Hector he will soon be killed by Achilles

Book XVII

The Greeks, led by Menelaus, fight for the body of Patroclus.

Hector strips the armor of Achilles off Patroclus’ body and puts it on.

Menelaus and Ajax protect the body from the Trojans.

Ajax defends the body of Patroclus

Menelaus drags the body to safety.

Book XVIII

Antilochus reports the death of Patroclus to Achilles, whose cry of mourning reaches Thetis and the Nereids.

Patroclos’ body is brought to Achilles tent, where he and his mother mourn.

Thetis consoles Achilles

But his grief is boundless

Grief turns to anger, and Achilles vows to avenge the death of Patroclus.

He has no armor, because Hector is now wearing it.

Thetis promises to obtain new armor for her son.

Achilles scolds his horses.

Hephaestus owes Thetis a favor, and agrees to make new armor for Achilles.

Hephaestus makes fabulous armor for Achilles, including a giant gold shield

Book XIX

Achilles receives his armor and his ready to fight.

He unsays his anger, and Agamemnon responds by blaming the gods.

Achilles is offered Briseis and gifts, but he only wants battle.

Briseis is brought to him, and mourns Patroclus, who was kind to her.

Briseis returned to Achilles

Achilles refuses to eat or drink

Odysseus argues that the army needs to eat so they can fight well.

The army feasts, but Achilles sulks.

Zeus sends Athene to fill Achilles with nectar and ambrosia.

Achilles exhorts his horses to do well in battle.

Zeus assembles the gods and gives them permission to participate in battle

The Theomachy

For the Greeks: Hera, Athene, Hephaestus, Hermes and Poseidon

For the Trojans: Ares, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, Leto, and the river god Skamandros

Apollo urges Aeneas to fight Achilles

Poseidon rescues Aeneas, because it is not fated for Aeneas to die.

Achilles goes on a killing spree

Hector is ready to fight, but Apollo hides hector in a cloud.