Book 24
- Created by: lilleybee
- Created on: 02-06-17 14:58
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- Everyone leaves thinking of dinner or sleep, except Achilleus who is kept awake by memories of Patroklos.
- Every morning he drags Hektors body three times around the Patroklos’ tomb, although Apollo pities Hektor and he keeps the flesh from tearing, wrapping Hektors body in the aegis so that it does not come from harm.
- All the gods pity Hektor and keep asking Hermes to go and steal it from Achilleus,, except Hera, Athene and Poseidon who hate all the Trojans.
- After 12 days, of this Apollo chastises the immortals for not pitying Hektor, reminding them of his great piety, and scorning them for favouring Achilleus who says he has no decency in his heart.
- Apollo says Achilleus murdered pity itself, that there is no shame in him. He says that Achilleus’ foul treatment of Hektor does him no honour, but that he is verging on hubris because his treatment of the body is angering the gods.
- Hera responds that all Apollo has said would be right, if Hektor was equal to Achilleus.
- Hera reminds them all of Hektor’s mortality, while reminiscing about the wedding of Peleus to the Thetis, to which all of the gods (including Apollo) were invites, and the fact that Achilleus was born out of this marriage.
- Zeus admits that the honour shown to each cannot be equal, but that nonetheless Hektor really very pious and often gave sacrifices and offerings.
- Zeus says the body cannot be stolen, as it cannot be done without Achilleus knowing, as his mother is always with him.
- He asks someone fetch Thetis so he can tell her his plan: that Priam will bring gifts to Achilleus in order that Hektor’s body is released.
- Iris goes down to the bottom of the ocean and finds Thetis mourning for the fate of her only son, who she knows is soon to die.
- Iris summons Thetis to Zeus, who responds that she is in too much grief to mix with the Olympian gods, but she does not want to disobey the king of the gods so she agrees.
- When Thetis arrives on Olympus, Athene makes room for her and Hera welcomes her with a splendid cup.
- Zeus tells her that the gods have been arguing for 9 days over Achilleus’ and Hektor, and tells her of his plan.
- Thetis does as Zeus commands, she finds Achilleus in ceaseless lamentation.
- Then asks Achilleus why he will not eat or drink or sleep.
- She advises that he may find comfort in the arms of a woman, since he does not have much time left to live.
- She warns that death and Fate are standing close beside him.
- She tells him that e has enraged the gods by keeping Hektor’s body by the ships, that he must accept a ransom and give the body back.
- Achilleus immediately agrees, saying whoever brings the ransom can bring the body back, since Zeus has commanded it.
- Zeus sends Iris to Priam.
- He tells Iris to instruct Priam to bring ransom,…
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