Book 23
- Created by: lilleybee
- Created on: 02-06-17 14:58
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- While the Trojans lament Hektor’s death, the Achaians go back to the camp.
- The Myrmidons lament the death of Patroklos while Achilleus drags the body of Hektor three times around his companions body.
- Thetis rouses the desire to weep in them. Achilleus defiles Hektors body in the dust, and is persuaded to go to Agamemnon’s hut, although he cannot be persuaded to wash off the dust and blood from his bodies he has not properly honoured and buried Patroklos.
- Achilleus goes to the sea shore and laments, when he fall asleep the ghost of Patroklos appears to him and berates him for not burying his body yet.
- The ghost paints a sad picture of his ghost waiting for burial in the underworld.
- The ghost also asks that Achilleus will bury their bones together, their ashes in the same urn, when he too dies, so that they can be together for eternity.
- Achilleus trued to reach out to the ghost, but it vanishes.
- Agamemnon instructs the Achaians to find wood for Patroclus’ pyre and the warriors arm themselves.
- Achilleus cuts a special lock of hair, which he had been growing to give to the river god Spercheios upon his return to Phthia, now dedicating it instead to Patroklos since he knows he will not be returning home.
- Achilleus tells Agamemnon to send the army back to prepare a meal, but to let the Greek leaders stay mourning.
- Achilleus adds to Patroklos’ pyre many sheep and cattle, jars of honey an oil, four horses, two dogs and twelve Trojan children.
- Aphrodite protects Hektor’s body from the dogs and anoints his skin so that achilleus’ dragging of it does not tear and ruin it.
- Apollo brings a cloud so that the sun doesn’t dry out his skin and flesh.
- Patroklos’ pyre doesn't set alight, so Achilleus prays to the north and west winds, Boreas and Zephyros.
- Iris hears him and takes his message to the winds, who comply.
- Achilleus weeps as a father for his son who is newly married.
- Achilleus tells Agamemnon and the other Greek leaders to fetch Patroklos’ bones and put them in the jar as the ghost asked, instructing them that he needs to be buried in the same place.
- The funeral games begin.
- The first contest in the games is the chariot race.
- Achilleus announces that he will jot be taking part, as this would be unfair on everyone else because he would win every contest.
- His horses, in particular, are immortal, given to Peleus by Poseidon.
- He says they will not race because they are mourning the death of Patroklos, their previous charioteer who looked after them lovingly.
- The contestants are; Emulous, Diomedes, Menelaus, Antilochos and Meriones.
- Nestor takes Antilochos (his son) to the side and advises him to have cunning in the race, because that way he can win even though he has by far the slowest horses.
- Nestor tells him to drive very close around the turning post so that he can go round the…
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