Book 1
- Created by: lilleybee
- Created on: 30-05-17 14:42
Fullscreen
- Homer invokes the muse to tell the story of Achilleus’ anger.
- Chryses (priest of Apollo), arrives in the Achaean camp holding the sacred wooden bands of Apollo, wreathed on a golden staff.
- He begs for Chryseis, and offers a (unlimited) ransom.
- Agamemnon does not display xenia, instead he say’s he shall keep Chryseis until her old age as she serves the loom and his bed.
- Chryses does as he’s told, and leaves. However, he prays to Apollo, asking for vengeance in return for his piety and worship.
- Apollo grants his prayer and brings a plague onto the Danaans. By shooting an arrow, he first attacked the mules and the dogs, and then the men.
- This continued for nine days, and on the tenth Achilleus calls an assembly, Hera had given this idea to his mind as she wants to protect the Greeks.
- Achilleus suggests they should consult a priest/prophet to find out the cause of the plague. As otherwise, their armies will be destroyed by both war and plague.
- Kalchas (the prophet) is afraid that his prophecy will cause trouble, and asks for Achilleus’ protection. If a great man (Agamemnon) is insulted he could hold a grudge for a long time and take vengeance on a lesser man (Kalchas).
- Achilleus agrees to protect him, even if the insulted turns out to be Agamemnon.
- Kalchas reveals that Apollo is angered that Chryses was insulted, and he will not release the plague from the Achaeans until they hand back Chryseis with a hecatomb to the island of Chryse.
- Agamemnon is angered by this and verbally attacks Kalchas. “Prophet of evil”, “Always your hearts delight is to prophesy evil”.
- He states he prefers Chryseis to Klytaimestra, but is willing to return her if it will save his people, as he wishes the best for them.
- But, he demands another prize so he will not be left out and dishonoured.
- Achilleus responds saying that there are no more prizes, but once Troy is sacked, Agamemnon can have the highest share of the loot.
- This angers Agamemnon, as he accuses Achilleus of going along with his plan to dishonour him, while he gets to keep his own prize, Briseis .
- Agamemnon states that he will have a prise of equal value to what he has lost. Or he will take a prize from Odysseus, Aias, Achilleus etc. He embraces the fact that this will anger and dishonour them as well.
- Agamemnon then arranges the ship to take Chryseis and the hecatomb to Chryse, and demands that there must be a man of good counsel on board (Aias, Idomeneus, Odysseus or Achilleus).
- Achilleus then accuses Agamemnon of greed and wonders how the Greeks can follow a man who…
Comments
No comments have yet been made